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E-pistle

                                              Dr. Curt Scarborough, President    FreeWay Foundation      March 16, 2007

Vision & Destiny

Hebrews 11

Dr. Curt Scarborough

        "FAITH IS BELIEVIN' WHAT YOU KNOW AIN'T SO!"  according to Puddin' head

Wilson, one of Mark Twain's humorous characters.  But the Faith Chapter (Hebrews 11)

gives us a more reliable definition of faith.

        An analysis of the first 13 verses reveals these affirmations about faith:  faith is seeing

the invisible, understanding the impossible, and embracing the future in the present.  People of

faith confess three truths:

GOD EXISTS . . .

             I see the invisible, v. 6.

                2.  GOD CREATES BY SPEAKING . . .

                      I understand the impossible, v. 3,

                3.  GOD REWARDS . . .

                              I experience eternity in the "now," v. 6.

        The familiar words of Hebrews 1:1, "Things hoped for . . . things not seen,"

summarize these ideas.  Faith is the confidence that the future is an established reality now. 

Faith also is the conviction that the unseen spiritual world is reality now.  Faith also is the

conviction that the unseen spiritual world is reality now.

        Joel 2:28 prophecies, "old men dream dreams; young men see visions." 

(Middle-aged men, I presume,  do a little of both.)  Proverbs 29:18 is translated:  "Where

there is no vision, the people perish" (KJV) or "Where there is no revelation, the

people cast off restraint," (NKJV).  It is obvious, by either translation, that VISION IS

VITAL!

        A believer's true vision of destiny involves the entire soul created in God's image. It

involves the mind (created by the Father) thinking about destiny.  It involves the emotions

(stirred by the Spirit) enthusiastic about destiny.  It involves the will (committed to following

the Son) marching toward destiny.

        As ministers, our vision of God's destiny for us should be:

CLEARER THAN SIGHT . . .

spiritual insight,

2.      TRUER THAN A DREAM . . .

future reality now,

                3.   DEEPER THAN AN IDEA . . .

                      a living concept, and

                4.  HIGHER THAN ASPIRATION . . .

                     a magnificent obsession!

        The Angel of the Lord asked "Hagar, Sarah's maid, where have you come from,

and where are you going?"  (Genesis 16:8)  Christians, also, need to examine these particulars

of destiny involving the person, the purpose, and the plan.  Who am I?  Why was I created? 

What does God intend for me to accomplish?

        A vision of destiny is both seeing and feeling.  It is a perception and a passion.  Think

with me about who, what, when, where, why, how, and which of destiny.

Destiny is PERSONAL.  Who can . . . should . . . will I become?  (WHO)
Destiny is a PLAN.  What does God intend of my life and ministry?  (WHAT)
Destiny is a PROMISE.  In God's good time, He shall accomplish His

purpose.  (WHEN)

4.      Destiny is a PLACE (Destination).  God leads us in specific directions

to specific destinations.  (WHERE)

5.      Destiny is PURPOSE.  Fulfilling our destiny glorifies God and benefits

mankind.   (WHY)

6.      Destiny is PRACTICAL.  God's "how to" instructions produce results.  (HOW)

7.      Destiny is PRACTICULAR.  Many possible choices in life are "good" or

"better," God's is "best."  (WHICH)

        Here are seven reasons "VISION IS VITAL" for your ministry and mine to be successful:

It gives purpose.  We need a target at which to aim, a direction in which

to move.

2.      It establishes priorities.  It keep us from falling into complacency or being

distracted by less important activities.

3.      It creates excitement.  People want to know that we are not merely trying

to pay bills and survive . . . that we are doing something important in Jesus'

name.

4.      It attracts people.  Folks want to be a part of something worthwhile;

something vital; something God-honoring.

5.      It motivates commitment.  When a ministry is committed to a God-given

vision, and when the leaders of that ministry are committed to accomplishing

that vision, then people will catch that spirit and commit themselves to

helping turn the dream into a reality.

6.      It defines success.  The vision establishes goals that are attainable (WE

CAN DO IT!); that are identifiable (Exactly what are we shooting for?); and

measurable (How are we progressing toward our objectives and are we on

target time-wise?)

7.      It fulfills destiny.  God has a plan for each life and for each ministry.  The

vision is vital because it keep us moving toward the fulfillment of that purpose,

that destiny.

        Here are three questions that we as leaders must ask about our vision of destiny.  Is this

dream really God's vision?  Is this method God's way?  Is this timing God's moment?

        Finally, my response to God's vision of destiny for me must be:

I CAN DO IT!

. . . the intellectual response, Philippians 4:13

2.      I MUST DO IT!

. . . the emotional response, John 9:4

3.      I WILL DO IT!

. . . the volitional response, Joshua 24:14

4.      I DO IT WITH GOD'S HELP!

. . . the activational response, Philippians 2:13

How To Minister Divine Healing

(James 5:13-18)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

I.  Concentration:  on the personal, human situations under discussion

        1.   Suffering? . . . pray, v. 13

        2.   Cheerful? . . . sing, v. 13.

        3.   Sick? . . . call for elders to pray, v. 14

        4.   Sinful? . . . confess sins to one another (accountability group),

              and to God, and be forgiven, vv. 15-16

II.  Meditation:  on the proper exercise of prayer

The person who is suffering (physically, mentally, emotionally,

and/or spiritually) should pray for himself, v. 13.

2.      The person who is sick (physically) should call for the elders of

the church; the elders should pray over the sick person, anointing

him with oil (symbolizing the Holy Spirit) in the name of the Lord, v. 14.

3.      The elders should have faith that the Lord can and will heal the person

who is sick . . . that "the Lord will raise him up," v. 15.

4.      The entire group of believers should confess their sins to one another

(and to God), so that their prayers may be heard and answered by God.

III.  Revelation:  on the benefits to be received from praying in faith

The divine healing of persons who are physically ill.
An increasing faith, as God miraculously manifests His power.
A moving of focus from the physical realm to the spiritual realm . . . from

healing of the body to healing of the soul (forgiveness and cleansing).

4.      Encouragement to live a righteous life, so that our prayers might be fervent

and effective in all areas of daily living . . . even for rain to break a drought,

vv. 16-18.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

Pray for my own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Take the initiative, when I become ill, to call the elders of the church,

even before I call the doctor.

3.      Function as an elder:  when requested to do so, anoint the sick with oil

and pray with faith for their recovery.

4.      Always pray fervently (with my sins confessed and forgiven), believing that

God will answer miraculously . .  . according to His sovereign will and for

His own glory.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

"A life spent making mistakes, is not only more honorable, but

more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all."

-George Bernard Shaw

       

 

 

       

       

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