Dan Scott Bible Fellowship Class

May 6, 2009 Quiet Time I’ll Praise You Day and Night

May 15th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Psalm 57:2-3: I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me. He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.”

Every time I get ready for a trip, my flesh battles with my spirit. I’m leaving for Tokyo tomorrow for a 10 day International Scripture Blitz. For the last three days, my flesh has been constantly reminding me of what a mistake it was for me to say yes to the assignment. After all, there are plenty of other men who could have gone. Others have a lot less to do and will be in a less stressful situation when they return. I usually begin missing Faith about 3 days before I leave. I love being with her and I really hate even a day of separation much less 10. However, I am called by God to do what I am doing. Sure, anyone can do it, I’m not that special. But God called me at this time, for this trip, for this task.

I am confident of my calling. Yet the battle rages within me.

This morning as I was reading, God took me to Psalm 57. Actually, I roamed around a lot in the Word this morning, seemingly being unable to settle down.

David is crying out to God in this Psalm. He wants God to rescue him from his circumstances. He screams, “God come down.” As he calls out to God in these two verses, he makes a praise, “He shall send from heaven and save me.” For, He “performs all things for me.” He claims with confidence that God performs all things for him. I say I trust in God. I trust Him for my safety; for my security; for my finances; for my family, for my eternity. Yet I battle within myself immediately before this trip.

Maybe I need to really learn how to praise God in a magnificent way. As I got down near the end of the chapter I saw how David thinks of his praise when he says, “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.” Vs. 5-6. David is saying I will praise God so much I can’t wait till the morning, till I awaken from my sleep. I will arise so early that the dawn will not have come. Yet my praises to God will awaken the dawn. I hear the crescendo of the praises of a man seeking God’s heart will all his being. Is that me?

What comfort I can have if my day is started with this kind of praise to the King! I shall battle no more, but shall praise my God, my Savior, my Provider, and my King! Thank you Lord!

→ No CommentsTags:

May 2, 2009 Quiet Time: Incline Thine Ear

May 15th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”

After a pretty tough day yesterday, I needed this so much. Psalm 40 begins with this reminder to me, “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.”

“He inclined to me, and heard my cry.” I needed that so much. Just to think that the Lord would lean toward me, listening to the groanings of my heart is overwhelming. He hears me because I seek His ear. I’m not in a crowded room with my God. He inclines His ear toward me because He wants to hear my cry. Awesome!

The rock that He has set me on is Himself. He has given me a firm foundation and a place to stand. “Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turns aside to lies.” Vs. 4.

In the toughness of the day, when the stress gets really bad, where am I to turn but to you O Lord? No man is capable of providing me comfort. Internally I cannot bear it. I replay the day in my mind and am thankful You walk with me through it. My greatest weakness is when I try to live in my strength. This is when I am trusting in myself, my strength, my endurance, my wisdom, rather than making the Lord my trust. Foolish me.

→ No CommentsTags:

May 14, 2009 Quiet Time: If Ye Love Me

May 14th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time, Uncategorized

Jesus is preparing His disciples for the day when he shall no longer be with them physically. He’s giving them the nuggets of wisdom that they will need to face the very difficult days ahead.

He tells them that He is going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s mansion. John 14:2. He tells them that where He is going, they will know the way. But Thomas, probably speaking for them all, says, “But how will we know the way?” 14:5. Jesus then makes a claim that is complete lunacy, a lie, or absolute truth.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” John 14:6

Jesus here states as a FACT that He is the only way to heaven. Without Jesus, there is no way. Without Jesus, there is no Truth. Without Jesus there is no Life.

How many times have I read this verse? How many times have I quoted it? This morning, God said to me, “Do you really believe this?” I sat back and thought for a few moments. Where did that come from? It’s obvious I believe it or I wouldn’t be here in Japan. As I reflected on this question that was seemingly interposed from outside of me, I kept wondering “why ask me do I believe it?” What’s the point?

I stopped; I prayed; I prayed some more. Then I read some more. I read until I got to John 14:15: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

If I am confident that Jesus’ claim that He is the Only Way is true, then my actions are obvious. Even if the hill is tall, even if there is a drought, IF I love Him, I WILL keep His commandments. One of the greatest of these we call the Great Commission. Take the Gospel to the World!!!

