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Searching for "three" in the Quiet Time Archive
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2011-08-21 - In Rememberence of Me
Jesus called the disciples to the Passover fest before would head to the cross to reflect and remember their time together

Luke 22:19-20 - Do this in remembrance of me

Why? because we forget both little things and big things

1. Disciples forgot while they were at the table -

v24 - Conversations they have had at the passover table:
  • Peter: Remember when walking on water
  • Thomas: But you doubted and fell into the water
  • Peter: Like you have any room to talk, doubting Thomas
  • James: Remember the transfiguration? Yeah, I was one of three disciples there. We saw Moses and Elijah.
  • Andrew: Yeah, you seem to miss the whole point when you fixated on getting them shelters
  • Matthew: We can take these guys anywhere
They had this lesson before (how many times?)
2. Peter forgot the very same day  the very same day and denied Jesus
v54 - He forgot that Jesus said and he had the power to raise the dead

I can relate:
  • Forgetting to the trash and why I was in the garage
  • Forgetting Juniper's shoes on the way to church
If  I can not remember the little things within the same few minutes, or hours - we need this time of communion
Our forgetfulness is not a reflection of its importance but a reflection our weakness in remembering

2011-08-28 - Fearing God - Awe and Gratitude
Awe and Gratitude are two expressions of the proper way of fearing God

With you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared - Psalms 130:4

Neither awe nor gratitude alone can represent adequately show the meaning of the fear of the Lord
At the same time:
  • Unapproachable light - 1 Timothy 1:17
  • Abba, father - Romans 8:15
Three most profound words in the Bible: God is love - 1 John 4:8
More than God is loving, he is love
This is love: He sent his Son as a atoning sacrifice - 1 John 4:9-10

God showed his love by sending His Son.

2011-09-29 - Proverbs on Laziness (part I)

Proverbs 18:9 - One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys

A three (3) toed sloth is one of the ugliest creatures in the world.

  • It spends most of its time hanging from a tree
  • It’s as slow as molasses in winter (ultimate example of laziness)

The sluggard is the spiritual three (3) toed sloth. The Bible has nothing good to say about the sloth.

Laziness comes in little spurts.

  • Little amounts of unproductiveness
  • Spurts of lost time adds up to a lot of lost time (time that can never be regained)

Proverbs 26:14 - As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed

A sluggard has a difficult time getting out of bed, and loves the snooze button. It caters (snooze button) to those that can’t begin the day on time.

Proverbs 26:15 - The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth

Here is another picturesque description of the sluggard. His is so lazy that he needs someone to spoon him his meal. This description should warn us of how disgusting laziness is to God.

Proverbs 26:16 - The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly

One of the saddest things about a sluggard is that most of the time he doesn’t even realize how lazy he really is.

  • He looks at his unproductive day and actually believes he had no control over his lack of productivity.
  • He blames it on other things (parent’s, kids, spouse, work, weather, health, etc.)


2011-09-30 - Proverbs on Laziness (part II)
How do I overcome being lazy (How do I become disciplined)?

1. Carpe Diem = Seize the Day

We are only given a certain amount of time in a day (and on earth)
  • 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)
2. Beware of the little things

Being disciplined is about the little things in life.
  • 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
Examples of little things to be disciplined in
  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
3. Don’t over commit
One thing that can hurt your discipline is if you over commit
  • 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
An important thing to do is to spend time thinking about what needs to be done and how to do it.
  • You don’t have to say “yes” to everyone and everything (our people pleasing nature will end up making us overwhelmed, stressed)
4. Worrying Won’t Work

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything
  • 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 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him (God) because he cares for you

Tips
  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.


2011-10-16 - Genesis 16 - Ishmael is Born

Summary

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

Observations

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

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

Personal Application

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



2011-10-18 - Genesis 18 - Abraham prays for Sodom

Summary

Three visitors came and said that Sarah would have a son next year. Sodom was very evil; Abraham pleaded with the LORD for the city.

