Quiet Times Search

• Fears - Matthew 26:36-46
• Disappointment - Matthew 11:14-17
• Anger and Frustration - Matthew 23

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?

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!

• Do I forget the commitments I made?
• Do I often arrive late to church meetings?
• Do people say I am a excuse maker?
• Any I good bill payer? Am I a good sward of my bank account?
• When I say I will call you, do I?
• Am I automotively trustworthy?
• Do I give first to the Lord?
• When I set a goal, do I work until I succeed?
• Am I trusted with responsibility?

Preached by Dan Rice (2005-06-26)

Mark 10:13 - We must have a child like heart to make it to heaven

Children Love Life
John 10:9 - Jesus says we can live life to the full

Children Want to Grow
2 Peter 3:18 - They were eager to learn

Children Change Fast - 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Children Take Risk - Care less about what people think about them. John 12:42-43

Children are quick to trust
John 14:1-4 - Jesus has our best interest at heart
Numbers 20:12 - Moses and Aaron did not trust
Deuteronomy 1:29-35 - Israel did not trust
Psalms 20:7-8 Psalms 22:4-5 Psalms 44:16-17 Psalms 49:13-14 Proverbs 3:5

Children are Idealist - they dream; it is better than synical

Children are faithful - John 3:16 - They did not many reasons like we do.

First two servant doubled their investment and were rewarded
Most would have agreed with the third servant burying the money saying, "well, at least it was safe" - Matthew 25
The third servant was put into darkness because he did not trust God

When we bury our desires, we saying to God = 'I don't dare desire because I fear you; I think you are hard-hearted"

Is our obedience more out of love or out of carefulness?
Killing desire may look like sanctification but it's really godlessness

Persistent widow - won he case because she refused to let up

When Jesus returns, will he find faith? - Luke 18

To live with desire means:

• Choosing vulnerability over self-protection
• Admiting our desire and seeking help beyond ourselves
• Living by faith and refuse to kill desire

Sometimes God seems cruel:

• Unemployed
• Search for spouse

Isn't this the reason we fear to desire in the first place?

Unless we understand our desperate hearts and our tenacity to arrange life as we want it - these events seem cruel

Eden - we had it all but we threw it away by mistrusting God's heart and taking control of what we wanted
Adam and Eve set into motion what we now call addiction

Addiction exists whenever persons are internally compelled to give energy to things that are not their true desires

Addition becomes our idol - we must give it up
Anything can become an idol, even "good" things: work, hobbies, etc

As a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert - Jeremiah 2:2-3

If you're writing a romanc, love is the goal - you must allow for the possiblity of betrayal
This is what God call us our turning away from him

Hebrews thought God would be satisfied with some religious rituals and rule keeping

You said, "I will not serve you!" - Jeremiah 2:20
You have forgotten me and trusted in false gods - Jeremiah 13:25-27

True love never fails
God will fight for his beloved

I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her - Hosea 2:14

The heart is central
The need to even to be remined of this show how far we have fallen from the life we were meant to have

The heart is addressed in the Bible more than any other topic

Love the Lord your God with all your heart - Deuteronomy 6:5
Man looks at the outward appearance, Lord looks at the heart - 1 Samuel 16:7
Where your teasure is, there your heart will be also - Luke 12:34

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart - Proverbs 3:5
These people honor me from their lips but their hearts are far from me - Matthew 15:8
The Lord weighs the heart - Proverbs 21:2

The heart can be:

• Trouble, wounded, pierced, grieved, even broken
• Cheerful, glad, merry, joyful, rejoicing
• Whole or divided
• Wise or foolish
• Steadfast, true, upright, stout, valiant
• Frightened, faint, cowardly
• Wandering, forgetful, dull, stubborn, proud, hardened

The heart can be unpredictable but it is central to our being

The heart answers a lot of questions:

• Why did my relationship fail? One or both don't have to heart to make it work
• Why are some many struggling with depression and discouragement? They have lost heart
• Why can I not break free from our addiction? We gave our heart away and need to get it back

• by sin
• by others
• by the enemy

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

1. Parable of the Shrewd Manager - Luke 16:1-15
   1. God expects us to be honest yet shrewd in the use of money (v. 1-8)
   2. Money is a tool to be used to gain friends (souls) (v. 9)
   3. If we are not trustworthy in handling money, God will not entrust us with true riches (people's souls) (v. 10-11). God will keep us from leadership if we are not trustworthy with finances (v. 10-11).
2. Whose Money Is It? Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 16:1; Luke 14:33
   1. We are managers (stewards), not owners. An owner does what he pleases with his money/possessions, while a manager submits to the will of the owner.
   2. As disciples, our attitude must reflect a willingness to "give up everything" to advance God's kingdom.

