Quiet Times Search

Mark 2:15-17

Nonconformist

• He challenged popular thinking to inspire them to think again about how they were living.
• Are you willing to rock the boat?
• People of impact won’t accept because we have always have do it this way.
• Every great historic change has been bought by blood or the reputation of non-conformists.
• People who are unwilling to venture out into unfamiliar territory will never men of impact
• More difficult for people who feel they have achieved a great deal

Protector

• Legalism occurs when one values an easy decision over true justice.
• When Jesus gave direction, he assumed responsibility for their actions
• Jesus stood up for his disciples.
• They probably felt very safe around Him (love always protects)
• Without protection, insecurity can be seen more and in the “Me” generation.

Challenger

• To say that Jesus quietly and humbly pointed out their wrongs would be inaccurate
• He didn’t go after their ego, he went straight to the heart.

Ambition

Mark 9:33-35

• Jesus let them cool down before choosing to address the matter. (less defensive)
• Jesus never corrected these men for wanting to be great.
• High achievers in life tend to be high achievers for God.
• People who are eager to use their lives to benefit others are remembered and admired for generations

Win/Lose/Win

• When we try to eliminate the agony of defeat, we also take away the joy of victory.
• To discard dichotomous thinking is to discard the God of the Bible.
• I win by losing so that you may also win. The loser becomes the ultimate winner!

Higher Plain

Mark 12:13-17

• Jesus was not deceived by flattery.
• He spoke openly about their attempt to trap him.
• Jesus amazed them by a simple spiritual perspective on religiously complex issues.

Unity

• Unity is achieved as God’s people strive together to attain God’s thinking on all of life’s issues.
• People willing to deny themselves accept their Creator’s thinking above their own opinion will achieve the closeness no one has ever seen
• God’s plan for diversity and unity complement each other.
• Plurality of denominations exists because men and women have not obeyed the scripture.
• Common goaled minded people produce unity.

Contentedness

• People don’t trust someone whom they suspect to be greedy or overindulgent.
• A greedy man stirs up dissension.

• 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

• Seldom confess
• Confess only when there is a "big" sin
• Consistently confess sin
• Am open even about temptations

Examples of desires used for bad then good

King David - passions got him in trouble, then gave us our book of worship

Peter - was hotheaded disciple always quick with a reply
First to acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah and became a key apostle

Paul - extremely zealous for the traditions of his fathers, killed Christians
Jesus captured his zeal for good - he worked harder than all the other apostles - 1 Corinthians 15:10

Those who killed their passion altogether would murder the very essence that makes heros of the faith
Killing our desire is like the thinking of curing our sickness by bleeding out the bad

Preached by Richard Dixion on 1999-05-04

Psalms 25:10

• Gratefulness: no arguments, no frustration, no complaining

Psalms 145:13

• All he made - Did God make you?
• We live in an unloving world
  • God is not like use
• We make limits to our love
  • God does not stop
• We all need unconditional love

Hebrews 12:4-10

• God love is tough
• Two kinds of discipline
  • Action - stops for the short-term
  • Heart - God way, deals with sin
• Discipline - creates - discipline and gratefulness
• Running away or running toward discipline?
• He wants us to be holy, righteousness
• Wrong thinking: I won't because I might get disciplined
• Right thinking: I will, and I will be molded

Romans 12:1-2

• What transforms you?
• How are different than a year ago?
• Living sacrifices?

2 Corinthians 5:3

• How would you look if God transformed your life?
• Do you know who are?
• What would Jesus do different in your life?
• God loves us the way we are
  • He refuses to leave us that way

• 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

• Because you contacted them out of blue
• Both of you want to see all the changes that have happened since you last saw them

1. List some benefits of knowing Christ
2. Review the promises of Christ for this life and the next
3. Thank and worship Him for the countless blessings of knowing Him

• Easter - What do you think happened to Jesus' body?
• Thanksgiving - what we are thankful for
• Independence Day - what kinds of freedom mean the most to them
• Conversations about what holidays their family likes to keep

4. Initiate in friendship

• Calls, cards, encouragement
• Need to be giving
• No “OK, here I am, now disciple me.”

5. Initiate in evangelism

• Bring people to older Christians to study with
• This is how you’ll learn to be abundantly fruitful

6. Initiate in thinking

• Learn to be independent thinkers, not independent spirit
• 1 Timothy 4:7 - Train yourself to be Godly

• 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)

• Applying your heart to understanding
• Looking for it as for silver
• Searching for it as for hidden treasure

• Airplanes designed after birds
• Lunar lander with ant-like legs
• Solar panels use the sun's rays like plants

• Realize how little we know
• Realize how little we are in control

• The challenge of life is not that we have too little time, but in how we are going to spend the time we do have.
• We need to make the most of every day (make a to do list to get yourself started)

• Anyone can have a job but do we do the little things that make us a great employee
• Anyone can have a child but do we do the things that make us a great parent

1. Punctuality
2. Paying bills on time
3. Sending birthday (Father’s Day, Mother’s Day cards)
4. Picking up after yourself
5. Keeping your room/car clean
6. Returning phone calls
7. Looking presentable

• Discipline is being able to decide what can be done and doing it the right way
• It’s better to do three (3) things well than ten (10) things half heartedly

• You don’t have to say “yes” to everyone and everything (our people pleasing nature will end up making us overwhelmed, stressed)
  

• Worry is an unproductive emotion (it won’t change anything)
• Worry is like a rocking chair (gives you something to do but gets you no where)

1. Buy things that are useful instead of buying for status
2. Do not buy anything that is producing an addiction in you
3. Develop a characteristic of giving things away
4. Develop a deeper appreciation for God’s creation
5. Stay away from things that take your focus off of God
6. If anything comes before you having QT’S in the morning then fast from that thing (activity) until you control it instead of it controlling you.

Summary

God made a covenant with Abram and renamed him Abraham. He renamed Sarai Sarah and promised them a son. The men were circumcised.

Observations

Genesis 17:9 - As for you, you must keep my covenant
First, God came to Abram and Abram fell facedown. God told him what His part of the covenant - the promises that Abram would be a father of many nations. But there are two sides to covenant - we have commitment too. Sometimes we just love to look at God's promises but ignore our side of the covenant. God freely gives and will always out give us but we must do our part as well. What parts of our relationship with God are one sided?

Genesis 17:17 - Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?
Sometimes what He says to us are hard to believe or understand. But His ways are much higher than our ways [Isaiah 55:9]. Despite our understanding at the time, we need to trust what God says. What promises of promise of God are we not trusting? Why?

Personal Application

I know I can one-sided and stubborn in my thoughts and sometimes in my relationships. When I get my mind set to do something, that is the way it is. This can be a strength in some situations but a very big weakness if I am contrary to God's thinking. I need to be humble and allow God to change my thoughts and my ways.

Summary

Three visitors came and said that Sarah would have a son next year. Sodom was very evil; Abraham pleaded with the LORD for the city.

Observations

Genesis 18:14 - Is anything too hard for the LORD?
This is a good question to ask ourselves in times where we doubt God in anyway. Sarai doubted that she would become pregnant because of how old she was. Mary may have been thinking of this scripture when the angel came to her saying she would become pregnant as a virgin - her reaction was much more faithful. Bog came do much more than we can ask or imagine [Ephesians 3:20].

Genesis 18:32 - For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it
God wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth [1 Timothy 2:4]. It is the reason God will waiting out all the evil and sin that is in the world. He is looking and searching out those who will changing their ways and love him back. Who around us is looking for God?

Personal Application

I doubt God way too much (once is too much )and I do probably everyday - I am doing it right now. God is god, he can do anything. Yes, even that. I have got to stop making God smaller in my mind. Every time that I think I have an understanding how big and strong he is - God is beyond that. He greater than I can imagine.