“If you love me, keep my commandments.”

→ No CommentsTags:

May 4, 2009 How to Avoid Sin

May 4th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time, Uncategorized

Proverbs 4: 14-15: “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it, turn away from it and pass on.”

Sometimes I get caught up in how good I am. I’m trying to live a life that is pleasing to God. Bro. Hollie has reminded us that we are all one step away from committing the worse sin we can imagine. In these verses God has told me to make a plan on how to avoid sin.

1. Avoid it. I should be purposeful in avoiding situations that are “ripe” for causing me to sin. An event that happened to me a few years ago came to mind as I thought about this idea. Faith and I stopped by a record shop in Knoxville, really just to check it out. We had been in this store probably 5 to 8 years before. They sold recycled music which I’ve always thought was a bargain. When I walked in the store, immediately the smell of incense overwhelmed me. We separated to look at different things; truly “browsing”. Within seconds (or at the most minutes) I started feeling really weird. It was kind of like something hanging in the air. There was something about the space itself that didn’t feel good to me. Lots of “mysticism” type displays were around. I can’t remember specifics, but my spirit was troubled. I went and found Faith and said, “Let’s go.” When we got to the car, I started it and began to pull out. I said, “Something really bad is going on in there. I could feel it.” Faith looked at me, surprised little, and replied, “I felt it too. I couldn’t tell what it was but we really didn’t need to be in there.”

I need to simply plan to avoid any place that might cause me to sin. If I struggle with gluttony, I don’t need to go to the Golden Corral Buffet. If I struggle with over-indulgent spending, I need to stay away from the mall.

2. Do not travel on it. As a matter of practice, I don’t need to become accustomed to walking the path where sin takes place. This necessarily includes the associations that I have. I don’t need to be hanging around consistently with guys that I know are committing adultery. Traveling along a sinful path just desensitizes me to the “sting” of the knowledge that this path is filled with sin. This is true for example when you spend a lot of time with guys that take God’s name in vain as a matter of speech. The first time, I cringed. The next time, I cringed, but not so much. Then soon, it wasn’t such a big deal.

3. Turn away from it. If I find myself in a sinful situation, or doing things I know to be sin, then I’ve got to stop and just turn away. Turn my back on it. Reject the value in whatever I was doing in or getting from the activity, even if some of it was good. I can’t live a life God wants me to live if I tolerate sin or sinful influences in my life. It’s just that simple. I can’t ever think to myself, “well, I’m already here, I’ll just stay” as a way to avoid dealing with the revelation that I’m in a sinful place or engaging in a sinful activity.

4. Pass on. When I come across a sinful place, or sinful situation, I can’t allow myself to be drawn in. I was thinking about the flashing lights in Los Vegas, about the flashing neon signs in the French Quarter in New Orleans. The reason that they have flashing lights is to draw my attention; to pull me in. I’ve heard it said that “Sin is fun”………for a season. It’s hard for me to disagree. That’s why I just need to pass on, pass by, not be drawn in or enticed by the sparkling goodies or the flashing lights.

If I’m going to avoid sin in my life, I need to have a plan on how to do it. These 4 steps will go a long way.

Comments OffTags:

May 1, 2009 Quiet Time

May 2nd, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Proverbs 31:10-11 “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So she will have no lack of gain.”

Thank you Lord for giving to me a Proverbs 31 wife. I love to get to the end of Proverbs because You provide this reminder to me of the gift of Faith you’ve given me. No way in my wildest dreams could I have imagined a life mate like her. I fully understand that You have made her who she is, because You already knew the kind of helper I needed. Thank you!!!

Lord, please help me to live verse 28: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her.”

→ No CommentsTags:

April 29, 2009 Proverbs 29:25

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

What am I seeking most, the approval of men or the approval of God?
How does that manifest itself?

Do I ever conceal or minimize my faith? Am I willing to speak up and speak out when it would cost me to do so?

Can this issue arise inside the church membership as well as outside among non-believers?

