Quiet Times Search

• Psalms 8, 24, 29, 47, 92, 93, 95, 96, 98, 100, 104, 113, 135, 147, 148

MLK - as bad as slavery was - there a slavery that last for eternity

2 Corinthians 5:21 - Jesus might become sin for us

As existence of righteousness does not ensure we receive it

Satan tries everything to help us miss this opportunity

Jews after saw their failures in the past - created many regulations so they would not sin

• Not the content of their character
• Basis of conformity to rules
• Majored in the minors and minored in the majors

Religion that is performance based is doomed

• what must we do to please God
• Condemn others outwardly
• Condemn ourselves inwardly
• Everything becomes a matter of right and wrong
• Hearts focused if we have done enough and have done it right

• Fear - only for a while
• Christian fellowship - until other's disappointments and failures
• Ambition - until our disappointments and failures

Reasons for a journal:

• It give you a jump start to your day - helps to remember and build on previous QTs
• Can build on a thought or a theme
• Reveals our spiritual progress
• Keeps us focused on our goals and convictions
• Becomes a seedbed of great inspiration and insight

Practical advice about journals:

• Set aside a notebook  - better than random pieces of paper
• Have a place to write down random thoughts and things that need to be done so you are not distracted
• Keep our goals before you

An emotional response (along with fear) that succeed at undermining our love for God

A result of an uncard-for emotional wound

Matthew 18:15-17 - can resolve most issues
Sometimes we are just called on to forgive
Not forgiving is like allowing a physical cut become infected

Examples

• Esau wept bitteryly when he failed to receive the blessing - Genesis 27:34
• Israelites incrediblity harsh and treatment from the Eyptians - Exodus 1:14
• Naomi changed her name to Mara, meaning "bitterness" (losted husband and sons) - Ruth 1:21
• Hannah wept "in bitterness of soul" because of her infertility - 1 Samuel 1:10
• David's men because of the loss of their children - 1 Samuel 30:6
• Job while not understanding the discipline of God - Job 7:11
• Missing the grace of God cause bitter root - Hebrews 12:15
• Envy becomes bitterness - James 3:14

Bitterness will actively oppose any attempt to restore our love for God

Bitter or better - a channel of curses or blessings

Disciples need Jesus' example to overcome the pain of the cross

Jesus wants us to have his attitude toward suffering

• What form do we expect our Christian suffering to take?
• Are we looking for a Christianity that does not involve suffering?

Bible command us to get rid of all bitterness
Two ways to overcome bittereness:

• Forgive - Ephesians 4:32
• Trusting God is at work in all things for our good - Romans 8:28

• David knew he could go nowhere to escape God Spirit - Psalms 139:7
• Spirit lead David to "level ground" - Psalms 143:10
• David pleaded for God's Spirit to remain with him - Psalms 51:11

Sacrifice - we think of pain, suffering, loss, and the uncomfortable concept of denying self
We hear: "Do what feels good"

Sacrifice is a voluntary presentation of ourselves to God to be used for his purposes
Jesus sacrificed his comfortable position with God to serve, heal, love, preach the good news

 We can respond in serveral ways to the sacrifice of Jesus:

• Pretend it never happened
• Can decide to hide from the challenge
• Immerse ourselves in other thoughts
• Stand back with our arms folded
• Understand the facts but no personal acceptance or responsibility

Christ love needs to compel us - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Hiding is dishonest. Spectating is hypocritical. Committing is powerful.

What happens when you offer your body as a living sacrifice?

• It produces many seeds - John 12:24-25
• Life truly becomes life
• Our joy is multiplied
• It effects us and other for enternity

What types of sacrifices is God asking of you right now?
Is there is anyone, anything, any place, or any position you are holding on to?

After asking for help from the Holy Spirit, then focus on the relationship with
Prayer is primarily a vehicle of relationship

Pater (greek) = father
Abba (aramaic) = intimacy and endearment = daddy

Holy Spirit in our lives is a spirit of adoption by which God give us our spiritual birthright (Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6)

He delights when we come to Him as our Father, Abaa, Daddy:

• Mr. Bentson - wrong
• Mr. Benson - contact
• Benson - co-worker
• Chad - friend
• Dad - daughter
• Honey - wife

The closer you are, the better responce you will get
He delights in your desire to spend time with Him

This relationship is critical to a healthy and vitaul prayer life
His fatherhood becomes real in my life
Bridge the gap between what I know in my head and what I experience in my life

Three other ways to fight the battle aginst our flesh (nature)

Resist temptation - 1 Peter 5:9
Turn and flee from temptation - 2 Timothy 2:22

Most effective - avoidance - Lead us not into temptation
He guides me in paths of righteousness for hos name's sake - Psalms 23:3

Prayer becomes our spiritual "dressing room" for the battle of the day - Ephesians 6:13-17

Ambition

Mark 9:33-35

• Jesus let them cool down before choosing to address the matter. (less defensive)
• Jesus never corrected these men for wanting to be great.
• High achievers in life tend to be high achievers for God.
• People who are eager to use their lives to benefit others are remembered and admired for generations

Win/Lose/Win

• When we try to eliminate the agony of defeat, we also take away the joy of victory.
• To discard dichotomous thinking is to discard the God of the Bible.
• I win by losing so that you may also win. The loser becomes the ultimate winner!

