Quiet Times Search

• Described himself as someone who could do nothing without God
  
• This poor man called and the Lord saved him from his troubles - Psalms 34:6
• God is his help and deliver - Psalms 40:17
• I am poor and needy - Psalms 109:22
• Modern thinkers might say he needed some self-esteem 
• God said he was after his own heart

• Woe to me, I am ruined for I am unclean - Isaiah 6:5
• Today we can go to church wanting to be told how good we are
• God forgave his sins and sent him on a life mission full of purpose

• Some will run from it
• Other will try to put it out
• Still others will be drawn to it

Jesus Christ is Lord
Everyone who lived will say these four words - Philippians 2:9-11

Whoever disowns Jesus before men, he will disown him - Matthew 10:32-33

No one comes to the Father except through Jesus - John 14:6

Give up for God = Gain
Lose for God = FInd
Bow before God now = stand

Bow when:

• You naturally want to be selfish
• You want your needs meet
• You doubt his love

Each disciple must decide that he or she lives among other "for their sake" - 1 Thessalonians 1:5

• v20 - I have not hesitated to preach
• v21 - Declared that everyone must turn to God in repentance
• v23 - Faced hardships
• v24 - Meant everything to testify to the "gospel of grace"
• v26, 27 - I am innocent of the blood of all men

• Because he proclaimed the whole will of God
• Did not hesitate
• Ezekiel 33:6 - But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person's death.

Preached by Richard Dixson (1997-05-18)

1 Samuel 16:7

• Worldly things look more appealing
• The people saw the others with better things
  • Most important thing:
    • Everyone spends time to get ready
    • Do you spend more time getting ready for the outside appearance than your inward?
    • The heart is most important

Psalms 51:4-9

• Being true to one's self
• When our conscience violated things are not fun
• Renew the steadfast spirit

Special Place for a special for a special friend

Psalms 63:2-4 - Remember God's Power

Psalms 63:6-7 - The night bed and protection from God

Psalms 91:4 - We are being attacked all the time

Psalms 63:8 - Confidence - God holds us up

• Been there, done that
• Life sucks, then you die
• How is it going? "Same old thing"

• Friendship
• Marriage
• Children
• Holidays

• Drain life and beauty away from the church
• Bury Christians in duty
• Nobody will want to take a closer look

Battle of desire is not something that just takes place with us or even between us - but against us

Advirtisers play on our desire of creating an image that everyone who is anyone has the object for sale

The evil one has two ploys:

• Kill our hearts and bury our desires
• Seduce our desire into a trap

Our addictions are our own worst enemies

Like the rich, young ruler - we find we can not give up our treasures even though God has something much better

Ephesians 3:14-21

• I kneel before the Father - come to God humble
• Strength comes from how deep, wide, long of Christ's love
• Prayer can do anything God can do

God overwhelms the mind

Genesis 41:40 - overwhelmed Joseph with the position that was given to him

1 Kings 10:7-8 - Sheba was overwhelmed by Solomon's wealth and wisdom

1 Corinthians 2:9 - He will overwhelm you by his love

Ephesians 3:20 - more than we can ask or image

• Think about how God meet everyone of your needs
• Think about how God go beyond everyone of your needs
• Think about how God can bless you beyond what we can think of

• Wanted choice seat to the right and left of Jesus
• Wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a village

• Be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor - Deuteronomy 15:11
• Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me - Matthew 25:40
• All I ask is that you remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do - Galatians 2:10

1. Honor God with your Wealth - Proverbs 3:9
   1. Will I obey the scriptures
   2. Will I, as a mature Christian, increase my weekly giving?
2. Guard Your Heart - Proverbs 4:23
   1. What sins of the heart have I confronted and repented of in regard to my finances?
   2. Am I ready to give out of a pure heart and a sincere love for God?
3. A Living Sacrifice - Romans 12:1
   1. In what ways am I going to live a more sacrificial lifestyle in order to advance God's kingdom?
4. Give and It Will Be Given To You - Luke 6:38
   1. Have I made decisions to give by faith and to give joyfully to the Lord?
5. A Spirit of Self-Discipline - 2 Timothy 1:7
   1. Have I prepared a budget that I am ready to live by? If not, when will I have it completed?
   2. Have I sought input?
6. Free At Last - Romans 13:8
   1. Have I gained deep convictions about getting out of debt?
   2. What is my plan to eliminate sinful/foolish debt from my life?
7. A Light to the World - Matthew 5:14
   1. How am I going to work at my job in such a way that my life is an upward calling to everyone around me?
   2. Am I fulfilling my financial responsibilities as a disciple in the areas that God expects?

