Quiet Times Search

• One on who be independent choose not to / he emptied himself and became a slave - Philippians 2
• We are do be devoted to one another - philostorgos = like family - Romans 12:10

• who brings into his circle of friends - John 15:13-15
• who adopts us into his family - Hebrews 2:11
• who vows he will never leave or forsake us - Hebrews 13:5

1. Ignore the problem
2. Gossip about it to other
3. Blast a person with the truth

• Maximus
• William Wallace
• Life of Joseph, husband of Mary – was heroism
  

1. Have you made a recent decision to change something in your life?
2. Why is it more comfortable to make changes on your own terms? What changes do you seek to make?
3. How well do you respond to reproof – from the Bible and from fellow Christians?
4. Have you ever changed a fellowship, that is, church membership, to avoid a call to repentance?

• Thought of Jesus as a Messianic Champion
• Thought Jesus would reveal himself in a fierce battle
• “You are the Christ!”
• All the right data
  • Witness the transfiguration – built shelters for Moses, Jesus, and Elijah – Jesus said Peter didn’t know what he was saying
  • Night of the betrayal – Peter said bring it on, he held on hope that 12 leagues of angels would come; drawn his sword to the guard
  • Peter joined the other disciples in Jerusalem – with “one mind” in prayer and purpose

• Disciples realized that they were responding to Jesus who was willing to give of Himself for them
• Examples of Jesus giving himself away
  • Gave away what the Father gave to Him - John 15:15
  • He gave them peace - John 16:33
  • He gave them despite pain and suffering - John 15:11
• Love is not love until it is given away
• Jesus – God gave away His most precious possession
• No greater love than to lay down our live for others
• Jesus impressed the deep compulsion of His eternal purpose
• It was clear that the Master considered no service too small or sacrifice too great.
• Jesus denied Himself many of the comforts and pleasure of the world and became a servant
• He continually gave His life “for their sakes”
• Disciples learned not in theory but in practice (painful and hard to accept)
• Jesus life was the measure by which they were to regard their own service.
  • To give freely as they had received – Matthew 10:8
  • Love one another as He loved them - John 13:34
  • Calvary love was the standard

• Prayer
  • Jesus often let His disciples see Him conversing with the Father (They ask, not forced)
  • Unless they grasped the meaning of prayer and practiced consistently – not much would come from their lives.
    
• Using Scripture
  • He never ceased to use the Scripture in His conversation with them.
  • 66 references to the Old Testament
  • 90+ Old Testament references speaking to others
  • Jesus could freely recall scriptures by heart
• Everything that he did and said had some relevance to evangelism
  • Revealing the truth
  • How to deal with men
  • Disciples may (at the time) have not known that they were being taught
• Jesus was the Master of His own teachings
  • Presentation was not flashy; the truth was the main attraction.
• Disciples observed how to:
  • Jesus drew people to Himself
  • Won their confidence and inspired their faith
  • He called them to the way of salvation and He called them to make a decision

• There were many situations and many types of people
  • Rich and poor
  • Healthy and sick
  • Friend and Foe
• No chalk board outline or “Do It Yourself” Manual
• Jesus made sure they didn’t miss in understanding
  • Ask what the parables meant – Luke 8:9
  • Seem to spend more time explaining than the initial interaction lesson
  • Applied lesson to their lives – Mark 10:24-31
• Jesus did not ask anything that He was not doing Himself
• Class was always in session – every waking moment of everyday
  • People are looking for demonstration not explanation
  • Only way to train men is to live by example
  • Not shrinking back or evading our personal responsibility
  • Mere knowledge is not enough
  • Knowledge unapplied to living can become a stumbling stone for further truth
  • Jesus saw to it that they applied the truth in their life
    

• Described himself as someone who could do nothing without God
  
• This poor man called and the Lord saved him from his troubles - Psalms 34:6
• God is his help and deliver - Psalms 40:17
• I am poor and needy - Psalms 109:22
• Modern thinkers might say he needed some self-esteem 
• God said he was after his own heart

• Woe to me, I am ruined for I am unclean - Isaiah 6:5
• Today we can go to church wanting to be told how good we are
• God forgave his sins and sent him on a life mission full of purpose

