E-pistle for March 7, 2008
Posted by: info <info@...>
E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation March 7, 2008
The Extra Blessing of Baptism
(Matthew 3:15-17)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the events recorded in these verses
1. Jesus told John the Baptist that He was determined to fulfill all righteousness . . .
to accomplish His divine vision of destiny . . . to complete His mission on
earth which was given to Him by the Father.
2. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened to Him . . .
He was enabled to see into the spiritual realm.
3. At that time, the Spirit of God descended upon Him . . . He was anointed with
power by the Holy Spirit.
4. A voice spoke from heaven, expressing divine relationship and approval . . . He
heard the voice of His heavenly Father.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual significance of these events
1. Jesus came to fully perceive the Father's purpose and destiny for Him.
2. Jesus received spiritual discernment, allowing Him to see into the heavenly places
(unseen realm) to observe what the Father was doing.
3. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit receiving divine power for service . . . He
officially stepped into His Messianic role as Christ, "The Anointed One."
4. Jesus was given "ears to hear" the voice of God the Father, giving Him affirmation
and direction.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual truths illustrated in Jesus' baptism by John
1. Jesus provided a method for believers to identify with Him.
2. Jesus foreshadowed His resurrection from the dead.
3. Jesus portrayed His giving eternal life to believers.
4. Jesus prophesied His return to resurrect the dead bodies of believers.
But Jesus baptism also demonstrated . . . the initial step of obedience and
surrender which would allow Him to baptize believers with the Holy Spirit.
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but . . . He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and fire," Matthew 3:11; "Repent, and let everyone
of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," Acts 2:38.
IV. Applications: when Jesus baptizes a believer with the Holy Spirit . . .
1. That believer receives a vision of his divine destiny.
2. That believer receives the ability to perceive spiritual truth and reality.
3. That believer receives divine power for effective service.
4. That person receives the ability to hear God's voice speaking affirmation and
guidance.
Titus, a True Son
(Titus 1:16)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on Paul's instructions to Titus
1. "Set in order the things that are lacking," . . . v. 5 . . . organize and
train the believers for effective service.
2. "Appoint elders in every city," v. 5 . . . ordain an overseer (senior pastor,
bishop, elder) from every congregation.
3. Silence and rebuke those in the church who are not submissive, who are
deceitful gossips, who subvert believers by contradicting God's word, and
teaching false doctrines, and who serve God just for the money, vv. 10-14.
4. Guard your thoughts (perceptions) so that you may discern the pure from
the defiled . . . receive the God-given ability to distinguish between mere
"profession" of Christ and true "possession" of Christ.
II. Meditation: on the qualifications for bishops (elders, pastors)
Titus, himself (by definition) was a bishop, because he appointed other elders.
1. Personal life: Nine (9) qualifications are listed in verses 6 and 7.
2. Spiritual life: Nine (9) qualifications are listed in verses 8 and 9.
III. on Biblical guidelines for church organization
1. God alone does the choosing of His leaders, but true spiritual elders/bishops/
pastors have the privilege of affirming and ordaining those local church leaders
whom God has selected.
2. Generally, God's chosen elders were chosen from among the faithful believers
within the local congregation.
3. Elders/bishops/pastors were not allowed to operate as independent ministers,
unaccountable to anyone . . . rather, they were to be in voluntary submission
to the ones who appointed them for service (including both God and man).
(Can anyone doubt that Titus, Timothy, and others were under Paul's supervision
and authority?)
4. The calling and dismissing of ministers in a local church by a democratic vote
of the congregation may be "American," but it is neither Christian or Biblical.
(The majority is not necessarily right!)
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Recognize that God alone, chooses pastors for the church, and that God alone, is
the One who disciplines and/or dismisses them.
2. Be alert to perceive those spiritually gifted persons within my congregation whom
God may be calling into vocational Christian service . . . be a part of "calling out the
called."
3. Be in submission to the spiritual leaders which God has placed over me,
Hebrews 13:17.
4. Decide every issue in my life and in my church by seeking to know and follow the will
of God, which He is anxious to reveal to those who truly seek Him, James 1:5
"Education Kindles The Spark"
by: Harvey Mackay
We can't put enough of a premium on the importance of education. Education can help avoid
the high price we pay for experience . . . the great teacher that helps us to gain knowledge and to avoid
making the same mistake twice or three times.
Education is an investment and never an expense. Consider education a capital improvement.
Don't be ashamed to borrow, particularly to replenish your professional inventory. In fact, self-improvement
is the one area in which you should really increase your spending, not decrease it.
Take courses, either in a classroom or online. Go to seminars. Listen to educational and self-
improvement CDs. Network at trade-group meetings. Upgrade your skills. You cannot ever afford to rest
on what you learned in high school or college. The workplace is filling up with people who graduated long
after you did and who have acquired newer, more efficient skills. There are people who are younger, eager
and hungry to show what they can do to your employer . . . and who don't care if they move you on down
the road. Keep on going to school. Enhance what you already know and pick up new material. Computers.
Language. Public speaking. Writing. Continue your education.
In some ways, knowledge is like money: the more a person gets, the more he or she craves.
It's an addiction for which the cure is more of the same. GET HOOKED!
Mackay's Moral: Live and learn – and keep learning to really live.
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