Quiet Times Search

By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city - Daniel 4:30

Breakdown of how much we learn from our senses:

• 1% - taste
• 2% - touch
• 5% - smell
• 11% - hearing
• 83% - sight

Nebuchadnezzar was given a dream and Daniel told him what it meant - the king's pride would result in a severe bout of divine discipline

Daniel begged the king to give up his pride so that God could relent

God had given Nebuchadnezzar an opportunity to humble himself

God immediately accounced that the king would no lose his kingdom and be sent out to live a wild animal

Nebuchadnezzar had to learn the hard way from taste and smell of grass since could not learn from sight

Are you teachable? When God speaks to you, take it to heart

Where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? - Judges 6:13

Gideon wondered aloud where all of GOd's miraculous works

God had a specific plan in mind for Gideon but before he divulged it God a task before him

At first Gideon questioned his ability to take on such a huge task but in the end he led his people to throw off the Midianites yoke of oppression

What happens when someone's burden becomes their calling?

God often puts burdens within you so that you will feel moved to step out and speak up

Jesus returned and found the disciples sleeping - Mark 14:37

He knew their weaknesses

Jesus told his disciples eariler that evening that they would all abadon him

As Jesus prayed in the garden that night, Peter fell fast asleep leaving him defenseless against the coming temptation

The big fisherman failed Jesus miserably because he relied on his own strength and courage

When you remain prayerfully on alert for those temptations, God can give you the strength and wisdom you need

Give us a king to judge us like the other nations have - 1 Samuel 8:5

God wanted Israel to be different from any other kingdom on earth

Israel's elders wanted Samuel to give them a human king so they could fit in with the pagan nations

God: "it's me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer" - 1 Samuel 8:7-8

Samuel did as God had told him as warned the people of the consequences of rejecting their true king

When Israel's elders looked at the nations around them, they lost sight of their own identity

Things were never the same for the name

Whom do you trust to guide and lead you in every area of your life?

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?

Give me the hill country the Lord promised me - Joshua 14:12

Caleb and Joshua led a younger generation into the Promised Land, now Caleb was 85 years old

He had not taken the land he was promised 40 years ago and he intended to see it fulfilled

Caleb's courage sprang from his unshakable belief God keeps his promises 

Joshua had abolute faith in the reliablility of God's promises after being told to be strong and couragous because His presence - Joshua 1:9

What sort of hill country has the Lord set before you?

Holy Spirit reveal to him that he woul not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah - Luke 2:26

Humans are creatures of anticipation. Serveral studies show expectation of something good benefits our health and sense of well-being

Simon had lived a long life of such close fellowship with God and the Holy Spirit told him he would see the Messiah

A voice told him to go to the Temple, this was his day

When Simon saw baby Jesus, he knew immediately that this was the One he had been waiting for

Simon: Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people - Luke 2:29-31 

With his love, he will calm all your fears - Zephaniah 3:17

Zephaniah understood that God never "cuts his losses" with those who belong to him

He approved of reforms but also wanted them to understand they needed changes within themselves 

In the book of Zephaniah, he:

• Railed against the immoraltuy, idolatry and injustice of his times
• Decried Judah's sin
• Proclaimed their need  for repentance
• Foretold God's wrath against those who refused to stop sinning

God still loved his people and wanted more than anything for them to turn back to him

God takes sin very seriously and will never look the other way when you fail him. He still will not give up on you

He healed my eyes and yet you don't know where he comes from? - John 9:30

The Jewish reglious leaders constantly opposed his and couldn't see past their own legalism and tradition long enough to see the miracle

The blind man and others understood who Jesus was because he witnessed the miracles with open minds and hearts

Jesus demonstarted God's power, the man did as Jesus said, and receive the gift of sight:

1. Spit in the dirt
2. Wiped mud in his eyes
3. Told him to wash

The Jewish leaders took issue to Jesus "working" on the Sabbath

Ex-blind man: If this man were not from God, he couldn't have done it - John 9:33

When we receive spiritual insight that changes our lives, we need to tell others what God has done - we were blind but now we see!

