Quiet Times Search

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?

• Should we expect a man so deep in repentance to spend a better part of the morning grieving for his transgressions?
• Scrooge facing in the right direction, forward

• German word for “the big picture”, seeing something differently even though all it parts remain the same
• Like repentance – don’t repent of a list of sins, we repent of the whole rather than the parts
• Tends to happen all at once, not in a series of small steps

• The great love for surveys and polls
• We can not repent if we do not know that we have drifted – It takes a prophet of God
• See how different the prophets in your life live.

• Metanoia happens internally, fruit happens externally
• Sometimes we say, “You need to repent” – which may have meant “get it together” (a heart bypass)
• Becomes “need to” instead of “want to”
• It is easier to disciple the behavior than it is to address the mind and heart
• Consider things above – instead of considering behavior, consider the kingdom of God
• Metanoia is no technique; it’s an inside-out transformation

1. How have you broken your covenant with God?
2. Are scriptures sufficient for your repentance?
3. Do you agree with the author’s assertions that repentance isn’t something we do in order to return to God, it is our return to Him? Why or Why not?
4. How does fear play a positive role in our repentance?
5. Do your standards for morality reflect a biblical standard or simply a modern one?
6. Why do prophets go after the leaders of a society?
7. How does metanoia differ from the fruit of metanoia? How does this distinction help you repent?

• Matrix – do you know what this is, Neo?
• Feeling we have all had – there is something wrong with the world
• Blue Pill – You wake up and you believe what you wan to the believe (Jewish leaders chose this one)
• Red Pill – you are only offered truth
• Without repentance, we will remain blinded
  • How could a kingdom transcend geographic boundaries?
  • How could a kingdom be within us?
  • What sort of kingdom has no capital, no government, no army, and no temple?
• Longed for a tangible kingdom rather than a spiritual kingdom

• Many Christians the kingdom of God as something the future holds
• Some wish to avoid the kingdom commitment here on earth
• Kingdom expect allegiance ahead of all others
• Any real government expects this type of loyalty

• King exerted seasonal influence
• Three levels of subjects:
  • Disciples – treated him a Lord
  • Christians – little bit naughty, gave mainly to friends and family, on rear occasions to the poor
  • Unbelievers – little bit naughty, did not believe, not Hitler or other really bad people
• Most indirectly believe in this theory of the world
• If I abandon this paradigm, I would have to admit I am wrong.

• Love is the only way to win the free response of men
• Work of the Holy Spirit
  • Must be born again
  • Christ began His ministry by being baptized - John 3:3-9
  • Made clean through the Word and set apart to God for Holy Service - John 15:3
  • Only the Spirit can carry on the redemptive mission of evangelism
  • Jesus was God in revelation but the Spirit was God in operation
  • Evangelism was not a human undertaking but a divine project.
• With Him they felt that everything was possible
• The superhuman work to which they were called demanded superhuman help.
• Through confession of their deep-seated pride and enmity in utterly surrender of themselves to Christ
• It is not who we are but Who He us that makes the difference
• Only those who followed Jesus all the way came to know the glory of this experience
• Jesus was deliberately investing all He had in these few men so that they could be properly prepared to do His work.
• We cannot give something away which we do not possess ourselves.
• The very ability to give to give away our life in Christ is proof of its possession.

• Are those who have followed us to Christ now leading others to Him?
• Not enough to rescue the perishing but to build them in the faith of Christ.
• Converts go out and make leaders out of the converts not just simply more followers.
• Church should be measured on how many Christians are actively winning souls.
• Lord added to the Church, those who were being saved
• Within a few centuries, the world would have known the hand of the Master
• Shortcuts have failed
  • Adaptations of the principle are always necessary in the light of changing circumstances.
  • Costly principles of leadership development can not undercut
  • We try ceremonies, programs, organizations, and crusades of human ingenuity.
  • We must understand that evangelism is not done by something but by someone
  • God's nature is to get personal. Men reaching other men for Christ.
• Need men who:
  • See His vision
  • Feel His passion
  • Willing to be nothing so that He may be everything

A successful life is not life from difficulty, trial, or tragedy - Philippians 1:12-14
While Paul was imprisoned, he learned how to live

He saw God the same - no matter what happened in his life

In an earlier letter he saw illness as an opportunity bring the gospel to the them - Galatians 4:13

