Epistle for December 19, 2003

#1 · December 17, 2003, 1:20 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on December 17, 2003, 1:20 pm
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E-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation December 19, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This fourth quarter of 2003, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and application on two
important books of the Bible. From the Old Testament, we'll be studying all 14 chapters of Hosea, and
from the New Testament, we'll be studying all 13 chapters of II Corinthians
In This Issue:
Hosea 12:1-14
II Corinthians 12:1-21
PIAC Mentoring Program
Hosea Teaches a History Lesson
(Hosea 12:1-14)
I. Concentration: on Israel's history as exemplified in Jacob's life
1. Hosea brought the Lord's charges against Ephraim: feeding on the wind (pursuing
unproductive ways), lying, and making foreign alliances; the Lord will punish the
nation for these sins, vv. 1-2, 7-8, 11, 14.
2. Hosea mentioned four events in Jacob's life: catching his brother's foot at their
birth (Genesis 25:26); wrestling with the Angel (Genesis 32:24-28); his vision of
the ladder and the angels at Bethel (Genesis 28:12-19); and his return to Bethel after
twenty years in exile (Genesis 35:9-15), vv. 3-4.
3. Hosea also cited two other events connected with Jacob (Israel): his working as a
shepherd for his uncle, Laban, while raising a family of twelve sons (Genesis 29:20, 29);
and Jacob's body (along with the entire nation) being brought out of Egyptian bondage
by God's prophet, Moses, (Exodus 12:50-51; 13:19), vv. 12-13.
4. In the midst of this historical review, Hosea called on the nation to repent and return
to the Lord, vv. 5-6; Hosea identified the source and authority behind his prophetic
words: "I am the Lord . . . I have spoken . . . multiplied visions . . . given
symbols (parables), vv. 9-10.
II. Meditation: on the significance of the historical events cited
1. Jacob and his descendants always have been deceitful and sinful, even from his birth;
however, God spoke to Jacob at Bethel and gave him a divine vision of his family's
future destiny.
2. Jacob lived many years in a foreign land; however, the Lord blessed and prospered
Jacob even during his exile.
3. The Lord called Jacob back to Bethel (the Promised Land); in an all-night prayer
encounter, the Lord transformed Jacob's life and changed his name to Israel.
4. God faithfully kept all His promises to Israel: He delivered His chosen people from
Egyptian bondage, even bringing Jacob's body back into the Promised Land for burial.
III. Revelation: on Hosea's spiritual interpretation of these historical events
1. Israel always has been a sinful people, but God continues to love them because
they have a divine destiny to fulfill.
2. Although the nation again will become slaves in a foreign land, the Lord will prosper
and bless them there.
3. The Lord will call His chosen people, and He will bring them back into His land of promise.
4. The Lord will transform their lives, and He will fulfill all of His covenant promises to them.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to heed Hosea's words. . .
"So you, by the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait
on your God continually," Hosea 12:6.

A Thorn in the Flesh
(II Corinthians 12:1-21)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Paul wrote about his vision of Paradise, vv. 1-6.
2. Paul revealed some insights about his "THORN IN THE FLESH," vv. 7-10.
3. Paul taught about the signs of a true apostle, vv. 11-13.
4. Paul expressed his deep love for the church, vv. 14-21.

II. Meditation: on Paul's "thorn in the flesh"
1. It was some physical ailment: "FLESH", v. 7.
2. It probably was poor eyesight. (See Acts 23:3-5; Galatians 4:15)
3. It was "a messenger of Satan to buffet him," v. 7.
4. It was a weakness which kept him from becoming proud: "least I be
exalted above measure," v. 7 . . . over the marvelous visions and
revelations he had received from the Lord, v. 1.

III. Observations: on how God views a "THORN"
1. God does not view as unacceptable or sinful behavior the repeated
asking by His children to remove a "THORN", v. 8.
2. Sometimes God says "NO" to our most urgent requests.
3. One reason for God's saying "NO" is to magnify the sufficiency of His
grace . . . enabling us to endure, v. 9.
4. Another reason for God's saying "NO" is to magnify His power by
giving strength to His weak servants, v. 9.

IV. Revelation: on a believer's proper attitude toward a remaining "THORN"
1. Joy - "most gladly" endure, v. 9.
2. Appreciation - "boast in my infirmities," v. 9.
3. Pleasure - "take pleasure" in suffering for Christ, v. 10.
4. Encouragement - "when I am weak, then I am strong," v. 10.

