Quiet Times Search

• v6:1 - He has an awesome vision of the awesome God.
• v6:5 - “Woe to me!”
  • Isaiah saw God in all his glory
  • He realized his own lostness
  • He realized the lostness of everyone else.
• v6:6-7 - Experiencing God’s forgiveness transforms our lives
• v6:8 - Then and only then are we ready to go and spread God’s word

• An unrivaled love for God. “We must love Jesus more than any relationship” - Luke 14:26
• An unceasing death to self. “We must love Jesus more than ourselves” - Luke 14:27
• An unqualified giving up of everything. “We must love Jesus more than anything” - Luke 14:33

• More than membership in a crowd of followers.
• More than curiosity about Jesus.
• More than being willing to listen to Christ’s words.
• More than being convinced of Christ divinity.
• Being committed to Christ so that He is Lord of your life.

There is no point to a spiritual retreat if it does not affect our lives back home

We need to be consistly in awe,reverence, honor, and worship on a high level
We can not live on mountaintops

How do we grow in fearing God?
If you are a believer, God has already inplanted at least a spark in your heart

Jeremiah 32:38-41

• He will give us a sigleness of heart and action - so we will always fear him
• He will never stop doing good to us and he will inspire us to fear him

We need to fan it into flames - 2 Timoty 1:6

The Holy Spirit helps -  it is our responsiblity to grow

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

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

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

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

• 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

1. Why was Martha distracted?
2. How was she feeling?
3. What are some things you have let distract you this week?
4. Are you more like Martha or Mary?
5. What did Mary choose?
6. How was it better?

1. What does it mean to be "choked"?
2. What is the result?
3. What are the worries/money and business concerns/pleasures that are keeping you from growing more?

1. Why do we need to stay alert and ready for Jesus?
2. How does Jesus feel when we get distracted from our purpose and start doing other things?

1. Why do some people scoff (mock) at the promise of Christ's return?
2. What will the "day of the Lord" be like?
3. Are you living as though Jesus could come back TODAY?

1. Will there be any "second chance" for those who are not ready to meet the Lord?
2. Why will this day be like "a thief in the night"?
3. What does it mean to be alert and self-controlled?

1. How does Paul feel about facing the Lord on judgement day?
2. Why is living for Jesus like fighting the good fight, finishing the race and keeping the faith?
3. What kind of effort does it take to be this way to the end?

Summary

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

Observations

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

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

Personal Application

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

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

Bible Study Disciplines

Mark up your Bible in to different themes:

Example subjects:

• Blue = God's qualities
• Yellow = Love
• Green = Sin and righteousness
• Pink = prayer and faith
• Purple = Joy
• Orange = evangelism and discipling
• Megenta = the spiritual world

Might circle references to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit

Read the whole Bible every year

Foucused study on indivdual books and passages are good but it also important to have the broad picture of God's revelation ingrained in our hearts

Read the Bible everyday

Jesus lived on every word that came from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4
The law required the kings of Israel to recopy and read out loud all the days of their lives - Deuteronomy 17:18-20
Bereans examined the scriptures every day - Acts 17:10-12

Memorize key verses

Memorizing scripture helps us to talk to God using quoted scripture (God's language) and keeps us pursuing righteousness
I have hideen tyour word in my heart so I might not sin against you - Psalms 119:11
Proverbs 22 advises to have the Proverbs ready on our lips

Our relationship with our father is very telling as to why we are and who we are.

“What does my dad really think about me?” Lots of fathers don’t realize their vital role.

Many issues come from fathers having lost their sense of purpose.

Society is guiding boys to remain boys as long as possible— extending childhood into their thirties—while forcing girls to become women long before they are ready.

Millions of young men are staying single. They want the privileges and rewards of manhood but only the responsibilities and moral requirements of boys.

God has a special place in His heart for two specific groups of people: fatherless children and widows.
 
have in common? The most important man in the leadership role of their lives is gone.

Dad have good intention but there many things working against them:

• Divorce - best thing for kids is to see their parents humble themselves, repent of their selfishness, forgive one another, and recommit to their marriage
• Work - Before the industrial revolution, fathers primarily worked at home. When dad finally did get home, he was too tired to engage, and his family got the leftovers. Men need to set boundaries and learn to say “no,” his work priorities will constantly pull him away.
• Entertainment - the television becomes their influence instead which is a terrible father.
• Anti-father bias in media - dads on TV today are incompetent and constantly outwitted by their wives and disrespectful kids.
• The church - many church programs separate families to the point that kids never see their fathers

Devil will never stop attacking what God prioritizes.

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.

A man of responsibility is also a man who can live independantly
“A man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife” - Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5

We are not be alone in life, and though we need one another in the body of Christ,
A grown man should not need his parents or others taking care of him.
He should be a fountain, not a drain.

if she is constantly nagging you, then you should learn to outpace her concerns.

“I’ve already taken care of that” should be often flowing from your lips.

We should be more like a thermostat, affecting circumstances, rather than like a thermometer.

