Quiet Times Search

• Disciples were slow to learn the deeper truths of Jesus’ life.
  • What the kingdom of God was all about
  • The fact that Jesus was going to die on the cross
  • Serving others above their own needs
  • Who was greatest in the kingdom of God
  • Harsh judgment on those how disagreed with them
• Jesus was patient with their failings
  • Disciples went back to their old fishing business – did not seem to be an act of disobedience
  • Jesus come follow him but they did not realize what that meant until later
  • Their capacity to receive truth would if they continued to practice with what truth they did understand
  • They were not asked to commit to doctrine but to the Person who was the doctrine.

• 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

• Beauty
• Affliction

The enemy wants us to have small passions and desires

We are producing a generation whose greatest virtue is to not defend anyone
Then wonder why there is not more passion for Christ

The greatest enemy of holiness is not passion but apathy
Zeal for your house consumes me - John 2:17
Zeal isn't quite the pcitures we have of Sunday school

If deadness is next to godliness, then Jesus had to deadest person ever - it wasn't the case

God is a consuming fire - Hebrews 10:31
The consuming fire is His jealous love - Deuteronomy 4:24
Joy set before him enable Jesus to endure the agony of the Cross - Hebrews 12:2

To know and to be known. It is our deepest ache.
Our bodies are an outward sign of an inward reality

Love makes us to crazy things for love. No union on earth like the consummation of love between a man and woman
Lovers reach for the stars to find words fitting enough to express what the beloved means to them - to a clue to a deeper reality

Becoming one - this is what God is seeking with us
Gender, sexually and marriage server as a lving metaphor
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother ... and the two will become one flesh... I am talking about Christ and the church - Ephesians 5:31-32
The cross is a great mystery - but in context of sacrifing animal - it became clear what they had been doing and what Christ was doing

Bible is the greatest romance ever written
God has given us the highest freedom of all - the freedom to reject him
Love is possible only when it is freely chosen

• Some daring act of evangelism - although He did this almost daily
• Being baptized  - although it is commanded and can never be omitted

• The cross is a demonstration of God’s justice in the face of sin.
• God would not be righteous if he simply looked the other way in the face of sin and evil.
  
• The cross is the greatest demonstration of God’s love. Because God loves us, Jesus Christ died for our sins.

• Jesus understood God’s plan for him to give himself as a ransom for us - to die for our sins.
• He could do this only because of his sinless life.

• One account of the crucifixion. As you read and discuss each section, ask the question: “Why did God allow this to happen to Jesus?” Because He loves us! (To better describe the physical torments of the crucifixion, you may also wish to read “The Passion of the Christ from a Medical Point of View” by C. Truman Davis, M.D.)

• Jesus was the greatest because he was a servant to all
• Why would anyone want to be a servant of all? Because Jesus was the greatest example we can understand why.

• Jesus was God yet he did not even consider his equality
• He made himself nothing - he was king yet he was on the bottom level
• Slaves:
  • Are 24/7/365
  • Do not get thanks
  • Do not have days off
  • Do not have a schedule of their own
  • Do not have attitudes because nothing is theirs
• v5 - Your attitude should be the same
• Have I taken on the nature of a servant?
• Do I consider others better than myself?

• While the 12 were thinking about who was the greatest in the kingdom, Jesus became their servant (King of Kings, Lord of Lords)
• Jesus the Master reversed roles and washed the feet of those in a subordinate position.
• He did this in full consciousness of his divine glory; (vs 1-3)
• He washed all the disciples feet, including Judas Iscariot (vs 12)

• He was empty of self interest. (vs 15)
• He voluntarily humbled himself (vs 14)
• His mind was focused on the works and interest of his master; (vs 3, 16)
• He was motivated by his love for the disciples; (vs 1)

• Proverbs 16:25 - What seem or feels right is not always right; others can help you see that
• Proverbs 19:2 - Be zealous, but make sure you have the correct information

• Proverbs 12:15 - Wise people let others in their lives and listen to input
• Proverbs 12:1 - Getting advise and being corrected in your thinking is very wise

