Quiet Times Search

• 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.

• 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.

• Take children to church service
• Pray with them regularly
• Have family devotionals

1. Be sure of their salvation
2. Love and understand God's Word
3. Know and willingly obey God's rules
4. Know their spiritual gifts
5. Be able to teach spiritual truths
6. Be effective witness
7. Spend daily time with God
8. Do acts of service for others
9. Exercise self-discipline
10. Fellowship with other believers
11. Understand the power of prayer
12. Maturely walk with God

Summary

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

Observations

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

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

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

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

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

Personal Application

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

Summary

The kings went to war and took Lot captive. Abram rescued Lot. Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Observations

Genesis 14:18 - Melchizedek ... He was priest of God Most High
This is the first mention of a priest in the Bible. Melchizedek was the start of the line of priests that would stretch all the way to Jesus' time. Jesus because the high priest and the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him [Hebrews 5:9-10].

Genesis 14:23 - I will accept nothing belonging to you
Abram made the decision not to take anything from the king of Sodom while saving Lot. Instead he chose to give some of his possessions to the priest because he was so grateful that God gave him victory over the kings. He must of sensed something from the king of Sodom that was not right and did not want to be associated with him. Do we have worldly ties that we shouldn't? People around us can assume because hang around others that do wrong, we do the same things. We should live among people as Jesus did but how are we associated with them?

Personal Application

Do I have a good sense of my relationships? Do I tend to be a part of group to just belong or a higher reason? I find it much easier to take then to give and I do not think I have conviction on doing the reverse. There is no such thing as a free lunch (maybe from God because he gives freely) - are some offers of others giving really a trap? In some some situations, I should be giving instead of taking.

Summary

Angels took Lot out of Sodom. The city was destroyed by fire and Lot's wife was turned to salt. His daughters had children for him.

Observations

Genesis 19:14 - But his sons-in-law thought he was joking
What fatal mistake?!? When Lot urged his son-in-law to leave the city, they did not take him seriously. Lot was urgent, they were laid back. It cost them their lives. There are times to joke around but not in life and death situations. What are we not taking serious that we should? What are the cost(s) if we don't start taking these things seriously?

Genesis 19:22 - I cannot do anything until you reach it
God is love and love is patiently waiting on us to change. There is a time for judgement but God is holding on us to turn to him. Here God was holding back just long enough for Lot to leave the area before destroying it. One of the many ways God relates this idea to us is in the parable of the weeds. He explains that we grow among weeds and he tolerates the weeds only because of the harvest. Once the harvest comes, the wheat is harvested and the weeds are thrown into a fiery furnace [Matthew 13:42].

Personal Application

By nature, I am a jokester. I have love to laugh - there is a time for everything. I need to learn how to take the important things seriously. When I hear a call from God to repent, not sure my immediate reaction is to change. I make excuses about doing things in the near future or lie to myself that I am doing OK. The costs are too great not to hear and obey the call.

• 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

1. What sacrifices did Jesus make to go and pray? Think of his previous day. What excuses could he have made to not pray?
2. When do you feel the need to pray? Do you ever make excuses not to pray?
3. How has your prayer time been the past 10 days?

1. What kind of prayer life did Jesus have?
2. What things, besides going to the cross, would have been difficult for Jesus to obey?
3. What things are difficult for you to do as a disciple?
4. Have you been praying with loud cries and tears for God to help you be obedient?
5. What situations in your life do you need to pray more about? Make a list and be specific.

1. How did Jesus show the full extent of his love?
2. What was he trying to teach his disciples?
3. How can we obey verse 17?
4. Give specific examples.

1. Why was Dorcas so loved by everyone?
2. Who were her "special friends"?
3. Why do you think she did so much for them?
4. If you died today, what would you be remembered for?
5. What can we learn from Dorcas' life?

1. What made Timothy different from the others?
2. What shows a genuine interest in the welfare of others?
3. How can you be more like Timothy?

• 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.

• Pride
• Complacency
• Self pity
• Desiring comfort
• Fear

1. Decide never to quit being a disciple.
2. Decide to admit your weaknesses every day.
3. Decide to obey the Bible when you get knocked down.

They need to see Jesus - Deuteronomy 6:1-9

God did not want his people to forget him

What did he want them to remember?

