Quiet Times Search

• Raise or lower the universe's rate of expansion by one part in a million, - it rules out the possibility of life
• If the average distance between star was any greater, the planets would not have formed; any smaller, the planets orbits for life would not have occurred
• The ratio of carbon and oxygen was different, we could not breath the air
• Change the tilt of the earth's axis slightly, we would freeze and burn up
• Any change in the distance from the sun or speed of rotation of the earth would result in unlivable temperature changes

• Scripture reading becomes I have to read it to understand the gospel for others
• Talking to God suddenly takes on a new purpose - passionate pleas for friends
• Our desire to worship grows as your gratitude grows
• Helps maintain a high standard of purity

1. The Blessing of Giving - Acts 20:33-35
   1. Paul did not desire anyone else's money or possessions.
   2. He worked hard and sacrificed to help the weak.
   3. He knew that giving brought more joy than receiving.
2. Living for Eternal Possessions - Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 10:32-34
   1. When our treasure is in heaven not on earth, our hearts will be in heaven also.
   2. As disciples, we will look foolish to the world because our hearts and our treasures (money) are in heaven not on earth.
3. All Things For Our Enjoyment - 1 Timothy 6:17-18
   1. It is very easy for us who have wealth to put our hope and trust in money/things rather than God.
   2. As disciples we are commanded to be generous and willing to share.
   3. When we follow God"s plan we can feel great about enjoying the blessings God has given us.

1. Which do I desire more, to give or to receive?
2. How can I put all my treasure in heaven so that all my heart will be there also?
3. How am I being generous and willing to share on a daily basis?
4. Am I enjoying God's blessings or do I feel guilty about the things I have?

What are you looking for in life?

Acts 17:16-28

• Ever ask yourself: “What on earth am I here for?” You aren’t alone!
• Why did God create you and bring you to this very point and time in your life? So that you would seek him and
  find him in order to have a personal relationship with him.
• Who takes the initiative in seeking this relationship? Because God loves us and desires a relationship with us, he has been actively determining times and places long before we ever thought about seeking him (Psalms 14:2-3).
• Why do so few seem to be seeking today?
  • God is unknown and the image many have of him is distorted v23
  • We have created our own god. We all worship something.
  • To seek God, we must be willing to change our ideas about who God is to match what has been revealed to us in the Bible
• There is nothing more important or exciting in life than to seek and to find our Creator God.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

• We will find God if we seek Him with all our heart.
  
• Have you ever done something with all your heart? What is it?
  
• What will it mean for you to seek God with all your heart?

• Jesus is God in the flesh. He is the unique Son of God: fully God and fully man!
• God came to earth as a man in order that we could come to know him.
  
• If you were an all powerful and invisible God, how would you have tried to communicate your love to your creation?
  
• Illustration: Imagine trying to talk to an ant - How do you communicate with them without terrifying them? Become an ant yourself
  

• All the fullness of God lives in Jesus Christ.
  
• Every aspect of God’s character can be found in Jesus.
  
• Reading through any of the Gospels describing Jesus life and words will give you insight into God’s character and will for your life.
  

• Mark 1:21-22 - Jesus was an amazing teacher whose words were spoken with authority.
• Mark 1:23-28 - Jesus cast out demons, showing that the power of God was present in him.
• Mark 1:29-31 - Jesus met people’s felt needs and healed the sick.
• Mark 1:32-34 - Jesus focused his attention on others and selflessly gave of himself.
• Mark 1:35 - Jesus was dependent upon God in prayer for his strength and direction.
• Mark 1:36-39 - Jesus was consumed with his mission to preach the good news.
• Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus was filled with compassion for all people.
• Mark 10:32-34, 45 - Jesus came to serve, and gave his perfect life as a ransom for sinners. As predicted, he was rejected by his people and crucified - but he rose from the dead three days later.

