Quiet Times Search

• Question: What do you think the heart of what Jesus is saying in these scriptures?
• Question: Biblically speaking, because someone goes to church  does that make them a Christian? Are they a Christian because they are a good person? What if they know a lot about the Bible, does that make them a Christian?
• That means you are saying that the majority of people in the world are lost. How does that make you feel?
• Make God feel said but God has a plan for them - 1 Timothy 2:1-6

• v22 - The miracles Jesus did proves he was God's son
• v23 - He died on the cross for your sin
• v24 - God raised him from the dead
  

• Confess with your mouth (acknowledging God and everyone around you that you nor anything else will be the Lord of your life,expect Jesus)
• It is not the confession that justifies you, it is your heart that God is looking at.

• John 14:10 - It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work
• John 8:38 - I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence
• Philippians 1:21 - For to me, to live is Christ
• Colossians 1:27 - Christ in you, the hope of glory
• Colossians 3:4 - Christ, who is your life
• Galatians 2:20 - Christ lives in me

• 1 John 2:3-6 - We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

• John 8:16 - I stand with the Father, who sent me
• Romans 8:5 - Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires

• John 14:24 - These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me
• John 12:49 - Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it

• John 5:19 - Whatever the Father does the Son also does
• John 13:15 - I have set you an example that you should do as I have done

• Ephesians 4:22-24 - Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
• Colossians 3:10 - Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator

• It is not merely being a member of the church.
• It is not merely being baptized.
• It is not merely observing the Lord’s Supper each Sunday.
• It is not merely the equivalent of quiet time each day.
• It is not merely an involvement in one or more discipling relationships.
• It is not merely being busy in “Church work”.
• It is not merely being fruitful in evangelism.

• It means that I am continually conscious of God’s presence and that I desire such by seeking God’s face throughout the day
• It means that His thoughts are becoming my thoughts, His ways are becoming my ways (this is a continual, never ending process)
• It means that I truly love God and want to obey His will with more of my heart each day.

• Romans 15:1-3 - Bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves
  
• 1 Corinthians 8:9, 9:12, 22 - Become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some
  
• 1 Corinthians 10:24, 33, 13:5 - Not seeking my own good but the good of many,
  
• 2 Corinthians 8:9, 12:15 - We become poor so other can become rich
  
• 2 Timothy 2:10 - Endure everything for the sake of others
  
• Philippians 2:3-4, 20-21 - Look at the interests of others

• Nothing means nonexistent
• Less than nothing intensifies that idea
• Worthless - concept of being entirely empty of meaning or purpose

• Firm and loving?
• What is my tone of voice? kind? enraged?
• Do I refrain from sarcasm? Sarcasm is correction plus contempt
• Do I correct in front of others (other than my wife)? Majority of the time corrections should be done in private

• How much do I say I love her?
• Do I buy a smaller arrangement for my daughter on Valentines day?
• Am I quick to go to your daughter's aid

Summary

God formed a man and gave him the garden in Eden, except for the tree of knowledge. Adam was alone so God made a woman as his partner.

Observations

Genesis 2:7 - from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life
From nothing, God created us. He even takes our language that is a collection of organized means and breathed [2 Timothy 3:16] it into living and active Holy scripture [Hebrews 4:12].

Genesis 2:15 - put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Man's purpose in the garden was to work it and keep it up. God gives us work to do in step with what he desires. Work is good for glorify God, helping others, and helping us in our character. In [Acts 17:26], we learn that God determines the times and places we will live. It wasn't a random chance that Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden even with God's fore knowledge of Adam's sin.

Genesis 2:16 - You are free
The first words recorded spoken to man was "You are free". This is important because without freedom, love can not be fully expressed. God created man for Him to love and to be loved by man. What are we doing with the life and freedom God has given us? Does he feel the love?

Genesis 2:17 - you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
The sinful nature within us desires the opposite of what God wants. When it hears about something we can not do, that is the exact thing it desires to do.

Genesis 2:19 - whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name
With our freedom, we are given responsibilities. Instead of just telling us what the names of the animals and plants we, God gave Adam the task and freedom to do so. We need to remember all the things God intrusts us with and give it our all.