• Paul learned thankfulness no matter what your circumstances
• Without doubt the most valuable secret in life.
• How can we learn to be thankful?

• Remember that you were an object of wrath and on the path to hell.
• Think how fortunate you are to be in God's grace and on the road to heaven.
• Were would you be today without God's grace?
  

• Learn to enjoy serving God and His people.
• Don't look for recognition.
• Old life hide sin, new life hide good

• What do you see?
  • Do not be anxious about anything - the Lord is near.
  • Constantly think about GOOD, NOBLE, HONOURABLE and PURE things. (Don't allow the devil to pollute your mind).
  • Rejoice in the Lord always.

• 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

1. Why does your hope in Christ go beyond this earthly life?
2. Why are we as Christians to be pitied if there is no eternal life?

1. What is the mystery Paul tells us (vs.51)?
2. Why do we normally fear death - and why should we no longer be afraid of dying?
3. Why should we work for the Lord? What will happen when we give ourselves completely?

1. When were you raised with Christ?
2. What should you be thinking about from now on?
3. What things should you stop thinking about so much?

1. What are some of the "old" parts of you that are gone?
2. What are some of the "new" things you are becoming?

1. How new must you be?
2. What is the difference between adding on new habits and being changed from the inside?
3. Are you like an old wineskin or a new one? Why?

1. What are some examples of worldly thinking in your life?
2. How can you change your thinking?

1. How does God describe your old way of thinking and living?
2. Who were you created to be like? Why is it so important to keep on forgiving each other?
3. What does it mean to live a life of love?

1. What was the writer feeling as he looked at the wealthy, unsaved people around him?
2. Why did life seem unfair to him?
3. How have you envied people in the world?
4. Have you struggled with this since becoming a Christian? Have you talked about it?

1. What did he realize about their final destiny?
2. How is the "good life" like a dream that will end on judgement day?
3. How was the writer thinking when he was envying them?

1. What did the writer realize about his relationship with God?
2. Memorize verses 25-26.

1. What things in the world are you supposed to hate?
2. What worldly things are still attracting you?

1. Write out this passage substituting your name in place of the word love. Now read through it again, thinking about some specific relationships you have.
2. What do you see about yourself that needs to change?

1. What kind of talk is harmful to others?
2. Have you been involved in talk that is unkind, slanderous or mocking?

1. Who is "over you in the Lord"?
2. Is this based on how they live?
3. Write some names of Christians who work hard among you. Do you respect them from your heart?
4. What is your attitude toward Christians who are weak or slow to learn?

• What sinful situations are you holding back on?
• Have you decided to get so close to God that you would be that disciple making great impact?
• Do people think of zeal when they think of you?

Jesus wanted his disciples to remember where they were headed
Heaven thinking changes the way we feel and the way we pray

When Jesus prayed, heaven was in his mind
Even when the disciples recjoiced in the victories God had given them, Jesus reminded them what was most important was their names were written in heaven - Luke 10:17-20
Their final destination was more important than their day to day victories and defeats

We are being transformed into Jesus' likeness - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
But when he appears and takes us to heaven, "we shall be like him" - 1 John 3:2
When we get to heaven, we will be in fellowship with God forever
On earth, we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror - 1 Corinthians 13:12

Pictures of the fellowship of heaven, not like being there:

• Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets will be there on Judgement Day - Luke 13:28-29
• It will be like a feast, people from everywhere in attendance
• Be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - Hebrews 12:1
• Peter, James and John had a taste with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah - Matthew 17

In this world we get to be with ones we love and respect, in heaven it will be great fellowship and unending

We need to choose to let go of childishness and foolishness
When I became a man, I did away with childish things - 1 Corinthians 13:11

Clinging to childhood while growing into manhood is like trying to run in opposite directions at the same time aka the “Peter Pan Syndrome”

Teen years are often wasted and fathers have become silent.