• Prayed for the power to heal and to change others - Mark 9:29
• In prayer in order to be at peace with God's will - Matthew 26:36-46
• Struggled in prayer to be wholehearted submissive to his Father - Hebrews 5:7-8
• Prayed by himself - Matthew 14:23
• Prayed before others - John 11:41-43
• Prayed with his face to the ground - Matthew 26:39
• Prayed looking up to heaven - John 17:1
• Prayed standing up - Mark 11:25
• Prayed kneeling down - Luke 22:41
• Prayed in early in the morning - Mark 1:35
• Prayed throughout the night - Luke 6:12

• If you pray
• Please, I beg you to pray
• I command you to pray

Jesus is not interested in our obedience outwardly without having our hearts set on heaven
All the ancient were longing for a better country

Living a Christian life is more than living up to a standard of behavior
Meant to ask deeper questions of motivation and heart with an understanding a heart properly movtivated - actions will follow

We should develop a heart that does not store treasures in heaven
Jesus makes a case that does not make sense to store up treasures here because they will not even last here - Matthew 6:19-21

No moth, no rust, no thief, not even Satan himself can diminish our treasure in heaven
It is an incredible freeing feeling to let go of the "treasure" here on earth

Will you miss services to get overtime in?
Do your children see a joyful parent excited about the kingdom of God?

Invest all you have and all you are - Romans 12:1

• Their growth - he would pay the cost
• Patient with someone who was weak - he would pay the cost
• Someone taking advantage of his humility - he would pay the cost
• Was through sticky, uncomfortable issues - he would pay the cost

In the midst of the discussion about unity, Paul continues by talking about having the mind of Jesus - Philippians 2:5-8

The only way to have unity is to be like Jesus

We were called to follow in his steps - 1 Peter 2:21

Jesus willingly because a servant
Greek literally says, "he emptied himself"'

• He poured out his diviniy for us
• He gave up his rights
• Jesus was not just playing a role, he was showing us the depths of this heart

Jesus came not to be served but to serve - Matthew 20:28

Although is righteousness that is not our own becomes laziness, we show we have the grace of God - Philippians 3:12-16

Despite all that Paul went through and has done - he pressed on
Greek word, dicoko = used in both hunting and foot racing

There is certainly a time to remember what we have done - 2 Thessalonians 2:5
But there is also a time to forget

Paul did not cling to the fact that he planted a lot of churches
He purposely "forgot", so he would not see himself as arriving

Paul was looking forward to the next thing God had in store for him
All who are mature, should think this way

The way to take it higher is to hold on to what you have already grasped and then reach for more

• 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

• Sarcasm
• Negativity
• Bitterness
• Cursing
• Worldly reactions

• Paul had an encounter with Jesus
  • Encounters with Jesus are significant
  • Paul understood he was living in opposition to Jesus - killing Christians (people following Christ)
    
  • Don't want to be on the opposite side of the battle from God
  • Where are you at today? Do you know?
  • Share
    • Grow up religious - Every Sunday - through High School
      
    • Ask to come to church, study the Bible
    • Saw life and heart wasn't matching; my sin was in opposition to God
    • Tried to make it personal - mean and angry (Hoping the standard would changed)
    • They were there to help
• Paul had the humility to ask "What shall I do?" - v10
  • Paul had a heart of humility to be taught - Bible
    
  • Could have brought up his religiousness or accomplishments
  • Opened himself up to anything, Not "I'm sorry, won't do that again"
    
• Paul was religious all this life and had the heart to immediately obey and be baptized - v16
  • Perhaps, God uses the life of Paul to prepare our hearts for surrender
    
  • What have you been holding on to instead of Jesus? What is stopping you?

Zealot = a man who aims at overthrows

Jesus mission was to overthrow Satan's ruling government over the earth

1 John 3:7-8
• Jesus came to destroy Satan
• A zealot has a cause
• What was Jesus' cause?
  • Save man from hell
  • Save man from himself
  • Save man from Satan
Matthew 26:50-55
• They saw Jesus as a renigade

Cause worth living for

Luke 9:25
• What good is it?
• What would you write down as things that you are trying to gain?
• Living for Jesus is living life to the full

Luke 10:10
• Sometimes life is not fair
  • Through salvation (Judgement) comes fairness
• We hurt ourselves with the question "WHY?"
  • Like we can demand an answer from God
2 Corinthians 5:14
• Love compels us not out of duty

Consencate yourself

1 Chronicles 29:5

• Who is willing to consecrate himself to God?
  • Kingdom not about men
  • What is stopping you? hurts?
    • Suffering matures us
  1 Corinthians 6:7
  • Have you been wronged?
    • Join the club!
  • God gets justice, not you!

