Quiet Times Search

Practicals for being like Jesus - putting others above ourselves:

1. Make a list of specific time when someone has met your needs - remember how you felt
2. Think in detail about others needs around you - family, friends, other Christians
3. Put yourself is other's shoes - How would you want you to treat you?
4. Do it now. - Don't just think - DO
5. Think about ways others don't want to be treated
6. Don't do these things
7. Maintain a grateful heart and attitude toward God and others
8. Keep meeting others needs with praise or recongnition

• We feel uncomfortable which people getting involved with our lives at all
• We tell people what we think they should do and expect them to do it

• We have access to the Father
• We a great high priest
• We have full assurance
• We have a clean conscience
• We have hope
• We have a faithful God

Take the test

50% is better than 0%

Luke 8:11

• Time for testing
• We need to have grit and determination
• You are stronger than you think
• You can get answers (open book test)

Learn from the results

1 Peter 5:5-7

• Older people have taken those same tests
• Deepens our love and faith
• Help you get closer to people
• Helps with compassion toward others

Do better than on your next test

Each test is administored by God

1 Peter 5:8-9

• God wants us to improve
• Do not quit
• Admit where you are weak

Who is winning in you life? God or Satan?

Preached by Richard Dixon on 1999-10-03

Matthew 9:12

• God is looking for the person that make need for Him appearant.
• Why do we need to be healed?

Psalms 73:1-17

• They "seem to have no struggles".
• What happens behind closed doors?

10 things that can hurt us:
 

1. Hurt by others	6. Frustration
2. Hurt by yourself	7. Mistake towards another
3. Internal Sin	8. Unresolved Issues
4. Lack of Purpose	9. Not Forgiving Yourself
5. Failure	10. Not Forgiving others

Sometimes we become like rolly pollies. 
(Clam up if someone gets to close)

Causes of Sickness:

Break Down of System

Our spiritual immune system can break down:

1. Time with God isn't exciting...less time spent
2. Dynamic prayer becomes nonexistant
3. Desire to go to Church decreases
4. Becomes critical toward the church, people, even God

• I didn't become a disciple to be here and then fall away
• Sin gives birth to death...maybe slow maybe fast.

You must be prepared:

1 Peter 4:1-11

• Because we are not prepared
• Wolves are all around us.

Ephesians 5:10-18

• Comes when we make excuses.
• Like shotting ourselves in the foot.

Will you let him?

1. To be alive and thirsty
2. To be dead
3. To be addicted

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

• Be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor - Deuteronomy 15:11
• Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me - Matthew 25:40
• All I ask is that you remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do - Galatians 2:10

1. The Obstacle of Greed - Luke 12:13-21 (Parable of the rich fool); Luke 16:19-31 (Rich man and Lazarus)
   1. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. The value of a person's life has nothing to do with his financial worth.
   2. The rich fool's goal was financial independence and being independent of God. This is the 'American Dream."
   3. The rich man in Luke 16 went to hell because of his greed and unconcern about the needs of others.
2. The Obstacle of Discontentment - Philippians 4:10-13
   1. Paul rejoiced while he was in prison.
   2. He was grateful and content even in need.
   3. Paul did not focus on what he lacked, but rather on what he had (Christ).
   4. Also note 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

1. How am I storing up treasures for myself but not being rich toward God?
2. How am I showing concern for the poor/needy?
3. Am I grateful and content with what I have right now?
4. What griefs do I have in my life because of greed and discontentment?
   Examples:
   • Debt
   • High monthly payments
   • Bad credit record

• Having people in their homes
• Sharing a meal
• Spending time in conversation

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

• A helpless old man
• Cosmic killjoy
• Disinterested deity
• Harsh ogre

• v4 - new life
• v7 - freed from sin
• v11 - dead to sin but alive in Christ

• Some apostles did not like his selfish ambition - Matthew 20:24
• Some thought he was prideful describing himself as the beloved disciple of Jesus - John 21:7
• After the resurrection, Peter still seems to have attitudes towards John - John 21:21

• Selfish ambition turned to kingdom ambition
• Fits of rage changed to fits of love
• Factiousness come together into a passion of unity

• David talks about the heart of the Lord toward weak and sinful people: he is a compassionate, gracious, loving father.
  
• How deeply does God love those who fear him?
  
• What is he willing to do with their sins (transgressions)?
• Is this the way you see God?
  

• Jesus taught many things in parables, short stories created to teach spiritual truths.
  
• What does this story tell you about God’s attitude toward us when we repent and turn back to Him?
• Why did the older brother have such a hard time with his father’s attitude?
  
