Quiet Times Search

• 700 varieties of butterflies
• 8,000 varieties of moths

• One reason the Bible is so adamant about pride is its effect on our view of God.
  
• When we puff ourselves up with pride we begin to act as if we are God
  
• Instead of being in the image of God we try to make God in our image
  

1. We make God into a national God = prospers our country only
2. Watering down the Bible = suit our feelings
3. When we act as if we are a special case = God will overlook our situation
4. When we become depressed & discouraged (I’m just a failure) = God messed up

• Satan wants to put thoughts in the minds and hearts of the saints to lead them astray
• He really wants to come after the ministry staff that leads God’s people.

1. Have division and tension in your marriage (not a divorce just disunity)
2. He wants your children (that’s one of the best ways he can hurt you)
3. He wants you to be competitive & jealous of others
4. He wants you to struggle with forgiving others
5. He wants you to be focused only on your ministry & not the church (bigger picture)

1. We’re family, he wants it to be like Cain & Abel
2. King Saul, Satan wants you to think you can lead better than others, nothing to learn from me, be a good follower
3. Satan wants KC church divided from the Heartland & movement

• God honors humility
• When we become humble we become more like God himself.

• Best example is in a marriage (someone has to start with “I’m sorry”)
• Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers” not “blessed is the one who wins the argument”

• The Bible gives us the formula for success - - - “seek advice”
  

• Jesus spent time (transfiguration) with Moses & Elijah
• Jesus spent time with his father daily (early in the morning and late at night)
• Jesus even had 12 disciples around him for years

1. Baseball = the pitching coach can look at a picture throw and determine mistakes on sight
2. Football = you have a specialty coach for every position
3. School = tutors for different subjects

• We have to learn things the hard way.
• People can warn us that we’re headed down the wrong path but we just have to journey that path for ourselves before we learn

It may take some time to find it.

It may take some discipline to embrace it.

But it is always there, and it is always best.

It is always the key to overcoming any challenge.

Philippians 1:27 - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
Ephesians 5:10 - find out what pleases the Lord
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - give thanks in all circumstances

• Proverbs 16:25 - What seem or feels right is not always right; others can help you see that
• Proverbs 19:2 - Be zealous, but make sure you have the correct information

• Proverbs 12:15 - Wise people let others in their lives and listen to input
• Proverbs 12:1 - Getting advise and being corrected in your thinking is very wise

• Proverbs 11:14 - Many advisers bring victory in your daily life
• Proverbs 15:22 - Allow others to be a part of your planning; they will help you succeed
• Proverbs 19:20 - Advise will make you wiser than ever

• Proverbs 20:18 - Get advise before the challenging battles you will be facing
• Proverbs 24:5-6 - Young disciples need older soldier’s guidance on waging spiritual battles

• Proverbs 15:12 - Be open to the possibility that your plans may be wrong or not the best
• Proverbs 16:18 - You may fall simply because you refused to get input in your life
• Proverbs 18:12 - Humility leads to advise, advise leads to victory, victory leads to honor

• Hebrews 5:11-14 - Train yourself; be disciplined to read and pray and get help from others
• Hebrews 6:1-3 - We must learn the elementary truths so we can move on to maturity

• 1 John 2:5-6 - Always compare yourself to Jesus and look to imitate Him in everything
• Colossians 1:28-29 - Let others help you to be formed more into the image of Jesus

• 2 Peter 1:3-11 - Growth is an absolute; it solidifies your place in heaven
• 2 Peter 3:17-18 - Growth will keep you from falling from your secure position

Not all the answers but I do know where get them along with advice from others

Going to share about 2-3 scriptures for use to discuss / feel free to be part of things

We need Jesus - Matthew 18:1-6

v1 - Side conversation while Jesus was doing miracles among them
Disciples we arguing about who was the greatest... maybe they were saying - I am the best parent or I have the best kid

v2 - God thoughts: The ones we are to teach are the ones who teach us the very lesson we need to teach them

v3 - It does not come naturally, we need to change

Starts with us - to get our relationship with God in order first - to be a child of God

Why is it so important to become childlike?