He saw imprisonment for a chance to convert Romans
There became disciples is Caesar's household - Philippians 4:22
Something "not good" can be turned into the complete opposite when in God's larger pattern

Paul not giving up deepen their convictions - he emboldened them to share the message

Whatever happens in life can serve to advance the gospel when we are living by faith

Paul wanted to remind the Philippians of the blessings of their relationship with Jesus - Philippians 2:1-4
He called them to "be like-minded, having the same love" for each other

By this all men will know we are Jesus' disciple by our love - John 13:35

"Sharing in the common life" ws his heartfelt vision for them

He applealed to them to be one to initiate this kind of love
To love like Jesus is to love first
We love because he first loved us - 1 John 4:19
God did not wait for us to initiate and get an attitude because we didn't

It is not natural to love this way
Jesus does not ask of us something he did not do or something we cannot do

Will we trust the message he lived and taught?
Will we be the kind of friend to others that he has been to us?

It would be one thing to hear "rejoice always" from someone living with plenty but quite another from someone in a challenging situation - Philippians 4:4-5

There is something about being "in the Lord"
If someone is "in the Lord", there is always something bigger than our trials

Paul also had a deep conviction that whatever is one: The Lord Is Near
This is how men and women of God can be joyful and gentle in the most stressful times

God is monitoring their pain not allow more than we can bear and giving his strength
The Lord is near to all who call on him - Psalms 145:18
He is near in every situation we encounter

He is calling on them and us to rejoice always and to have a great attitude

Paul urges them to be anxious and worried about nothing and to pray about everything because God is in control - Philippians 4:6-7

Peace never comes without surrender
Surrender never comes without a decision to trust

Something instead of dealing with our emotions, we try an avoidance pattern
Adam and Eve hid from God and themselves

We must be in touch with happens to others and ourselves
It is why we must consistently and unashamedly pray about all aspects of our lives
It is not just for some - it is normal experience - just people deciding to trust God in every situation

Guard (a garrison of angel are available to help) our hearts - Satan wants us to trust ourselves and to doubt our God
Our own thoughts are not always the truth

How challenging to turn everything over to God. Yet, how foolish not to!

Preached by John Lusk (2005-01-30)

How passionate are you about maturing?

• Being a new Christian, it was easiler because everything was new. Now what?
• We must have the correct motivation if we are to continue maturing in the long run.

Motivation of Maturing

1. To regain your identify

Genesis 1:26-27

• We need to realize who we are suppose to be
• Duck example
  • First thing it sees when it is born it assumes is its mother and will follow it around
  • If the baby duck follows something other than another duck, it will get frustrated because it can only do what duck do
• Human example
  • We were made to be like God
  • We see other things and try to follow the world
  • We also get frustrated because worldly persuits are not what were designed for

2. To remian in Jesus

1 John 2:3-4 - This is a expectation from God

3. To be effective and productive

2 Peter 1:4-8

• Must make every effort
• It would be sad to find out in the end we were ineffective and unproductive
• Others need you to grow!
• Your growth rate will determine how much you are effective, not where you are right now

4. Secure salvation

2 Peter 1:8-11 - We have been given a new start

Wrong motivation - Pleasing people, selfish ambition

• Been there, done that
• Life sucks, then you die
• How is it going? "Same old thing"

• Friendship
• Marriage
• Children
• Holidays

Does Christianity condemn desire? Like the Puritans

It is not a matter of desire is good or not - it is what we do with it
Christianity recognizes that desire has gone mad within us but not seeking to fix the problem by killing our desire

Something has gone wrong
God gives us commands for our own good
The point is not the law but joy

Faith on its way to maturity moves from duty to delight
If the goal is to move from delight to duty, we are going backwards and regressing

Prodigal son
Younger son desire get him into trouble
Father's desire for the lost boy is deep
He is grateful just to have his son home again
Older brother lived his entire life under duty and obligation - dealt with his sinful nature by killing desire
THose who kill desire are not the ones who experience God's embrace

A faithful church attender, never missing a Sunday, serving on a committee and offered help to those in need - but why is there something missing?

