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Searching for "philippians" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "0" to "25". (110 found)

2008-02-24 - Power of Gratitude - Badly out of Focus
Children - they notice the one toy they do not have even with having a dozen other toys - how do we do?

Gratitude and ingratitude are based on our focus in life
  • Negatives - ingratitude
  • Positives - gratitude
You can tell the size of the person by the size of things it takes to make him angry

Philippians 4:8 - think about these things
Philippians 4:12-13 - secret to being content in any and every situation

Being content is a decision - 10% what happens to us; 90% how we react to the situation

Romans 8:38-39 - nothing can separate us from the love of God

2008-03-08 - Power of Gratitude - Is This All There Is?
Most of the physical pursuits of life (Ecclesiastes) are substitutes for what we really need - a relationship with God

"Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ" - Philippians 3:7-11

The answer - to be totally immersed in my relationship with God through Christ
To know God in such a way and at such a level that all else pales into comparision
When this level is reached, nothing else will matter:
  • Not position
  • Not recognition
  • Not performance
  • Not respect
Fear of death will lose its hold

"For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain" - Philippians 1:21

Thankful books

Do it just before going to bed every night
God is too good for us not express gratitude
Ideas: come up with 7 areas of gratitude and incorporate one area into your prayers each day
  • Physical blessings
  • Family blessings
  • Spiritual blessings


2008-03-15 - Be Still My Soul - Exciting Personal Bible Study
What happen to the days when you could not wait to learn more from God's word?
When was the last time you regretted having to close your Bible and go on to other activities?

Excuses:
  • Days of excitement are for young Christians
  • Mature means being dead and lifeless
  • See other older Christians not doing well and assume that is our fate
Paul: "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12-16)

The only way to a deep, growing relationship with God - which includes feeding on His word.
Some are not put forth the effort required to dig deeper; have become lazy
Some are satisfied with what they already know and are content being spoon-fed.

"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity" (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)
We need to train ourselves (1 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 5:14)
"This the one I esteem he who ... trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2)

2008-04-10 - Falling in Love with God - Jesus: Together Forever
No eye has seen,
 No ear has heard
  No mind has conceived
   What God has prepared for those who love him - 1 Corinthians

Our Journey to heaven is like a race:
  • 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
Heaven is the finishing line that should literally pull me along

Can you imagine what it will be like to see Christ face to face?
He might say something like "I never doubted; I knew you would make it!"

I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far - Philippians 1:21-26

Better than what? Better than all.

2008-04-26 - Falling in Love with God - Suffering
Not content to wait for heaven - groaning is never spiritual

Expectations on earth - we are frequently disappointed
Only expectations that exceed our imagination - are satisfied from heaven

Revelation 1:9 - John was a champion in the suffering; patient endurance that are ours in Jesus

We can lose our love for God because we are surprised by suffering


Only place for comfort in our relationship with god

Paul was in conflict between the Earth and being in heaven - 1 Philippians 1:23-25

Since we have not reached the resting place (heaven for us), we don't 'as we see fit' - Deuteronomy 12:8-10

2008-05-10 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Money - Root of All Evil?, part 2
There are spiritual challenges for both those who have money and those who don't

God promises to give us what we need, but not what we may want

1 Timothy - need for contentment with the basic of life

Examine:
  • How much have we accumulated?
  • Why have we accumulated it?
  • How much are we using?
  • How are we using it?
  • How attached are we to it?
Colossians 3:23 - work for the Lord
Seeking advancement or seeking to please God?

How content are you with what you have? - Philippians 4:12

1 Timothy 6:9-12 - not just avoid but flee from the love of money
 - Some use people, and love money
 - God uses money and loves people

Who is master in your life? God OR Money - Luke 16:13

Avoid the extremes of loving it and envying those who have more than you

Use money to the fullest extend to serve him and bless others

2008-05-12 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Don't cry over split milk

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead - Philippians 3:12-14

Much of our challenge is in accepting failures without feeling like failures

Peter and Judas were both betrayers
Peter was forgiven and Judas would have too if he had not killed himself

Mistakes are part of the growing process

  1. Performance mind-set - try to minimize our failures (no risks)
  2. Terminal thinkers - avoid calling them mistakes

Gospel allows us to start over and over again
Failure to achieve dreams is one our greatest challenges from our past

