Brian’s Quiet Time Thoughts.

“For the Lord of Hosts says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.” ‭‭Haggai‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/hag.2.6.hcsb We are going to look at - how Jesus shook the earth while He was living. How the three heavens will be shaken. And how this all shakes down to us. First, How did Jesus shake the world when He walked among His people for 33 years. The first instance that comes to mind would be His last shaking is when He came back to life on the third day, on the day we call Easter or resurrection Sunday.  “Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:2-4‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/mat.28.2-4.hcsb So yes it was an angel who

Make sure you do not reject God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit! If we reject them when they speak we will not get off light. The people of Jesus’ day heard Him on many occasions but often never listened to Him. And because they rejected His words and did not believe His miracles would be judged by the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago! But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:21-24‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/mat.11.21-24.hcsb The words of Jesus are meant to bring

In contrast to verses 18-21, we have come to good and exciting things. We have come to Mount Zion. We have come to the city of God. We have come to an abundance of Angels who are excited to be serving God. We have come to gather with fellow brothers and sisters with Jesus. We have come to God who will judge those who will not follow His will and those who cause us harm. We have come to an assembly of righteous people who are only perfect because of Jesus. We have come to Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith. We have come to the blood that was spilled and sprinkled once for us and not to the blood that has to be applied repetitively or that was spilled in vain.  We have come to all good things now let us serve God with gladness. Let us worship God with joy. Let us live for God with an excitement that makes Jesus look attractive to the world. Now is not the time for sadness and morning but a joyous celebration because He is returning soon! “Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the p

“No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows. No animal or man will live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/exo.19.13.hcsb “I was afraid of the fierce anger the Lord had directed against you, because He was about to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me on that occasion.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭9:19‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/deu.9.19.hcsb All of these things took place at Mount Sinai. But they are not what we experience in Christ. For in Christ the Kingdom of God cannot be touched as the Ten Commandments could be. We do not come to a blazing fire from God to burn us up when we sin, but we are in the illuminating fire of The Holy Spirit to reveal our sins. We don’t come to darkness, but the light of Jesus. We don’t come to gloom, but the Joy of The Lord. We don’t come to a storm but a peace that passes all understanding. We don’t come to blast from a trumpet to war

“As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from the hunt. He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. Then he said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”  But his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you? ”  He answered, “I am Esau your firstborn son.”  Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed! ”  When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, my father! ”  But he replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”  So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me? ” 

“Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom.  Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”  “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me? ”  Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭25:29-34‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/gen.25.29-34.hcsb A birthright is not something we hear much in America. But it would be what the firstborn would be entitled to at the time of the father’s death. I have heard at one time that the inheritance of the firstborn would be two thirds. And the rest of the children would share the last third. But then as the firstborn, they would be in charge of the family when the father passed away. They would have to take

How can someone fall short of the grace of God unless it is a high standard! Some churches are teaching that the grace of God is the lowest standard of God. They say, “it is the grace of God that covers our multiple sins.” They say, “it is ok because of God’s grace He will forgive you.” But in all reality, God’s grace comes to those who are striving toward God and fall short. At that time God extends His grace toward us to pull us out of sin we find ourselves. When we do not seek God in repentance God does not extend grace to us.  The grace of Jesus does not make life easier, but harder. What did Jesus say about adultery? “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:27-28‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/mat.5.27-28.hcsb What about murder? “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to

“If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/rom.12.18.hcsb “He will enter into peace — they will rest on their beds — everyone who lives uprightly.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/isa.57.2.hcsb Peace does not mean we must believe and do the same things as the world. But it does mean we don’t make it a big deal and we love them despite what they believe. Romans 12 goes on to say: “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:19-21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/rom.12.19-21.hcsb If we were to live at peace and serve everyone in the name of Jesus we would see more people want to be like Jesu

Because God will discipline His Kids, therefore strengthen your hands and knees. Make for yourselves straight paths for your feet to walk. So that your hands, knees, and feet will be healed and not broken and lame.  You see God has a standard he wants every child to walk. And that standard is lived by Jesus, a perfect, holy, obedient life to Him. Now God extends His grace toward us while we are trying, but grace was never intended to be a crutch to lean on because of sin, but is a rope to grab hold of to pull us out of the muddy mess we have made our selves. “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40:1-3‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/psa.40.1-3.hcsb But when God sets our feet on the solid rock of Jesus and

God has a plan for His discipline toward us! There is a plan for the storms in our lives! There is a plan for everything in our lives! There is a plan for our lives! The big question will we submit to God For His plan or will we continue to ruin our lives on our plan?  His plan requires peace in our lives. His plan requires righteousness in our lives. And He wants to give us His holiness, see verse 10. God’s peace “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/isa.26.3.hcsb “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/jhn.14.27.hcsb  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6-7‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/1pe.5.

