Quiet Times Search

How do we decide what to study?

• How do I need to grow?
• What is my greatest spiritual need right now?

Questions to ask yourself:

• Do I need to see Jesus? - Gospels
• Do I need to be more spiritual? - Sermon of the Mount
• Do I need more faith?
• Do I need to learn to others more? - Jesus, John, Peter, Paul examples
• Do I need to be more grateful? - Psalms/Topical study
• Do I need to become more evangelistic?
• Do I need to know God better? - Abraham or Moses
• Do I need greater assurance of salvation? Grace topical study
• Do I need to learn how to lead? - Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah, David, Timothy/Paul, and Titus
• Do I need to renew and revived as an older disciple? Hebrews
• Do I need to a greater conviction of sin? - David's sins account, acts of the sinful nature, the cross
• Do I need to repent of sin? Godly and worldly repentance, Paul's repentance, David's repentance
• Do I need a deeper prayer life? Jesus, Moses, Ahraham, Nehemiah, and Daniel
• Do I need help as a husband, wife, or parent? Ephesians 5:21-6:4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Peter 3:1-7
• Do I need help in dealing with suffering or persecution? Early church's persecution in Acts
• Do I need inspiration or encouragement?  Joshua, Joseph, Peter, Elijah, Elisha, and Daniel

Commit passages of scripture to memory

1 Peter 2:18

• Our first response to others must having nothing to do with how they treat us; love is unconditional
• Our response to those who mistreat us must be based on the example of Jesus
• Our response when we are hurt is to think how to extend an opportunity of repentance and forgiveness
• The more we suffer with grace and mercy toward our offender, the more they are drawn to God

1 Peter 3:8-9

• Taking up our cross means we suffer at the hands of others without retaliation and with repect
• Offenders will be melted by our gentleness and hopefully
• Even if no repetance, they at least have an opportunity to repent

Taking the way of the cross accomplishes:

• Refines our character, making us more like Jesus
• Works on those who sin against us by bringing them to repentance
• The greater the hurt forgiven, the greater the impact of the one forgiven

• Deny self daily
• Repentance - when we don't respond to God's grace - God will find a way to help us to repent
  
  • Through kindness - Romans 2:4
  • Through discipline - Hebrews 12:5-11
• Persevering though suffering - James 1:2-4

We can feel pain because God feels pain
By his wounds you have been healed - 1 Peter 2:24

Questions:

• Have you loved someone wholeheartedly and they stopped loving you?
• Has someone take advantage of you?
• Have you ever been neglected, forgotten, or rejected?

Amazing grace cost amazing pain

Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? - James 4:4-5

How does God feel about:

• Lack of trust?
• Sexual sin?
• Lack of care?
• Being pushed aside because of school or business?

• How do you feel about sin? Do you hate it?
  
• Do you allow sin to stay around?

There is no greater privilege and responsibility than to pray for our spouse and children
It boggles the imagination to see how the quality of our family life can be affected by exercise this privilege

Powerful spiritual forces of evil try to undermine God's foundational institutions like the family

Bible clearly teaches that our struggle come from the spiritual forces outside conscious perception - Ephesians 6:12
Praying sometimes make things worst (at the beginning) because Satan is on the attack

Each of us need to realize that how we pray for our spouse is limited only by our creativity
If you want the kind of relationship that God intended you to have with your wife, prayer will be a major factor in seeing that desire realized

When we have been faithful in praying for my children, we have a great sense of peace about their lives
Christian dads have a tremendous privilege and a straggering responsibilty to pray their children

• protection
• fruitfulness
• effectiveness
• faithfulness

• Children who learn to admire and encourage other will be confident
• They will be strong enough to give credit where credit is due
• Teach your kids to give their best and never blame anyone when they lose
• Teach them to be like Jonathan - could have been jealous of David but became his best friend - 1 Samuel 18
• John the Baptist became lesser so Jesus could become greater - John 3:30

1. He obeyed her - Luke 2:51
2. He allowed her to influence him when he performed his first miracle - John 2:1-11
3. He did not allow his devotion to Mary make him sentimental - Mark 3:20-35
4. Protected and provided for her needs as he died on the cross

• the accuser
• the adversary
• the enemy
• an evil spirit
• the father of lies
• a murderer
• the power of darkness
• the prince of this world
• the ruler of darkness
• the spirit that in the children of disobedience
• the temper
• the god of this work
• the wicked one

• Abraham's desert wanderings
• Moses' shameful flight to Midian
• Jacob's marital woes
• Hannah's years of barrenness
  
• Ruth's widowness and loneliness
• David's years as a fugitive

Discipliner

Mark 3:31-35

• Jesus cared about their souls more than their feelings
• God is willing that people suffer in order to learn something for their own greater good.
• Do you allow sentimentality to rule in our relationships?