• God knows what you and I have done but he wants to help us get our lives in order
• The more we read, the more we understand God is merciful and loving
• He is serious about us changing our lives to fit His will vs us trying to change the Bible to fit our will

• Jesus is the ultimate reflection of God on earth
• Just as Jesus didn't come with a critical judgment = God does not either
• v46 - He shows us the way out of darkness - when we don't have a close relationship with him
• Question: What does Jesus say will actually judge us? God's words

1. Read the Bible daily so we can know him
2. We must apply the Bible to our lives, let it change us, and let our lives change others
3. Let's study the Bible together at least once a week for the next 3 weeks

• Do not store you treasures on earth - Matthew 6:19
• Do good to all people - Galatians 6:10
• Do good you know you ought to do - James 4:17
• Do what the Word of God says - James 1:22
• Do not fight - 2 Timothy 2:24
• Do not cause anyone to stumble - 1 Corinthians 10:32
• Do not fear man - Luke 12:4-5
• Encourage daily - Hebrews 3:13

Old Testament scriptures about sin

• Ecclesiastes 7:20 - There is not a righteous man on earth
• Leviticus 18 - If a persons sins, he will be cut off
• Ecclesiastes 4:4 - Achievement will not get get us to heaven
• Genesis 4:7 - if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door
• Proverbs 6:16-19 - God hates sin
• Isaiah 59:1-3 - Sin separates us from God
• Psalms 26:1-2 - We need to turn from our ways and live blamelessly

Scriptures about Messianic Prophecy

• Isaiah 52:13-53:12 - His form was so marred he no longer looked human
• Genesis 22:1-18 - Abraham did not withheld his son, your only son
• Psalms 16:8-10 - He will you let your Holy One see decay
• Psalms 2:7  - Messiah will be God's Son
• Genesis 12:3 - All peoples on earth will be blessed through you
• Deuteronomy 18:15 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you
• Micah 5:2 - From Judah will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel
• Isaiah 7:14 - The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel
• Isaiah 9:1-2 - Future: people walking in darkness have seen a great light
• Isaiah 9:6 - a son has been given to us: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Old testament evangelism scriptures

• Exodus 19:6 - You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation
• Isaiah 49:6 - I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth
• Proverbs 11:30 - The one who is wise saves lives
• 2 Kings 7:3-9 - This is a day of good news; we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us
• Esther 4:14 - For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place

• Plant of renown - Ezekiel 34:29
• Prince of life - Acts 3:15
• Prince of peace - Isaiah 9:6
• Prince of the kings of the earth - Revelation 1:5
• Prophet - Luke 24:19; John 7:40
• Ransom - 1 Timothy 2:6
• Redeemer - Job 19:25; Isaiah 59:20; 60:16

• City of the Living God - Hebrews 12:22
• Congregation of saints - Psalms 149:1
• Congregation of the Lord's poor - Psalms 74:19
• Dove - Song of Solomon 2:14; 5:2
• Family in heaven and earth - Ephesians 3:15
• Flock of God - Ezekiel 34:15; 1 Peter 5:2
• Fold of Christ - John 10:16

• Salt of the earth - Matthew 5:13
• Servants of Christ - 1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:6
• Servants of righteousness - Romans 6:18
• Sheep of Christ - John 10:1-16; 21:16
• Sojourners with God - Leviticus 25:23; Psalms 39:12
• Sons of God - John 1:12; Philippians 2:15; 1 John 3:1,2

• I will give the land to you and your descendants
• You will spread out to the north, south, east and west
• People on earth will be blessed through you
• I am with you and will watch over you
• I will not leave you

• John 10:30,38 - I and the Father are one
• John 14:10-11, 20 - It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
• John 17:11, 21, 23 - Father, just as you are in me and I am in you

• John 7:16 - My teaching is not my own
  
• John 12:49 - For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me

• John 5:19, 30 - He can do only what he sees his Father doing
• John 8:28 - I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence

• John 5:30 - By myself I can do nothing
• John 6:38 - I have come down from heaven not to do my will
• John 4:34 - My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work
• John 17:4 - I have brought you glory on earth by completing your work
• John 14:31 - World must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what He commands
• John 15:10 - I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love

• Acts 5:42 - Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news
• Acts 8:4 - Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
  

• The principle involved here is called life-transference.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8 - We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well