• Matthew recently became a Christian
• In those days, being a tax collector was a license to extort
• He had not learned yet how to teach the gospel to people
• Jesus was always moving a round, spontaneous
  
• Solution throw a big party and invite Jesus and everyone else
• Pharisees found out about it and were not happy with it
• Did Matthew have second thoughts when he saw the interactions between the Pharisees and Jesus?
• Jesus defended Matthew's party idea with explaining the sick need a doctor
• Mixed groups are not only acceptable but essentials to God's redemptive plan

• Be innovative and creative
• Come up with a plan to be with more people
• Pray hard and be willing to go out on a limb
• Learn from mistakes and adjust accordingly

1. God is loving - Out of compassion He made us and still desires to have a relationship despite our sin against him
2. God is holy - He is absolutely pure and is separate from everything impure
3. God is just - He is a perfect judge who will dispense justice to everyone fairly

• Expressed the love of God
• Upheld the holiness of God
• Satisfied the justice of God

• Must play error free ball
• Pitchers must strikeout everyone in a no-hitter every time
• Must have 1.000 batting average
• Each hit must be a home run

• Some apostles did not like his selfish ambition - Matthew 20:24
• Some thought he was prideful describing himself as the beloved disciple of Jesus - John 21:7
• After the resurrection, Peter still seems to have attitudes towards John - John 21:21

• Selfish ambition turned to kingdom ambition
• Fits of rage changed to fits of love
• Factiousness come together into a passion of unity

• Everyone wants to know “How can I really live?”
  
• This passage spells out two fundamental ways to answer this question. The world’s wisdom or God’s wisdom.
  
• How does man in his wisdom view God’s wisdom (the cross)?
  
• How does God view man’s wisdom? Can we have it both ways?
• If you think I am a fool and I think you are a fool, what will our relationship be like?
  
• Establish the wide gulf in the two ways of viewing and living life.
  

• Why does Paul say “Do not deceive yourselves?”
  
• There is something about the world’s wisdom that is deceiving.
  
• It is easy to convince ourselves that what we want to believe, what is comfortable, what is familiar, is right.
  

• What kind of man was Peter? Was he religious?
  
• He certainly gets a right answer here.
• According to Jesus, where does this answer come from?
  

• What does “Peter rebuked him” mean?
  
• Peter thought he was seeing things God’s way, but in reality he was still on the side of the world’s wisdom.
  
• We can know the right answers and still be living according to the wisdom of the world. What was Jesus’ response?
  
• Where does the world’s wisdom really come from? From Satan. No wonder it is the opposite of God’s wisdom.

• 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.

Sinner’s Prayer? 1 Peter 3:21

• Some claim that a person needs only to pray a “sinner’s prayer” or “ask Jesus into his/her heart” in order to be saved.
• This is the predominant view in the evangelical Christian world. However, this is not the message that was preached in the Book of Acts.
• Everyone was called to repentance, faith and baptism, and as Peter wrote here, “baptism now saves us” by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Acts 22:7-16

• After encountering Jesus, repenting, praying, fasting (Acts 9:9-11), being healed, and being called by God,
  Paul remains in sin.
• What was left for him to do?
• Why the urgency - what is so pressing about the need for baptism?
• What remains for you to do or think about before you are ready to be united with Christ in baptism?

Hebrews 3:12-14

• Christianity is a “one another” religion, not a solo endeavor.
• We have the charge and the responsibility to be deeply involved in each other’s lives.
• Daily encouragement helps everyone stand firm until the end. You may wish to refer to additional “one another” verses.

Hebrews 10:22-25

• After being washed in baptism, we need the continual exhortations of brothers and sisters to stay the course.
• Consider ahead of time how you can spur on fellow Christians in the fellowship.
• Also prepare to receive biblical input that will result in greater love and good deeds.
• Why is missing meetings of the body described as a bad habit? Why and when do we meet?

Mark 3:31-35 - What will it mean for you to be part of Jesus’ family?

1. Acts 2:45, 1 John 3:17 - Material needs
2. Colossians 1:28-29 - Toil to present one another perfect (mature, complete) in Christ.
3. Ephesians 4:29 - Say only what is edifying.
4. Hebrews 3:12-13 - Encourage daily!

1. Respect those who work hard
2. Live in peace with each other
3. Warn the idle
4. Encourage the timid
5. Help the weak
6. Be patient with everyone
   

• About our sins and struggles
• About our marriage/relationship.

• v12 - Everyone that want to live a Godly life will have to go through persecution
• Question: What do you think that means - being persecuted for living a Godly life?
• v14-15 - Apostle Paul instructs Timothy to continue to believe to believe in the scriptures because it is able to make you wise in the choices of life
• v4:4 - Bible says that people will start to listen to and follow man (ideas and myths) rather than God
• If we read the Bible daily then we will know God's will for our lives. If we don't we will start to follow what people say, think, and feel.
• Question: How can reading the Bible daily change your life? What happens if you don't read daily?
• Question: Why do you think God wants you to read his word daily? So you can know him!

• Jesus is talking to the Jewish people and tells them that is they don't hold to his teachings, then they are not really his disciples
• Just because someone acts religious or know a lot about the Bible does not mean they are following Jesus
• Question: What does Jesus say it takes to be his disciple? Then you'll know what? Then what?
• When you read someone's journal you get to know that person more and more each day - same goes for reading God's word
• Question: How often do you read the Bible?
• Challenge: Read the Bible daily and make one decision each day.

• Question: Who has all authority? Jesus is the head (focus) of everything we want to do
• Question What is another name for the body of Christ? The head controls the body. Who is the head of the church? Jesus
• Use illustration to help for understanding
  

• Question: How would you define a foreigner or an alien person? Before becoming a disciple that's is what you
• Now through Jesus we are able to have peace (relationship) with God. To become family.
• As a disciple you become part of the family (household) not a part of the organization
• Question: What is the foundation of God's household? v20 - The Bible
• Share: Everyone in a household has responsibilities as we have responsibilities to the church family

• Question: What do you think the heart of what Jesus is saying in these scriptures?
• Question: Biblically speaking, because someone goes to church  does that make them a Christian? Are they a Christian because they are a good person? What if they know a lot about the Bible, does that make them a Christian?
• That means you are saying that the majority of people in the world are lost. How does that make you feel?
• Make God feel said but God has a plan for them - 1 Timothy 2:1-6

• v22 - The miracles Jesus did proves he was God's son
• v23 - He died on the cross for your sin
• v24 - God raised him from the dead
  

• Confess with your mouth (acknowledging God and everyone around you that you nor anything else will be the Lord of your life,expect Jesus)
• It is not the confession that justifies you, it is your heart that God is looking at.

• Be alert and self controlled - 1 Thessalonians 5:6
• Be an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity - 1 Timothy 4:12
• Be anxious for nothing - Philippians 4:6
• Be content with what you have - Hebrews 13:5
• Be willing to associate with those in low position - Romans 12:2
• Be joyful always - 1 Thessalonians 5:16
• Be kind to everyone - 2 Timothy 2:24
• Be patient with everyone - 1 Thessalonians 5:14

• v6:1 - He has an awesome vision of the awesome God.
• v6:5 - “Woe to me!”
  • Isaiah saw God in all his glory
  • He realized his own lostness
  • He realized the lostness of everyone else.
• v6:6-7 - Experiencing God’s forgiveness transforms our lives
• v6:8 - Then and only then are we ready to go and spread God’s word

• Sermon of the Mount: Jesus began to teach everyone - Matthew 5:1-2
• To Jews who had believed him, Jesus said they must believe - John 8:31
• Peter did not understand what Jesus was saying - Mark 8:30-32

• You are too harsh
• You are a push over
• You are not training your daughter for the long term

• 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)

• 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

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

• 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

• You don’t have to say “yes” to everyone and everything (our people pleasing nature will end up making us overwhelmed, stressed)
  

• 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. 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.

1. How were you starving and without hope like the 4 lepers before being baptized?
2. How is the kingdom of God like an unlimited feast?
3. How does verse 9 apply to being a disciple? Do you have the same attitude?

1. Do you feel like Paul does about the lost?
2. Who does God send to preach?
3. Will everyone accept the good news? Why?
4. Why is it important to preach no matter what response you receive?

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?

1. How did Jesus show the full extent of his love?
2. What was he trying to teach his disciples?
3. How can we obey verse 17?
4. Give specific examples.