Shock > denial > anger > depression, apathy, or peace (grace of God)

BIG PICTURE - being right with God, growing in our relationship with him, and helping others



2008-05-15 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Disappointed
Mathew 23:37 - Talks about how Jerusalem killed the prophets and those God has sent to them

Disappointed people are not happy people

Disappointed = depressed or discouraged by the failures of one's hopes
Disappointment in others exposes a basic selfishness; by definition is rather self-focused

Most assume that God often views us with a disappointed heart
Luke 19:41-42 (parallel verse to Matthew 23:37) - If you only had known on this day what would bring you peace

Are you often disappointed in yourself or others?
Humility is needed - Selfishness and pride is the opposite
  • Disappointed often? Selfish often!
  • Frustrated at others often? Selfish often!
  • Angry when others have things against you? Selfish once more!
Look not to your own interest, but the interest of others - Philippians 2:3-4

Disappointment is un-Godlike; Concern is the godly quality which comes from self-denial and agape love

2008-06-13 - Purpose Driven Life - Restoring Broken Fellowship
Relationships are always worth restoring
God has given us the ministry of restoring
God gave everything (his son) for restoring relationships
Does not mean avoiding conflict or appeasement
 
Talk to God before talking to the person
 
God may change your heart or their hear - James 4:1-2
Tell God your frustrations
Most conflict is rooted in unmet needs; some needs can only be meet by God
 
Always take the initiative
 
God expects you to make the first move - Matthew 5:23-24
Abandon your offering at the alter and go make things right first
Acting quickly reduces the spiritual damage
Bitterness is only hurting yourself
 
Sympathize with their feelings
 
Use your ears more than your mouth - Philippians 2:4
Focus on feelings and not facts
Start with sympathy, not solutions
 
Confess your part of the conflict
 
Ask "Am I the problem?" - Matthew 7:5
The way you handle a conflict creates a bigger hurt
 
Attack the problem, not the person
 
How you say it is important as what you say
Cold War - country decided on weapons that should never be used
 
Cooperate as much as possible - Romans 12:18
 
Sometime it cost our pride, self-centerness
 
Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution
 
Reconciliation focuses on the relationship
Takes a lot of effort to restore a relationship

2008-06-15 - Purpose Driven Life - Created to Become Like Christ
You are created to become like Christ

Jesus' mission is restore the full image that we have lost
God's ultimate goal for your life on earth in not comfort but character development
If we forget this, you will become frustrated by your circumstances

You exist for God's purpose, not vice versa

Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives - Philippians 2:13

We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work

Obedience unlocks God's power
God waits for you to act first
Make every effort - Luke 13:24; Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:15

Ephesians 4:22-24 - Responsibilities in belonging like Christ:
  • Choose to let go of old ways
  • Must change the way we think
  • Must put on the "character of Christ by developing new, godly habits

God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us
  • Truth we need to grow
  • Support when we need guidance or when we fail
  • Environment we need to practice Christ-likeness
In many religions, the mature isolate themselves, not those who are being like Christ

Being like Christ is a long, slow process of growth - You are a work in progress

2008-06-16 - Purpose Driven Life - How We Grow

God wants you to grow up - some grow older but never grow up (Ephesians 4:14-15)

Nothing shapes your life than the commitments you make
Many are afraid to commit to anything and drift through life

God's part and your part

Our part is to: Continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling - Philippians 2:12-13

Our role = "work out" salvation (grow - in a body workout we have our body but we make it better)
God's role = "work in" us

Changing your autopilot

Becareful what you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts - Proverbs 4:23
Changing what you think, changes you

Going on a diet, exercising does not work if you do not change your thinking - "I am going on a diet"

The way you think determines the way you feel - which influences how you act - Ephesians 4:23

Babies by nature are completely selfish
Many never grow beyond that kind of thinking

It is not the amount of biblical information and doctrine you know
Deeds must be constant with our creeds / Beliefs backed up with Christlike behavior



2008-07-03 - Purpose Driven Life - Thinking Like a Servant (part 1)

