Quiet Times Search

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

• v3:10-12 - given a mission

1. Moses was given an important mission
2. Moses thought God had the wrong guy!
3. Just as he was with Moses, God is with us in our evangelism

• v3:13 - lack of knowledge
• v4:1 - fear of rejection
• v4:10-12 - lack of eloquence
• v4:4:13-14 - reluctance to obey
• This is the real issue - God is angry at our excuse-making
  

• v6:1 - He has an awesome vision of the awesome God.
• v6:5 - “Woe to me!”
  • Isaiah saw God in all his glory
  • He realized his own lostness
  • He realized the lostness of everyone else.
• v6:6-7 - Experiencing God’s forgiveness transforms our lives
• v6:8 - Then and only then are we ready to go and spread God’s word

• Acts 5:42 - Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news
• Acts 8:4 - Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
  

• The principle involved here is called life-transference.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8 - We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well

• Acts 10:38 - How he went around doing good and healing all
• Mark 1:29-41, 6:30-56 - Taking care of the needs around him
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 - Became poor so we could become rich
• Philippians 2:6-8 - Taking on the nature of a servant

• Isaiah 53 - He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows
  
• Matthew 20:28 - Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve
• Galatians 1:4, 2:20 - Gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age
  
• Ephesians 5:2, 25 - Gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering
  

• Jeff was playing in the Bay Hill Invitational and he hit his ball in the water.
• He then took a drop (drop your ball near the place it went in the water) and he added a penalty stroke
• During the night he began to question whether his drop was legal or illegal.
• He couldn’t sleep that night and the next morning called the golfing officials and told them what happen.
• Before the officials even made a decision, Jeff disqualified himself.
• Jeff said, “I’m not sure if what I did was right, and if I’m not sure then I couldn’t live with myself and keep playing. What if I won? It would be a curse.”

• In most sports today the rule is to see what you can get away with (as long as you don’t get caught then its O.K.)
• But for the person of integrity cheating/deceit is never okay (its never an option)
  

1. Politicians break campaign promises continually
2. Parents laugh at little “Billie” when he cheats at pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey)
3. Businesses lie just to sale a product (on and on)

• Many people in the world today are two-faced (their life doesn’t match their doctrine)
  

1. Peer Pressure - Matthew 27:19-24
   • Pilate lacked integrity, he made decisions based on what other people thought and said.
   • He didn’t want to take responsibility
2. Pride - Exodus 8:8-15
   • Pharaoh wanted to be in control and not take advice from others
   • In the end Pharaoh’s pride led to his firstborn son dieing (all the 1st born sons of Egypt)

• It was the Union’s first decisive victory over the Army of Virginia led by General Robert E. Lee.
• He had led his forces into the northern states taking an offensive posture in the war.
• When the Union army followed him into Pennsylvania, he found a spot on the map where several roads joined at an intersection called Gettysburg.
• General Lee did not know the number of Union soldiers he was facing.
• These numbers should have been discovered and reported by his cavalry leader Jeb Stuart, but he was nowhere to be found.
• Stuart, without orders from General Lee, had decided to go on a raiding expedition.
• The cavalry was the eyes of the army. Without the counsel of his cavalry leader Lee was blind.
• Unprepared, Lee went on to lose the battle at Gettysburg. It was just the victory Lincoln had been looking for

1. We need our cavalry “brothers & sisters” giving us advice and counsel
2. They tell us where the enemy is and how strong his forces are.
3. They help equip us to do battle with the enemy.
4. They fortify us when we’re lacking in zeal
5. We need these people in our lives.

• We would ask others what kind of interest rate we should look for, how many miles per gallon, the resale value, look at consumer reports, etc…
• We go to counselors for help (family & career), therapist, on and on
  

• We need to find people who are spiritually mature and gone through such experiences in life
• These men and women can give us godly advice that will help us mature spiritually

Summary

Noah and his family went into the ark with two of each creature. It rained for forty days and forty nights and the earth was covered.

Observations

Genesis 7:1 - I have found you righteous in this generation
Of all the people, God considered Noah the most righteous among his generation. God knows our thoughts [1 Chronicles 28:9] , motives, and sees our actions. What has God found us to be?

Genesis 7:16 - Then the LORD shut him in
In the end, it is God's call when things should start and end. It was God who decided what to close the ark's door and He shut the door. Same is true for either our death or judgement day. God will call the shots. Now is the time where we call the shots. To either follow him or not.

