Quote from Forum Archives on September 9, 2004, 5:54 pm

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E-pistle

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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation September 10, 2004

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In This Issue:
"Israel's Last Will& Testament"
"True Fasting Brings Breakthrough"
Changes at Pillsbury Institute

Israel's Last Will & Testament
(Genesis 49:1-33)

I. Concentration: on the events in this chapter
1. Israel gathered all twelve of his sons together to hear his final prophetic words, vv. 1-2.
2. He systematically listed each son, high-lighted a characteristic, and gave a prophetic
word, vv. 3-28.
3. He charged his sons to bury him in the cave in Canaan where his grandparents (Abraham
and Sarah), his parents (Issac and Rebekah), and his first wife (Leah) were buried, vv. 29-32.
4. Jacob finished his words, drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last, and "was gathered
(spiritually) to his people," v. 33.
II. Meditation: on Israel's prophetic words concerning his sons
1. His first three sons were cursed, not blessed:
(1) Reubin, because he had sexual relations with his
father's concubine, Bilhah, vv. 3-4; Genesis 35:22.
(2) Simeon and Levi, because of their cruel murders at
Shechem, vv. 5-7; Genesis 34:25-29.
2. Judah (son # 4) became the leader of the Twelve Tribes, and the one through whom God's
promised Messiah would come, vv. 8-12.
3. Joseph (son # 11) was given a "double portion" of Israel's Promised Land inheritance through
the equal shares received by his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, vv. 22-26.
4. All the other sons received Israel's brief evaluations and prophesies about their future,
vv. 13-21, 27-28.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of these prophecies
1. Breaking the laws of God is sin, and sinning removes persons from the canopy of God's
blessings upon their lives.
2. Jesus the Messiah came from the tribe of Judah, and Israel saw Him as (1) King ("scepter"),
(2) Lawgiver, (3) Shiloh (Peace-giver or Rest), and (4) Blood-sacrifice (wine; blood) vv. 10-12.
3. Faithfulness to the Lord through persecution and suffering (as Joseph endured) will be
abundantly rewarded, Matthew 25:21.
4. God knows everything about us, including our past deeds, our present attitudes, and our
future destiny.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Avoid committing sin; but when I do break God's laws . . . repent, confess, ask for forgiveness
and cleansing, and ask to be restored to the place of God's favor and blessing, I John 1:7-9.
2. Worship Jesus . . . my Lord, my Judge, my Peace, and my Savior.
3. Serve the Lord faithfully, in spite of all difficulties.
4. Realize that God knows all about me . . . yet He still loves and cares for me.

True Fasting Brings Breakthrough
(Mark 9:1-50)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Jesus was transfigured upon a mountain, vv. 1-13.
2. Jesus healed the boy whom the disciples could not help, vv. 14-29.
3. Jesus taught about His resurrection and about true greatness, vv. 30-37.
4. Jesus taught the disciples to avoid exclusivism and to guard against harming
children; He urged them to be "salty saints," vv. 38-50.

II. Meditation: on the spiritual discipline called "fasting"
"This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting," v. 29.
1. What fasting is not:
* Fasting is not a hunger strike trying to twist God's arm.
* Fasting is not an exercise to attract God's attention.
* Fasting is not an effort to earn God's blessings through our pain.
* Fasting is not effective if our motive is to impress other persons.
2. What fasting does:
* Fasting establishes the priority of spirit over flesh.
* Fasting demonstrates self-control and discipline.
* Fasting expresses deep, heart-felt concern for a situation or a need.
* Fasting free-up unspent meal money for charity.

III. Revelation: on the benefits of "true fasting" (Isaiah 58)
1. Continued guidance and protection by God, vv. 8, 11.
2. Satisfaction of all needs, v. 11.
3. Healing and strengthening of physical body, vv. 8.11.
4. Radiance and enhanced reputation, vv. 8, 10, 12.
5. Assurance of God's presence and of answered prayer, v. 9.
6. Joy and abundant blessings without ceasing, vv. 11, 14.
7. Purpose in life; sense of Divine destiny, v. 12.

IV. Observations: on Biblical illustrations of 40-day fasts
1. Moses (Deuteronomy 9:11) - God gave him the word (Ten Commandments).
2. Elijah (I Kings 19:8) - God revealed Himself ("still small voice").
3. Jonah (Jonah 3:4, 5) - Nineveh fasted and repented; received deliverance.
4. Jesus (Luke 4:1-2, 14) - Jesus won victory over Satan's temptations; and He
received the Holy Spirit's power for effective ministry.

V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to fast in order to . . .
1. Focus my thoughts on God's holy word.
2. Allow the Lord to reveal Himself to me personally.
3. Humbly repent and confess; receive God's forgiveness and deliverance.
4. Win victory over temptation; be anointed with power for ministry.

Pillsbury Institute NCCA Degree Titles
(Effective July 1, 2004)

Christian Master of Arts (C.M.A.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology OR
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling OR
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy

Christian Doctor of Philosophy (C.Ph.D.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology OR
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling OR
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy

Christian Doctor of Psychology (C.Psy.D.)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling OR
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy (Second Doctorate Only)

NOTE:
The student has the option of whether to include the area of concentration ("In . . . ")
on his or her diploma. This information always will appear on the student transcripts.

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"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is
where they should be. Now put the foundation under them."
- Henry David Thoreau

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