Discernment

• Jesus saw people either for him or against him.
• They were either movers for God or still needed to be moved by God.

• Thought of Jesus as a Messianic Champion
• Thought Jesus would reveal himself in a fierce battle
• “You are the Christ!”
• All the right data
  • Witness the transfiguration – built shelters for Moses, Jesus, and Elijah – Jesus said Peter didn’t know what he was saying
  • Night of the betrayal – Peter said bring it on, he held on hope that 12 leagues of angels would come; drawn his sword to the guard
  • Peter joined the other disciples in Jerusalem – with “one mind” in prayer and purpose

• Disciples realized that they were responding to Jesus who was willing to give of Himself for them
• Examples of Jesus giving himself away
  • Gave away what the Father gave to Him - John 15:15
  • He gave them peace - John 16:33
  • He gave them despite pain and suffering - John 15:11
• Love is not love until it is given away
• Jesus – God gave away His most precious possession
• No greater love than to lay down our live for others
• Jesus impressed the deep compulsion of His eternal purpose
• It was clear that the Master considered no service too small or sacrifice too great.
• Jesus denied Himself many of the comforts and pleasure of the world and became a servant
• He continually gave His life “for their sakes”
• Disciples learned not in theory but in practice (painful and hard to accept)
• Jesus life was the measure by which they were to regard their own service.
  • To give freely as they had received – Matthew 10:8
  • Love one another as He loved them - John 13:34
  • Calvary love was the standard

• On the job training – let followers have experience or make some observations of their own
• Gave them greater awareness of their deficiencies
• Kept disciples going toward the goal He had set before them.
• He did not expect more from His disciples than they could do
• He did expect their best
• We never assume the work is done. Ask lots of question / probe.
• There are many things that can happen to frustrate, discouraged or defeated.
• The goal is world conquest.
  • Never dare to let a lesser concern capture us.
  • No further training or inspiration needed.
  • Focus can easily be on us.
• The ability of a worker is not developed if there is no supervision
• Our little efforts can be a excuse for not doing more.
• We can lose the advantage years of hard work and sacrifice.
• Disciples must be brought to maturity
• We have not been called to hold the fort but storm the heights.

• Keep them going
  • All of this is going to require supervision
  • When questions arise, they must be answered while the problem is still in their mind.
  • Setup a schedule of training and keep a record of their growth
  • Exercise patience: Growth is sometimes slow and with many setbacks (while honestly seeking truth)
  • Seldom put them out of our mind
  • They need to be in our prayers and dreams
  • Accept the burden of their immaturity until they can do it for themselves
• We are not living primarily for the present.
• Our satisfaction is in knowing that in generations to come from bearing fruit
• World is desperately seeking someone to follow
  • Someone who is certain
  • Will be a man who knows the way of Christ
  • Or are one who is leading someone into greater darkness?
• Destiny of many hangs on our decision.

• Everything must be re-examined
• Everything must be reconsidered
• Every desire, dream, use of money and time
• Now everything must have a kingdom-first focus

1. When you don't have daily times with God in the Bible and prayer
2. Responsibilities to the church are a burden
3. Not happy or consistent in giving
4. Personal comfort, desires direct life's decisions
5. Can't find the time to share your faith
6. Gain greater feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction serving another "kingdom"
7. You have greater regard and protection of your schedule
8. Discipleship times, family devotionals not deep or consistent
9. Gaining one more than is greater than gaining one more soul
10. Dreams center more in this world than in the kingdom

• NIV = spur on
• KJV = provoke
• CSB - promote
• NASB - stimulate

1. Stirring up, provoking - only used here in the NT
2. irritation, sharp disagreement - only Acts 15:39
3. Attack of high fever - not in NT

1. Sudden violent outburst
2. Fit of violent action or emotion
3. A severe medically attack

• Pray for their needs and let them know that you are
• Share scripture that you believe will be relevant
• When they share struggles - ask them about it consistently
• Do not be afraid to give someone a bold challenge