Service starts in the mind

Servants think more about others than about themselves

Not thinking less of ourselves, thinking of ourselves less
Forget yourselves; lend a helping a hand - Philippians 2:4
This is what it means to "lose your life"
Jesus emptied himself; taking the form of a servant - Philippians 2:7

Self-denial is the core of servanthood
Unfair situation; use the occasion to practice the servant life - Matthew 5:41

Servants think like stewards, not owners

Remember the God owns it all
No servant can serve two masters - Money not "should not", "can not"
If you have been trusted with the world's weath, than you can be trusted with true riches - Luke 16:11

 



2008-07-18 - Purpose Driven Life - Balancing Your Life (part 1)
God 5 purposes for your life:
  1. Love God with all your heart
  2. Love your neighbor as yourself
  3. Go and make disciples
  4. Baptize them
  5. Teach them to do all things
We tend to overemphasize the purposes we feel most passionate about
Churches do the same thing

Habits to stay on track:

Talk it through in a spiritual group

Helps you to internalize information
Helps with accountability - Iron sharpens iron - Proverbs 27:17
Helps you put in the practice what you learned - Philippians 4:9
Helps encourage each other - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Give yourself a regular checkup

Test yourself -  2 Corinthians 13:5
Take a look at the way you are living - Lamentations 3:40

2008-07-20 - Purpose Driven Life - Lifes 5 Greatest Questions
  1. What will be the center of my life? - Center our lives should be God - 2 Chronicles 14:4
  2. What will be the character of my life? - Keep a firm grasp of your character; keep at it - 1 Timothy 4:16
  3. What will be the contribution of my life? - Meet the needs of God's people produces gratitude - 2 Corinthians 9:12
  4. What will be the communication of my life? - Bring honor to the good news - Philippians 1:27
  5. What will be the community of my life? - Christ loved the church and gave his life for it - Ephesians 5:25


2008-07-30 - 30 Days at the Cross - Heights of Humility

World often assumes humily with being quite, soft, weak, a loner, apathetic and without convictions

Does this sound like Jesus to you?
Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on the cross - Philippians 2:8
Death on the cross was considered a curse - Deuteronomy 21:22-23
He allowed himself to be cursed
He put his trust in him who judges justly - 1 Peter 2:23

With humility, you give up yourself, but in the process you find God and yourself

Questions and answers about humility:

  1. Where does God dwell? with the humble and concrite - Isaiah 57:15
  2. Who does God esteem? he who is humble, concrite, and trembles at his word - Isaiah 66:2-3
  3. Who receives God's grace? not the proud but the humble - James 4:6
  4. Who does God lift up? those who humble themselves under God's mighty hand - 1 Peter 5:5-6

 



2008-08-09 - 30 Days at the Cross - If the King is a Servant
What Jesus rightly deserved and what he received while here on earth were quite different
Jesus didn't resent or resist his role
He had a desire and compassion to help others

Greatest of humility and suffering for him to subject himself to the cruelest of deaths - Philippians 2:8

People who have a major impact are the ones who serve
Nothing moves the human heart more than someone who puts the needs of another above his own need
It is a rare and precious expression of love

Jesus has called you and me to be like him and take on his attitude toward serving others

Jesus' serving was not limited to his friends (but also his enemies)
His people will do the simple acts of service for the "least" among us

Easier to serve someone on a schedule; more difficult if unexpected or interrupting my schedule

2008-08-23 - 30 Days at the Cross - Consumed with Reconciliation
Bible makes it clear: God is consumed with reconciliation
At the cross: it reconciles us to God, then reconciles us to each other

There must be humility on both sides:

God humility (did not need to go the human level but he did for our sake) - Philippians 2:5-8
  • Made himself nothing
  • Took the very nature of a servant
  • Was made in human likeness
  • In the appearance of a man
  • Obedient to death
Man problems with humility
  • Consumed with finiding fault with God
  • Reject God rather than questioning ourselves
  • Thinks he could do a better ob
Only with humility from both God (yes) and man (sometimes) can reconciliation occur.