1. What ways am I not being shrewd honest, or trustworthy with my money/possessions?
   Examples:
   • Checkbook not balanced
   • Credit card debt - paying high monthly interest rates
   • Interest rates
   • Not paying bills on time
   • Writing bad checks
   • Not living by a budget
   • Borrowing from Christians or others and not repaying
2. What ways can I use God's money to win souls rather than serve myself?
3. How do I view my money/possessions? Who owns them? Do I have the attitude of "giving up everything for the kingdom?"

1. The Blessing of Giving - Acts 20:33-35
   1. Paul did not desire anyone else's money or possessions.
   2. He worked hard and sacrificed to help the weak.
   3. He knew that giving brought more joy than receiving.
2. Living for Eternal Possessions - Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 10:32-34
   1. When our treasure is in heaven not on earth, our hearts will be in heaven also.
   2. As disciples, we will look foolish to the world because our hearts and our treasures (money) are in heaven not on earth.
3. All Things For Our Enjoyment - 1 Timothy 6:17-18
   1. It is very easy for us who have wealth to put our hope and trust in money/things rather than God.
   2. As disciples we are commanded to be generous and willing to share.
   3. When we follow God"s plan we can feel great about enjoying the blessings God has given us.

1. Which do I desire more, to give or to receive?
2. How can I put all my treasure in heaven so that all my heart will be there also?
3. How am I being generous and willing to share on a daily basis?
4. Am I enjoying God's blessings or do I feel guilty about the things I have?

1. It Takes Faith to Give - Malachi 3:8-11
   1. God wants us to test him in our giving (v. 10). All we need is the faith.
   2. God is waiting to pour out blessing when we trust Him. It is easy to say 'I'll give when God blesses me." God says, "Give and I win bless you."
2. God's Promises - Malachi 3:10-11, Mark 10:29-31, 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
   1. We will not have enough room for God's blessings.
   2. We can never outgive God.
   3. God always gives back 100 times as much to us.
   4. God will continue to give to us so we in turn can give to others and meet their needs.
   5. Ultimate blessing: treasure in heaven.
3. Depend on God - Philippians 4:14-19
   1. Our giving is a sacrifice pleasing to God.
   2. When we give, God will meet all our needs.

1. Do I hold back on my contribution because I am worried about the future?
2. Does my giving cause me to rely on God?
3. What amount of money should I be giving weekly that is both responsible and still requires faith?
4. When have I relied on the promise of God in my giving? What did God do in response?

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?

• Battle between good and evil
• Battle between faith and action

• v22 - Faith and works - work together
• Faith without deeds is dead
• Where am I not following exactly?
• What am I not submitting to God's will?

James 4:7-8 - God calls us to submit to him fully

Trust in God and not your situation

1 Samuel 13:11-12 - Saul doubted that Samuel was coming

James 1:5-8 - we should believe and not doubt

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in God and not on one's own understanding
Depending on one's own understanding creates:

• Pride
• Controlling person
• Self-reliant
• Unreliable - allows our situations to change us
• Lose of conviction

• Knowledge of the Bible
• Daily prayer/walk with God
• Brotherly fellowship

• Knowing Jesus is not just an intellectual exercise.
  
• The goal of the Christian is to obey his commands and become more and more like him
  • to think like Jesus
  • to act like Jesus
  • to live like Jesus.

• Jesus claimed to be the only way, not a way.
  
• He claimed to be the whole truth and not one truth among many.
  
• He said he was the life, not just a better life.
  
• How important is it that we put our faith, our trust, our obedience in Jesus?
• It is the most important decision of your life - Acts 4:12

• Jesus teaches these Jews that intellectual belief is not enough.
  
• He calls them to believe God enough to trust his will for their lives. This trust is demonstrated by the decision to live according to Jesus’ teaching.
  
• True faith is seen in our obedience.
• Notice when we will know the truth, after we obey.
  

• If the Bible is so powerful and helpful, why aren’t more people truly following what it says?
• Bottom line, we can not live according to our own feelings and desires.
  

• What is another hindrance to following God’s word? Tradition
  
• Religious tradition which takes precedence over the Word of God can result in worldly solutions to spiritual issues and make our worship of God empty and pointless.

