Epistle for July 4, 2008
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation July 4, 2008
Happy Fourth
The "Ifs" of John's Epistle
(I John 1:1-10)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. John wrote: "that which was from the beginning, which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our
hands have handled, concerning the Word of life," . . . Jesus Christ, v. 1.
2. John declared and bore witness that eternal life and spiritual fellowship
with God the Father are available through His Son, Jesus Christ, vv. 2-4.
3. John taught: "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" . . . "If we
walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin, vv. 5-7.
4. John wrote: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," vv. 8-10.
II. Meditation: on the "Ifs" in verses 6-10.
1. IF we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do
not practice the truth, v. 6.
2. IF we walk in the light . . . we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus . . . cleanses, v. 7.
3. IF we say we have no sin . . . we deceive ourselves, the truth is not in us, v. 10;
we make Him a liar . . . His word is not in us, v. 8.
4. IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness, v. 9.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. Christians who walk in darkness (practice sin) DO NOT have fellowship with
Christ; saying they do is a lie.
2. Christians who walk in the light (obeying, following) HAVE FELLOWSHIP with
Christ, with other believers, and they RECEIVE CLEANSING continually.
3. Christians who SAY they have no sin:
(1) Deceive themselves
(2) Do not have the truth in themselves (lie)
(3) Make God a liar
(4) Do not have God's word within themselves
4. Christians who CONFESS their sins receive forgiveness and cleansing
because God promised, and He is faithful and just.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Practice what I preach, if I want to have fellowship with Jesus.
2. Walk in the light of His word and His Spirit, cleansed and fellowshipping
with other believers.
3. Recognize the deadliness of sin and the seriousness of overlooking it or
denying it.
4. Confess my sins daily to receive God's forgiveness and cleansing.
An Anointing From The Holy One
(I John 2:1-29)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on persons who received God's "anointing"
1. In the Old Testament, priests were anointed (Aaron, Exodus 40:13).
2. In the Old Testament, kings were anointed (Saul, I Samuel 15:1).
3. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (Elisha, I Kings 19:16)
4. In the New Testament, Jesus bore the title of the "Anointed One" . . .
the Messiah . . . the Christ. (See Luke 4:18; Matthew 16:16). He
fulfilled Old Testament types by becoming our Prophet, Priest and King!
II. Meditation: on what the "anointing" represented
"You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things," v. 20.
1. The anointing (oil) symbolized the pouring out of the Holy Spirit
upon a person who was chosen by God's sovereign will.
2. The anointing symbolized the setting aside of a particular person
for a specific ministry or office.
3. The anointing symbolized the endowment of supernatural power
for effective, God-honoring service.
4. The anointing symbolized the working of the Holy Spirit within a
believer: guiding, convicting, comforting, and teaching, John 16:13.
III. Revelation: on a believer's "anointing"
"The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you,
and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same
anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is
not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him," v. 27.
1. The anointing is the gift of the Holy Spirit received from God the Father.
2. The anointing is the Master Teacher, Who is the revealer of all spiritual
things.
3. The anointing gives us spiritual perception, so that we are able to
distinguish between truth and lies.
4. The anointing not only teaches believers, but He (the Holy Spirit) also
indwells all Christians . . . Jesus Christ, the Son of God "ABIDES" within
us, John 15:4-10.
IV. Application: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Rejoice that I am a chosen person, according to God's plan and purpose.
2. Realize that the Holy Spirit brings me divine power for effective service.
3. Recognize that the Holy Spirit is available as my "PRIVATE TUTOR," if I
allow Him to teach me God's word and ways.
4. Receive the "ANOINTED ONE" into my personal, devotional life . . . allowing
Him to "ABIDE" in me, as I "ABIDE" in Him.
"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"
by: Harvey Mackay
The huge redwood trees in California are considered to be the tallest trees in the
world.
Some of them are 300 feet high and more than 2,500 years old.
One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system
reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. Not true! The redwoods actually have a
very shallow root system, but they all intertwine. They don't stand alone, for all the trees
support and protect each other.
When the storms come or the winds blow, the redwoods stand together.
There is strength in numbers!!!
To drive home the power of teamwork and sticking together, I sometimes do a
visual exercise during my speeches to corporate America, as well as in-house for our
sales force and employees.
I hold up a bundle of six pencils and try to break them in the air and then over
my knee. The average person can't break the bundle. Then I take one pencil out and
easily snap it in two. I point out that if you help each other, you will be like the bundle
of pencils. No one can break you apart. But if you are divided among yourselves, you
will be broken as easily as a single pencil.
It's a hard lesson for us, but unity consistently produces greater results than
individual endeavors. Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the effect.
Mackay's Moral: Nature is full of examples of teamwork.
Teamwork should be part of your nature.
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