Brian’s Quiet Time Thoughts.

All of Jesus' pain and suffering was because of us. But yet it was for us. Our sins from Adam till now caused a separation from God (Isaiah 59:2). Jesus bridged that gap by going to the cross. And now we get peace because He did not deserve the punishment He was dealt. And now we get healing because the wounds he was given belonged to us. John 16:33 (CSB) "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." Just because Jesus took the beating, the bruises, the lashing and the pain for us that does not mean we will not experience them. Jesus took all those things from God to bring us to God. Sin had to be punished and only blood could deal with sin. Jesus had to spill his blood, die, to redeem man from sin. But now we face punishment, bruises, lashing, pain, and death from the devil and the world because we stand opposed to the plan of the devil. He wants to be God and as long

Jesus is the only one who can carry our sicknesses and pains. Modern medicine only covers our sicknesses and pains, but Jesus heals, and removes them. Jesus can do this only because He submitted Himself to God. He became the answer to all of our sin and rebellion. Not an excuse to sin but an offering to cleanse us from our sins. Have we fully trusted Jesus as our savior, messiah, to save us from our sin, to welcome us into heaven? Have we fully trusted in Jesus as our Lord to do what He would tell us to do? Have we fully repented from our sins to get them washed away in the blood of Jesus? If so congrats we are children and friends of God! If not then we are aliens, foreigners, and strangers to God! 2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 1 Peter 3:18 (CSB) For Christ also suff

Jesus was someone who was despised but yet drew a crowd and a following. The spiritual leaders despised Him. The average Joseph felt his love. The hungry was feed. The broken was healed. The rejected was welcomed. Women felt welcome. Men felt like a friend. Matthew 11:4-6 (CSB) 4 Jesus replied to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 "The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 6 "and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me." Luke 23:8-12 (CSB) 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. 9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright cl

Isaiah 58:1-2 (CSB) 1 "Cry out loudly, don't hold back! Raise your voice like a trumpet. Tell my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 "They seek me day after day and delight to know my ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not abandon the justice of their God. They ask me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God."

Jesus is the king who will reign forever on the throne of David. He is the one that to him every knee bow. Jesus is the root of Jesse that all men will be drawn too. He is grown from the roots of David. Jesus is not from the top of David's line but the root. Jesus is not like the kings of Judah who did not serve God but He is grown from the foundation of David's foundation. Do not look to his appearance to save you but look to his heart. Isaiah 11:1 (CSB) 1 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:10 (CSB) On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will look to him for guidance, and his resting place will be glorious. 1 Samuel 16:7, 12-13 (CSB) But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the LORD sees, for humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart." 12 So Jesse sent

Isaiah 52:10 (CSB) The LORD has displayed his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52:15 (CSB) so he will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of him, for they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard. The holy arm of The Lord has been displayed for all to see His salvation. It is up to us now to accept His salvation. God's arm can be a saving force or a judgment force in our lives. Isaiah 59:1 (CSB) Indeed, the LORD's arm is not too weak to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear. Isaiah 30:30 (CSB) And the LORD will make the splendor of his voice heard and reveal his arm striking in angry wrath and a flame of consuming fire, in driving rain, a torrent, and hailstones. The people of Jesus' time did not believe in Him, but He was lifted up so that way He could save anyone who would call on the name of The Lord (John 12).

God's righteousness is revealed by the law and prophets and now we are declared righteous by God because God has declared His Son as righteous. We are no longer seen as separate from God but unified. And if we are all unified with God then we can be unified with each other. We are all attached to the same vine (John 15). We are all filled with the same spirit (1 Corinthians 12). Let us start living as one body and not many different individuals (John 17:11). Philippians 2:1-4 (CSB) 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