• Isaiah 42:1 - "Here is my servant whom I uphold."
• Isaiah 53:11 - "My righteous servant"
• Zechariah 3:8 - "My servant, the branch"

• Luke 22:27 - I am among you as one who serves
• Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve

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

• The challenge of life is not that we have too little time, but in how we are going to spend the time we do have.
• We need to make the most of every day (make a to do list to get yourself started)

• Anyone can have a job but do we do the little things that make us a great employee
• Anyone can have a child but do we do the things that make us a great parent

1. Punctuality
2. Paying bills on time
3. Sending birthday (Father’s Day, Mother’s Day cards)
4. Picking up after yourself
5. Keeping your room/car clean
6. Returning phone calls
7. Looking presentable

• Discipline is being able to decide what can be done and doing it the right way
• It’s better to do three (3) things well than ten (10) things half heartedly

• You don’t have to say “yes” to everyone and everything (our people pleasing nature will end up making us overwhelmed, stressed)
  

• Worry is an unproductive emotion (it won’t change anything)
• Worry is like a rocking chair (gives you something to do but gets you no where)

1. Buy things that are useful instead of buying for status
2. Do not buy anything that is producing an addiction in you
3. Develop a characteristic of giving things away
4. Develop a deeper appreciation for God’s creation
5. Stay away from things that take your focus off of God
6. If anything comes before you having QT’S in the morning then fast from that thing (activity) until you control it instead of it controlling you.

Summary

God created the heavens, the earth and everything that lives. He made humankind in his image and gave them charge over the earth.

Observations

Genesis 1:1 - the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,
Without God we formless, unfocused, and empty. We try to create our own heaven-on-earth but never succeed without him. We try to "eat" junk food to fill us up but all they contain is empty calories. Without God there is no light and only darkness. Without light, we do not know what is going on around us nor what direction to go.

Genesis 1:4 - separated the light from the darkness.
It is important to understand that light and darkness were separated from the beginning. They can not both exist in the same location. It is even more important find out with side you are on.

Genesis 1:16 - He made the stars also.
Oh, by the way, God created all the countless numbers of stars, planets, galaxies, and other objects of the universe. So much matter that we can not even begin to see with a telescope. But God does not focus on matter, he focuses on what matters. The Bible is focused on God and his relationship with mankind. Like Jesus' miracles described in [John 20:30], the amount of God's acts are too great to be counted. Can you image the amount of books that could be written about what God created?

Genesis 1:26 - so they may rule
God entrust us to rule over all all other living things. But many we times we are ruled by our sinful natures. If we can not even control ourselves, how can we "rule" over other things?

Genesis 1:27 - God created humankind in his own image
Sometimes we mistake us being an exact copy of God verses a reflection of God. We should be a photo copy and not try to replace God in our lives. We must be become more reflective of God like a mirror. Constantly cleaning off the smudges of sin with the blood of Jesus.

Personal Application

God is bigger than I think he is. I have made him too small in my mind and do not allow Him to take control -- this is absurd since he has control over the universe and does a perfect job at it. My actions show that I don't fully trust God in this way.

Summary

The serpent deceived the woman; she and Adam ate from the tree. Man blamed woman, woman blamed the serpent. The earth became cursed, and God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden.

Observations

Genesis 3:1 - Did God really say
The first way Satan tries to get Eve to disobey God is to create doubt to what God said. Many times Satan does not even try to tell us to do a 180 turn (you might notice what is going on then) - just a slight detour to the right or to the left [Deuteronomy 5:32]. It does not take much to get us off course from the narrow road [Matthew 7:14].

Genesis 3:4 - You will not surely die
Another temptation Satan throws our way is doubt in his punishment or promises. He would love for us to believe we will be judged at the end of our lives [John 12:48].  "Live your life the way you want to" - Satan. He does not want you to remember the promises God has spoken to encourage us in our walk with him.

Genesis 3:6 - desirable for gaining wisdom
When struggling with sin, we often come up with "good" reasons why we need to sin. In this case, Eve comes up with a "spiritual" reason. She wanted to gain "wisdom" - we need to have wisdom in our daily lives, right? God does not always reveal everything to us and for good reason. We should start with fear of the Lord since it is the beginning of wisdom [Psalms 111:10].