Why are we a Christian? What is that we want?
You can not help someone who does not want anything
Geldings are nicer and much more well behaved than stallion but they do not bring live (sterile)

To abandon desire is to say, "I don't really need you or want you. I will live with you because I am suppose to"

Your heart desires, duty reduces the dance to a drill
God wants to be desired

The real dilemma of desire is that it humbles us
It takes us wat beyond our own resources where we need to ask for help

Battle of desire is not something that just takes place with us or even between us - but against us

Advirtisers play on our desire of creating an image that everyone who is anyone has the object for sale

The evil one has two ploys:

• Kill our hearts and bury our desires
• Seduce our desire into a trap

Our addictions are our own worst enemies

Like the rich, young ruler - we find we can not give up our treasures even though God has something much better

Cause with fighting for

John 18:36

• Who have you been fighting?
  • The battle isn't the person in front of you
• If we are not fighting for our faith then something is wrong.

2 Timothy 4:7

• Fight for your faith:
  • Fight for Quiet Times
  • Fight for Reaching Out
  • Fight for Purity
  • Fight for Self Discipline

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

• Not with machine guns or cannons
• Fighting through prayer and studying the Word
  • Destroys arguments

To overthrow Satan in your life...You must first be a Zealot of God.

Most of us have lost something:
• Losing wallet - not a good thing
  • Feels good to find it.
God's desire is to "find" what is lost - YOU!
 
• Problem: We are separated from God by sin

Jesus came to...

Save the lost

Luke 19:10

• Uses people to save others
• Many people to save some:
  • Do not know they are lost
  • Are confused
  • Misguided
  • Are not interested
  • Are looking
• Despite the what phase we are in we are still lost.
• No excuses 
  • Those who have issues are not really searching
    • "What about those hypocrites?"
    • "I am too busy"
    • "I will but...."

Acknowledge the Father

 John 14:9

• To relate
• Some think God doesn't care
  • How can God allow all these shootings?
    • Isrealites were saying the same thing in the dessert
• Jesus = God with us
• If Jesus was standing next to you how would you act differently?

• Landlord
• Boss at work
• Teacher

Matthew 9:27-34

• When ever you do something right
  • Some is telling you you are doing it wrong
  • You need to feel good about what you are doing
    • The religous did the taring down
    • They were afraid of losing their members

Do you believe that you will receive everything that you ask for in prayer?
Do you doubt more than you believe?

5 Faith Killers:

1. Hesitation - when accidents happen
2. Doubting syndrome - not expecting anything to happen
3. Pessimistic attitude - everything will go bad (from childhood)
4. Ingraditude - not being grateful
5. Fear - can be overcome by love

Sexual intimacy is the closest parallel we have to real worship

The best impostors succeed because they are nearly indistinguishable from what they are trying to imitate
We worship sex and other things because we don't know how to worship God

Our hearts live for "an experience of worship that fills our being with a joy that is so deeply in awe that we are barely aware of ourselves
Our worship services don't get anywhere near something like our wedding night

Men have a hard time relating to the bridal imagery used in Scripture

The fear of being bored is an unspoken fear of many about the life coming

Parable of the talents, what do the faithful get when they are rewarded?

More work!
You have faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things - Luke 19

Wouldn't a vacation be better?
Jesus believes he is sharing something delightful with us
Come and share your master's happiness - Matthew 25:23

• Hopeless life of futility
• Anonymity in the bowels of a large corporation
• We don't even know what he really does

• Fill up on snack on Thanksgiving
• Buy gifts for one's self for Christmas
• Look for a date at his own wedding rehearsal

1. We must have life
2. We cannot arrange for it
3. It is coming

• We can see the humanity of Jesus
• Because his hunger was real, we can learn something about ours
• Hunger is normal, except it
• Don't be embarrassed by it, don't try to hide it
• We end up repenting of the wrong thing

With beauty, we need not fear indulging here
There is not a possessive quality to it
You can love the landscape without acquiring the real estate

Beauty is the closest thing we have to fullness without possessing on this side of eternity

Two kinds of losses in life:

1. Shared by all mankind - accidents,  fate, acts of God
2. Only know by the pilgrim - losses that we choose. We give up something that wasn't ours to begin with

Spiritual surrender is not resignation
Not choosing to care longer
Not an attempt to get beyond the suffering

It is surrender with desire

Myth - sometimes thought of as not factual true
But a myth is a story which confront us with something transcendent and eternal; a way of seeing and knowing
A kind of story that wakes you up and you suddenly say - this is what my life is really about

