Brian’s Quiet Time Thoughts.

Jesus obeyed His Father in all things (John 17:4). And now He remains in His Father's love. We people cannot obey the Father in all things, we all have a past. We can all strive to live and obey God in all things today. Philippians 4:13 (CSB) I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 1 John 3:6,9-10 (CSB) Everyone who remains in him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen him or known him.9 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how God's children and the devil's children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister. Mark 14:38 (CSB) "Stay awake and pray so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 1 Peter 1:15-16 (CSB) 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduc

What is the proof that Jesus loves us? John 3:16 God so loves us that He sent Jesus to die for us. John 10:17 God loves Jesus because he willingly sacrificed his life to bing us to God. 1 John 3:16 Jesus laid down his life for us, we aught to lay down our life for our brothers in sisters. In short He died the death on the cross that was not his to die so that we may live with God now and forever. He was obedient to His father.  God does not see love except through obedience. To love is to be obedient, to be obedient is to love. (John 14:15,21,23)

How do we prove that we are Jesus' disciple? That we produce much fruit. One way we produce much fruit is by love. John 13:34-35 says that we prove we are Jesus disciples IF we love one another. Not just a I will put up with you brother because I have to love, but a love that goes so deep that whatever a brother or sister needs we provide. A love that bears one another's burdens and joys. A unity that shares all things in common. A unity that will correct each other out of love. A unity that will rebuke in love. A unity that will help one another to grow and produce much fruit. No one expects a small young tree to produce the same amount of fruit as a 30 year old mature tree. On the same coin a tree should be growing and producing more fruit year by year. We are commanded to help the young grow and mature into a fruitful mature tree. The great commission of Matthew 28:18-20 says that we are to make disciples. A disciple is a learned follower. A disciple grows in knowledge and w

Luke 22:42 (CSB) "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me -- nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." John 14:14 (CSB) "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. God wants to give us good things. Some things He will just give. Others we have to ask for. If we ask with the wrong motives he will not, but if we ask it to please God He will. God is not moved by our will, but we need to be moved by His. If we remain in the vine and His words penetrate our hearts He will do what we ask. If we needing something then we need find a verse that says that it is done for us and claim it back to God. Hebrews says that we can come boldly to the throne of God to ask (Hebrews 416). Just like Ester had to do to save her people (Ester 4:11, 5:1-2). God loves us and wants to give us the things that we ask for, but we also need to follow God's plan for us. If we are wanting more money we must give away the money God asks us to to give (Malachi 3:8-10,

I can not escape the fact that Jesus said those who do not remain in Him is cut off and thrown into hell. So what does it mean to remain in the vine? We must follow the rules and commands of God. We must be willing to obey what Jesus said. We must seek after Jesus in what we do. So what does it take to be removed from the vine? Does one sin remove us?  I don't think so. But we must still ask for forgiveness for that one sin. If we don't repent from that one sin and keep doing it for a long time and God is putting his finger on your heart to stop and we don't listen then He will remove his finger and his presence in your life. At this point I believe we have been cut from the vine and we must do our first works over and repent and allow Jesus to come back into our lives. No doubt some may say that at the point when God removes his finger and His presence that we are just out of fellowship with Him and then you must still repent and ask God to be back in fellowship with Him.

Everything we try to do on our own in our own power is just hay, wood, and stubble only useful to be burned. However anything we do with Jesus as the base is gold, silver, and costly stones (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Our works are nothing with out the power of God behind it. God's power is given through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is the life inside of the vine. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples to empower them, to comfort and help them.  I can do nothing with out Jesus. Jesus chooses to use people. He does not have to use people. But from the beginning of time He has a Job for people to do. Part of our Job is to remain in Him and produce much fruit. He's the one who makes our soil produce a crop. He's the one who provides a lot of fruit. We just need to be ready to be used by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We can do nothing with out Jesus. A branch that has been removed from the tree is useful only one more time. And that is to be burned. A branch that remains attached is useful season after season, year after year. We are useful to Jesus season after season and year after year if we remain plugged in to the vine. His ultimate Goal for is is that we bear much fruit, produce fruit season after season and year after year, produce a crop 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown in us. We do this by setting our selves aside for His work. We do not seek our own agenda but seek what The vine and the vine dresser wants for us. And that is the best for us.

The 12 disciples have already been pruned by the Father because they listened to the word of Christ. Not because of a set of words of Jesus like a 1, 2, 3 step plan, but because they have obeyed the whole words of Jesus. Matthew 16:15-16 (CSB) 15 "But you," he asked them, "who do you say that I am? " 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." John 6:67-69 (CSB) 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, "You don't want to go away too, do you? " 68 Simon Peter answered, "Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 "We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." We also have to come to the same conclusion. We have to acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ and that He has the words of Eternal Life. I have come to believe and know that Jesus is the Holy One of God! What about you? Have you trusted Him as your Savior because He died for your sins on that ugly cross o

Not me but Jesus. Not my father but our Father in Heaven. So what does that make me? A branch! My job is to make fruit. His job is to give me all the stuff I need to grow and produce fruit. I am to grow from a twig to a sturdy branch. I am to grow from making one grape to having a few branches that are making many bunches of grapes. Jesus supplies us with everything we need to grow. The father helps us by keeping the branches in tip top shape to prudence fruit. (Colossians 2:7, Hebrews 5:11-14)

