Quiet Times Search

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

• He loses the ability to experience feeling altogether and is left with apathy and disorientation
• Have emotional inauthenticity because they have been lying to themselves for so long

1. The Old Testament Precedent - Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 1:13-14
   1. The Israelites were commanded to give a tenth (tithe) of all their income to the Lord
   2. The Israelites had many other kinds of sacrifices (e.g. burnt, sin, grain, fellowship offerings) in addition to the tithe. The Israelites actually gave up to 33% of their income to God.
   3. The sacrifices were to be the best available. God will not accept a second rate sacrifice.
2. New Testament Examples
   1. The Widow - Mark 12:41-44
      She was commended not for what she gave, but her giving heart. She was totally dependent on God.
   2. Barnabas - Acts 4:36-37
      He sold his property and gave all the proceeds from the sale to meet the needs of the church.
   3. The Macedonians - 2 Corinthians 8:1-3
      They gave beyond their ability even though they were extremely poor
3. True Sacrifice Costs Something - 2 Samuel 24:21-25
   1. David refused to sacrifice to God something that cost him nothing.

1. Am I giving my best to God in my weekly giving? Do I give to God first out of my pay or out of what is left over?
2. What percentage of my income am I giving in my weekly contribution?
3. What am I willing to sell or sacrifice for the special contribution?

1. Why Get Out of Debt?
   1. It hinders us from being able to give generously. When we are paying 18%+ interest on top of the principal, it is difficult to have anything left to share with others.
   2. It is wasteful. The exorbitant interest we pay on our credit cards is totally wasted.
   3. The balance is probably there because you were not following God's plan for your finances.
2. How to Get Out
   1. You must be radical (Matthew 5:29-30)
      1. Cut up all your credit cards (if you have outstanding balances that you have not been able to pay off for 3 months or more).
      2. Call your credit card companies and cancel the accounts.
      3. Work out your budget with the goal of removing your debt. Do not buy anything that is not necessary. Cut all unnecessary expenditures out of your budget (e.g. cable TV, newspaper).
      4. Get input (Proverbs 15:22)
      5. Commit your plan to the Lord (Psalms 127:1-2)
   2. Finish the job (Luke 14:28-30)
      1. Let godly sorrow lead you to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10-11). You must take responsibility for your debt.

1. Am I in sinful/foolish debt? If so, why?
2. Am I willing to apply the principles set forth to get out of debt?
3. What will be the hardest thing for me to change to get out of debt?
4. Who do I know that will be able to help me with my plan?

• If you asked a person who is street smart or the person on Wall Street or just a person who watches a lot of TV, what is at the heart of the world’s wisdom about how to live?
  
  • “Look out for number one.”
    
  • “Get what you want.”
    
  • “Get the power, the pleasure, the control you want.”
    
  • “Get the money.”
    
  • “Protect yourself.”
    
  • “Guard your rights.”
    
  • “Maintain your independence.”
• And so what is at the center of man’s wisdom? Self! (See 2 Timothy 3:2)
  

• What is Jesus’ message? How is it the opposite of the world’s message?
  
  • Deny self– “disown” (Matthew 26:34). We renounce our old self, our old approach to life.
    
  • Take up the cross (instrument of death). Die to ourselves.
    
  • Follow Jesus. Make his life our model. Jesus life is a demonstration of his message.
    
• What does Jesus say will be the bottom line for those who “save their own lives”? For those who foolishly lose their lives for him?
  

• What is everything on the left side (world’s wisdom) called? Sin.
  
• What is everything on the right side (God’s wisdom) called? Love.
  
• How have you lived according the world’s wisdom?
  
• Have you ever made a decision to renounce it?
  
• Which side was Peter still on (though he was religious)?
  
• Which side are you on?

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?

• Question: What do you understand these scriptures as saying to you?
• Question: Who would be the most challenging relationship for you to keep God above?
• Question: What if your (spouse, kids, parent) did not want to be a disciple (or left) what would you do?
• Satan will use relationships closest to you to try to pull you away.
• Don't think these things will never happen to you - never underestimate the devil
• v26 - Even his own life
  • What will you need to overcome?