V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Ask God for what I need and want, realizing that He always answers by saying
"YES" or "NO" or "WAIT" . . . according to His will and for my ultimate good.
2. Realize that physical weakness often is linked with spiritual strength . . . to
accomplish God's purpose and for His glory.
3. Be assured that God's grace is sufficient for all circumstances and problems
of my life.
4. Perceive my own "THORN IN THE FLESH" through God's eyes, and serve Him in
spite of my weaknesses with joy, appreciation, pleasure, and divine encouragement.

Spiritual Mentoring by Private Tutoring

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President and founder of Pillsbury Institute, is available to mentor a limited number of mid-career Christian ministers on a one-on-one basis. He will personally tutor mature graduate-level students one day per month . . . any day of the week except Sunday.

Here's how this Spiritual Mentoring program works:
1. A minister enrolls in the Spiritual Mentoring track, agreeing to
spend a minimum of 10 hours a week in disciplined private
devotions under the guidance of Dr. Curt Scarborough.
2. The goal is to develop personal and practical notes on selected
portions of Scripture within one year (on all 260 chapters in the
New Testament, for example). The mentoring partner will write
on at least five chapters each week, focusing on a few chosen
verses in each chapter and using a suggested simple outline:
(1) Concentration
(2) Meditation
(3) Revelation
(4) Applications
3. Every four to six weeks, the mentoring partner will meet with Dr.
Scarborough personally (or by telephone or computer) to review
the work, to compare spiritual insights, to discuss revealed truths,
and to sharpen each other's ministry skills. (See Romans 1:11-12).
At each monthly meeting, the previous month's work will be
reviewed and discussed, new assignments made, and the next
appointment will be scheduled.
4. At the end of one year, the mentoring partner in this example
would have produced a 260 page personal and practical devotional
commentary on the entire New Testament . . . to use in his preaching
and teaching, to publish as a book, to preserve and pass along to his
family, and to serve as a resource for mentoring others.

Degrees Available at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity

Associate of Applied Christianity in Biblical Studies
Associate of Applied Christianity in Biblical Counseling

Bachelor of Applied Christianity in Biblical Studies
Bachelor of Applied Christianity in Biblical Counseling

Master of Ministry in Spiritual Mentoring
Master of Ministry in Christian Counseling Psychology

Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Mentoring
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling Psychology
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Christian Counseling

For more information visit our web-site at
www.pillsburyinstitute.org
or call Dr. Scarborough toll-free at
1-888-737-3392

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anatole France said: "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory,
or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate
between what you know and what you don't."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation December 19, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This fourth quarter of 2003, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and application on two
important books of the Bible. From the Old Testament, we'll be studying all 14 chapters of Hosea, and
from the New Testament, we'll be studying all 13 chapters of II Corinthians
In This Issue:
Hosea 12:1-14
II Corinthians 12:1-21
PIAC Mentoring Program
Hosea Teaches a History Lesson
(Hosea 12:1-14)
I. Concentration: on Israel's history as exemplified in Jacob's life
1. Hosea brought the Lord's charges against Ephraim: feeding on the wind (pursuing
unproductive ways), lying, and making foreign alliances; the Lord will punish the
nation for these sins, vv. 1-2, 7-8, 11, 14.
2. Hosea mentioned four events in Jacob's life: catching his brother's foot at their
birth (Genesis 25:26); wrestling with the Angel (Genesis 32:24-28); his vision of
the ladder and the angels at Bethel (Genesis 28:12-19); and his return to Bethel after
twenty years in exile (Genesis 35:9-15), vv. 3-4.
3. Hosea also cited two other events connected with Jacob (Israel): his working as a
shepherd for his uncle, Laban, while raising a family of twelve sons (Genesis 29:20, 29);
and Jacob's body (along with the entire nation) being brought out of Egyptian bondage
by God's prophet, Moses, (Exodus 12:50-51; 13:19), vv. 12-13.
4. In the midst of this historical review, Hosea called on the nation to repent and return
to the Lord, vv. 5-6; Hosea identified the source and authority behind his prophetic
words: "I am the Lord . . . I have spoken . . . multiplied visions . . . given
symbols (parables), vv. 9-10.
II. Meditation: on the significance of the historical events cited
1. Jacob and his descendants always have been deceitful and sinful, even from his birth;
however, God spoke to Jacob at Bethel and gave him a divine vision of his family's
future destiny.
2. Jacob lived many years in a foreign land; however, the Lord blessed and prospered
Jacob even during his exile.
3. The Lord called Jacob back to Bethel (the Promised Land); in an all-night prayer
encounter, the Lord transformed Jacob's life and changed his name to Israel.
4. God faithfully kept all His promises to Israel: He delivered His chosen people from
Egyptian bondage, even bringing Jacob's body back into the Promised Land for burial.
III. Revelation: on Hosea's spiritual interpretation of these historical events
1. Israel always has been a sinful people, but God continues to love them because
they have a divine destiny to fulfill.
2. Although the nation again will become slaves in a foreign land, the Lord will prosper
and bless them there.
3. The Lord will call His chosen people, and He will bring them back into His land of promise.
4. The Lord will transform their lives, and He will fulfill all of His covenant promises to them.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to heed Hosea's words. . .
"So you, by the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait
on your God continually," Hosea 12:6.

