Quiet Times Search

Focus on the individual

Mark 2:13-14

• Jesus didn’t miss the forest because of the trees
• We cannot allow ourselves to grow dull to the preciousness of each individual

Acceptance of others

Mark 2:15-17 · Jesus did not seem to worry about ruining his reputation

Assertiveness

Mark 5:35-43

• He took charge of the situation and his surrounds
• Why have we not acted as Jesus did?

Fear Sensitivity

• Jesus didn’t say a word to those who doubted
• Assertiveness without sensitivity can be offensive and counterproductive

A Simple charge

• “Don’t be afraid, just believe”
• He didn’t burden him with lots of words
• Excessive amount of teaching may cloud the main issue

Privileging

• Peter, James, and John were closest to Jesus
• Jesus narrowed his focus to help the build leaders to their full potential.

Consideration

• A little consideration can go a long ways
• Ideas: buy someone lunch, remember people’s birthdays
• Be alert to meeting other people’s needs

Prudence

Mark 8:11-13

• Sometimes Jesus simply did not bother to deal with his adversaries – he just up and left.
• Sometimes we need to be able to determine when the best thing to do is walk away.
• Sometimes arguing is just a waste of time – shake the dust off your feet.

Moving On

• Farmer – plants across the fields not just around the farmhouse
• If we focus all our attention on one problem one goal, or one person’s needs - lose sight of the field
• Jesus kept moving on in order to keep his and work fresh vibrant and spontaneous.
• Momentum is an invisible yet critical element in any type of movement

• We have an obligation to bear with others
• We should seek to please our neighbor rather than ourselves - Romans 15:2-3
• Pleasing = not satisfying a whim but helping other do well spiritually

• Brother not engaging in fellowship
• Someone being insensitive or self-focused
• Sister seem dominated by negative and critical attitudes
• Someone overindulges in food or drink or something else
• Someone too serious and unrelatable

Conducts a search-and-destroy mission for every potential excuse for sin
Jesus drove out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts
Much easier to express indignation at some else’s sin or some points out our sin versus our own

Although God hates sin and not the sinner – still it is the sinner that goes to hell
Nothing focuses the mind like real fear

Through fear, we recognize that sin alienates us from God
We long to restore our fellowship with God
Without the acknowledgement of separation, there is no cause for longing
Fear sounds the alarm, but longing sets the course
No sin can stand against a soul who longs to return to God

1. Try this
2. You are damaged goods
3. Doing it again will not make you more unclean
4. They don’t/won’t understand
5. Never tell them about this

• Not the kind of group you would expect to win the world for the Christ.
• Represented an average cross section of the society of their day
• Some already had joined the revival movement of John the Baptist
• Jesus can use anyone who wants to be used.
• Kept the group small enough to be able to work effectively with them.
  • More special than the twelve was the three – Peter, James, John
    • Jairus’ daughter (mark 5:37, Luke 8:51)
    • Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2, Matthew 17:1)
    • Waited Near the Lord when He prayed. (Mark 14:33, Matthew 26:37)
  • Choose twelve – Luke 6:13-17, Mark 3:13-19
  • Others – the 70 (Luke 10:1), Mark and Luke (gospel writers), James, His own brother (1 Cor 15:7)
• Rapidly diminishing priority given to those outside the twelve.
• Staked His whole ministry on them. Everything depended upon their faithfulness.
• Some believe that focusing on a few is favoritism
• Jesus however did not neglect the crowds.
  • Taught them
  • Healed the sick
  • Blessed the children
  • Wept for them
  • He died for them.

• Crowd aroused
  • Wanted to make him King by force - John 6:15
  • All men were clamoring for His attention - John 3:26
  • Pharisees admitted that the world has gone after Him - John 12:19
  • Frequently asked those that recipients of His healing to say nothing to prevent mass demonstrations
  • Own brothers and sisters did not understand him - John 7:2-9

• On the job training – let followers have experience or make some observations of their own
• Gave them greater awareness of their deficiencies
• Kept disciples going toward the goal He had set before them.
• He did not expect more from His disciples than they could do
• He did expect their best
• We never assume the work is done. Ask lots of question / probe.
• There are many things that can happen to frustrate, discouraged or defeated.
• The goal is world conquest.
  • Never dare to let a lesser concern capture us.
  • No further training or inspiration needed.
  • Focus can easily be on us.
• The ability of a worker is not developed if there is no supervision
• Our little efforts can be a excuse for not doing more.
• We can lose the advantage years of hard work and sacrifice.
• Disciples must be brought to maturity
• We have not been called to hold the fort but storm the heights.