Rather than initiating serious conversations with wiser men, they goof off with fools in sports bars

Too many men want the freedoms, rewards, and privileges of manhood but only the responsibilities of boyhood

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ - Ephesians 4:14-15

Do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature - 1 Corinthians 14:20

The noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands - Isaiah 32:8

Having no accountability always leads to irresponsibility

One day we will stand before God one day and be held accountable for how we lived

Our actions not only have immediate consequences but eternal ones as well:

• We will all stand before the judgment seat of God - Romans 14:10
• He will “judge men’s secrets” - Romans 2:16
• He will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness, disclosing the motives of our hearts - 1 Corinthians 4:5
• He will judging the words of our mouths - Matthew 12:36
• He will testthe deeds we have done - Romans 2:5-8

This is wired into our consciences and confirmed throughout His Word

Everything in a man’s thinking changes when he realizes that he is only one heartbeat from standing before the Lord

Do you know for certain where you will spend eternity after you die?
Most men don’t understand what God requires for someone to be ready
We must take full responsibility for ourselves, our wives, and our children

Preparing for that day is why we should become accountable to one another

Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man - Ecclesiastes 12:13–14

Accountability dynamically helps make us into men - humble, wise, responsible, faithful men.

If you and your wife had two children and trained them to faithfully live for Christ, and both of them raised two more children to faithfully live for Christ as well, then those same ten generations could produce 1,024 faithful believers.
When you speak into your children’s ears, you are speaking into the ears of your great-great-grandchildren as well.

Teach the Word “diligently” to your children “when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” - Deuteronomy 6:7

Instruct “to fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments” - Deuteronomy 6:2

Love, truth, and respectful fear go hand in hand.
To fear Him is to be soberly aware of His awesome authority over us.

Fearing the Lord transforms our thinking.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation - Habakkuk 3:17-18

What we think about and focus on really does affect our attiutde - The Power of Positive Thinking

Habakkuk fortold:

• The coming destruction of Jerusalem 
• The Babylonian captivity that would follow

Habakkuk grieved over the coming destruction but he did sink into despair

Joy in God was a choice, Babylonians or no Babylonians

To maintain his joy, he counted two truths

• His difficult times would not last forever
• His source of joy lay in the God he loved

His loving God was the one constant in his life

May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought - Acts 8:20

Intense self-examination is needed to know if we are doing things for the right reasons

Simon the Sorcerer had a big problem with inappropriate motivation:

1. Heard the apostles' preach
2. Accepted their message
3. Been baptized
4. Still missing something

He had some very real power - people called him "the Great One - the Power of God" - Acts 8:10

Simon approached Peter and offered him money in exchange for the power to lay hands on people and give them the Holy Spirit

He appeared to want God's power to make a profit

Peter scolded him for believing money had anything to do with God power

Then they stood on each side of Moses holding up his hands until sunset - Exodus 17:12

Moses' part of the battle was to provide spiritual support for his army

The hold up his staff represented Israel's dependence on God:

• When held up the staff, the Israelites soldiers had the advantage
• When became tired and dropped it, the Amalekites gained the upper hand

Israel ran into problems when Moses became tired

Quick thinking from Aaron and Hur - held his hands up

The problem was solved through cooperation

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.

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love - Romans 8:38

Through difficult times we are tempted to think God must really hate me

Some have the misguided idea of the relationship between difficulties and God's love

Paul opposed such thinking through his suffering that most of us can not imagine

He never saw his suffering as an occasion to doubt God's love for him

Can anything ever separate us?

• Trouble
• Calamity
• Persecution
• Hunger
• Danger
• Threatened with death

No! Despite these things overwhelming victory is ours through Christ - Romans 8:37

This happened so the power of God could be seen in him - John 9:3

Jesus' disciples believed bad things happen to bad people

Jesus quickly corrected their faulty thinking by denying the man's blindness had anything to do with anyone's sin

This blindness was to be one day used to bring the people's attention to Jesus' devine power and authority

When blind man obeyed Jesus, he was able to see for the first time in his life

Jesus' miracle changed the disciples' notions about God and how he works through human circumstances