Quiet Times Search

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

• Hospital worker = God's minister to the medical professionals
• Factory worker = sweating it out for the Lord
• Programming = designing and mental stress for the Lord

Jesus went to God early in the morning
If Jesus needed to do this, how much more should we?

Excuses:

• I'm not a moring person
• I have to leave for work early
• I have to get the kids off to school
• I don't want to be legalistic

How does spending the early morning with God help build a closer relationship with him?

• Show the priority of this relationship
• Our waking thoughts determine the tone and course of our day
• Quietest times of the day
• Emotion have had time to recover
• Able to clear our consciences of guilt
• Cast our burdens upon the Lord
• Able to draw from his power for the day ahead (Psalms 5:1-3)

Hard time getting our of bed?

• Go to bed at a decent hour
• Set a definite wake up time
• Be responsible for getting out of bed - your responsibility
• Do whatever it takes to wake up
• Take an early morning shower
• Two clocks, far from bed

Do you realize that nearly all of the people we read about in the Bible spent most of their time outside?

• Star-studded evening would tell how many descendants Abraham would have - Genesis 15:5
• Looking at God's creation - humbled Job's pride - Job 38:4-7

FInd park, trails, and open spaces.
Open your eyes, listen, breath the realivily clear air

When is the last time you:

• Took in a sunrise or sunset
• Watched the changing cloud formations
• Listen to the songs of the birds
• Strolled through the leaves of fall
• Listen to the snow fall as they gently fell to earth
• Took a good look at the flowers of spring
• Stopped to watch the a powerful thunderstorm
• Stood in awe of the sparkling  stars

Psalms 19:1-4; Psalms 65:8-13

Time outside with God is just what many of us need and nothing else will suffice

What is fasting? - voluntary abstinence from food in order to draw near to God

Fasting - frequently practiced by those who have walked closely with God:

• Moses - fasted for 40 days as he received the law (Exodus 34:28)
• David - fasted for the life of his newborn (2 Samuel 12:15-22)
• King Jehoshaphat - declared a national fast under a miltary emerency (2 Chronicles 20)
• Esther - called for God's people to fast during a extermination attempt (Esther 4)
• Daniel - fasted to confess his and God's people sin (Daniel 9)
• Nehemaih - fasted for the condition of Jerusalem to improve (Nehemiah 1)
• Jesus - fasted for 40 days at the beginning of his ministry (Matthew 4:2)
• Antioch church leaders - fasted for to bless their ministry efforts (Acts 13:1-3)
• Paul and Barnabas - dedicating newly appointed elders (Acts 14:23-24)

 Jesus warned about the mere appearance of fasting - Matthew 6:16-18

Advice

• Decide how long before hand
• Begin  with shorter fasts
• Be care with those taking medication or those with a background of anorexia or bulimia
• Do not indulge in a large meal immediately after a fast

A "world fast" is an idea to remove yourself from movies, sports, television, newpaper, other outside info

 Reason to fast:

• Humble ourselves
• Show our dependance on him
• To devote time and focus to our spiritual lives
• To ask for God' guidance
• To ask for God's help
• To overcome spiritual lukewarmness
• To pray for a particular need
• To express gratitude and thanksgiving
• Breakthrough in our faith

• Your relationship with God does not depend how you have a quiet time
• We should learn to pray short prayers throughout the day
• If we don't remember God throughout the day, can become legalistic about our quiet times

• Study one book of the Bible - Make a simple outline; sometimes we lose patience in our understanding - keep working at it
• Study a section of a book - ie Sermon of the Mount; Jesus and the disciples in the upper room
• Study one chapter of the Bible - Hebrews 11, 1 Corinthians 13, and others
• Study one verse - This is really deep! compare it, cross reference words, look up meanings
• Study one topic - understand and master; use topical, chain-reference, and concordance

• Pattern, not a formula - not meant to be recited, rebuked by Jesus
  
• May seem awkward at first - stick with it
  
• Be prepared to spend more time in prayer when you use this prayer - wider range of subjects
  
• The structure reveals the genius of God - Begin looking to God; then deal with ourselves; once again focus on God
  
• Notice the use of "us" - personal, but not self-centered

• We are longer slave but sons ans daughters
• We can approach him with confidence because of Jesus

• With Jesus as the high priest,  we can confidence to enter the into the throne room of God
• Can gain a heavenly perspective
• Praise God that his resources there are limitless

• Being holy, set apart, above us
• Prayer is not just asking for something but for honoring Him

• Kingdom has not come to every nation and place nor every person
• Pray for God to open doors, speaking boldly, with wisdom
• Pray for those who server and in leading roles

• God wants us to pray about surrendering to his will
• Challenges is our life must not be avoided but have a surrendered life
• Read some command and ask yourself if you are following them
• Jesus never asked for strength to go to the cross but only that he might surrender
• Besides pride and rebellion, unbelief keeps us from doing God's will

• Bring specific needs to God
• Must depend on God daily for our spiritual and physical needs
• Pray thorough your todo list and details
• Jesus said we could do nothing apart from God - John 15:5

• Lack of confession results in a hardened heart
• We will not mature if do not do this soul searching
• Be specific; ask others for forgiveness if needed
• Extend forgiveness; can not be forgiven by God otherwise

• What are your weaknesses? Have you faced them?
• Draw on God's power before Satan strikes

• Return again to praising and glorifying God
• All power rests in his hand

We "should always pray and not give up" - Luke 18:1

Disciples who are not close to God are simply not being perisistent

Examples of persistent prayers:

• Elisha - prayerd 7x before the promised rainfall came down  -1 Kings 18:42-45
• Jesus - returned three time to the garden of Gethsemane to surrender to God's will - Matthew 26:36-FF
• Paul - prayed three times before given an answer he did not want - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
• Early church - prayed all night for Peter's deliverance - Acts 12:1-17

• Elijah - with his face between his knees (1 Kings 18:42)
• Daniel - knelt in prayer three times a day (Daniel 6:10)
• Peter - knelt in prayer for the life of Tabitha (Acts 9:40)

• Moses - for 40 days (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25)
• Daniel - fell prostrate before the angel Gabriel (Daniel 8:17)
• Jesus - fell on his face in prayer at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36)

• David - Psalms 28:2, 63:4, 88:9, 119:48, 143:6
• Ezra - Ezra 9:5
• Moses - Exodus 9:29
• Solomon - 1 Kings 8:22

A mission of Satan is undermine my relationship with our Father

Must ask all the time: How are God and I doing?

