E-pistle for November 1, 2013
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation November 1, 2013
God Opens "a door of hope"
(Hosea 2:1-23)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on some key verses in this chapter
1. "Then she (Israel) will say, "I will go and return to my first husband, for then
it was better for me than now," For she did not know that I (God) gave her
grain, new wine, and oil and multiplied her silver and gold," vv. 7-8.
2. "I will give her . . . the Valley of Achor as a door of hope," v. 15.
3. "It shall be, in that day," says the Lord, "that you will call Me 'My Husband,'
and no longer call me 'My Master, '" v. 16
4. " I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness
and justice, in loving-kindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
and you shall know the Lord, It shall come to pass in that day that I will answer,
says the Lord," vv. 19-21.
II. Meditation: on the basic truths in these verses
1. Often sinful and wayward persons are blind to the fact that God is the source of all
their blessings.
2. The Lord can transform the "Valley of Achor" ("Valley of Trouble" where Achan was
stoned, Joshua 7:26) into a door of hope . . . .an entrance into the realization of one's
expectations and yearned-for blessings.
3. Although God indeed is our Master (Owner; Possessor), He wants our relationship to
Him to be as an accepted member of a loving family.
4. God's marriage vows (covenant) with His chosen people include a number of wonderful
"forever promises" . . .
(1) Permanent Assurance (5) Tender mercies
(2) Right standards (6) Faithful security
(3) Fair treatment (7) Spiritual revelations
(4) Unfailing love (8) Answered prayers
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of these truths
1. The goodness of God (including His forbearance and long-suffering) is designed to
bring us to repentance and into a right relationship with Him, Romans 2:3.
2. God can and does bring good results out of a bad circumstance, Romans 8:28.
3. God the Father loves us more than our earthly parents ever could love us, John 3:16.
4. God always is faithful to keep His covenant, I Corinthians 1:9; Hebrews 10:23.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Live in a continuing spirit of humble repentance before God.
2. Trust in the Lord to bless my life by bringing good out of bad.
3. Love the Lord, because He first loved me, I John 4:19.
4. Thank God for His unfailing promises, Joshua 23:14.
"not ignorant of satan's devices"
(II Corinthians 2:1-17)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Paul taught the Corinthian church to forgive the repentant offending brother,
whom he had condemned in his first epistle to them, vv. 1-17.
2. Paul urged them to love that forgiven brother; he stated that he also had
forgiven him; he reminded them that failure to forgive opens the door to
Satan's attacks . . . "Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are
not ignorant of his devices," vv. 8-11.
3. Paul reviewed his journey to Troas (where he was frustrated in not finding
Titus) and his further travels in Macedonia, vv. 12-13.
4. Paul thanked God "Who always leads us in triumph in Christ", he taught
that believers are a sweet fragrance to God, but they are the aroma of death
to unbelievers, vv. 14-17.
II. Observations: on Satan's past, present, and future
1. Satan was cast out of heaven, Luke 10:18.
2. He now is being bruised under believers' feet, Romans 16:20; I John 4:4.
3. He will be bound (made powerless) by God, Revelation 20:2.
4. He will be damned to eternal hell, Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10.
III. Meditation: on what Satan does on the earth
1. Tempts toward sin (Jesus), Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4.
2. Removes God's word from hearts (birds), Mark 4:15.
3. Brings oppression and illness (woman), Luke 13:16.
4. Frustrates and irritates (Paul's thorn in the flesh), II Corinthians 12:7.
5. Hinders, obstructs, delays, and prevents spiritual progress, I Thessalonians 2:18.
6. Counterfeits spiritual things; devices even the God's elect, II Thessalonians 2:9;
Matthew 24:24; Revelation 12:9.
7. Steals, kills, and destroys, John 8:44; 10:10.
IV. Revelation: on "Who is sufficient?" (v. 16)
Sufficient = enough to satisfy all needs
1. We are not sufficient of ourselves; to even think we may be the source of spiritual
sufficiency is foolishness, II Corinthians 3:5.
2. God is the source of our sufficiency; He provides enough to supply all our needs
through Christ, II Corinthians 3:6; Philippians 4:19.
3. God makes us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant by His Spirit, II Corinthians 3:6.
4. God's grace is sufficient . . . turning our weakness into perfect strength, II Corinthians 12:9.
V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Stand courageously against Satan, my defeated enemy.
2. Recognize Satan's evil strategies and the tactics he uses against me.
3. Ask for God's help, knowing that without His help, Satan will defeat me.
4. Rely completely on Jesus Christ, the source of all my spiritual sufficiency.
"The only people you should ever want to "even" with
are those who have helped you.
--John Honeyfeld
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