• We are ultimately responsible for what we believe.
  
• Religious leaders can be wrong, so we cannot be lazy.
  
• Review in greater depth the lessons and sermons you hear to be sure about what you are being taught.
  
• Are you willing to take personal responsibility for knowing what the Bible says?
  

• The Bible is more than just words on a page.
  
• We need to develop a thirst and devotion to the word of God.
  
• How eager are you to regularly meditate on the Scriptures?
  

• Our attitude should be one of humility, reverence and awe for God’s word.
  
• Are you willing to live by the Bible, taking God at his Word in your relationship with him?
• Are you willing to trust God’s Word above your own feelings, religious traditions or religious leaders?
• Will you seek to understand God’s will and ways through his inspired Word?

• What condition are we all in? We are dead in sins and transgressions.
  
• How much can a dead man do to improve his own condition? What then is the only way we can be saved?
  
• What do you learn about God in his passage? His love? His mercy? His grace?
  
• What is the condition of receiving what God has done on our behalf?
  
• We are saved by grace through faith. Faith is obedient trust in God (James 2:14-18).
  
• Here we trust what God has done in Jesus as the grounds of our salvation and commit our lives fully to him. While we can never do enough good works to save ourselves, what are we saved for?
  
• Saving faith is “worked out” in ways that bring glory to God and attest to a Christ-centered life.
  

• Having shown that Gentiles (non-Jews) are sinners in Romans 1 and Jews are no better off Romans 2, Paul summarizes his argument here.
  
• Is it possible for anyone to be “good enough” to be saved?
• Illustration: a plane goes down half way between Hawaii and California. Everyone must swim for the coast. Can some swim much further than others? But what eventually happens to them all? So with us, no one’s own efforts are enough. All fall short. So how are we saved?
  
• God justifies those who “have faith in Jesus” (v26).
  
• Saving faith is not in ourselves but “in his blood”—that is, in the death of Jesus on our behalf (v25).
  

• When we humbly consider our own sinfulness, it becomes obvious that we are saved because of God’s mercy, not because of righteous things we have done.
  
• Those who have trusted God for salvation, however, will devote themselves to doing his will.
  
• God’s grace is AMAZING! He generously accepts us as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.
• To enter into this saving relationship with God, we must be washed of our sins and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
  
• We will look more at the conditions of accepting God’s grace in the coming studies.

• Judas had already decided in his heart and actions to betray Jesus. Then he watched for an opportunity to carry out sin.
• Share: A person's heart can be so hard that they no longer fear God - Psalms 36:1-3
• In spite of knowing that Judas was lying and plotting to have him killed, Jesus still loved him.
• The disciples had no clue who it was.
• Jesus' heart and actions never expressed any anger/resentment toward Judas

• Peter accepted the words of Jesus until it came time to apply them to his life.
• Share: Peter's prideful refusal to accept Jesus will for his life lead other down the wrong path

• Our heart should be to give "cheerfully" out of gratitude for all that God's done for you
• Weekly contribution is an opportunity to express our gratitude to God weekly.
• Share: You wouldn't want someone to love you because they "have to" instead because they "want to".
• God doesn't make you give he wants you to give "cheerfully"
• Question: How do you feel about giving contribution weekly?
• Share: Once a year we have a special contribution to help in special areas (explain what special is about)

• Each disciple is different (racially, socially, economically, culturally, etc) and God wants it that way.
• Each disciple is different but each person is important. What gift do you see yourself adding to the body?
• v18 - God arranges the body parts the way he wants them to be (our relationships are orchestrated by God)
• God has the person that He wants you to (marry, roommate, etc) already in mind for you (trust him)

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

Imagine the Red Sea waters divided - Exodus 14

Only a few hours you've experienced the highest degrees of fear, excitement, and relief.
When the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and put their trust in him - Exodus 14:31

To fear him is to trust him
The Israelites both feared the Lord and put their trust in him
Fearing God and trusting Him are not mutually exclusive
The Israelties were able to trust God because they experienced firsthand His awesome power to deliver them

God worked on their behave - power without love is terrifying, love without power is pitiable

The events of Exodus was not only to gain to glory Himself but to stimulate and increase the faith of the Israelites
They were in the situation they were in so they could only be saved by His mighty power

1. You wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted - Romans 6:17
2. Obey masters is doing the will of God from your heart - Ephesians 6:6
   

1. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you - Proverbs 23:7
   
2. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart - Luke 6:43-46

• Airplanes designed after birds
• Lunar lander with ant-like legs
• Solar panels use the sun's rays like plants

• Realize how little we know
• Realize how little we are in control

• Think of 2 of the most convicting sins in your life
• What do you deserve for them?
  • Punishment (not being trusted, retribution, etc…)
    

• We owe God a debt we could never repay.
• God has given us grace so we need to extend it to others as well.
• The more you see your sin the more you can understand God’s grace.