• In what way did he fail to understand the father and his grace?
  

• In this story, we see two very different ways of viewing ourselves and God.
  
• How did the Pharisee approach God? How did he view himself?
  
• On what basis did he presume to be righteous? (His goodness, religious activities, his own efforts).
  
• By contrast, how did the tax collector see himself?
  
• What was his appeal to God based on? (God’s mercy).
  
• Who went home justified (pronounced and considered “not guilty”)?
  
• Jesus taught that a person can never be good enough to be saved through his own efforts.
  
• The only basis of our salvation is the mercy and grace of God.

Ephesians 4:20-24.

• Repentance is turning from an old life to a new one.
  • Negatively, what must be “taken off”?
  • Positively, what is the new attitude to be embraced?
• What is “put on” in place of the “old self”?
• Repentance orients us toward God and the true life and purpose we were created for: to become like him in righteousness and holiness.
• What do you need to “take off” and “put on”?

2 Corinthians 7:8-11.

• What is the difference between “worldly sorrow” and “godly sorrow?”
• What kinds of attitudes characterize godly sorrow?
• Have you previously confused worldly sorrow with true repentance?
• We must consider the destructive consequences of our sin and what our sin cost God, because only godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation.
• Repentance is above all a matter of heart.

Luke 15:11-32 or Luke 19:1-10

• Examples of heartfelt repentance.
• What kind of fruit did their repentance produce?
• How did they feel after repenting? How did God feel?
• What will repentance look like for you?

Luke 7:36-50

A. Simon the Pharisee

• Knew about Jesus but did not KNOW Jesus
• Not a disciple (didn't even welcome Jesus into his house)
• Not broken over his sin (felt bad but not convicted enough to change his life)

B. Sinful Woman

• Only concerned with her relationship with Jesus (not a people pleaser)
• Convicted about her sin the closer she got to Jesus (didn't pull away after seeing her sin)
• She was broken over her sin (wanted to change and did something about it)

Question: Which type of heart would YOU SAY youv'e had toward YOUR SIN until we started studying the Bible?
If Sinful Woman - then this study will help to expose the heart in many ways

Isaiah 59:1-3

• Question: According to the Bible, what has separated man from God? God | SIN | You
• How are our sins forgiven?
  • God must forgive
  • Man must repent
• Both must occur in order for your sin NOT to keep you separated from God
• Question: How do you define sin and repentance? Let how the Bible does.

• Judas had already decided in his heart and actions to betray Jesus. Then he watched for an opportunity to carry out sin.
• Share: A person's heart can be so hard that they no longer fear God - Psalms 36:1-3
• In spite of knowing that Judas was lying and plotting to have him killed, Jesus still loved him.
• The disciples had no clue who it was.
• Jesus' heart and actions never expressed any anger/resentment toward Judas

• Peter accepted the words of Jesus until it came time to apply them to his life.
• Share: Peter's prideful refusal to accept Jesus will for his life lead other down the wrong path

• Jesus suffered for you and me because he loves us that much (willing to take our pain)
• Not only did Jesus bear the physical pain but the emotional and spiritual pain as well.
• This pain and separation from God was more than he could take (lead to his overwhelming death)
• Question: How do you feel about the fact that Jesus went through all this for you? How does it make you feel toward Jesus?
• Question: Did you know that Jesus loved you this much? How does it make you feel toward Jesus?
• Question: How do you feel about your sin now that you know what Jesus went through?

• Worldly Sorrow = feel bad because you did wrong and/or got caught doing something
• Godly Sorrow = repentance, earnestness, eagerness to clear yourself, longing, concern, indignation, alarm, ready to see justice done
• Share: God wants you to respond by repenting of your sin and showing love to him because he loved you first - 1 John 4:19

Started reading the one another scriptures in the Bible:

• Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you - Romans 15:7
• Admonish one another - Colossians 3:16
• Be at peace with each other - Mark 9:50
• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love - Romans 12:10
• Be kind and compassionate to one another - Ephesians 4:32
• Be patient, bearing with one another in love - Ephesians 4:2
• Bear with each other - Colossians 3:13
• Build each other up - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Carry each other’s burdens - Galatians 6:2
• Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another - 1 Peter 5:5

• Make your love increase and overflow for each other - 1 Thessalonians 3:12
• Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling - 1 Peter 4:9
• Pray for each other - James 5:16
• Serve one another in love - Galatians 5:13
• Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs - Ephesians 5:19
• Spur one another on toward love and good deeds - Hebrews 10:24
• Stop passing judgment on one another - Romans 14:13
• Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Ephesians 5:21
• Teach[one another] - Colossians 3:16
• Wash one another’s feet - John 13:14; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; John 15:17
• When you come together to eat, wait for each other - 1 Corinthians 11:33

