Change of Priorities

Matthew 4:12-22, 6:33 >>
Jesus Begins to Preach

12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15″Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”[a]

17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
The Calling of the First Disciples

18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19″Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him.

21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

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1. The kind of life Peter and Andrew were living when Jesus called them was that they were fishermen.
2. My life’s priority as a disciple of Christ is to build a relationship with God and do His will. It is sharing His love on this earth, being a good representative of God. Basically it is to love and to share His love (including bringing people to God through Jesus’ act of love of dying on the cross for our salvation).
3. In memorizing Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you,” I’m learning that God’s Kingdom is first and His righteousness. I don’t have to worry about anything else because nothing else quite compares in significance. And plus, God will give the rest to me without me worrying about it when I seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Don’t Use Your Own Strength

Romans 6:14-23 >>

14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness

15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

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1. Before I met Christ, I was a slave to sin, who just did things without purpose or meaning, but just to do it. And oftentimes they were sinful things that I later was ashamed of or felt the negative consequences of.  The characteristics of one who is a slave to sin is that they offer their bodies as slaves to impurity and wickedness and was going closer and closer to reaping the wages which is death. And many times they feel hopeless because they are slaves to it – and the thing they are slaves to does not have good consequences!
2. Before I met Christ, I didn’t really know what was the meaning of me being on earth. Everything was just purposeless.
3. The characteristics of those who are servants of righteousness are that they do not follow their natural selves, but the Spirit of God. They don’t think of things on earth, but are connected to God so they know His will! And they obey! And that leads to righteousness and abundant life! Zoe life not bios life, which is life how God intended it, not just natural life. Abundant life!

Rejecting Change

Rejecting Change
Luke 7:29-35 >>

29(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) 31″To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: ” ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ 33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ 35But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

2 Timothy 3:14-16 >>

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

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1. Based on Luke 7:29-35, there are two groups of people that hear the words spoken by Jesus and its truth, but the two groups gave very different reactions. The two groups were
“all the people,” or in this case, those “baptized by John,” and the other group was the Pharisees and experts in the law. The former acknolwedged that God’s way was right, where the latter rejected God’s purpose for themselves.
2. The part of my character and/or lifestyle God is working on changing right now is cleaning out things in the closet. It is confronting parts of me face on instead of ignoring it and changing things that aren’t purposeful to be purposeful. I want God to change me to be more like Him and positioned to do greater things for Him.
3. The Lord is changing me in that He is making me more open and honest with myself and with others. Instead of keeping things inside, I’m learning to ask for advice and guidance from trustworthy counselors, to open up past wounds so they can be healed by God, and to allow Him to guide me EVERY STEP OF THE WAY [2 Timothy 3:14-16].

Truly Free!

Revelation 3:17-18 >>

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

John 8:31-36 >>

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

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1. Revelation 3:17-18 shows the difference between how the Lord looks at those who might not realize their own personal situation. Reflecting upon my own character, lifestyle, and spiritual condition, I think I am a child of God that sometimes mistakens myself as a slave. I don’t realize sometimes that God’s grace and power has ALREADY set me free from any and all sins. There is no addiction, no condemnation, there is true freedom in Christ. And it’s all because of His love for us.
2. When Jesus says, “The truth will set you free,” he means that we should not keep anything hidden. We must be honest and open with ourselves, with God, and if needed, with other people. Otherwise, it would make it difficult for us to experience the true freedom that Jesus has declared over your life.
3. Today, I will pray for strength and focus, so that I do not procrastinate, delay or wander without purpose! This will change in my life!

Developing Self-Control: Recognize Your Weaknesses!

2 Tim. 2:22 >>

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Genesis 39:6-13 >>

6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.

8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

13 When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled,

[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON: I will ponder on the questions below and reflect on myself.

1. What made Joseph successfully flee from the temptation of sin was that he NEVER entertained the thought of the sin in his mind. He always put it away the second it tried to knock at the door of his mind.
2. Some ways I’ve become weak and given up on the temptations is when I delay in fleeing or casting out sinful thoughts in my mind.
3. According to Timothy 2:22, I must run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts and instead pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace, and also the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts! =D

Developing Self-Control (4): Don’t Give the Devil an Opportunity

Ephesians 4:26-27 >>

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

2 Samuel 11:1-4 >>

David and Bathsheba

1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.



1. Giving no opportunity to devil (Ephesians 4:27), means not to put ourselves in tempting situations or entertaining thoughts of things that we are not supposed to think about, because it all starts in the mind!


2. David fell by sleeping with someone else’s wife. He failed to have self control when he first stayed behind in Jerusalem (instead of fighting) and had nothing on his mind and saw a beautiful lady and actually sent her to come over! X____X Obviously not a wise thing to do…what did he expect to do?! Even before the actual sin happened, he was inviting it.

3. I can improve self-control in doing what I need to do rather than procrastinating. In order to not give the devil an opportunity I need to be wise with my time management and surrender it to the Lord. 

Developing Self Control: Don’t Get Tricked

Ecc. 10:4 >>

If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest.

Numbers 20:8-13 >>

8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.

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1. When I meet with difficult or uncooperative people, I can get annoyed, lose my patience or get my emotions provoked. But I’m learning to face the issues directly instead of avoiding it, letting it build up and then overreacting. At the same time I try not to react right away because I want to be calm also.
2. Studying Moses’ story, the lesson I learned is that Moses let his emotions take control and condemned God’s people. God never instructed him and it wasn’t the most constructive thing to do either. The consequences were that God did not allow them to enter into the Promised Land.
3. So that I don’t make the mistake of reacting the wrong way like Moses, what I need to do is to STAY CALM and not run away (Ecclesiastes 10:4)!

Developing Self-Control: Guarding Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 >>
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 23:19 >>
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

Genesis 4:1-7 >>
1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

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1. Cain murdered Abel because he did not guard his heart. He did not give the best he had to God and saw that God gave favor to his brother who did. Instead of repenting and later giving God the best, Cain was jealous and killed his brother. “Sin (was) crouching at (his) door,” and he let it in.
2. The emotional problems that effect me the most in regards to matters of the heart and mind is probably pride and bitterness and dissatisfaction. I need to TALK IT OUT. Communication is key to prevent any misunderstandings and oust any flames of wrath.
3. When my heart is not at peace, I’m still able to have some self control but I’m much happier and I think more effective of a person when my heart IS at peace. I can make decisions better because my heart can be at peace and not confused.(Memorize Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”)

DEVELOPING SELF CONTROL (1): HAVE A PRAYERFUL LIFESTYLE

1 Peter 4:7 >>
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Lukas 22:39-46 >>

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

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1. The benefits of learning to be self controlled and staying calm is that then I can pray so that I don’t fall into temptation.
2. Some conditions when I sometimes lose control is when I am far from God or when I just gave up with staying strong (not good!). Next time I need to just leave the scene.
3. Learning from Jesus’ own experience – how He was able to take charge of His own desires in the midst of all the pressures, [key verse: 42], next time I know to run to God and surrender everything to Him including my own self and desires.

Have Control Over Your Mouth

James 3:5-10 >>

5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,

8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

Ephesians 4:29 >>

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 5:4 >>

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Colossians 3:16 >>

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

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1. I have to control my tongue because it can do so much damage or so much good. If I don’t learn to control it, then it can have huge consequences and start a “wildfire.”
2. I can build other people with my words by encouraging them, saying things that are gentle and kind rather than rude and crude and rough.