• Self-centered - woe-is-me
• We shield ourselves from God's grace
• Focused on our own unworthiness

• Qualifies as mourning because the mourner defines it as such
• Brokenness is missing
• God is looking for a broken and contrite heart - Psalms 51:17

• Two-year olds
• nervous people
• lazy-minded
• superficial people
• self-conscious people

• Confidence
• At peace
• Clear-minded
• Alert
• Deep and Focused

What occupies my mind?
What concerns me?
When I think of security, is my focus on God or money?

If we are eager and driven to gain more we will stray from the faith and be pierced with many griefs - 1 Timothy 6:10

Secret to being content, I can do everything through him that gives me strength - Philippians 4:12-13

Judas: example of someone trying to live with 2 masters:

• Expressed concern for a waste of money that could have gone to the poor - John 12:4-6
• The hold money had on Judas' heart eventually led to his betrayal of Jesus

• Everything must be re-examined
• Everything must be reconsidered
• Every desire, dream, use of money and time
• Now everything must have a kingdom-first focus

1. When you don't have daily times with God in the Bible and prayer
2. Responsibilities to the church are a burden
3. Not happy or consistent in giving
4. Personal comfort, desires direct life's decisions
5. Can't find the time to share your faith
6. Gain greater feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction serving another "kingdom"
7. You have greater regard and protection of your schedule
8. Discipleship times, family devotionals not deep or consistent
9. Gaining one more than is greater than gaining one more soul
10. Dreams center more in this world than in the kingdom

1. Becoming inwardly focused, see only our problems
2. Trying to help other straighten out their lives without being open to the same help ourselves

• Gain sympathy
• Appear open
• Avoid a charge of hypocrisy

Some things that depend on us

We can always have a gracious attitude

Paul choose to focus on the result - Christ is being proclaimed - Philippians 1:15-19

We can always be humble

Consider others better than ourselves - Philippians 2:3-4
Walk worthy of the calling - with all humility and gentleness - Ephesians 4:1-2

We can always be positive - Philippians 2:14-15

We can always listen - James 1:19-20

We can always control our anger - James 1:20

Some things are our of control when to comes to reconciliation but they are many things within our control to build a relationship

• Who God is
• What God can do
• The changes he can make
  
• The victory he will most certainly achieve

• Revolution or comprise
• Retaliation or connivance
• Reaction or corruption

1. Love God wholeheartedly - Deuteronomy 6:5
2. Love your neighbor as yourself - Leviticus 19:18

• Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
• Tree of Life

New Testament

Romans 11:17-21 - You can get arrogant

1 Corinthians 10:1-10 - Do repeat the same misakes of those in the OT

Galatians 6:7-10 - We reap what we sow, do not become weary of doing good

Jude 3-4 - Grace of God is not a license to sin

1 John 4 - Can not love God without loving your brother

2 Timothy 4 - We need to check to see if we have sound doctrine

Hebrew 5 - Teachers can become arrogance

Revelation 2-3 = Churches can loose focus

1. Read and Pray Daily to God
2. We need others in our lives
3. We need meetings of the body
4. Giving to God
5. Complete Openness
6. People are going to heaven or hell
7. Reaching out to others

• Dorthy seeks the Wizard
• Frodo turns to Gandalf
• Neo has Morpheus
• Curdie is helped by Lady of the Silver Moon
• Jedis look Yodo

• What group did Jesus tangle with the most?
• Who start the rumors about Jesus to discredit him?
• Where did the open opposition to Christ come from?
• Who paid the 30 pieces of silver for Jesus' capture
• Who got the crowd to start yelling Barabbas when Pilot was ready to let Jesus go?