Observations

Genesis 18:14 - Is anything too hard for the LORD?
This is a good question to ask ourselves in times where we doubt God in anyway. Sarai doubted that she would become pregnant because of how old she was. Mary may have been thinking of this scripture when the angel came to her saying she would become pregnant as a virgin - her reaction was much more faithful. Bog came do much more than we can ask or imagine [Ephesians 3:20].

Genesis 18:32 - For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it
God wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth [1 Timothy 2:4]. It is the reason God will waiting out all the evil and sin that is in the world. He is looking and searching out those who will changing their ways and love him back. Who around us is looking for God?

Personal Application

I doubt God way too much (once is too much )and I do probably everyday - I am doing it right now. God is god, he can do anything. Yes, even that. I have got to stop making God smaller in my mind. Every time that I think I have an understanding how big and strong he is - God is beyond that. He greater than I can imagine.



2011-10-25 - Mind Change - Help
These three help in our walk: faith, thanksgiving, determination

Faith inspires you.

Thanksgiving gives you perspective.

Determination keeps you moving.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 - every act prompted by your faith
Philippians 4:6 - in everything with thanksgiving
Luke 9:51 - Jesus resolutely set out for the cross


2012-01-15 - Ministry - The Generator of Power
John 15:1-7; Mt 7:7-12; Luke 18:1-8

Prayer generates the power in a disciple's life. Without prayer, there is no power, no relationship with God, and no expectation of miracles. Prayer connects us to God's heart and reveals to us God's will. We can be afraid to pray because we think God will test us by not answering our prayers. James chapter 1 tells us that trials test our faith not unanswered prayer. We begin to pray with unbelief in our hearts and no expectation of answered prayer in our minds. God does not always answer when WE want Him to but He will answer. It is up to us to persevere and mature long enough to receive the answer. God desires to give us whatever we wish as long as we remain in relationship with Him. God is a merciful and loving God. He wants to bless us and encourage us. Generations of powerful men and women have walked before us in real relationship with God. They witnessed incredible answers to prayer. God has not changed since then. He is willing to answer; are you willing to pray?

Pray with Passion
Pray with Expectation
Pray with Specificity
Pray with Boldness
Pray with Perseverance

What three things will you pray about until they are answered, no matter how long it takes?

2012-01-17 - Ministry - The Heart of Gratitude
Luke 17:11-19, Psalms 100:4, 1 Thessalonians. 5:18

Jesus believed that if the heart of a man was healed and doing well, then that individual could really experience a complete healing from God. In Mark 2 the paralytic who was lowered through the roof by his friends in the middle of a crowded house for Jesus to heal did not hear the first words from the lips of Jesus, 'you are healed.' The first thing he heard was, "Your sins are forgiven." The obvious problem to everyone was his physical condition, yet Jesus saw the spiritual issues of the man's life and healed them first! The ten lepers came to Jesus and when he cleansed them only one came back, throwing himself at the feet of Jesus, overwhelmed with gratitude! Jesus wondered where the other nine were, but proclaimed to the man, "Your faith has made you well." Even though the other nine were cleansed of their leprosy, did they really 'get well?' The one who returned was made well-he was filled with gratitude! Many of us have been baptized, yet how many of us are filled with gratitude?

Questions:
  • Could this heart of gratitude be so powerful as to really heal me, heal my faith, heal my marriage, and heal my relationships?
  • Who do I need to be grateful for and have not really told them lately?
  • When was the last time I had a family devotional expressing gratefulness for each one?
Name three people you are grateful for and why you are, then this week express this to them.

2012-01-20 - Ministry - Even Greater Things
John 14:12-14

Ordinary men do great things. James 5:17-18 - Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Heb 11:8-end of the chapter. Great men in the bible are noted for their faith. God recognizes, rewards, and replenishes faith. Life begins at today. Everyday is a new day. New goals, new dreams, new horizons, new victories, new life. Faith in God allows us to do greater things than we have ever done.

Questions:
  • What are some of the greatest things that you have ever done in your life?
  • What great things do you dream about doing now?
  • What "greater things" are you going to do this year?
Write a short list of "greater things" that you want to see God achieve in your life or through your life this year.