• Servile fear - latin meaning slave
• Filial fear - meaning son

• Luke 18:11 - Prayer: I thank you that I am not like other men
• Philippians 3:19 - Their god is their stomach
• 2 Timothy 3:2 - People will be lovers of themselves

• 2 Timothy 3:4 - Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
• Proverbs 21:17 - He who loves pleasure will become poor
• 1 Timothy 5:6 - But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead

• Galatians 5:16 - Live by the Spirit and not our sinful desires
• Ephesians 4:19 - Lost all sensitivity

• Philippians 2:6-7, 19-22, 24-30
• A servant does not consider his work of serving as a humiliation. Not ashamed of being thought as inferior. It is his place and work to serve others.

• Philippians 2:6-8 - Humbled himself and became obedient to death
• Reason we often do not bless others by serving them is that we wish to address them as their superiors in grace or gifts or at least their equals.
• Matthew 3:14 - John tried to deter his humility
• Micah 6:8 - LORD require us to walk humbly with our God
• 1 Peter 5:5 - Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another

• Being macho, to prove we are unfailingly strong
  • They think strong is the opposite of gentleness and kindness instead of being the opposite of weak
  • Daughters needs to see your strength and kindness
• The belief that men/boys needs are the same as woman/girls needs
  • Both need gentleness but woman generally place a higher priority on it
  • If you gentle to your wife and you would want someone to be gentle toward you, it is too little
  • Your daughter is a woman in the making - he needs are going to much closer to your wife than your own

• Take children to church service
• Pray with them regularly
• Have family devotionals

1. Be sure of their salvation
2. Love and understand God's Word
3. Know and willingly obey God's rules
4. Know their spiritual gifts
5. Be able to teach spiritual truths
6. Be effective witness
7. Spend daily time with God
8. Do acts of service for others
9. Exercise self-discipline
10. Fellowship with other believers
11. Understand the power of prayer
12. Maturely walk with God

• Centrifugal - force tends to pull away from a center
• Centripetal - force pulls toward the center

1. Teachable spirit
2. Spirit of dependance
3. Diligence

1. Stubborn: Pharaoh was stubborn towards the Lord’s will - Exodus 13:15
2. Pride: It’s hard to see your own pride but others can easily - Psalms 73:6
3. Arrogance: God hates arrogance - Proverbs 8:13

1. Proverbs 15:33 - fear of God brings about wisdom and humility
2. Proverbs 16:3 - put God first and you will be successful
3. Philippians 2:3 - putting others before yourself
4. Colossians 3:12 - we are to put on humility daily
5. 1 Peter 5:5 - respect others and clothe yourself with humility

• 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.

1. Be humble towards each other
2. Be patient with each other
3. Focus on our love for others so that we can bear with their faults

• Jesus still died on the cross for you in spite of your character flaws.
• To get along with others we must put ourselves aside, just as Jesus did for us.
• John 13:34 - love one another
  

1. You put it on everyday
2. Not a natural part of us-has to be put on (thought about)
3. Should be the first thing people see

1. Grace
2. “Lifted up” – growing and being blessed
3. Relief because his burdens and anxieties will be carried by God
4. Better relationships (God opposes the proud, so do other people)

1. Accept full responsibility (don’t blame others for your actions)
2. Make no excuses (don’t be defensive)
3. Apologize humbly and go on your way rejoicing.

1. Tell them in a respectful way (don’t give in to faithlessness or fear)
2. Focus on your love for them and not on what they have done to you.
3. Forgive them (like Jesus did you) and move on being better friends.

A. What does it mean to “flee” from something?
     To desperately run away from something dangerous (a murderer, predator, etc…)
B. What does it mean to “pursue” something?
     To move toward something with all your strength

• How much is a hint? Are there any hints in your life?
•  What does God call us to replace impurity with?

* We overcome sin by meditating on God’s precepts (word) and following his statues.

* God wants you to be pure and holy, he’s given you his word and spiritual brothers and sisters to help you on your spiritual journey.

Summary

Adam's line was: Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah. Noah's sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Observations

Genesis 5:2 - He created them male and female and blessed them
It has always been God's intention to bless each and every one of us. And we do have many blessings!! But do we see them? We can not be grateful toward God unless we step back and look at all the great things he has done for us.