A Thorn in the Flesh
(II Corinthians 12:1-21)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Paul wrote about his vision of Paradise, vv. 1-6.
2. Paul revealed some insights about his "THORN IN THE FLESH," vv. 7-10.
3. Paul taught about the signs of a true apostle, vv. 11-13.
4. Paul expressed his deep love for the church, vv. 14-21.

II. Meditation: on Paul's "thorn in the flesh"
1. It was some physical ailment: "FLESH", v. 7.
2. It probably was poor eyesight. (See Acts 23:3-5; Galatians 4:15)
3. It was "a messenger of Satan to buffet him," v. 7.
4. It was a weakness which kept him from becoming proud: "least I be
exalted above measure," v. 7 . . . over the marvelous visions and
revelations he had received from the Lord, v. 1.

III. Observations: on how God views a "THORN"
1. God does not view as unacceptable or sinful behavior the repeated
asking by His children to remove a "THORN", v. 8.
2. Sometimes God says "NO" to our most urgent requests.
3. One reason for God's saying "NO" is to magnify the sufficiency of His
grace . . . enabling us to endure, v. 9.
4. Another reason for God's saying "NO" is to magnify His power by
giving strength to His weak servants, v. 9.

IV. Revelation: on a believer's proper attitude toward a remaining "THORN"
1. Joy - "most gladly" endure, v. 9.
2. Appreciation - "boast in my infirmities," v. 9.
3. Pleasure - "take pleasure" in suffering for Christ, v. 10.
4. Encouragement - "when I am weak, then I am strong," v. 10.

V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Ask God for what I need and want, realizing that He always answers by saying
"YES" or "NO" or "WAIT" . . . according to His will and for my ultimate good.
2. Realize that physical weakness often is linked with spiritual strength . . . to
accomplish God's purpose and for His glory.
3. Be assured that God's grace is sufficient for all circumstances and problems
of my life.
4. Perceive my own "THORN IN THE FLESH" through God's eyes, and serve Him in
spite of my weaknesses with joy, appreciation, pleasure, and divine encouragement.

Spiritual Mentoring by Private Tutoring

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President and founder of Pillsbury Institute, is available to mentor a limited number of mid-career Christian ministers on a one-on-one basis. He will personally tutor mature graduate-level students one day per month . . . any day of the week except Sunday.

Here's how this Spiritual Mentoring program works:
1. A minister enrolls in the Spiritual Mentoring track, agreeing to
spend a minimum of 10 hours a week in disciplined private
devotions under the guidance of Dr. Curt Scarborough.
2. The goal is to develop personal and practical notes on selected
portions of Scripture within one year (on all 260 chapters in the
New Testament, for example). The mentoring partner will write
on at least five chapters each week, focusing on a few chosen
verses in each chapter and using a suggested simple outline:
(1) Concentration
(2) Meditation
(3) Revelation
(4) Applications
3. Every four to six weeks, the mentoring partner will meet with Dr.
Scarborough personally (or by telephone or computer) to review
the work, to compare spiritual insights, to discuss revealed truths,
and to sharpen each other's ministry skills. (See Romans 1:11-12).
At each monthly meeting, the previous month's work will be
reviewed and discussed, new assignments made, and the next
appointment will be scheduled.
4. At the end of one year, the mentoring partner in this example
would have produced a 260 page personal and practical devotional
commentary on the entire New Testament . . . to use in his preaching
and teaching, to publish as a book, to preserve and pass along to his
family, and to serve as a resource for mentoring others.

Degrees Available at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity

Associate of Applied Christianity in Biblical Studies
Associate of Applied Christianity in Biblical Counseling

Bachelor of Applied Christianity in Biblical Studies
Bachelor of Applied Christianity in Biblical Counseling

Master of Ministry in Spiritual Mentoring
Master of Ministry in Christian Counseling Psychology

Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Mentoring
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling Psychology
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Christian Counseling

For more information visit our web-site at
http://www.pillsburyinstitute.org
or call Dr. Scarborough toll-free at
1-888-737-3392

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anatole France said: "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory,
or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate
between what you know and what you don't."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MERRY CHRISTMAS