E-pistle for September 25, 2015
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation September 25, 2015
Altars we need to visit regularly
(I Samuel 7:1-17)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration and Meditation: on the contents of this chapter
1. The Ark was brought to Abinadad's house, and his son, Eleazar,
was placed in charge of it; the Ark remained there 20 years,
vv. 1-2.
2. Samuel gathered Israel to Mizpah where he sacrificed and prayed
for the nation, which was being threatened by the Philistines,
vv. 3-9.
3. God sent thunder to confuse the enemy; Israel won a victory and
Samuel erected a memorial stone which he named "Ebenezer"
(Stone of Help) saying, "Thus far the Lord had helped us,"
vv. 10-14.
4. Samuel judged Israel, annually making a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal,
Mizpah, and Ramah, vv. 15-17.
II. Revelation and Applications: on the altars Samuel visited (vv. 15-17)
1. Ramah: the altar of beginnings. Ramah was "home" for Samuel,
his place of abode and rest. Ramah is identified with Bethlehem,
the birthplace of Jesus and where Herod slaughtered the children,
Matthew 2:17-18.
Annually, we need to travel (at least in our mind) to the place
where Christ was born in us . . . where He came in to abide and
to give us rest.
2. Bethel: the altar of vision. Bethel was the "House of God" place
where Jacob saw the angels going up and down on a ladder between
heaven and earth, Genesis 28:18-19. This ladder is Jesus Christ, our
link between the physical realm and the spiritual realm, John 1:51 . . .
He is the One through Whom our prayers ascend into heaven and
through Whom the Father's blessings are channeled to us.
Annually, or more often, we need to travel to the place where Christ
revealed Himself to us . . . where He gave us our "vision of destiny."
3. Gilgal: the altar of miracles. Gilgal was the place where Joshua led
God's people through the Jordan River into the Promised Land,
Joshua 4:20. It was the place where an altar was erected to celebrate
the Lord's miraculous deliverance and provision, and where vows were
renewed and preparations were made for the coming warfare.
Annually, at least, we need to travel to the place where Christ has
performed miracles for us . . . where, remembering His salvation
and providential care, we renew our vows and prepare for spiritual
conquest.
4. Mizpah: the altar of intercession. Mizpah was the place where Jacob
and Laban built a watchtower when they parted, Genesis 31:49. In this
chapter (I Samuel 7), Mizpah was the site where Samuel called the people
to repentance and where he prayed for them.
Annually, in fact daily, we need to travel to the place of personal
repentance, confession, and intercession for others . . . to the place
where Christ's sacrifice empowers us to engage in spiritual warfare
(that's intercession) and emerge victorious. EBENEZER!
jonah pouts over god's mercy
(Jonah 4:1-11)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on what the Lord God prepared for Jonah
1. "The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah," 1:17
2. "The Lord prepared a plant . . . that it might be shade," 4:6
3. "God prepared a worm . . . damaged the plant . . . withered," 4:7
4. "God prepared a vehement east wind . . . sun beat on head," 4:8.
II. Preparation: on the spiritual applications seen here
1. God used the fish to teach Jonah obedience, and to provide him
deliverance from death.
2. God used the plant to teach Jonah spiritual values, and to provide
providential care for human need.
3. God used the worm to teach Jonah that human pleasures are temporary,
and to provide a spiritual test.
4. God used the wind to teach Jonah that God is in control, and to provide
discomfort so Jonah would establish God's perspective as his own.
III. Revelation: on Jonah's bad attitude . . . "I'll do it, BUT"
1. I'll do it – but I don't want to.
2. I'll do it – but God is making a serious mistake.
3. I'll do it – but these people don't deserve mercy and grace.
4. I'll do it – but it makes me very angry.
5. I'll do it – but with a nasty, harsh, condemning spirit.
6. I'll do it – but I'd rather be dead.
7. I'll do it – but I hope it doesn't work.
8. I'll do it – but it'll ruin my reputation (make me look foolish).
9. I'll do it – but I could be doing something more productive elsewhere.
(See II Kings 14:25 – a prophet in Israel during Jeroboam's reign)
10. I'll do it – but not motivated by compassionate love.
11. I'll do it – but it won't change anything permanently.
12. I'll do it – but I refuse to learn a spiritual lesson from it.
IV. Applications: on the fish, the plant, the worm, and the wind . . .
1. God has a purpose for every person's life, but we often get into trouble
by disobedience until the only hope of deliverance is God's miraculous
power. The fish says "JESUS SAVES."
2. We should not be exceedingly joyful over life's fleeting pleasures, not
suicidally depressed over disappointments . . . because "life is not fair!"
Remember: God is in control. The plant says "GOD PROVIDES."
3. Just as a small worm can kill a thriving plant, so a "small" bad attitude
(pride, prejudice, self-pity, apathy) can ruin our fruitfulness as God's
spiritual plants. The worm says "SATAN DESTOYS."
4. God sends (or allows) problems to come into our lives to discipline us,
to teach us true priorities, to humble us, and to draw us unto Himself.
The wind says "THE HOLY SPIRIT DISCIPLINES AND TEACHES."
Mark Twain: "Work is a necessary evil to be avoided."
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