Personal Application

Many times I look for ways on how to automate work (it is part of the work I do as part of my career) but sometimes lose sight that work is what I am suppose to be doing. When automating tasks, I need to make sure I am using my additional time to do even more useful things that God has called me to do.

Summary

Japheth's line lived in the coastlands; Ham's included Nimrod and the Canaanites; Shem's lived in the East. These formed the nations.

Observations

Genesis 10:4 - peoples spread out ... each with its own language
These family was not only in not on the same page, in the same state. They each had a completely different language. Their words were likely not written down so changed easily because there was no reference point. Having different languages is not a bad thing but it illustrates when we do not have a reference point in our lives, our standards, direction, and our feelings of the day change we do things. Like God's written word, if we do not keep refering to it, we will live as if we are standing on shifting sand [[Matthew 7:26].

Genesis 10:6 - sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan
From Ham's children, came the Jews and others like the Philistines [Genesis 10:14]. I am not sure if this separation came from the times these kids were growing up but does show how much we need unity in our family. Though in verse 6, they had different languages. Unity is very important in a family and godly unity only comes from God. We can be united in mind and heart from our relationship with God. It is never to early introduce God to your family - especially children.

Personal Application

I am convicted on how fast families can be divided by Satan. How things can change and a heart is no longer are responsive in a relationship. I need to start ASAP.  I am going to make sure my children know God, his word and what it means to have an amazing relationship with Him.

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

• Romans 1: 21 - being ungrateful can be at the root to many sins in your life
• Luke 7: 36-50 - those who are more grateful show a greater capacity to love.
• Luke 17: 11-19 - the thankful are commended before God.
• Psalms 50: 5-23 - note that the sacrifice that means the most to God is one of 'Thanks!'

Fathers are to reveal and represent God

All fatherhood comes from Him (Ephesians 3:14–15).

Should be able to see these qualities of God:

• a loving Provider
• a strong Protector
• a truthful Leader
• a respectable Authority
• an intimate Friend

The word father means “founder, source, chief, or leader.”

Godhead described, it is always God the Father first, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit.

Want to know what God is like? then just look at Jesus.

Are representing your heavenly Father? Thist is your priceless purpose.

1. They learn their identity from you - go to their dads for answers to their biggest questions: Who is God? Who am I? Am I loved?
2. They learn their values from you - Kids watch their dads to find what’s important. Constantly reinforce the higher priorities and deeper truths of life.
3. They learn their worth from you - girls with strong dads are much more likely to feel secure

Great homes don’t just happen, need to be intentionally cultivated and guarded.

Let truth, love, and wise discipline become constant ingredients of fathering.

Consecration, which means to clean something up and then dedicate it to God.

Cleansing your life and home from any stumbling blocks or evil influences and then presenting yourself and your family into God’s hands.

If there are influences in your home that dishonor God or are pulling you or your family members away from God, you should seriously consider removing them.

King Hezekiah rose to the throne after the death of Ahaz,
He threw out man-made idols and reestablished the worship of God as the centerpiece of his leadership - 2 Chronicles 29:5-6

• Where sin has crept into your life - repent
• Where bitterness has taken root in your heart - forgive
• Where lies have been woven into the script - seek truth
• Where traditions have taken precedence - start fresh
• Where problems have tried to steal and malign - pray
• Where hindrances are piling up - consecrate and dedicate your family to God

There is nothing greater, more fulfilling, or more important than living with this goal in mind.

When did you become a man? Men are often unsure.

Learning this can not only help us understand ourselves better but also help our sons become secure men as well.

When Jesus was twelve years old and His parents accidentally left Him
They didn’t find Him in a back alley playing with children. They found Him in the temple - Luke 2:46-47

After this event, the Scriptures say that He “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” - Luke 2:52

In the Jewish community today, when a boy reaches puberty (around the age of thirteen)
Bar means “son of.” Mitzvah means “the law”

• When asked to give a financial contribution during a census, God required it of every man “twenty years old and over.” - Exodus 30:14
• When making vows to fund the sanctuary, God expected the “males from twenty years even to sixty years old” to give the most - Leviticus 27:3
• Men ready to fight in war for Israel were men who were “twenty years old and upward.” - Numbers 1:3
• Men who were held accountable and punished severely by God were, again, those “twenty years old and upward.” - Numbers 14:29

He may have become a responsible adult earlier than twenty, but by then he had no excuse.

