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E-pistle for May 12, 2005

#1 · May 12, 2006, 9:43 am

Quote from Forum Archives on May 12, 2006, 9:43 am
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E-PISTLE

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President
FreeWay Foundation May 12, 2006

The Blessings of Baptism

(Matthew 3:1-17)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

I. Concentration: on the events recorded in verses 15-17

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 here came to fully perceive the Father's "business" (purpose)

for His life; He was completely awakened to his divine destiny,

Luke 2:49.

2. Jesus received spiritual discernment, allowing Him to observe

and duplicate what the Father was doing, John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29.

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," Luke 4:1, 14, 18-19.

4. Jesus was given "ears to hear" the voice of God the Father, giving

Him affirmation and direction, John 7:16-17; 8:28; 12:28; Matthew 17:5.

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 by believers which, when

followed, would allow Him to baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

Connect this account with John's words in Matthew 3:11: "I indeed

baptize you with water unto repentance, but . . . He will baptize you

with the Holy Spirit and fire," and with the fulfillment of that prophecy

on the Day of Pentecost according to Peter's words in Acts 2:38:

"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."

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.

"Home-Made Strawberries 4-Sale"

Dr. Curt Scarborough

My little sister and I formed a partnership in the fresh
fruit business in the summer

of 1944. In those days, every patriotic family had a "Victory Garden" to
raise produce for

their table, and my parents prodded me to spade up a patch in our back yard
to raise

strawberries. Much to my surprise, after a lot of back-breaking labor, my
few dinky rows

of strawberry plants flourished and bore fruit abundantly.

In fact, we had more than our family could use, so we opened a
fruit stand in the

front yard. Our hand-crafted sign ("Home-made Strawberries 4-sale") didn't
seem to

attract many customers. So Mother decided that Sissy (Marilyn Sue) and I
should pack

our strawberries in those little crates and hawk the fruit throughout our
neighborhood.

That's when I made a side bargain with my sister. If she'd take
the boxes up

to the houses and knock on the doors, I'd let her ride in the little red
wagon with the

berries. We'd divide the money more-or-less equally: we sold the
strawberries for 12

cents a box. I got eight cents and she got four cents . . . because I was
eight years old

and she was only four! This was not exploitation! I deserved that extra
money! Sissy

weighed a ton, and the streets ran uphill, both coming and going!!

The following harvest season, I sneaked out and gobbled up every
strawberry

in the patch before they got juicy-ripe for picking. Mysteriously, we
didn't have any extra

fruit to peddle to the neighbors that summer . . . and I haven't been able
to look a

strawberry in the face sine then!

In Ecclesiastes 3:2, Solomon wrote: "There is . . . a time to
plant and a time to

pluck what is planted." Jesus dealt with the same subject in His famous
parable about

the sower, the seed, and the various kinds of soils which yielded everything
from zero

to 100-fold. (Luke 8:4-15)

This is a spiritual principle: God has ordained a time to sow
and a time to reap.

After the flood, God told Noah: "While the earth remains, seedtime and
harvest . . . shall

not cease." (Genesis 8:22) David sang: "Those who sow in tears shall reap
in joy. He

who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless
come

again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:5-6) The
prophet

Hosea warned: "They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7) The
Apostle

Paul wrote: "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap . . . And let us
not grow

weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose
heart."

(Galatians 6:7, 9)

PRAYER FOR THE DAY: Lord, please multiply Your seed bountifully, as I sow

it bountifully. Through Your
miraculous power,

increase the fruits of righteousness
in my life.

(II Corinthians 9:6, 10)

Pillsbury College & Seminary

Graduation from Pillsbury College & Seminary is May 20, 2006. We always look

forward to this so we can actually meet the students we have talked to and

emailed all the years they have been studying. It is a sad time for us
because

we won't be in contact with some as much anymore. But some continue on

with their studies and earn another degree.

Pillsbury College & Seminary graduates are presented in the school colors of
light

blue and deep purple. The color scarlet represents graduate-level study in
Theology.

Pillsbury College & Seminary graduation hoods combine the colors blue,
purple,

and scarlet.

"Of the blue, purple and scarlet threads, they made garments of ministry."

Exodus 39:1

Our mission is to empower each student to be fully trained in the ways of
the Lord.

Our hope is that each graduating student will not be satisfied with their
level of

learning, but continue to strive for more knowledge and experience. Our
gift to

each graduate is to help them as they continue their studies.

If you would like to be a part of a future graduation enroll now and start
your studies

with Pillsbury College & Seminary. To enroll go to our web site,
pillsburycs.org

and download the enrollment form, fill it out and send it with a $50
enrollment fee

today. Or contact us by email at info@pillsburycs.org and we will be glad
to

answer any questions. You may also call and speak to Dr. Bartlett or Dr.
Scarborough

at 314.739.1121

"When I stopped seeing my mother with the eyes of a child,

I saw the woman who helped me give birth to myself."

