Time Alone With God

Dr. Tim Johnson

Day 1

If you are a faithful reader of "Time Alone
With God" you will have noticed a huge mistake in
the first sentence of last week's devotion. You will be pleased to know that
I now have a proof reader who has volunteered to keep me from writing
heresy!!! Hopefully, this week will make sense.

Have you ever been a part of a winning team or part of a
wonderful music ensemble or part of some kind of performing group that just
seems to style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">mesh and
you can't believe how wonderful it was to be a part of that group? I have
been fortunate to have experienced numerous groups like this, and the latest
one is being a part of

New

Covenant

Community

Church

. There rarely is a weekend that I don't just sit there and give thanks for
being part of such a wonderful family. In today's style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God you will read about something even
greater than what I have referred to earlier.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=1+John+3%3A1-3&NIV_version=yes&language=english">1
John 3:1-3 (Later referred to as 1 Jn.)

We are so fortunate to be called the children
of God. We are not referred to as neighbors or acquaintances, but style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">CHILDREN of
God! That is incredible. I can remember as a kid being proud of the fact that
I had touched the hand of the star of style="mso-spacerun: yes"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Wild, Wild West
TV show. I didn't want to wash my hand for days! If you have received Christ
into your heart, you are not just a no named creation of God, you are God's
child.

Keep in mind that being a member of God's
family has its privileges. Isn't it incredible to think about being a child
of God? The Creator of the universe has welcomed you into His family as a
child of His! Wow! style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">John 1: style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">12 style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Yet to all who
received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become
children of God--

You may feel like you are not acting like a
child of God! However, Christ's desire for you is that you daily allow Him
to become greater and greater in your life. Keep in mind what verse 2 said.
God's ultimate plan for you has yet to be revealed, but it will be amazing!
And we do know that when Christ comes back to earth, we will be like Him for
eternity.

Close your style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God by thanking Christ for coming into
your heart and for making you a child of His! Give thanks for the benefits of
knowing Him. Ask Him to work in your life in such a way that when He comes
back there won't have to be that big of a change in you to adapt to be like
Him.

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">Day Two

If you are a child of God, should there be a
marked difference between you and someone who does not know Christ personally?
If so, what should be the difference?

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=1+John+3%3A4-10">1
Jn. 3:4-10

Does what you just read mean that if you sin
you are not a child of God? No! Allow me to explain. Verse nine is the best
verse to use to explain this principle. If you continue to habitually sin and
there does not seem to be any kind of a repentant heart, John is questioning
whether you really know Christ. If you know Christ, there should be some kind
of Christ-likeness being formed in your life. The Bible calls this fruit. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> John 15:5 style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">"I am the vine;
you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I
in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Galatians 5:22 style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, style="mso-spacerun: yes">

As you know, your actions reveal your values. If you are a child of God
there will begin to be some signs of family traits in your life. If the only
trait is that of rebellion against God, that
reveals something doesn't it? The reason that we won't continue to have
sin as the leader in our lives is that we are possessed by God, and He will
not allow that to happen. Our goal then is to allow God to become more and
more prominent in our daily living. Close your style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God by praying this Scripture as your
desire, style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">John
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">3:30
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">He must become greater
and greater; I must become less and less.

style="font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">Day Three

Getting along with others is never an easy
thing to do especially when those " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">difficult"
people are dropped into our pathway. So how are we do deal with those
difficult people?

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=1+John+3%3A11-15">1
Jn. 3:11-15

style="mso-tab-count: 1; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">
This is a very simple, but not easy
passage. We are commanded to love others. We are to let them see Christ in us.
Keep in mind that this book was being written to believers and this passage
does use the word " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">brother" class="GramE">when it
speaks of loving. I believe that John is calling on the church to treat each
other with love not disrespect. Just because a person is a believer does not
mean that we are going to automatically get along with him. Since we have
different personalities, there will be some who are more difficult to get
along with. However, these differences are not an excuse to mistreat and
gossip about each other. The Bible is very pointed about gossiping. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> Proverbs
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">16:28
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A perverse man stirs
up dissension, and
a gossip separates close friends. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Proverbs 18:8
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The words of a gossip
are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Proverbs
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">20:19
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A gossip betrays a
confidence; so
avoid a man who talks too much. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Proverbs 26: style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">20 style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Without wood a fire
goes out; without
gossip a quarrel dies down. style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">2 Cor.
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">12: style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">20
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> For I am afraid that
when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as
you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">1 Tim.
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">5:13
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Besides, they get into
the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do
they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought
not to.

