Title: How to have a meaningful quiet time
Them: To help the people the understand the importance of and how to have a
quiet time.
Why have a quiet time?
A. We need fellowship with God.
1. We were created to have fellowship with God Genesis 2-3
2. Jesus died so that we could have fellowship
1 Corinthians 1:9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
3. Jesus had a regular quiet time
Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Luke 22:39. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 and he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening
him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
4. Every great man or woman of God has spent much time alone with God.
Moses, David, Daniel, Paul, Calvin, Wesley, Finney, Moody, Spurgeon, Billy
Graham,
"If you want to find out what a man is really like, find out what he is like alone with God"
5. We cannot be healthy, growing Christians without daily fellowship with the Lord.
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth
of God. (Dt 8:3)
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Having a quiet time with the Lord is as bathing oneself with his Word
Psalms 119:9. BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed[thereto] according to thy word.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
B. Because it is our privilege as Christians
Four great privileges
1. We give(not get) devotion to God
Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
2. We get direction from God.
Psalms 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the
God of his salvation.
Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
The Lord cause us:
a. to consider our ways
Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
b. commit our day to the Lord
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
We need to ask God to help us sort out the day
1 Corinthians 10:23. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
3. We gain delight in God
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.
Many Christians are unhappy and miserable because they never spend time in
God’s presence.
Do you know Christ or do you just know about Him?
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
4. We grow more like God.
Gen 1:27 made in the image of God, 1:26 made to be in his likeness but
instead we became as the devil Gen 3
How?
a. made holy through his word.
John 17:17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
b. daily growth comes as the word builds us up
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is]profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
c. as we grow our mind changes from the world to God
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
d. we become more like God through the promises of His Word
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
e. we grow through the help given us by our Christian leaders who teach us in God’s word
Paul said the leaders were given for . . . Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
f. we become more like him by contemplating him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.
C. Because we gain tremendous benefit from it.
Results of having a quiet time:
1. Joy (Ps 119:47,97,162;Jer 15:16)
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.
2. Strength
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
3. Peace (Ps 119:165; Is 26:3; 48:18)
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded
[is] life and peace.
4. Stability (Ps 46:1-3; 55:22;57:7)
Psalms 16:8. I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my
right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad,
and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
5. Success
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
6. Answered prayer
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
7. Others will notice the difference in our lives
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Opening verse-With God
Psalms 108:13 NIV "With God we will gain the victory"
How to have a quiet time
A. Start with the proper attitude
God goes not by the act but by the attitude.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or
on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the
LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
King Amaziah’s had the problem of a bad attitude.
2 Chronicles 25:2 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, but
not with a perfect heart. (not wholeheartedly)
1. Expectancy-(anticipation and eagerness)
Psalms 63:1. O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth
for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where
no water is;
2. Reverence-(silence, stillness)
Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD [is] in his holy temple: let all the earth keep
silence before him.
3. Alertness-(sobriety)
4. Willingness to obey(make this your choice before you begin)
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it
be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
When in God’s will then everything will come clean.
B. Select a specific time
Chose an important time when you will be at your best. Most people chose early in the morning. Such as: Jesus
Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
And others: Abraham-Gen 19:27; Job-Job 1:5; Jacob-Gen 28:18; Moses Ex 34:4;
Hannah and Elkanah-I Samuel 1:19; David-Psalms 5:3
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you.
The idea is to pick the best time that our minds would not be cluttered and distracted. Some people even chose two quiet times, morning and night.
Start maybe short-Don’t try for a two hour quiet time
Don’t watch the clock
Remember quality and quantity.
C. Choose a special place
Jesus had a regular place for his quiet time
Luke 22:39. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives;
and his disciples also followed him.
The idea in this is to have a particular place that is away from distractions. A place that you can dedicate to the devotion of God. A place that you would want to remind you of the Lord Jesus Christ.
D. Follow a simple plan
Materials needed: Bible (preferably easy read with not notes), Notebook (to write down you thoughts), Hymn book (maybe to sing)
1. Wait on God (relax)
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the
heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Some people are scared to get quiet with the Lord.
2. Pray briefly (request)
Psalms 139: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts: 24 And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting.
3. Read a section of scripture (read)
a. slowly-take you time
b. repeatedly-until you get the picture in your mind
c. without stopping- get the whole picture
d. aloud but quietly-helps concentration
e. sysematically-makes it easier to understand and get in context
f. sometimes you can read a whole book to get the jist to begin with
4. Meditate and memorize (reflect and remember)
5. Write down what God has shown you (record)
6. Have you time of prayer (request)
P-Praises the Lord
1 Chronicles 29:10. Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the
congregation: and David said, Blessed [be] thou, LORD God of Israel our
father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the
power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the
heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou
art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honour [come] of thee,
and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in
thine hand [it is] to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now
therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
R-Repent of you sins
A- Ask for yourself and others
An idea is to divide up your prayers for others during the week to be prayed
for.
Y- Yield yourself to God’s will
Closing
Vary Plan to not get in a rut
Sometimes just spend time in thanksgiving
Always remember the main purpose
There are many problems you will face when you first attempt to have a quiet time. It may be discipline (consistent daily), boredom (dry), concentration, and discouragement.
The main thing to remember is to alway pray and ask the Lord to help you. Then commit yourself into doing what he has asked. Then just do it. If you miss then do it the next day. Don’t be committed to the schedule but the purpose.
How?
a. made holy through his word.