• How God helped them
• Obey all his commands
• To fear him
• Love God with everything we have

All these things he still wants us to remember

In what ways can we show our kids, Jesus?

• Incorporate your children in the things you do
• Talk about God / ask them thought provoking questions
• Read the Bible to them /
• Pray with them

v 20-24 - The questions will come; opportunities to share more

With a Watchful Eye - 1 Timothy 4:15-16

 They will not be a Christian and stay a Christian by chance

2. Buying the Camero - Matthew 6:19-24
Lie: You achieve what you set your mind to
Truth: Be content with what you have

3. Becoming a disciple - Matthew 7:13-14
Lie: There is danger in anything that I do not have control of
Truth: Trust and obeying His Word

4. Saint Joe trip - 1 John 4:16b-18
Lie: Face and deal with your fear
Truth: Bear with each other; Love drives out fears

What lies is Satan telling you?

• Staying faithful - You can not make it?
• Being Fruitful - Telling you field is not plentful?
• Repentence - You can not change?

Summary

God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. As Abraham obeyed, an angel stopped him. The LORD provided a ram instead and blessed Abraham.

Observations

Genesis 22:2 - Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering
God calls us to sacrifice to a high degree. We need to trust in God when we are called to sacrifice. Abram was called to the give up one of the most important persons in his life. At what point do we stop sacrificing? When we feel we are about to leave our comfort zone? When the price is too high?

Genesis 22:5 - and then we will come back to you
He did not know how or in what way but Abram had faith God would not forget about His promise to Abram. Would his son come back to life? Would God give him a new son? What whatever was to happen, Abram believed he would not be coming back alone when he said "we will come back".

Genesis 22:12 - I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son
God present us with tests in our life to see where our heart is at. These test also tell us where our own heart is at if we pay attention. There was no cost Abram was not willing to pay to seek out the Lord which show he had the right perceptive of God's power.  Our sacrifice level shows our love for God.

Personal Application

I know for me I give until it starts to physically hurt, brings up bad memories, or I don't see the need to. It does not depend on me; I need to sacrifice in relation to the need. As I grow close to go God I will see God's heart in this.

1. The longing for adventure that requires something of us
2. Desire for intimacy - to have someone truly know us for ourselves

It is the core of our spiritual journey

Any religion that ignores it survives only as guilt-induced legalism, a set of propositions to be memorized and rules to be obeyed

What does these desires have to do with God?

Hasn't God left us with them to draw us closer to him?

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.

 Jesus Christ founded his empire on love

God not only wants you to lead your family but deeply love them
The more you walk with God and obey Him each day, the more of His love will be “poured out” in your heart - Romans 5:5

Children feel much more secure if they know their parents love each other.
We must do whatever it takes to put your marriage on a sound footing.

Don’t wait for her. Step up and be the leader God meant you to be. It’s never easy.
Your words in ten seconds can change them forever - either in a positively or negative way
If your kids feel they always get your leftover energy and attention, they will disconnect and struggle with resentment

The fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil - Proverbs 16:6

How one may avoid the snares of death - Proverbs 14:2

Fear of the Lord causes our other fears to go away

• Wisdom, counsel, and understanding begin with the fear of the Lord - Proverbs 8:14
• Wealth, honor, and fruitfulness follow the fear the Lord - Proverbs 8:17-19
• The fruits of humility and a proper hatred of pride and evil from this fear - Proverbs 8:13

How blessed is the man who fears the LORD - Psalms 112:1-2

Prayerfully ask God to help us develop a strong fear of the Lord

Training them to fear the Lord sets them up to live with incredible wisdom and success:

• He is omniscient and always watching them - Proverbs 15:3
• They will reap what they sow - Galatians 6:7
• He will judge them one day - Romans 14:12
• He is a great rewarder of those who diligently seek Him and obey Him - Hebrews 11:6

 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.

You should actually want your leaders to succeed. You should be eager to help them fulfill their roles.
Helping them to win actually sets you up to win their ear and gain their favor. examples: Moses and Joseph

This is how we should treat those over us - with a clear conscience, in respectful ways - not only from a fear of God but as a witness and an example to our children.

Our kids will most likely adopt our views on authority in their own lives as well.
Whatever patterns we set for them will be the ones they use to train their own kids and so on.

We are accountable to Him - both to love Him and to fear Him.

When you teach your children to honor authority, you are teaching them to better honor God.

