E-pistle for August 6, 2004
Posted by: info <info@...>
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation August 6, 2004
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In This Issue
"The Final Examination"
"Ears To Hear"
New PIAC Degree Titles
The Final Examination
(Genesis 44:1-34)
I. Concentration: on Joseph's final test of his brothers
1. Joseph told his steward to secretly put the governor's silver cup into Benjamin's
sack of grain, vv. 1-2.
2. Joseph then sent officials to arrest the brothers soon after they started home for
Canaan, vv. 3-6.
3. The brothers pled innocence saying, "With whomever of your servants it is
found, let him die, and we also will be my Lord's slaves," vv. 7-9.
4. The silver cup was found in Benjamin's sack, and, according to Joseph's decree,
Benjamin was arrested but the others were found blameless and released, vv. 10-12.
II. Meditation: on Judah's reactions to Benjamin's arrest
1. The brothers tore their clothes (a sign of grief and repentance), and they all returned
to the Egyptian city, v. 13.
2. Judah (Jacob's 4th son) spoke for the entire group, pleading their case before Joseph,
vv. 14-17.
3. Judah begged for mercy so that his father, Jacob, would not die from the shock of the
loss of his favorite son, Benjamin, vv. 18-31.
4. Judah offered himself as a substitute to stay in Egypt as a slave in the place of his brother,
Benjamin, vv. 32-34.
III. Revelation: on the poignant questions asked in this chapter.
1. "Why have you repaid evil with good?" v. 4. This applied not only to the "theft" of Joseph's
cup, but also to the brother's treatment of Joseph.
2. "What deed is this you have done?" v. 15. Confession of sin is necessary!
3. "What shall we speak . . . God has found out the iniquity of your servants," v. 16. God's
Spirit continues to convict us of our sins.
4. "How shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me?" v 34. Yes, I am my brothers keeper!
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Recognize that God sees all my deeds and knows all my thoughts and motivations. The Lord is
Omniscient!
2. Repent of my evil deeds; confess and ask for forgiveness. The questions Joseph asked his brothers
("What deed have you done?" v. 15) was the same one God asked Adam (Genesis 3:13) and
Cain (Genesis 4:10).
3. Remember that there always are consequences to all my choices and actions. The brothers connected
their present troubles in Egypt with the selling of their brother into slavery years earlier . . . "God
has found out our iniquity!"
4. Realize that a true brother (or friend) is willing to lay down his life for another person, Proverbs 18:24;
John 15:13. Judah DEMONSTRATED his love for his father, Jacob, and for his brother, Benjamin.
Ears To Hear
(Mark 4;1-41)
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Jesus told the parable of the sower, vv. 1-9.
2. Jesus spoke of His purpose in teaching through parables,
vv. 10-12, 33-34.
3. Jesus explained the parable of the sower, vv. 13-20.
4. Jesus taught about having "ears to hear" His revealed truth,
vv. 21-25.
5. Jesus told the parable of the growing seed, vv. 26-29.
6. Jesus told the parable of the mustard seed, vv. 30-32.
7. Jesus calmed the wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee with the words,
"Peace, Be Still!" and encouraged the disciples to have greater faith
vv. 35-41.
II. Meditation: on "Ears To Hear" vv. 21-25
1. These verses are bracketed by the parable of the sower and the similar
parables of the growing seed and the mustard seed.
2. Twice in this chapter, Jesus urged His followers to have "Ears To Hear,"
vv. 9 and 23.
3. Jesus' parables are like a lamp, lighting the darkness of ignorance and
misunderstanding . . . at the proper time. (His truth was hidden temporarily
from His enemies; later it was proclaimed widely.)
4. "Hearing Ears" is the key to Jesus' most important parable (sower and seed)
. . . which unlocked the meaning of all parables, v. 13. (See the word "HEAR"
in verses 15, 16, 18, and 20.)
III. Revelation: on the spiritual truths seen here
1. Jesus appeals for spiritual perception . . . hearing and heeding His word, vv. 23-24.
(See Matthew 7:24-27.)
2. To the degree that a person "HEARS" he or she will be given more spiritual
understanding, v. 24.
3. Those who receive and assimilate truth will have their capacity for understanding
enlarged and their knowledge increased, v. 25.
4. Those who disbelieve or are indifferent will lose whatever ability for understanding
they had, and therefore will continue in ignorance, v. 25. (See I Corinthians 2:14)
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Cultivate the art of meditation, of listening to the Holy Spirit . . . of having "finely-tuned"
spiritual ears to hear.
2. Thank the Lord for His "sanctifying" power which helps me to grow in knowledge,
understanding, and perception of God and His ways.
3. "Heed" (obey) the truths revealed to me, in order to produce spiritual growth and greater
opportunities of service for the Lord.
4. Avoid doubt and indifference; rather, practice active faith and zealous good works.
Pillsbury Institute NCCA Degree Titles
(Effective July 1, 2004)
Christian Master of Arts (C.M.A.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology (OR)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (OR)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy
Christian Doctor of Philosophy (C.Ph.D.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology (OR)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (OR)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy
Christian Doctor of Psychology (C.Psy.D.)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (OR)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy (Second Doctorate Only)
NOTE:
The student has the option of whether to include the area of concentration ("In . . . ")
on his or her diploma. This information always will appear on the student transcript.
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"I never think of the future - it comes soon enough!"
- Albert Einstein
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