E-pistle for January 12, 2007
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 12, 2007
"I Know The Plans I Have For YOU"
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I. God's plan includes PROVISION . . . "to prosper you"
These past few months have been lean and skinny ones financially
for our ministry. But as income decreased, intimacy with the Lord has increased
because we have been driven to our knees in fervent prayer. No doubt, you have
had similar experiences in your own life and work.
Through difficult days, we come to experience more deeply the faithfulness
of God's providential care. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to "seek first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and all these things (basic necessities) shall be added
unto you." And Philippians 4:19 has proven to be absolutely trustworthy: "My God
shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Therefore, we enter a new year confident that God will continue His provision
for us and our ministries.
II. God's plan includes PROTECTION . . . "not to harm you"
Not only does God promise not to do us harm, He also promises to
protect us from Satan and his followers who want to "steal, kill and destroy" . . .
steal our joy, kill our witness, and destroy our ministry.
Isn't it wonderful how Scriptures which are extremely familiar
sometimes take on a new vitality and meaning when difficulty arises? Psalm 23,
for example, has brought me new faith to replace fear recently. "Though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff comfort me." And Hebrews 13:5, 6 also spoke a fresh word:
"He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you,' so we may boldly say:
'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'"
Therefore, we may confidently enter 2007 knowing that God's hand
is upon us to do us good!
III. God's plan includes PERSPECTIVE . . . "to give you hope"
Paul talks about being "hard-pressed . . . perplexed . . . persecuted
. . . struck down," (II Corinthians 4:8, 9). Such emotional, mental, spiritual and
physical attacks tend to throw us into doubt, depression, and despondency. BUT
GOD . . . doesn't that phrase thrill your heart? . . . BUT GOD gives His children a
different outlook . . . and a new perspective.
His work affirms that "His abundant mercy has begotten us again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," I Peter 1:3.
Paul in Romans 8:24, 25 writes, "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is
seen is not hope . . . but if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it
with perseverance."
Therefore, we enter this new year with renewed hope; not yet
seeing clearly, but persevering because we know God wants us to see and to know
His plan for us. (See James 1:5) I'm praying that God's enlightenment may give
all of us an ever brightening hope.
IV. God's plan includes PURPOSE . . . "to give you . . . a future"
Recently I heard someone say, "A man of God is invincible until God
is finished accomplishing His purpose through him." I believe that's true of God-called
people and of God-ordained ministries. Our future is as bright as the purposes of God.
Psalm 138:8 proclaims: "The Lord will perfect (fulfill) that which concerns
me." And Philippians 1:6 also witnesses that God's plan includes a set purpose which
shall be accomplished: "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until
the day of Jesus Christ."
Therefore, we enter this year as people of destiny, with an assurance
based not on knowing what the future holds, but on knowing Who holds our future.
Come, let's walk with faith into the exciting unknown new year, into a new century
and a new millennium!
NOW A FINAL AND PERSONAL WORD: God has a plan for YOUR life! A plan that
includes His provision and His protection . . . a plan through which He brings you
a new perspective and a renewed purpose. Find that plan . . . follow it . . . and
true fulfillment will be yours in this year and all the years that follow.
Your People Shall Be My People
(Ruth 1:1-22)
I. Concentration: on the characters introduced in this chapter
1. Elimelech – a man of the tribe of Judah whose name means
"My God Is King," vv. 1-2.
2. Naomi – wife of Elimelech; her name means "Pleasant,
Delightful, and Lovely," v. 2.
3. Mahlon and Chilion – sons of Elimelech and Naomi; their
names mean "Weak, Sickly" and "Falling, Pining," v. 2.
4. Orpah and Ruth – Moabite women who married Mahlon and
Chilion; their names mean "Fawn" and "Friend," v. 4.
II. Meditation: on the background and circumstances of this book
1. The events described here occurred between the death of
Joshua and the birth of Samuel, about 1100 B.C. during the
period of The Judges, v. 1.
2. Elimelech and his family were natives of Bethlehem in
Judah, but due to a famine they moved east of the Dead Sea
into Moab, where Lot's descendants had settled, v. 1;
Genesis 19:30-38.
3. Within a ten year period in Moab, all three men died leaving
Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth widows, vv. 3-5.
4. Naomi heard that the famine in Judah was over, so she
decided to return to her homeland, v. 6.
III. Revelation: on the words of Naomi and Ruth
1. Naomi instructed her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab to
find new husbands there, vv. 7-13.
2. Orpah remained in Moab, but Ruth insisted on going to Judah
with her mother-in-law, Naomi, vv. 14-15.
3. Ruth's oft-quoted poem of commitment (vv. 16-17) reached
beyond mere emotion, family ties, and friendship; she
expressed her personal faith in the living Lord, invoking His
name with an oath.
4. In contrast to Ruth, Naomi blamed God for the destructive and
painful things she had experienced, vv. 13, 19-22.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Deal kindly in the gentle Spirit of Christ with all persons, especially
with family members, such as in-laws, v. 8.
2. Choose to associate with persons who know and serve God.
3. Witness to non-believing family members; no doubt Ruth came to
an understanding of the Lord through the testimony of Naomi.
4. Do not blame God for the tragedies which occur in life; these
occurrences (famine, death, etc.) are a result of sin's presence
on the earth as a consequence of man's deliberate decision to
rebel and disobey God, thus removing himself from the protective
canopy of God's blessings.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way,
you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual
nourishment. Everybody needs that."
- James Brown
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