Quote from Forum Archives on December 11, 2006, 1:41 pm

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E-pistle

                              Dr. Curt Scarborough, President               FreeWay Foundation                        December 7, 2006

 

A Day's Journey

(I Kings 19:4; Luke 2:44)

            Too many of us Christian ministers today seem to be "a day's journey" away

from God.  Our failure to walk in intimacy with the Father may explain why we seem

to accomplish so little that actually remains permanently.

            Realization of (making real) our dream, our vision, our destiny in ministry

must find its strength in a living spirituality.  Psychological techniques, organizational

methods, and motivational cheer-leading won't produce "gold, silver, or precious

stones" results.  Rather, they produce merely "corn shucks."  The power of ministry

springs from and flourishes out of a personal encounter and a continuing fellowship

with the resurrected Christ.

            Spirituality has a private dimension before it has a public influence.  The call to

minister is first a call to spirituality.  The Spirit-filled minister models a humble, authentic,

and intimate walk with God.

 

Barriers to a Growing Spirituality

            "What is the greatest problem in America today . . . ignorance or apathy?"  It may

have been Mark Twain who answered that question by asserting"  "I don't know, and I

don't care!"

            These two ideas summarize the greatest problems in the ministry today:

1.       Ignorance:

A.      Thinking that a person cannot have real intimacy with God.

B.      Not knowing the ingredients and dimensions of true spirituality.

C.      An erroneous concept of what personal success in life means.

2.       Apathy:

A.      Busyness . . . the intensity of our schedules and lifestyles.

B.      Inconsistency in thought, word, and deed.

C.      Sheer laziness . . . lack of a disciplined life.

 

The Necessary Dimensions of Spirituality

1.       A committed and submitted life.

2.       Discipline (regular prayer, fasting, study, and meditation).

3.       Focusing priority attention on the living Christ.

4.       Sensitivity to needs and opportunities to minister for Christ.

Walking with God can be an exciting adventure.  He has made us for fellowship

with Himself.  He longs to have the intimacy of father and child with us.  More than

anything else, He wants to help us become all that He created us to be . . . His children,

made in His image, looking like His beloved Son, Jesus.

 

My Devotional Life (An Imperfect Example)

            With some hesitance, I write about my personal devotional life in response to a

number of requests from my mentoring partners.  In no way is this to be perceived as

some holy standard by which persons should pattern their own quiet time with the Lord! 

My goal . . . which I don't always attain . . . is to spend three or four hours a day nurturing

my personal walk with God.

            I am a "morning person," so usually I am able to start my day early with the Lord. 

My normal routine is to rise at 5:00 a.m. and arrive at my office before 6:30.  It takes about

30 seconds, but I begin my quiet time with PRAISE, using an acrostic suggested by Jack

Hayford, composer of the song "Majesty."

         

                        P . . . Present yourself to the Lord with humility.

                        R . . . Raise holy hands in peace.

                        A . . . Audibly speak thanks in praise.

                        I . . . Invite fresh Holy Spirit fullness.

                        S . . . Sing a new song in hope.

                        E . . . Enter each new day with faith.

 

            Here's an example of what I usually say:

                        "Lord I PRESENT myself to You with humility.  I RAISE holy hands

 (cleansed and forgiven through the blood of Christ) in peace.  I

 AUDIBLY speak thanks and praise unto Your name.  I INVITE the

Holy Spirit to come in fullness and freshness into my life today.

 I SING a new song in hope.  (Here I pause briefly to sing a song

from my heart).  I ENTER this new day, Lord, with faith."

 

            Next, I focus on devotional Bible reading and prayer to help me center my attention

on the Lord.  I use a read-the-Bible-through-in-a-year plan, plus a regular dipping into

some writings of some of my personal heroes . . . Oswald Chambers, E.M. Bounds, S.D.

Gordon, Watchman Nee, or Jack Hayford.

            I use a form of structured prayer built upon Jesus' Model Prayer in Matthew 6.

1.       I open with affirmation of personal relationship. (Our Father)

2.       In my spirit, I worship Him.  (Hallowed be Thy name)

3.       I yield in my soul (mind, emotions, will) to His rule.  (Thy kingdom come)

4.       I intercede for others.  (Thy will be done on earth)

5.       I pray for personal, physical needs.  (Give us . . . daily bread)

6.       I establish or renew divine fellowship.  (Forgive my sins)

7.       I cultivate a Christ-like attitude toward others (As I forgive . . . )

8.       I pray for guidance.  (Lead us . . .)

9.       I pray for protection from Satan.  (Deliver us from the evil one)

10.   I close with affirmation and praise.  (Thine is the kingdom, power, glory)

A written prayer list helps keep my intercessory time (#4 above) focused.  Petitions

and answers are dated to help build and strengthen my faith.

            I am constantly seeking to expand my skill of practicing the presence of God.  I try

to spend one of my three or four hours daily in meditation.  I meditate on Bible stories,

spiritual themes, and/or contemplating of Almighty God Himself.  Often divine discernment

has come during such quiet periods.  (When I'm traveling long distances, I spend most of

that driving or flying time in meditation).

            I keep a spiritual journal, entering a new "word" from the Scripture each day,

along with any impressions or ideas which come to mind during the day's devotions. 

(Special "rhema" words are flagged in red).  For the past three years, I have written a

"Personal and Practical" teaching outline/commentary each day on a different chapter

of the Bible.