• 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

Jesus focused on a search for the Lost and so they could be Found

The Lost Coin - vital to the woman's survival
The Lost Sheep - represented a significant part of his livelihood
The Lost Son - wayward son who mattered greatly to his father

Each one - Something of great value was missing, something that really mattered

It also make Jesus so upset the religious leaders were discussing who matters to God who does not

When we realize how much God cares about people, we helps us to care for them too

It is worth the effort - what is missing was important enough to warrant an all-out search

Retrievals results in rejoicing

The woman found the coin and threw a party
The shepherd retrieved the sheep and threw a party
The son came home and the father threw the biggest party of all

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents - Luke 15:10

There are expectations everywhere, to have:

• Strong marriages
• Obedient children
• Balanced budgets
• Ethical business
• Effective prayer lives
• Meaningful relationships

Many times the "ought to" comes through louder than the "how to"
Especially true in the challenge of having an evangelist impact
God did not leave us in a state of confusion - What God expects, He enables

We need to focus on the important steps to have maximum impact
HP (High Potency) + CP (Close Proximity) + CC (Clear Communication)  = Maximum Impact (MI)

We are the salt of the world - Matthew 5:13

• Salt makes us thristy
• It spices things us
• It preserves - holds back decay

Which did Jesus have in mind? We don't know
HP (High Potency) = means we need to have a strong concentration of Christ's influnce in our lives
CP (Close Proximity) = means we need to get close to people we're hoping to reach in order to allow His power to have its intended effect

1. The Obstacle of Greed - Luke 12:13-21 (Parable of the rich fool); Luke 16:19-31 (Rich man and Lazarus)
   1. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. The value of a person's life has nothing to do with his financial worth.
   2. The rich fool's goal was financial independence and being independent of God. This is the 'American Dream."
   3. The rich man in Luke 16 went to hell because of his greed and unconcern about the needs of others.
2. The Obstacle of Discontentment - Philippians 4:10-13
   1. Paul rejoiced while he was in prison.
   2. He was grateful and content even in need.
   3. Paul did not focus on what he lacked, but rather on what he had (Christ).
   4. Also note 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

1. How am I storing up treasures for myself but not being rich toward God?
2. How am I showing concern for the poor/needy?
3. Am I grateful and content with what I have right now?
4. What griefs do I have in my life because of greed and discontentment?
   Examples:
   • Debt
   • High monthly payments
   • Bad credit record

1. Introduction
   "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail"
   As Christians, we often fail to have a plan for our finances. Prior to doing this study, you may have even thought it unspiritual to spend time focusing on your finances. Hopefully, by now you have developed convictions as to God's plan for your finances. In this study, we will look at the need for us to establish a budget for our spending. A budget is a reasonable written plan for your giving, spending, and saving based on your income. It is a tool to help you to be a good steward of that which God has entrusted to you.
2. The Need for a Budget
   1. God expects you to know the condition of your flocks and herds (money, possessions, debts) Proverbs 27:23
   2. We must have a plan and commit it to God. Proverbs 16:3, 3:9
   3. Jesus teaches us to know the cost of something before we begin. It is foolish not to budget. Luke 14:28-30
3. Guidelines
   1. Plan first to give to God.
   2. Plan to live sacrificially, not beyond your means.
   3. Plan to have something to share, to be able to be generous with others.
   4. Plan to save for occasional or emergency expenses (e.g. special contributions, auto repairs, medical expenses, family trips).
   5. Plan to eliminate debt - Romans 13:8

1. Do I have a written budget that I use to plan my giving, spending, and saving?
2. Do I compare my actual spending to my budget?
3. Have I adopted a standard of living that enables me to stay out of debt and have enough to be generous with others?

• Some daring act of evangelism - although He did this almost daily
• Being baptized  - although it is commanded and can never be omitted

• Some apostles did not like his selfish ambition - Matthew 20:24
• Some thought he was prideful describing himself as the beloved disciple of Jesus - John 21:7
• After the resurrection, Peter still seems to have attitudes towards John - John 21:21

• Selfish ambition turned to kingdom ambition
• Fits of rage changed to fits of love
• Factiousness come together into a passion of unity

• 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.

• Every person is either in the darkness or the light. This study will show us that outside of Jesus we are all in the darkness.

• What is the consequence of sin? Sin hurts others, hurts ourselves, but ultimately sin hurts and separates us from God.
• God is light. As long as the wall of sin remains, we are in the darkness.
• In order to have a relationship with God, the barrier of sin must come down.

• We will come back to other ideas in this text later, but focus on v23. Who has sinned?
• Use illustrations to show that some are better than others, but all sin and fall short.
  
• Examples: Swimming to Hawaii, graph showing piles of sin.
  
• Who is more lost? There is no “good person” who is without sin.

• Sin is not simply wrong actions, but a problem of the heart.
  
