Epistle for January 31, 2003
Posted by: info <info@...>
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 31, 2003
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In This Issue:
Sermon: I Peter 5
Bible Study: Ephesians 3:19
"Iron Sharpens Iron" meeting
Exhortations to Elders
(I Peter 5:1-14)
I. Concentration: on Peter as a fellow elder (v. 1)
1. He was a witness of the sufferings of Christ.
2. He was a partaker of the glory to be revealed.
II. Meditation: on being a "witness" and a "partaker"
1. The God of all grace has called us, and part of the "calling" is to suffer
persecution, I Peter 2:21.
2. Suffering is not necessarily a result of my own sin, John 9:23.
3. God's grace is sufficient to carry us through suffering, II Corinthians 12:7.
4. The ultimate calling is to enter into His eternal glory; suffering is not forever, but
only for a little while, II Corinthians 4:17.
III. Revelation: on what elders should do
1. Shepherd (lead, feed, protect) the flock, v. 2.
2. Oversee the church with a servant's heart: willingly and eagerly, v. 2.
3. Be an example of the spirit of servanthood, v. 3.
4. Submit to one another in humility, vv. 5-6.
5. Live in vital faith, casting all doubt and worry upon God, vv. 7, 9.
6. Be sober and self-controlled, v. 8.
7. Be vigilant, watchful, and alert, v. 8.
8. Courageously and confidently resist the devil, vv. 8-9.
9. Suffer with spiritual perception of God's purposes, vv. 9-10.
10. Glorify God in everything, vv. 10-11.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to comprehend that . . .
According to verse10, after the "called" have suffered for awhile, God will:
1. Perfect = finish, complete, make excellent. Suffering makes me more like Christ,
Ephesians 4:13. This is the process of spiritual growth.
2. Establish = to make stable or firm, to permanently fix. Suffering brings me to the
bedrock foundation, Job 19:25; Matthew 16:16. This speaks of the permanence
of our foundation. who is God, Himself.
3. Strengthen = to make more powerful or vigorous; to reinforce. Suffering reveals my
weakness, making opportunity for God's strength to be manifested, II Corinthians 12:10;
Philippians 4:13. This focuses on the power of endurance available from God.
4. Settle = to make secure, quiet, or calm. Suffering, when correctly perceived, brings
assurance and peace, Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:7. this magnifies the peace
available through faith and confidence in God.
"To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." I Peter 5:11.
Filled with All the Fullness of God
Ephesians 3:19
I. PLEROO (verb) = to make full, to fill to the full; to be filled, to be made full
1. Illustrations:
(1) Matthew 13:48 - dragnet full of fish
(2) John 12:3 - house filled with fragrance of oil
(3) Acts 2:2 - whole house filled with the sound of wind
(4) Acts 5:28 - Jerusalem filled with the doctrine of Christ
(5) Acts 13:52 - Disciples filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit
2. Paul's writings:
(1) Ephesians 1:23 - "His body, the fullness (PLEROMA) of Him who fills
(PLEROO) all in you."
(2) Ephesians 3:19 - "That you may be filled (PLEROO) with all the fullness
(PLEROMA) of God."
(3) Ephesians 4:10 - "The One who ascended far above all the heavens, that
He might fill (PLEROO) all things."
(4) Ephesians 5:18 - "Be filled (PLEROO) with the Spirit."
(5) Colossians 2:9-10 - "For in Him dwells all the fullness (PLEROMA) of the
God head bodily; and you are complete (made full)
(PLEROO) in Him."
II. PLEROMA (noun) = fullness
1. John 1:16 - "Of His fullness (PLEROMA) we have all received, and grace for grace."
2. Romans 15:29 - "But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness
(PLEROMA) of the blessing of the gospel of Christ."
3. Ephesians 1:23 - "His body, the fullness (PLEROMA) of Him who fills (PLEROO) all in all."
4. Ephesians 3:19 - "That you may be filled (PLEROO) with all the fullness (PLEROMA) of God."
5. Ephesians 4:13 - "To the measure of the stature of the fullness (PLEROMA) of Christ."
6. Colossians 1:19 - "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness (PLEROMA) should dwell."
7. Colossians 2:9-10 - "For in Him dwells all the fullness (PLEROMA) of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete (made full) (PLEROO) in Him."
III. PLERES (adjective) = full
1. Luke 4:1 - "Then Jesus, being filled (PLERES) with the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan, and
and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness."
2. Acts 6:3 - "Therefore, brethern, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full
(PLERES) of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."
3. Acts 7:55 - "But he (Stephen), being full (PLERES) of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and
saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."
4. Acts 11:24 - "For he (Barnabus) was a good man, full (PLERES) of the Holy Spirit and of faith."
IV. PIMPLEMI and PLETHO (verbs) = to fill
1. Illustrations:
(1) Luke 5:7 - boats filled with fish
(2) Matthew 22:10 - wedding hall filled with guests
(3) Matthew 27:48 - sponge filled with vinegar
(4) Acts 19:29 - city of Ephesus filled with confusion
2. Persons filled with the Holy Spirit (in Luke's writings):
(1) Luke 1:15 - John the Baptist (prophecy)
(2) Luke 1:41 - Elizabeth
(3) Luke 1:67 - Zacharias
(4) Acts 2:4 - all the believers at Pentecost
(5) Acts 4:8 - Peter
(6) Acts 4:31 - all the assembled believers in Jerusalem
(7) Acts 9:17 - Paul (by Ananias laying on his hands)
(8) Acts 13:9 - Paul in Cyprus
V. MESTOO (verb) = to fill full
Acts 2:13 - "They are full (MESTOO) of new wine."
"Iron Sharpens Iron"
"Iron Sharpens iron" men will meet February 6, 2003
The topic will be "Spiritual Enlightenment"
Text: Ephesians 1:15-21
time: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
these meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend
all are welcome!!!