Genesis 7:20 - covered the mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet
Assuming mount Everst (29,029 feet) existed back in these time, the flood was quite deep. Nothing could have survived that much water. Even if you limit your focus to just earth - God's power is tough to comprehend.

Genesis 7:23 - Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out
Besides Noah, his family, and the animals on the boat, every living creature was killed. Sometime thoughts enter our minds that there is some kind of gray area between good and evil where we can live our lives. On that day, there were only those inside the boat and those outside of the boat. No one lived in the middle.

Personal Application

I need to look for what I see as gray areas in my life. When I am neither hot nor cold [Revelation 3:16], I am not aware of where I am.

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.

Summary

The kings went to war and took Lot captive. Abram rescued Lot. Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Observations

Genesis 14:18 - Melchizedek ... He was priest of God Most High
This is the first mention of a priest in the Bible. Melchizedek was the start of the line of priests that would stretch all the way to Jesus' time. Jesus because the high priest and the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him [Hebrews 5:9-10].

Genesis 14:23 - I will accept nothing belonging to you
Abram made the decision not to take anything from the king of Sodom while saving Lot. Instead he chose to give some of his possessions to the priest because he was so grateful that God gave him victory over the kings. He must of sensed something from the king of Sodom that was not right and did not want to be associated with him. Do we have worldly ties that we shouldn't? People around us can assume because hang around others that do wrong, we do the same things. We should live among people as Jesus did but how are we associated with them?

Personal Application

Do I have a good sense of my relationships? Do I tend to be a part of group to just belong or a higher reason? I find it much easier to take then to give and I do not think I have conviction on doing the reverse. There is no such thing as a free lunch (maybe from God because he gives freely) - are some offers of others giving really a trap? In some some situations, I should be giving instead of taking.

• Look at how God has overcome my shortcomings to help me grow.
• Build trust in God today by sharing a victory with a friend.

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.

The greater responsibility to raise your children is yours.
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
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord - Ephesians 6:4

When the dad leads, kids are up to twenty times more likely to stay in church long-term than when moms are the spiritual leaders at home
When the father gets immediately involved, leading with purpose, dealing with problems, his own personal walk with God

Trusting Him makes you wise. Relying on Him keeps you strong. Following Him shows you how to lead.

Seeking God in a very deliberate, devoted manner will impact everything else in your world.
Focus on your relationship with God, you will find it more natural to want your wife and children to be enjoying the same thing

Jesus uses the Word of God to wash us and bloom us into a holy Bride - John 15:3
Leading your family with God’s Word is a key to helping them work through issues, love one another, and grow spiritually.

Devotions together

• Even if it seems awkward or different at first
• Can be as simple as:
  • Ggetting together in the same room and talking about how everyone is doing
  • Reading a chapter out loud from the Bible
  • Followed by a simple prayer asking God to help you apply what you heard

Summary

Abraham's servant went to Nahor to find a wife for Isaac.

Observations

Genesis 24:1 - The Lord blessed him every way
God blessed Abraham, as he promised [Genesis 12:2], more than he could have asked or imagined [Ephesians 3:20] because of his belief that He would be faithful in his promises. In the investment world, it is about making a return on managed risk. Sometimes in Wall Street you can yield a good return with analysis. Other times, no matter what, you can lose large amounts of captial.  But with God, you can bank on his promises through faithfulness. There is no guessing and changing out mind, we just need to be faithful.

Genesis 24:4 - Go instead to my homeland
His son was nearing 40 years old and Abraham was old himself. He was looked to pass the torch on the next generation. Abraham again was faced with the challege of age-related life changes [Genesis 21:2]. The easy way to find Isaac a spouse would be to just look around the local area. The rational here might be "well, they do not follow God now but we can convert them later". This idea rarely works out and can cause much harm spiritually. Abraham chose again to be faithfully and to take the path less traveled. That path for his servant was 450 miles away to Nahor.

Genesis 24:8 - But under no circumstances are you to take my son there
Abraham nor his son were going to leave Cannon. There must have been some faithful prayer involved to find a way out of this situation [1 Corinthians 10:13]. How was Abraham going to find a wife for his son in a different land without standing in the way of God's promise? For both of them to go would have been an express of their lack of faith in God's promise. Also, if Isaac went a alone, he may have not returned. If Abrham went a alone, Isaac may have found a wife among the Canaanites while he was gone. The solution was a highly improbable plan (without God) for Abraham was to send his servant to find his wife. This way would be at a high cost to old man Abraham because of amount of work extra work he would need to do to cover while the servant was gone.