• So we can have a relationship with God / welcome Jesus
  
• Make it to heaven / considered the greatest
  
• Not become a stumbling block

• Humble ourselves
• Rely on God
• Seek out answers/advice from others
• Earniestness to learn
• Be relatable

Our relationship with our father is very telling as to why we are and who we are.

“What does my dad really think about me?” Lots of fathers don’t realize their vital role.

Many issues come from fathers having lost their sense of purpose.

Society is guiding boys to remain boys as long as possible— extending childhood into their thirties—while forcing girls to become women long before they are ready.

Millions of young men are staying single. They want the privileges and rewards of manhood but only the responsibilities and moral requirements of boys.

God has a special place in His heart for two specific groups of people: fatherless children and widows.
 
have in common? The most important man in the leadership role of their lives is gone.

Dad have good intention but there many things working against them:

• Divorce - best thing for kids is to see their parents humble themselves, repent of their selfishness, forgive one another, and recommit to their marriage
• Work - Before the industrial revolution, fathers primarily worked at home. When dad finally did get home, he was too tired to engage, and his family got the leftovers. Men need to set boundaries and learn to say “no,” his work priorities will constantly pull him away.
• Entertainment - the television becomes their influence instead which is a terrible father.
• Anti-father bias in media - dads on TV today are incompetent and constantly outwitted by their wives and disrespectful kids.
• The church - many church programs separate families to the point that kids never see their fathers

Devil will never stop attacking what God prioritizes.

Men are happiest and at their best when they are responsible

We must resolve to fully embrace all of our responsibilities before God

Responsibility = you are being entrusted and empowered by a higher authority to care for something or someone

The first thing God did after creating Adam, was to give him responsibilities. He placed him in the garden “to cultivate it and keep it” - Genesis 2:15

Sin makes men tend to resist responsibility, but embracing it is part of our manhood

It is a relatively modern invention that establishes teen years as a moratorium on responsibility and prolongs childhood indefinitely.

When a young man is passive and irresponsible, he greatly limits his freedoms, opportunities, and successes.

Responsibility calls us to action and tests us. It reveals our character.

The more maturity a man has, the more responsibility God can trust him with.

Embrace responsibility! Love it. Live it. Teach it to your children.

If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward” - Luke 12:42-43

Fathers are the primary protectors - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
When walking down the isle

• The father is saying he has guarded her moral purity throughout her life for her husband - 2 Corinthians 11:2
• And the man she is marrying is proven morally, financially, and spiritually qualified to lead her, provide for her, and protect her from that day on

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed - Luke 11:21

You should not only guard your own heart but your wife’s as well
Your children need help making the right decisions. That is why you are still their dad.
Being active on the front end as a father will pay off well and save you time and heartache on the back end.

Teaches your children to love wisdom instead of developing a greater appetite for the world.
Your job is not just to give your children boundaries but to use God’s Word to teach them how to think wisely
Train them to fear and love God and not to “set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.” - Proverbs 4:14–15

The older your kids get, the more they will need to understand the rationale behind your rules.
They willthen  discern why certain things are right and wrong, wise and unwise, better and best.
This requires your courageous leadership!

A major part of your role as a father is to disciple your kids

Discipling your kids requires discipline on our part

Discipline doesn’t feel good, nor should it - Hebrews 12:11

Discipline should be more on the father’s shoulders than the mother’s because of who we represent.

Loving discipline prepares our kids to respect and obey their heavenly Father

We had earthly fathers to discipline us, for they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good - Hebrews 12:9-10

It is the father’s job is to take the long view, not the short one.

Withheld discipline may seem momentarily pleasant to the child and the parent but it takes no skill or courage to be a passive father

Not disciplining guarantees that uncorrected sin will follow his child into adulthood and follow his family into the coming generations

Its momentary discomfort - knowing that sin will harm a child in far worse ways than even the painful discipline of a loving father.

