Epistle for January 16, 2004

#1 · January 16, 2004, 10:52 am

Quote from Forum Archives on January 16, 2004, 10:52 am
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Epistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 16, 2004

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

This first quarter of 2004, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and applications on Genesis
13-24 and Matthew 1-13. (I used the first 12 chapters of Genesis in the "E-pistle" during December, 2001.)
I plan to continue these book studies in the Old and New Testaments for the next several months.
In This Issue:
Genesis 15:1-21
Matthew 3:1-17
New Tuition for PIAC
Cutting the Covenant of Blood
(Genesis 15:1-21)
I. Concentration: on the Lord's personal relationship with Abram
1. The Lord appeared in a vision to Abram, assuring him that He was his vision,
comfort, protection, and reward, v. 1.
2. Abram asked God to clarify His promise about a son, vv. 2-3.
Would his son come through His servant, Eliezer?
3. The Lord told Abram that his son would come directly from him, and that his
descendants would be as innumerable as the stars, vv. 4-5.
4. Abram "believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness,"
v. 6; Romans 4:3, 9-22.
II. Meditation: on "cutting" the covenant ("covenant" means "cutting")
1. God began by repeating His inheritance promises, but Abram asked, "How can I
know for sure?" vv. 7-8.
2. The Lord established a blood covenant with Abram, which included:
(1) Animals sacrificed by being cut in half, vv. 9-10.
(2) Placing the pieces of the dead animals a distance apart, v. 10.
(3) Swearing of a blood-oath between the two parties, vv. 13-16.
(4) Walking between the sacrificed animals as a sign of the surety of
the promises made . . . under penalty of death, v. 17.
3. God did all the work of establishing this covenant; all Abram did was to
sacrifice the animals as God commanded him.
4. "A smoking oven and a burning torch," vv. 17, was God's manifestation
of Himself walking into the covenant relationship with Abram.
III. Revelation: on the great spiritual truths in this chapter
1. Humans cannot even begin to count God's blessings . . . they are numberless,
like the sand, dust, and stars.
2. Salvation is by faith, and faith alone, v. 6; Ephesians 2:8-9.
3. The "vultures of Satan" (v. 11) always gather where God and man are doing spiritual
business (cutting a covenant); these demonic distractions must be driven away.
4. The manifestations of God's presence are terrifying to human beings, which, perhaps,
accounts for the Lord's appearing to many individuals in dreams or visions . . . as He
did when a deep sleep fell on Abram, v. 12.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Trust in God for His salvation of me.
2. Trust in God for His blood-covenant relationship with me.
3. Trust in God for His fulfilled promises to me.
4. Trust in God for His vision of destiny for me.

The Blessings of Baptism
(Matthew 3:1-17)
I. Concentration: on the events recorded in verses 15-17
1. Jesus told John the Baptist that He was determined to fulfill all righteousness
. . . to accomplish His divine vision to destiny . . . to complete His mission
on earth which was given to Him by the Father.
2. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened to Him . . .
He was enabled to see into the spiritual realm.
3. At that time, the Spirit of God descended upon Him . . . He was anointed
with power by the Holy Spirit.
4. A voice spoke from heaven, expressing divine relationship and approval . . . He
heard the voice of His heavenly Father.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual significance of these events
1. Jesus here came to fully perceive the Father's "business" (purpose) for His life;
He was completely awakened to His divine destiny, Luke 2:49.
2. Jesus received spiritual discernment, allowing Him to observe and duplicate what
the Father was doing, John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29.
3. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, receiving divine power for service . . . He officially
stepped into His Messianic role as Christ, "The Anointed One," Luke 4:1, 14, 18-19.
4. Jesus was given "ears to hear" the voice of God the Father, giving Him affirmation
and direction, John 7:16-17; 8:28; 12:28; Matthew 17:5.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual truths illustrated in Jesus' baptism by John
1. Jesus provided a method for believers to identify with Him.
2. Jesus foreshadowed His resurrection from the dead.
3. Jesus portrayed His giving eternal life to believers.
4. Jesus prophesied His return to resurrect the dead bodies of believers.
But Jesus' baptism also demonstrated . . .
the initial step of obedience and surrender by believers which, when
followed, would allow Him to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. Connect
this account with John's words in Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize
you with water unto repentance, but . . . He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and fire," and with the fulfillment of that prophecy on the
Day of Pentecost according to Peter's words in Acts 2:38: "Repent, and
let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
IV. Applications: when Jesus baptizes a believer with the Holy Spirit . . .
1. That believer receives a vision of his divine destiny.
2. That believer receives the ability to perceive spiritual truths and reality.
3. That believer receives divine power for effective service.
4. That person receives the ability to hear God's voice speaking affirmation and guidance.