Obedience was nonnegotiable to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half tribe of Manasseh. They were willing to obey everything Joshua commanded them just as they had obeyed Moses. They were willing to go everywhere that Joshua sent them. Then if anyone of them did not obey Joshua's order then that person would be put to death. Are we willing to obey God along the same guidelines? Will be obedient in everything He says? If we don't obey God once today will we put our selves on the alter rail today to be a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2). God certainly does not expect us to be killed for not obeying but He does want us commit to do better today then we did yesterday. No one is perfect (Romans 3:23), but we also should not keep sinning (disobedience to God) so that way his grace can be ever flowing into our lives (Romans 6:1).  But rather we should be obeying Him in everything and going everywhere He sends us.

God had already told Joshua that He would be with him as He was with Moses (Joshua 1:5, Deuteronomy 31:6). Now the people recognize that God is indeed with Joshua as He was with Moses. Joshua had been given the Holy Spirit when Moses laid his hands on Joshua. Deuteronomy 34:9 says that Joshua received the Spirit of Wisdom. Words of wisdom is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). Anyone of us who lacks wisdom we can ask God and He will send the Holy Spirit with wisdom (James 1:5). Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with such wisdom that the members of the church could not stand up against what he was saying trough the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:8-10). So as God was with Moses, Joshua, and Steven He will be with us in all things. Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB) 18 Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of

These men do indeed respect Joshua. Joshua can see God is with him like He said in verse 9.  All because He was strong and courageous. How many of us have this much respect for the leaders in our lives, bosses, pastors, parents (if you still live at home), and government. What does respect for your boss look like? Colossians 3:22 (CSB) Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don't work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. What does respect for your pastor look like? Exodus 22:28 (CSB) "You must not blaspheme God or curse a leader among your people. What does respect for your parents look like? Colossians 3:20 (CSB) Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. What does respect for your government look like? Romans 13:1 (CSB) Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. (Romans 13:1-7) I do

Joshua 1:11 (CSB) "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you to inherit.' " Verse 11 is about trust. They were to get ready. God is about to do what He said He would do (numbers 23:19). Joshua 1:14 (CSB) "Your wives, dependents, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your best soldiers must cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers and help them Verse 14 is about protection. God's protection on the families on the east side of the Jordan river. The protection provided by the two and a half tribes fighting men for the rest of their brothers. We are also to bear each other's burdens. It may not be our fight but we must be willing to see our brothers get their victories. We don't war against flesh and blood but against the Devil an

What has the Lord's servant told you and me? Some of us has had a servant of God tell us something about an area of our life. Others have heard it strait from God. While still others have really just ended up in the will of God. Or maybe any combination of the three. Either way remember what has been told to you? Hold on to it and remind your heart and remind God of it. Ask Him to show you the next step to take in faith to accomplish what He has for you. 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. We can sit around and mope because the situations are not in your favor. Or you can turn your hardships into blessings and find encouragement in God.

Joshua is speaking to the two and a half tribes that have settled down on the east side of the Jordan river. He is talking to the 30%. He is going to remind them what Moses commanded. So let us be reminded of God's command, which is the greatest command, Love The Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27). But not only that but also love your neighbor as you love yourself. Peter wanted to remind his readers in 2 Peter 2:11-12 That Jesus provides us with a grand entrance into heaven.

Everyone has been waiting their whole life for this day and now it is happening within three days. For 40 years Moses had been leading the people around the desert following the pillar of cloud and fire. Now Joshua has been giving the task to lead the new generation into the promise land. Everyone is younger than 40. Everyone was born in the wilderness. Everyone but Joshua and Caleb. According God they were ready. God had sustained them with manna through the desert. That was about to end and they were about to eat of the harvest of the promise land. They had seen struggles they had seen war and God was with them. Everything has prepared them for this day and it is finally here. They were going to the promise land. The challenges we face in our wilderness prepares us for our promise land. It prepares us for the calling from God on our lives. The season of our wilderness is about over and we are getting ready to cross our Jordan so that we can fulfill our responsibilities in the promi

Joshua heard the call and what did he do? He began to walk in the authority God had given him. He began to be the leader of the Israelites. He was strong and courageous to accomplish all that God had given him to do. He took that step of faith to speak to the officers of Israel. He had no idea how they would respond but he spoke up as their leader. No doubt the people before him was younger than him and as kids saw him stand with Caleb to say that The Lord has given them this land. Contrary to the other ten spies who did not believe God.

The call of God is, "Go for I am with you!"  Joshua heard it here in verse 9. Moses heard it in Exodus 3:10 (CSB) "therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." Moses did go with a humble heart. Jeroboam heard it in 1 Kings 11:37-38 (CSB) 37 "I will appoint you, and you will reign as king over all you want, and you will be king over Israel. 38 " 'After that, if you obey all I command you, walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight in order to keep my statutes and my commands as my servant David did, I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give you Israel."  He heard the call of God but was not humble instead he decided to make and serve other gods and convinced Israel to do the same. Isaiah heard the call of God in Isaiah 6:9-10 (CSB) 9 And he replied: "Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep loo