• 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

Summary

God created the heavens, the earth and everything that lives. He made humankind in his image and gave them charge over the earth.

Observations

Genesis 1:1 - the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,
Without God we formless, unfocused, and empty. We try to create our own heaven-on-earth but never succeed without him. We try to "eat" junk food to fill us up but all they contain is empty calories. Without God there is no light and only darkness. Without light, we do not know what is going on around us nor what direction to go.

Genesis 1:4 - separated the light from the darkness.
It is important to understand that light and darkness were separated from the beginning. They can not both exist in the same location. It is even more important find out with side you are on.

Genesis 1:16 - He made the stars also.
Oh, by the way, God created all the countless numbers of stars, planets, galaxies, and other objects of the universe. So much matter that we can not even begin to see with a telescope. But God does not focus on matter, he focuses on what matters. The Bible is focused on God and his relationship with mankind. Like Jesus' miracles described in [John 20:30], the amount of God's acts are too great to be counted. Can you image the amount of books that could be written about what God created?

Genesis 1:26 - so they may rule
God entrust us to rule over all all other living things. But many we times we are ruled by our sinful natures. If we can not even control ourselves, how can we "rule" over other things?

Genesis 1:27 - God created humankind in his own image
Sometimes we mistake us being an exact copy of God verses a reflection of God. We should be a photo copy and not try to replace God in our lives. We must be become more reflective of God like a mirror. Constantly cleaning off the smudges of sin with the blood of Jesus.

Personal Application

God is bigger than I think he is. I have made him too small in my mind and do not allow Him to take control -- this is absurd since he has control over the universe and does a perfect job at it. My actions show that I don't fully trust God in this way.

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

Humankind corrupted the earth with evil. God decided to destroy them. He told Noah to build an ark to be saved from the flood.

Observations

Genesis 6:5 - every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time
At this point, in a relatively small amount of time, man no longer called out for God. It was just Genesis chapter 4 when men just began to call out for God and at this time

Genesis 6:13 - God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people"
God shared his plans with Noah even though they were very troubling. A deep relationship is where you share you plans and dreams (not in this case). God trusted Noah. Noah trusted God even more (as he should). That mutual trust helped save mankind and allow us to live today.

Genesis 6:22 - Noah did everything just as God commanded him
After being 500 years old or so, Noah still did everything God commanded him to do. We can not imagine the pressure and persecution Noah must have gone through to build a boat in the middle of the dessert. Still he did not waiver. His complete faith was with God and trusted every word God spoke to him. We have trouble with just a small amount of faith that required to live our lives.

Personal Application

Increase my faith, Lord! I see Noah's faith to build an ark and I struggle to have faith today.The struggles I face today are not even a speck compared to Noah's troubles.  Noah had great faith because he trusted God and what he said. That is what I need to do.

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.

It is God’s will for you to totally trust him and to be completely at peace in every situation.

You have to learn this.

It took Paul some time to learn this (compare 2 Corinthians 1 / Philippians 4)

It will take you time to learn it.

Just decide that you will learn it.

Philippians 4:4-7 - I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me

• Paul learned thankfulness no matter what your circumstances
• Without doubt the most valuable secret in life.
• How can we learn to be thankful?

• Remember that you were an object of wrath and on the path to hell.
• Think how fortunate you are to be in God's grace and on the road to heaven.
• Were would you be today without God's grace?
  

• Learn to enjoy serving God and His people.
• Don't look for recognition.
• Old life hide sin, new life hide good

• What do you see?
  • Do not be anxious about anything - the Lord is near.
  • Constantly think about GOOD, NOBLE, HONOURABLE and PURE things. (Don't allow the devil to pollute your mind).
  • Rejoice in the Lord always.

1. Why does prayer need to be learned? Who are you learning from?
2. (vs. 2-4) How can you praise God's name? Do you pray for God's kingdom (church) to increase?
   
3. Do you pray for daily needs and for forgiveness for yourself and to also forgive others?
   
4. Do you pray for help and protection from temptations?
5. What else does Jesus want us to understand about prayer from verses 5-13?