Now it is time to forgive and comfort him - 2 Corinthians 2:7

Paul told the Corinthian Christians to forgive a man who had caused him and the church a lot of trouble

God's purpose for discipline is to forgive and restore, not to condemn and reject

Paul apparently shared these believers' sense of injury but he eagerly extended forgiveness and restoration to give the man some hope and encouragement

Who in your life needs that kind of forgiveness and encouragement?

Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife - Matthew 1:20

It's hard to imagine Joseph not making some assumptions when his fiancee told him she was pregnant

Joseph onlyknew two things:

1. Mary was pregnant
2. He wasn't the father

What would his family think? Would they buy the story? Would he buy his own story?

God saw his heart and knew that he was the right man for the job

As Joseph slept, God confirmed Mary's story and told Joseph to not be afraid to marry her

God allowed Joseph the privilege of caring for the most important child ever born

What are you doing here, Elijah? - 1 Kings 19:13

With all the noise life makes, it can be difficult to hear God

Although he had preached and performed miracles, the people refused to listen Elijah

Elijah had death threats and was hiding in a cave in fear and despair - desperately needing to hear from God

God wanted to speak to Elijah:

1. Told Elijah to come out the cave
2. A windstorm arose
3. A earthquake
4. A fire

All were forerunners of the rela deal was to follow - then Elijah heard God's voice and poured out his broken heart and then just listened

Can you hear God above life' everyday noise?

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

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

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

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

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

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

God cares most about your willingness to faithfully serve him

Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked - Ruth 2:19

Ruth must have wondered why the wealthy influential Boaz would show her such kindness

Boaz was what Old Testament called a family redeemer - Leviticus 25:25-28

When Ruth's husband died, she traveled with Naomi to Bethlehem where she met Boaz

They eventually married and brought her into the lineage of King David

When Boaz extented his kindness, at first it was not from romantic love, but from obedience to God 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The prophet excuted the first part perfectly:

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

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

Partial obedience is really disobedience

The prophet listened and lost everything - 1 Kings 13

I will go, but if you go with me - Judges 4:8

Military leader named Barak lead Israel into victory over the Canaanites but was reluctance to lead couragously was costly

God promised victory but Barak told Deborah he would go only if she promised to go with him

Barak demonstrated a measure of respect and honor for Deborah but also a lack of courage and faith on his part

Deborah agreed but told Barak he would receive no honor for God would use a woman in his victory - Judges 4:9

How do you respond when God calls you to do something great?

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

A faithful, sensible servant is the one who the master can give responsibility - Matthew 24:45

There are two people in the workplace:

1. Employees who must be watched like a hawk - get the job done that is it
2. Employees  who do their best with enthusiasm

Jesus told a story about a master's trust in a servant who demonstrated faithfulness in big and small issues

That led the master to leave more important responsiblities to the faithful servant

Are you faithful in serving God and your employer? He will reward your faithfulness

Sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respecr for the Lord - 1 Samuel 2:12-13

Eli mentored Samuel, Israel's first prophet, but failed to teach his own son the basics of godly living

Hophni and Phinehas brazenly disrepected the Lord and forced themselves sexually upon young woman who came to the Tabernacle

Eli reprimanded his sons but they had long since listened to him

God told Eli that his sons would die and his family would foreve lose the privelege of serving the priesthood

Eli was a good man but not strong man - his children need him to be both

I have always been faithful, single-minded, always doing what pleases you - 2 Kings 20:2-3

Hezehiah had been deathly ill for some time and was setting all his affairs in order because his illness was terminal - 2 Kings 2:1

Isaiah had a special connection to God and it would be tempting to plead his case directly with Isaiah

When Isaiah told Hezehiah he was about to die, he went to his private place of prayer and talked directly to the Lord

Hezehiah didn't ask to extend his life but reminded God he had been a good and faithful servant

God decided to extend Hezehiah's life

Hezehiah's willingness to straingth to God saved his his life

Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child. Herod is going to search for the child to kill him - Matthew 2:13

After Jesus' birth, Joesph probably thought he and Mary would be typical parents

After the wise men left, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to get up immediately and take Mary and Jesus to Egypt

Though questions swirled in Joseph's mind, he didn't hesitate and took his family and left

Joseph played a huge part in Jesus' birth and childhood because he listened when God spoke 

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.