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E-Pistle

FreeWay Foundation            July 18, 2014

 

 

The hypocrite's joy is but for a moment

(Job 20:1-29)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Zophar, the third friend, is upset at Job's insulting accusations toward

                 his companions:  "I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, and

                 the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer," vv. 1-3.

            2.  Zophar accuses Job of being a wicked hypocrite, and proclaims that

                 he soon will perish forever, vv. 4-11.

            3.  Zophar predicts that Job will not enjoy ay of ill-gotten gain and that his

                 evil possessions will bring him only sickness and death, vv. 12-19.

            4.  Zophar concludes that Job's suffering and unrest of heart are linked

                 directly to his hypocritical self-sufficiency, and that he is getting the

                 just punishment he deserves:  "This is the portion from God for a

                 wicked man, the heritage appointed to him by God," vv. 20-29.

II.  Meditation:  on some absolute truths in Zophar's speech

            1.  "The triumphing of the wicked is short and the job of the hypocrite

                 is but for a moment," v. 5.

            2.  "From the proceeds of business he will get no enjoyment.  For he

                 has oppressed and forsaken the poor," vv. 18-19.

            3.  "In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress," v. 22.

            4.  "The heavens will reveal his iniquity," v. 27.

III.  Revelation:  on the spiritual interpretation of these absolutes

            1.  The wicked man's triumph and the hypocrite's joy are brief, according

                 to God's time-clock; Zophar's mistake was thinking that God's justice

     is accomplished immediately in this life, II Peter 3:8-9 . . . Jesus said

     that the hypocrite has his temporary reward in this life, 

     Matthew 5:2, 5, 16.

            2.  True enjoyment is the spiritual condition of a contented heart at peace

     with God; again Zophar's misconception was that spiritual unrest always

     accompanies sin, but it is possible for hypocrites to have "their own

     conscience seared with a hot iron," . . . to become totally insensitive to

     become totally insensitive to the Holy Spirit's conviction, II Timothy 4:2.

3.  Man's self-sufficiency indeed does bring distress, yet he may not

     recognize his soul's need for God in this life; God calls such an "eat,

     drink, and be merry" attitude foolishness, Luke 12:16-21.

4.  God keeps a record of everyone's iniquities, and people will be "judged

     According to their works, by the things which were written in the books,"

     Revelation 20:12.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Measure the difference between time and eternity, Ecclesiastes 3:11;

                 Psalm 30:5.

            2.  Come to Jesus for true rest of soul and peace of heart,

     Matthew 11:28-30.

            3.  Trust in the Lord, not in myself, Proverbs 3:5-6; Titus 3:4-7.

            4.  Know that someday I personally shall stand before the judgment seat

     of Christ to give an account of my deeds, Romans 14:10, 12;

     II Corinthians 5:10.

 

 

 

 

Why prayers go unanswered

(James 4:1-17)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on "heart" sins which hinder effective prayer

            1.  Desires for pleasure, v. 1.

            2.  Unfulfilled lusts, v. 2.

            3.  Murder (malicious hatred), v. 2.

            4.  Covetousness, v. 2.

II.  Meditation:  on why some prayers go unanswered

            (By "unanswered" we mean that God answers by saying "NO")

            1.  Because they are made with a wrong motivation ("amiss") v. 3.

            2.  Because they are made selfishly, v. 3.

            3.  Because they are made by believers who are unfaithful to God

                 (adulterers and adulteresses); who are "friendly" toward the

                 world's system, but who are enemies of God, v. 4.

            4.  Because they are made with pride rather than with humility, v. 6.

III.  Revelation:  on how to pray and receive "yes" answers from God

            1.  Submit to God and resist the devil, v. 7.

            2.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you, v. 8.

            3.  In repentance, receive God's forgiveness and cleansing, vv. 8-9.

            4.  Humble yourselves in the sight of God, and He will lift you up,

                 vv. 11-12.

            5.  Do not speak evil of other persons, nor judge (condemn) fellow

                 believers, vv. 11-12.

            6.  Recognize that God controls the future; do not presume that

                 you'll even be alive tomorrow, vv. 13-14.

            7.  Seek for any pray that the Lord's will be done in every situation

                 and circumstance of your life, v. 15.

            8.  Avoid the pernicious sin of omission . . . knowing that you should

                 do good, but too lazy actually to do it, v. 17.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Avoid the worldly sins of the flesh, which hinder my prayers from

                 being answered, Isaiah 59:2.

            2.  Make sure my motivation in prayer is pure; love for God and love

                 for persons in need . . . not selfishness nor pride.

            3.  Draw near to God daily (Bible study, prayer, meditation), in

                 repentance and humble submission to His will.

            4.  Watch my mouth! . . . making sure that what I piously ask for in

                 prayer to God is not contradicted and negated by my ungodly

                 speech and actions toward other persons.

 

"There is no such thing as a non-working mother!"

--Hester Mundis, Powermom

 

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