Genesis 3:9 - Where are you?
Good question to ask ourselves all the time. Where am I in relation to God? We often "disappear" when we sin either physically or more likely mentally. When we look in a mirror [James 1:23-24], we are blinded and do not see our true selves. We don't want to deal with the underlying problems in our character - it will be paining and requires effort but in the end it is worth it.

Genesis 3:19 - dust you are and to dust you will return
If you need a reminder on humility, this scripture will help. We come from the dirt of the ground and we will return there someday. We need to seize the days we have - stop worrying about tomorrow [Matthew 6:34].

Personal Application

I need to be aware of Satan's tricks continuously. He does not want to be noticed. I need to pray and reflect on how I am living my life and find where Satan is getting me to deviate even a fraction of a degree. I need also examine my thought and find out they are out of line with God's Word. I will ask others what they see where I have taken a devour on God's narrow road.

Summary

Eve's sons made offerings to God. Only Abel's was acceptable, so Cain killed him. Abel's blood cried out and God sent Cain away.

Observations

Genesis 4:7 - if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door
The sins of omission are very related to the sins of commission. If you are sitting on the sidelines, you have time (maybe considered laziness) and you will give Satan time to put all sorts of temptations in your head. A lazy person bring is a good friend to the evil one and is considered a brother [Proverbs 18:9].

Genesis 4:9 - Am I my brother's keeper?
The Christian walk is more than God and us. It is also the people around us. We learn about relationships from others. We learn about ourselves and get feedback on how we are doing - and give it as well.  Without others we would have been pointed the way to God and we could not reach  others with the gospel.

Genesis 4:12 - You will be a restless wanderer on the earth
Without God in our lives, we are a restless wander. Our thoughts, emotions, and desires become our direction and we walk aimlessly - not knowing where we are, where we came from, or where we are going.

Genesis 4:26 - At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD
Since the beginning of time men began call for for God. It is built into the nature of our being. Time after time he has answered no matter how far away we go. But when he calls for us, will be answer? Will we let it go to voicemail? Are we screening our calls from Him and only answer the calls that are easy to take?

Personal Application

I wonder sometimes if I have my "ringer" loud enough for me to hear when God calls. A lot of times I look back on important events in my life and realize that I missed another lesson God was trying to teach me but I was not listening. I feel embarrassed  that I was so selfish during that times. I want to listen voice from God more intensely.

Summary

Adam's line was: Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah. Noah's sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Observations

Genesis 5:2 - He created them male and female and blessed them
It has always been God's intention to bless each and every one of us. And we do have many blessings!! But do we see them? We can not be grateful toward God unless we step back and look at all the great things he has done for us.

Genesis 5:22 - Enoch walked with God 300 years
Through the family line which is described here, God stops the pattern of listing the names of children and ages of important events to mention   Enoch's walk with God. Because of the obvious age limitations we have today, It was a walk longer than we will ever see with God on this earth - probably greater than 4 times. Can you imagine the faith and persistence he must have had?

Genesis 5:24 - then he was no more, because God took him away
Enoch did not see death but rather he was taken up to heaven. Along with Elijah [2 Kings 2:11], they were are the only two mentioned in the Bible to have gone directly to see him. How and why this happened, I am not sure but it does show God felt these relationship were very special to Him.

Personal Application

The challenge for me is simple: To finish the race [Acts 20:24] with great faith and perseverance. But not just to get by but to have a relationship with God that shines before others. When people talk about me, do they stop and mention my relationship with God like the Bible does with Enoch? What does God say about my faith?

Summary

Humankind corrupted the earth with evil. God decided to destroy them. He told Noah to build an ark to be saved from the flood.

Observations

Genesis 6:5 - every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time
At this point, in a relatively small amount of time, man no longer called out for God. It was just Genesis chapter 4 when men just began to call out for God and at this time

Genesis 6:13 - God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people"
God shared his plans with Noah even though they were very troubling. A deep relationship is where you share you plans and dreams (not in this case). God trusted Noah. Noah trusted God even more (as he should). That mutual trust helped save mankind and allow us to live today.