Myth tell us three truths, this first one is:

1. Things are not what they seem

Examples of movies that show us this include: Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, the Matrix

Jacob saw earth in a whole new way in his dream - Genesis 28:12
He awakes more awake then ever, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it" - Genesis 28:16

Two followers of Christ did not even recongized Jesus as he talked with him after his resurrection - Luke 24:17-21
They were slow in heart to believe

• Jews try to keep the Law
• Buddhist follow the Eightfold Path
• Muslims live by the Five Pillars
• Many Christians attend church and live morally

• leb = heart
• shabar = broken

• Describes a bush whose twigs are broken off - Isaiah 27:11
• Describes idols of Babylon shattered on the ground - Isaiah 21:9
• Describing a broken bone - Isaiah 38:13

• "Don't ever trust anyone"
• "Your heart is bad, never show it to anyone"
• "You are dirty and will never get free"

• Body - Romans 12:1
• Soul - Luke 10:27
• Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:17

• Pride - independence from God
• Idolatry - Giving our devotion, fear, or any part of our heart to something other than God

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retrievals results in rejoicing

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

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

• Tienanmen square
• East Germans slamming their picks axes into the Berlin Wall

• Continued to claim to be God's Son
• Take care of his mother's needs
• Extend grace to the repentant thief

The soldier's heart was eventually moved and said - "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Nothing short of Jesus' laying down his life would have brought this cynical soldier to his knees

1. The Obstacle of Worry - Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:4-9
   1. As disciples, we sin when we worry about finances.
   2. Worry is a result of a lack of faith.
   3. Ways to overcome worry:
      1. Prayer
      2. Rejoice always
      3. Be thankful in all situations
2. The Obstacle of Laziness - Signs of Laziness According to Solomon
   1. The Sluggard
      1. Proverbs 6:9-11, 19:15, 20:13, 26:14
         Oversleeping and eating too much
      2. Proverbs 13:4, 15:19
         Not accomplishing goals, something always getting in the way
      3. Proverbs 19:24, 26:13
         Making excuses
      4. Proverbs 20:4
         Unwilling to work hard
   2. Results of Laziness: Poverty - Proverbs 10:4, 12:24
   3. Overcome laziness by hard work - Proverbs 14:23

1. What do I worry about? How will I overcome it?
2. How does worry affect my relationship with God?
3. What signs of laziness do I need to overcome? Be Specific.

1. The Old Testament Precedent - Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 1:13-14
   1. The Israelites were commanded to give a tenth (tithe) of all their income to the Lord
   2. The Israelites had many other kinds of sacrifices (e.g. burnt, sin, grain, fellowship offerings) in addition to the tithe. The Israelites actually gave up to 33% of their income to God.
   3. The sacrifices were to be the best available. God will not accept a second rate sacrifice.
2. New Testament Examples
   1. The Widow - Mark 12:41-44
      She was commended not for what she gave, but her giving heart. She was totally dependent on God.
   2. Barnabas - Acts 4:36-37
      He sold his property and gave all the proceeds from the sale to meet the needs of the church.
   3. The Macedonians - 2 Corinthians 8:1-3
      They gave beyond their ability even though they were extremely poor
3. True Sacrifice Costs Something - 2 Samuel 24:21-25
   1. David refused to sacrifice to God something that cost him nothing.

1. Am I giving my best to God in my weekly giving? Do I give to God first out of my pay or out of what is left over?
2. What percentage of my income am I giving in my weekly contribution?
3. What am I willing to sell or sacrifice for the special contribution?

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

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

1. God's Plan for Your Life - Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:13, 22; 2 Thessalonians 3:10
   1. It is God's will for us to work hard in order to earn the bread we eat.
   2. God wants us to find satisfaction in our work.
   3. If a person will not work, he cannot eat.
2. Responsibility of the Employee - Colossians 3:22-25; Ephesians 4:28; Acts 5:29
   1. Obedience: We are to be a disciple to our boss on the job. God expects us to obey our boss not just to win his favor, but out of reverence for Christ.
   2. Wholeheartedness: God expects us to put our whole heart into our work. As Christians, we should be the most sincere and hard-working employees on the job.
   3. Do not steal from your employer (e.g. receiving pay for work you did not do, taking supplies, submitting false or exaggerated expense reports).
   4. Obey God first. If asked to do something that is illegal, unethical, or sinful - obey God over men.