• Who is responsible for our sin? Despite genetics, parenting, peer pressure and socio-economic conditions, we are responsible for our own sin, which comes from our own hearts and makes us unclean.
  
• What is the consequence of being unclean before God?
  
• Discuss the sins Jesus talks about here.

• Question: The disciples that were scattered began teaching the Greeks what? Good news about Jesus
• Question: What did Barnabas encourage people to do? Know an hold to Jesus' words
• Barnabas found Saul then brought him to Antioch so they could teach the Word of God (review)
• Question: In Antioch, the disciples of Jesus were called what for the 1st time? Why?
• A disciple of Jesus is WHAT they were. Christian is what the world labeled them
• Christian = Disciple = Saved

• Question: What did Jesus proclaim in Galilee? What was the good news? Kingdom of God was near; your life can change)
• Question: What is the first thing Jesus instructed these fishermen to do? Follow him. What does that mean?
• Question: What will Jesus make us into? What does that mean? Is this something you are willing to do?
• Share what purpose your purpose was before becoming a disciple
• Question: What would you say your life has been focused/purpose so far?

• Question: Who has all authority? Jesus is the head (focus) of everything we want to do
• Question What is another name for the body of Christ? The head controls the body. Who is the head of the church? Jesus
• Use illustration to help for understanding
  

• Question: How would you define a foreigner or an alien person? Before becoming a disciple that's is what you
• Now through Jesus we are able to have peace (relationship) with God. To become family.
• As a disciple you become part of the family (household) not a part of the organization
• Question: What is the foundation of God's household? v20 - The Bible
• Share: Everyone in a household has responsibilities as we have responsibilities to the church family

• Dreaming of all thing we want to do this spring summer with friends and family
• When i get off of work, taking Juniper to the park, great atmosphere
  • She choose the park by the slide color
  • Change up - chalk
• When we go shopping, weakness for summer type items

• He does not look at the cost
• He looks at end result and who benefits
  

• Dream what God will do with the amount I give today
• Dream God can do with my time

• 2 Timothy 2:4 -Soldier don't get involved in civilian affairs
• Colossians 1:10 - Live a life worthy of the Lord
  
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Live in order to please God
  
• Matthew 16:23 - Peter, at this time, was not focus on the greater things of God
  
• John 4:34, 5:30, 36, 6:38, 9:4, 17:4 - My foo is to do the will of him who sent me

• Philippians 2:19-22, 25-30 - Timothy had a genuine interest in the welfare of others
  
• Galatians 5:13-15 - Serve one another in love.
  
• Mark 6:34 - He had compassion on the

• While the 12 were thinking about who was the greatest in the kingdom, Jesus became their servant (King of Kings, Lord of Lords)
• Jesus the Master reversed roles and washed the feet of those in a subordinate position.
• He did this in full consciousness of his divine glory; (vs 1-3)
• He washed all the disciples feet, including Judas Iscariot (vs 12)

• He was empty of self interest. (vs 15)
• He voluntarily humbled himself (vs 14)
• His mind was focused on the works and interest of his master; (vs 3, 16)
• He was motivated by his love for the disciples; (vs 1)

1. Be humble towards each other
2. Be patient with each other
3. Focus on our love for others so that we can bear with their faults

• Jesus still died on the cross for you in spite of your character flaws.
• To get along with others we must put ourselves aside, just as Jesus did for us.
• John 13:34 - love one another
  

1. You put it on everyday
2. Not a natural part of us-has to be put on (thought about)
3. Should be the first thing people see

1. Grace
2. “Lifted up” – growing and being blessed
3. Relief because his burdens and anxieties will be carried by God
4. Better relationships (God opposes the proud, so do other people)

1. Accept full responsibility (don’t blame others for your actions)
2. Make no excuses (don’t be defensive)
3. Apologize humbly and go on your way rejoicing.

1. Tell them in a respectful way (don’t give in to faithlessness or fear)
2. Focus on your love for them and not on what they have done to you.
3. Forgive them (like Jesus did you) and move on being better friends.

• This is true spiritually also, what we put in our minds will come out in our actions.
• This is why pornography is damaging (once the images are in our minds they can stay for weeks, months even years).
• The only way to refocus our minds is to concentrate on pure ideas.

• Begin your day with a positive message from God and that will help you overcome the temptations of the day (world).
  