  
  1 Chronicles 29:6-29

  • Where there is consecration (repentance) there brings rejoicing
  • They flat-out worshiped
  • Where was David's heart? with God
    • David thought it was amazing that he could give back what God gave him
  • Has earth become your home?

The kingdom of God brings restoration
Life is resotred to what it was meant to be

Eden was exactly as God meant for it to be
Jesus came to make all things new - Revelation 21:5
He does not say he is make all new things, rather, the things that been broken will be restored
Not new glass or crutches but new eyes and legs

Jesus called himself the Son of man to state clearly that he was what man was suppose to be
What happens to him when he dies? He is resurrected as himself, not some else - only healed and very much alive
Creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed - Romans 8:19

On that day, Jesus appears and announces himself as the Bridegroom - Matthew 9:15

Jesus makes his proposal: I will prepare a place for you - John 14:2-3
Culture of the day - these very words would be used by a young man to his fiancee
He would return to his father's house and build the additonal room to be the bride suite

We have become betrothed to the Bidegroom
The bride belongs to the bridegroom - John 3:29
We are in the time of waiting for the Bridegroom to return

The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing - Augustine

Myth tell us three truths, this third one is:

3. In this desparate hour, we have a crucial role to play

Neo sees himself as Thomas Anderson, but he was the one
Dorthy see herself as just a farm girl from Kansas but Joan of Arc was also on the farm but saw much more

People in the scriptures that saw this:

• Little boy slays the gaint
• Loudmouthed fisherman who can not keep a job to lead the church
• Sinful woman with a golden heart became a example of humility to the Pharisees

This eternal truth is the most difficult for us to believe
Our days are extraordinary but most don't see it this way
It is the 'veil of familarity' - you are not what you think you are

There is a glory to your life that your enemy fears

The one who knows what you could be, fears it
The whole world lies under the power of the evil one - 1 John 5:19

Things happen to you and we question why
There is a bigger story going on

If believe we have a crucial role to play and come to know it is true, everything would change

• Do not rush the field - Luke 14:31
• Train yourself to discern good from evil - Hebrews 5:14
• Live as through your life is at stake - Matthew 10:16

• Against "wisdom", the disciples were asked to go Saul, the one who used to murder Christians, and lay his hands on him - Acts 9:13-14
• Would you counsel a father to sacrifice his only child?
• Take on a fortified city by slashing your ranks from 32,000 to 300?
• Jesus to give himself up to the authorities and let himself get killed

• 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

Examples of those seeking God:

Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:26-40

• What do we know about this seeker?
  • He is important and therefore certainly busy, but still finds time for God.
  • He reads the Scriptures himself and asks questions about what he is reading.
  • He is humble and sincere enough in his search to ask for help.
    
  • What he learns he acts on right away, as seen with his baptism.
• How did he feel after coming to know God better?
  
• The burning questions he had about God were answered in an afternoon.
  

Bereans - Acts 17:10-12

• What was it about these Berean seekers that made Luke refer to them as having “noble character”?
  • Enthusiastic
  • Great Eagerness - explain
    
  • Examined the scriptures daily
    
• Why was it important for them to “examine the Scriptures every day” for themselves?
• What was the result of this eager yet diligent attitude?
  
• As with prayer, reading the Bible is vitally important to knowing God.

• 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.

• The cross is a demonstration of God’s justice in the face of sin.
• God would not be righteous if he simply looked the other way in the face of sin and evil.
  
• The cross is the greatest demonstration of God’s love. Because God loves us, Jesus Christ died for our sins.

• Jesus understood God’s plan for him to give himself as a ransom for us - to die for our sins.
• He could do this only because of his sinless life.