-Nancy Friday

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY messag

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-PISTLE

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President
FreeWay Foundation May 12, 2006

The Blessings of Baptism

(Matthew 3:1-17)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

I. Concentration: on the events recorded in verses 15-17

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 here came to fully perceive the Father's "business" (purpose)

for His life; He was completely awakened to his divine destiny,

Luke 2:49.

2. Jesus received spiritual discernment, allowing Him to observe

and duplicate what the Father was doing, John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29.

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," Luke 4:1, 14, 18-19.

4. Jesus was given "ears to hear" the voice of God the Father, giving

Him affirmation and direction, John 7:16-17; 8:28; 12:28; Matthew 17:5.

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 by believers which, when

followed, would allow Him to baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

Connect this account with John's words in Matthew 3:11: "I indeed

baptize you with water unto repentance, but . . . He will baptize you

with the Holy Spirit and fire," and with the fulfillment of that prophecy

on the Day of Pentecost according to Peter's words in Acts 2:38:

"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."

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.

"Home-Made Strawberries 4-Sale"

Dr. Curt Scarborough

My little sister and I formed a partnership in the fresh
fruit business in the summer

of 1944. In those days, every patriotic family had a "Victory Garden" to
raise produce for

their table, and my parents prodded me to spade up a patch in our back yard
to raise

strawberries. Much to my surprise, after a lot of back-breaking labor, my
few dinky rows

of strawberry plants flourished and bore fruit abundantly.

In fact, we had more than our family could use, so we opened a
fruit stand in the

front yard. Our hand-crafted sign ("Home-made Strawberries 4-sale") didn't
seem to

attract many customers. So Mother decided that Sissy (Marilyn Sue) and I
should pack

our strawberries in those little crates and hawk the fruit throughout our
neighborhood.

That's when I made a side bargain with my sister. If she'd take
the boxes up

to the houses and knock on the doors, I'd let her ride in the little red
wagon with the

berries. We'd divide the money more-or-less equally: we sold the
strawberries for 12

cents a box. I got eight cents and she got four cents . . . because I was
eight years old

and she was only four! This was not exploitation! I deserved that extra
money! Sissy

weighed a ton, and the streets ran uphill, both coming and going!!

The following harvest season, I sneaked out and gobbled up every
strawberry

in the patch before they got juicy-ripe for picking. Mysteriously, we
didn't have any extra

fruit to peddle to the neighbors that summer . . . and I haven't been able
to look a

strawberry in the face sine then!

In Ecclesiastes 3:2, Solomon wrote: "There is . . . a time to
plant and a time to

pluck what is planted." Jesus dealt with the same subject in His famous
parable about

the sower, the seed, and the various kinds of soils which yielded everything
from zero

to 100-fold. (Luke 8:4-15)

This is a spiritual principle: God has ordained a time to sow
and a time to reap.

After the flood, God told Noah: "While the earth remains, seedtime and
harvest . . . shall

not cease." (Genesis 8:22) David sang: "Those who sow in tears shall reap
in joy. He

who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless
come

again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:5-6) The
prophet

Hosea warned: "They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7) The
Apostle

Paul wrote: "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap . . . And let us
not grow

weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose
heart."

(Galatians 6:7, 9)

PRAYER FOR THE DAY: Lord, please multiply Your seed bountifully, as I sow

it bountifully. Through Your
miraculous power,

increase the fruits of righteousness
in my life.

(II Corinthians 9:6, 10)

Pillsbury College & Seminary

Graduation from Pillsbury College & Seminary is May 20, 2006. We always look

forward to this so we can actually meet the students we have talked to and

emailed all the years they have been studying. It is a sad time for us
because

we won't be in contact with some as much anymore. But some continue on

with their studies and earn another degree.

Pillsbury College & Seminary graduates are presented in the school colors of
light

blue and deep purple. The color scarlet represents graduate-level study in
Theology.

Pillsbury College & Seminary graduation hoods combine the colors blue,
purple,

and scarlet.

"Of the blue, purple and scarlet threads, they made garments of ministry."

Exodus 39:1

Our mission is to empower each student to be fully trained in the ways of
the Lord.

Our hope is that each graduating student will not be satisfied with their
level of

learning, but continue to strive for more knowledge and experience. Our
gift to

each graduate is to help them as they continue their studies.

If you would like to be a part of a future graduation enroll now and start
your studies

with Pillsbury College & Seminary. To enroll go to our web site,
pillsburycs.org

and download the enrollment form, fill it out and send it with a $50
enrollment fee

today. Or contact us by email at info@pillsburycs.org and we will be glad
to

answer any questions. You may also call and speak to Dr. Bartlett or Dr.
Scarborough

at 314.739.1121

"When I stopped seeing my mother with the eyes of a child,

I saw the woman who helped me give birth to myself."

-Nancy Friday

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY messag