• Make a conscience effort to not go the direction (path) of the things that tempt you.
  
• The inconvenience is well worth it.
  

• But we must stand ready to do battle with him.
• We can have the victory in this area if we have a fighting spirit (fight for purity).

• 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

• 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

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.

• Romans 6:1-4 - You have begun a brand new life; you were born again (John 3:1-5)
• Acts 2:36-41 - Every one of your sins has been forgiven and forgotten (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
• Galatians 3:26-28 - The blood of Christ you received at baptism now covers and protects you.
• Ephesians 1:13-14 - You received the Holy Spirit who gives you power (Romans 8:5-11)
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 - You have been added to the body; enjoy your new family

• Ephesians 4:17~24 - You humbled yourself and let others teach and challenge you – keep it up
• Acts 19:17-20 - You were completely open with your sins – keep it up
• Romans 6:17-18 - You obeyed the Bible teaching when you saw it – keep it up
• Hebrews 3:12-14 - You spent good quality time with other disciples - keep it up

• 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

Summary

In Gerar Abraham said, "Sarah is my sister." King Abimelech took her but God warned him in a dream. He restored Sarah to Abraham.

Observations

Genesis 20:3 - You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken
God's anger was revealed here once again. King Abimelech had no idea that he was sinning. However, just because we are not aware does not mean were without sin.  In fact, we may have sinned serveral time already today without knowing or being aware. We need just Jesus so much. Wheather it is for the strength to be righteous or the forgiveness of a mulitude of sins.

Genesis 20:6 - I know that you have done this with a clear conscience
God considers our lives and our hearts when he judges. Our hearts are central to our connection with God. King Abimelech had no intention to take a married woman to be his wife, he did it with a clear conscience. God provided a way out way out for him as he does for all those who are tempted. [1 Corinthians 10:13].

Personal Application

I usually don't have an issue with knowing right from wrong. It is usually that I am not aware of what I am doing. I am either not paying attention or not focused. I need to watch my life closely so I will be righteous in God's eyes and so others can be saved because of it [1 Timothy 4:16].

• Do not focus on who you are not. Focus on who Christ is.
• What must you abandon in your life so that Christ can shine through you more?
• Express your gratitude to God for his Son who has changed your life.

• What are some barriers to your faith in Christ?
• What characteristics of Christ do you admire?
• Pick one of those and focus on emulating it today in your own life.

• Finances, Discipline (Laziness), Purity
• Eating and drinking habits over the holidays.
• Relationships

• Do I welcome spiritual relationships?
• Do I confess sin and push my life into the light?
• How do these sins affect my heart for people?

• Examine your heart and actions based on Jesus' example the next time you get angry.
• Are you God-focused? Did you bring healing?
• Did you care enough to control your anger and turn it into a victory for God by bringing teaching and discipling to the situation?
  
• What could you have done differently to have Jesus' heart?

• He met people's spiritual needs. John 4: 1 - 26
• He taught people to serve by meeting physical needs. Luke 10:25 - 37

• Admit my sin and weaknesses
• Ask for help from God and others
• Commit myself to serving God, no matter my shortcomings

1. Persevere through challenges, correction, and struggles.
2. Allow failures to expose your character so that you can become all God wants you to be.
3. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus, not on yourself and how you feel.

1. I will remember that God is with me and do something for someone else to show I believe in them and I am with them.
2. To trust in the Bible and read it every time I feel 2. like God is disappointed in me.
3. To show love to a person in action and in truth if I feel like God doesn't love me.

The greater responsibility to raise your children is yours.
When you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up - Deuteronomy 6:7
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord - Ephesians 6:4

When the dad leads, kids are up to twenty times more likely to stay in church long-term than when moms are the spiritual leaders at home
When the father gets immediately involved, leading with purpose, dealing with problems, his own personal walk with God

Trusting Him makes you wise. Relying on Him keeps you strong. Following Him shows you how to lead.

Seeking God in a very deliberate, devoted manner will impact everything else in your world.
Focus on your relationship with God, you will find it more natural to want your wife and children to be enjoying the same thing

Jesus uses the Word of God to wash us and bloom us into a holy Bride - John 15:3
Leading your family with God’s Word is a key to helping them work through issues, love one another, and grow spiritually.