Genesis 5:22 - Enoch walked with God 300 years
Through the family line which is described here, God stops the pattern of listing the names of children and ages of important events to mention   Enoch's walk with God. Because of the obvious age limitations we have today, It was a walk longer than we will ever see with God on this earth - probably greater than 4 times. Can you imagine the faith and persistence he must have had?

Genesis 5:24 - then he was no more, because God took him away
Enoch did not see death but rather he was taken up to heaven. Along with Elijah [2 Kings 2:11], they were are the only two mentioned in the Bible to have gone directly to see him. How and why this happened, I am not sure but it does show God felt these relationship were very special to Him.

Personal Application

The challenge for me is simple: To finish the race [Acts 20:24] with great faith and perseverance. But not just to get by but to have a relationship with God that shines before others. When people talk about me, do they stop and mention my relationship with God like the Bible does with Enoch? What does God say about my faith?

Summary

God blessed Noah and set the rainbow as a sign that he would never flood the earth again. Noah got drunk and cursed Ham's son Canaan.

Observations

Genesis 9:3 - Everything ... will be food for you; I now give you everything
Again God shows his willingness to everything to become eatable but meat that still had lifeblood. Many of our reactions would have given up on mankind. And if we had not given up, we would not have given as much freedom so there would less possibility of disobedience to occur. But God continues to give freedom to his people.

Genesis 9:17 - sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth
Freedom is not free. There was great pain for God  [Genesis 6:6]  to see the state of man's heart and how the only solution was to destroy all living things and start over again. Today, God is still grieving over how our hearts turn from him. This time - He had to pay the ultimate sacrifice of His only Son so that he and us may have a relationship. This is the only way, How have we responded?

Personal Application

I don't grow very well in the good times. It is the times of trials and difficulty when I forced by God's discipline to change. I want to change and grow while not under all circumstances. What does it show God when I move toward him only when pushed?

Summary

Abram journeyed with his nephew Lot. Their servants argued, so Lot went to Sodom, Abram to Canaan. The LORD promised Abram the land.

Observations

Genesis 13:7 - So there were quarrels
When there are many things involved, sometimes because there are quarrels. Quarrels come from our evil desires within us [James 4:1]. It is not the amount of items but our heart toward them. In this day in age, there are many quarrel and we have many things. Right now Congress can not agree on much of anything. Are we fighting the good fight or just fighting each other?

Genesis 13:11 - Lot chose for himself the whole region of the Jordan
Lot had a choice, the better Lot wanted the "well-watered" land for himself but in the ended up with the land full of sin. When chose what is better for ourselves rather than others, we many times not get what we think we are getting. If Lot had the choice over again, he would have likely would chose to give the land to Abram but it instead cost him his life.

Personal Application

I have been very quarrelsome at work recently - there is a lot that frustrates me right now. I need to relax and count my blessings. It is not worth broken relationships or loss of life.

• 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.

1. Why do some people like to quarrel about words and spread their own ideas around? Do you ever quarrel about words? Have you talked about it with another disciple?
2. How can you train yourself to be an approved workman?
3. Have you been involved in any discussions lately about God's word or the church that were pointless or even harmful?

1. How can you fight the good fight?
2. How can a disciple "shipwreck" their faith?
3. Remember Hymenaeus (2 Timothy 2:17-18) and Alexander (2 Timothy 4:14-15).

1. Are you watching daily your life (as a disciple) and your doctrine (understanding the Bible)?
2. Has anyone noticed changes in you?

1. What does it mean to be a royal priesthood?
2. What message should you be sharing?
3. Are you really declaring God's praises or just giving out an invitation?

1. How can you tell if you're living for yourself or living for Jesus?
2. What does it mean to be Christ's ambassador?
3. Would Jesus be pleased with the way you present him?
4. What does it mean to APPEAL to and IMPLORE people?
5. What attitude should you have toward the lost?

1. Why was Paul distressed?
2. What are some sights around your city that should distress you?
3. Where did Paul share his faith?
4. Why did Paul begin his message by commending the Athenians for being very religious?
5. What does this teach you about preaching Paul's message?

1. What was David feeling as he prayed to God? Why?
2. How has the Lord treated you with undeserved honor and blessings?
3. How did God bless Israel?
4. How has he done even greater things for his people today?
5. What attitude toward God does this prayer express?

1. Why do you think the Lord answers this prayer so quickly?
2. The servant's prayer was simple, but he had great faith. How can you tell?
3. What was the servant's first response to the answered prayer?
4. Are you remembering to thank God for every answered prayer?

1. What makes prayer powerful and effective?
2. Do you pray eagerly and earnestly?
3. Do you pray with great faith? Have you been righteous this week?

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?