He who loves him disciplines him promptly - Proverbs 13:24

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it - Proverbs 22:6

IT is a lie from the Enemy to believe that rebelling against and dishonoring authority brings more freedom and peace

Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord - Ephesians 6:4

Must we bring you water from this rock? - Numbers 20:10

Sometimes we say "I did the best I could" but instead, we should say "I should have called you sooner"

An independent spirit often keeps us from doing our best

Moses became a humble, obedient servant yet in a moment he lost everything that he had worked so hard to gain

• The Israelites were thirsty and grumpy
• They complained about the lack of water
• Moses angerily rebuked them and struck the rock twice

His prideful self-reliance cost him the opportunity to lead them to the promised land.

What would it mean for you to rely on God?

Shall I not drink from the cup of suffereing the Father has given me? - John 18:10-11

When you fight spiritual battles, you have a variety of resources available

Your choice will always determine if you win or lose

Peter did the best he could; he went wrong by putting confidence in his own strength and abilty to get things done

Peter's problem was not a lack of willingness to follow Jesus but a problem of choice of weapons

Only when we receieved the holy spirit did he become a fearless and powerful preacher of the gospel

What weapons do you use to fight your spiritual battles?

Go back to your family and tell them everything God has done for you - Luke 8:39

People who express daily gratitude reported higer levels of:

• Alertness
• Enthusiasm
• Determination
• Optimism
• Energy

Jesus and his disciples encountered a violent demon-possessed man - naked, out of his mind, completely alone

He calmly and purposefully took control of the situation and delivered the man from his life of torment

Jesus told the man to go home and tell everyone what had happened

The man gratefully followed Jesus' instructions

When you think of everything that God has done for you, what other response is there but to follow him?

A greateful heart is the best, infectious witness to the goodness and power of God

Remember how short my life is - No one can live forever, all will die - Psalms 89:47-48

The essence of gody wisdom is realizing that we are mortal and our days are numbered

Ethan was in touch with his mortality and immortality - I will sing of the Lord's unfailing love forever - Psalms 89:1

He knew how to put his time on earth to the best use by openly praising God

How are you spending the time God has given you?

Jesus sat wearily beside the well; soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water - John 4:6-7

Jesus understood the importance of making the best use of every opportunity to preach and teach his message

He was ready for the opportunity to share his message with the people of Samaria via the woman he jusr meet

Jesus' words made a lasting impression on the woman, her neighbors - John 4:39

They were stunned that she meet the Messiah

Life will present you with opportunities to serve God through serving others

Jairus fall at Jesus' feet, pleading with him for his dying daughter - Luke 8:41-42

Desparation has a way of making people forget about themselves and take unusual risks

Jarius knew the risks when he fell at Jesus' feet:

• Jewish countrymen won't take kindly of him approaching Jesus this way
• By falling to his knees, Jairus acknowledge that Jesus was everything he said he was

He needed more than faith to come to Jesus, he needed courage

Being a synagogue leader, he had access to the very best health care

Jairus had one final hope - Jesus, he knew Jesus could heal his daughter

The Savior  who never turns down a humble man gave him exactly what he needed

Where do you turn when you're in desparate need?

Publius' father was ill; Pual went in and prayed for him and laying hands on him, he was healed - Acts 28:7-8

Paul was in a place where he could have used some rest and relaxation

He travel to Rome but became shiprecked at Malta - a beautiful place which remains a popular tourist destination today

You would think Paul might have taken a break during this opportunity but his commitment motivated him to make best use every moment God gave thim

Paul did the same thing he did on his previous missionary journeys:

• Healed the sick
• Preach the Word of God
• Planted seeds of faith

Make the best use of every moment God gives you, whatever your situation

He wasn't aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord - Exodus 34:29

You can not hide a personal encounter with God

Moses had spent 40 days and nights in God's presence, like talking with his best freind

Spending hours of quality time with someone is bound to change you

Parts of the other person's character, convictions, and even appearance rub off on you

The people would never again see Moses in the same light

How much intimate time you regularly spend with God?