Genesis 6:22 - Noah did everything just as God commanded him
After being 500 years old or so, Noah still did everything God commanded him to do. We can not imagine the pressure and persecution Noah must have gone through to build a boat in the middle of the dessert. Still he did not waiver. His complete faith was with God and trusted every word God spoke to him. We have trouble with just a small amount of faith that required to live our lives.

Personal Application

Increase my faith, Lord! I see Noah's faith to build an ark and I struggle to have faith today.The struggles I face today are not even a speck compared to Noah's troubles.  Noah had great faith because he trusted God and what he said. That is what I need to do.

Summary

Noah and his family went into the ark with two of each creature. It rained for forty days and forty nights and the earth was covered.

Observations

Genesis 7:1 - I have found you righteous in this generation
Of all the people, God considered Noah the most righteous among his generation. God knows our thoughts [1 Chronicles 28:9] , motives, and sees our actions. What has God found us to be?

Genesis 7:16 - Then the LORD shut him in
In the end, it is God's call when things should start and end. It was God who decided what to close the ark's door and He shut the door. Same is true for either our death or judgement day. God will call the shots. Now is the time where we call the shots. To either follow him or not.

Genesis 7:20 - covered the mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet
Assuming mount Everst (29,029 feet) existed back in these time, the flood was quite deep. Nothing could have survived that much water. Even if you limit your focus to just earth - God's power is tough to comprehend.

Genesis 7:23 - Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out
Besides Noah, his family, and the animals on the boat, every living creature was killed. Sometime thoughts enter our minds that there is some kind of gray area between good and evil where we can live our lives. On that day, there were only those inside the boat and those outside of the boat. No one lived in the middle.

Personal Application

I need to look for what I see as gray areas in my life. When I am neither hot nor cold [Revelation 3:16], I am not aware of where I am.

Summary

The flood abated. Noah sent out a raven and two doves. When the earth was dry God called them all out of the ark. Noah built an altar.

Observations

Genesis 8:1 - But God remembered Noah
God does not forget us. No matter how much He has going on, we are in the forefront of his mind. Noah may have been felt like he was all alone in an endless sea of water but this was not the case. We may also feel this way sometimes but God is always right there with us [Joshua 1:5].

Genesis 8:20 - Then Noah built an altar to the LORD
What is the first thing Noah does when Noah gets off an ark he has been on for about a year? Build an alter for the Lord. Would we do the same thing? DO we do the same thing. When we have face a prolonged trial and it finally ends, we go out and celebrate and forget the Lord? Or do take time to truly thank him for helping us through? Like God remembered Noah, Noah also remembered the Lord.

Genesis 8:21 - never again will I destroy all living creatures
God's promised that He will never destroy all living creatures again. Many worry about this through scientific studies or other ideas come up with ways the earth will be destroyed because of what man does. Whether that is true or not is not the point but we do know that God will not be the one doing it. When God promises something it happens.

Personal Application

I seem to forget the lessons of difficult times as soon as the pain has lifted. We go through tough times so our character can mature and grow but will I have to go through the same lessons again to learn the same lessons. I want to be grateful for God's discipline (does not come naturally) and change my character accordingly. God discipline the ones he loves, I need to remember why He is doing it [Hebrews 12:6].

Summary

God blessed Noah and set the rainbow as a sign that he would never flood the earth again. Noah got drunk and cursed Ham's son Canaan.

Observations

Genesis 9:3 - Everything ... will be food for you; I now give you everything
Again God shows his willingness to everything to become eatable but meat that still had lifeblood. Many of our reactions would have given up on mankind. And if we had not given up, we would not have given as much freedom so there would less possibility of disobedience to occur. But God continues to give freedom to his people.

Genesis 9:17 - sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth
Freedom is not free. There was great pain for God  [Genesis 6:6]  to see the state of man's heart and how the only solution was to destroy all living things and start over again. Today, God is still grieving over how our hearts turn from him. This time - He had to pay the ultimate sacrifice of His only Son so that he and us may have a relationship. This is the only way, How have we responded?