2012-01-22 - Ministry - With Jesus, You Will Not Stand Alone
John 8: 1-11

Compromising circumstances were not sufficient evidence, as the Jewish law required witnesses who had seen the act. Imagine what this woman felt in the midst of an angry crowd eager to trap Jesus, she was caught in the act of adultery! She was humiliated and alone. The incident was staged to trap Jesus since the Romans did not allow the Jews to carry out death sentences. So if Jesus had said to stone her, he could have been in conflict with the Romans. If he had said no to stone her, he could have been accused of not being supportive of the law.

So Jesus started to write on the ground, we could only imagine what he wrote, it could have been the list of sins. Then without disagreeing with the law he gave them a qualification to cast the first stone, it was whoever was without sin instead of whoever is without the sin of adultery. As Christians, even though we know that God sees all sins the same, we categorize sin and fall in to Satan's trap of self-righteousness. We forget that deceit, bitterness, envy and anger are just as bad as sexual immorality or murder.

Jesus showed the woman compassion, mercy and also commanded her to leave her life of sin. We can only imagine the woman's sense of relief and gratitude. Her life will never be the same again. At the worst point of your life Jesus stood up for you, instead of letting you be condemned.

Questions:
  • What are three areas of your life that you need to be shown compassion and mercy in?
  • Do you extend compassion and mercy to others who struggle in the same areas?


2012-01-23 - Ministry - Unless You Change
Matthew 18:2-4

Deeply rooted in the mature of adults is a strong sense of resistance to change. Even when we feel deeply discontent with our lives, we are more willing to stay in the familiarity of our misery than to venture into the untested waters of change.

Fortunately, Jesus, in his desire to put us out of our misery, makes it clear that for a Christian to make it to heaven we must keep on changing. We must choose to grow even if it is challenging, difficult, tiring, confusing or scary. Why this strong direction? Because there is just so much about our hearts, character, habits, lives that the Lord wants to change! Too many souls will be lost if we stop growing. Jesus gives us the secret to change in the same verse - humble yourself. Thank God we live in a kingdom where the Lord rushes to help the humble. He will send the word, wise advice from a disciple, a protecting angel, and a physical blessing, all to the humble. It seems that we have two choices: Be
humbled or get humbled.

Questions:
  • Which will you choose in this year?
  • What are three things that you most feel the need to change in your life?
  • How will you take the first step in each of these three?
Go and ask a child that knows you well to please tell you one thing about you they think God would want you to change.

2012-02-11 - Ministry - Even While Suffering
John 19:17-27

As we read the passage, particularly v25-27, it is compelling the even in the throes of pain, Jesus is taking care of his relationships. It would have been easy for him to neglect this as he was busying suffering and dying. It is easy for us as we are in transition spiritually or physically to forget to care of our relationships. This can really hurt people make them feel as though we do not care. Why did not Jesus take care of all of this earlier? Why did he get this done before everything got more harried? The scriptures are silent on this but maybe Jesus wanted to see which of his followers
would remain near the cross right up until the end. Mary, formerly without her husband Joseph and now, witnessing the death of her eldest son, was sure to be hurting. Jesus saw in John the compassion and love that He knew his own mother really needed. I think he also knew that John would be for her the closest thing to her own son, Jesus. It is convicting about how much Jesus considered and thought about relationships, even while suffering on the cross.

Questions/Followup
  • Are you building and growing relationships?
  • Are they deepening through openness, prayer, and discipleship?
  • Pray for at least three people you want to build a deeper relationship with. Pray for them.


2012-02-13 - Ministry - Are You Willing to Keep Praying?
Luke 18:1-8

Jesus tells this parable to show us something. The scriptures even go so far as to tell us exactly what that something is that we should always pray and not give up. Have you ever decided to pray about a specific situation and not stopped until it has changed? What if it took a year to change? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years? Jesus says to never give up! Too often we get discouraged and want to quit-even on God-because something doesn't change. Maybe we haven't been fruitful for a while or we don't have a dating relationship yet. Maybe things have not changed in our marriage fast enough or our job situation is still not working out. Maybe we are just not changing our hearts the way we should. The answer is not to give up but to keep on praying. Jesus ends the parable questioning whether there would still be faith on earth when he returns. Our lack of prayer is a sign of a lack of faith! To keep praying and not give up is a sign of great faith.

