Quiet Times Search

• Help them realize that you understand their hesitation
• Live your life as a model that shatters their stereotypes
• Help them to see the other authentic Christians so they know you are not the only one

• 2 Timothy 1:7 - The Holy Spirit
• 2 Corinthians 3:12 - Hope
• Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - Conviction

• Pride – being afraid of what others think
• Small convictions – not seeing people as lost
• Selfishness – not caring about the lost
• Faithlessness – doubting that the harvest is great

• I will give the land to you and your descendants
• You will spread out to the north, south, east and west
• People on earth will be blessed through you
• I am with you and will watch over you
• I will not leave you

1. Why does your hope in Christ go beyond this earthly life?
2. Why are we as Christians to be pitied if there is no eternal life?

1. What is the mystery Paul tells us (vs.51)?
2. Why do we normally fear death - and why should we no longer be afraid of dying?
3. Why should we work for the Lord? What will happen when we give ourselves completely?

1. When were you raised with Christ?
2. What should you be thinking about from now on?
3. What things should you stop thinking about so much?

1. 1. How do we feel when we are hiding/not confessing sin?
2. 2. Have you felt this way since your baptism? Are there any sins you have been afraid to confess?

1. Can we conceal our sins from God?
2. Who do we need to confess our sins to besides God?
3. What effect will unconfessed sin have in our life?

1. Why did Elijah feel so overwhelmed?
2. What are some things that have made you feel like giving up?
3. How did the Lord encourage him physically, spiritually and emotionally?
4. What do you normally do when you start feeling "down"?
5. How can you apply the 3 lessons from above the next time you are tempted to give in to discouragement?

1. How do you think Elijah felt to be given a friend and disciple like Elisha?
2. Why did God wait until Elijah was "in action" again before sending him to Elisha?

• What sinful situations are you holding back on?
• Have you decided to get so close to God that you would be that disciple making great impact?
• Do people think of zeal when they think of you?

God is a consuming fire who should be feared - Hebrews 12:29

He is God who wants us to love him and not idols - Deuteronomy 4:24

God is a blessed and only Ruler, king of kings and lord of Lords - 1 Timothy 6:15

Our problem is that we think God is like us
My thoughts are not your thoughts - Isaiah 55:8

Societies throughout history have developed their own relgions based off God's which human resemblance:

• Greek methoology is full of sinful gods
• Hinduism feature gods who remind of ourselves

Our Father is without blemish or stain
In fact many can say, if God is like my father, I want nothing to do with Him

God appeared to Ezekiel in blazing fire and he fell facedown - Ezekiel 1:27-28
John saw Jesus with eyes of blazing fire and fell at his feet as though he was dead - Revelation 1:14-16T

The paradox of God: He says to not be afraid but at the same time to have a humble, contrite spirit - Isaiah 66:2
When a holy God confronts sinful humans, the only result can be fear and trembling

The people were ashtonished by Jesus

Who do I you say I am? They had to go to the grave in order to find a man to whom they could liken him

No man in Jesus' day was great enough to convey their idea of strength

Pilot was afraid of Jesus even though He was a poor unarmed peasant

Proof of His power was in the intensity of the hatred and in the intensity of love which he excited

You can not hate a weakling or a no body

He was so mightly that when men thought of him, they thought of God
The man who was nearest to him, saw him in a vsion after he was gone and said, "When I saw him I fell at his feet as dead" - Revelation 1:17

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

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.