Devotions together

• Even if it seems awkward or different at first
• Can be as simple as:
  • Ggetting together in the same room and talking about how everyone is doing
  • Reading a chapter out loud from the Bible
  • Followed by a simple prayer asking God to help you apply what you heard

Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray - Mark 1:35

Jesus understood better than anyone else the importantce of tapping into the heavenly power source

Jesus didn't allow anything to get in the way of his prayer times

Busy men often complain of burnout, Jesus never did

Jesus had a packed schedule without losing his focus or his energy

He considered regular prayer time virtal to his personal well-being and effectiveness

How much more should we spend time daily with the One who empowers us?

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation - Habakkuk 3:17-18

What we think about and focus on really does affect our attiutde - The Power of Positive Thinking

Habakkuk fortold:

• The coming destruction of Jerusalem 
• The Babylonian captivity that would follow

Habakkuk grieved over the coming destruction but he did sink into despair

Joy in God was a choice, Babylonians or no Babylonians

To maintain his joy, he counted two truths

• His difficult times would not last forever
• His source of joy lay in the God he loved

His loving God was the one constant in his life

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have - Philippians 4:11-12

Paul didn't learn the value of contentment in a vacuum but through his own difficulties

There is nothing like sitting naked, in pain in a bare jail cell to focus your attention on what really matters

How does a man of God learn contentment? By being satisfied with whatever provisions God make for him.

Paul did not say "I will be content once" but in every situation

When we live like this, we will defeat the spiritual enemies of envy, pride, and greed. We will also enjoy what God has already so generously given you

Contentment mean living with an attitude of gratitude for all that God has given you

Moses: Lord, please! Send anyone else - Exodus 4:13

What you succeed in doing often depends on your attitude

When God first appeared to Moses, his attitude was negative and self-defeating

Instead of focusing on the awesome task before him, he focused on his human frality

i "can't" attitude can keep you from enjoying the good things God has for you

God loves it when you turn your focus toward him and away from your own fears and doubt

Is there anything too hard for you to accomplish today?

The Lord counted him as righeous because of his faith - Genesis 15:6

Faith is the foundation of everything you want to do

Abraham habitually took God at his word and believed that He would do just what He promised

God made him the father of many great nations

God made Abraham some big promises:

• Abraham had no way of knowing how He would keep them
• He remained focused on God's nature rather than how He would bring things about
• Abraham simply believed God would always do what He promised

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead - Philippians 3:13

God promises to bless you when you focus on what he calls you to do today and in the future

Paul remembered the past and the lessons he had learned from it

He often refered to his past but he didn't live there

Paul looked forward to things God had for him - namely finishing the race of faith

God has a wonderful plan for your future

Don't focus so much on where you've been that you lose sight of where you are headed

The king has sent me on a private matter - 1 Samuel 21:2

We can overcome our fear of what men do to us by clinging to our faith and remembering God superintends everything that comes our way

David was on the run from King Saul because he was trying to kill him when he met Ahimelech

David lied to Ahimelech - The king has sent me on a private matter 

It's not hard to figure out why David lied, he feared Saul more than he trusted God

When you fear men, do you focus on the fear or trust in God who already has your future mapped out

While I was with you I would forget everything expcet Jesus Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:2

People who encoutered Paul understood what was most important to him: Christ sin-defeating death and grave-defeating life

He spent most of his life observing the Jewish laws and traditions but now everything was about Christ

Paul made it a point to forget everything else besides Christ:

• Impressive Education
• Impeccable religious pedigree
• Personal wisdom

Paul had more education and experiences more than anyone but chose to focus on one simple message of faith and love

Does your life convey the simple message that Jesus loves them?

I long for the years gone by when God took care of me - Job 29:2

During his worst time of misery, Job began wondering if God still cared about him

After he lost everything, Job felt abandoned and longed for the good old days

God knew exactly how much Job had suffered but Job could not feel it

Job was so focused on his suffering that he lost sight of the unchangeable fact that God would never abandon him

Feelings speak truth about your pain but can lie about God's response

God had never abandoned anyone he loves

Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see tje miraculous signs he did - Acts 8:5-8

Philip was among the first generation believers who fled the city to the other area because of persecution

He didn't hide out but preached the gospel wherever he went

Philip create a stir in Samaria when people eagerly listened to his message and watched in amazement as people were healed

He did not focus on his own preservation but the needs of other people

No one enjoys hardship and persecution but we can not let them quash our spirits

We serve a God who enables us to thrive even in adversity