Epistle for June 8, 2007
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation June 8, 2007
The Days of Noah
(Matthew 24:37-39 & Genesis 6:1-12)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
Many of us remember Bill Cosby's humorous monologue about Noah hearing God tell
him to build an ark. It was funny! However, the historical account of Noah and the flood is not
a laughing matter.
HOW WAS IT IN THE DAYS OF NOAH?
Our passages in Genesis and Matthew reveal these four things which characterized
Noah's generation:
- Satanism. The word "Nephilim," translated "sons of God," Genesis 6:2,
refers to fallen dark angels or demons.
2. Wickedness. The root of this word also is related to witchcraft (wicca) and
to wicker (a type of furniture). It essentially means "twisted." The people
of Noah's day had twisted good into evil and evil into good. It characterizes
a society that is addicted to depravity . . . not discerning right from wrong.
3. Total Corruption of Society. "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart
was evil continually," Genesis 6:5. "It was corrupt; for all flesh had
corrupted their way on the earth," Genesis 6:12.
- Full of Violence. The culture of Noah's day was notorious for its cruelty and
disregard for human life. Genesis 6:12 says, "The earth was filled with
violence."
SATANISM * WICKEDNESS
CORRUPTION * VIOLENCE
THESE WORDS CERTAINLY DESCRIBE AMERICAN CIVILIZATION TODAY!
WHO WAS THIS MAN, NOAH?
Noah, which means "comfort," was the ninth generation from Adam. His father was
Lamech; his grandfather was Methuselah; his great-grandfather was Enoch.
Noah found grace in God's eyes (Genesis 6:8). He was just (fair, true, honest),
Genesis 6:9. He was perfect (blameless, having integrity). God pronounced him righteous,
Genesis 7:1.
Noah has a close relationship with God. He walked with God, as did his ancestor
Enoch, Genesis 6:9. He listened and heard God, Genesis 7:1. He did more than merely
"hear" . . . he obeyed, Genesis 7:7.
NOAH'S PLACE IN FAITH'S HALL OF FAME
(Hebrews 11:7)
Genesis 8 and 9 tell of Noah building an altar and worshipping God, who had preserved
him and his family through the flood. His worship was pleasing to God; God promised to deal
with mankind in mercy (Genesis 8:20-22).
God blessed Noah and his family. The high point of that blessing was that God
spoke to Noah and to his sons (Genesis 9:8). God then established His covenant with them
and gave the rainbow as a visible sign of that covenant.
Pastors, do you want to be respected by your family? . . . remembered by your
friends? . . . rewarded by your Father?
Then do as Noah did, in spite of our surrounding Satanic, wicked, corrupt, violent
society (Philippians 2:15), accept God's grace; walk with Him; listen to Him; believe His words.
This lifestyle produces persons of integrity . . . with God-endowed righteousness. Such
faithfulness brings God's protection on the family. And best of all, it produces children who
also hear God's voice!
Like rainbows, God's covenant of blessing can be seen by multitudes of people.
However, only Godly families can truly understand the significance of the signs of God's eternal
covenant with man, (I Corinthians 2:9,10).
How the Gold Has Become Dim!
(Lamentations 4:1-22)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Jeremiah portrays the "before and after" conditions of the temple
(gold; stones) and of the men (precious sons): after the Babylonians destroyed
the city, gold was "dim," temple jewels were scattered, mothers became
indifferent to the needs of their children, and wealthy citizens were reduced
to abject poverty, vv. 1-6.
2. Jeremiah describes the Nazarites (high ranked nobles) as looking
like skeletons, emaciated by starvation; he relates that the mothers of the
besiged city have been forced into cannibalism, boiling and eating their own
children, v. 7-11.
3. Jeremiah blamed the unbelievably tragic conditions upon the
deceptive, murderous, sinful prophets, priests, and other leaders of the nation
. . . who killed God's true prophets (v. 13; Jeremiah 26:11) and who had looked
to other nations for protection (v. 17) rather than looking unto the Lord, vv. 12-20.
II. Meditation and Revelation: on some key verses in this chapter
- "The precious sons of Zion . . . area regarded as clay pots, the
work of the hands of the potter," v. 2; all persons are like clay in the hands of
the Potter, Almighty God, Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:2-6; Romans 9:21.
2. "The young children ask for bread, but no one breaks it for them,"
v. 4: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those
who ask Him," Matthew 7:11.
3. "The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is
greater than the punishment on the sin of Sodom," v. 6; persons who have
greater knowledge of God's truth will be held more accountable than those who have
less spiritual light, Luke 12:47-48; Matthew 10:15; 11:23-24.
4. "The adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of
Jerusalem . . . because of the sins of the prophets and the iniquities of her
priests," vv. 12-13; leaders much walk obediently because their sins can bring
God's judgment upon a nation, Proverbs 11:11; 14:34.
III. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
- Yield my life to the Potter to be molded into a useful vessel.
- Ask, with childlike faith, for good things from my heavenly Father.
- Recognize my privilege and responsibility as an enlightened believer.
- Walk with godly integrity so that my influence may benefit others.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I don't think necessity is the mother of invention –
invention, in my opinion, arises directly from
idleness, possibly also from laziness.
to save oneself trouble."
- Agatha Christie
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