When personal encounters with are your priority, those around you can't help but see its positive effects on you

No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words - Job 2:13

Many men struggle with just listening - why God gave us two ears and only one mouth

At first Job's friends were the exactly the kind of friends he needed

After Job had spoken, they began speaking but instead of comforting him they tried to fix his problems - which made things worst

Sometimes it is best to just listen instead of trying to fix things

Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother - Mark 3:35

Jesus gave a new definition of family when he taught that his real family was made up of believers

He knew that his earthly relatives lacked the spiritual eyes to see the truth

Jesus came to do his Father's will and anyone who got in his way, even with the best intentions, would take a backseat to his new family

Your earthly family is God's gift to you to treasure and love

Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah; it became a trap for Gideon and his family - Judges 8:27

Sometimes our best-intended actions have negative consequences

Gideon had just led Israel in a rousing victory over Midian and they elected him ruler

He said thanks, but no thanks - he knew not to take an office that had not appointed him to

Gideon asked everyone to gather up the gold colleced from the Midianite enemies so that he could make an ephod to server as a memorial to God's goodness for defeat the Midianites

Instead of remembering God, the Israelites began to worship it instead

Gideon provided leadership during the time of war but failed to offer it at a time when the people needed spiritual guidance

When you set out to do something you see as important, seek God and his approval before moving forward

Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance? - Job 42:3

You really find out what he or she is made of when you're not at your best

After suffering through the loss of his property, wealth, health, and family, Job came to better understand God - Job 1:8

God had called Job a man of complete integrity - Job 1:8

When he suffered, he began to question God, complaining to God and accusing God of treating him unjustly

When God revealed himself, Job had to retrack the foolish things he said.

I take back everything I said and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance - Job 42:6

Job began to understand his smallest: I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes - Job 42:5

Miraculous signs at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory - John 2:11

One day at a wedding party, Jesus performed his very first miracle when he changed water into wine

In those days, running out of wine at a wedding was a major social faux pas

Mary asked Jesus to fix the problem - servants filled six stone pots with water and wine began to one again - the best they ever tasted

Headwaiter: why save the best wine for last?

They never saw Jesus the same way again

A faithful, sensible servant is the one who the master can give responsibility - Matthew 24:45

There are two people in the workplace:

1. Employees who must be watched like a hawk - get the job done that is it
2. Employees  who do their best with enthusiasm

Jesus told a story about a master's trust in a servant who demonstrated faithfulness in big and small issues

That led the master to leave more important responsiblities to the faithful servant

Are you faithful in serving God and your employer? He will reward your faithfulness

I thanks and praise you, God, for you have given me wisdom - Daniel 2:23

Nebuchadnezzar had a strange dream and wanted to know what it meant

When his advisors couldn't help, he had them all executed

Daniel asked the king if he could take a crack at interpreting the royal dream

The pressure was on - Daniel needed answers and soon

Daniel asked his friend to pray for divine revelation  and he received a vision that clearly explained the kig's dream

God gave Daniel exactly what he needed to save his life and his friends lives

When Daniel was squeezed, out came his faith in God who does his best work under pressure

I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are - Matthew 8:8

When you understand the authority of Christ over all things, you open yourself up to receive the very best

The Roman officer was under the authority of his superiors and authority over his subordinates

He was expected when he gave orders, it was good as done

The officer recongnized that Jesus had absolute authority to carry out whatever he agreed to do

What would Jesus do for us if we only asked him to do and believe he could

What sort of confidence do you have in Jesus' authority?

Would your life change if you had the confidence of this Roman officer?

God had mercy on me... his great patience with even the worst of sinners - 1 Timothy 1:16

Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22

Jesus was the most patient man who ever lived, beyond human understanding

• He lovingly ministered to the worst of sinners
• Dealt with cynicism of corrupt religous leaders
• Shephered 12 often-clueless apostles
• Those closest to him did not hear his words much less apply them

He corrected them but also patiently prepared them to take the reins after he returned to heaven

You can best learn patience by understanding that God daily extends his patience to you

Where is the newborn king of the Jews? - Matthew 21:2

Wise men watched for signs that the ancient prophets of God had spoken about centuries before