• One account of the crucifixion. As you read and discuss each section, ask the question: “Why did God allow this to happen to Jesus?” Because He loves us! (To better describe the physical torments of the crucifixion, you may also wish to read “The Passion of the Christ from a Medical Point of View” by C. Truman Davis, M.D.)

• David talks about the heart of the Lord toward weak and sinful people: he is a compassionate, gracious, loving father.
  
• How deeply does God love those who fear him?
  
• What is he willing to do with their sins (transgressions)?
• Is this the way you see God?
  

• Jesus taught many things in parables, short stories created to teach spiritual truths.
  
• What does this story tell you about God’s attitude toward us when we repent and turn back to Him?
• Why did the older brother have such a hard time with his father’s attitude?
  
• In what way did he fail to understand the father and his grace?
  

• In this story, we see two very different ways of viewing ourselves and God.
  
• How did the Pharisee approach God? How did he view himself?
  
• On what basis did he presume to be righteous? (His goodness, religious activities, his own efforts).
  
• By contrast, how did the tax collector see himself?
  
• What was his appeal to God based on? (God’s mercy).
  
• Who went home justified (pronounced and considered “not guilty”)?
  
• Jesus taught that a person can never be good enough to be saved through his own efforts.
  
• The only basis of our salvation is the mercy and grace of God.

Acts 11:25-26

• To call oneself a Christian can mean many different things to people today.
• The name “Christian” was applied for the 1st time to disciples at Antioch, about 7 years after the beginning of the church.
• How many times is the word “Christian” used in NT? (Three times.)
• How many times is the word “disciple” used? (About 300 times.)
• What is a disciple? A disciple is a learner who strives to conform his thoughts, words and actions to those of his master.
• To understand what it means to live as a Christian today, we will start by looking at Jesus’ expectations for those who would be his disciples . . .

Mark 1:16-20

• Call of the first disciples: “Follow me.”
• A disciple asks himself, “What would Jesus do?” then strives to do it - regardless of the cost.
• A disciple of Jesus has the same purpose as Jesus: to be a fisher of men.  What does this mean?
• What did they abandon to follow Jesus? Everything! (job, possessions, family)

Ephesians 1:13-14 - The Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on his children and a “deposit” of the
blessings of the age to come.

Ephesians 3:14-21 - We are strengthened with real power through the Spirit who dwells within us. We
cannot live the Christian life on our own strength, but God himself provides us with the power to live as
followers of Jesus. Understanding Jesus’ amazing love for us is a source of that strength.

Ephesians 4:29-32 - How do we “grieve” the Holy Spirit? Why is anger and anger-related sin so
devastating? How is disharmony in our relationships incompatible with having the Spirit of God in us?

Acts 2:40-47

• The first 3000 converts joined together in devotion to the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
• A beautiful view of the early church. How would you like to be part of such a church?

Romans 12:1-8

• The church is a community of people
  • devoted to God (vv1-2)
  • belonging to one another (vv3-5) 
  • devoted to one another (vv 6-10).

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

• The Spirit baptizes us into the body of Jesus, his church.
• The church consists of distinct yet unified parts, just like a human body.
• God himself has arranged it this way.
• We are the church; each of us must actively look for the distinct yet unified ways we are to support this body.
• How will you help build up the body of Christ?

• Purpose
• Faith - reliance on God
• Love - warmth and encouragement
• Endurance - even-temperedness and stability, keeping head in all situations

• Pride - Proverbs 26:12 - “I can make it on my own”
  • No you can’t! - James 4:6 - God opposes the proud
• Selfishness - Philippians 2:1-8 - Jesus made himself nothing

Jesus didn’t confront their desire to be great, only their method

Your greatness in the Kingdom is only limited by your willingness to be a slave to all!

• What are you making of yourself?
• How much does “self” matter to you?
• How much does “self” influence your daily decision?

Luke 9:23 - Must deny self daily - deny self = denying feelings

1. Grumbling servant - “I’ll serve, but I’m not going to like it.”
2. Complaining servant - “Why do they always ask me to serve”
3. Proud servant - “I serve more than anyone and deserve recognition”

• Jesus was the greatest because he was a servant to all
• Why would anyone want to be a servant of all? Because Jesus was the greatest example we can understand why.