• Proverbs 28:13 - You will always prosper and find mercy from God and other people
• Hebrews 3:13 - Talk with others daily to receive the encouragement needed
• James 5:16 - Healing will come to your heart when you confess to others

• Deuteronomy 11:16 - Satan will always be trying to entice you to return to your life of sin
• Psalms 101:2 - Be careful every day and in every situation
• 1 Corinthians 10:6-12 - Don’t be over-confident; even the greatest have fallen
• Ephesians 5:15-17 - Don’t be careless with your life; take the time to think about all you do
• Hebrews 2:1 - Lack of Being careful will cause you to drift from God

• What are some of the greatest things that you have ever done in your life?
• What great things do you dream about doing now?
• What "greater things" are you going to do this year?

Not all the answers but I do know where get them along with advice from others

Going to share about 2-3 scriptures for use to discuss / feel free to be part of things

We need Jesus - Matthew 18:1-6

v1 - Side conversation while Jesus was doing miracles among them
Disciples we arguing about who was the greatest... maybe they were saying - I am the best parent or I have the best kid

v2 - God thoughts: The ones we are to teach are the ones who teach us the very lesson we need to teach them

v3 - It does not come naturally, we need to change

Starts with us - to get our relationship with God in order first - to be a child of God

Why is it so important to become childlike?

• So we can have a relationship with God / welcome Jesus
  
• Make it to heaven / considered the greatest
  
• Not become a stumbling block

• Humble ourselves
• Rely on God
• Seek out answers/advice from others
• Earniestness to learn
• Be relatable

WHo is he who will devote himself to be close to me? - Jeremiah 30:21

God looks for people who will devote themselves to being close to him
Some of the greatest men of the Bible were described as God's friends

• Enoch - walked with God for 300 years before took him away - Genesis 5:22-24
• Noah walked with God - Genesis 6:9
• Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend - Exodus 33:11
• Abramham was God's friend - James 2:23
• Daniel was God's friend from the first time he prayed - Daniel 10:12
• Solomon prayed that his words would near to God day and night - 1 Kings 8:59
  • And God answered him - 1 Kings 9:3

Nehemiah had an intimate friendship with God:

• Referred to God's convenant of love - Nehemiah 1:5
• He pleaed for God to hear him - Nehemiah 1:6
• Had personal confession of sin - Nehemiah 1:6-7
• He reminded God of his great deeds - Nehemiah 1:8-10
• He appealed to God - Nehemiah 1:11

Four instances of Jesus' first impressions:

1. Jesus' mastery of strength - John said there one coming mighter than I - John had face the greatest men of his day without flinching; John faltered and drew back when the man from Nazareth appeared
2. Jesus' leadership of strength - Fishermen were left with such an impression, they left everything at once and followed him.
3. Jesus' authority of strength - He goes into a synagogue and they were amazed at his teaching (as one having authority which had not been seen before)
4. Jesus' power of strength - Miracles and healings by Him; people were surprised by His power

Jesus draws men to him because of his power

• Crowd was so great at the seashore, they pushed him into the water
• Hilltop suddenly became alive because of his presence
• Every city he passed through, he turned upside down

Only a man of strength draws to him great masses of men

You can be the greatest explainer of truth. But if the very heart of your son or daughter does not believe ‘my daddy loves me,’ they will walk away.
People tend to embrace the teaching and beliefs of those who love them the most.
Whoever has their heart has their ears.

Restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers - Malachi 4:6
When this doesn’t happen, fathers invite the “curse” of broken relationships into their homes

You can tell when a father doesn’t have his kids’ hearts. You sense the disrespect and anger, the bitterness and emotional distance.
The key ingredient in raising good children is to get their hearts early, keep their hearts, and be extremely vigilant not to lose your children’s hearts.

