Epistle for June 27, 2003
Posted by: info <info@...>
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation June 27, 2003
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In This Issue:
Nehemiah 13:1-31
Hebrews 13:1-25
PIAC
The Reforms of Nehemiah's Second Term
(Nehemiah 13:1-31)
I. Concentration: on Nehemiah's actions in this chapter
For twelve years Nehemiah served as governor of Judah, under appointment by
the Persian king, Artaxerxes. He returned to Persia for a brief time, during
which the Jews again back-slid into sin and disobedience. Chapter 13
summarizes the reforms of Nehemiah during his second term as governor.
1. While Nehemiah was away from Jerusalem, the Jewish High Priest, Eliashib, had moved
Tobiah, a heathen leader, into a room inside the temple; Nehemiah threw him out, vv. 4-9.
2. During the interim period, the people had stopped tithing and the Levites had been forced
to return to secular work to support their families; Nehemiah contended with the rulers,
ordered the people to start tithing, and re-established adequate support for the religious
leaders who were chosen to lead the nation to worshipping God, vv. 10-14.
3. Nehemiah also re-instituted strict observance of the Sabbath Day regulations, which
had been violated by both the Jews and the heathen nations which traded with them, vv. 15-22.
4. Nehemiah violently and sternly dealt with the Jews who had inter-married with heathen
women . . . this included the grandson of the high priest who married a daughter of
Sanballat, another enemy of the Jews, vv. 23-31.
II. Meditation and Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. When the person in authority is absent or neglects to demand spiritual accountability, the
people usually tend to drift toward carelessness and sinful disobedience.
2. Righteous anger sometimes is in order to counteract defilement of the holiness of God and
His house by pagans, heathens, and unbelievers, Mark 3:5; John 2:13-17; Matthew 21:12-13.
3. Stern warnings and strict punishment should be administered only within an atmospher of
prayer; Nehemiah prayed three times during the events described in this chapter . . . vv. 14, 22, 31.
4. God's prohibition against doing any harm to His annointed persons (I Chronicles 16:22) must
never be violated, regardless of the circumstances; Nehemiah did not impeach Eliashib even
though four times he had grossly violated God's standards of holy conduct.
(Review the four sins listed under "Concentration" above)
III. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Be accountable and demand accountability.
2. Stand as a prophet against defilement of God's holy standards.
3. Temper my righteous anger withn a spirit of humble prayer.
4. Never, under any circumstances, participate in a rebellion against a Christian leader
whom God has anointed to serve over me.
How to Relate to Pastors in the Church
(Hebrews 13:1-25)
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. The author gave a number of practical directions for moral living, vv. 1-6.
2. The author emphasized several spiritual principles, including:
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" . . . "By Him
let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit
of our lips, giving thanks in His name" . . . "Obey those who rule over
you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls," vv. 7-17.
3. The author requested prayer for himself, vv. 18-19.
4. The author pronounced a benediction, along with extending a final exhortation
to keep moving on toward maturity, vv. 20-25.
II. Meditation: on remembering and following your ministers because . . . (v. 7)
1. They speak the word of God.
2. They have faith in God.
3. Their conduct has been worthy.
4. Their results (outcomes) have been fruitful.
III. Revelation: on obeying and submitting to them because (v. 17) . . .
1. They watch out for your souls.
2. They must give personal account to God.
3. Followers are to be a source of joy, not grief, to spiritual leaders.
4. Lack of a submissive spirit harms the disobedient believers. so that their
lives become unprofitable to God.
IV. Observations: on the meaning of "greet them" (v. 24) . . .
1. Show respect and honor to your spiritual leaders.
2. Express kind wishes to them and their families.
3. Receive them enthusiastically into your fellowship.
4. Welcome them and their ministry among you with joy and sincerity.
V. Applications: on relationships between pastors and people. . .
1. Those in authority (bishops, elders, pastors) should rule with humility.
See Matthew 8:5-13.
2. Those believers under authority should submit with grace.
3. God's anointed leaders are not to be "touched" (harmed physically, mentally,
emotionally, or spiritually), Psalm 105:15.
4. Followers are to show respect and honor toward their leaders by following them
in obedience and submission. This is for the benefit (profit) of the followers, v. 17.
Pillsbury Institute Introduces New
M.A., Ph.D., & Psy.D. Degree Programs
M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours - $3,000)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours - $4,000)
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling *(42 credit hours - $3,150)
*(Only available for persons who already hold an earned doctoral degree)
Students at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity (PIAC) now may receive pastoral counseling training using the curriculum and distance learning format developed by the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA) of Sarasota, Florida, These high quality materials consist of 41 courses in ten academic tracks, and also include advanced studies, clinical supervision (internship), practicum, thesis and examination, plus licensing and certification in eight possible specialty areas.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The successful completion of all academic requirements using NCCA curriculum and the conferring of the MA, PhD, or PsyD degrees by PIAC does not include membership in NCCA, nor does it qualify the graduate to receive any certification or licensing from NCCA.
Upon graduation, the students will be issued a degree diploma (MA, PhD, or PsyD) and a complete transcript of the NCCA studies completed at PIAC. The student has the option of presenting this official transcript to NCCA to show the courses completed at PIAC. The student then may choose to apply for membership in NCCA and to apply for acceptance into an advanced program of study designed to qualify him or her for NCCA certification and licensing as a Christian pastoral counselor. Small fees are charged by NCCA for both of these options.
NCCA has several additional requirements for the licensing process, including:
(1) a supervised practicum plus thesis for MA graduates (dissertation for PhD and Psy D graduates),
(2) the obtaining of ministerial credentials (if the applicant does not have such documentation already,
and
(3) an ethical examination posed by NCCA's National Licensing Board of Examiners.
Each successful candidate receives NCCA Board Certification as a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC ) or as a Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor (LCCC). More than 1,700 persons in the United States have been trained and certified by NCCA as licensed Christian counselors, making it the largest such credentialing agency in the nation.
(Over 4,000 counselors have been licensed world-wide by NCCA).
The NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC) certification is not the same as a State's Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation.