Quiet Times Search

1. Unfinished labor - Quit if results are not produced quickly
2. Half-hearted labor - Elisha angry with the king of Israel - 2 Kings 13:14-19
   
3. Ineffective labor - We are working hard but without God
4. Tireless labor - Focusing on self
5. Courageous labor - Letting fear take over your mind

• Whomever asks
• Whenever we are asked
• Freely and from the heart
• Expect nothing in return
• Anonymously

• What if someone takes advantage of me?
• Will there be anything left for me?
• What if I do not get anything in return?
• What possible difference can I make?

• Came from the wrong town
• No educational credentials
• Follower were common people

Expectation

Mark 1:1

• He expected a lot out of Himself
• He knew he was born to save the world
• Wallow in self-pity, to cower in fear, or simply giving up is inappropriate behavior

Mark 1:2-8 - People consistently live up to the perceptions others have of them

Encouragement

Mark 1:9-11

• He told him that he was special
• God is a god who initiates love
• How would we change if we realized the amount of love God has for us

Compassion

Mark 1:40-45

• He did not minister from a safe distance.
• We can have a powerful and lasting impact on someone else if we willing to go deep.
• There was no room left in Jesus for fear, disgust, or apprehension.
• His emotional state was righteous because he did not hesitate to reachout and touch the diseased man.
• How many of us reach out and pull back abruptly because of fear of personal rejection?

Humility

• Jesus foresaw His popular curtailing His ability to spread His word.
• People interested in personal glory don’t usually get very far in enlisting others in their cause.

Power

Mark 5:1-17

• What expectations do you have of your prayer life
• Do we believe the power that can be unleashed through your prayer life?
• We need to pray for God’s power to be clearly demonstrated – we desperately need the fear of the Lord.

Fearlessness

• Making the decision not give into fear is essential ingredient for the man or woman impact
• Two fears: fear of public speaking and the fear of failure

Spectacular Deeds

• Made front-page news.
• Jesus responded by valuing freeing a man over another property
• Jesus was willing to do something outrageous and controversial for the sake of a needy person

Assertiveness

Mark 5:35-43

• He took charge of the situation and his surrounds
• Why have we not acted as Jesus did?

Fear Sensitivity

• Jesus didn’t say a word to those who doubted
• Assertiveness without sensitivity can be offensive and counterproductive

A Simple charge

• “Don’t be afraid, just believe”
• He didn’t burden him with lots of words
• Excessive amount of teaching may cloud the main issue

Privileging

• Peter, James, and John were closest to Jesus
• Jesus narrowed his focus to help the build leaders to their full potential.

Consideration

• A little consideration can go a long ways
• Ideas: buy someone lunch, remember people’s birthdays
• Be alert to meeting other people’s needs

Amazing Speech

Mark 6:1-6

Suspicions and fear can evaporate because of love and openness

1. Deep Conviction

• Listeners who put his words into practice were wise
• How convicted are you about what you’ll be saying?
• Think about what to say instead of how it will come across

2. Passion - If the speaker isn’t moved by the message, how can he expect it to move anyone else?

3. Integrity - Speaker must take plank out of their own eye before one can challenge other on the same topic

4. Person to person

• Speak at their level mean not “to talk down to” or “to talk up to” an audience.
• Apologizing without reason, belittles himself
• Jesus was above us, but he came down to our level

5. Inspirational

• Conservative and low-key he will have no impact
• We all want our lives to count for something

6. Practical

• Message must be practical and applicable
• He specifically addressed the sins in their lives
• He gave them direction, and at times He told them exactly what to do

7. Meet the Need - Out of touch with the needs on the audience can actually make things worst then they are.

Time Management

Mark 8:27-30

• Jesus lived a very busy life.
• Jesus often accomplished several things at once.
• Jesus knew time was limited.

Reputation

• We also need to find out how others perceive us.
• We shouldn’t fear their disapproval.

• He was furious about the fruitfulness of another “tree” that he had planted, watered, weeded, fertilized.
• Jesus cleared the temple at the beginning of His ministry and also here at the end of His of His ministry
• There was no fear of God.
  

• Jesus knew the right place and the right time the do the things needed.
• He was disciplined and self-controlled for just the right time.
  

• What made Jesus angry was the stubborn refusal of most to change.
• A willingness to change is a precious and seemingly rare behavioral characteristic.
• Become exceedingly insecure and defensive when we are awakened to the existence of personal deficiencies.
• We must also get angry about obstinacy in our own lives and other people’s lives.

• Why didn’t anyone try to stop Jesus as he was taking over the temple? (Only one person and many of them)
• They knew that they were in the wrong.
• Teachers of the law and chief priests feared Jesus
  
• If people consider you a “nice guy” and are not in awe of you, you probably won’t have much impact.

Unconditional Love

Mark 14:17-26

• Jesus knew yet did not treat Judas any different than he treated the other eleven.
• Conditional love puts an unbearable strain on relationships
• Unconditional gives security, wipes away fear, builds confidence, adds hope, teaches perseverance, and erases discouragement and doubt.
• The key is not to love if or because of, but to love in spite of. In-spite-of love cannot fail to make a lasting impact.

The Memorial

• Jesus died for us as individuals
• It is the forgiveness of sins, my sins.
• People need frequent reminders
• We soon forget what is important.
• The activities of life so easily distract us and we so quickly lose our convictions.

A Powerful Presence

Mark 14:43-52

• Fearsome spectacle - all the disciples fled
• John 18:4-6 – He was forceful and in control of his decision

Self-Control

Mark 14:53-65

• Remember, for these men to act this way must have seemed completely out of character.
• What is your standard of self-control? – They lost control of their anger (built up over several month and years)

• Swords, camouflage, six-shooters, uniforms
• Boys want to be powerful and dangerous
• Aggression is part of man’s design – God’s image (Exodus 15:3)
• They do not want to call and talk about relationships
• Boys play is a rehearsal for a bigger drama
• Life needs man to be fierce and fiercely devoted
• Every man needs to know he is powerful – be the hero

• Fights the grizzly, wins the beauty
• Recipe for fun with boys – add an element of danger
• We may fear the test, yet we yearn to be tested and discover what it takes
• If a man has lost this desire (says he doesn’t want it) does not know he has what it takes – believe he will fail the test.

• Nothing more inspiring to a man as a beautiful women
• Make you want to charge the castle, slay the giant
• Men going to war carry a photo of their sweetheart in their wallet
• Paintings on side of airplanes
• Lonely men fight lonely battles
• Where would James Bond, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Indiana Jones be without their women
• Man needs a battle to fight, he needs someone to fight for (someone in particular – women he loves)

Where do we come from?

A man must know where he comes from and what he is made of both past and family fathers

Most men are trying not to be like their fathers

Who will they derive their sense of strength?

To men God is: Distant and weak (How they would describe their father)
Jesus has become – Mister Rogers with a beard
God – gives a reason and purpose to fight

Reminds us that life lived in fear is no life at all – all will die someday
Jesus = Mother Teresa or William Wallace? Both

1. No battle to fight
   
2. No swords and castles
3. Without a great battle in which a man live and die - fierce part goes underground

• We doubt very much that we have and real strength to offer
•  If we did offer what we have it wouldn’t be good enough

• She wants control of the adventure
• Her relationships
• Her God
• No longer vulnerable
• Fear that no one will speak on our behalf or protect us or fight for us
• Manipulate our surroundings so we don’t feel so defenseless.

• What is my effect on you?
• What am I like to with?
• What don’t you feel free to bring up with me?

• Fear clears our mind, reorients our will
• Fruit from fear is not fruit that will last

• Our failures to repent only sadden him
• Hear the loving calls of the prophets – they have likely risk their own lives to serve

• 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?

• Old Way: “Treat … younger women as sister, with absolute purity”
• New Way: “…strength to comprehend with all the saint what is the breadth and length and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”

• Understands that he a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
• Jesus is Lord of the kingdom
• Jesus delivered him into the kingdom through his blood
• His sins placed him in Satan’s domain
• Live gratefully for Jesus rather than self
• Should anticipates the King’s glorious return
• Want no one to perish
• Should no fear man
• Only agenda is God’s agenda

1. What influences have shaped your worldview?
2. How has the world tried to squeeze your mind into its mold?
3. How can you resist – even reverse – this persistent pressure from the world?
4. Why should you “gird the loins of your mind”?
5. When and how did Saul/Paul repent?
6. What is the difference between a fleshly mind and a spiritual mind?
7. At a popular level, what is the difference between WWJD and WWJT?
8. Why are spiritual disciplines more effective after one has experienced the paradigm shift of metanoia?

Conducts a search-and-destroy mission for every potential excuse for sin
Jesus drove out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts
Much easier to express indignation at some else’s sin or some points out our sin versus our own

Although God hates sin and not the sinner – still it is the sinner that goes to hell
Nothing focuses the mind like real fear

Through fear, we recognize that sin alienates us from God
We long to restore our fellowship with God
Without the acknowledgement of separation, there is no cause for longing
Fear sounds the alarm, but longing sets the course
No sin can stand against a soul who longs to return to God

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?

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

• He looked out for the interest of others
• He lived out the message
• He knew what it meant to go to the cross
• He was convinced that he was more alive when he was dead
• He discipleship was a matter of practice
• He had no trouble seeing the mission of Jesus
• He did not run aimlessly but purposeful, selfless, and dedicated servant of Jesus

• They study to become like this
• They are discipled to become like this
• They do whatever it takes

• Three days of fasting and prayer? - Acts 9:9
• After 3 years of personal training? - Galatians 1:11-24
• After a visit to the 3 heaven? - 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

• Give when you are tired
• Pray when you do not want to
• Stand your ground against emotions and thoughts
• Overcome fear and to love in practical, unselfish way

1 Peter 3:1-7...

Submission, kindness is a two-way street

Wondering God is not using you more?
Why children are slow to become Christians?
Why don't feel more peace and joy in your house?

Look no further than your marriage!

Questions for wives:

• Do you resort to worldly means to win?
• Do you fight for your rights more than fighting for others?
• Do you show respect for your husband and emphasize his strengths?

Questions for husbands:

• How often you compliment your wife?
• Are you generous in the amount of housework you do?
• Do you respect your wife for her spirituality and other strengths of character?

Questions for both:

• Do you pray together regulary?
• Do your children have a fear of God?
• Are your family devotionals consistent?
• When outsiders visit your home and see your family, are they more likely to want to follow Christ?

• hydrophobia - fear of water
• acrophobia - fear of heights
• ochlophobia - fear of crowds
• xenophobia - fear of foreigners

1 Kings 19:1

• Travels 150 miles to get way from Jezebel
  • It is amazing how far we get away
• Lost gratitude
• God doesn't give up
  • He sends angels
• How to get back our spiritual compassion?
  • Go back!
  • Don't run from your fear
  • Don't just go through the motions
  • We are to face ourselves

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

2 Corinthians 7:2-13

• Challenges are need
• They produce more reliance and faith in God

Renew Your Spiritual Passion for the Lost

Mark 5:6-11

• Jesus saw their pain and their lostness
  • Broken marriages
  • Cannot control their children
• We need to get into their lives
• The will open up with your help

Christianity is not an invitation to become a moral person or a program to get us into a reforming society

Christianity begins with an invitation to desire

What do you want me to do for you? - Luke 18:41
Jesus continually took people into their hearts - to their deepest desires

What does Jesus choose to talk about with the women at the well?
Her immorality? No
He speaks to her about thirst - John 4:10
Lets talk about your heart's thirst since the life you've chosen isn't working

All you who are thirsty, come to the waters - Isaiah 55:1-2
Message had gotten lost by the time Jesus' showed up
Jew of the day were practicing soul-killing, lifeless religion of duty and obligation

No wonder Jesus was feared. He came along and started appealing to desire

To the lost - Jesus spoke of finding your way
To the weary - Jesus speaks of rest

Again and again Jesus took them back to their desires
Ask and it will be given to you - Matthew 7:7

What is it that you want? - Would have fallen on deaf ear if his message was unrelateable

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

Men's punishment and curse hits man where it hurts most - in the field - Genesis 3:17-19

We drawn our sense of worth from work
Men generally don't talk about relationship as they do achievements

Man's deepest desire always relates to his strength
No matter how much a man achieves, it is never enough

Man's worst fear is not meaursing up
In some cases failure can be debilitating for life

Even received a different curse from God - Genesis 3:16
It hits where it matters most - in her relationships
The curse every woman knows the reality of loneliness and heartache

More talk amoug women revolves more about relationships than work
Imposters pretend they do not need love

The worst fear of a women is abandonment

Some men refuse to play the man for fear of failing
Some women shun imtimacy in fear of rejection

• Landlord
• Boss at work
• Teacher

Matthew 9:27-34

• When ever you do something right
  • Some is telling you you are doing it wrong
  • You need to feel good about what you are doing
    • The religous did the taring down
    • They were afraid of losing their members

Do you believe that you will receive everything that you ask for in prayer?
Do you doubt more than you believe?

5 Faith Killers:

1. Hesitation - when accidents happen
2. Doubting syndrome - not expecting anything to happen
3. Pessimistic attitude - everything will go bad (from childhood)
4. Ingraditude - not being grateful
5. Fear - can be overcome by love

God create male and female in his own image - Genesis 1:27
Gender is how we bear the image of God

God does not have a body so it must be at the level of the soul

Men bear the image of God in their dangerous, inviting strength
Women bear the image of God tender and beautiful
God is the source of all masculine power and feminine allure

It is the nature of love to be generous
Married couples long to have children - want others to share in their happiness
There is no joy like a reunion - there is no sorrow like the sorrow of separation

Jesus tells us to not to fear death
Jesus makes a statement at Lazarus' funeral - if we a are his, we will never die - John 11:26
His tears for Martha and Mary and all who suffer loss and our inablility to see beyond it

God is not the God of dead but of the living - Luke 20:38

The fear of being bored is an unspoken fear of many about the life coming

Parable of the talents, what do the faithful get when they are rewarded?

More work!
You have faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things - Luke 19

Wouldn't a vacation be better?
Jesus believes he is sharing something delightful with us
Come and share your master's happiness - Matthew 25:23

With beauty, we need not fear indulging here
There is not a possessive quality to it
You can love the landscape without acquiring the real estate

Beauty is the closest thing we have to fullness without possessing on this side of eternity

Two kinds of losses in life:

1. Shared by all mankind - accidents,  fate, acts of God
2. Only know by the pilgrim - losses that we choose. We give up something that wasn't ours to begin with

Spiritual surrender is not resignation
Not choosing to care longer
Not an attempt to get beyond the suffering

It is surrender with desire

Myth tell us three truths, this third one is:

3. In this desparate hour, we have a crucial role to play

Neo sees himself as Thomas Anderson, but he was the one
Dorthy see herself as just a farm girl from Kansas but Joan of Arc was also on the farm but saw much more

People in the scriptures that saw this:

• Little boy slays the gaint
• Loudmouthed fisherman who can not keep a job to lead the church
• Sinful woman with a golden heart became a example of humility to the Pharisees

This eternal truth is the most difficult for us to believe
Our days are extraordinary but most don't see it this way
It is the 'veil of familarity' - you are not what you think you are

There is a glory to your life that your enemy fears

The one who knows what you could be, fears it
The whole world lies under the power of the evil one - 1 John 5:19

Things happen to you and we question why
There is a bigger story going on

If believe we have a crucial role to play and come to know it is true, everything would change

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

• Teach me your way
• I will walk in your truth
• Give me an undivided heart
• I will fear your name
• I will praise you
• With all of my heart
• I will glory you

• Body - Romans 12:1
• Soul - Luke 10:27
• Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:17

• Pride - independence from God
• Idolatry - Giving our devotion, fear, or any part of our heart to something other than God