• Even when you sin after you are baptized then the blood of Jesus will continue to purify you from all sin if we stay in the light
• We should confess our sins and having discipling relationship helps us to take care of one another
• Question: If someone approaches you and talks about how many changes they have seen in you. What should you tell them (role play)

• Peter and his brother Andrew left their jobs - Matthew 4:18
  
• Must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me - Matthew 16:24
• I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you - John 13:15
• God always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ - 2 Corinthians 2:14
• You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord - 1 Peter 2:21
• Follow others as they follow Christ - 1 Corinthians 11:1
• Follow His example in both in both negative and positive area
  • He never did a wrong thing.
  • He always did the right thing.

• Being wimpy and letting people walk over you: Jesus was no wimp - John 2:15
• Have no opinions, become a spiritual robot: Paul pleased God not man - Galatians 1:10

• Getting and applying input - Proverbs 19:20
• Taking correction - Proverbs 12:1

• He was God but left heaven to become man (like you becoming an ant)
• He gave up being a king to serve those who didn’t love or respect him.
• He died for you and me.

• This is true spiritually also, what we put in our minds will come out in our actions.
• This is why pornography is damaging (once the images are in our minds they can stay for weeks, months even years).
• The only way to refocus our minds is to concentrate on pure ideas.

• Begin your day with a positive message from God and that will help you overcome the temptations of the day (world).
  

• Make a conscience effort to not go the direction (path) of the things that tempt you.
  
• The inconvenience is well worth it.
  

• But we must stand ready to do battle with him.
• We can have the victory in this area if we have a fighting spirit (fight for purity).

Summary

The serpent deceived the woman; she and Adam ate from the tree. Man blamed woman, woman blamed the serpent. The earth became cursed, and God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden.

Observations

Genesis 3:1 - Did God really say
The first way Satan tries to get Eve to disobey God is to create doubt to what God said. Many times Satan does not even try to tell us to do a 180 turn (you might notice what is going on then) - just a slight detour to the right or to the left [Deuteronomy 5:32]. It does not take much to get us off course from the narrow road [Matthew 7:14].

Genesis 3:4 - You will not surely die
Another temptation Satan throws our way is doubt in his punishment or promises. He would love for us to believe we will be judged at the end of our lives [John 12:48].  "Live your life the way you want to" - Satan. He does not want you to remember the promises God has spoken to encourage us in our walk with him.

Genesis 3:6 - desirable for gaining wisdom
When struggling with sin, we often come up with "good" reasons why we need to sin. In this case, Eve comes up with a "spiritual" reason. She wanted to gain "wisdom" - we need to have wisdom in our daily lives, right? God does not always reveal everything to us and for good reason. We should start with fear of the Lord since it is the beginning of wisdom [Psalms 111:10].

Genesis 3:9 - Where are you?
Good question to ask ourselves all the time. Where am I in relation to God? We often "disappear" when we sin either physically or more likely mentally. When we look in a mirror [James 1:23-24], we are blinded and do not see our true selves. We don't want to deal with the underlying problems in our character - it will be paining and requires effort but in the end it is worth it.

Genesis 3:19 - dust you are and to dust you will return
If you need a reminder on humility, this scripture will help. We come from the dirt of the ground and we will return there someday. We need to seize the days we have - stop worrying about tomorrow [Matthew 6:34].

Personal Application

I need to be aware of Satan's tricks continuously. He does not want to be noticed. I need to pray and reflect on how I am living my life and find where Satan is getting me to deviate even a fraction of a degree. I need also examine my thought and find out they are out of line with God's Word. I will ask others what they see where I have taken a devour on God's narrow road.

• What will you ask or imagine?
• What will you allow God to do in your life?
• What "impossibility" do you have in your life that you want to see God change?
• What person's life do you want to see changed?

1. I will remember that God is with me and do something for someone else to show I believe in them and I am with them.
2. To trust in the Bible and read it every time I feel 2. like God is disappointed in me.
3. To show love to a person in action and in truth if I feel like God doesn't love me.

1. The longing for adventure that requires something of us
2. Desire for intimacy - to have someone truly know us for ourselves

It is the core of our spiritual journey

Any religion that ignores it survives only as guilt-induced legalism, a set of propositions to be memorized and rules to be obeyed

What does these desires have to do with God?

Hasn't God left us with them to draw us closer to him?

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

Our relationship with our father is very telling as to why we are and who we are.

“What does my dad really think about me?” Lots of fathers don’t realize their vital role.

Many issues come from fathers having lost their sense of purpose.

Society is guiding boys to remain boys as long as possible— extending childhood into their thirties—while forcing girls to become women long before they are ready.

Millions of young men are staying single. They want the privileges and rewards of manhood but only the responsibilities and moral requirements of boys.