Write down three things you have quit praying about and recommit yourself to be faithful in prayer. Decide to trust.

God and be in the kingdom for the long haul-no matter how many decades of prayer it takes!!

2012-02-17 - Fear of Failure - Openness Leads to Success
by Bernard Jones, San Francisco Church of Christ

1 John 1:5-9; Proverbs 28:13

One of my biggest fears as a disciple is being totally open with my life. I am afraid that if people know me they will not want to be around me. For the last two years I have been deceitful about the condition of my marriage, finances, and my life. This has led me to feel discouraged and despondent. Many times I tried to fix the problem by transferring balances on credit cards, discipling myself, etc. I did all this because I didn't want people to see the true me. Being in the ministry can be a temptation to pretend to be someone I am not. One decision I have made is to be completely open about everything that is going on. Like Proverbs 28:13 says, if you are open, you will prosper. Since I have become repentant, I have seen my marriage grow, have been personally fruitful three times, and have a plan to be totally debt free in four years. I have realized that when I am open and real, God can use me to do great things.

Is there anything you haven't been open about?

Make a decision to be open today so God can bring prosperity to your life!

2012-02-24 - Fear of Failure - When We Don't Meet Expectations
by Maritza Kim - Ministry Intern: San Francisco Church of Christ

Jeremiah 1:4-10

To me, "failure" has meant not living up to expectations--either what I expect of myself or what others expect of me. In my pride, I get angry when my weakness is exposed, and I see how ill equipped I am to face a certain task or spiritual battle. Instead of trusting in God and turning to him to strengthen me, give me wisdom, and make me able, I get a quitter's mentality. I decide that because I am not already able, I will take myself out so I no longer have to face my failure. I decide to take the easy road, where I can be "successful" and no longer feel the pressure to change the
core sin in my character.

In this scripture, I learn that God has had a destiny for our lives. God has known me since 'before I was in the womb.' He knows the stuff I'm made of. He knows what I am weak in and what I can and can't do. Yet he has still called me to serve him in awesome ways, and to do it with all my heart. He has appointed me to serve him, and that needs to be my focus. If I am focused on my daily relationship with him, get humble and open about my failures, and if I serve him with all my heart, he will fulfill the destiny he has for my life!

Three Decisions I've Made
  • Admit my sin and weaknesses
  • Ask for help from God and others
  • Commit myself to serving God, no matter my shortcomings


2012-10-29 - The Lost Life of the Heart
Our years can be consumed with service and business
But somewhere out there someone is saying, "There is something more"
We just assume it is our imagination
Then it speaks again, "Aren't you thirsty? There is something missing"
This feeling might feel disloyal to our routine and against the program we are following
We try to silence the voice with outward activity and redoubling our Christian service

You long to be in a love affair, an adventure with God. You were made for something more.

Samuel heard the voice of God calling to him in the night - 1 Samuel 3:4
It took him three time before he realized it was God
Rather than ignoring  the voice, Samuel finally listed

In our lives, we can become frustrated by our heart's continuing sabotage of a dutiful Christian life
But sometime at night, when our defenses are down, we still hear him calling us
In the morning, activities scream for our attention and think we have won the battle of the "flesh"
Satan loves to turn the truth upside down

We try to lose ourselves in:
  • Hobbies
  • Other short-lived romances
  • Addictions

We create distance between ourselves and others; even distance between ourselves and our own heart...