• How do you talk about your leaders at work and church?
• What do your children hear you saying about the government or elected representatives?
• They see you praying for your authorities? - 1 Timothy 2:1-4
• How do they see you respond to speed limits and state troopers?
• Does this match your talk about how God places authorities in our lives for our benefit?

Helping them not “forget his deeds” but to “keep his commands” - Psalms 78:7

Honoring authority will help them obey you.

Honoring authority is a hallmark of godly men and their children.

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

Discipling your kids requires discipline on our part

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him - Genesis 6:22

Good things come to men who fully and complete follow instructions

Noah followed God's instructions to the letter, leaving nothing undone

If Noah had missed just one of God's instructions while building the Ark, we would not be here today.

Noah obeyed because he was a righteous man and he was a righteous man because of his obedience

When you follow God's instructions in every day life, you position yourslef to receive good things from Him.

Think of an area in your life that God has given you some pretty clrear instruction. Can God say you "did everything exacly as God had commanded"?

Jehu refused to turn from his sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit - 2 Kings 10:31

Fathers want their children to obey wholeheartedly both in spirit and in the letter of the law

Jehu did some great things for God but he did not obey wholeheartedly

• Followed God's instructions to rid Israel from the house of Arab and end the worship of Baal
• Won his desendants positions of royality for years to come
• He tolerated other forms of idolatry

Half hearted obedience amounts to disobedience

Sin is like yeast being mixed into a batch of dough

Abram built an alter there and dedicated it to the Lord - Genesis 12:7

Ever thought about the power available through praise and worship of the heavenly Father?

God inhabits the praise of his people - Psalm 22:3

Praise and worship are avenues through which we enjoy fellowship with God

Abraham was a rich man who obeyed God's call to leave his home and travel to an unknown land

Whenever he settled, Abraham always took time to build an alter and worship God

Through the Holy Spirit, are you making praise and worship a key component of your daily life?

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people - Joshua 1

God called Joshua to lead the people

He struggled through fears but he became a great example of hom to make fear a nonissue

Joshua did not start this way.

How did Joshua get courage?

1. He had a strong sense of purpose - Joshua 1:6
2. He completely obeyed God's instruction - Joshua 1:7

Recipe for courage: Joshua was determined to go where God called him to go and do what God called him to do

When you combine God-given sense of purpose and a commitment to obedience, God willenale to defeat your enmied and give all he promised

Officals to Mordecai: "why are you disobeying the king's command?" - Esther 3:3-4

Bible teaches believers to obey those in authority

Mordecai was tested when KIng Ahasuerus ordered his officals to bow before Haman - Esther 3:2

He had repeatedly proved his loyalty to the king but he would not bow down before any human

God turned the crisis to actually advance the well-being of the entire Hebrew people

When you take a stand, you demonstrate the ultimate value of your commitment to God and you encourage secret believers to declare their allegiance to the Lord

You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you - 1 Samuel 13:13

Full blessings from God depends on our obedience

Saul, Israel's first king, fell flat on his face

Samuel had given Saul clear instructions - Go ahead to Gilgal and wait me me - 1 Samuel 13:8

He foolishly decieded to play the role of a priest and perform sacrifices in a way that clearly violated God's law

Saul squandered his chance at greatness because he lacked the courage and wisdom to obey

Live according to his Word and you put yourself in a prefect position to receive all he had for you and your family

I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway - Romans 7:19

Paul found himself unable to always do what he knew was right. He was equally unable to always avoid doing what he knew was wrong

Paul reveled his genuine conflict over his desire to obey God perfectly and his inability to do so 

What Paul wanted more than anything was to have vicotry over sin

We are sinners who must daily tap into God's grace and forgiveness

You will find consistent success in avoiding sin only as you walk daily in the power of the Holy Spirit

Go and marry a prostitute so that some of her children will be conceived in the prostitution - Hosea 1:2

God commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer as an object lesson of God's love for the wayward nation of Israel

Gomer left Hosea and returned to her old ways but Hosea obeyed God even when it meant agonizing self-sacrifice

Hosea sacrificed himself to love someone completely unworthly of his love

God calls us to be vessels of his self-sacrificing love to "unlovable" people

Listen carefully to these decrees and regulations, obey them so that you may live - Deuteronomy 4:1

Each of us naturally tends to think we have the right to adopt our our set of morals, standards, and spirituality

Beleivers in Christ must reject such a belief

Moses delivered an uncompromising message of strict obedience of God with no tolerance for sin

He understood the importance of setting righteous standards for the people

Moses faithfully walked this (not sinless) despite being labeled as:

• Inflexable
• Intolerant
• Judgemental

Do you have the courage to risk anger, resentment, oppositon, or insults to follow God?