They travel serveral hundred miles by camel to see the newborn King Jesus

Some just struggle to make it to church at 10:30AM

These wise men went to incredible lengths to find Jesus, bowed down and presented gifts

Make it a prioity to worship him passionately and give him you best each day

I am the one who needs to be baptized by you - Matthew 3:14

The most famous best supporting actor in the New Testament is John the Baptist

Men in the Old Testament said he would prepare the way for the Messiah's coming

John preached the message of God had given him and welcomes the star of the show, Jesus Christ

John repeated had to set the record straight about his own identity

He demonstrated further humility when Jesus approached him to be baptized

John initally protested that he not Jesus should be baptized but he obeyed Jesus request

What if God asked you to play a similar role to a colleage at work or church leader?

The Lord's glory surrounded them, they were terrified - Luke 2:9

Nothing will seem more frightening and joyful than coming face-to-face with the living God

The group of shephards were guarding their flock the night Jesus was born

Suddenly an anegel appeared, interrupting the night's slience and darkness with his radiant glory

The sight terrified them

The agel quickly replaced their fears with unspeakable joy - the Messiah had come

The angel brought the best news the world had ever heard

The shepherd felt awe and terror at seeing them, followed by joy at what they had to say

How do you reconcile biblical commands to fear God and love him at the same time?

The people were shocked at the plainness of Jesus' words

Had he been silent or pretended to ignore matters he was fully aware of - he would have been a liar like the men with whom he was struggling

Was it not the duty of Jesus to inform them of their condition? What else could a sincere friend do?

There was no bitterness in Jesus' language? It was calm statements of a horrible fact

Jesus' unquestion loyalty to truth gives his words a value which no other person's words possess

Jesus holds nothing back - what is thinks, he says - what he feels, he declares

He declares all things as they are

This is the man we want. A man like this can be a refuge in the time of a storm

What he assers concerning the principles of a victorious life, we can act upon, never doubting

When he tells us to do something, we can do it knowing it is the best thing

When he warns us against a course of action, we can shun it, knowning that in that direction lies death

Common taunt of Scribes and Pharises that Jesus was a friend of sinners

He was friendly to the lowest and the best of society, a trait which created great scandal

These three statements about Jesus spoke a lot about how Jesus' heart toward others:

• He saved himself; he cannot save himself - Mark 15:13
• He went about doing good
• Friend of sinners

They tried to use his friendiness against him

Example: Tax collectors - ones who gathered taxes by any means nessary including by extortion or other dishonest measures

• Considered traitors to their country
• Objects of hatred and scron
• Their money was considered tained and not accepted in the synagogue
• Their oath was worthless
• Could not be a witness in a court of law
• Pelted with sneers by passers by
• Looked as wild beasts

Jesus made friends with them despite these truths

It was one thing to talk down to a bad man and give good advise, it is another to eat with them

Jesus cross the chasm over which no man was willing to do in that day and lost his reputation for the sake of being brotherly/friendly

Made himself nothing because he was determined on being firendly to all - Philippians 2:17

Everyone is part of the human race, children of God, despite what they have done

Jesus was best know being friendly to the poor, bad and sick but he was also was a brother to the rich and powerful too - He was a brother to every man

There was more said about the Bible about the poor than they rich because Jesus was able to nearer to the poor than the rich:

• Rich men are always inaccessible
• Rich men always surround themselves with barriers

Jesus was as friendly to Nicodemus as he was to the poor woman at the well

He was as brotherly to  Zaccheus as he was to the poor beggar in Jerusalem

When Jesus went to be baptized, John would not do it because it was for the sinner but the good. Jesus wanted to participate because he wanted to be counted amoung men.

Jesus knowing the other side and he could help but tell them something about the great God in world they were living

The rich man in the parable of Dives and Lazarus: the rich man did not go to hell because of his fine clothes or riches - it because of his heart- not tender; sympathy did not go out to a brother's need

Abraham was rich and went to heaven because he had a brotherly heart

Jesus was too brotherly for people to understand

Jesus - If I can not help them with my life, I will help them with my death