E-pistle for November 10, 2006
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation November 10, 2006
Gates and Courts: Thanks and Praise
(Psalm 100)
In human experience, which comes first: thanks or praise? Usually, when our
children have gotten past the first stages of baby-talk, we begin teaching them polite
phrases such as the magic words: "THANK YOU."
So it is in the spiritual realm. The beginning place for most of us was
thanksgiving. Probably it worked like this: God took the initiative and blessed us;
we recognized Him as the source (James 1:17) and thanked Him; we reflected on His
blessing and received the revelation that the gift showed something of God's character
. . . who He is; then we began to praise and worship Him (I John 4:19).
What God DOES, reveals who he is. Who HE IS, produces (creates) what He does.
Thanksgiving is more than a warm feeling or sentimental emotion. It's an
act . . . an expression of appreciation and gratitude to someone, for something. Merely
mumbling "I'm thankful" on the last Thursday of November is meaningless unless we
include the "WHAT" and the "TO WHOM."
Praise, on the other hand, is an expression of admiration and approval which
glorifies someone. To the Christian, it tells the goodness and worthiness of God, and is
the chief element of true worship.
Thanksgiving is man's response to a worthy gift. Praise is man's response to
worthy God.
With this background in mind, consider Psalm 100:4. "Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."
(It would be profitable here for the serious Bible student to cross-reference
the words "gate" and "court.")
A gate, obviously is an entrance way, but it also is the structure that opens and
closes to admit or bar persons. Further, in ancient times, the gate was a place of
authority and power where business and commerce were transacted, where civil
disputes were settled, and where criminal cases were judged. (See Ruth 4:1,
II Samuel 15:2; I Kings 22:10 and Amos 5:10)
Jesus is the "GATE" where spiritual business is transacted, where reconciliation
between God and man is accomplished, and where Christ's death provides man a
"not guilty" verdict.
A court, among other definitions, is the residence of a sovereign. In spiritual
terms, the court is the dwelling place of God's presence. Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages
believers to come boldly into the court (God's throne) through the gate (Jesus our
High Priest).
Now notice this outline study of Psalm 100:
I. God's People Should "Be Thankful to Him" (4,5) . . . Gates
His character produces blessings:
1. He is good; He does good (Matthew 5:45; Romans 2:4)
2. He is merciful; He extends everlasting mercy, grace, forgiveness
3. He is faithful; His word (truth) endures forever . . . He keeps
His covenant promises.
II. God's people Should "Bless His Name" (3,4) . . . Courts
His blessings reveal His character, we come to . . .
1. Know (experience) that He is God (Covenant name)
2. Know that He is the Creator
3. Know that He is the Shepherd (provider; caretaker)
III. God's people Should Worship: Thank and Praise (1,2)
1. Shout (make a joyful noise)
2. Serve with gladness
3. Sing, as they come before His presence
Summary:
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving: through Christ the Gate.
Thank Him, who is our source of every good gift, of everlasting
mercy, of enduring truth.
Enter through the Gate of Thanksgiving into His courts with praise.
He is our God, our Creator, our Shepherd.
Therefore, we worship with joy . . . shouting, serving and singing!
The Gratitude Attitude
(Luke 10:25-37)
I. The Robber: "What's your is mine; I'll take it."
Example:
1. Jacob and Esau (Birthright and blessing) . . . Genesis 25.
2. David and Uriah (Bathsheba) . . . II Samuel 11.
3. Ahab and Naboth (Vineyard; Jezebel) . . . I kings 21.
II. The Priest and Levite: "What's mine is mine; I'll keep it."
Example:
1. Rich young ruler . . . Mark 10:17-22 GOING . . .
2. Rich fool . . . Luke 12:15-21 GOING . . .
3. Rich man (and Lazarus) . . . Luke 16:19-31 GONE . . .
"Love of money is the root of all evil," I Timothy 6:10
"Whoever saves his life shall lose it," Matthew 16:25
III. The Samaritan: "What's mine is God's; I"ll share it."
"The earth is the Lord's," Psalm 24:1
"Every good gift is from above," James 1:17
"God gives ability to produce wealth," Deuteronomy 8:17-18
"Happy in work . . . gift of God," Ecclesiastes 5:19
"Everything comes from You," I Chronicles 29:14
Examples:
1. Widow of Zerephath (Elijah; flour and oil) . . . I Kings 17:7-16.
2. Boy with five loaves and two fish (fed 5,000) . . . John 6:8.
3. Widow's two coins (all she had) . . . Luke 21:1-4.
"It is more blessed to give than to receive," Acts 20:35
"Lay up treasures in heaven," Matthew 6:21
"Come, blessed . . . take inheritance," Matthew 25:34ff
IV. Applications: As a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Always have the attitude of compassion toward hurting people (Luke 10:33).
2. This attitude of compassion produces the action of sharing (Luke 10:34-35).
MERE BIBLE STUDY
MERE Bible Study is intensely, in fact, exclusively, personal and practical. This is
the reason Dr. Scarborough has entitled the five basic textbooks, are used as examples of
the MERE Bible Study system, Personal & Practical.
The books in the series are:
· Personal & Practical: The 27 Books of the New Testament
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on all 260
chapters of the New Testament.
· Personal & Practical: The 5 Books of Moses
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on all 187
chapters of Genesis through Deuteronomy.
· Personal & Practical: The 12 Books of History
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on all 249
chapters of Joshua through Esther.
· Personal & Practical: The 5 Books of Poetry
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on all 243
chapters of Job through Song of Solomon.
· Personal & Practical: The 17 Books of Prophecy
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on all 250
chapters of Isaiah through Malachi.
What the Mere Spiritual Mentoring Bible Study program DOES NOT do:
1. It does not teach Biblical languages or expository interpretation.
2. It does not involve denominational doctrine or systematic theology.
3. It does not substitute for a minister's necessary on-going preparations
to preach or teach.
4. It does not evaluate the written work on the basis of "content" as much
as on the basis of "process."
What the MERE Spiritual mentoring Bible study program DOES:
1. It establishes a strict routine of daily devotional exercises.
2. It disciplines committed Bible students to meditate and to
listen for the voice of God.
3. It trains serious students of the Bible to seek, find, and record
(Journal) "revelations" from the Holy Spirit as He applies God's
Word in a practical way to their lives and ministries.
4. It maintains accountability with a mentor, who also is engaged in
doing the same daily spiritual exercises . . . sharing insights with
each other at the monthly private tutoring sessions.
For more information contact Dr. Curt Scarborough at drcurt@freewayfoundation.org or
call us at 314-739-1121.
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