God has a special place in His heart for two specific groups of people: fatherless children and widows.
 
have in common? The most important man in the leadership role of their lives is gone.

Dad have good intention but there many things working against them:

• Divorce - best thing for kids is to see their parents humble themselves, repent of their selfishness, forgive one another, and recommit to their marriage
• Work - Before the industrial revolution, fathers primarily worked at home. When dad finally did get home, he was too tired to engage, and his family got the leftovers. Men need to set boundaries and learn to say “no,” his work priorities will constantly pull him away.
• Entertainment - the television becomes their influence instead which is a terrible father.
• Anti-father bias in media - dads on TV today are incompetent and constantly outwitted by their wives and disrespectful kids.
• The church - many church programs separate families to the point that kids never see their fathers

Devil will never stop attacking what God prioritizes.

Must learn to become an intercessor = a man who shows his true dependence on God by faithfully fighting battles in prayer, both for himself and his family.

Many great men of the Bible did: Ezra 9:5-15; Nehemiah 9; Jeremiah 14:19-22

One praying man can make a major impact

• King Josiah read God’s Word for the first time, he realized that he and his nation would suffer

Do according to all that is written concerning us - 2 Kings 22:13

• Jeremiah: “Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; renew our days” - Lamentations 5:7, 21

When did you become a man? Men are often unsure.

Learning this can not only help us understand ourselves better but also help our sons become secure men as well.

When Jesus was twelve years old and His parents accidentally left Him
They didn’t find Him in a back alley playing with children. They found Him in the temple - Luke 2:46-47

After this event, the Scriptures say that He “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” - Luke 2:52

In the Jewish community today, when a boy reaches puberty (around the age of thirteen)
Bar means “son of.” Mitzvah means “the law”

• When asked to give a financial contribution during a census, God required it of every man “twenty years old and over.” - Exodus 30:14
• When making vows to fund the sanctuary, God expected the “males from twenty years even to sixty years old” to give the most - Leviticus 27:3
• Men ready to fight in war for Israel were men who were “twenty years old and upward.” - Numbers 1:3
• Men who were held accountable and punished severely by God were, again, those “twenty years old and upward.” - Numbers 14:29

He may have become a responsible adult earlier than twenty, but by then he had no excuse.

God calls us to an appropriate and excellent standard: His.

To be a man is to fully own your roles as an adult, husband, father, employee, neighbor, and any other role you choose to undertake.

 Jesus Christ founded his empire on love

God not only wants you to lead your family but deeply love them
The more you walk with God and obey Him each day, the more of His love will be “poured out” in your heart - Romans 5:5

Children feel much more secure if they know their parents love each other.
We must do whatever it takes to put your marriage on a sound footing.

Don’t wait for her. Step up and be the leader God meant you to be. It’s never easy.
Your words in ten seconds can change them forever - either in a positively or negative way
If your kids feel they always get your leftover energy and attention, they will disconnect and struggle with resentment

Summary

Eliezer met Rebekah by the well exactly as he had prayed.

Observations

Genesis 24:12 - Please give me success today
So much of our success or failure can depend on our willingness to pray. Eliezer [Genesis 15:2] learned to pray to the "God of my master" and to have a dependant faith via Abraham. What are the people around learning from our prayer life and faith? Do we ask God for guidance before our important and not so important ventures?

Genesis 24:14 - This is how I will know; "I will water your camels too"
Abraham's servant prayed in great detail for Issac's wife to show herself. Hospitality standards of the time was to offer a drink to weary travelers but not to the animals. He did not ask for a certain number of ear rings and braclets (beauty) as a sign of Isaac's future wife but rather for woman great inner beauty. For Rebekah, this second mile offer to provide water for the ten camels, would be no easy feat. A camel can drink up to 30 gallons at a time. After just finishing the journey of 450 miles and two weeks, the camels probably drank pretty close to that amount. How many trips to the well would that have been for Rebekah? 10 camels x 30 gallons = 300 gallons;  1 gallon = 8.2 lbs; Maybe she could carry 40 lbs; 40lb / 8 = 5 gallons per trip; 300 gallons / 5 gallons per trip is about 60 trips.