• Jesus was God yet he did not even consider his equality
• He made himself nothing - he was king yet he was on the bottom level
• Slaves:
  • Are 24/7/365
  • Do not get thanks
  • Do not have days off
  • Do not have a schedule of their own
  • Do not have attitudes because nothing is theirs
• v5 - Your attitude should be the same
• Have I taken on the nature of a servant?
• Do I consider others better than myself?

1. Do I experience the fear of God as it has been described so far?
2. Does my fear of God tend to slavish - trying to please a taskmaster that can not be pleased?
3. Is my fear of God so shallow that I tend to be overly familiar with and fail to show the reverential awe that is due him?

Imagine the Red Sea waters divided - Exodus 14

Only a few hours you've experienced the highest degrees of fear, excitement, and relief.
When the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and put their trust in him - Exodus 14:31

To fear him is to trust him
The Israelites both feared the Lord and put their trust in him
Fearing God and trusting Him are not mutually exclusive
The Israelties were able to trust God because they experienced firsthand His awesome power to deliver them

God worked on their behave - power without love is terrifying, love without power is pitiable

The events of Exodus was not only to gain to glory Himself but to stimulate and increase the faith of the Israelites
They were in the situation they were in so they could only be saved by His mighty power

• Peter and his brother Andrew left their jobs - Matthew 4:18
  
• Must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me - Matthew 16:24
• I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you - John 13:15
• God always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ - 2 Corinthians 2:14
• You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord - 1 Peter 2:21
• Follow others as they follow Christ - 1 Corinthians 11:1
• Follow His example in both in both negative and positive area
  • He never did a wrong thing.
  • He always did the right thing.

• John 14:31 - I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me
• John 15:9-10 - I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love

• John 5:30 - I seek not to please myself but him who sent me
• Matthew 3:17 - This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.
• Matthew 17:5 - With him I am well pleased. Listen to him!
• Mark 1:11 - You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased

• Luke 3:22 - The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove
• John 8:29 - I always do what pleases him
• 2 Peter 1:17 - This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased
• Hebrews 10:7 - I have come to do your will, O God

• John 14:15, 21, 23 - If you love me, you will obey what I command; He who loves me will be loved by my Father
• 1 John 5:3 - This is love for God: to obey his commands
• Matthew 22:37 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind

• John 6:51 - This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
• Galatians 1:4 - He gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age
• Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live
• Ephesians 5:2 - Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
• Titus 2:14 - He gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness
• 1 John 3:16 - Jesus Christ laid down his life for us
• John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
• Philippians 2:7- He made himself nothing
• Hebrews 7:27 - He sacrificed for their sins once for all

• 1 Corinthians 9:19 - To become what he needed to become to win as many as possible
• 1 Corinthians 9:12 - We put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ
• 2 Timothy 2:10 - Endure everything for the sake of the elect
• ~2 Corinthians 11:22-33 - Endured and worked harder than anyone
• 2 Corinthians 12:15 - Gladly spends for you everything

• Romans 9:1-3 - He wish he could paid the price for them
  
• Romans 10:1 - My heart's desire for you to be saved
  
• Galatians 4:19 - Was in pains of childbirth for their salvation

• Ecclesiastes 6:7 - Appetite is never satisfied
• Matthew 6:31-32 - Food, drink, clothes: pagans run after all these things

• Luke 12:22 - Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life
• Worry has been defined as a prayer to the wrong god

• Luke 18:11 - Prayer: I thank you that I am not like other men
• Philippians 3:19 - Their god is their stomach
• 2 Timothy 3:2 - People will be lovers of themselves

• 2 Timothy 3:4 - Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
• Proverbs 21:17 - He who loves pleasure will become poor
• 1 Timothy 5:6 - But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead

• Galatians 5:16 - Live by the Spirit and not our sinful desires
• Ephesians 4:19 - Lost all sensitivity

• Luke 9:58 - Son of Man has no place to lay his head
• Mark 6:30 - The apostles gathered around Jesus at unscheduled times

• 2 Corinthians 8:9 - He became poor for our sake
• Romans 15:1-3 - Christ did not please himself
• John 5:30 - I seek not to please myself

• 1 John 3:16 - Jesus Christ laid down his life for us
  
• John 10:11 - The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep

• 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

• Philippians 2:6-7, 19-22, 24-30
• A servant does not consider his work of serving as a humiliation. Not ashamed of being thought as inferior. It is his place and work to serve others.