Personal Application

I don't grow very well in the good times. It is the times of trials and difficulty when I forced by God's discipline to change. I want to change and grow while not under all circumstances. What does it show God when I move toward him only when pushed?

1. Why does your hope in Christ go beyond this earthly life?
2. Why are we as Christians to be pitied if there is no eternal life?

1. What is the mystery Paul tells us (vs.51)?
2. Why do we normally fear death - and why should we no longer be afraid of dying?
3. Why should we work for the Lord? What will happen when we give ourselves completely?

1. When were you raised with Christ?
2. What should you be thinking about from now on?
3. What things should you stop thinking about so much?

• What are some of the greatest things that you have ever done in your life?
• What great things do you dream about doing now?
• What "greater things" are you going to do this year?

• Choose one characteristic of love and practice it each day.
• Ask someone how to become more loving.
• Demonstrate my love by serving someone today.

Jesus wanted his disciples to remember where they were headed
Heaven thinking changes the way we feel and the way we pray

When Jesus prayed, heaven was in his mind
Even when the disciples recjoiced in the victories God had given them, Jesus reminded them what was most important was their names were written in heaven - Luke 10:17-20
Their final destination was more important than their day to day victories and defeats

We are being transformed into Jesus' likeness - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
But when he appears and takes us to heaven, "we shall be like him" - 1 John 3:2
When we get to heaven, we will be in fellowship with God forever
On earth, we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror - 1 Corinthians 13:12

Pictures of the fellowship of heaven, not like being there:

• Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets will be there on Judgement Day - Luke 13:28-29
• It will be like a feast, people from everywhere in attendance
• Be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - Hebrews 12:1
• Peter, James and John had a taste with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah - Matthew 17

In this world we get to be with ones we love and respect, in heaven it will be great fellowship and unending

John was given a glemce of what heaven would be like in Revelations:

• A rainobw encircled the throne v4:3
• God was dressed in white with golden crowns v4:4
• Lighting and thunder came from the throne v4:5
• Before the throne was a sea of glass, clear as crystal v4:6
• Strange creatures with eyes covering them were continually praise God v4:6-8
• Jesus approached the throne to open the scroll v5:4-5
• All the living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb v5:8
• They held golden bowls full of incense which were the prayers if the saints v5:8
• 100 million angels appeared to loudly sing about the Lamb along with a great multitude v5:11-13

Heaven is a place full of blessings

Jesus referred serveral times to our reward in heaven

No eyes have seen, no ears have heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
God will give us all things - Romans 8:32

No one can stop us from going to heaven but ourselves
Heaven is worth any earthly price - Romans 8:18

He is preparing an incrediable guest room for us

Do you think of God as one who wants nothing more than to bless your life?

The fundamental virtue of sincerity is what the human heart craves
Parent seek out this trait for their children
It the parent's desire to have unaffected simplicity of a sincere heart

All higher relationships of life have sincerity in its core
Life would not be worth living if there were no one on earth sincere

There are many things we can not be and many things we can not do - but this is one thing is within all of our reach

Jesus was incapable of a lie
No other people stirred Jesus' wrath as men who pretended to be what they were not

A hypocrite is an actor; the word was orginally taken from the stage
God expects every man to be what he claims to be

The sincerity of Jesus which drove him into deadly conflict with the hypocrites
A hypocrite and Jesus cannot live together

God alone designed the marvelous mystery of marriage.
To become godly husbands starts with the idea of holiness
God wants our lives to be holy so that they would become more like Him - priceless, pure, and special.
It makes things unique, like no other. It sets them apart. It keeps special things special.

After everything God had done to deliver His people and help them become holy, He hated when they forgot His mercy, rejected His standards, and shamefully lived like the world
They dishonored the surpassing worth of God.

Any sin in us reveals that God is not as holy to us as He should be.
You are to set her apart in your eyes above all the other women on the face of the earth. She became your prized possession for you to cherish, love, and protect for the rest of your life.
God created your marriage to be a living portrait on earth to reveal the loving relationship of Jesus Christ with His Bride, the church - those whom He has declared “holy” unto Him - Ephesians 1:4
Should be like: “Look at my relationship with my wife! This is what the sacrificial, unconditional love of Jesus Christ for His Bride looks like!”
God’s calling for you as a husband was not to marry the woman you love, but to love the woman you married.