Having no accountability always leads to irresponsibility

One day we will stand before God one day and be held accountable for how we lived

Our actions not only have immediate consequences but eternal ones as well:

• We will all stand before the judgment seat of God - Romans 14:10
• He will “judge men’s secrets” - Romans 2:16
• He will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness, disclosing the motives of our hearts - 1 Corinthians 4:5
• He will judging the words of our mouths - Matthew 12:36
• He will testthe deeds we have done - Romans 2:5-8

This is wired into our consciences and confirmed throughout His Word

Everything in a man’s thinking changes when he realizes that he is only one heartbeat from standing before the Lord

Do you know for certain where you will spend eternity after you die?
Most men don’t understand what God requires for someone to be ready
We must take full responsibility for ourselves, our wives, and our children

Preparing for that day is why we should become accountable to one another

Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man - Ecclesiastes 12:13–14

Accountability dynamically helps make us into men - humble, wise, responsible, faithful men.

 Luke 1:13 - Your prayer has been heard

A priest’s intercession for the nation undoubtedly included a petition for the Messiah, Israel’s promised Deliverer and King.

The Creator and Sustainer of the universe was ready to answer a prayer that had been prayed for hundreds of years, but He purposely chose a man who could pray an old prayer with a fresh heart.

The prayer at that exact moment may not have been for a son.
Perhaps he remembered Abraham and Sarah, and he knew God could do the impossible.

Zechariah could not possibly have known was how intimately connected would be his corporate prayer for the Messiah and his personal prayer for a son.

Not becoming hopeless over a repetitious request can be terribly challenging.
God does not have some limited supply of power, requiring that we carefully select a few choice things to pray about.
God was simply waiting for the perfect time.

We need to continue to walk faithfully with God even though you are disappointed.
Recognizing all the other works God is doing in your life will prevent discouragement

Zechariah waited a long time for God’s answer, but when it came, it exceeded everything the priest could have thought or asked.

Can you even imagine being told in advance of your child’s conception that he or she would bring joy and delight to you and be great in the sight of the Lord?
We breathe a huge sigh of relief over a sonogram showing all the right appendages. What we’d give for a few guarantees about their character!

Summary

Rebebekah went back with Eliezer and she married Isaac.

Observations

Genesis 24:49 - Tell me yes or no, then I know what to do next
After sharing his faith in verses 34 to 48 about how God blessed his faithfulness, Abramham's servers did not want to waste any time - he wanted a straight answer on which direction they would choose. Sometimes it is difficult to get a straight answer but he did not want them to waiver in this very important decision. Sometimes we guard our hearts to share because we do not want to sound "too religous" but Eliezer just shared his heart and was not concerned about their opinons.

Genesis 24:50 - The Lord has obviously brought you here, there is nothing we can say
There is no reason to fight the Lord. When they saw what had happen before them, they were conveicted that the Lord was speaking to them that day. Eliezer was full of faith and excitement for what the Lord had done and he could not help but to share it with them that day.

Application

The God should be obvious in our lives. Do people see God in us and if so is it obvious or is there doubt in their mind? In order for me to reach out to others, my life needs to show Jesus. When I speak and invite others to church/Bible study does it come as a surpise or an invitation or extention of what I am already doing?

Prayer

Pray to be real with people and to share my faith without reservation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am no better than my ancestors who have already died - 1 Kings 19:4

At times, God takes us to a emotional mountaintip and then drops us into a darker time in the valley

Elijah had just successfully

1. Confronted Baal
2. Ended the long drought in Israel

Just days after, Jezebel vowed to kill him for killing the prophets of Baal

Elijah could have stayed and trusted God to protect him but instead headed to the woods and poured out his heart to God

He had gone from the mountaintop of faith to the valley of depression

Elijah confessed the he had enough and wanted to die but God wanted to talk it though

God will give you just what you need to continue your life of faith

The Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time - Acts 16:6

It very important to know where God wants you to go, how to get there, and what to do once you have arrived

Bible does not say why God didn't want Paul and Silas in Asia at that time or how the Holy Spirit prevented them

The Holy Spirit faithfully guided Paul and Silas and the rest of those he had called to preach

The key is to be in tune with him by faithfully follwoing the guidance he has already made clear to you

When you follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, you can know without a doubt that you are right where he wants you

I will give the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me - Judges 11:30

As it would happen, the first to leave his house was Jephthah's daugther

The Bible contains hundreds of God's conditional promises of blessings

Jephthah's vow went terribiy wrong when he tried to set his own conidtions for blessing rather than appoarching God in faith

Have you felt that you needed to offer God something to receive his promised blessing?

You can't buy what God already wants to give you.

Beginning with this same scriptiure, Philip told him  the good news about Jesus

Be Prepared and the Boy Scout motto and is good advice when you meet someone who wants to know what your life of faith is all about

Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch and he had some very direct questions concerning the writtings of Isaiah

Philip was ready with the answers

The man from Ethiopia, like many in our world today, want answers reguarding God and his own destiny

If someone asks about your Christian hop, always be ready to explain it - 1 Peter 3:15

Are you prepared?