Application

I am convicted by the way Abraham chose to approach challenging situations. He did not chose the easy way or the first way that sounded right. He chose to be faithful and had a conviction to allow God's promises to fulfilled in his life. I did not mediate and pray through the challenges set before very often. Many times I just say or do the first things that comes to my mind. Those are often thoughts of the easy way or only way to go about things. I need to think about the bigger picture when making  decisions.

Prayer

Praying for heart of disernment and faithfulness in life's challenging situations.

Summary

Rebebekah went back with Eliezer and she married Isaac.

Observations

Genesis 24:49 - Tell me yes or no, then I know what to do next
After sharing his faith in verses 34 to 48 about how God blessed his faithfulness, Abramham's servers did not want to waste any time - he wanted a straight answer on which direction they would choose. Sometimes it is difficult to get a straight answer but he did not want them to waiver in this very important decision. Sometimes we guard our hearts to share because we do not want to sound "too religous" but Eliezer just shared his heart and was not concerned about their opinons.

Genesis 24:50 - The Lord has obviously brought you here, there is nothing we can say
There is no reason to fight the Lord. When they saw what had happen before them, they were conveicted that the Lord was speaking to them that day. Eliezer was full of faith and excitement for what the Lord had done and he could not help but to share it with them that day.

Application

The God should be obvious in our lives. Do people see God in us and if so is it obvious or is there doubt in their mind? In order for me to reach out to others, my life needs to show Jesus. When I speak and invite others to church/Bible study does it come as a surpise or an invitation or extention of what I am already doing?

Prayer

Pray to be real with people and to share my faith without reservation. 

Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray - Mark 1:35

Jesus understood better than anyone else the importantce of tapping into the heavenly power source

Jesus didn't allow anything to get in the way of his prayer times

Busy men often complain of burnout, Jesus never did

Jesus had a packed schedule without losing his focus or his energy

He considered regular prayer time virtal to his personal well-being and effectiveness

How much more should we spend time daily with the One who empowers us?

Shall I not drink from the cup of suffereing the Father has given me? - John 18:10-11

When you fight spiritual battles, you have a variety of resources available

Your choice will always determine if you win or lose

Peter did the best he could; he went wrong by putting confidence in his own strength and abilty to get things done

Peter's problem was not a lack of willingness to follow Jesus but a problem of choice of weapons

Only when we receieved the holy spirit did he become a fearless and powerful preacher of the gospel

What weapons do you use to fight your spiritual battles?

Ittai: I will go wherever my lord the goes, no matter what happens - 2 Samuel 15:21

He was one of 600 Gittites who were natives of Gath

They accompanied KIng David out of Jeruslem as they fled Absalom

Ittai vowed that he, his men, and their familes would follow the depoed king wherever he went even if it meant death

Following King David meant trading the safety and comfort of Jerusalem for the dangers of the dessert

Ittai followed and remain loyal to David and he richlly rewarded Ittai for it

David made Ittai command of 1/3 of Israel's army - 2 Samuel 18

God blesses your loyality to Jesus Christ

In what ways can you demonstracte that loyalty this week?

I will give the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me - Judges 11:30

As it would happen, the first to leave his house was Jephthah's daugther

The Bible contains hundreds of God's conditional promises of blessings

Jephthah's vow went terribiy wrong when he tried to set his own conidtions for blessing rather than appoarching God in faith

Have you felt that you needed to offer God something to receive his promised blessing?

You can't buy what God already wants to give you.

One of them fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thnking him for what he had done - Luke 17:14

Sometimes expressing gratitude means going out of your way to let the party know how thankful you feel

Out of ten men healed with leparosy, only one thanked him

Ten men asked for and received help, only one man was changed for good and received a greater gift - greatful heart

Jesus asked where the other nine went - Luke 17:17

Publius' father was ill; Pual went in and prayed for him and laying hands on him, he was healed - Acts 28:7-8

Paul was in a place where he could have used some rest and relaxation

He travel to Rome but became shiprecked at Malta - a beautiful place which remains a popular tourist destination today

You would think Paul might have taken a break during this opportunity but his commitment motivated him to make best use every moment God gave thim

Paul did the same thing he did on his previous missionary journeys:

• Healed the sick
• Preach the Word of God
• Planted seeds of faith

Make the best use of every moment God gives you, whatever your situation

Naaman became angry and stalked away - 2 Kinds 5:11

Naaman had a serious infectious skin disease

He went to Eliasha for healing and he said to go the Jordan and wash 7 times

Naaman was disappointed and angry with this but his servants encouraged him to do as Elisha said

He obeyed and was healed - God of Israel is a God of second changes

Because of Naaman's eventual humble obedience, he was healed and later found salvation - 2 Kings 5:15-18

Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind and he went away, weeping bitterly - Matthew 26:75

God offers forgiveness for even the worst of sins and the worst of sinners

Peter learned this firsthand

Theories abound as to why Judas' motivation for betraying Jesus, but for Peter it was clear, he was afraid

Judas and Peter both:

• Failed Jesus miserably
• Knew immediately they had done wrong
• Felt the guilt

Two remorseful sinners but only one turned back to the Lord

We found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots - Acts 24:5

Bible repeatedly commands believers to use words to build others up rather than tear them down

Tertullus was a Jewish advocate before the Roman government and went out of his way to tear others down

He wanted to stop all the preaching about Jesus

Tertullus accused Paul of disturbing the peace throughout the Roman Empire

He intented to have Paul imprisioned or even killed

Before you say something about another person, ask yourself if you are tearing down or building up

Saul had a spear in his hand and suddenly hurled it at David intending to pin him to the wall - 1 Samuel 18:11

Jealousy is the emotion we feel toward someone who has something we believe we should have

KIng Saul jealous toward David, who did nothing but serve the king faithfully

Saul grow angry with him because of his growing popularity

Saul promoted David to army commander where he excelled, defeating the Philistines

Jealousy took over and and Saul went insane and it his life's goal to kill David

Being jealous steals the joy and contentment the Lord wants us to experience

Who is most likely to make you feel jealous?

Rest content in the knowledge of God - He has mapped out a life of blessing specifically for you

Are you the Messiah we've been expecting? - Matthew 11:3

John the Baptist was courageous man of faith who saw Jesus up close

• He preclaimed him as the Lamb of God - John 1:29
• He baptized him and heard God's voice - Matthew 3:17

John sat in a prison cell and began to doubt Jesus' identity

Jesus sent back a message of reassurance

John did not wallow in doubt, he went to the source to find assurance

Where do you turn when you suffer moments of doubt?

God had paid me back for what I did to them - Judge 1:7

We always reap what we sow or what goes around, comes around

Adoni-bezek enjoyed some success as a king and military leader - he took captive of 70 nearby kings

Then he went overboard by mistreating his captives:

• Cut off their thumbs
• Cut off their big toes
• Forced them to beg for scraps from his table

When the armies of the tribes of Judah and Simeon, attacked and took Adoni-bezek into custody

They cut off Adoni-bezek's thumbs and big toes and died

If you want to reap kindness and love, then sow them in your every word and action

The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master for he has led me straight to my master's relatives - Genesis 24:27

Gratitude should flow naturally from the Creator-creature relationship

He wants you to bring your needs and desires to him in prayer so he might meet them and then thank him for answering

Eliezer went to God and asked very specifiically and directly a sign for show him the woman for Issac

When God gave Eliezer exactly what he asked for and remembered to turn to him immediately to praise and thank him

Judas and Silas spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthing their faith  - Acts 15:32

They were choosen to travel with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch

Judas and Silas were chosen to deliver a letter that communicated what the apostles had decided about what Jewish laws the Gentile Christians needed to observe

They did not just read the letter and head home - they took the time and went out of their way to speak words of encouragement and strength to the believers

You can bless others as you go out of your way to encourage them

Leave your native country and go to the land I will show you - Genesis 12:1

God didn't give Abram a lot of details - Leave your lifelong home for the land I will show you

He promised Abram to be a father of a great nation and the entire earth would be blessed through him - Genesis 12:2-3

There had to have been questions:

• Where exactly is this place?
• What will we do once we get there?
• Where would this nation come from with a baren wife?

Abram went without questioning God or asking for signs

He believed God enough to step out in obedience and helped bring the salvation we enjoy into the world

They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind - Matthew 4:22

James and John didn't waste so much as a minute when Jesus called them to his side

They didn't even ask about their destination or agenda, they simply dropped their nets and followed

Suppose Jesus came by your place of business today and said "Follow me"

Could you immediately follow and serve him, whenever he went and whatever he asked you to do?