What do you mean "If I can"? Anything is possible if a person believes - Mark 9:23

At times, we need some assurance before we can take a leap of faith

The unnamed fatherhad seen Jesus' disciples fail miserably at cast ou the eveil spirit and wondered if the Master could do anything for him

Jesus fully intended to heal the boy but first dealt with the man's doubts

Though this may may not had enough faith to completely believe, Jesus could help him

If you want God to do great things in your life, you will need faith; don't be afraid to ask

Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind and he went away, weeping bitterly - Matthew 26:75

God offers forgiveness for even the worst of sins and the worst of sinners

Peter learned this firsthand

Theories abound as to why Judas' motivation for betraying Jesus, but for Peter it was clear, he was afraid

Judas and Peter both:

• Failed Jesus miserably
• Knew immediately they had done wrong
• Felt the guilt

Two remorseful sinners but only one turned back to the Lord

Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do what you've said - 1 Kings 17:13

When you speak and demonstrate your faith openly, it is bound to infect others

It seemed Elijah was the only man with faith in Israel but he didn't let that stop him speaking God's Word who desparately needed to hear it

Drought had led to famine, God sent a woman with little money to feed

Elijah didn't allow the lack of wealth affect his faith and persuaded the woman to share what little she had

She never again lacked food for herself or her son

Faith isn't real unless you put it to work, don't worry about running out - God will give you what you need

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

Then Jesus wept... "See how much he loved him!" - John 11:35-36

Jesus was never afraid to show his emotions

He knew how the saga of Lazarus' death would end that day and the people would winess a spectacular miracle - yet he cried as he approached his firend's tomb

Reason for tears?

• Felt other pain
• Death had invaded his friend's lives
• Disappointment from their lack of faith

Jesus was perfect in love, holiness, and his ability to express emotion

David was afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. He pretented to be insane - 1 Samuel 21:12-13

Nothing reveals what's inside you quie like a stressfull situation

David fled to Gath become incognito from the murderous King Saul

King Achish's officers were aware of his true identity and David feared for his life and acted insane

Hardly the kind of behavior you would expect from Israel's next king

David allowed his stress rather than his God-inspired courage to rule the day

You may not be able to avoid stressful situations but you can decide for yourself how you'll respond to them

His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful - 1 Chronicles 4:9

When we receive a vision for something specific, we are to pray equally specifically

Jabez was an honorable man whose name meant "pain"

Only recorded words was a well-known prayer - "Please be with me in all I do and keep me from all trouble and pain" - 1 Chronicles 4:10

God said yes to everything Jebez asked:

1. God would bless him - went to the source of all good things
2. God would expand his territory - wasn't afraid to ask things specifically
3. God would be with him inall that he did - he knew was heading nowhere without God
4. God would keep him from all trouble and pain - aka asked for a humble heart and for ability to do right

Summary

In Gerar, Isaac lied about Rebekah being his wife. 

Observations

Genesis 26:5 - Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions

• Abraham had not received the law yet
• He was described as one who kept the law by living by faith and obedience
• A man who lived by faith could be described as one who kept the law

Genesis 26:9 - I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me

• The son repeated his father's lie's [Genesis 20:2]
• Faith in God's promises causes fearless work with Him
• This time it was not God but Abimekech who protected and commad that the woman not to be touched
• The Philistine king emerged as the righteous one
• God continued to be faithful with Issac for the sake of future generations
• If Isaac's marriage had ended here, there would have been no Israelites

Application

The first step toward helping children live righteously is for the parent to live rightly. What kind of example I am setting for my children?

Prayer

Please help me to see what I am projecting onto my children by the life I am living

Different classes of people were attracted to Jesus

Not only did Jesus draw people to him, but he stirred them to the core

• They were astonishd
• They were amazed
• Filled with amazement

Jesus asked "Who do men say that I am?"

They went to the grave in order to find a man to whom they could compare

Pilate was afraid of a poor unarmed peasant

Many hate him, you can't hate a weakling

He was so mighty that when thought of him, they thought of God

To him:

• certian conceptions of God were true and others were false
• certain estimates of man were correct and others erroneous
• certain standards of duty were uplifting and other degrading

Jesus clung to the true and combated the false

He was not afraid of being call intolerant or a bigot

He made no compromises and not bend on thing he knew were true and good

Jesus correct was taught by the teachers, leaders; not allowing them to roam at their will through the realms of thought

Principles were to cling to or else lose their souls