Typical doing questions:

• Am I productive?
• Have a recently had a victory?
• How do people around me feel about me?
• How long has it been since I committed a particular sin?

Relationship questions:

• Do they feel loved?
• Are we connected?
• Have I been sensitive?
• Am I listening?
• Will this activity help our relationship?

 When we drift

1. Combative - Psalms 55:20-21
2. Uncaring / Apathy (Harding of our hearts) - Psalms 36:1-4; Esphesians

Presedes sin / sensual gratification

• "I deserve this"
• "I am tired"
• "I am missing out"
• "I know what I need"

3. Hopeless - Job 3:11-13

Hopelessness is godlessness
If deeply in love with God, whispering to me promise after promise
If walking with him closely, he is meeting my needs for strength and faith

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

The other emotional response that undermines our love for God

Perfect love drives our fear - 1 John 4:18
Fear greatly affects our ability to love; renders lifeless our love for God

Fear one of the most powerful and universal tools Satan uses for:

• Keep man from the knowledge of God
• Experience of God's power
• Experience grace in our lives
• Taking our eyes off of God and onto our circumstances and insecurities

There is healthy fear (like fearing God) but unhealthy fear is one that controls us and causes us to turn away from God's direction
Fear is rarely rational

• Why are you so afraid - Matthew 8:26
• Don't be afraid - Matthew 14:27
• Don't be afraid - Matthew 17:7
• Don't be afraid - Matthew 28:10
• Don't be afraid - Mark 5:36
• Don't be afraid - Luke 5:10
• Don't be afraid - Luke 8:50
• Don't be afraid - Luke 12:7
• Don't be afraid - Luke 12:32
• Don't be afraid - John 6:19-20
• Don't be afraid - John 12:15
• Don't be afraid - John 14:27

God understands the destructive nature of fear
He simply commands us to deal with our fears through our relationship with him

• Are Hardworking
  
• Have Persevered
• Are Intolerant of Evil
• Endured persecution

• "We are not compatible anymore"
• "We have both changed"
• Think about an old boyfriend or girlfriend

• Because of Jesus we can be one with Him
• He has not changed
• He is thinking of me, I am I thinking of him?

• If you start too fast, you can die
• The most important thing is finishing
• Cannot compare myself to anyone else or I will get thrown off
• I think about walking when I think no one is looking
• Envy people standing on the sidelines
• Finish line seems to literally pull me along

• Spirit's circumcision of my heart - Romans 2:29
• God pours his love into my heart via the Spirit - Romans 5:1-5
• God's Spirit lives in me - 1 Corinthians 3:16
• Holy Spirit within me cries out to God - Galatians 4:6
• Credit for all wisdom and revelation goes to the Spirit - Ephesians 1:17
• He himself testifies to us that he lives within us - 1 John 4:23

Falling in love with God - is attainable

We will find what we seek:

• If we seek relief in salvation, this is what we will find
• If we seek acceptance and a community, this is what we will find
• If we seek wisdom and insight, this is what we will find
• If we seek effective ministry, this is what we will find
• If we seek God more and more deeply, this is what we will find

What are you seeking?

 Lord searches every heart; if you seek him, he will be found by you - 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

How many times have we tried to do something with seeking him first?

None of us can be "strong" without seeking
Talent, experience, and insight are cheap gifts and can never take the place of a heart that seeks after God

There are many decisions that you need make about your relationship with God:

• How much time should go by without special prayer time?
• What am I trying to accomplish in my Bible study?
• What do I need to allow the message of God really soak into our heart?
• Where can I go and be really free to wrestle emotionally with the will of God?

If God's people will humble themselves pray and seek his face, he will hear from heaven and forgive us - 2 Chronicles 7:11-16

Even after the temple was built, God was concerned whether his people will still seek him

God himself was often "felt" but not "found" - He has the same concern today

Difference: being members / having a deep personal and individual relationship with God

In his pride the wicked does not seek him - Psalms 10:1-4

One thing I ask: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, gaze upon the beauty - Psalms 27:1-9

Nothing will satisfy like seeking his face

When does seeking really start?

Romans 3:11 - there is no one that seeks God
John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the Father draws him

Studying the Bible is simply allowing ourselves to be sought by God

If it was our own effort - baptism may seem like the end of the quest

We need to active learners

When we were young, we understood obligation  - "I gotta go to school"
After high school, we may go to college and narrow our focus of learning and become passive learners

• We listen to the voice of our experience as the final authority
• We learn mostly from our mistakes
• We learn when we are forced to out of control - crisis, illness, death

Treasures are for those who will continue to seek forever; not for those who want tips and tricks for being "effective"

If there were ever a moment to be a passive learner, it would be when you walk with Jesus

Luke 11:1-13 - where would we be if the disciples had not asked about praying to the Father? - not know how to address the Father

We need to take responsibilty to get deep and ask questions

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