E-pistle for February 9, 2007
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation February 9, 2007
"Rejoice With Exceeding Great Joy!"
"Though now you do not see Him (Jesus Christ), yet believing,
you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory."
(I Peter 1:8, NKJV)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
February, the month of Valentine's Day and weddings . . . of celebrations . . . of
rejoicing! The word "rejoiced" in the text is a compound Greek word, combining "leap"
and "very much." It suggests shouting and leaping with joy.
The word occurs a dozen times in the New Testament. For example, when the
lame man was healed at the temple gate, he "leaped and shouted with joy" (Acts 3:8).
The Philippian jailer also "rejoiced" that way after his salvation experience (Acts 16:34).
ABRAHAM AND DAVID REJOICED
Jesus, in John 8:56, told His listeners that "Abraham rejoiced to see My day."
Luke records Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost. There he quotes David as saying
that when he saw the Lord, "my heart rejoiced" (Acts 2:26).
Both these Old Testament characters "shouted and leaped with joy" because
they saw Christ as a future reality.
MARY REJOICED
"My soul has rejoiced in God my Savior," sang Mary, as recorded in Luke 1:47.
She "shouted and leaped with joy" because God was using her to birth a great spiritual
blessing on the earth.
THE WISE MEN REJOICED
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy," Matthew 2:10.
What an incredible picture! Imagine these dignified wise men "shouting and
leaping with joy" because they had been divinely led to find and worship the King.
JESUS REJOICED
Luke records in 10:21, "In the hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit." He had just
instructed His disciples not to rejoice in victories won over Satanic forces, but rather
to rejoice because they had eternal life (names written in heaven).
Then Jesus immediately rejoiced saying, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, that You have hidden these things (truths spiritually discerned or perceived)
from the wise men and prudent and revealed them to babes."
Jesus "shouted and leaped with joy" because His followers were seeing
spiritual reality and victory.
REJOICING IN PRESENT PERSECUTION AND FUTURE PROMISE
Matthew 5:11, 12 – Revile and persecute . . . say all kinds of evil against you falsely
for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven."
I Peter 4:13 – "Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that
when His glory is revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy."
Revelation 19:7 – "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage
of the Lamb has come."
POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
Fellow Ministers of the Gospel, these are days of celebration, of rejoicing, of
"shouting and leaping with joy!"
1. With Abraham and David, let us rejoice because we can see
with eyes of faith the risen, glorified Christ.
2. With Mary, let us rejoice because we are being used by God
to birth a new thing, which promises to be a blessing to persons
in our churches and communities and around the world.
3. With the Wise Men, let us rejoice because we are being divinely
led to find and worship the King of Kings.
4. With Jesus Christ our Lord, let us rejoice because others we have
influenced are experiencing spiritual victories and seeing spiritual
reality.
PERSONAL WORD
I enjoy presiding over the annual graduation ceremony of the Pillsbury College &
Seminary. Those Commencement Day celebrations always are particularly meaningful
and significant to me. In a small way on those days in May, I identify with Jesus as He
"shouted and leaped with joy."
I rejoice because I have taught and encouraged and fellowshipped with those
men for the preceding two or three years. I rejoice exceedingly because I have witnessed
remarkable spiritual (as well as intellectual) growth exhibited in those fellow ministers.
I also rejoice because, in a small measure, I shall share in their service and
ministry for Jesus Christ in the days and years to come. As Jesus put it, there is no
greater joy for a teacher than to observe his students doing "greater things."
(John 14:12)
Having the Mind of Christ
(Philippians 2:1-17)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the grounds for Paul's pastoral advice (v. 1)
1. The consolation available in Christ.
2. The comfort of mutual love between God and man.
3. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
4. The supporting mutual affection and mercy among believers.
II. Meditation: on Paul's plea for unity, which would fulfill his joy (v. 2)
1. Unity of spirit . . . "like-minded."
2. Unity of love . . . "same love."
3. Unity of purpose . . . "of one accord."
4. Unity of thought . . . "of one mind."
III. Revelation: on things Paul encouraged believers to do . . .
1. Exhibit true humility, v. 3.
2. Express concern and compassion for the interests of others, v. 4.
3. Have the mind of Christ, v. 5; What He experienced, we must experience.
(1) Humility – vv. 6-8.
(2) Obedience – v. 8.
(3) Death – v. 8.
(4) Resurrection and exaltation – vv. 9-11.
4. "Work out our own salvation" (v. 12) . . . that is, allow God to work in us
"both TO WILL and TO DO His good pleasure," v. 13.
IV. Application: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Be blameless, harmless, and faultless, v. 15.
2. Shine as a light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, v. 15.
3. Hold fast (study, proclaim, obey) the word of life . . . the Scriptures, v. 16.
4. Joyfully be poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of
my faith, v. 17.
Wit and Wisecrack: Twain said, "There are those who scoff at the schoolboy,
calling him frivolous and shallow. Yet it was the schoolboy who said,
'Faith is believing what you know ain't so!'"
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