 Honor is attractive

• It doesn’t demand respect; it quickly earns it.
• Fear grounds us.
• Honor inspires us.

The whole concept of authority comes from God.

Earthly authority is His design and tool for creating order and for keeping us accountable and responsible, for honoring good and for punishing evil - Romans 13:1-4

Authorities on earth help keep us mindful of His superior, eternal authority

God can turn the heart of anyone in a leadership position in any direction - Proverbs 21:1

We should be like Jesus and submit to our imperfect, human authorities knowing that God uses them to carry out His purposes - John 19:11

The only time we should not submit to them is when they are asking us to disobey God and sin - Acts 5:29

Notice that Scripture does not tell us to obey them only if we agree with their judgment - Hebrews 13:17-18

When dishonoring authority, you are not rebelling against an individual but against God Himself.

Handling and responding to authority is serious business.

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

God enjoys making things and wants to be with us, to love us, and for us to love him. He created the world for us to live in and enjoy.

Psalms 19:1 - The skies display his craftsmanship
Genesis 1:1 - God created the heavens and the earth

How could I go home to wine and dine while my master's men are camping in the open field? - 2 Samuel 11:11

It is admireable when a friend remains loyal and faithful even when treated shamefully

Uriah had no knowledge that David wronged him by sleeping with his wife

David's take-it-easy comment was just a attempt to cover David's sin; he later killed Uriah in battle

Uriah did his duty and demonstrated the godly trait of faithfulness

His faithfulness and loyalty cost him his life on earth

God never fails to reward those honor him

Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me - John 13:8

Jesus servered to the point of where the Jewish people considered demeaning even to the lowliest servant: He washed their feet

Peter's protests were not going to stop him

Jesus explained he whad set an example of how they were to treat one another and us too when he had returned to his Father

God put us on the earth to server others, even if we do not know them personally

Serving is a privilege because it builds up others and gives them to chance to see God's love in action.

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?

God created human beings in his own image - Genesis 1:27

Nothing defines and motivates a man like a sense of purpose and reason for being

Adam never questioned his purpose in life - The Lord put him on earth to enjoy fellowship with God 

Adam belonged to God and God belonged to Adam

He alone could intentionally respond to God in obedience and love and relate to the Father

Adam's sin threw all creation in choas

Jesus, the second Adam, came to give us the opportunity to enjoy the fellowship Adam had orginally enjoyed with God - 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

Do you ever wonder why God created you and put you where you are?

Give us a king to judge us like the other nations have - 1 Samuel 8:5

God wanted Israel to be different from any other kingdom on earth

Israel's elders wanted Samuel to give them a human king so they could fit in with the pagan nations

God: "it's me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer" - 1 Samuel 8:7-8

Samuel did as God had told him as warned the people of the consequences of rejecting their true king

When Israel's elders looked at the nations around them, they lost sight of their own identity

Things were never the same for the name

Whom do you trust to guide and lead you in every area of your life?

Don't you care that we're going to drown? - Mark 4:38

A storm came up that deeply worried even the expereinced fishermen on board

Jesus remined so calm he slept through the worst the Sea of Galilee could deliver

The disciples didn't have a sense of Jesus' ultimate distiny of the cross

Jesus knew his purpose for coming to earth and there was nothing that could keep him from fulfilling it.

He calmed the storm by speaking to it and the disciples learned - When Jesus accompanies you, you have nothing to fear

Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath or is it a day for doing evil? - Mark 3:4

Nothing gets the attention of a religous old guard faster than trying something new and different

Example: Jesus on earth with the Jewish leaders with so many rules and regulations

No one could keep all the rules and certainly not while joyfully serving God

Jesus' wisdom steered people back toward the spirit of the law - root in the love for God and neighbor

He healed a man in need and the leaders called it working therefore wrong

Are you legalist or do you enjoy the freedom Jesus came to give you?