• What does God want you to pray about?
• What are some worries you can pray about today?
• Do you feel at peace when you pray to God? Trust he will answer!

1. Imagine what the day of judgement will be like. Who will be there?
2. How will everyone be feeling?

1. Who is the bride of Christ?
2. Describe heaven.
3. Check yourself against verse 8. Are any of these sins in your life?

1. What other eternal joys will be in heaven?
2. Why does God want us to know these words are trustworthy and true?

• Who do you serve?
• Do you serve those who are struggling in their faith?
• Do you feel opposed at everything you try to do?
• Could it be God opposing your pride? James 4:6 Is God simply trying to teach you humility and trust?
• What simple thing can you do to serve someone today? Whether they are in the church or not.

• Look at how God has overcome my shortcomings to help me grow.
• Build trust in God today by sharing a victory with a friend.

• Pray for an understanding of God's forgiveness: study the psalms and see David's trust in God.
• Believe that God has a plan for your life: be confident in his love.
• Build great relationships with other Christians who can bolster your faith.

1. Love learning
2. Never quit (emotionally or spiritually)
3. Sacrifice of time and resources entrusts my heart to God

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

1. Always know that God is in control and I am not
2. If I just being humble, God will lift me up again
3. Use my failure to help people to remind them God is the one

1. I will remember that God is with me and do something for someone else to show I believe in them and I am with them.
2. To trust in the Bible and read it every time I feel 2. like God is disappointed in me.
3. To show love to a person in action and in truth if I feel like God doesn't love me.

Romans 12:1-2 - renewing of your mind

Satan is the Father of lies - John 8

Love the checklist - but it is a matter of belief

Don't follow because we don't believe

We learn from the past how we did not follow, but it is much better to learn in the present with His Word

A lie may contain some truth or can by applied in some - Satan can use scripture too

Looking back my actions make no sense / or why i struggled? 3 failures and a struggle

1. Hiding the cookies - Matthew 6:25-27

Lie: If I give, I will run out for myself
Truth: God/Parents gives good gifts to us; we need to trust

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

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

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

What lies is Satan telling you?

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

Summary

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

Observations

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

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

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

Personal Application

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

• Busyness substitutes for meaning
• Efficiency substitutes for creativity
• Functional relationships substitutes for love

We live doing the things we ought to do rather than from our desires

There is a step program for a happy marriage, become a Christian, success

Communication with God is then replaced by activity with God

Given the right plan, everything in life can be managed except for the heart

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

It is the core of our spiritual journey

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

What does these desires have to do with God?

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

Men need to realize how much is at stake
It is important to resolve which man you will become.
Live for yourself and lose so many of the incredible rewards or the one who breaks the chain and creates a new legacy for your family

We need to ask God to break the chains in our lives and from our past
Chain breakers - men who break away from anything holding us back
Chain breakers are the ones God uses to end the legacy of rebellion against God

Children are not punished for the sins of their parents, they are definitely affected and negatively influenced by them.
Unless we break free from our family weaknesses by the power of God—by seeking Him, trusting Him, and following Him instead.
God is the One who established your family of origin - Psalms 139:13–16
For that a reason—so that you would seek Him and ultimately find Him.

You matter the circumstances of your birth, you were not an accident - Acts 17:24-27
Though you may not have understood your path, God has been guiding your steps.
If you were to know everything God knows, you wouldn’t have had it any other way.
You could be the very one God has strategically placed in your family to turn things around.

Chains present in all of our lives:

• from nature—our inbred sinful nature
• from choices—sins we commit ourselves
• from nurture—hurtful examples, lies, and worldly traditions we follow

God is the ultimate Chain Breaker
Jesus was sent “to proclaim release to the captives” and “to set free those who are oppressed” - Luke 4:18

Men are happiest and at their best when they are responsible

We must resolve to fully embrace all of our responsibilities before God

Responsibility = you are being entrusted and empowered by a higher authority to care for something or someone

The first thing God did after creating Adam, was to give him responsibilities. He placed him in the garden “to cultivate it and keep it” - Genesis 2:15

Sin makes men tend to resist responsibility, but embracing it is part of our manhood

It is a relatively modern invention that establishes teen years as a moratorium on responsibility and prolongs childhood indefinitely.

When a young man is passive and irresponsible, he greatly limits his freedoms, opportunities, and successes.

Responsibility calls us to action and tests us. It reveals our character.

The more maturity a man has, the more responsibility God can trust him with.