God calls us to an appropriate and excellent standard: His.

To be a man is to fully own your roles as an adult, husband, father, employee, neighbor, and any other role you choose to undertake.

THe key ingredient masculinity is actually strength
Like Jesus, every man also needs to be developing moral, mental, social, and spiritual strength.
If men do not develop a sense of their own fortitude, they will never attempt hard things.
Opposite of masculinity is to be feminine, which means soft, pretty, and delicate.

Culture has spent decades telling women to “Rise up and be strong!” and telling men to “Sit down and be quiet!”

King David charged his son Solomon, “Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man” - 1 Kings 2:2
If you are going to obey Him and be faithful to Him until the end, you must act like a man, embrace your masculinity, and hear His command to “Be strong!” - Joshua 1:9
When the enemy is attacking, you must keep up your resistance — “and having done everything, to stand firm” - Ephesians 6:13
“Act like men, be strong!” - 1 Corinthians 16:13

This is our responsibility as men. This is required of us to be faithful.

Fathers, start spending more “heart to heart” time

ATTENTION

Get their attention, ask important questions like:

• Tell me how you are doing.
• What have you been up to lately?
• What are you most excited about right now?

Make a little one-on-one time with Dad

AFFIRMATION

Kids, as well as adults, want the approval and praise from their dads

They want their father’s "blessing” in their lives.
To bless means "to speak well of"

God: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” - Mark 1:11

It is important that you communicate to them, “You are my son (daughter) and I dearly love you. I am very pleased with you.”

Anytime you greet them or talk to them, your countenance, the look in your eyes, and your tone of voice either says, “You are a delight to me” or “You are an irritation to me.”

You should praise them privately, one-on-one, and publicly in front of others. “That is awesome! You are really good at that,” needs to come from your lips as their biggest cheerleader. Regardless of your past, step up to do this now!

AFFECTION

Father pours out His unconditional love on us (Romans 5:5), and so should we to our sons and daughters.

Interact with them in ways that make them fully see, hear, and feel your love.

not only the discipline of a father but also his warm affection and tender love.

Boys who feel loved by their dads are bolder, stronger, kinder to others, and more secure

Girls who feel valued by their dads are more radiant, less desperate for a boyfriend, and more careful whom they marry.

So invest in them, take them places, flood them with tender affection, leaving no question in their minds about your genuine love for them.

They sent Barnabas who was filled with joy and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord - Acts 11:22-23

Barnabas means "Son of Encouragement"

He specialized in encouragement

• Barnabas persuaded the believers to accept the Pharisee Saul as one of their own - Acts 2:26-28
• He encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord (as seen above)
• Barnabas encouraged Pauls during his travels - Acts 13-14
• He invested in a voung believer named John Mark - Acts 15:36-39

Barbabas was drawn to those who needed a positive word

How was he the source of encouragement?
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith - Acts 11:24

Living means living for Christ - Philippians 1:21

Death is near the top of most people's list of fears

Death for the believers is nothing more than moving on to new location

Paul faced the distinct possiblity of death but there is no hint of fear in his letter

He knew

• If he lived, could continue his work
• If he died, he would simply move to his new location in heaven - Phippians 1:21-24

Paul couldn't decide which of the options he preferred

Paul never forgot God superinteneded everything that happened to him

When you live free from the fear of death or life, you will never have to worry about what lies ahead.

Abram and King Bera

I will not take a single thread otherwise you might say "I am the one who made Abram rich" - Genesis 14:22

Abram found himself in an uneasy alliance with King Bera (means "wicked") of Sodom

King Bera's adversaries routed his forces and captured Lot

Abram gathered some men and defeated Bera's ememies and resuced Lot

King said to "Let me have my people and you can keep the spoils" but Abram refused - Genesis 14:21

He did not want Bera or anyone else believing that anyone but God made him rich

Those who humbel themselves will be exalted - Luke 18:14

We need a regular spiritual checkups to assess our relationship with God

Jesus told a story of self-righteous Pharisee who had no idea of his desparate spiritual sickness and the tax collector who, after some painful soul-searching found himself in desparate need of mercy and forgiveness

True confession before God means being honest enough to admit who you really are and humble enough to understand you can never earn God's forgiveness