• Philippians 2:6-8 - Humbled himself and became obedient to death
• Reason we often do not bless others by serving them is that we wish to address them as their superiors in grace or gifts or at least their equals.
• Matthew 3:14 - John tried to deter his humility
• Micah 6:8 - LORD require us to walk humbly with our God
• 1 Peter 5:5 - Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another

• 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)

• Acts 10:38 - How he went around doing good and healing all
• Mark 1:29-41, 6:30-56 - Taking care of the needs around him
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 - Became poor so we could become rich
• Philippians 2:6-8 - Taking on the nature of a servant

• Isaiah 53 - He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows
  
• Matthew 20:28 - Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve
• Galatians 1:4, 2:20 - Gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age
  
• Ephesians 5:2, 25 - Gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering
  

• Jeff was playing in the Bay Hill Invitational and he hit his ball in the water.
• He then took a drop (drop your ball near the place it went in the water) and he added a penalty stroke
• During the night he began to question whether his drop was legal or illegal.
• He couldn’t sleep that night and the next morning called the golfing officials and told them what happen.
• Before the officials even made a decision, Jeff disqualified himself.
• Jeff said, “I’m not sure if what I did was right, and if I’m not sure then I couldn’t live with myself and keep playing. What if I won? It would be a curse.”

• In most sports today the rule is to see what you can get away with (as long as you don’t get caught then its O.K.)
• But for the person of integrity cheating/deceit is never okay (its never an option)
  

1. Politicians break campaign promises continually
2. Parents laugh at little “Billie” when he cheats at pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey)
3. Businesses lie just to sale a product (on and on)

• Many people in the world today are two-faced (their life doesn’t match their doctrine)
  

1. Peer Pressure - Matthew 27:19-24
   • Pilate lacked integrity, he made decisions based on what other people thought and said.
   • He didn’t want to take responsibility
2. Pride - Exodus 8:8-15
   • Pharaoh wanted to be in control and not take advice from others
   • In the end Pharaoh’s pride led to his firstborn son dieing (all the 1st born sons of Egypt)

• 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”

• In proverbs it refers to the person who hates correction (pride makes us stupid)
  
• When we are unwilling to receive godly correction we are trusting our own way over that of our advisors (this type of pride makes us stupid)
  

• Physically: We have an illness = we go see an expert doctor, to ignore his advice and handle the situation on our own would be stupid
• Spiritually: We face temptations and challenging situations = we should seek advice from spiritually minded people (they may advice us something simple like, read these scriptures or something radical like change jobs) but to ignore experienced spiritual advice would be stupid. Even if you don’t like it (pray about it, get another “experienced” opinion)

• Type A: Listens on the outside (even nod your head “yes”) but on the inside all systems are shut down.
• Type B: You are calm on the outside but on the inside you’re steaming mad ready to explode and interrupt (who do they think they are)
• Type C: Listens and really tries to understand (learn) not just say OK but embrace the input to become a better disciple

Summary

Abram journeyed with his nephew Lot. Their servants argued, so Lot went to Sodom, Abram to Canaan. The LORD promised Abram the land.

Observations

Genesis 13:7 - So there were quarrels
When there are many things involved, sometimes because there are quarrels. Quarrels come from our evil desires within us [James 4:1]. It is not the amount of items but our heart toward them. In this day in age, there are many quarrel and we have many things. Right now Congress can not agree on much of anything. Are we fighting the good fight or just fighting each other?

Genesis 13:11 - Lot chose for himself the whole region of the Jordan
Lot had a choice, the better Lot wanted the "well-watered" land for himself but in the ended up with the land full of sin. When chose what is better for ourselves rather than others, we many times not get what we think we are getting. If Lot had the choice over again, he would have likely would chose to give the land to Abram but it instead cost him his life.

Personal Application

I have been very quarrelsome at work recently - there is a lot that frustrates me right now. I need to relax and count my blessings. It is not worth broken relationships or loss of life.

