E-pistle for July 11, 2008
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation July 11, 2008
"These Things We Know!"
(I John 3:1-24)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on what we "know" about Jesus
1. We know that Jesus came to take away our sins, v. 5.
2. We know what true love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, v. 16.
3. We know that He lives in us, by the Spirit He gave, v. 24.
4. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, v. 2.
II. Meditation: on what we "know" about our position as believers
1. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love
our fellow Christians, v. 14.
2. We know that we belong to the Truth (Jesus), because we demonstrate
our love by our actions, not merely by our words, v. 19.
3. We know who are the children of God and who are the children of the
devil . . . Satan's children neither do right nor love their fellow human
beings, v. 10.
4. We know that no murderer has eternal life, and anyone who hates his
brother is a murderer, v. 15. (See Matthew 5:21-22) (Murder is a forgivable
sin, but unconfessed sin, such as murder, grows out of hate . . . the opposite
of love, which is the only spiritual atmosphere in which God's grace may
operate.)
III. Revelation: on the implications of what we "know"
1. God bestowed His love on us, calling us His children, v. 1.
2. Everyone who truly follows Christ purifies himself, to attain the goal of
purity, just as Christ is pure, v. 3.
3. The purpose of Christ being manifested on earth was to destroy the works
of the devil, v. 8.
4. As Christians, we ought to be willing to lay down our lives for others . . . just
as Jesus died for us, v. 16.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Thank God for His overwhelming love toward me and for my blessed position
as one of His beloved children.
2. Repent, confess, and forsake my sins to the Father; receive forgiveness and
cleansing through the blood of Christ; attempt, through the power of the Holy
Spirit, to live a life of purity . . . of sincerity and integrity.
3. Arm myself for spiritual warfare against Satan (Ephesians 6:10-18), knowing if
Satan attacked Jesus, surely I also will be attacked. But through Christ, I
can be victorious . . . able to "destroy the works of the devil."
4. Love my fellow believers . . . more than I love myself . . . being willing to lay
down my life for them.
Nahum Proclaims God's Verdict
(Nahum 1:1-15)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the background of this book
1. "NAHUM" means "COMFORTER" or "FULL OF COMFORT."
2. Nahum prophesied the pending fall of Nineveh (the capital of Assyria), which
occurred in 612 B.C. He recounts the fate of the Egyptian city of Thebes
(Nahum 3:8-10) which was destroyed in 663 B.C. Nahum's book came between
these two events, probably shortly before 612 B.C.
3. The savage Assyrians had conquered the kingdom of Israel and carried off
into captivity the ten northern tribes in 722 B.C.
4. Only divine intervention prevented the desecration of Jerusalem by the
Assyrians in 701 B.C. (I Kings 17-19), and this book of Nahum predicts God's
judgment of Nineveh which occurred more than a century after that
miraculous event.
II. Meditation: on the contents of this chapter
1. Nahum proclaimed the jealousy of God, vv. 1-6.
2. Nahum presented the gentleness of God, v. 7.
3. Nahum prophesied the judgment of God upon Nineveh, vv. 8-14.
4. Nahum promised the joy of God upon Judah, v. 15.
III. Revelation: on the attributes of the Lord God revealed in this chapter
1. God is jealous, meaning that He demands undivided devotion, and He is holy
and righteous, taking furious, wrathful vengeance upon His enemies, v. 2.
2. God is slow to anger, demonstrating His mercy and patience . . . over a century
passed between the fall of Israel to the Assyrians and the fall of Nineveh to the
Babylonians, v. 3.
3. God is almighty, showing His omnipotence in the awe-inspiring forces of
nature, vv. 3-5.
4. God is good, providing a stronghold of safety and security for those who trust
in Him, v. 7.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Worship the Lord God with undivided loyalty, and serve Him with unwavering
faithfulness.
2. Thank the Lord for His long-suffering, patience, mercy, and grace in dealing
with me.
3. Praise the Lord as I observe with awe and reverence His mighty creative power
in the physical universe and in the spiritual realm.
4. Rest in the peaceful confidence and calm assurance that:
"God is good . . . all the time!"
Summer Job Hunting: No Day At The Beach
by: Harvey Mackay
Before offering my tips on how to land a coveted spot on the payroll, let me
mention how I lost a plum job one summer at Howard's Men's Store in St. Paul
Minnesota. The pay? Fine. But my ambition was honing my golf skills so I could
become a state high-school champion. I got fired when I started asking for way too
much time off to play in golf tournaments.
Collecting my walking papers from Howard's proved an unforgettable lesson
in the summer school of life: Getting the job is not the done deal. Keeping the job
every day is doing the deal. Here's how:
· Flex and accommodate
Young people usually get summer jobs to fill in for
staffers who want to take time off. Willingly start
early, stay late and schlep(do all the unpleasant
pesky chores regulars shun).
· Network to beat the band.
June is late season for summer job hunting. Be
enterprising in tapping personal networks – yours,
your family's, your friends', and any other quality
contacts that can be begged or borrowed.
· Pitch the long ball.
Companies love to polish gems in the rough. Always
give first consideration to organizations that match your
long-term career interests, and then develop an airtight
case as to why a particular summer job will help polish
your long-term skills.
· Check back on turndowns.
Perhaps a rival for a dream job beat you out. Do a
discreet phone check and see if all's well.
Mackay's Moral: "Does summertime mean the living is easy? Not if you check today's
job thermometer."
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