Jonah went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord - Jonah 1:3

God gave specific instructiions to go to Nineveh and warn them about god's judgement

Jonah simply did not like the assignment and wanted them dead

Jonah wondered why he should warn them, go ahead and judge them

When Jonah ran, his life went nowehere but down:

• Down to the seaport
• Down to the hold of the ship
• Down to the depths of the sea
• Down to the belly of the fish

When Jonah came to his senses, he obeyed God's instructions

What marching orders had God given you that seem to make little sense?

Then he went with Elijah as his assistant - 1 Kings 19:21

Elisha couldn't help becoming a prophet of the Lord

Elijah approached him and silently threw his cloak over his shoulder, Elisha knew what he meant

The Holy Spirit had touched his heart and he felt ready to leave everything to follow Elijah

First let me go and kiss my father and mother goodbye - 1 Kings 1:19

Elisha had no choice in the matter, for it was God who had called him to leave everything and follow hi,

When the Holy Spirit is allowed to have free reign in your life, you can do nothing but say yes when God calls you to serve Him

Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see tje miraculous signs he did - Acts 8:5-8

Philip was among the first generation believers who fled the city to the other area because of persecution

He didn't hide out but preached the gospel wherever he went

Philip create a stir in Samaria when people eagerly listened to his message and watched in amazement as people were healed

He did not focus on his own preservation but the needs of other people

No one enjoys hardship and persecution but we can not let them quash our spirits

We serve a God who enables us to thrive even in adversity

His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful - 1 Chronicles 4:9

When we receive a vision for something specific, we are to pray equally specifically

Jabez was an honorable man whose name meant "pain"

Only recorded words was a well-known prayer - "Please be with me in all I do and keep me from all trouble and pain" - 1 Chronicles 4:10

God said yes to everything Jebez asked:

1. God would bless him - went to the source of all good things
2. God would expand his territory - wasn't afraid to ask things specifically
3. God would be with him inall that he did - he knew was heading nowhere without God
4. God would keep him from all trouble and pain - aka asked for a humble heart and for ability to do right

I have always been faithful, single-minded, always doing what pleases you - 2 Kings 20:2-3

Hezehiah had been deathly ill for some time and was setting all his affairs in order because his illness was terminal - 2 Kings 2:1

Isaiah had a special connection to God and it would be tempting to plead his case directly with Isaiah

When Isaiah told Hezehiah he was about to die, he went to his private place of prayer and talked directly to the Lord

Hezehiah didn't ask to extend his life but reminded God he had been a good and faithful servant

God decided to extend Hezehiah's life

Hezehiah's willingness to straingth to God saved his his life

Where is the newborn king of the Jews? - Matthew 21:2

Wise men watched for signs that the ancient prophets of God had spoken about centuries before

They travel serveral hundred miles by camel to see the newborn King Jesus

Some just struggle to make it to church at 10:30AM

These wise men went to incredible lengths to find Jesus, bowed down and presented gifts

Make it a prioity to worship him passionately and give him you best each day

He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus's body - Luke 23:52

Joseph rose to the occasion as a member of the Jewish council

He was a "good and rigteous man" who kept his discipleship a secret our of fear of his fellow council members

Somehow he had the courage to approach Pilate and get permission to remove Jesus' body from the cross so that he could be buried

Joseph rolled a large stone against the tomb to protect Jesus' body from vandals and grave robbers

The newly emboldened Joseph extended to Christ the honor due to him in death

Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing - Luke 23:34

Jesus always did something first before before commanding his disciples to do something

This included loving those who hated and persecuted him - Luke 6

Jesus went to the cross willingly and obediently without calling thousands of angels to destory the earth

He even did the more unthinkable - he asked the Father to forgive his excutioners

Who in your life seems eager to do you harm? Are you willing to forgive them as Jesus did?

It's Esau, your firstborn son - Genesis 27:19

Jacob tried to accomplish something that God already said was his will

It went terribly wrong when he schemed and lied to make that goal a reality

He received his father's blessing but only after lying to him at least 4 times

Jacob and Rebekah decieved his father through sinful means what God had wanted to do through righteous means

They would face many consequences for his sin including Laban's deception before giving him Rachel as Jacob's wife - Genesis 29

He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord - 2 Kings 4:33

Elisha had sent his assistant Gehazi ahead to try to raise the boy from the dead, but he had failed

Asfter Elisha took over, the boy's mother was carrying her living son out of the bedroom

What made the difference? Not:

• Elisha was a prophet
• Gehazi was Elisha servant

The difference was Elisha turned to God through prayer and consistently communicated with God before he acted

You missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram - 2 Chronicles 16:7

Like so many kings of Judah, Asa started out doing good things for his kingdom

Prophet Azariah: The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! - 2 Chronicles 15:2

Asa trusted and obey God at first but later he failed by relying on humans instead of God

He showed his true colors when he entered into an agreement with Syria to stand against Israel

Asa refusal to rely solely on God contributed to his death

He developed a foot disease - he went to his doctors rather than first seeking God's help - 2 Chronicles 16:12

Where do you turn in yout times of need?

Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus - Matthew 14:29

Learning to walk for a toddler is similar taking steps of faith - we dare to take steps, meet by success then failure

Peter was easily the most impulsive of Jesus' disciples - said and did things that others thought about but did not dare to say or do

Peter was a baby in faith who tried new things to discover what he is able to do

His impulsive move to get out of the boat was greeted with success then panic and failure

Peter clearly couldn't keep his eyes on Jesus but they were baby steps toward maturing his faith 

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?

Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this - 2 Samuel 13:22

Absalom showed what happens when the lines of communication between two people break down

He had every right to feel angry  about Amnon rapping his sister

What went wrong is his refusing to talk about it and making no effort to try to resolve the situation - Amnon felt sorry for what he had done

Absalom's anger grew deep inside until it became implacable hatred

He waited for the right opportunity to order his servants to kill Amnon - 2 Samuel 13:28

Absalom paid a heavy price for his failure to resolve his conflict openly and peacefully

They looked the other way so they would not see him naked - Genesis 9:23

Certain offices command respect:

• Government
• Police
• Parents
• Spouce
• Boss
• Church Leaders

Noah's two eldest sons respected their father positon even when he drank too much wine and passed out

Their brother, Ham, on the other hand sinned aginst Noah and God by staring at his father - Genesis 9:22

Shem and Japheth went out of their way to cover their father - walking backward into the tent and covering him

They did everything to protect their father's honor and enjoyed a blessing which their brother was excluded from

Different classes of people were attracted to Jesus

Not only did Jesus draw people to him, but he stirred them to the core

• They were astonishd
• They were amazed
• Filled with amazement

Jesus asked "Who do men say that I am?"

They went to the grave in order to find a man to whom they could compare

Pilate was afraid of a poor unarmed peasant

Many hate him, you can't hate a weakling

He was so mighty that when thought of him, they thought of God

Common taunt of Scribes and Pharises that Jesus was a friend of sinners

He was friendly to the lowest and the best of society, a trait which created great scandal

These three statements about Jesus spoke a lot about how Jesus' heart toward others:

• He saved himself; he cannot save himself - Mark 15:13
• He went about doing good
• Friend of sinners

They tried to use his friendiness against him

Example: Tax collectors - ones who gathered taxes by any means nessary including by extortion or other dishonest measures

• Considered traitors to their country
• Objects of hatred and scron
• Their money was considered tained and not accepted in the synagogue
• Their oath was worthless
• Could not be a witness in a court of law
• Pelted with sneers by passers by
• Looked as wild beasts

Jesus made friends with them despite these truths

It was one thing to talk down to a bad man and give good advise, it is another to eat with them

Jesus cross the chasm over which no man was willing to do in that day and lost his reputation for the sake of being brotherly/friendly

Made himself nothing because he was determined on being firendly to all - Philippians 2:17

Everyone is part of the human race, children of God, despite what they have done

Jesus was best know being friendly to the poor, bad and sick but he was also was a brother to the rich and powerful too - He was a brother to every man

There was more said about the Bible about the poor than they rich because Jesus was able to nearer to the poor than the rich:

• Rich men are always inaccessible
• Rich men always surround themselves with barriers

Jesus was as friendly to Nicodemus as he was to the poor woman at the well

He was as brotherly to  Zaccheus as he was to the poor beggar in Jerusalem

When Jesus went to be baptized, John would not do it because it was for the sinner but the good. Jesus wanted to participate because he wanted to be counted amoung men.

Jesus knowing the other side and he could help but tell them something about the great God in world they were living

The rich man in the parable of Dives and Lazarus: the rich man did not go to hell because of his fine clothes or riches - it because of his heart- not tender; sympathy did not go out to a brother's need

Abraham was rich and went to heaven because he had a brotherly heart

Jesus was too brotherly for people to understand

Jesus - If I can not help them with my life, I will help them with my death