Epistle for May 20, 2005
Posted by: info <info@...>
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay
Foundation May 20, 2005
HOLY GROUND INTERVIEW DR. LUKE
More Pillsbury News
Curt Scarborough's HOLY GROUND INTERVIEWS
Featuring Today's Special Guest DR. LUKE
CS Dr. Luke, I know you were a companion of the Apostle
Paul during
the latter years of his life, and that, among other
things, you recorded
many of his healing miracles. So exactly what was
your function on
the missionary team? Did you have to abandon your
medical practice
as useless and unnecessary?
Dr. Luke It's true that Paul, through the power of the Lord Jesus,
did heal a
number of people. But he did not heal every sick
person he met.
CS Why not?
Dr. Luke The short answer is because that was not the Lord's will.
CS What's the long answer?
Dr. Luke The long answer is that the Lord Jesus, and later the
apostles, had two
motives for healing the sick. First, of course, was
love and compassion
for hurting people, whose pain and affliction could
be cured.
CS Jesus loves everyone, but he didn't cure everyone. At
the pool of
Siloam, for example, he healed only one man out of a
crowd of
hundreds of sick folks.
Dr. Luke Jesus said that He only did what He saw the Father doing.
So
apparently, it was not the Father's will for Jesus
to heal everyone.
CS You said two motives.
Dr. Luke The second reason for God's healing of certain people was
to serve as
a sign that His anointing and power were present,
which ultimately
brought praise to His holy name.
CS But surely it was the Father's will for Paul and other
members of his
team to enjoy good health? After all, they were on
a mission to serve
God, and to win souls, and to plant churches.
Dr. Luke However, just being a dedicated believer, in the center
of God's will,
does not guarantee perfect health. For example, God
could easily
have cured Paul's failing eyesight, but even though
Paul and the rest
of us prayed earnestly several times for his
healing, it didn't happen.
CS The Lord just said, "My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is
made perfect in weakness."
Dr. Luke I heard Paul say several times, "I take pleasure in
infirmities for
Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am
strong."
CS So Paul couldn't heal himself; his thorn in the flesh
was God's way of
keeping him humble. But he could and did heal
others of his party?
Dr. Luke Sometimes yes; sometimes no. Epaphroditus became gravely
ill, and
he almost died on his trip to Rome, bringing Paul a
gift from the
church at Philippi.
CS That's right. And then there was Timothy's chronic
stomach problems.
Dr. Luke Yes. We prayed for his complete healing, but it was not
God's will.
CS Your scientific background clearly shows through your
books, Dr.
Luke. The GOSPEL and the BOOK OF ACTS are very comprehensive,
orderly, and accurate. But who was the man, Theophilus, to whom
you addressed both volumes?
Dr. Luke Theophilus, whose name means "Lover of God," was an old
friend.
He expressed interest in knowing the particulars of Jesus' life, so I
interviewed people who had known Him during His life on earth.
CS Did you meet his mother, Mary?
Dr. Luke Yes I did. She told me about the events surrounding her
Son's birth.
CS The angels, and the shepherds . . .
Dr. Luke And Elizabeth and John . . . about the whole family.
CS And you met the Twelve?
Dr. Luke Not all of them. Some were martyred before I was
privileged to meet
them, but I talked with Peter and John, and James,
the Lord's half-
brother . . . and, of course, all the women who had
known the Lord.
CS You joined Paul during his second missionary journey,
didn't you?
About the time he saw the vision of the Macedonian
man inviting him
to come over to Greece? (I noticed your story
switched from saying
"they" to saying "we" in chapter 16.)
Dr. Luke Yes, my home and medical practice was in Troas. I was
converted
under Paul's preaching there, and traveled with him
for a while
during that journey into Europe, until we returned
to Troas.
CS You rejoined Paul's party again when he came back
through Troas
during his third journey.
Dr. Luke And I never left his side after that. We traveled to
Jerusalem where
he was arrested, then two years in prison in
Caesarea. And I was with
him on that voyage to Rome.
CS You survived the shipwreck near the island of Malta?
Dr. Luke Then we spent two years in Rome under the "hospitality"
of Nero.
Paul was a prisoner, and I was his companion and
attendant.
CS You gave him medical attention?
Dr. Luke I did whatever I could to make his life more comfortable.
Both of us
were busy writing during those prison days . . .
during the daylight
hours, that is. He wrote epistles to the churches
he founded, and I
wrote my Gospel and Acts. At night, we discussed
great theological
issues. Paul was a remarkable interpreter of the
Scriptures, you
know, and he continually witnessed to everyone who
would listen.
CS His Roman guards must have heard lots of sermons!
Dr. Luke Most of them became Christians, and many of them asked to
be
assigned to the night shift, just to hear him teach.
CS Dr. Luke, would you like to share a final word with
our readers?
Dr. Luke I closed my second book, ACTS, at the point where Paul
and I were
living in Rome. Lots of wonderful things happened
after that, and
you believers in this century are still a part of
what Jesus continues to
do and teach. Remember this: in the end, even I
had to leave Paul.
But the Lord Jesus never left him. And He'll never
leave you!
Institute of Theological Studies
After more than a year of investigation of Christian higher educational
resources, the administration, faculty, and Board of Regents of Pillsbury
College & Seminary decided to add to our present courses the curriculum
developed by the Institute of Theological Studies of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
We have studied and are in full agreement with the ITS Statement of Faith,
and with its Vision, Mission, and Purpose Statements.
The Institute of Theological Studies is not a school; rather it is the
world's leading network of distance learning theological education
resources. ITS courses meet the highest graduate level requirements of
theological education, and all ITS courses have been developed and approved
by the Dean of 24 large participating schools, including Covenant
Theological Seminary of St. Louis, Missouri, The 58 courses (24 lectures
each) were recorded by a virtual "Who's Who" of evangelical theologians, and
are available on audio cassette, CD-ROM, video, or the internet.
Over 100 Bible Colleges and Theological Seminaries use ITS curriculum.
Among these schools are five Southern Baptist seminaries (Midwestern in
Kansas City, MO, Southern in Louisville, KY, Southwestern in Ft. Worth, TX,
Southeastern in Wake Forest, NC, and Golden Gate in Mill Valley, CA,)
Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, Wheaton Graduate School in
Wheaton, IL, and many other very prominent schools also use ITS curriculum.
Pillsbury has no intention of entering into competition against these great
theological institutions.
However, these 100 colleges and seminaries that endorse and use ITS
curriculum primarily are on-campus schools which allow students to take only
a few select ITS courses by distance learning. Pillsbury will stand
uniquely as a degree granting institution that offers all 58 ITS courses in
six areas of concentration by distance learning, leading to an accredited
Master of Ministry of Doctor of Ministry Degree.
For more information call Dr. Scarborough at 314-739-1121 or email
info@freewayfoundation.org
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"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem,
see a fine picture, and if it were possible to speak
a few reasonable words."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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