God does not ask for perfection but a spirit-empowered obedience

One day he disappeared because God took him - Genesis 5:24

Enoch walked with God and simply disappeared but before he was taken up he was known as a person who pleased God - Hebrews 11:5

He pleased God because Enoch walked with him daily:

• Relied on him
• Enjoyed his companionship
• Obeyed his commands
• Put God in the center of everything he said and did

Naaman became angry and stalked away - 2 Kinds 5:11

Naaman had a serious infectious skin disease

He went to Eliasha for healing and he said to go the Jordan and wash 7 times

Naaman was disappointed and angry with this but his servants encouraged him to do as Elisha said

He obeyed and was healed - God of Israel is a God of second changes

Because of Naaman's eventual humble obedience, he was healed and later found salvation - 2 Kings 5:15-18

Motives can be everything

The Bible insists that God sees not just what we do but also why we do it

Example: Balaam spoke blessings on the Isreal three times but he was denounced in scripture as an evil man

Joshua tells us that the only reason Balaam didn't curse Israel was because God made hime speak blessings - Joshua 24

Balaam was considered a false teacher who:

• Lured unstable men into sin - 2 Peter 2:14
• Loved money by doing wrong - 2 Peter 2:15
• Showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel - Revelation 2:!4

Do you obey God from the heart? Do you find yourself doing the right thing for the right reasons?

Many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers - Acts 9:13-14

God had geiven Ananias an assignmen that mad him very uncomfortable

Saul's sole purpose in coming to Damascus had been to persecute him and the other believers

Ananias remined God of the terrible things Saul had done but God did not relent

He intended for Saul to take his message of salvation to both Gentiles and Jews - Acts 9:15

Ananias weighed the risks and knew that the benefits of obedience far outwieghted anything he feared

Because he obeyed, he was able to play a supporting role in God's plan to spread the gospel throughout the world

My final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

There is in hte heart of every man a God-shaped void

Solomon had it all, but he eventually concluded that those things were not enough - which amounted to exactly nothing

His life was empty

Solomon asked God for wisdom and became the wisest man who ever lived

Despite God's warnings, Solomon drifted from the Lord and turned to other gods

Without God, life amounts to nothing but birth, lots of hard work, and death

When you make Jesus Christ central to everything, even everyday events have meaning and significance

When Rehobam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord - 2 Chronicles 12:1

There is a lot self-help books and programs teaching we can find fulfillment in our stength, mind, and soul

True fulfillment and strength is found walking closely with God and humbly obeying his commands

Rehoboam took a good look at all he had accomplished and becamse self-satisfied and abandoned God

He crowded out God's place in his heart

Rehoboam leading the way:

• Judah slipped away from God
• Kingdom was nearly destroyed by Egypt
• Had no choice of surrender to Shishak
• Holy temple was ransacked
• Judah became servants of Egypt

Rehoboam failed as a leader and as a man of God because he found strength and satisfaction in his own accomplishments

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?

I'm not a professional prophet but the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, 'Go and prophesy to my people in Israel' - Amos 7:14-15

Willingness may not impress some personnel managers but it is exactly God looks for in a servant

Amos was a humble shepherd who also tended a grove of sycamore-fig trees

He had something God values about professional credentials - willingness to follow and obey

God gave him a message to preach and he preached it with enthusiasm

Most people believe that they need training credentials to minister to others

God cares most about your willingness to faithfully serve him

An angel gave me this command from the Lord .. but the old man was lying to him - 1 Kings 13:18

The prophet from Judah failure to fully obey God's instructions led to personal disaster:

1. Travel to Bethel and confront King Jeroboam
2. Do not eat or drink anything while in Bethel

The prophet excuted the first part perfectly:

1. Personally rebuked Jeroboam
2. Pronouned destruction of his alter
3. Taught the king a thing or two about keeping his hands of a true prophet of God

But the second part he failed - when home with an eldery prophet from Bethel because "God told him to"

Partial obedience is really disobedience

The prophet listened and lost everything - 1 Kings 13

They disobeyed the Lord by buring before him the wrong kind of fire, so the fire burned them up - Leviticus 10:1-2

Aaron's sons were called to priests and were given significant and solemn reponsibility 

There was little wiggle room in the regulations governing the Tabernacle and the sacrifices

Nadab and Abihu wiggled too much

The treated God's commands casually and carelessly and cost them everything

Their action cost them the blessings that God wants to generouly give to everyone who will listen to him

How do you regard the Word of God?

