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Searching for "message" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "0" to "25". (75 found)

2008-04-18 - Falling in Love with God - Intimate Communication
What will God have to do to reach us?

Where theology, structure, and programs are powerless, a relationship is able

I must do everything to stay close to God

John 1:18, Jesus is -
  • close to the Father's heart (NRS)
  • lives in the closest intimacy with the Father (Philips)
  • exists at the very heart of the Father (The Message)
  • lives in intimate communication with the Father (Dios Habla Hoy)


2008-04-24 - Falling in Love with God - Heaven in Heaven
Earth has nothing I desire besides you - Psalms 73:25

Jesus taught about Heaven and who lives there - GOD

Heaven is full of angels:  Children and churches have angels
We might even entertain angels not even knowing it

From heaven:
  • Father spoke to Jesus - "who he was well pleased" with
  • Father gave him the Holy Spirit in form of a dove
  • Father gave the authority of both Heaven and Earth
  • Jesus wrote the names in the book of life
  • Jesus begging God on our behalf
  • Jesus directs the spreading of the message
  • Jesus saluted the martyr Stephen
  • Jesus sent light to blind Saul


2008-04-28 - Falling in Love with God - Forever Seeking

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?


2008-07-12 - Purpose Driven Life - Sharing Your Message (Testimony)
Your message includes testimony

Tell other of the difference he made for you - 1 Peter 2:9

Witnessing = simply sharing your personal experiences regarding the Lord

In court witness are NOT expected to:
  • Prove the truth
  • Argue the case
  • Press for a verdict
Witnesses simply report what happened to them or what they saw
You will be my witnesses - Acts 1:8

Personal stories:
  • Easier to relate to than principles
  • Capture our attention
  • People are naturally curious about experiences they never have had
  • Builds a relational bridge
  • Bypasses intellectual defenses
Be ready to all times to answer for your hope - 1 Peter 3:15-16

Four parts of your testimony:
  1. What my life was before Christ
  2. How I realized I needed Jesus
  3. How I committed my life to Jesus
  4. The difference Jesus has made in my life


2008-10-16 - Man of Prayer - Then and Now
People of the OT knew there was going to be a incredible upheaval - know as the Day of the Lord

Jesus changed our understanding of the Kingdom of God

Some religious leader rejected Jesus and his message
They said Jesus was from Satan when he was casting out demons - Matthew 12:26-28
  • Satan would be destroying himself
  • Or He was telling the truth
OT understanding

 Day of the Lord
 This Age
  The Age to Come
 Kingdoms of Man
  Kingdom of God


NT understanding

 Kingdom of God
 After the Resurrection
 Jesus returns


2008-12-21 - Raising Awesome Kids - Power of Discipline (part 3)

What does the Bible say about spanking?

He who spares the rod hates his son - Proverbs 13:24
The rod of discipline will drive folly far away - Proverbs 22:15
If you punish with the rod, they will not die - Proverbs 23:13-14

Message is clear - Spanking is vaild, employed with wisdom and love

  1. Spanking should be an event
  2. Explain beforehand the reason for the spanking
  3. Cool off before spanking a child - must be complete self-control and not retaliatory
  4. Use a designate paddle - do not hand spank - too personal
  5. Spanking must result in change, contrite heart
  6. Bring things to resolution
  7. Do not spank for every offence - children in elementary years, spanking is less appropriate
  8. Spank on the safe backside or thigh
  9. Start as soon as the child begins to understand the word no; about 14 months


2009-04-30 - No one like him - Differences from Jesus and the prophets (part 1)
1. His words were from the Father
Prophets – “This is what the Lord says…”
Jesus – “I tell you the truth…”
2. Where to get help
Prophets - “Come to the Lord.”
Jesus – “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28-30)
3. Fulfillment of scripture
Prophets – Prophetic messages
Jesus –
  • “I have come to fulfill the scripture (Luke 4:18-19,21)
  • “I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17)
  • “everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled” (Luke 18:31)
  • “These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39)


2009-05-10 - No one like him - His Courage
Submissive yes, Timid and fearful, no.
Submissiveness, not cowardly or silence – gave up self for others

Wanted loyalty over their families and friends (Luke 14:25-27)
They must give up everything for salvation (Luke 14:28-33)

Who can accept it? (John 6:60)
Many no longer followed him (John 6:66)

1. Rich young ruler found that Jesus’ message would not change for anyone (Luke 18:18-30)

2. Jesus never held back – Jesus and turning over tables of thieves
  • Came from the wrong town
  • No educational credentials
  • Follower were common people
3. Courage to go to the cross

2009-05-27 - No one like him - Kingdom Lifestyle (part 3)
Different relationship – Matthew 7:1-12
Can not live the message alone and not expected it – Matthew 7:7-8
Relationship with the Father meets all our needs

Different judgment – Matthew 7:13-29
Wide road – not demanding; Narrow road – challenging to stay on but not with God’s help
Watch out for those who tell you what you want to here – check their fruit


