E-pistle for September 22, 2006
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation September 22, 2006
Oh Come, Let us Worship and Bow Down
John 4
Dr. Curt Scarborough
It took Moses 40 days to receive the Law on Mt. Sinai. (Maybe 80 days, since he
made two trips.) The rest of the year there was spent preparing and teaching the people
how to worship Almighty God.
The ratio of WORSHIP TEACHING TIME and LAW TEACHING TIME was about four
to one. How does our preaching/teaching time on these two subjects compare? In my
experience, we spend far more time talking about obeying God's laws than we do talking
about how to worship Him. Both are vital, but worship should have priority.
In the Old Testament, the word "worship" means "to make oneself low." It implies
bowing, stooping, falling down before someone as an act of submission, reverence, and
homage.
The New Testament word for worship combines the ideas of "toward" and "to
kiss." It means to prostrate oneself, bow down, do obeisance, show reverence, do homage,
and adore.
Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well (John 4) is a magnificent model of
personal soul-winning, of course. But this account also contains some deep concept from
the mind and heart of the Lord on the subject of worship. In outline form, Jesus taught
these truths:
1. The where of worship (v. 20)
Whether on Mt. Gerizim or in Jerusalem, the place of
worship is not the issue.
2. The when of worship (vv. 21, 23)
"The hour is coming . . . and is," Jesus said. The God
of the "now" may be worshipped only in the "now."
3. The who of worship (vv. 21, 24)
The Father is to be the object of worship . . . and God is
Spirit. In verse 14, Jesus, the Son, lays claim to Divinity
. . . He can give eternal life. Therefore, who are we to
worship? The Trinity . . . the Three in One.
4. The what of worship (v. 22)
Worship requires some knowledge of the spiritual realm.
The woman didn't know what to worship; Jesus connected
such knowledge of worship with the experience of
salvation. Worship, like all spiritual matters, only may be
discerned spiritually, I Corinthians 2:14.
5. The which of worship (v. 23)
Here Jesus refers to TRUE worshippers. Mankind everywhere
on earth has an innate yearning to worship. But, Jesus implies,
some are true worshippers . . . some false . . . depending upon
the next point.
6. The how of worship (vv. 23, 24)
True worshippers worship this way only; in spirit and in truth.
Both are necessary for acceptable worship. (This idea is explored
more deeply in the conclusion.)
7. The why of worship (v. 230
Two reasons (one stated; one implied) answer the question, "Why
worship?" 1) The Father is seeking for true worshippers. 2) He is
worthy of our worship. True worshippers must worship both in
spirit and in truth, Jesus emphasized.
Spirit without truth: leads to anarchy, excesses, and immaturity: (Consider
Judges 21:25 and the Corinthians church).
Truth without spirit: leads to bondage, legalism, and death. (Consider the
Pharisees and Judiazers, II Corinthians 3:6, John 6:62).
Spirit plus truth: leads not to anarchy or bondage, but Lordship of Christ
(Philippians 2:9-11); leads not to excesses or legalism, but to balanced freedom
(Galatians 5:1, 13); leads not to immaturity or deadness, but to growth and
fruitfulness (John 15:1-8).
Individually (in our personal quiet times) and corporately (in our congregations),
let us truly worship the One who is worthy . . . singing, shouting, bowing down . . .
(Psalm 95:1-2; 6-7.)
Give, And It Will Be Given Unto You
Luke 6:36-38
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: Give What? . . . NOT MONEY!
1. Mercy (36) = leniency toward a guilty person; compassion.
2. Judge Not (37) = to decide; to give an opinion; to criticize.
3. Condemn Not = to blame; to censure; to pronounce guilty;
to reprove; to sentence; to declare unfit for use.
4. Forgive (37) = to pardon; to cancel; to cease to bear
resentment against.
"Give mercy and forgiveness, not judgment (criticism) or
condemnation (pronouncing a guilty verdict and a penalty).
II. Meditation: Give How?
(See Malachi 3:10; Ephesians 3:20)
1. Good measure = full; up to standard (16 oz. pound; 32 oz. quart).
2. Pressed down = compacted to hold even more (grain, raisins, etc.)
3. Shaken together = increased capacity; more volume.
4. Running over = so full, it can't hold any more.
III. Revelation: Give Why?
1. Because God gives us His blessings this way, (36).
2. Because "What goes around, comes around."
3. Because without mercy and forgiveness, Christians are blind
leaders of the blind who fall into a ditch, (39).
4. Because such "giving" shows Christian growth . . . into the
likeness and stature of Christ.
IV. Applications: if necessary, a Christian may . . .
1. Criticize the deeds of others . . .
2. But only with compassion (mercy.
3. Reprove the actions, speech, and attitudes of others . . .
4. But only in the spirit of forgiveness (without resentment).
Prayer: A Spiritual Warfare
by Edward A. Collins
(November 2001)
Every Christian needs intercessors. But pastors and other Christian leaders need
them more. Dr. C. Peter Wagner in the book Prayer Shield proposes five reasons why
pastors need intercessors.
First, "Pastors have more responsibility and accountability." James 3:1 states it
best. It says, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall
receive a stricter judgment." In other words, pastors are held with greater responsibility
and accountability in God's eyes. Thus, they need intercessors.
Second, "Pastors are more subject to temptation." Dr. Ed Murphy in his book
entitled Spiritual Warfare Handbook states that Christian leaders are major targets in
Satan's strategy. The higher up the ladder of Christian leadership, the higher you go on
Satan's hit list.
Third, "Pastors are more targeted by spiritual warfare." It has become clear that
in the past few years satanists, witches, new agers, occult practitioners, and other
worshippers of darkness have entered into an evil covenant to pray to Satan for the
breakdown of marriages of pastors and Christian leaders. The spiritual warfare is
intensifying. If pastors plan to impact their community for Christ, they can not ignore
this truth and the need for intercessors.
Fourth, "Pastors have more influence on others." Dr. Ed Murphy states, "Someone
has stated that if a solitary man sins, he alone is affected. If a family man sins, his entire
family is affected. If a community leader sins, the community is affected. If a leader over
a given structure of a given society sins, the entire society is affected. If a national leader
sins, the entire nation is affected. If a world leader sins, the whole world is affected . . .
If a Christian leader sins, a church, a Christian institution, or a Christian home is damaged
or possibly paralyzed."
Finally, "Pastors have more visibility." Pastors are under the microscope inside
and outside the church. People are often critical of pastors. This places a great deal of
stress on them and thus they need supernatural help. Intercessors can provide this help.
Prayer is vital to spiritual warfare. Pastors need to pray more and they need to
encircle themselves with prayer warriors. Don't attempt to do spiritual warfare without
these two ingredients established.
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