• A code of conduct?
• A book of restrictive rules?
• Road map to blessing, honor and joy?

Jonah went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord - Jonah 1:3

God gave specific instructiions to go to Nineveh and warn them about god's judgement

Jonah simply did not like the assignment and wanted them dead

Jonah wondered why he should warn them, go ahead and judge them

When Jonah ran, his life went nowehere but down:

• Down to the seaport
• Down to the hold of the ship
• Down to the depths of the sea
• Down to the belly of the fish

When Jonah came to his senses, he obeyed God's instructions

What marching orders had God given you that seem to make little sense?

My salvation come from the Lord alone - Jonah 2:9

Can you praise God for your times of difficulty, weakness, burdens?

Jonah did some time in the belly of the sea creature - a dark and foulplace that defies human imagination

He didn't ask why, he already knew why

God knew that Jonah had come full circle from his words of thanksgiving and his promise to fulfill his vows

It meant he was ready and willing to obey God

God immediately arranged for his freedom - Jonahv2:10

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

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

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

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

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

He demonstrated further humility when Jesus approached him to be baptized

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

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

You missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram - 2 Chronicles 16:7

Like so many kings of Judah, Asa started out doing good things for his kingdom

Prophet Azariah: The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! - 2 Chronicles 15:2

Asa trusted and obey God at first but later he failed by relying on humans instead of God

He showed his true colors when he entered into an agreement with Syria to stand against Israel

Asa refusal to rely solely on God contributed to his death

He developed a foot disease - he went to his doctors rather than first seeking God's help - 2 Chronicles 16:12

Where do you turn in yout times of need?

Serve the Lord alone - choose today whom you will serve - Joshua 24:14

The greatest character qualities of any leader is the willingness to consistently "walk the walk"

Joshua had flaws but he consistently exercised his faith and obeyed the God who called him to lead

This is why he could confidently challenge his people to "choose today whom you will serve"

He dared the Israelites to rid their loves of any remnants of idol worship and to follow God wholeheartedly

Joshua consistant faithfulness helped lead his people into the Promise Land

This happened so the power of God could be seen in him - John 9:3

Jesus' disciples believed bad things happen to bad people

Jesus quickly corrected their faulty thinking by denying the man's blindness had anything to do with anyone's sin

This blindness was to be one day used to bring the people's attention to Jesus' devine power and authority

When blind man obeyed Jesus, he was able to see for the first time in his life

Jesus' miracle changed the disciples' notions about God and how he works through human circumstances

My nourishment comes from doing the will of God - John 4:34

Willingness to obey is one thing, developing a passion for obedience is another level completely

Jesus lived to obey his heavenly Father

He left paradise to take a form of a man and remained passionately and single-mindedly devoted to accomplishing his Father's will

Nothing could stand in the way of his accomplishing his goal - even dead of the cross

The smallest deviation from what God had plan would have meant disaster for mankind

Jesus' plan was never in jepardy because of the passion he had to obey everything his Father directed

Do you feel eager to obey God?

Summary

In Gerar, Isaac lied about Rebekah being his wife. 

Observations

Genesis 26:5 - Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions

• Abraham had not received the law yet
• He was described as one who kept the law by living by faith and obedience
• A man who lived by faith could be described as one who kept the law

Genesis 26:9 - I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me

• The son repeated his father's lie's [Genesis 20:2]
• Faith in God's promises causes fearless work with Him
• This time it was not God but Abimekech who protected and commad that the woman not to be touched
• The Philistine king emerged as the righteous one
• God continued to be faithful with Issac for the sake of future generations
• If Isaac's marriage had ended here, there would have been no Israelites

Application

The first step toward helping children live righteously is for the parent to live rightly. What kind of example I am setting for my children?

Prayer

Please help me to see what I am projecting onto my children by the life I am living