Jesus sat wearily beside the well; soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water - John 4:6-7

Jesus understood the importance of making the best use of every opportunity to preach and teach his message

He was ready for the opportunity to share his message with the people of Samaria via the woman he jusr meet

Jesus' words made a lasting impression on the woman, her neighbors - John 4:39

They were stunned that she meet the Messiah

Life will present you with opportunities to serve God through serving others

Soldiers forced a passerby name Simon to carry Jesus' cross - Mark 15:21

It is important to be ready when God send you an interruption for the good of another person

Jesus was exhausted:

• Had a sleepless night
• Morning of brutal treatment
• Sank under the weight of hsi cross

Simon was a jewish pilgrim from north African city of Cyrene (now Libya)

Hundreds of thousands traveled to Jerusalem annually to honor God in the Passover celebration

The Roman centurion didn't have time to wait for Jesus to gather his strength

Simon carried a part of Jesus' burden that morning that not even his disciples were around to caryy

Are you ready and willing  to bear the burden God asks you to carry?

Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him - Acts 23:17

Bible counsels us to alert and ready to move when God gives us a message of blessing, teching, or warning

Paul's nephew saved his life because he remained alert and ready to act on what he knew

Paul was chosen to speak his message of salvation to "the Gentiles and to kings" - Acts 9:!5

As Paul waited in jail for his opportunity to speak to Caesar, his nephew alerted him and his guards of a plot against his life

When you remain alert and step out in faith at the opportune time, the Lord can use you to alter the course of history

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bring out your son . He must die... - Judges 6:30

The Old Testament hero Gideon had the courage needed to champion his principles and God's name

This was true even when risking his skin

Tearing down the alter of Baal was no small offense to those in Gideon's home town

When he did they were ready to inact revenge in the name of their god

Joash kept the mob from killing Gideon

Gideon looked beyond the surface of things and saw accommodating Baal amounted to treason against God

I will not let you go unless you bless me - Genesis 32:26

When did you last wrestle with God?

For most men, the idea of wrestling with God seems a little out there

God could have ended the struggle with a single word

He dislocated Jacob's hip with a single touch

God allowed the wrestling match to go on for one reason: He wanted something from Jacob and for Jacob

When you wrestle with God over the important issues of your life, he has you right where he wants you

Wrestling is when you are most ready to receive a blessing

Are you willing to struggle persistently for answers and blessing from God?

They are honest and trustworthy men - 2 Kings 22:7

The unnamed men who supervised the restoration of the Temple were so honest that Josiah ordered the high priest to stop keeping accounts of the money they spent to repair God's holy Temple

Josiah wrote what amounted to a blank check to get the work done

Why? Because they had already proved themselves faithful

How do you conduct yourself when no one is watching?

When you demonstrate integrity in everything you say and do, you earn the trust of those in authority over you

Then he went with Elijah as his assistant - 1 Kings 19:21

Elisha couldn't help becoming a prophet of the Lord

Elijah approached him and silently threw his cloak over his shoulder, Elisha knew what he meant

The Holy Spirit had touched his heart and he felt ready to leave everything to follow Elijah

First let me go and kiss my father and mother goodbye - 1 Kings 1:19

Elisha had no choice in the matter, for it was God who had called him to leave everything and follow hi,

When the Holy Spirit is allowed to have free reign in your life, you can do nothing but say yes when God calls you to serve Him

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

The Lord opened the young man's eyes - 2 Kings 6:17

The king of Syria had sent his army to the city of Dothan and surrounded it at night

Elisha's servant saw the enemy's chariots, horses, and soliders had surrounded them

Naturally, this fearful young man ran directly to his master who was a man of faith

Elisha knew that prayer was just what was needed - the servant eyes were then opened

Elisha already understood the situation he faced was just a chance for God to demonstrate his glorious power

Come and stay with us... I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels - Genesis 24:31

Hospitality is a lifestyle that God commands his people to adopt

When God's people are in need, be ready to help them - Romans 12:13

Laban, brother-in-law of Isaac, understood the blessing of practicing hositality because he had recieved it himself

Eliezer traveled to find a wife for Abraham's son, Issac, Laban welcomed him into his home and card for his camels

Being hospitable to Abraham's servant held a blessing - Rebekah, Laban's sister, would become Isaac's wife and would be in the lineage of Jesus Christ

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

I am ready to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus - Acts 21:13

Proper motivation goes a long way to determine whether or not your life will become everything God wants it to be

Paul changed the world for Jesus despite enduring incredible suffering and persecution:

• Beaten
• Imprisioned
• Falsely accused
• Executed

What would motivate a man to go trhough what Paul endured?

• Paul served out of his love for Christ - willing to go to jail and die for the sake of Jesus
• Pauls served out of his love for people - Paul's life was a fountain that overflowed of love for other believers - 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Paul did and said everyhing out of a spirit of love

What is your motivation?

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?