Lord, help me examine my daily living to that I can see with a clear vision.

Luke 12:4-5: "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him.”

Jesus is warning the church to beware of the Pharisees who outwardly appeared to love God, but inwardly were very different. He warned that everything would be revealed in due time. Luke 12:2-3. I can deceive my friends, my wife, and perhaps even myself. But nothing is hidden from my God. What I say, what I think, what I do will (and is) revealed with the bright light of truth.

Jesus again gives a warning in John 12:42-43: “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Here, many of the leaders claimed that they believed what Jesus said, but they were unwilling to risk their position to follow him.

How would that be manifested in my life? Most likely it will come in the business arena for me. What am I willing to say no to because it violates what God tells me I should do (and be)? Am I willing to risk a partnership by saying, “No, we are doing that?” I pray that I am. I want to be that kind of guy. However it’s unlikely to manifest in a bold way, probably as something innocuous (on the surface). I have to be watchful. I’ve got to stay in the Word, plugged into my power source, if I am to be attentive to the less obvious risks.

→ 1 CommentTags:

April 28, 2009 Proverbs 28:26

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Proverbs 28:26" "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered."

So often as I read Proverbs I see many of the verses as full of wonderful wisdom but often disconnected to one another. This is not like the Gospels where there is a story to tell. As I read Proverbs 28 the second time through this morning my eyes became fixated on verse 26.

A man who trusts in his own heart is a fool.

So does this mean I’m not to trust my instincts? Does it mean I’m not to trust my emotions? Does it mean I’m not to trust my brain (or my thoughtfulness or reasoning)?

The margin notes directed me to Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (vs. 6) In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”

If the Holy Spirit indwells me, then why shouldn’t I trust my heart? Isn’t the Holy Spirit molding every inch of me? Isn’t the Holy Spirit molding me into the man God desires me to be?

Proverbs 28:25 says, “He who has a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.” Pride is an emotion that often times leads to poor decisions.

My heart is where my emotion emanates from. Thinking about the discipline of having a daily quiet time: Sometimes I want to (desire to) sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I “feel” like it, sometimes I don’t. It’s kind of like walking for exercise in the morning. If I rely on my “feelings” which derive from my heart, most mornings I would not walk. I’m making the decision to exercise or not based upon how I feel, based upon emotion, based upon how my heart speaks. I’m making (and must decide daily) the decision to have a Quiet Time based not upon how I feel, but because God told me to seek Him out early in the morning.

God says to me….if you trust “in your heart” you are a fool. Instead, trust in Me. I went back to some of the other verses in Proverbs 28 and see God repeatedly saying trust in Me.
e.g. vs. 7; “Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.”

Vs. 8: “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

God is saying to me decide what you will do or not do based not upon the emotions (feelings) of the moment. Instead trust in Me, seek out my guidance, and follow what I’ve told you to do, even when you don’t feel like it. My emotions will not always guide me perfectly, but God’s law will always keep me straight. There’s a great feeling of confidence in knowing that if I follow what God says, even if I don’t understand it, He has already promised to prosper me.

Thank you Lord!

→ No CommentsTags:

April 27, 2009 Psalm 65:4

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Psalm 65:4: "Blessed is the man [God] chooses and causes to approach [Him]. That he may dwell in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple."

David is praising God for his provision, first of David’s salvation, but then that God would choose David. David was an imperfect guy, but a “man after God’s heart.” Am I that kind of guy?

Am I chasing God’s heart?

This morning I turned here after reading Proverbs 27. (There’s probably a reference in the notes.) I had such a great day. Teaching in Bible Fellowship; then speaking at New Hopewell Baptist Church on behalf of the Gideons. As I sat around during the day, I thought about how cool my life was. I was really worn out from the week. Our house was hot (a/c problems). We just read and talked and mostly hung out. I’m very happily married and proud of that. Our relationship is one of trust, and joking, and confidence. My desire for Faith hasn’t waned for 35 years. I truly want to be at her side and her at mine. Yesterday, as I responded to emails and watched some teaching videos, I was happy just to hang out with her.