Earn your M.A. or Ph.D. at Pillsbury Institute;
Become a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor

M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credits - $750 down)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credits - $810 down)

Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity, St. Louis, offers pastoral counseling training at only $90 per credit hour. National Christian Counselors Association distance learning format allows completion within 12-16 months. Program includes basic and advanced curriculum, clinical supervision, practicums, thesis, NCCA licensure and board certification in your choice of eight counseling specializations.

For additional information, visit www.pillsburyinstitute.org or phone toll-free 1-888-737-3392.

Tuition Fees for 2004
The Board of Directors of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity has established the following tuition rates
effective January 1, 2004:
Undergraduate tuition: $60 per credit hour
Graduate-level tuition: $90 per credit hour

Ph.D in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours) - $4,860
$810 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 27 months
M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours) - $3,600
$750 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 19 months
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling (42 credit hours) - $3,780
$780 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 24 months (SECOND DEGREE ONLY)
D.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (48 credit hours) - $4,320
$720 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 24 months
M.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (32 credit hours) - $2,880
$630 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 15 months
Bachelor of Biblical Counseling or Biblical Studies (final year: 32 credit hours) - $1,920
$570 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 9 months

Iron-clad Money-back Guarantee

* $50 registration fee will be refunded if the applicant is not accepted as a student.
* Initial payment will be refunded - no questions asked - if the student decides to
withdraw for any reason within 30 days of registration.
* $50 graduation fee will be waived for students who complete their regular tuition
payments ahead of schedule.

Notice: Entering students who submit a registration form for a degree program will have 60 days in which to complete the process, including the payment of the initial fee. After 60 days, the entering student who has not completed the process will be placed on inactive status, the registration form will become invalid, and the $50 registration fee will be forfeited.
These tuition fee increases are the first to be implemented since the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity was founded in 1992. However, the costs still remain substantially lower than all other comparable distance learning graduate schools because Pillsbury Institute is owned, controlled, and operated by the FreeWay Foundation.
The FreeWay Foundation is a non-profit ministry which provides "practical teaching and training for successful living." The Foundation pays the salaries and benefits of Pillsbury Institute's administration, staff, and faculty members. The Institute is housed at no charge in FreeWay Foundation's spacious modern building on a beautiful 2-acre campus in northwest St. Louis County. Since the overhead costs of the school are minimal, these substantial savings are passed along to the student in the form of lower tuition rates.

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

"To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act."
- Anatole France
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by: info <info@...>

Epistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 16, 2004

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

This first quarter of 2004, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and applications on Genesis
13-24 and Matthew 1-13. (I used the first 12 chapters of Genesis in the "E-pistle" during December, 2001.)
I plan to continue these book studies in the Old and New Testaments for the next several months.
In This Issue:
Genesis 15:1-21
Matthew 3:1-17
New Tuition for PIAC
Cutting the Covenant of Blood
(Genesis 15:1-21)
I. Concentration: on the Lord's personal relationship with Abram
1. The Lord appeared in a vision to Abram, assuring him that He was his vision,
comfort, protection, and reward, v. 1.
2. Abram asked God to clarify His promise about a son, vv. 2-3.
Would his son come through His servant, Eliezer?
3. The Lord told Abram that his son would come directly from him, and that his
descendants would be as innumerable as the stars, vv. 4-5.
4. Abram "believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness,"
v. 6; Romans 4:3, 9-22.
II. Meditation: on "cutting" the covenant ("covenant" means "cutting")
1. God began by repeating His inheritance promises, but Abram asked, "How can I
know for sure?" vv. 7-8.
2. The Lord established a blood covenant with Abram, which included:
(1) Animals sacrificed by being cut in half, vv. 9-10.
(2) Placing the pieces of the dead animals a distance apart, v. 10.
(3) Swearing of a blood-oath between the two parties, vv. 13-16.
(4) Walking between the sacrificed animals as a sign of the surety of
the promises made . . . under penalty of death, v. 17.
3. God did all the work of establishing this covenant; all Abram did was to
sacrifice the animals as God commanded him.
4. "A smoking oven and a burning torch," vv. 17, was God's manifestation
of Himself walking into the covenant relationship with Abram.
III. Revelation: on the great spiritual truths in this chapter
1. Humans cannot even begin to count God's blessings . . . they are numberless,
like the sand, dust, and stars.
2. Salvation is by faith, and faith alone, v. 6; Ephesians 2:8-9.
3. The "vultures of Satan" (v. 11) always gather where God and man are doing spiritual
business (cutting a covenant); these demonic distractions must be driven away.
4. The manifestations of God's presence are terrifying to human beings, which, perhaps,
accounts for the Lord's appearing to many individuals in dreams or visions . . . as He
did when a deep sleep fell on Abram, v. 12.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Trust in God for His salvation of me.
2. Trust in God for His blood-covenant relationship with me.
3. Trust in God for His fulfilled promises to me.
4. Trust in God for His vision of destiny for me.