1. What do I need to repent of in relation to my job? Be specific.
2. Am I doing anything as a part of my job that is sinful or goes against my conscience?

• Must play error free ball
• Pitchers must strikeout everyone in a no-hitter every time
• Must have 1.000 batting average
• Each hit must be a home run

• Intense temptation by Satan - vs1-3
• First sermon
• First personal challenge with the faithless
• First attempt on his life
• First spiritual and physical healing of the wounded

• to be created
• to be born or produced
• to come into existence

• Must be committed to obeying all his words - John 8:31
• Must have his heart - Galatians 2:20
• We love that he loves
  • God - Matthew 22:37
  • Our brothers - John 13:34-35
  • The lost - Matthew 9:13
  • The kingdom - Matthew 6:33

1. In all places, the harvest is plentiful
2. In all places, God hears and answers us

What are you looking for in life?

Acts 17:16-28

• Ever ask yourself: “What on earth am I here for?” You aren’t alone!
• Why did God create you and bring you to this very point and time in your life? So that you would seek him and
  find him in order to have a personal relationship with him.
• Who takes the initiative in seeking this relationship? Because God loves us and desires a relationship with us, he has been actively determining times and places long before we ever thought about seeking him (Psalms 14:2-3).
• Why do so few seem to be seeking today?
  • God is unknown and the image many have of him is distorted v23
  • We have created our own god. We all worship something.
  • To seek God, we must be willing to change our ideas about who God is to match what has been revealed to us in the Bible
• There is nothing more important or exciting in life than to seek and to find our Creator God.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

• We will find God if we seek Him with all our heart.
  
• Have you ever done something with all your heart? What is it?
  
• What will it mean for you to seek God with all your heart?

• Everyone wants to know “How can I really live?”
  
• This passage spells out two fundamental ways to answer this question. The world’s wisdom or God’s wisdom.
  
• How does man in his wisdom view God’s wisdom (the cross)?
  
• How does God view man’s wisdom? Can we have it both ways?
• If you think I am a fool and I think you are a fool, what will our relationship be like?
  
• Establish the wide gulf in the two ways of viewing and living life.
  

• Why does Paul say “Do not deceive yourselves?”
  
• There is something about the world’s wisdom that is deceiving.
  
• It is easy to convince ourselves that what we want to believe, what is comfortable, what is familiar, is right.
  

• What kind of man was Peter? Was he religious?
  
• He certainly gets a right answer here.
• According to Jesus, where does this answer come from?
  

• What does “Peter rebuked him” mean?
  
• Peter thought he was seeing things God’s way, but in reality he was still on the side of the world’s wisdom.
  
• We can know the right answers and still be living according to the wisdom of the world. What was Jesus’ response?
  
• Where does the world’s wisdom really come from? From Satan. No wonder it is the opposite of God’s wisdom.

• The Apostle Paul tell Timothy that godliness through spiritual training by holding to his teachings has great value for this life and the next
• v10 - We must put our hope in God not self
  
• Question: What does the Bible say that we should set an example in? What area do you need to change the most?
• v16 - Your life and Bible must be equal (doctrine = beliefs)
• Not just know the Bible but live it out
• Do you have any questions so far? Do you understand so far?
• Question: Is this something you want to really go after every day?
• Briefly share about when you first started studying to be a disciple - the challenge, hope and desire

• Question: How do you think the Word is living and active today?
• The Bible judges the everything:
  • thoughts
  • attitudes
  • insecurities
  • criticalness
  • impurities
• Nothing is hidden from God sight. Do you realize that?

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

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

• Question: What is Jesus saying to you in v26? What relationship would be the most challenging? Why?
• Question: In v28-30, if you start to follow Jesus then stop how will that effect the people that have seen you start?
• Question: In v31-33, which king will win? Will the losing king still be a king? No, stop fighting God and serve him
• Question: What do you see as something that will be a cost for you in following Jesus?

