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E-pistle

FreeWay Foundation            July 20, 2012

 

Pleasing god without faith: impossible!

(Hebrews 11:1-40)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the grounds of faith

            1.  Faith is seeing the invisible, Hebrews 11:6, 27.  Faith is the evidence of things not seen,

                 v. 1  Faith says, "God exists."

            2.  Faith is understanding the impossible, v. 3.  Faith is accepting the fact that by God's

                 Word, the universe was formed.  Faith says, "God created." 

            3.  Faith is embracing the future in the present . . . in the "NOW," v. 6.  Faith is the

                 substance of things hoped for, v. 1.  Faith says "God rewards."

II.  Meditation:  on types of faith

            1.  Intellectual faith involves the mind.  I know that God is able to do anything I request,

                 Ephesians 3:20.

            2.  Emotional faith involves the heart.  This is what, with all my heart, I really want God

                 to do! "He shall give you the desires of your heart," Psalm 37:4 . . . if you "delight

                 yourself in the Lord."

            3.  Volitional faith involves the will.  A person chooses to believe a promise of God and

                 acts as if it already were an accomplished fact, I John 5:14-15. 

III.  Revelation:  on the activities of faith

            1.  First, God shows man His plan and man believes, Elijah (I Kings 18:1-2) and Jesus

                 (John 5:19-20; 8:28-29) followed this pattern.

            2.  Secondly, man acts on God's revealed plan and confesses (testifies to what God is

                 going to do), I Kings 18:41 and Mark 11:22-24.

            3.  Thirdly, man perseveres until God acts, I Kings 18:42-46.  Between God's promised blessings,

                 and our receiving of them, there is always a testing time.  Elijah prayed seven times before

                 the tiny cloud appeared!  (See II Corinthians 1:20 and Hebrews 10:23, 45-46).

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, what is my level of faith? (Isaiah 43:1-4)

1.  Red Sea Faith – This type of faith first sees God's miraculous power at work, then moves out. 

                 Exodus 14:21-22 illustrates "kindergarten" faith.

            2.  Jordan River Faith – This type hears God's word, believes, steps out in faith, and then sees

                 God's miraculous power at work.  This is "elementary school" faith, as illustrated in Joshua 3:15-17.

                 Red Sea faith sees God act, then moves; Jordan River Faith hears God and moves, then see God act.

            3.  Fiery Furnace Faith – This highest type of faith is illustrated in the story of the three Hebrew children

                 In the fiery furnace, Daniel 3:16-18.  They said, "God is able to deliver us," (intellectual faith).  Further,

                 "God is going to deliver us," (heart or emotional, "desiring" faith).  Then the three Hebrews hit the

                 pinnacle of true faith, saying "But even if God does not deliver us, we will remain true to Him!"  This

                 is volitional ("will") faith . . . the faith level of spiritual maturity.

 

 

 

The discipline of the lord

(Hebrews 12:1-29)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the race of life (vv. 1-2)

            "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every

            weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set

            before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the glory set before Him

            endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,"

            Hebrews 12:1-2.

II.  Observations:  on the realities of discipline for the race for life

            1.  Discipline is hard, difficult, v. 7.

            2.  Discipline is universal within God's family, v. 8.

            3.  Discipline is only temporary, v. 10.

            4.  Discipline is unpleasant, v. 11.

            5.  Discipline is painful, v. 11.

III.  Meditation:  on the responses to discipline for the race of life

            Wrong attitudes:                                               Right perspectives:

            1.  To not even recognize it, v. 7.                     1.  To be encouraged, v. 5.

            2.  To make light of it, v. 5.                               2.  See it as a sign of love, v. 6.

            3.  To lose heart, v. 5.                                       3.  See it as a sign of delight, Proverbs 3:12.

            4.  To despise it, Proverbs 3:11.                       4.  See it as a sign of acceptance, v. 6.

            5.  To resent it, Proverbs 3:11.                          5.  See it as a sign of son ship, vv. 6-8.

IV.  Revelation:  on the reasons for the Lord's discipline for the race of live

            1.  For our own good, v. 10.

            2.  Produces the family trait of holiness, v. 10.

            3.  Produces righteousness (right standing with God and man), v. 11.

            4.  Produces peace, vv. 11, 14.

            5.  Teaches or trains, vv. 9, 11:

                        *  Respect for the Father,

                        *  Submission to the Father,

                        *  True meaning of spiritual life.

V.  Applications:  as a Christian, I may expect these results of discipline . . .

            1.  Strengthened arms to do (carry; work) v. 12.

            2.  Strengthened knees to walk (serve; follow), v. 12.

            3.  Guidance to consider my path; to watch my step (see; choose), v. 13. Compare Proverbs 4:25-27.

            4.  Healing of lameness; disabilities and weaknesses overcome, v. 13.  See Isaiah 35:3-10.

            5.  "Christ is formed in you,"  through travail, Galatians 4:19.

 

"Speak when you are angry - - - and you will make the best speech you'll every regret."

--Lawrence J. Peter

 

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