They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders - Numbers 16:2

Korah was a strong man who organized a corp of leaders with the intention of usurping Moses' authority and installing his own very of the preisthood

He forgot what happened to Aaron and Miiam when they challenged Moses' leadership - Numbers 12

Korah was a special leader but he wanted more than what God had given him

God removed them from their positions and removed them from the earth altogether

Some of God's greatest leaders have been willing to rock the boat but they also have a strong grasp of respecting authority

When we submit to those in authority, we demonstrate a key condition for God's blessing: humility!

Jesus returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them - Luke 2:51

It is easy to ignroe the yield signs God puts up for us

We enjoy God's blessing and protection when we heed the warning signs

As the Son of God, Jesus knew his identity

He understood that to grow into a perfect man of God, he needed to honor his earthly mother and father

Everything Jesus did, said, and thought sprang from the fact that he had yielded his own will to his Father - John 5:30

Jesus built his life on a solid foundation of submission

What foundation have you build your life on?

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

What are you doing here, Elijah? - 1 Kings 19:13

With all the noise life makes, it can be difficult to hear God

Although he had preached and performed miracles, the people refused to listen Elijah

Elijah had death threats and was hiding in a cave in fear and despair - desperately needing to hear from God

God wanted to speak to Elijah:

1. Told Elijah to come out the cave
2. A windstorm arose
3. A earthquake
4. A fire

All were forerunners of the rela deal was to follow - then Elijah heard God's voice and poured out his broken heart and then just listened

Can you hear God above life' everyday noise?

Leave your native country and go to the land I will show you - Genesis 12:1

God didn't give Abram a lot of details - Leave your lifelong home for the land I will show you

He promised Abram to be a father of a great nation and the entire earth would be blessed through him - Genesis 12:2-3

There had to have been questions:

• Where exactly is this place?
• What will we do once we get there?
• Where would this nation come from with a baren wife?

Abram went without questioning God or asking for signs

He believed God enough to step out in obedience and helped bring the salvation we enjoy into the world

I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you - 1 Samuel 12:23

Sometimes we feel thempted to write off a brother in Christ who made a mess of their faith

Bible teach us to pray for such a man and do everthing we can to restore him

Israel made a foolish and ungodly choice - insisted on an earthly king

Samuel felt disappointed but he did not write off the people

Instead Samuel took these steps:

1. He spoke the truth about their sins
2. Encourged them to continue growing spiritually
3. Warned them to not sink further into sin
4. Reaffirmed God's love and commitment toward them
5. Pledged to continue to pray for them and encourage them 

Joel and Abijah were not like their father, for they were greedy for money - 1 Samuel 8:1-3

Samuel's sons showed the far reaching consequences of loving money more than God

They were appointed judges but were corupt and greedy men who "accepted bribes and perverted justice"

Their evil behavior hastened the end of era of judges and Israel's step toward nation rebellion 

The Hebrew people demanded a earthly king rule over them instead of relying on their heavenly king

When Joel and Abijah chose greed over contentment, they failed God and his people

Does contentemnt or greed dominate in your life?

Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing - Luke 23:34

Jesus always did something first before before commanding his disciples to do something

This included loving those who hated and persecuted him - Luke 6

Jesus went to the cross willingly and obediently without calling thousands of angels to destory the earth

He even did the more unthinkable - he asked the Father to forgive his excutioners

Who in your life seems eager to do you harm? Are you willing to forgive them as Jesus did?

We try to give to many causes and the result is we have little joy in our giving
It is not man's duty to contribute to every good cause that passes his way
Only when we draw a circle around our beneficence that we become what God likes - a cheerful giver

Not only was Jesus joyful but he was mighty

He stayed in Palestine and kept his heart close to a few chosen hearts - became increasingly influential

He made himself mighty by limiting himself

The difference between a mighty river and a swap is the river has banks (boundries)

What is success? It is to do the thing we were created to do
"I have finished the work you gave me to do" - Jesus to the Father

He was only 33 years old - yet he did the greatest piece of work ever accoumplished on the earth

The "fine" in fine arts is the because of the limitations which they impose
There is no leeway in music, a little sharp or flat and the song is not right