2013-01-25 - Prayer of the Righeous - God is a Consuming Fire (part III)

When we pray, let us give God the respect he deserves

A holy God requires us to be righteous

  • David cried out to God and praised him but he cherished sin in his heart and God did not listen - Psalms 66:16-20
  • Israelites tried to attack Ai, but they failed because God did not bless because Achan took some devoted things - Joshua 7:1-5
    • Joshua fell face down before God
    • God explained why they were not being blessed and that they need to destory the devoted things
  • People prayed during the three year famine - 2 Samuel
    • God responded that the Israelites had violated their pledge of putting the Gibeonites to death
    • God expected them to keep their word even through it was made hundreds of years eariler in Joshua 9
    • David made admens and God did ended the famine - 2 Samuel 21:4

All the prayer in the world will not get through to God if it is not uttered from a pure heart

 



2015-03-06 - Earnest Prayer

Epaphras always  prays earnestly for you - Colossians 4:12

Early African converts were known for their commitment to prayer

So much so their prayer spots were marked with worn paths to them

If prayer was negligneted, it could be easily spotted - "Brother, the grass grows on your path"

Epaphras demonstrated such genuine love for the Colossians and played a big role in establishing the church there - Colossians 1:17

He practiced three important elements of prayer

  1. Consistancy
  2. Sincerity
  3. From the Heart

Can you make room for regular time of prayer on the behalf of those you love?

Nothing makes more of a difference in your walk with Christ than regular times of prayer



2015-03-14 - No-Compromise Faithfullness

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, The God whom we serve is able to save us - Daniel 3:16-17

Compromise can help you move ahead or it can lead to utter disaster

At time, they freely altered some things to please their Babylonians masters

But an order to compromise their commitment to God, they adamantly refused

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not need to discuss anything, there was no decision to be made

After the king saw how the three young men were saved, he sang a different tune - Daniel 3:28

Any choice to distance you from God, there is no compromise, the only answer is "NO".



2015-05-01 - On Track

Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? - Joshua 7:10

This tragic event illustrates the terrible ripple effect of sin

God gave crystal clear instructions ofr the invasion of Jericho

He promised the Israelites a crushing victory over the city and in return they would put aside for Him all the gold, sliver, and other valuable they would seize during the raid

Achan paid no attention to God's instructions

His sin had removed God's hand of blessing from the Israelite army and three dozen innocent soldiers died in the reulting unheaval

Even sin that might be reguarded as secret affects you and those closest to you

Where do you most feel the tug to stray?



2015-06-15 - Motives Matter

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?



2015-08-31 - Unexpected Wisdom

I am full of pent-up words and the spirit within me urges me on - Job 32:18

Job's three friends felt that God was punishing Job for some hidden sin - he rejected this

Job thought God was treating him unfairly

All four of them had it wrong

Elihu: God repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve - Job 34:10-11

His knew Job's suffering could not be in vain. Job shouldn't see his affection as God didn't care about him rather as a tool in God's hand to teach Job more



2015-09-03 - Hit the Ground Running

In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you - Joshua 1:11

Joshua was a strong leader - he lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land

He didn't hesitate for a moment in following orders:

In our time, we require planning, risk assessment, and cost analysis

It is unthinkable and even reckless for leaders to move on orders immediately

Joshua knew that God was the Commander in Chief and was orchestrating all the nessary events - that is exactly what happened

When you believe God and know that he will keep all his promises, you won't wait when God says, "Go now!"



2015-09-09 - Pride's Angry Partner

Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage - Daniel 3:13

Anger can erupt from a lot of things but most commonly from pride

The proud man tends to believe that he is owed something such as respect and admiration

Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance knew no bounds and it show showed up when three men refused to bow down to his idol

Like his anger, Nebuchadnezzar had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thrown into blazing-hot 

Uncontrolled pride turns into uncontrolable anger

God used the situation to save his faithful and humble the proud

If you want to keep anger from being a problem in your life, put a check on your pride



2015-10-02 - Take a Shot

Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit - 2 Kings 2:9

Prophet-in-training Elisha achieve greatness because he had the faith to ask for a blessing when he had the opportunity

Three times Elijah told him to stay behind, three times he said I will never leave you - 2 Kings 2:2-6

Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted, he didn't hesitate - double portion of his spirit

Elisha got exactly what he requested

When we need God's empowerment, take your shot and for it in faith



2015-11-04 - Failure Isn't Final

"You you love me moew than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied - John 21:!5