Do you want to resolve a conflict in a relationship?
Do it Gods way:
  1. Start with a fresh look at the cross
  2. Remind yourself of the humility shown by Christ
  3. Want reconciliation more than anything
  4. Confess your sin first


2008-08-30 - Teach Us To Pray - God Enjoys Talking to Us

To truely know him, we must absorb his Word
We must enjoy his talking to us

God's Word was written with one purpose in mind - to communicate God's love:

  • He promised to carry our burdens - Matthew 11:28
  • We will have all we need - 2 Corinthians 9:8
  • He will give us more than we can ask or imagine - Ephesians 3:20
  • He will meet all our our needs - Philippians 4:19
  • All disciples have angels to server them - Hebrews 1:14


2008-09-03 - Teach Us To Pray - Surrender
Not what I will, but what you will - Mark 14:35-36

Surrender means to put oneself and one's future totally into the hands of God
Surrender is unconditional and total - nothing is held back
Worst scenario possible and is still willing to pay that price

What can we learn from Jesus is this most difficult night of surrender?
  1. He included people in his prayer struggle
  2. He was totally honest with all of his feelings before God and other men - limiting Satan's power - John 3:19-21
  3. Jesus stated his preferences to God very clearly
  4. Prayed until his surrender was complete - surrender is not completed without this kind of prayer - Philippians 4:6-7


2008-09-16 - Teach Us To Pray - The Church of Jesus
Disciples must have a deep commitment to pray for the needs of the church:
  • Church "universal" - all congregations
  • Church "militant" - war against evil
  • Church "triumphant" - the mission God has given us
Praying is hard work. Let's get practical:
  1. Pray with variety, creativity, and perseverance - Ephesians 6
  2. Pray for all the saints - Philippians 1:4
  3. Pray for upcoming meetings
  4. Intercede for world leaders - 1 Timothy 2:1-2
  5. Tour your city - Get a map; drive around pray for the different parts
  6. Incorporate biblical themes
  7. Tour the world
  8. Pray for your elders
  9. Pray for the church's work among the needy of your city
  10. Pray for the special ministries within your church
  11. Pray for new church plantings


2008-09-20 - Teach Us To Pray - Power for our weakness
Weakness include:
  • Physical sickness - Philippians 2:26
  • Weak faith - Romans 14:1-2
  • Weak conscience - 1 Corinthians 8:11-12
If you are not aware of your weaknesses, then God can not make you strong

Prayer is simply the key that unlocks the door to God's free reign in our lives
He reigns whether we like it or not, but he will not take away our free will - we have to surrender it
Getting rid of weakness is not the point - it to humbly submit yourself to God, depend on his power, and to rely on his strength

2008-09-22 - Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition

Whoever the enemies may be, the words of Jesus are still the same: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - Matthew 5:44

It our enemies who afford us the opportunity to glory God by shining like stars - Philippians 2:15
This behavior is described in the Bible as "perfect" - Matthew 5:48
Only someone who loves God earnestly and has an eternal perspective on life is able to surrender

Must forgive and love our enemies to be permitted to be sons of God - Matthew 5:44

When praying for our enemies, we should focus on:

  1. Their need for forgiveness - Luke 23:34
  2. The power of God to change them - Acts 4:24-28
  3. Our need to continue to preach boldly - Acts 4:29

 



2008-10-10 - Man of Prayer - YHWH-jireh
YHWH-jireh means "the Lord will provide"

Our God is a provider
God saw Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, God provided a ram

"My God will meet all your needs - Philippians 4:19

He is a good provider
Every good and perfect gift comes from His hand - James 1:17
No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly - Psalms 84:11

2008-11-16 - Raising Awesome Kids - First Things First (part 1)
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builder labor in vain - Psalms 127:1

We have someone or something we love most in this world

Jesus must be our first love
He must be our life, not just a part of it

Been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me - Galatians 2:20
To live is Christ - Philippians 1:21

This is the key to everything

Your kids must see that Jesus is a real person to you
You walk with him and love him as a brother

You can not fake it - kids can spot a fake

2008-12-17 - Raising Awesome Kids - Dreary Disobedience (part 1)

Tearful, self-pity can drive parents to guilt, rage, and frustration - this is a form of disobedience
This is an attempt by the child to break down the parent - we must not give in
It is a character flaw that one day will produce an unhappy, victim mentality adult

Do everything without complaining of arging - Philippians 2:14-16
This is what God expects from us and we should expect it from our children

 



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