Re-read verse 11.
This is style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">not a
new message! This is a message that has been from the beginning! We are to
love one another. If you attitude begins with a drive and desire to love
someone, then the chances of loving will be much greater! If your tendency is
to seek out the negatives in the other person, the opportunity to find fault
and dislike them will be great.

Is there someone whom you've had a
difficult time getting along with lately? Will you agree to begin praying style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">for
them style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">not about
them? Ask God to place within you a desire to meet a need for them. Look for
that need and then make immediate plans to carry out meeting that need.
Remember, we are style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">commanded by
God to love one another. It is not a suggestion.

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">Day Four

Yesterday we looked at loving those who are
difficult to love and we closed with setting a goal of seeking a way to meet a
need for them. Today, we will continue to read about the kind of attitude we
are to have.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=1+John+3%3A16-20">1
Jn. 3:16-20

Our motivation for loving and meeting needs around us should come from
looking at the life of Christ. As we examine Jesus' motive in dying for us,
we find that His motivation was love. We did not deserve any love. In fact, we
were in the midst of sinning against Him and He still met our greatest need. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> Christ gave us what
we needed, not what we deserved! As a result of that, we are to go
and do the same. How? Re-read verse 17. When
we see a need, we are to meet that need. To overlook that need and say that we
will pray for them is revealing that the love of God is not in us. I do not
believe that this passage is dealing with those who will not lift a hand to
help themselves. The Bible says that those who will not work should not eat. class="GramE"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">2 Thes. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">3:10
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">For even when we were
with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not
eat."

style="mso-tab-count: 1; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">
Again, this passage is not dealing with that subject. This passage
is talking about our meeting the needs of those who are our " style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">brothers class="GramE">" when we
have the means to do so. We are to love in deeds! Close your style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God by praying verse 18 to be your goal
today.

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">Day Five

Have you ever wondered why some of your
prayers are answered and some are not? In today's style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God we will examine a difficult passage
that deals with this issue.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=1+John.+3%3A21-24">1
Jn. 3:21-24

Does verse 22 mean that we can get style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">anything
we ask of God? God is not obligated to grant endless wishes because we hold
Him to His promises. When our desires line up with His desires - when we obey
and do what pleases Him - then we can be sure that God will answer our
prayers. style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">1 John 5: style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">14 style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">This is the confidence
we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">according to His will,
He hears us.

The Bible notes several things that sabotage
our prayers:

style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"> face="Arial">Sin ( href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Dt.++1%3A45+%3B+Ps.+66%3A18%3B+Is.+59%3A2%3B+Jer.++14%3A10+-12&NIV_version=yes&language=english">Dt.
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Dt.++1%3A45+%3B+Ps.+66%3A18%3B+Is.+59%3A2%3B+Jer.++14%3A10+-12&NIV_version=yes&language=english">
1:45
; Ps. 66:18; Is. 59:2; Jer.
14:10
-12)

style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"> face="Arial">Disobedience ( href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Prov.+28%3A9">Prov.
28:9)

style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"> face="Arial">Hypocrisy ( href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Isa.+29%3A13%3B+Mal.+1%3A7-9">Isa. 29:13; Mal.
1:7-9)

style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"> face="Arial">Wrong motives ( href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Mat.+6%3A5-6%3B+Lk.++18%3A11+-14%3B+James+4%3A3">Mat. 6:5-6;
Lk. href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Mat.+6%3A5-6%3B+Lk.++18%3A11+-14%3B+James+4%3A3"> Hour="18">
18:11
-14; James 4:3)

style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"> face="Arial">Lack of faith ( href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Heb.+11%3A6%3B+James+1%3A6">Heb. 11:6; James
1:6)

style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"> face="Arial">Marital problems ( href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=1+Pet.+3%3A7">1 Pet.
3:7)

Remember, there are three different ways that
God will answer our prayers, they are : style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">no, yes, and wait. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The key to having God answer our
prayers is by spending enough time with Him so that we will know what things
we ought to pray for. The more time you spend with someone, the more you begin
to think and act like them. This is our goal: style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">that
we would think and act like God! Go back and re-read
verse 24. Those who are obedient to the Lord are those who will reveal
Christ-likeness. Once again, obedience is the key! Remember what we have been
commanded to do as a result of reading chapter three of 1^st Jn?
This is summed up in verse 23. Close with this verse as your prayer.

Time Alone With God Archives