Summary

Sarai told Abram to have children with Hagar. Hagar conceived, then ran away, but an angel sent her back. Hagar's son was Ishmael.

Observations

Genesis 16:5 - You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering
At age 86 [Genesis 16:15] and 14 years too early, Abram had forgotten God's promise and was starting to make God's promise work for himself instead of waiting for God to fulfill his promise of making him a father of a great nation. Agreeing to Sarai's idea, he married Hagar and she became pregnant. This really complicated things between the three of them. The same thing happens with us. When we go about trying to do what we think God wants, things really get messed up.

Genesis 16:8 - where have you come from, and where are you going?
The angel that appeared asked about what direction Hagar was going.  Both question are necessary in evaluating our spiritual growth. Like understanding your physical location, you must first understand the past and state of mind you came from. Not knowing the starting point, you can not give directions. If you just knew where you have been and have no direction to go, you can not grow either.

Personal Application

I know I have experience times where I think I am doing what God wants but it really comes from my impatience or my selfish desires to see things happens the way I want them and when I want them. I need to just be patient and ask "is this the Lord will?".

• Could this heart of gratitude be so powerful as to really heal me, heal my faith, heal my marriage, and heal my relationships?
• Who do I need to be grateful for and have not really told them lately?
• When was the last time I had a family devotional expressing gratefulness for each one?

• Who do you serve?
• Do you serve those who are struggling in their faith?
• Do you feel opposed at everything you try to do?
• Could it be God opposing your pride? James 4:6 Is God simply trying to teach you humility and trust?
• What simple thing can you do to serve someone today? Whether they are in the church or not.

• What is truly burdening your life?
• Is your response to that burden humility or pride? Gentleness or stress?
• Be open with someone today about your burdens and then pray that you can throw them off and put on the burden of Christ.

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

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.

• He who was rich, became poor - 2 Corinthians 8:9
• And became sin for us - 2 Corinthians 5:21
• He is able to sympathize with us
• He was tempted in every way - Hebrews 4:15-16
• He got down and washed the disciples feet - John 13:1-5

Some feel distant from him because of our sin but God is desperately looking for us - Luke 15:8

WHo is he who will devote himself to be close to me? - Jeremiah 30:21

God looks for people who will devote themselves to being close to him
Some of the greatest men of the Bible were described as God's friends

• Enoch - walked with God for 300 years before took him away - Genesis 5:22-24
• Noah walked with God - Genesis 6:9
• Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend - Exodus 33:11
• Abramham was God's friend - James 2:23
• Daniel was God's friend from the first time he prayed - Daniel 10:12
• Solomon prayed that his words would near to God day and night - 1 Kings 8:59
  • And God answered him - 1 Kings 9:3

Nehemiah had an intimate friendship with God:

• Referred to God's convenant of love - Nehemiah 1:5
• He pleaed for God to hear him - Nehemiah 1:6
• Had personal confession of sin - Nehemiah 1:6-7
• He reminded God of his great deeds - Nehemiah 1:8-10
• He appealed to God - Nehemiah 1:11

Must learn to become an intercessor = a man who shows his true dependence on God by faithfully fighting battles in prayer, both for himself and his family.

Many great men of the Bible did: Ezra 9:5-15; Nehemiah 9; Jeremiah 14:19-22

One praying man can make a major impact

• King Josiah read God’s Word for the first time, he realized that he and his nation would suffer

Do according to all that is written concerning us - 2 Kings 22:13

• Jeremiah: “Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; renew our days” - Lamentations 5:7, 21

You can be the greatest explainer of truth. But if the very heart of your son or daughter does not believe ‘my daddy loves me,’ they will walk away.
People tend to embrace the teaching and beliefs of those who love them the most.
Whoever has their heart has their ears.

Restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers - Malachi 4:6
When this doesn’t happen, fathers invite the “curse” of broken relationships into their homes

You can tell when a father doesn’t have his kids’ hearts. You sense the disrespect and anger, the bitterness and emotional distance.
The key ingredient in raising good children is to get their hearts early, keep their hearts, and be extremely vigilant not to lose your children’s hearts.

Jesus and His Father hearts were always in sync. When Jesus felt separation from the Father, it was the worst pain he could feel.
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing” - John 5:20

 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.