            I try to schedule one day a month for solitude.  On this day, on which I fast, I focus

my entire attention upon God and my relationship with Him.  (Although I am diabetic, I

manage to fast for one meal each week, and at other times, I enter in the "spirit of the fast"

by limiting my diet to only bread and fruit juice).

            Without this discipline within the 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday

structure described, I probably would not have a meaningful devotional life.  On

Saturday mornings, I start a couple of hours later, and Sundays, I spend an hour

before going to church . . . then a couple of hours in devotions in the afternoon.

            However, this methodical framework must be counterbalanced by flexibility.  If

circumstances occasionally prevent me from spending these morning hours with the Lord,

I do not beat myself up over it.  In fact, on family vacation or personal retreat times, I

intentionally limit my daily private devotional period to just one hour . . . retaining the

balance of my free time for rest and relaxation.  Discipline must never deteriorate into

compulsive-obsessive or legalistic behavior!

            I enjoy the freedom of allowing the Lord to direct my devotional life.  The

serendipitous experiences He has provided are especially rich and meaningful.  So,

throughout each day, I try to remain sensitive to His surprises:  seeing His hand in

circumstances, hearing His voice in opened doors of opportunity, and feeling His

heartbeat as I reach out to touch hurting people in the name of Jesus.

            Openness to God and before God is the secret to spiritual growth.  But it doesn't

occur just by accident.  It requires a conscious decision of the will to make it happen.

            Here is a list of the devotional lifeskills I attempt to cultivate in the young men with

whom I am connected in a spiritual mentoring relationship:

1.       Fasting:  at least one meal each week.

(Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 17:20-21; Isaiah 58:3-7)

2.       Praying:  confession and intercession, "without ceasing" . . .

at least three time daily . . . using the Model Prayer.

(Psalm 55:17; I Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:9-13; I John 1:9)

3.       Singing:  psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs . . .

making melody in your heart continually.

(Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13)

4.       Praising:  speaking words to magnify the Lord,

at least seven times daily.

(Psalm 119:164; Psalm 150:1-6; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 19:5)

5.       Reading:  God's word daily . . . through the entire Bible annually.

(II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

6.       Meditating:  daily on the spiritual truths and implications in each

chosen passage.

(Psalm 19:14; Philippians 4:8)

7.       Receiving:  the Holy Spirit's fullness, enlightenment, revelation,

renewal, refreshing, and power daily.

(John 14:26; Ephesians 1:17-19; 5:18; James 1:5; I John 1:20, 27)

8.       Journaling:  daily writing personal reflections, revelations, experiences,

and spiritual applications.

(Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Jeremiah 30:2; Habbakuk 2:2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Celebrate Christmas in the Winter?

(Galatians 4:1-31)

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Paul reminded believers that they once were slaves to sin, vv. 1-3.

            2.  Paul interpreted Christ's birth "IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME" vv. 4-7.

            3.  Paul expressed his fears that the church might back-slide, vv. 8-20.

            4.  Paul taught about God's two covenants:  on giving birth to bondage

                and one giving birth to freedom, vv. 21-31.

II.  Observations:  on the "FULLNESS OF TIME" (Galatians 4:4; Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11-12)

1.       To everything there is a season, according to God's plan, Ecclesiastes 3:1.

2.       There is a time for every purpose of God under heaven, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 12.

3.       God has made everything beautiful in its time, Ecclesiastes 3:11.

4.       God has put "ETERNITY" in human hearts, Ecclesiastes 3:11.

III.  Meditation:  on why Paul wrote "TO COME BEFORE WINTER," II Timothy 4:21

1.       Winter is the DARKEST time of the year, he needed Timothy's radiance.

2.       Winter is the DEADEST time of the year, he needed Timothy's vitality.

3.       Winter is the COLDEST time of the year, he needed Timothy's warmth.

4.       Winter is the LATEST time of the year, he needed Timothy's optimism.

IV.  Revelation:  on the meaning of Christ's birth as seen in these Scriptures

1.       The birth of Christ brought great LIGHT into the world at its DARKEST

season, John 1:9; Matthew 4:16; Isaiah 60:1-3.

2.       The birth of Christ brought the possibility of eternal LIFE to those who,

in spite of the DEADNESS of their souls, believe in Him and receive Him

through faith, John 1:14; 3:16.

3.       The birth of Christ brought WARMTH (and healing) to persons whose hearts

are COLD toward spiritual things, Malachi 4:2.

4.       The birth of Christ marked the end of the OLD era and the beginning of a

NEW covenant . . . a new start, II Corinthians 5:17.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to understand that . . .

1.       No matter how DARK my circumstances the LIGHT of Christ comes to

illuminate my path.

2.       No matter how DEAD my dreams and aspirations, Christ comes to bring

a glorious RESURRECTION of hope for the future.

3.       No matter how COLD my heart or how frigid my compassion, Christ

(Sun of Righteousness) comes to WARM my soul and ignite my spirit with

inspiration, joy, comfort, and encouragement.

4.       No matter how badly I may have MESSED UP the preceding year, Christ comes

to give me a FRESH new start . . . "OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY . . . ALL

THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW,  II Corinthians 5:17.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

John F. Kennedy:  "As we express our gratitude, we must

                                                                            never forget that the highest appreciation

                                                                            is not to utter words, but to live by them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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