Friend or Foe?

Mark 9:38-41

• To wrongly oppose an ally is wasteful, and to aid an adversary out of ignorance is embarrassing.
• Jesus did not recognize anyone as being “neutral” about him.

Hell-Fire Speech

Mark 9:42-50

• When a person steps into seawater, he becomes acutely aware of open wounds on his feet.
• Salty speech is good for producing impact.

Teacher

Mark 10:1 – We must good teachers and in teaching mode.

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

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

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

Zeal reject the “whatever…” attitude as it determines to do “Whatever to takes!”
Lack of surrender robs zeal
Completely denying all we are, path to God becomes clear and passionate

1. Does Sandi’s story convict you about an unresolved sin in your life? If so, what should you do?
2. What are some Biblical examples of individuals who exhibit godly sorrow? What are some Biblical examples of groups who exhibit godly sorrow?
3. Consider William Law’s assertion that our “sins are due to the fact that we do not intend to please God in all the actions of our lives.” Is this true for you? How does godly sorrow reverse this condition?
4. Why does sin require confession? Is confession only before God? To whom have you confessed sins besides God?
5. What does a short list indicate?
6. Do you believe Proverbs 28:13? Do you practice it? Why or why not?
7. How does indignation promote repentance? When were you last indignant over sin?
8. How does “fear” promote repentance? How does it work together with “longing” to produce repentance?
9. Has anyone ever marveled at your zeal to repent – why or why not?
10. Are you ready to completely the avenge the wrong caused by sin and self? What next steps will you take?

• Giving an explanation will not suffice.
• World must have a demonstration of what to believe – “Follow me, I know the way!”
• We must seek them. We must win them. We must pray for them.
• Practicals
  • Begin with a few
  • Stay together – see us on what they need to become
  • See how the message relates to daily experiences
  • Becomes intimately practical.
• Give them time – they can be with us while we are doing other things
• Arrange special times of:
  • Study the Bible
  • Pray
  • General sharing of deepest burdens and desires
• Expect results from them gradually

Although is righteousness that is not our own becomes laziness, we show we have the grace of God - Philippians 3:12-16

Despite all that Paul went through and has done - he pressed on
Greek word, dicoko = used in both hunting and foot racing

There is certainly a time to remember what we have done - 2 Thessalonians 2:5
But there is also a time to forget

Paul did not cling to the fact that he planted a lot of churches
He purposely "forgot", so he would not see himself as arriving

Paul was looking forward to the next thing God had in store for him
All who are mature, should think this way

The way to take it higher is to hold on to what you have already grasped and then reach for more

• Primary job is to teach the scriptures
• They need to teach the truth
• False teachers are always out there
  • OT = Jeremiah 8:7-8
  • NT = 2 Peter 2:1
• Are need to arrange biblical themes - Ecclesiastes 12:9-10
• Teacher are primary instructional while preachers are more inspirational
• Teachers must have deep convictions - allow those without is dangerous
• Teachers must be on the cutting edge - teacher not at their best -> teaching becomes effected

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

Causes of Sickness:

Break Down of System

Our spiritual immune system can break down:

1. Time with God isn't exciting...less time spent
2. Dynamic prayer becomes nonexistant
3. Desire to go to Church decreases
4. Becomes critical toward the church, people, even God

• I didn't become a disciple to be here and then fall away
• Sin gives birth to death...maybe slow maybe fast.

You must be prepared:

1 Peter 4:1-11

• Because we are not prepared
• Wolves are all around us.

Ephesians 5:10-18

• Comes when we make excuses.
• Like shotting ourselves in the foot.

Will you let him?

• Cinderella rises from from supression to become queen
• The ugly duckling becomes a beautiful swan
• Pinocchio becomes a real boy
• Frog becomes a prince
• Scrooge becomes a good friend to all
• Cowardly lion, Scarecrow, Tinman all get what they are missing

• Zacchaeus the trickster becomes Zaccheaus the honest
• Mary the sinful becomes Mary the faithful
• Paul the self-righteous murder becomes Paul the humble apostle

• Scripture reading becomes I have to read it to understand the gospel for others
• Talking to God suddenly takes on a new purpose - passionate pleas for friends
• Our desire to worship grows as your gratitude grows
• Helps maintain a high standard of purity