What was the atoning sacrifices before Jesus? Was it the Passover lamb? Exodus 12:5,13 (CSB) "You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats.13 "The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Or was it the sin offering? Leviticus 4:14 (CSB) "then the assembly must present a young bull as a sin offering. They are to bring it before the tent of meeting when the sin they have committed in regard to the command becomes known. Or was it the burnt offering? Leviticus 1:3-4 (CSB) 3 "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male. He will bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting so that he may be accepted by the LORD. 4 "He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering so it can be accepted on hi

This belief is more than the superficial intellectual knowledge of the demons who know who Jesus is (James 2:19). This is a saving knowledge that is deep within your soul and grounded in your actions. Those who have the saving faith in Jesus' work on the cross are given free the grace of God. We do not use this grace to do whatever we please, but to do as God wants us to do. Galatians 5:13 (CSB) For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. Luke 17:10 (CSB) "In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, 'We are worthless servants; we've only done our duty.' "

We are all born with the ability to sin. We are all born in sin. We all have sinned and we will sin. But we don't "have to" sin. We should not continue to sin. We should strive for a holy life, a righteous live, a sanctified life. Without Jesus these three would not be possible, but in Christ it is possible. 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 conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 20:7 (CSB) "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. How are we to be Holy. I think it is about keeping the first four commandments. 1⃣Do not have any other god beside God. 2⃣Do not worship any idols. 3⃣Do not misuse the name of God. 4⃣Remember the sabbath and keep it holy. Exodus 20:1-11 and Deuteronomy 5:6-15 Matthew 5:48 (CSB) "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. How are we to be prefect this done by following the last six comman

Not only does the law and prophets reveal God's righteousness but now we get to have God's righteousness through faith in Jesus. It is not reserved for a select group based on race, gender, or nationality, but for those who put their faith, hope and love in Jesus. Galatians 3:22 (CSB) But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB) Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love -- but the greatest of these is love.

The Law could not save anyone. The law could only cover the sins of people for a year. Then new blood had to be shed to cover the sins again for a year. But now God has provided a sacrifice that does not cover our sins but that actually cleanses us from our sins once for all (1 Peter 3:18). The law however does do two things. First it shows us what is sin. Romans 7:7 (CSB) What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet. Second it provided a glimpse of what Jesus was to be for us. John 5:46,47 (CSB) 46 "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 "But if you don't believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words? " The prophets give us a glimpse of who Jesus is. Acts 10:43 (CSB) 43 "All the prophets testify about him that through his name everyon

Psalms 115:4-7 (CSB) 4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throats. Isaiah 44:9-20 (CSB) 9 All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure benefits no one. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame. 10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image that benefits no one? 11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame, and the craftsmen are humans. They all will assemble and stand; they all will be startled and put to shame. 12 The ironworker labors over the coals, shapes the idol with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. Also he grows hungry and his strength fails; he doesn't drink water and is faint. 13 The woodworker stretches out a measuring line, he outlines it with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outline

Psalms 14:1-2 (CSB) 1 The fool says in his heart, "There's no God." They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. The wise are wise not because of what they know but rather who they know. The fool is foolish not because of what they don't know but rather who they don't know. After all it is God who gives wisdom. We can study everything under the sun but the wisdom passes all of our knowledge up. While walking instep with the Holy Spirit we can have words of wisdom for the right person at the right time (1 Corinthians 12:8). The people of Athens where filled with knowledge but they were far from God (Acts 17:16-24) but the Berean Jews were more noble because they sought the scriptures to find out if what Paul was preaching to them was true (Acts 17:10-11).

I think back to the time the Israelites were walking in the desert with Moses and they became hungry for something other than the manna that God had provided. They began to want meat. They wanted it so bad that they were willing to go to slavery in Egypt to get it. So then God heard their cries for meat. And he gave them quail everywhere. But they did not stop to thank God for providing the quail. And God's anger burned against them. And He killed a bunch of of them (Numbers 11). We all can get in that trap of wanting more than what God has given. Exodus 16:28 (CSB) Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and instructions? Numbers 11:23 (CSB) The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm weak? Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you." We have to keep God's instructions and commands then wait for His blessings and promises. When we want the blessings of God before we do the actions God want