Peter promised Jesus he would never leave him nor deny him

In his moment of cowardince, he denied even knowing Jesus three times

After Jesus had risen from the grave, Peter knew that this little incident had to be resolved

Jesus wasn't about to let Peter's temporary failure get in the way of his incrediable future

Jesus fully restored Peter's relationship him with a lesson and Peter would no longer make primise he had no way of keeping

Your failures don't have to be final - God will use that failure to move you closer to enjoying everything he has planned for you



2015-11-27 - Peter's Changes

Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be baptized - Acts 2:38

Some people who knew Peter wondered if he was the same person they had seen fall flat on his face so many times:

  • Lost his nerve and sank like a rock - Matthew 14
  • Three times denied even knowing Jesus - Luke 22
  • Nowhere to be found as his Master was nailed to a wooden cross

It didn't look as if Peter had the right stuff to be the kind of ambassador Jesus called him to be

Peter preached with power and courage without regard to what could be some painful consequences

He knew that his preaching would get him into deep trouble but he did it anyway and thousands turned to Jesus in one day - Acts 2:41

Peter show what can happen to a man who knows Jesus Christ and lives by the Holy Spirit's empowerment



2015-12-15 - Temper

As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you'll never be king. Now fo and get him so I can kill him! - 1 Samuel 20:31

Few emotions can harm our hearts and relationships like uncontrolled anger

Anger led to:

  • Cain slaying Abel
  • Samson's downfall
  • King Saul's attempts to young and faithful servant David

Saul's anger erupted out of jealousy of David's popularity and treat of becoming king

His anger was so fierce and overwhelming that he attempted to kill David at least three times

Saul's anger made it to his son Jonathan because he was tried to protect David

Saul showed his true colors when he allowed anger to control his every motivation, decision, and action



2016-11-16 - Genesis 27 - Jacob Steals Esau's Blessing

Summary

Rebekah and Jacob tricked Isaac into giving Jacob his blessing. Esau vowed revenge so Rebekah told Jacob to go to her brother Laban.

Observations

Genesis 27:12 - What if my father touches me... he'll curse me instead of bless me

  • How we react to a moral dilemma often expresses our real motives
  • Jacob was more concerned about being caught than doing what was right
  • Jacob's questioning gave Rebecca an opportunity to reconsider but she was too wrapped in her plan instead of God's plan
  • Correcting yourself in the middle of doing wrong may hurt but it will also bring freedom from sin's control

Genesis 27:20-24 - How did you find it so quickly?... Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you are really Esau... But are you really my son Esau?

  • Issac voiced suspicion three times
    • Logical - The timing of his return answer
    • Touch - Feeling his arms for confirmation
    • Vocal - Ask him directly
  • Although Jacob got the blessing he wanted, he paid dearly
    • Never saw his mother again
    • His brother wanted to kill him
    • He was deceived by his uncle
    • His family became torn of strife
    • Esua became the founder of an enemy nation
    • He was exciled from his family for many years
  • Jacob's blessing was part of God's plan all along but he did it his own way [Genesis 25:23]

Application

How am I implementing God plan via his promises? My own way or in God's timing?

Prayer

Lord, I want to be obedient and hunble to your plan and in your own way and your own timing.



2017-10-10 - Reason for His Study (part I)

Mission is to help men fall in love with the character of Jesus

Some spend much time with:

  • His chronology
  • The geopgraphy
  • His clothes
  • Take photos of the lands he walked
  • Customs during that time

We can become so interested in the outer life of Jesus and miss the secret his heart has to tell

Things Jesus experienced may be of some interest but not important

It is the character of Jesus which has unique and endless significance

New Testament writers were not interested in the outer Jesus but wanted us to have his character

  • Friends were all obscure
  • No office
  • No wealth
  • Born in a stable
  • Taught for three years and died

They tried to describe how things affected him, how he looked at things,and how he felt toward things



2020-03-06 - Friendliness

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

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

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

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

They tried to use his friendiness against him

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

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

Jesus made friends with them despite these truths

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

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

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

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

 



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