ACTS and SPACE

Matthew 12:33-37

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Quiet Time

• A time alone with God in His Word and Prayer.

i. Daily devotions, morning watch, etc. Communion with God. Not just heavy study.

• Matthew 12:34. Our mouths speak out of the overflow of our hearts. If we have little to say, it’s because our hearts aren’t full. Grandparents don’t need help talking about their grandchildren. Their mouths speak what their hearts love.

1. The “What” of a Quiet Time

• Involves the Word and Prayer.

• Word. When we open God’s Word, we read. Then meditate. We need to apply.

• SPACE

i. Is there a SIN to confess?

ii. Is there a PROMISE to claim?

iii. Is there an ATTITUDE to change?

iv. Is there a COMMAND to obey?

v. Is there an EXAMPLE to follow or not follow?

• Prayer

i. ACTS

1. ADORATION

a. Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 34:1

b. Praising God for who He is.

2. CONFESSION

a. Confess means to “agree with God.”

b. Psalm 66:18; 1 John 1:8-9 (the Christian’s bar of soap)

c. We need to confess our sin to God.

3. THANKSGIVING

a. This is thanking God for what He has done.

b. Psalm 40:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances.

c. This should be a regular part of our prayers.

4. SUPPLICATION

a. Intercession for others.

i. 1 timothy 2:1

b. Petition for your self.

i. Hebrews 4:15-16. God sympathizes with us in everything.

2. The “How” of a Quiet Time

• Set a time. The first thing in the morning is best. There are less distractions in the morning. That means you have to go to bed at night. If you hoot with the owls at night it’s going to be harder to soar with the eagles in the morning.

i. You need to tune your heart to sing God’s praises.

• Have a place. This needs to be a dedicated place. Not in bed! You won’t get up in the morning. Setup at night for the morning. That way everything is prepared to be with God in the morning.

• Prepare your heart. Pray that God would speak to you through His Word.

i. Psalm 119:18. Open our eyes for God’s Word.

ii. Read or sing a hymn.

iii. Psalm 46:10. Be still and know that He is God.

• Read from His Word. Follow a reading plan, read from the Old and New. We’re glad for our insights, but we may be sad that we haven’t read even more.

• Write down insights. This helps you keep track of what God is revealing to you. 3x5 index card for what we read/write. Keep a note pad available to write down a thought that may distract you.

• Make application. Ask the SPACE questions of the passage to understand it’s point to apply it to your own life.

• Conclude with prayer. Pray for the needs of others. Then your own. Make a prayer notebook. As we pray for others, we start with our families. Make a prayer list.

i. The palest of ink is better than the most retentive memory. List your prayer requests.

• 15 minutes a day is better than once a week for two hours.

i. 7 days without prayer makes one weak. Just like physical food, if you go without eating you will be physically weak.

ii. If you miss one day don’t worry about it. But be consistent.