Epistle for November 9, 2001
Posted by: ccfmo <ccfmo@...>
Weekly ministry letter (successor to "The Whetstone) from Christian Civic Foundation
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Dr. Curt Scarborough November 9, 2001
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In this Issue:
Sermon: Mark 6:31
Bible Study: Matthew 11:28-30
Prayer: A Spiritual Warfare
MERE Bible Study
The Spiritual Significance of Solitude
Our daughter, Karol, was a pre-schooler when we moved to the Water Tower Baptist Church in St. Louis. Soon she started asking when she would be old enough to ask Jesus to come into her heart. I told her to listen carefully, and God would tell her when the time was right. Her childlike reply has stuck with me for over 30 years.
"The preacher talks so loud, and you sing so loud, I can't hear God!"
Consider the spiritual significance of silence and solitude. Jesus recommended praying and fasting in the secret place, Matthew 6:6, 18. David wrote, "Be still and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10. His "blessed" man in Psalm 1 "meditates in the law of the Lord day and night." David prayed that the meditations of his heart would be acceptable in God's sight (Psalm 19:14), and Psalm 77:6 says, "I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit ponders diligently."
Paul lists a number of virtuous things in Philippians 4:8, admonishing, "Think on these things." Joshua's marching orders for conquering Canaan included the command to meditate daily, Joshua 1:8.
The first biblical mention of any concept usually is significant and instructive. Genesis 24:63 is the first time a person is said to meditate. "Issac went out to meditate in the field in the evening," and that place was called Beer Lahai Roi . . . "The Well of the God Who Sees."
Several times the Gospels tell of Jesus departing to be alone to pray (Matthew 14:23; John 6:15; etc.) He spent all night alone in prayer before choosing the Twelve, Luke 6:12, 13. And in Gethsemane, He left the Disciples to watch and pray while He went alone farther into the olive grove to spend time in solitude, communing with the Father, Matthew 26:39.
How significant is solitute in the life of a person who is dedicated to serving God? Almost without exception, great characters of the Bible had their life-changing encounters with God during periods of solitude: This was true of Enoch, Samuel, and Elijah; of Abraham, David, and Ezekiel; of Moses, Joshua, and Isaiah; of Peter, Paul, and John.
The Benefits of Solitude are Three-fold
1. Communion
God's presence is experienced, and man worships. This is the pattern.
So it was in solitude that "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for
God took him," Genesis 5:24. In solitude, the boy Samuel first experienced
God's presence when he heard his name called out of the darkness,
I Samuel 3:10.
The great prophet Elijah experienced the peak of his spiritual
communion with God, not on Mount Carmel, but in solitude.
Outside a cave, the Lord manifested Himself . . . not in the
wind, earthquake, or fire . . . but in "still small voice,"
I Kings 19:12.
2. Covenant
As the Father's promises are received, and as fulfillment of those promises are
expectantly anticipated, man responds in faith and love. So it was in solitude
that God cut the blood covenant with Abraham and "horror and great darkness
fell upon him," Genesis 15:18.
In solitude, David heard from God. Many great songs of worship and praise,
of faith and hope flowed from the pen of this unique Shepherd-King. The
everlasting convenant promise, fulfilled in the Son of David, the Messiah, no
doubt came to this "sweet singer of Israel" as he spent countless days and
nights in solitude tending sheep on the hillsides.
The prophet Ezekiel, during his numerous retreats in solitude, heard and saw
visions of Almighty God too wonderful to articulate or understand. But in
Ezekiel 37, we can comperhend some of the truths of his "dry bones"
experience . . . and the clear convenant promise that God's breath, the
wind of the Holy Spirit, will come to bring life, v. 10.
3. Commission
As God's purpose is explained, man responds to this revealed divine destiny
with excitement and dedication. God's commission answers man's burning
question, "Why am I here?" Most often, God's vision of destiny for our lives
is seen, not in the midst of a great revival meeting, but in a secluded,
solitary place.
So it was in solitude that Moses saw the burning bush and discovered God's
destiny for him. From that day forward (with a few exceptions) Moses was
surrounded by thousands of people . . . rebellious, contrary, griping people.