Jesus and His Father hearts were always in sync. When Jesus felt separation from the Father, it was the worst pain he could feel.
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing” - John 5:20

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

He had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall - 2 Chronicles 26:16

It takes a man of true humility to keep his feet on the ground over the long haul when he is given power and authority over others

Uzziah, Judah's tenth king, was not such a man

His long and sometimes distinguished reign came to an unfortunate end because of his arrogant thirst for power

Uzziah expressed his arrogance by entering the sactuary though this job was reserved for his priest

Had Uzziah remained humble, he might have become one of the nation's greatest kings - instead, he spent his later years shut away from people in a leper colony

Do you understand your place in the big picture?

The time has come for you to lead these people - Joshua 1:2

Throughout the Scripture, God attaches promises to His commands - If you do this, I will do that

Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you - Joshua 1:3

Joshua is one of the greatest examples in the Bible of how "showing up" at God's command leads to victory

His promises are often contingent upon our taking steps of obedience

They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders - Numbers 16:2

Korah was a strong man who organized a corp of leaders with the intention of usurping Moses' authority and installing his own very of the preisthood

He forgot what happened to Aaron and Miiam when they challenged Moses' leadership - Numbers 12

Korah was a special leader but he wanted more than what God had given him

God removed them from their positions and removed them from the earth altogether

Some of God's greatest leaders have been willing to rock the boat but they also have a strong grasp of respecting authority

When we submit to those in authority, we demonstrate a key condition for God's blessing: humility!

With his wife's consent, he kept the rest - Acts 5:2

Ananias was apparently a strong leader at home, unfortunately, he took his family in horribly wrong direction and paid a heavy price

He was among the 1st generation believers who sold their property, pooled their resources, and cared for those in need

Ananias sold his property but instead of bring all the money to the apostles, he keep some of it for himself

There was nothing wrong with keeping some of the money - Acts 5:4

Where is failed was when he lied about him giving all of it

Ananias lead his family in the wrong direction, where are you leading your family?

One of the greatest reward of leading your family in a godly direction is to see them grow too

These are the sins of David... Amnin whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel - 1 Chronicles 3:1

Many gifted people fail to achieve all they could because they lack self-discipline like Amnon, King David's first son

Amnon sealed his fate when he looked lustfully at his beautiful half-sister Tamar

The Law of God specifically forbade such behavior

Amnon forced himself on Tamar which led to Amnon's murder by his outraged brother Absalom

All this happened within the family of Israel's greatest king

His life was cut shore before he could do anything of note for God or his people

Serve the Lord alone - choose today whom you will serve - Joshua 24:14

The greatest character qualities of any leader is the willingness to consistently "walk the walk"

Joshua had flaws but he consistently exercised his faith and obeyed the God who called him to lead

This is why he could confidently challenge his people to "choose today whom you will serve"

He dared the Israelites to rid their loves of any remnants of idol worship and to follow God wholeheartedly

Joshua consistant faithfulness helped lead his people into the Promise Land

We try to give to many causes and the result is we have little joy in our giving
It is not man's duty to contribute to every good cause that passes his way
Only when we draw a circle around our beneficence that we become what God likes - a cheerful giver

Not only was Jesus joyful but he was mighty

He stayed in Palestine and kept his heart close to a few chosen hearts - became increasingly influential

He made himself mighty by limiting himself

The difference between a mighty river and a swap is the river has banks (boundries)

What is success? It is to do the thing we were created to do
"I have finished the work you gave me to do" - Jesus to the Father

He was only 33 years old - yet he did the greatest piece of work ever accoumplished on the earth

The "fine" in fine arts is the because of the limitations which they impose
There is no leeway in music, a little sharp or flat and the song is not right

Included in the greatest commandment is: love the Lord with all of your MIND

Belief is both a matter of faith but also of will

Sometimes we just want things to be true - this could be said for both Christian (something to rely on) and non-believer (changes in life required)
Why would someone not want the free gift of forgiveness? Sometime that decision would require change in their lives

There is a difference between proving and accepting Christianity
If someone could show Christianity to be most probable, would you accept it? It is evidence issue or are you in the way?

The point of open mindedness is to find the truth when it comes along; 
The point is not to be indecisive when evidence is beyond a reasonable doubt comes along
That indecisiveness is empty-mindedness

God has given us enough evidence to see him without comprising our faith or our free will