2009-05-30 - No one like him - Conflict and Controversy (part 3)
Jesus did not just hang around the sick but he had a message and plan for them to get well

Today is the opposite problem – association with all kinds of people; but without a message – bring the spirit without the truth

Sin must be dealt with at the heart level; not just outwardly like the Pharisees – could not be cured by rules or rituals

Living like Jesus (living a totally different life) will cause conflict and controversy

Living like Jesus entails:
  • New priorities – with people who have different ones
  • New loyalties – with people who have different ones
  • Mission is to reachout and share with people why they need his message
  • Associate with sinners but call them change
  • Love unconditionally; Live radically – declare this is the way to live
Some will welcome the message; the majority will not

2009-06-05 - No one like him - Count Cost (part 2)
Every effort

Must give up everything
God not as concerned about material as your heart
Everything must be under the Lordship of Christ

For all people

Message for all people – young and old
Spoke to the large crowds – Luke 14:25-33

Supreme Concern

Jesus was concerned about the people becoming disciples

Common belief is to believe - Christians vs Disciples

Just because you think are a disciple does not mean you are – Luke 6:46; 7:22-23

2009-06-13 - A Life of Impact - Preparation

Preparation

Mark 1:12-13

  • Jesus overcame himself first so that he could then overcome the world
  • Considered it a joy when you face many trials
  • The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare

The Message

Mark 1:14-15

  • His message was attractive – proclaimed that an intimate involvement with God
  • 'Seize the day' attitude – it was an urgent message and he called for an immediate response
  • We must be urgent with people if we want them to act urgently
  • This may be there only opportunity to respond.


2009-07-04 - A Life of Impact - Amazing Speech

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.



2009-10-08 - Wild at Heart - The Strategy (part 1)
1. I am not here

Satan says, “ I am not here, it just you”

You cannot fight a battle that you don’t think exists

Satan prowls around like a roaring lion - 1 Peter 5:8-9
Assume you are under spiritual attack
When you ignore the enemy, he wins
He simply loves to put everything on us
Get us to feel hurt, misunderstood, suspicious and resentful

Before an effective military strike, must take our the lines of communication
Marriage is a living example – Satan loves to divide and conquer
Sends a message – you are blowing it – “I thought you were disappointed with me”
They did not send this message

Most of all the Enemy tries to jam communication with Headquarters
Commit yourself to prayer every morning for two weeks and just watch what happens
Satan tries to make our mind wonder and cause interferences

2009-10-14 - Wild at Heart - Eve's Wound
Question for her is: Am I lovely?
She needs to know that she is exquisite and exotic and chosen.
This is core to her identity, the way she bears the image of God
Will you purse me? Do you delight in me? Will you fight for me?
Wound says - No, you are not beautiful and no one will really fight for you
Wound usually always comes from the hand of her father

He has the power to cripple or to bless is just as powerful to her as to the son
Her heart is violated and the message is driven father in – you are not desired, you will not be protected, no one will fight for you.

If the father is passive, a little girl will suffer a silent abandonment – not noticed or pursued
Like so many unloved young women, they will to turn to boys to hear what she never heard from her father
When a woman never hears she’s worth fighting for, she comes to believe that is the sort of treatment she deserves

A hesitant man is the last thing in the world a woman needs.
She needs a lover and a warrior, not a nice guy

Number one problem between men and women is that we men, when asked to truly fight for her, hesitate
We are still seeking to save ourselves, we have forgotten the deep pleasure of spilling our life for another

2009-10-25 - Repentance - What It Is (part 2)
Repentance is to feel sorry or to feel regret

“Feel sorry, the kingdom of God is near”?
English word repent means sorry

Oxford Dictionary, repentance
  • from French word, repentir – to feel regret for sins or crimes
  • from Latin word, penitire – to regret
Matthew 4:17
  • “Change your life” – The message
  • “Change your hearts and lives” – New Century Version
  • “Turn away from your sins” – Good News Translation
  • “Turn from your sins and turn to God” – New Living Translation
  • “Reform…” – Young’s Literal Translation


2009-11-05 - Repentance - Jesus Opens Our Eyes (part 3)
The Purpose of Parables
  • Parables offers an opportunity to slip a message past the defenses and filters
  • Kingdom parables
    • Parable of the Sower
      • watch out for Satan, he will try to rob you of the true and understanding of the kingdom
      • church needs to honest with how worldly cares (wealth, etc)
    • Parable of the Weeds
  • Repentance parables
    • Parable of the Lost Sheep
    • Parable of the Lost Coin
    • Prodical Son
      • Vivid picture of meanoia (when he came to his senses)
      • Data did not change, his thinking did
      • Younger son objectivity saw where he was with his father
      • Reoriented heart returns a reoriented life
      • Proves his repentance by his deeds


