E-pistle for June 13, 2014
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation June 13, 2014
Miserable comforters are you all!
(Job 16:1-22)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
1. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Job rebuked Eliphaz and the others, calling them "miserable comforters,"
and saying that if the situation were reversed, he (Job) would speak
encouraging and comforting words to them, vv. 1-5.
2. Job expressed his overwhelming frustration: "Though I speak, my grief
is not relieved; and if I remain silent, how am I eased?" v. 6; later he
described his mourning posture: clothed in sackcloth and lying in the
dust, while continuing to proclaim his total innocence, vv. 15-17.
3. Job detailed how God had worn him out . . .shriveled him up . . . torn
and gnashed at him . . . and attacked him to inflict "wound upon
wound," vv. 7-14.
4. Job expressed his desire for a witness (advocate) in heaven to plead
his case before God, vv. 18-22.
II. Meditation and Revelation: on the spiritual lessons to be learned here
1. Job claimed that his friends were persecuting rather than comforting
him, and he asserted that he would not have treated them that way.
It is good practice to try to put yourself in the other person's shoes
. . . or, as Jesus taught, to live by the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12.
2. Sometimes grief, sorrow, pain, and suffering produce frustration so
intense that nothing seems to help.
In such cases, the only hope is to come to Jesus to receive His rest
and peace, Matthew 11:28-29; John 14:27.
3. Although God is all-powerful, He is not to be blamed for all the pain,
suffering, tragedy, and death upon the earth . . . these things are not
caused by the Lord; they are not "Acts of God."
God allows Satan to inflict these troubles on mankind temporarily
and within limits, but the Lord always brings good out of bad for
those who love Him, Romans 8:28.
4. Man in his own righteousness cannot stand alone to plead his case
before Almighty God, the Holy Judge.
"He (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God
Through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them,"
Hebrews 7:25. (See Romans 8:34, I Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 9:24)
III. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Compassionately treat other persons as I would like for them to treat
me, Ephesians 4:32.
2. Cast all my burdens upon the Lord, knowing that He truly cares for me,
Psalm 55:22; I Peter 5:7.
3. Trust in the Lord with all my heart . . . no matter what, Proverbs 3:5-6.
4. Allow Jesus Christ the righteous to be my Advocate and to pay the
penalty for my sins, I John 2:1-2.
God shall supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:8-19)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: meditating on these "things" of God (v. 8)
1. True = genuine, real authentic 5. Lovely = most beautiful, I Corinthians 13:4-7
2. Noble = honorable, respectable 6. Good report = gracious, a blessing
3. Just = fair, proper, equitable 7. Virtue = moral excellency
4. Pure = holy, clean, unblemished 8. Praiseworthy = commendable
II. Meditation: on how the Philippians responded to Paul's teachings (v. 9)
1. Which you HEARD from me (listened to; heeded).
2. Which you SAW in me (observed).
3. Which you LEARNED from me (gained knowledge of).
4. Which you RECEIVED from me (accepted, acquired, grasped).
Do these eight things, Paul said, and "the God of peace
will be with you," plus you'll have the assurance that
you "can do all things through Christ Who strengthens
. . . (you)" vv. 9, 13.
III. Revelation: on Paul's discussion of how God supplied his personal needs
1. Paul said the Philippian church's care for him and for his needs had flourished, v. 10.
2. He commended them: "WELL DONE" for sharing in his distress, v. 14.
3. He commended them for being the ONLY church to support him, v 15.
4. He recognized that they had sent aid to him AGAIN AND AGAIN, VV. 10, 16.
"Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that bounds to
your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full,
having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from
you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,
well pleasing to God, vv. 17-18.
(THEREFORE)
My God shall supply all your need according to His riches
In glory in Christ Jesus," v. 19.
IV. Applications:
God's promise to supply all our needs is conditional upon our
response to supplying the needs of others:
1. By abundant caring (flourish = generously).
2. By sharing in another's distress (compassion; empathy).
3. By giving, even if no one else gives.
4. By sending aid for necessities repeatedly ("AGAIN").
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these thing shall be added to you," Matthew 6:33.
Wit and Wisecrack: Mark Twain said:
"Grief can take care of itself; but to get the full value of a joy,
you must have somebody to divide it with."
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