One of them fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thnking him for what he had done - Luke 17:14

Sometimes expressing gratitude means going out of your way to let the party know how thankful you feel

Out of ten men healed with leparosy, only one thanked him

Ten men asked for and received help, only one man was changed for good and received a greater gift - greatful heart

Jesus asked where the other nine went - Luke 17:17

This only a simple thing for the Lord - 2 Kings 3:18

"You first, God" approach to obedience often means missing out on his blessings and maybe a miracle or two

Israel march against Moab but the soliders had run out of water 

Eliaha spoke to God and would provide water under one condition: they were to dig ditches in the valley and wait for God to act

Their choice was to laugh and ignore the command or obey and wait for a miracle

Jehoshaphat and Joram acted in faith and obedience - received more water than they knew what to do with

When God commands you to do something that seems humanly unreasonable, do you act immediately or wait for him to act first?

An elder... an honorable position - 1 Timiothy 3:1

Timothy faced the daunting responsibility of picking the right leaders for his congregation

Paul instructed Timothy to look for leaders with:

• Good personal lives
• Exemplary family lives
• Self-control
• Wisdom
• Gentleness

Timothy understood that God had called all believers to live by a higher standard than the world around them

Being a church leader means consistently demonstrating the kind of character worthy of being emulated

He was one who had provided food for the king - 2 Samuel 19:32

Barzillai was a fine example of courage in the face of risk and contrary public opinion

David's popularity had waned and the king's son, Absalom, had staged a coup.

Barzillai gave David and his men food, water, and lodging - 2 Samuel 17:27-29

He knew the risks involved with aiding David but he stood up for what was right

When David had regained his throne, he told of Barzillai's kindness and courage to his son Solomon - 1 KIngs 2:7

Gold character means doing and saying what you know is right even when no one seems to be watching

It's Esau, your firstborn son - Genesis 27:19

Jacob tried to accomplish something that God already said was his will

It went terribly wrong when he schemed and lied to make that goal a reality

He received his father's blessing but only after lying to him at least 4 times

Jacob and Rebekah decieved his father through sinful means what God had wanted to do through righteous means

They would face many consequences for his sin including Laban's deception before giving him Rachel as Jacob's wife - Genesis 29

Titus is a partner who works with me to help you - 2 Corinthians 8:23

Diligence motivates you to complete what you begin and often entails personal sacrifice or hardship

Titus demonstrated diligence in just about everything he did

Paul knew he could count on Titus to finish what he started and a bond of brotherhood was formed

This is why Paul sent Titus to Corinth as a personal delegate

Do others see you as someone who can be counted on to finished what you started even if it means personal sacrifice?

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

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

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

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

They tried to use his friendiness against him

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

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

Jesus made friends with them despite these truths

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

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

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

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

Can truth be known?

Athiest may start with "I don't believe in God!"
Are you sure there is no God? If no, then may actually be agnostic
If you agnostic, then what kind?
    - Can't know anything for sure - how are you so sure about that?
    - Doesn't know anything for sure, but can know

Would you be willing to look at the evidence? Evidence can not convince the unwilling

Complete agnosticism is self-defeating  - "truth can not be known" and believe it to be true (a true claim)

Truth can be known? YES

Can all religions be true?
No, because some are contradictory:

• World religions have more contradictions than similarities
• While reglions have some similarities, because of God has planted on our hearts

Major differences:

• Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in one God vs Hindus/New Age believe everything that exists is an impersonal force
• Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in heaven and hell vs Hindus believe evil is an illusion
• Christians believe you are saved by grace while all others believe in salvation by good works if they believe in salvation at all

"Tolerance" means that you are suppose to except all religions to be true

1. Accept people with other beliefs and but not yourself
2. "You ought not question someone religious beliefs" is a religious belief of pluralists
3. Prohibition against questioning beliefs is an absolute moral stance
4. Bible commands us to questions beliefs - pluralist should accept this believe
5. They only tolerate of those who agree with them

You shall not judge - it is a judgment
All judge, it is about if we make the right judgment
Ready to accept child sacrifices or radical fundamental terrorists? 
If in error, it is not loving to withhold truth from others

Elephant parable (world religions are objective vs objective) - may seem persuasive until you get to one question  - what the perceptive of the narrator, isn't it an objectiveone?