Genesis 24:15 - Before he finished praying
God knows what we need, we just need to ask for it. Eliezer received an exact and immediate answer. He was left to watch in silience [Genesis 24:21] (possibly shocked) as God answered his prayer exacly as he prayed. When we pray according to His will, he will answer and bless us beyond what we have imagined. Rebekah not only provided water for his animals but she did with kindness and with servant heart. Not only did she provide some water for the camels but enough water until they were finish.  God also answered by blessing the servant with other attributes of Isssc soon-to-wife. The Bible also describes her a very beautiful phyiscally, old enough to marry, and a virgin.

Application

I do not have the dependant prayer I need to have. I have many failures because I depend on myself and do not ask God.

Quick, get up! And the chains fell off his wrist - Acts 12:7

It is not over unitl God says it is over

Herod wanted Peter dead and had murdered other believers

Peter must have wondered how many hours were left. God had a different plan.

An angel appeared, awoke him, released hi, led him past 16 armed guard without notice

Peter couldn't fully understand what happened but God had set him free

The man of God is immortal until God chooses to take him home

What impossible situation are you facing? 

Listen, stay right here with us when you gather grain - Ruth 2:8

Kindness in word and deed is a powerful equalizer

Boaz was consistently kind and compassionate

He greeted the harvesters with a "The Lord be with you!" they would answer "The Lord bless you!"

Ruth, a transplanted Moabite widow, had come to his field to gather bits of grain left behind

Boaz was moved by her story:

• Invited Ruth to eat with him - Ruth 2:14
• Commanded his reapers to leave some bundles for her to find - Ruth 2:15

Do you know anyone like Boaz? How can you be more like him?

Go and marry a prostitute so that some of her children will be conceived in the prostitution - Hosea 1:2

God commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer as an object lesson of God's love for the wayward nation of Israel

Gomer left Hosea and returned to her old ways but Hosea obeyed God even when it meant agonizing self-sacrifice

Hosea sacrificed himself to love someone completely unworthly of his love

God calls us to be vessels of his self-sacrificing love to "unlovable" people

Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked - Genesis 18:25

Abraham's heart sank when God announced he would destroy Sodom:

• Lot and his family lived there
• Possiblity have friends there

He couldn't just stand there without trying to intercede on their behalf

Abramham trusted God's assessment of Sodom and he to be just and righteous

God said he would not destory the city if there were 50, 30, 20, 10 righteous left - Genesis 18:32

Are you a man of persistent, passionate prayer?

For days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to God of heaven - Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah learned the dilapidated walls around Jerusalem had left the Jewish residents vulnerable to attack

What did he do? Nothing but talk to God about the crisis

He offered the kind of prayer that GOd delights in answering:

1. He praised and worshiped God
2. Confessed his sins and the sins of his people
3. He thanked God for all things
4. He made his requests know

Nehemiah didn't rush into the task before first pleading for God's favor - Nehemiah 1:5-11

Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daugther and instead to share the oppression of God's people - Hebrews 11:24-25

He left his life of ease under Pharaoh and indentified himself with the suffering of his own people

Mose was born to a poor Hebrew mother, but he was raised in a world of privilege

He left Pharaoh's family and inheritance for being a descendant of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob

When you identify yourself with Christ you leave your old ways and thinking.

When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai the people feared the Lord- Haggai 1:12

Setting priorities is a key to doing anything well

Haggai believed strongly in setting the right priorities and enourging others to do the same

The people of Jerusalem had a problem with priorities

They had settled nicely into their homes with the Temple was left unfinished after 16 years

Why are living in luxurious houses while God's house lies in ruins? - Haggai 1:4

The people of Jerusalem hadn't finished the Temple because it wasn't at the top of their to-do list

Haggai preached the right message at the right time

Their sense of priorities got straighten out and they got busy

Do you give to a ministry that God has put on your heart? If not, it is time to rearrange your priorities

Jonathon's father had shown flashes of faith but his overall lack of spiritual focus led to his ouster as king and a strained relationship with his son

He took a different approach with his relationship with the Lord:

• Left his father and 600 men at the encampment at Gibeah to launch an overwhelmingly successful attack on the Philistines
• His dependence on God won the confidence of the armor bearer - 1 Samuel 14:7
• Left a legacy of faith and commitment to the Lord

You may not have spiriutal roots as a Christian but you can begin a legacy of faith and obedience

May the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful - Psalms 90:1

The formula for failure is trying to please everyone

Lasting blessing comes when you make pleasing God and seeking his approval your focus

In Psalms 90, Moses wrote while in the wilderness, plainly about the consequences of their stubbornness and disobedience

Most of those who left Egypt would never see the Promise Land but still found hope understanding the connection between willing obedience and divine blessing

Life is far too short and God's blessing to wonderful to miss anything he wants to give you

Jesus returned to Galilee filled with the Holy Spirit - Luke 4:14

Any man who has accomplished something for the Lord owes his sucess to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit

Jesus left us an example on how to depend on the Spirit for power, guidance, and encouragement

Every wise word he spoke and every miraculous deed he performed grew out of the Spirt's prompting

Jesus didn't began his public ministry until "the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove - Luke 3:22

If Jesus, as the perfect Son of God, needed the empowerment of God's Spirit, how much more do you need his power today?