But for 40 years he led them because of the commission he'd received in that
solitary, desert place where the bush burned but was not consumed,
Exodus 3:2.
In solitude, Joshua, was commissioned to enter and conquer the Promised
Land, beginning with Jericho. Alone, he encountered the "Commander of
the Army of the Lord," who explained his divine destiny. So, "Joshua fit the
battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumblin' down!" Joshua 5-6.
Isaiah's vision of the Lord "sitting on a throne high and lifted up," Isaiah 6:1,
no doubt came when he was alone. In solitude he heard the questiion,
"Whom shall I send?" And he responded, accepting his great call to destiny,
"Here am I! Send me!"
Quickly fast-forward into the New Testament
In solitude on a roof top Peter experienced communion with God, heard God's promise of salvation to all without respect to nationality, and followed his destiny as the first Apostle to take the Great Commission outside the Jewish nation, Acts 10:15.
In solitude in Arabia, Paul communed with the Risen Christ, received a theological education on God's convenant for all nations, and accepted his commissioned destiny as the Apostle to the Gentiles, Galatians 1:15-17.
In solitude on the Isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9), John communed with and worshipped the glorified Christ. He saw the final fulfillment of God's promises and he wrote in great detail of God's destiny for believers and unbelievers.
Final personal word: This past 15 years of my life has been more productive and enjoyable than all the 50 preceding years combined. Why? Because I've discovered late in life the true spiritual significance of solitude. Now I spend a significant portion of my mornings (3 or 4 hours, usually) in solitude . . . studying the Word, meditating, praying, and listening for the "still small voice."
My recommendation to all ministers is that we jealously guard our daily quiet time of solitude . . . abiding alone with the Lord. Consider the tremendous benefits of Jesus' invitation in Mark 6:31, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile." It's there we can fully experience the rest He offered in Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus' "Rest" Is the Best
I. Concentration: (Obeservation)
1. These verses immediately follow Jesus' prayer of thanksgiving that the
Father had revealed Himself to "babes" . . . the disciples, 25-26.
2. Jesus claimed that the Father had delivered all things in to His hands . . .
He was in full control of everything, 27.
3. Jesus taught that no one knows the Son except the Father, 27.
4. Jesus also stated here that no one can know the Father except the Son
and those to whom the Son has revealed the Father, 27. (See John 14:9)
II. Meditation:
1. Jesus invited physically tired and spiritually weary (sin-burdened) people
to Himself, 28.
2. To those who come, He gives rest, 28.
3. Jesus next invites them to learn from (and about) Him, 29.
4. Those who "take His yoke" and learn of Him find rest for their souls, 29.
III. Revelation:
1. The first "rest" represents our salvation . . . a free gift.
2. This offer is saving grace resulting in spiritual peace with God.
3. The second "rest" represents sanctification . . . a process of
spiritual growth toward Christ-like maturity. (II Peter 3:18)
4. This second invitation is to make a discovery through studying
with Jesus and about Jesus.
IV. Applications: As a Christian, I need to . . .
1. "Rest" in the assurance of my salvation, which is a gift from
almighty God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Know that Jesus' presence with me brings true peace. (Mark 4:37-41)
3. Learn more about Jesus, through the revelation ministry of the Holy
Spirit, so that I may grown in spiritual stature . . . to be like Him.
(Ephesians 4:13)
4. Perceive Jesus' "rest" as both a gift and a discovery. He is the
"Author and Finisher of my faith," Hebrews 12:2. Praise and thank Him!
Prayer: A Spiritual Warfare
By: Edward A. Collins
Hey pastors! ! ! Are you praying enough? Recently I challenged pastors to pray one hour each day. This is a vital step in preparing for Spiritual Warfare. But! ! ! There is another step that is just as vital. Pastors need Prayer Warriors, Intercessors, Prayer Shields around them.
This truth became clear to me while reading the story of Abner and Joab as found in II Samuel 2:1-32. Verses 24 & 25 is where God got my attention. It states: "But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. There the men of Benjamin rallied around Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill."
