Epistle for November 15, 2002

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E-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation November 15, 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In This Issue:
Previews from Dr. Curt
Sermon: Zephaniah 3:1-29
Bible Study: II Timothy 1:3-14

Previews of Coming Attractions
By: Dr. Curt Scarborough

During November, 2002, "E-pistle" will present two of my complete expository sermon series from neighboring
minor prophetic books in the Old Testament:

A 3-part series on Zepaniah
November 1 "Settled in Complacency" (1:1-18)
November 8 "Hidden in the Day of the Lord's Anger" (2:1-15)
November 15 "God's Faithful Remnant" (3:1-29)
A 2-part series on Haggai
November 22 "Consider Your Ways" (1:1-15)
November 29 "Like a Signet Ring" (2:1-23)

Also during November, the "Iron Sharpens Iron" group of men will meet for Bible study and prayer. This
month's session will continue October's topic of "The Extra Blessings of Baptism." The "Iron Men" will meet
next on Thursday, December 12, from 9:30 to 11:30. Visitors are welcome to sit in on these sessions.

This month's "E-pistle" will continue some of the notes used in the November 7th "Iron Sharpens Iron" study:

November 1 Meditations of Being Spirit-filled
November 8 Words Used in Acts to Describe Experiencing the Holy Spirit
November 15 Stir Up the Gift of God
November 22 The Promise . . . The Gift; "Baptism" in the Epistles
November 29 "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Acts 19:2

Next "Iron" meeting: Thursday, December 12, 2002 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Heads Up . . . Pastors and Counselors

Earn your master's or doctoral degrees in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring through distance
education at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity. Check our web-site: www.freewayfoundation.org

The Christian version of our highly effective K-12 violence prevention curriculum "Peacemakers" is now
available for churches and Christian schools. Check our web-site, or contact me for more information:
drcurt@freewayfoundation.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Education is the movement from darkness to light." Allan Bloom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God's Faithful Remnant
(Zephaniah 3:1-20)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. The prophet denounced the wickedness of Jerusalem's leaders, vv. 1-7.
2. He promised God's salvation for a faithful remnant, vv. 8-13.
3. He gave the nation a song of joy celebrating God's faithfulness, similar in
style to Psalms 47, 95, and 97, vv. 14-17.
4. He closed his prophesy with words of hope for a blessed future, spoken in
the First Person by the Lord God Himself, vv. 18-20.

II. Meditation: on God's indictment of Judah's sins
1. The nation's wickedness ("the oppressing city"), vv. 1-2 . . .
(1) She has not obeyed God's voice,
(2) She has not received correction,
(3) She has not trusted in the Lord, and
(4) She has not drawn near to her God.
2. The leaders' wickedness, vv. 3-4 . . .
(1) Princes are like roaring lions, predators seeking prey,
(2) Judges are like evening wolves, hunting under cover of darkness,
(3) Prophets are insolent and treacherous, betraying their trust, and
(4) Priests profane the temple, corrupting God's laws.

III. Revelation: on "God's faithful remnant"
"Remnant" = a fragment of cloth; a scrap or residue. Scripturally, "remnant"
refers to the righteous people of God who remain after divine judgment.
1. "God's faithful remnant" will worship Him in a "pure language," . . . a
reversal of Babel (Genesis 11:6-9); they will serve Him with "one accord,"
. . . a picture of the believers in Acts, v. 9.
2. "God's faithful remnant" will be "meek and humble people, and they shall
trust in the name of the Lord," v. 12.
3. "God's faithful remnant" will be righteous, truthful, well provided for, and
safe and secure, v. 13.
4. God's faithful remnant" refers to the Jewish exiles returning from captivity,
but in a broader sense, it also refers to the church.
"Remnant" especially is applied by Paul to Jews who were part of the
church, as well as to those Messianic Jews who will fulfill God's
end-times prophesies and covenant promises to Israel, Romans 9:27; 11:5.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Worship God with "pure language" and in "one accord."
2. Trust in the Lord, and walk in meekness and humility with Him.
3. Thank the Lord for His manifold blessings: righteousness, truth, provision,
and salvation.
4. Rejoice in my position as one of "God's faithful remnant" and, therefore,
an heir to the promises to God's chosen people through Abraham,
Galatians 3:7-16, 26-29.

