Epistle for October 3, 2008
Posted by: info <info@...>
E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation October 3, 2008
Stand Up and Bless the Lord
(Nehemiah 9:1-38)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the events of this chapter
1. The Israelites assembled on the 24th day of the 7th month to fast, to
separate themselves from pagans, and to confess their sins, vv. 1-2.
2. They stood and listened to the reading of God's word for one-fourth
of a day, then spent another one-fourth of a day in confession and
worship of the Lord their God, v. 3.
3. The Levites blessed the Lord with a loud voice, proclaiming His praise
as they recounted Israel's history, vv. 4-35.
4. The Levites called the people to renew their covenant relationship with
God, writing down the terms which were to be sealed formally by the
leaders, the priests, and the Levites, vv. 36-38.
II. Meditation: on the history of God's dealing with the Israelites
1. God, the creator of the universe, chose Abraham to be the father of a
chosen people . . . the Hebrews, vv. 6-8.
2. God delivered His chosen people from Egyptian bondage and formed
them into a nation under the leadership of Moses, who instructed them
on God's laws and worship requirements, vv. 9-21.
3. God led them into taking possession of the Promised Land under the
leadership of Joshua, vv. 22-25.
4. God continued to deal with His people during the period of the judges,
during the monarchy and the divided kingdom, and during the exile
and the return from captivity, vv. 26-35.
III. Revelation: on the ministry of the Holy Spirit revealed in this chapter
1. "You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them," v. 20.
2. "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into
all truth," John 16:13.
3. "You . . . testified (admonished or warned) against them by Your
Spirit in Your prophets," v. 30.
4. "When He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment," John 16:8.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. "Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever!" v. 5.
2. Focus on reading, studying, meditating, and applying God's word . . .
confessing my sins and renewing my spiritual covenant relationship with
the Lord every day.
3. Review with thanksgiving God's dealings with me in mercy and grace
throughout all of my life.
4. Welcome the ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life . . . guiding me into
God's reveled truth, and convicting me of my sins against the Lord.
The Ark of the Covenant
(Hebrews 9:1-28)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25)
1. It was a box made of acacia wood (27x27x45 inches), v. 22.
2. It was overlaid with pure gold, v. 10.
3. It was not to be touched by human hands; rather, it was to be
carried by poles through rings attached to the Ark, vv. 12-15.
4. It was called by other names (Ark of the Testimony; Ark of the
Lord), but always it represented the presence of God among
His people.
II. Meditation: on the contents of the Ark (Hebrews 9:4-5)
1. Tablets of the Covenant – The Ten Commandments carved on
two tablets of stone . . . God's word; His law, Exodus 25:16.
2. Pot of Manna – bread from heaven collected as a memorial to
God's feeding the Israelites through their forty years of wilderness
wandering, Exodus 16:33.
3. Aaron's rod that budded – demonstrating and affirming that God
chooses and anoints His leaders for fruitful service, Numbers 16-17.
4. Cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat – golden lid
of the Ark, with angels on each end extending their wings toward the
center: the "mercy seat," Exodus 25:18-20 (See John 20:12).
III. Revelation: on what the Ark represents
1. It represents God's covenant relationship with us, including the behavior
He expects from His people (law).
2. It represents God's provision for His people . . . supplying all our need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:19.
3. It represents God's anointing of His chosen One (Christ; Messiah) and
His anointing of His people for service by the Holy Spirit.
4. It represents God's mercy toward those who believe in Jesus Christ, thus
receiving mercy and grace . . . forgiveness and cleansing.
IV. Applications: as a Christian I need to . . .
1. Accent God's word – His clear directions for living my life.
2. Acknowledge God's provision – His daily, providential care.
3. Affirm God's anointing – experiencing God's filling of the Holy Spirit, for
empowered fruitful service.
4. Accept God's mercy – His saving grace; His forgiveness and cleansing.
NOTE: Jesus is all of these (1) WORD (John 1:1), (2) MANNA (John 6:31-33),
(3) ANOINTED ONE (Christ; Messiah) (Matthew 16:16), and MERCY
SEAT – the holy place (Person) where God meets man, and where
God's presence is manifested in mercy, (Hebrews 4:16).
A Child's Book Report on the Entire Bible
Copied from the Black River Times (con't) Part 3
After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of the
New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in
a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you
born in a barn?' It would be nice to say yes!) During his life, Jesus had many
arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats. Jesus also had
twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that
they named a terrible vegetable after him.
Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to
some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on
trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his
hands instead. Anyway's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again.
He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return
is foretold in the book of Revolution. . .
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