You are maybe asking, "What's the point?" The point is Abner was saved that day because the men of Benjamin (warriors) encircled him and became a shield about him. WOW! ! ! What if every pastor in America had a shield of Prayer Warriors encircling him?
Apparently the apostle Paul knew all about the value of personal intercession for leaders since he requested it five times in his epistles. I Thessalonians 5:25 states: "Brethren pray for us." Romans 15:30 states: "Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me." II Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:19; and Philemon 1:22 also express this important point. Paul saw the need to have Prayer Warriors (Intecessors) praying for him. If Paul saw this need, should we not do the same.
Begin today looking for Prayer Warriors. These are members of your church who have the spiritual gift of intercession. Dr. C. Peter Wagner defines this gift in his book entitled Prayer Shield. He writes,
"The gift of intercession is the special ability that God gives to certain
members of the Body of Christ to pray for extended periods of time on
a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to their prayers . . ."
Those with the gift of intercession: 1) Pray longer (two to five hours a day); 2) Pray with more intensity; 3) Enjoy prayer more than most; 4) See more frequent and dramatic answers to their prayers; and 5) Are acutely aware of hearing quite clearly from God.
Find these folks in your church. Enlist them to be your Prayer Warriors. Look in a future e-pistle to discover why pastors need these folks.
Introducing: the MERE Bible Study System
MERE is the name of an innovative Bible study method developed by Dr. Curt Scarborough in 1986. It was first utilized and field-tested by a group of 12 "Iron Sharpens Iron" men in 1991, and then incorporated into the curriculum of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity when it was founded by the Christian Civic Foundation in 1992.
MERE is based on the clear teachings of I John 2:20 and 27.
"You have an anointing from the Holy One . . . The anointing which you have received from
Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you."
The dictionary definitions of the word "mere" include:
1. Nothing else than; simple; only . . .
2. Pure; undiluted; unmixed . . .
3. Solely; without help or influence; done, made, or
exercised independently of others.
The name MERE also represents the two central elements of the new Bible study system: MEditation and REvelation. It is revelatory in nature rather than inductive, emphasizing "listening" more that "looking." Wise Christian students of the Scriptures need to use both methods.
Consider these truths: God is the source of all revelation knowledge, Luke 10:21; Matthew 16:17; Galatians 1:12. He wants to reveal spiritual insights to all of His children, John 16:13; Ephesians 1:17-18; 3:3. True revelation knowledge comes directly from God not from quoted authorities or doctrinal teachers, Matthew 7:28-29. Christians need, therefore, to pray for God's revelation for their lives.
Make these applications: as a Christian, I need to believe that God wants me to know Him and His will. I need to ask for His revelation with hope and expectancy, James 1:5. I need to seek intimate fellowship with Jesus, Who has the power to enlighten the eyes of my understanding. I need to be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance into all truth.
The MERE Bible study system is the heart of the Spiritual Mentoring track of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity. Its aim is to equip pastors, counselors, ministers, and other Christian leaders in the most basic aspect of "Applied Christianity" . . . personal spiritual growth. It focuses on developing a disciplined private devotional life of daily Bible study and prayer. Under the guidance of an experienced mentor, students are taught the skills of Scriptural concentration, meditation, revelation, and application. They become involved personally and practically in the devotional lifeskills to be discussed in detail later in a coming e-pistle2equippers.
For more information contact Christian Civic Foundation at ccfmo@netzero.net or phone (314) 739-1121.
Pastor: As you lead your church in planning the annual budget for 2002, please remember to include an amount in your "missions" allocations for CCF. Just a small amount monthly to this work would be a tremendous help to our mission of "Christian character building and lifeskill development for successful living" . . . in the public sector (schools and communities) as well as in the Christian community (churches and homes). If "e-pistle2equippers" has been a blessing to you, perhaps you, in turn, could be a channel of blessing to us . . . just as Paul encouraged the church in Rome toward giving and receiving mutual support and encouragement, Romans 1:11-12.
Blessings! Curt