The Blessings of Baptism
(Matthew 3:1-17)
I. Concentration: on the events recorded in verses 15-17
1. Jesus told John the Baptist that He was determined to fulfill all righteousness
. . . to accomplish His divine vision to destiny . . . to complete His mission
on earth which was given to Him by the Father.
2. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened to Him . . .
He was enabled to see into the spiritual realm.
3. At that time, the Spirit of God descended upon Him . . . He was anointed
with power by the Holy Spirit.
4. A voice spoke from heaven, expressing divine relationship and approval . . . He
heard the voice of His heavenly Father.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual significance of these events
1. Jesus here came to fully perceive the Father's "business" (purpose) for His life;
He was completely awakened to His divine destiny, Luke 2:49.
2. Jesus received spiritual discernment, allowing Him to observe and duplicate what
the Father was doing, John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29.
3. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, receiving divine power for service . . . He officially
stepped into His Messianic role as Christ, "The Anointed One," Luke 4:1, 14, 18-19.
4. Jesus was given "ears to hear" the voice of God the Father, giving Him affirmation
and direction, John 7:16-17; 8:28; 12:28; Matthew 17:5.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual truths illustrated in Jesus' baptism by John
1. Jesus provided a method for believers to identify with Him.
2. Jesus foreshadowed His resurrection from the dead.
3. Jesus portrayed His giving eternal life to believers.
4. Jesus prophesied His return to resurrect the dead bodies of believers.
But Jesus' baptism also demonstrated . . .
the initial step of obedience and surrender by believers which, when
followed, would allow Him to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. Connect
this account with John's words in Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize
you with water unto repentance, but . . . He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and fire," and with the fulfillment of that prophecy on the
Day of Pentecost according to Peter's words in Acts 2:38: "Repent, and
let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
IV. Applications: when Jesus baptizes a believer with the Holy Spirit . . .
1. That believer receives a vision of his divine destiny.
2. That believer receives the ability to perceive spiritual truths and reality.
3. That believer receives divine power for effective service.
4. That person receives the ability to hear God's voice speaking affirmation and guidance.

Earn your M.A. or Ph.D. at Pillsbury Institute;
Become a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor

M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credits - $750 down)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credits - $810 down)

Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity, St. Louis, offers pastoral counseling training at only $90 per credit hour. National Christian Counselors Association distance learning format allows completion within 12-16 months. Program includes basic and advanced curriculum, clinical supervision, practicums, thesis, NCCA licensure and board certification in your choice of eight counseling specializations.

For additional information, visit http://www.pillsburyinstitute.org or phone toll-free 1-888-737-3392.

Tuition Fees for 2004
The Board of Directors of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity has established the following tuition rates
effective January 1, 2004:
Undergraduate tuition: $60 per credit hour
Graduate-level tuition: $90 per credit hour

Ph.D in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours) - $4,860
$810 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 27 months
M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours) - $3,600
$750 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 19 months
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling (42 credit hours) - $3,780
$780 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 24 months (SECOND DEGREE ONLY)
D.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (48 credit hours) - $4,320
$720 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 24 months
M.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (32 credit hours) - $2,880
$630 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 15 months
Bachelor of Biblical Counseling or Biblical Studies (final year: 32 credit hours) - $1,920
$570 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 9 months

Iron-clad Money-back Guarantee

* $50 registration fee will be refunded if the applicant is not accepted as a student.
* Initial payment will be refunded - no questions asked - if the student decides to
withdraw for any reason within 30 days of registration.
* $50 graduation fee will be waived for students who complete their regular tuition
payments ahead of schedule.

Notice: Entering students who submit a registration form for a degree program will have 60 days in which to complete the process, including the payment of the initial fee. After 60 days, the entering student who has not completed the process will be placed on inactive status, the registration form will become invalid, and the $50 registration fee will be forfeited.
These tuition fee increases are the first to be implemented since the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity was founded in 1992. However, the costs still remain substantially lower than all other comparable distance learning graduate schools because Pillsbury Institute is owned, controlled, and operated by the FreeWay Foundation.
The FreeWay Foundation is a non-profit ministry which provides "practical teaching and training for successful living." The Foundation pays the salaries and benefits of Pillsbury Institute's administration, staff, and faculty members. The Institute is housed at no charge in FreeWay Foundation's spacious modern building on a beautiful 2-acre campus in northwest St. Louis County. Since the overhead costs of the school are minimal, these substantial savings are passed along to the student in the form of lower tuition rates.

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

"To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act."
- Anatole France
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------