E-pistle for January 24, 2014
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e-pistle
FreeWay Foundation January 24, 2014
The refreshing dew of god's presence
(Hosea 14:1-9)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Hosea gave a final appeal for Israel to return to the Lord their God, v. 1.
2. Hosea told the people the words which they should say when they repented
and returned unto the Lord, vv. 2-3.
3. Hosea comforted Israel by disclosing God's love, forgiveness, and blessing
which they would receive upon their return to Him, vv. 4-8.
4. Hosea closed his book by summarizing his basic message: wise and
prudent persons will know and understand that "The ways of the Lord are
right; the righteous walk in them," v. 9.
II. Meditation: on the words of repentance which should be spoken unto the Lord
1. Ask for forgiveness and cleansing: "Take away all iniquity," v. 2.
2. Ask to be accepted by God's grace: "Receive us graciously," v. 2.
3. Praise and worship the Lord: "We will offer the sacrifices of our lips," v. 2.
4. Forsake sinful dependence upon anyone except the Lord: "Assyria shall not
Save us, we will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to work of our
Hands, 'You are our gods,'" v. 3.
5. Throw yourself upon the tender loving-kindness of the Lord: "For in You the
fatherless finds mercy," v. 3.
III. Revelation: on the refreshing dew of God's presence
1. When people truly repent, God promises to heal their backsliding, v. 4.
2. God promises to love them overwhelmingly, v. 4.
3. God promises to turn His anger away from them (to deal with them in mercy), v. 4.
4. God promises to send His presence like refreshing dew (v. 5), producing:
5. Beauty and fragrance like a lily, v. 5.
6. Deep roots of stability and spreading branches of shady protection like a cedar of
Lebanon, vv. 5-7.
7. Nourishment and anointing oil like the fruit of an olive tree, v. 6.
8. Flourishing abundance like a field of ripened grain or a productive vineyard, v. 7.
(All these blessings will be recognized as coming from the Lord: "Ephraim shall say . . .
Your fruit is found in Me," v. 8)
How to be a good minister
(I Timothy 4:1-16)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Paul warned of a great apostasy coming in the latter times, characterized by
deceiving spirits, demonic teachers, and hypocritical liars who will forbid people
to marry, and order them to abstain from eating certain foods, vv. 1-5.
2. Paul urged Timothy to practice specific spiritual disciplines, vv. 6-8.
3. Paul taught that the Savior (Jesus) is the living God, vv. 9-11.
4. Paul told Timothy to take heed to his ministry, vv. 12-16.
II. Meditation: on a good minister's personal actions
1. Be nourished in the words of faith, v. 6.
2. Carefully follow the good (true) doctrine, v. 6.
3. Reject irreverent falsehoods (such as those listed above), v. 7.
4. Engage in regular spiritual exercises, striving toward godliness, vv. 7-8.
III. Meditation: on setting a good example (v. 12)
1. In speech (guarding what you say).
2. In life (watching your conduct).
3. In love (relating to people through love).
4. In Spirit (being Spirit-filled).
5. In faith, (believing God's words).
6. In purity (having holy hands and heart).
IV. Meditation: on being a good minister
1. Lead in the public reading of Scripture, v. 13.
2. Preach faithfully the gospel of Christ, v. 13.
3. Teach believers to live growing, fruit-bearing lives, v. 13.
4. Cultivate your spiritual gift, conferred by the Holy Spirit, v. 14.
V. Revelation: on some visible indication of spiritual progress
1. Meditating on the things of God, v. 15.
2. Giving yourself entirely to things of the Spirit, v. 15.
3. Taking heed to yourself and to the doctrine you teach, v. 16.
4. Persevering in all these activities, v. 16.
VI. Applications: as a Christian minister (all believers are ministers), I need to . . .
1. Focus my attention on the truth of the Word of God.
2. Set an example of godly living for other believers.
3. Exhibit spiritual maturity beyond (and not related to) my age, v. 12.
4. Persevere faithfully in right living and in right teaching.
Carry On
Nothing in the world will take the place of persistence. Talent will not;
nothing is more common than the unsuccessful person with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan "press on" has solved and always will
solve the problems of the human race.
--Calvin Coolidge
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