As I read these verses, I thought, “Am I chasing God’s heart? Am I satisfied with the Goodness of His House?” What should I be doing to really nail that down? What can I do to be more cognizant of the way God is working in my daily living….His provision for me.

As He provides me opportunity to be used for His purposes, how do I insure I don’t just view an opportunity as another “task” or “responsibility”?

God himself has described me as “Blessed” because He has “chosen” me and “caused” me to approach Him. What an encouragement to do the doing of what He has called me to do.

→ No CommentsTags:

Bible Fellowship Leadership

April 5th, 2009 · Leadership

Primary Teacher Dan Scott

Substitute Teachers Andy Bolton,

Lee Hartley

Bill Sofield

Care Group Leaders Michael & Addriane Anderson

Bryan & Sheri Good

Ron & Cathy Whitten

Prayer Ministry Mitzi Hartsler

5th Sunday Fellowship Faith Scott

Meal Coordinator Faith Scott

Card Ministry Heather Knable

Host Couples Stan & Kelly

Needed Still:

Secretary/Administrator

Greeters/Welcome

In-Reach Leader

Out-Reach Leader

Activities/Socials

Comments OffTags:

May 12, 2009 Quiet Time: Why Share the Gospel?

January 13th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Did You Miss this one?

We’ve been in Tokyo five days now. Every day, all day, we go to schools and universities to take the gospel to the students and into the household. Although the middle school and high school students are polite, the acceptance rate is extremely low. They will not take this gift that is freely given. The universities are a sea of sullen faces, a reflection of ambivalence to nearly every passerby. Less than one in ten will accept a New Testament. This is truly rocky ground.

It’s easy to become discouraged when the long hours do not appear to be very fruitful. Having been in Africa, South & Central America where the distributions were so very welcomed, I began to question the huge expenditure of labor and money to come here.

This morning, during my quiet time, I read the account of Jesus teaching in the tabernacle in Capernaum. Obviously teaching to Jews, He was using images that they were very familiar with. He reminded them of the manna that was given by God when they the Israelites traveled in the wilderness. Then He said, “I am that bread of life.” John 6:48. But that wasn’t what grabbed my spirit this morning.

Again, as He was trying to get them to understand that He was the Messiah that the prophets wrote about, He said, “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.” John 6:50.

Then to drill His point home, so no one would miss it, He said what I needed to hear this morning, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:53-54.

I needed to hear this certainty pronounce directly by Christ this morning. If we penetrate 10% of these young people, if we penetrate 1%, or even if we penetrate less, it is time well spent and a good allocation of resources. No one else pushed us aside while we were here saying, “Let me tell them about Jesus.” No one said, “We gave them the Gospel last week.” We take the Gospel to these because it is the only way that they will have life for eternity. Many of these boys and girls could be my children. I don’t want them to miss heaven. They won’t miss it on account of me.

Thank you Lord for knowing my spirit.

Special Note: I’ve not posted for several days, but don’t misunderstand my failure to post to be an indication that I’m not having my quiet time. This experience is pretty intense. God is teaching many things which I may share with you at the appropriate time.

→ 1 CommentTags:

Dan’s Bible Fellowship Class

May 6, 2009 Quiet Time I’ll Praise You Day and Night

May 15th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

May 2, 2009 Quiet Time: Incline Thine Ear

May 15th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

May 14, 2009 Quiet Time: If Ye Love Me

May 14th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time, Uncategorized

May 4, 2009 How to Avoid Sin

May 4th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time, Uncategorized

May 1, 2009 Quiet Time

May 2nd, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

April 29, 2009 Proverbs 29:25

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

April 28, 2009 Proverbs 28:26

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

April 27, 2009 Psalm 65:4

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Bible Fellowship Leadership

April 5th, 2009 · Leadership

May 12, 2009 Quiet Time: Why Share the Gospel?

January 13th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Admin

May 15th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

May 15th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

May 14th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time, Uncategorized

May 4th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time, Uncategorized

May 2nd, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

April 29th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

April 5th, 2009 · Leadership

January 13th, 2009 · Dan's Quiet Time

Recent Posts

Where You Can Find Dan

Categories

Archives

Admin