Now Samuel died and all Israel gathered for his funeral - 1 Samuel 25:1

Samuel made a nig impression on everyone who knew him - the entire nation mourned his passing

Samuel left behind a legacy of faith, obedience, and courage:

1. Faithfully and consistantly took God at his word
2. Acted on what he knew God wanted
3. Refused to worry about personal consequences

Our primary goal in life should always be to make a positive mark for the Kingdom of God

Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan - Judges 13:24-25

The man who learns to put himself aside is the one who makes a difference for God's kingdom

From the time Samson was a boy, the Spirit began to stir within him

That is when self got in the way

Something went wrong between God's Spirit and Samson

Samson didn't use the gifts of God had given him as a leader and deliever God called him to be

He used his gifts for his own agenda:

• Consistantly proud
• Often immoral
• Arrogantly disregarded the counsel of others
• Used strength for revenge and settle scores

God gave Samson all the strength he needed to succeed

Samson squandered an opportunity for greatness and left a legacy of pride

Will you use your gifts for his benefit or just for yourself?

Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child. Herod is going to search for the child to kill him - Matthew 2:13

After Jesus' birth, Joesph probably thought he and Mary would be typical parents

After the wise men left, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to get up immediately and take Mary and Jesus to Egypt

Though questions swirled in Joseph's mind, he didn't hesitate and took his family and left

Joseph played a huge part in Jesus' birth and childhood because he listened when God spoke 

My nourishment comes from doing the will of God - John 4:34

Willingness to obey is one thing, developing a passion for obedience is another level completely

Jesus lived to obey his heavenly Father

He left paradise to take a form of a man and remained passionately and single-mindedly devoted to accomplishing his Father's will

Nothing could stand in the way of his accomplishing his goal - even dead of the cross

The smallest deviation from what God had plan would have meant disaster for mankind

Jesus' plan was never in jepardy because of the passion he had to obey everything his Father directed

Do you feel eager to obey God?

Summary

Isaac and Rebekah had twins: Esau and Jacob. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal.

Observations

Genesis 25:22 - the two children struggled with each other in the womb
Sibiling rivaly starts early - even before they born in this case. Our thoughts and personalities are formed before we leave the womb. Sure, we can learn and further be formed afterwards but in some sense their parents did not help smooth the relationship. Their parents practiced favoritsm: Issac's love for Esau was conditional based off performance and Rebekah's love for Jacob was consistant and uncondtional [Genesis 25:28].

Genesis 25:32 - I'm dying of starvation... what good is my birthright to me now?
Short term pleasure can lead to long term consequences and lose of sight of the future. Was Esau really going to die of starvation? It does not seem so from his actions after he ate as he just got up and left quickly [Genesis 25:34]. Esau resorted to exaggeration to prove his point. The issue was nothing else mattered at the time except for food and Esau lost perpective of what was most important. Jacob, ironically, was the hunter in this case by patiently laying a trap for his brother's arrival. 

Application

Getting through the short-term pressure-filled moment is often the most difficult part of overcoming tempation. I need to have God's long term perpective when confronted with a short sided want.

Prayer

Praying for God's strength in my weaknesses

John the Baptist was a mighty man but he said there was one coming who is mighter than he

He baptized great and small but when Jesus arrives, John falters and draws back at thought of baptizing Jesus

Fisherman left all and followed him - such was the impression he made upon them

Jesus goes into the synagogue and begins to teach, they are amazed how he teaches with such authority

He heals and the people are surprised because God given such power to a man

Jesus drew men to him:

• Seashore: crowd so great, he pushed into the water
• Hilltop: hillside is alive with people
• Desert: great crowd surrounds him
• City: he sometimes dares not go into a city because the turmoil he would cause

In each place Jesus arrived, he turned it upside down by his presence

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