Stir Up the Gift of God
(II Timothy 1:3-14)

I. Concentration: on the historical background of Paul and Timothy
1. Timothy was saved by faith in Christ, II Timothy 1:5.
2. This new birth experience was associated with his godly mother and grandmother;
probably he was saved as a young man, II Timothy 1:5.
3. Later Timothy, as a young disciple, met Paul in Lystra and joined him on his
second missionary journey, Acts 16:1-3.
4. Some years later, Paul appointed Timothy as the pastor of the church at Ephesus,
I Timothy 1:3; this ordination may have been the same occasion when Paul
imparted the "Gift" to Timothy, II Timothy 1:6.
II. Meditation: on the Promise and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
1. The Promise:
(1) Luke 24:49, "Behold, I send the PROMISE of My Father upon you; but tarry
in the city of Jerusalem until you are ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH."
(2) Acts 1:4-5, "He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait
for the PROMISE of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT not many days from now,'"
(3) Acts 2:32-33, "This Jesus, God has raised up, of which we all are witnesses.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from
the Father the PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, He poured out this which you
now see and hear."
(4) Acts 2:38-39, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive THE GIFT OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT. For the PROMISE is to you and to your children, and to all who
are afar off, as many as our God will call."
2. The Gift:
(1) Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good GIFTS to your
children, how much more will your heavenly Father GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
to those who ask him!"
(2) Acts 2:38, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."
(3) Acts 10:45 "Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many
as came with Peter, because the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT had been poured out on
the Gentiles also."
(4) Acts 11:17, "If therefore God gave them the same GIFT as He gave us when we
believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
III. Revelation: on the impartation of the Gift of the Holy Spirit
1. Timothy received the Gift from Paul, II Timothy 1:6; Timothy's Gift had been given by prophecy
with the laying on of the hands of the eldership (including Paul), I Timothy 4:14.
2. Paul had received the Gift from Ananias, Acts 9:17.
3. Ananias (probably) had received the Gift from Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost,
Acts 2:1-11, 33, 39-41.
4. Jesus had received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father; Acts 2:33.
(1) The Father is the Son, John 10:30; 14:9; 17:22.
(2) The Son is the Spirit, John 14:17; Romans 8:9.
(3) The Spirit is the Father, John 4:24; II Corinthians 3:17.
(4) All three Persons of the Trinity are One, I John 5:7.
IV. Application: as a Spirit-filled Christian, I can expect these Gift endowments . . .
1. Courage (not a spirit of fear), vv. 7-8; Gift of divine boldness to witness.
2. Power, vv. 7, 9-10; Gift of divine faith in God to move mountains.
3. Love, vv. 7, 13; Gift of divine love for God and for other people.
4. Wisdom (sound mind), vv. 7, 13; Gift of divine spiritual discernment.

(Compare these II Timothy 1:7-14 spiritual attributes with Isaiah 11:2.)

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation November 15, 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In This Issue:
Previews from Dr. Curt
Sermon: Zephaniah 3:1-29
Bible Study: II Timothy 1:3-14

Previews of Coming Attractions
By: Dr. Curt Scarborough

During November, 2002, "E-pistle" will present two of my complete expository sermon series from neighboring
minor prophetic books in the Old Testament:

A 3-part series on Zepaniah
November 1 "Settled in Complacency" (1:1-18)
November 8 "Hidden in the Day of the Lord's Anger" (2:1-15)
November 15 "God's Faithful Remnant" (3:1-29)
A 2-part series on Haggai
November 22 "Consider Your Ways" (1:1-15)
November 29 "Like a Signet Ring" (2:1-23)

Also during November, the "Iron Sharpens Iron" group of men will meet for Bible study and prayer. This
month's session will continue October's topic of "The Extra Blessings of Baptism." The "Iron Men" will meet
next on Thursday, December 12, from 9:30 to 11:30. Visitors are welcome to sit in on these sessions.

This month's "E-pistle" will continue some of the notes used in the November 7th "Iron Sharpens Iron" study:

November 1 Meditations of Being Spirit-filled
November 8 Words Used in Acts to Describe Experiencing the Holy Spirit
November 15 Stir Up the Gift of God
November 22 The Promise . . . The Gift; "Baptism" in the Epistles
November 29 "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Acts 19:2

Next "Iron" meeting: Thursday, December 12, 2002 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Heads Up . . . Pastors and Counselors

Earn your master's or doctoral degrees in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring through distance
education at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity. Check our web-site: http://www.freewayfoundation.org

The Christian version of our highly effective K-12 violence prevention curriculum "Peacemakers" is now
available for churches and Christian schools. Check our web-site, or contact me for more information:
drcurt@freewayfoundation.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Education is the movement from darkness to light." Allan Bloom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God's Faithful Remnant
(Zephaniah 3:1-20)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. The prophet denounced the wickedness of Jerusalem's leaders, vv. 1-7.
2. He promised God's salvation for a faithful remnant, vv. 8-13.
3. He gave the nation a song of joy celebrating God's faithfulness, similar in
style to Psalms 47, 95, and 97, vv. 14-17.
4. He closed his prophesy with words of hope for a blessed future, spoken in
the First Person by the Lord God Himself, vv. 18-20.