1. Why was Dorcas so loved by everyone?
2. Who were her "special friends"?
3. Why do you think she did so much for them?
4. If you died today, what would you be remembered for?
5. What can we learn from Dorcas' life?

1. What made Timothy different from the others?
2. What shows a genuine interest in the welfare of others?
3. How can you be more like Timothy?

1. How do we "hold out the word of life" to others?
2. What kind of example do we need to show those around us?
3. What have you complained or argued about lately? How can you change?

1. How can you be a slave to everyone? (Give examples)
2. What are some ways you need to adapt to people in your life to help them be saved?

1. Why should we be "weeping" as we go out to make disciples?
2. What is the promise for those who do?

• 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?

• 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?

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

Everyone must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence - Jonah 3:7-8

The biggest enemy of godly leaders is not leading by example

Leading by example has always been one of a leader's greatest goals

• Want children to speak kindly? Speak kindly to them
• Want your coworkers and employees to be more consientious about their work? Show up on time and work deligently until you leave

Jonah warned the Ninevites of God's coming judgement and wrath

Their king responded by instructing his people to:

• Observe a time of fasting
• Pray
• Repent

...in hopes that God would change his minds and spare the city

The king of the Ninevites humility and leading by example saved his city from judgement and wrath

When you do as you say in life, you make it far easier for everyone around you to do the same

Crispus and everyone in his household believed in the Lord - Acts 18:8

High visibility can have rewards for those who stand out in the crowd

Why does the Bible mention Crispus and no one else? Crispus led the Corinthian synagogue

Paul baptized him and his family members also followed in his footsteps

Noteworthness came him taking a stand in a place where doing so could cause him big problems in a time when professing faith in Jesus was very dangerous

He was willing to stand out for his faith reguardless of the cost

Do you have the courage to stand out in your world?

Jesus: He sent them out to tell everyone about the kigdom of God and to heal the sick - Luke 9:1-2

He didn't just want them to just show people the good news of salvation but also to tell them about it as well

Jesus was the example of the One who struck a perfect balance between good works and effective words

He spoke the message that fueled his acts of compassion

That same message - people need today to both see and hear!

What compassion or help do people around you need the most? What good news do they need to hear?

Go back to your family and tell them everything God has done for you - Luke 8:39

People who express daily gratitude reported higer levels of:

• Alertness
• Enthusiasm
• Determination
• Optimism
• Energy

Jesus and his disciples encountered a violent demon-possessed man - naked, out of his mind, completely alone

He calmly and purposefully took control of the situation and delivered the man from his life of torment

Jesus told the man to go home and tell everyone what had happened

The man gratefully followed Jesus' instructions

When you think of everything that God has done for you, what other response is there but to follow him?

A greateful heart is the best, infectious witness to the goodness and power of God

Have I ever... Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong - 1 Samuel 12:3

Samuel earned a reputation for unimoeachable honesty that served him well

At Saul's coronation, he asked the people to declare if Samuel was honest and person of integrity

Everyone knew the answer and didn't hesitate to give it - YES!

Samuel could speak to the people with great authority because he had carefully maintained his reputation as an honest man

How can Samuel's example help you to choose honesty?

Today you will be with me in paradise - Luke 23:43

The criminal knew Jesus had the power to heal but also knew everyone will die eventually

He asked for something for the eternity and he faith about it

The man also knew something better could be waiting for him if he could just muster enough strength to speak to Jesus

With only minutes to live, this condememned criminal came to know in a short time he would hear the same voice welcoming him into an eternal home on the other side

We have found the Messiah; Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus  - John 1:41-42

Not everyone get to preach to a mass audience but everyone can make a difference in the lives of people around them

This is where Andrew got his start before the Book of Acts

When Andrew first meet Jesus and realized his identity, he couldn't contain his excitement - he had to tell someone

Andrew's one simple act of inviting his brother Peter forever changed his life and the life of millisons who would come to faith in Jesus Christ through Peter's life

It isn't about your training or credentials but tell others you have found the Messiah!

King Darius sent a message - everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before thr God of Daniel - Daniel 6:25-26

How you live and how you demonstrate your faith can make a big impression

Opponents of Daniel duped Darius into sending the prophet into a den of lions

King Dairus wanted to see the power of Daniel's God put on display - that is exactly what happened

Daniel came out without a scratch - it was a miracle and Darius praise the name of Daniel's God

Our world is filled with men like Darius who see to see God power demonstrated in our lives