• Question: How much authority does Jesus have? What does His authority exclude? Nothing!
• Question: What does Jesus commission us to do? Who should you start with in fulling this commission from Jesus? Yourself

1. Get to know someone = read the Bible and pray daily (Word Study)
   
2. Dating stage = commit to coming to church, Bible discussion group, and studying the Bible (Discipleship study)
   
3. Engagement = making a decision to commit your life to God (Sin and Repentance study)
   
4. Wedding ceremony = baptism

Luke 7:36-50

A. Simon the Pharisee

• Knew about Jesus but did not KNOW Jesus
• Not a disciple (didn't even welcome Jesus into his house)
• Not broken over his sin (felt bad but not convicted enough to change his life)

B. Sinful Woman

• Only concerned with her relationship with Jesus (not a people pleaser)
• Convicted about her sin the closer she got to Jesus (didn't pull away after seeing her sin)
• She was broken over her sin (wanted to change and did something about it)

Question: Which type of heart would YOU SAY youv'e had toward YOUR SIN until we started studying the Bible?
If Sinful Woman - then this study will help to expose the heart in many ways

Isaiah 59:1-3

• Question: According to the Bible, what has separated man from God? God | SIN | You
• How are our sins forgiven?
  • God must forgive
  • Man must repent
• Both must occur in order for your sin NOT to keep you separated from God
• Question: How do you define sin and repentance? Let how the Bible does.

• Jesus suffered for you and me because he loves us that much (willing to take our pain)
• Not only did Jesus bear the physical pain but the emotional and spiritual pain as well.
• This pain and separation from God was more than he could take (lead to his overwhelming death)
• Question: How do you feel about the fact that Jesus went through all this for you? How does it make you feel toward Jesus?
• Question: Did you know that Jesus loved you this much? How does it make you feel toward Jesus?
• Question: How do you feel about your sin now that you know what Jesus went through?

• Worldly Sorrow = feel bad because you did wrong and/or got caught doing something
• Godly Sorrow = repentance, earnestness, eagerness to clear yourself, longing, concern, indignation, alarm, ready to see justice done
• Share: God wants you to respond by repenting of your sin and showing love to him because he loved you first - 1 John 4:19

• Think about things you worry about.
• What do you worry about?
• How much do you think about?
• How can worrying about those things make it difficult to be righteous?
• Do seek righteousness first or something else first?

• Are you living more righteously than the Pharisees?
• They obeyed the law but what were they missing?
• Where is your righteous coming from? Jesus? Self? Something else?

1. Not trusting God will take care of us - vs. 3
2. Too prideful and feel nothing can hurt us - vs. 6
3. Idolizing something above God in our lives - vs. 9

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

• Being macho, to prove we are unfailingly strong
  • They think strong is the opposite of gentleness and kindness instead of being the opposite of weak
  • Daughters needs to see your strength and kindness
• The belief that men/boys needs are the same as woman/girls needs
  • Both need gentleness but woman generally place a higher priority on it
  • If you gentle to your wife and you would want someone to be gentle toward you, it is too little
  • Your daughter is a woman in the making - he needs are going to much closer to your wife than your own

• 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

A. What does it mean to “flee” from something?
     To desperately run away from something dangerous (a murderer, predator, etc…)
B. What does it mean to “pursue” something?
     To move toward something with all your strength

• How much is a hint? Are there any hints in your life?
•  What does God call us to replace impurity with?

* We overcome sin by meditating on God’s precepts (word) and following his statues.

* God wants you to be pure and holy, he’s given you his word and spiritual brothers and sisters to help you on your spiritual journey.

1. Joseph - Genesis 39:8-10
   • Joseph did not give into the impure temptations that were put before him.
   • He honored God with his purity and he honored his master
2. Jesus - Matthew 26:57-60
   • They couldn’t find anything against Jesus (false witnesses came forward “people started lying” but they didn’t make sense either)
   • Mark 7:36-37 - Jesus did everything well (integrity)

• People lie to appear better than they are
  
• When we lie we feel clever and in control but one lie leads to other lies (then were like a dog chasing its tail)
• Many times people lie and may not ever be discovered but remember no one can fool God

• The more we lie the easier it becomes thus it eventually becomes our nature.
• You may escape the lie but you can not escape how it changes your character

• 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

• The challenge of life is not that we have too little time, but in how we are going to spend the time we do have.
• We need to make the most of every day (make a to do list to get yourself started)

• Anyone can have a job but do we do the little things that make us a great employee
• Anyone can have a child but do we do the things that make us a great parent