II. Meditation: on God's indictment of Judah's sins
1. The nation's wickedness ("the oppressing city"), vv. 1-2 . . .
(1) She has not obeyed God's voice,
(2) She has not received correction,
(3) She has not trusted in the Lord, and
(4) She has not drawn near to her God.
2. The leaders' wickedness, vv. 3-4 . . .
(1) Princes are like roaring lions, predators seeking prey,
(2) Judges are like evening wolves, hunting under cover of darkness,
(3) Prophets are insolent and treacherous, betraying their trust, and
(4) Priests profane the temple, corrupting God's laws.

III. Revelation: on "God's faithful remnant"
"Remnant" = a fragment of cloth; a scrap or residue. Scripturally, "remnant"
refers to the righteous people of God who remain after divine judgment.
1. "God's faithful remnant" will worship Him in a "pure language," . . . a
reversal of Babel (Genesis 11:6-9); they will serve Him with "one accord,"
. . . a picture of the believers in Acts, v. 9.
2. "God's faithful remnant" will be "meek and humble people, and they shall
trust in the name of the Lord," v. 12.
3. "God's faithful remnant" will be righteous, truthful, well provided for, and
safe and secure, v. 13.
4. God's faithful remnant" refers to the Jewish exiles returning from captivity,
but in a broader sense, it also refers to the church.
"Remnant" especially is applied by Paul to Jews who were part of the
church, as well as to those Messianic Jews who will fulfill God's
end-times prophesies and covenant promises to Israel, Romans 9:27; 11:5.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Worship God with "pure language" and in "one accord."
2. Trust in the Lord, and walk in meekness and humility with Him.
3. Thank the Lord for His manifold blessings: righteousness, truth, provision,
and salvation.
4. Rejoice in my position as one of "God's faithful remnant" and, therefore,
an heir to the promises to God's chosen people through Abraham,
Galatians 3:7-16, 26-29.

Stir Up the Gift of God
(II Timothy 1:3-14)

I. Concentration: on the historical background of Paul and Timothy
1. Timothy was saved by faith in Christ, II Timothy 1:5.
2. This new birth experience was associated with his godly mother and grandmother;
probably he was saved as a young man, II Timothy 1:5.
3. Later Timothy, as a young disciple, met Paul in Lystra and joined him on his
second missionary journey, Acts 16:1-3.
4. Some years later, Paul appointed Timothy as the pastor of the church at Ephesus,
I Timothy 1:3; this ordination may have been the same occasion when Paul
imparted the "Gift" to Timothy, II Timothy 1:6.
II. Meditation: on the Promise and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
1. The Promise:
(1) Luke 24:49, "Behold, I send the PROMISE of My Father upon you; but tarry
in the city of Jerusalem until you are ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH."
(2) Acts 1:4-5, "He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait
for the PROMISE of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT not many days from now,'"
(3) Acts 2:32-33, "This Jesus, God has raised up, of which we all are witnesses.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from
the Father the PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, He poured out this which you
now see and hear."
(4) Acts 2:38-39, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive THE GIFT OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT. For the PROMISE is to you and to your children, and to all who
are afar off, as many as our God will call."
2. The Gift:
(1) Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good GIFTS to your
children, how much more will your heavenly Father GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
to those who ask him!"
(2) Acts 2:38, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."
(3) Acts 10:45 "Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many
as came with Peter, because the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT had been poured out on
the Gentiles also."
(4) Acts 11:17, "If therefore God gave them the same GIFT as He gave us when we
believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
III. Revelation: on the impartation of the Gift of the Holy Spirit
1. Timothy received the Gift from Paul, II Timothy 1:6; Timothy's Gift had been given by prophecy
with the laying on of the hands of the eldership (including Paul), I Timothy 4:14.
2. Paul had received the Gift from Ananias, Acts 9:17.
3. Ananias (probably) had received the Gift from Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost,
Acts 2:1-11, 33, 39-41.
4. Jesus had received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father; Acts 2:33.
(1) The Father is the Son, John 10:30; 14:9; 17:22.
(2) The Son is the Spirit, John 14:17; Romans 8:9.
(3) The Spirit is the Father, John 4:24; II Corinthians 3:17.
(4) All three Persons of the Trinity are One, I John 5:7.
IV. Application: as a Spirit-filled Christian, I can expect these Gift endowments . . .
1. Courage (not a spirit of fear), vv. 7-8; Gift of divine boldness to witness.
2. Power, vv. 7, 9-10; Gift of divine faith in God to move mountains.
3. Love, vv. 7, 13; Gift of divine love for God and for other people.
4. Wisdom (sound mind), vv. 7, 13; Gift of divine spiritual discernment.

(Compare these II Timothy 1:7-14 spiritual attributes with Isaiah 11:2.)