Embrace responsibility! Love it. Live it. Teach it to your children.

If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward” - Luke 12:42-43

When Moses died, God turned to Joshua and told him it was now his job to lead

He promised him four spiritual resources to help him

• He gave him God-ordained AUTHORITY to “cross this Jordan - Joshua 1:3
• He gave him God’s WORD to meditate upon “day and night” - Joshua 1:8
• He gave him God’s PRESENCE as a reliable companion, guide, and shield - Joshua 1:9
• He gave him God’s PEOPLE to support and encourage - Joshua 1:16-18

Again and again Joshua heard: “Be strong and courageous!”
God knew that a leader tends to become overwhelmed, afraid, and passive.
Leaders are not leaders because they’re smarter, more talented, or more organized
Leaders take courage by repeatedly step up and use their influence to move others in the right direction.

Leadership is about courage - the courage to trust God, to do the right thing, to stand alone, and to maintain forward momentum

The greater responsibility to raise your children is yours.
When you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up - Deuteronomy 6:7
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord - Ephesians 6:4

When the dad leads, kids are up to twenty times more likely to stay in church long-term than when moms are the spiritual leaders at home
When the father gets immediately involved, leading with purpose, dealing with problems, his own personal walk with God

Trusting Him makes you wise. Relying on Him keeps you strong. Following Him shows you how to lead.

Seeking God in a very deliberate, devoted manner will impact everything else in your world.
Focus on your relationship with God, you will find it more natural to want your wife and children to be enjoying the same thing

Jesus uses the Word of God to wash us and bloom us into a holy Bride - John 15:3
Leading your family with God’s Word is a key to helping them work through issues, love one another, and grow spiritually.

Devotions together

• Even if it seems awkward or different at first
• Can be as simple as:
  • Ggetting together in the same room and talking about how everyone is doing
  • Reading a chapter out loud from the Bible
  • Followed by a simple prayer asking God to help you apply what you heard

Continuing the “heart hindrances” that will push your chidren away.

6. Favoritism.
   • Less favored children become resentful.
   • It led Rachel and Leah to fight and Joseph’s brothers to hate him
7. Hypocrisy.
   • It will kill trust between you and your children
   • Identify hypocrisy in you, be quick to repent
8. Hurting their mother.
   • They will tend to take up offense for the woman who loves them
   • If you teach them to dishonor her, they will eventually dishonor you
9. Misunderstanding.
   • Is tied to kids feeling misunderstood and not listened to by their parents
   • If a matter is important to them, it should be important to you
10. Unrealistic expectations.
    • Kids will quickly be discouraged if they believe their parents have set them up to fail
    • Avoid comparing their weaknesses with another child’s strengths
    • Your child believes he can’t please you, he’ll eventually quit trying

You must keep your radar up to sense if you have your children’s hearts

Questions to continously ask:

• Have I ever wounded you and not made it right?
• Have I said one thing and done another?
• Have I made promises and not kept them?
• Is there anything you’re angry with me about? Is there anything you’re not telling me because you’re afraid?

Too many men foolishly refuse to apologize because they’re trying to save face and don’t want to look bad.

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

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

Elijah had just successfully

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

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

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

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

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

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

The LORD accepted Abel and his gift - Genesis 4:4

What did Gid find so accepable about Abel's sacrifice?

Abel had a grasp of the faith that pleased God

He understood that any right standing he enjoyed before the Lord came from his abiding faith in a God who rewares that who trust him

Anything that you do for God becomes an acceptable offering when you do it with a heart full of faith

Had Cain presented his offereing with the same heart of faith, God would gladly have accepted his sacrifice

I will not test the Lord like that - Isaiah 7:12

Ahaz, the ungodly king of Judah, found himself in a dilemma of equally difficult alternatives

Assyria, a dominate power of the day, was a growing treat to Judah, Israel, and Syria

His choice was to side with his enemies - Israel and Syria or Assyria and trust God would work things out or side with Assyria

Ahaz made an unwise chose to side with Assyriaw which had disastous consequences for Judah - 2 Kings 16:7-9

You gave me five bags of silver to invest and I have earned five more - Matthew 25:30

The Bible explains the importance of good strewardship

Faithful handling of a small amount leads to more responsibility - Matthew 25:21

The wise and faithful servant understood the wealth he was using belonged to his master

One reason God entrusts you with spiritual gifts is so you can produce fruit for him

What make it difficult for you to see yourself as a steward? 

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?