2009-12-19 - Master Plan - The Plan (part 2)
  • Giving an explanation will not suffice.
  • World must have a demonstration of what to believe – “Follow me, I know the way!”
  • We must seek them. We must win them. We must pray for them.
  • Practicals
    • Begin with a few
    • Stay together – see us on what they need to become
    • See how the message relates to daily experiences
    • Becomes intimately practical.
  • Give them time – they can be with us while we are doing other things
  • Arrange special times of:
    • Study the Bible
    • Pray
    • General sharing of deepest burdens and desires
  • Expect results from them gradually


2010-01-16 - Kingdom First - Above and Beyond (part 2)
If someone forces you to go one mile; go two - Matthew 5:41-42

3. Addressed going to the extra mile

Roman law said you were required to carry a certain amount of baggage to another place
Such a law and its frequent use of it cause great resentment among the Jews
Jesus said we should go beyond what our authorities required
Message condemns any resentment we may feel against a legitimate authority

If reform seems necessary, we should seek it - 1 Corinthians 7:21-23
Should be done with lawful means

God demonstrates his own love for us
He gave up revenge, rights, and his energy for us
While we were sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:6-7

2010-01-17 - Kingdom First - Not Kidding
His challenge to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors
His message totally defies world standards

Consider the alternative: responding like the world
We become enslaved by how other treat us

Regardless how much we love the brotherhood of believers, if we hold any bitterness or resentment - we are simply reduced to the level of the world
No matter how unjust or painful the treatment, God's grace is sufficient - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

He expects us to have
Because he call to a life of righteousness which will produce enemies
Are we willing to go all the way and suffer for him - Philippians 1:29

He expects us to love and actively pray for the people who oppose us
How much do we persevere with people?
Do we answer back kindly when spoken to unjustly?

2010-02-06 - First the Kingdom - One-Lane Road (part 1)
Seemingly contradictory statements:
God wants all men be saved - 1 Timothy 2:3-4
Road to God  is narrow and only a few will find it - Matthew 7:13-14

Both are true

God shows he wants all me to be saved
He sent his son who spoke clearly and plainly about what it takes
The broad road says - I know better than God what life and eternity are all about
On the broad road - so many people and so many standards
Bible warns those on the broad road will face terrors and traps of many kinds - Proverbs 4:10-19

Many agree that the narrow road teaching Jesus describes is one of the most difficult
Can not be faithful to Jesus' message and teach anything but the narrow road
Only a few find = fact is that only a few search
Everyone who seeks finds - Matthew 7:7-8

2010-02-13 - First the Kingdom - Deceision Time
There are fundamentally three responses one can have to Jesus' message:

1. No way! Tho could possibly do this?
Too hard, No one can do it  Just trying to make me feel guilty

2. It's wonderful. We should think more about it.
Many want to hear it - but few live it
Same problem in Ezekiel's day - Ezekiel 33:31-32

3. It's a great challenge, but it's God's will and I want it
No one can live it without error, but all those who put their hearts into it and go for it will start changing their part of the world

2010-03-02 - To Live is Christ - Partners in the Gospel
Philippians 1:16

Philippi was named for Philip of Macedon
It was a roman colony - not actually a place one would expect the message of Jesus to take hold
A roman jail is where you would expect Paul and Silas to be

Paul made a career of being with other and influencing their lives - reduced to visits from the guards
Through many hard times he had learned to overcome the most challenging of circumstances

Five lines into the letter, Paul remembers his relationship with God and other disciples:
  • First converts - Lydia and her household
  • The jailer and his house hold
  • God using an earthquake to bring unlikely people into the kingdom of God - Acts 16:22
Christianity is a personal experience but not a private one

Only when we have been in the trenches with others will we have relationships that are full of life

2010-03-05 - To Live is Christ - From Trials to Triumph

A successful life is not life from difficulty, trial, or tragedy - Philippians 1:12-14
While Paul was imprisoned, he learned how to live

He saw God the same - no matter what happened in his life

In an earlier letter he saw illness as an opportunity bring the gospel to the them - Galatians 4:13

He saw imprisonment for a chance to convert Romans
There became disciples is Caesar's household - Philippians 4:22
Something "not good" can be turned into the complete opposite when in God's larger pattern

Paul not giving up deepen their convictions - he emboldened them to share the message

Whatever happens in life can serve to advance the gospel when we are living by faith



2010-03-10 - To Live is Christ - Having the Same Love

Paul wanted to remind the Philippians of the blessings of their relationship with Jesus - Philippians 2:1-4
He called them to "be like-minded, having the same love" for each other

By this all men will know we are Jesus' disciple by our love - John 13:35

"Sharing in the common life" ws his heartfelt vision for them

He applealed to them to be one to initiate this kind of love
To love like Jesus is to love first
We love because he first loved us - 1 John 4:19
God did not wait for us to initiate and get an attitude because we didn't

It is not natural to love this way
Jesus does not ask of us something he did not do or something we cannot do

Will we trust the message he lived and taught?
Will we be the kind of friend to others that he has been to us?



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