1. Punctuality
2. Paying bills on time
3. Sending birthday (Father’s Day, Mother’s Day cards)
4. Picking up after yourself
5. Keeping your room/car clean
6. Returning phone calls
7. Looking presentable

• Discipline is being able to decide what can be done and doing it the right way
• It’s better to do three (3) things well than ten (10) things half heartedly

• You don’t have to say “yes” to everyone and everything (our people pleasing nature will end up making us overwhelmed, stressed)
  

• Worry is an unproductive emotion (it won’t change anything)
• Worry is like a rocking chair (gives you something to do but gets you no where)

1. Buy things that are useful instead of buying for status
2. Do not buy anything that is producing an addiction in you
3. Develop a characteristic of giving things away
4. Develop a deeper appreciation for God’s creation
5. Stay away from things that take your focus off of God
6. If anything comes before you having QT’S in the morning then fast from that thing (activity) until you control it instead of it controlling you.

Summary

God 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

The flood abated. Noah sent out a raven and two doves. When the earth was dry God called them all out of the ark. Noah built an altar.

Observations

Genesis 8:1 - But God remembered Noah
God does not forget us. No matter how much He has going on, we are in the forefront of his mind. Noah may have been felt like he was all alone in an endless sea of water but this was not the case. We may also feel this way sometimes but God is always right there with us [Joshua 1:5].

Genesis 8:20 - Then Noah built an altar to the LORD
What is the first thing Noah does when Noah gets off an ark he has been on for about a year? Build an alter for the Lord. Would we do the same thing? DO we do the same thing. When we have face a prolonged trial and it finally ends, we go out and celebrate and forget the Lord? Or do take time to truly thank him for helping us through? Like God remembered Noah, Noah also remembered the Lord.

Genesis 8:21 - never again will I destroy all living creatures
God's promised that He will never destroy all living creatures again. Many worry about this through scientific studies or other ideas come up with ways the earth will be destroyed because of what man does. Whether that is true or not is not the point but we do know that God will not be the one doing it. When God promises something it happens.

Personal Application

I seem to forget the lessons of difficult times as soon as the pain has lifted. We go through tough times so our character can mature and grow but will I have to go through the same lessons again to learn the same lessons. I want to be grateful for God's discipline (does not come naturally) and change my character accordingly. God discipline the ones he loves, I need to remember why He is doing it [Hebrews 12:6].

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

God made a covenant with Abram and renamed him Abraham. He renamed Sarai Sarah and promised them a son. The men were circumcised.

Observations

Genesis 17:9 - As for you, you must keep my covenant
First, God came to Abram and Abram fell facedown. God told him what His part of the covenant - the promises that Abram would be a father of many nations. But there are two sides to covenant - we have commitment too. Sometimes we just love to look at God's promises but ignore our side of the covenant. God freely gives and will always out give us but we must do our part as well. What parts of our relationship with God are one sided?

Genesis 17:17 - Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?
Sometimes what He says to us are hard to believe or understand. But His ways are much higher than our ways [Isaiah 55:9]. Despite our understanding at the time, we need to trust what God says. What promises of promise of God are we not trusting? Why?

Personal Application

I know I can one-sided and stubborn in my thoughts and sometimes in my relationships. When I get my mind set to do something, that is the way it is. This can be a strength in some situations but a very big weakness if I am contrary to God's thinking. I need to be humble and allow God to change my thoughts and my ways.

• 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 - Crave the Bible; it will show you what you need in your walk with God
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - The Bible will equip you and give you all you need to grow (Psalms 119)

• Ephesians 4:11-16 - God has put them in your life to help you grow; church, midweek, etc
• Hebrews 13:7 - Watch you leaders and follow their example; ask lots of questions

• 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 - All of us lack something in our faith; get together and help each other
• Romans 15:14 - Other disciples may know the Bible better and can help you through your challenges

1. What does God promise to those who seek him with all their hearts?
2. Are you seeking him or something else?

1. What should make you content?
2. What will a desire for money and things do to your life?
3. How does someone "wander" from the faith?
4. What other desires could make us wander?

• What will you ask or imagine?
• What will you allow God to do in your life?
• What "impossibility" do you have in your life that you want to see God change?
• What person's life do you want to see changed?