I inserted earthly fathers to clarify from verse 9. We as parents have a responsibility to discipline our kids so that when they grow up they behave as God sees fit. The same way God disciplines us as He sees fit so that we may live a life according to His will and His holiness.  “Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:15‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/pro.22.15.hcsb “Don’t withhold discipline from a youth; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23:13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/pro.23.13.hcsb “A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a youth left to himself is a disgrace to his mother.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:15‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/pro.29.15.hcsb “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give hi

As a child, we love our parents even through discipline. We understood that even though the discipline hurt for the time being we did not hold on to the hurt until some time in our teenage years. Then we began to think for ourselves and figured we knew best. And maybe we had parents that disciplined us too harshly and ruined our view of God as Father. Or we had parents that disciplined us too lightly and ruined our view of God also. Or maybe we had the perfect parents that perfectly disciplined us and help mold the correct image of God.  If we had parents that were too harsh in their punishments and we hear God punishes His children and we resort to the way our parents disciplined us then we may say, “No, thank you. I cannot worship a God who will punish me for my sins.” Because we see Him dealing out stiff punishments that would amount to Him throwing lighting bolts on us when we sin. I have news for us. God does not punish us that severely! But rather punishes us for our benefit, not

Discipline! Our first thought on discipline is punishment, but there is a second thought that should be remembered. That is habit, or practiced training. That is to say, someone has a Christlike discipline. We are disciplined by God to remove an unwanted behavior, but it is our job to develop discipline for the things God wants us to do.  We have talked about these before, but for those who needed to be reminded, the basic disciplines that need to be developed in our lives are The Bible, prayer, fellowship, and witnessing.  There are five areas of the bible that must be disciplined in our lives: 1. Listening 2. Reading 3. Studying 4. Memorizing 5. Meditation Visit this Navigators page to learn more. https://www.navigators.org/resource/the-word-hand/ Likewise, five areas of prayer must be disciplined in our lives 1. confession  2. petition 3. intercession  4. thanksgiving  5. praise Visit this Navigators page to learn more.  https://www.navigators.org/resource/the-prayer-hand Fellowship

What kind of suffering is from God compared to what kind of suffering is from the Devil? Suffering from God is intended to draw you closer to Him! And suffering from the hands of the Devil is intended to push you away from God!  But how can we know the difference between the initiator of the suffering at the beginning of our suffering?  I want to say there is no difference. It is the outcome that will determine the initiator. All the power the devil has against us in only granted to him by God. He cannot attack us more than God will allow. God’s suffering is discipline to remove something from our life that He does not want there. And the suffering from the Devil is an attack to get us to stop worshiping and serving God. Most of the time our sufferings are from God. And the attacks are from the Devil.  So even if we are suffering at the hands of men it is from God to strengthen us to endure to the end. Our suffering from the devil is granted to him so that we may lean harder on God. An

“Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe His discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:11-12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/pro.3.11-12.hcsb We hate it when we have to be taken to the woodshed by God. Because He is disciplining us to remove a behavior that is inconsistent with His desire for us. But I would rather face His discipline rather than His judgment. His discipline is there to remove something out of our life that He wants gone, but judgment comes when we are unwilling to let discipline do it’s work and God has to remove us from His presence.  Jesus puts it this way in Luke 20:18 and Matthew 21:44 “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder! ” https://www.bible.com/72/luk.20.18.hcsb “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whoever it falls, it will grind him to powder! ” https://www.bible.

There are two paths this verse could take us. One path will lead us away from God and one will lead us toward God. The path that will lead us away from God in shedding our blood is the path of self-mutilation. This is the same act the prophets of Baal used in their attempt to be heard by Baal.  “At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up! ” They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:27-28‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/1ki.18.27-28.hcsb God commands us not to do this. “You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves; I am Yahweh.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19:28‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/lev.19.28.hcsb Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should keep this body as pure as possible.  “Don’t you k

‬‬Who are we to consider? Jesus! Why consider Jesus? He endured hostility from sinners! Why is that important? So that we won’t grow weary and lose heart!  You see that Jesus did not have this plushy life that we think He did. He did not spend His days relaxing by the Sea of Galilee hanging out with His fisherman buddies. He did not spend His time feasting in the home of Mary and Martha. But did spend His time traveling around to who needed to hear His message, to who needed His healing touch. The more He traveled, spoke, and touched the more His fame spread. The more his fame spread the more the people flocked to Him. The more people flocked to Him the more the religious leaders wanted Him dead! This did not stop Jesus, for death is why He came to earth.  “Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made

If the race before us is exiting the last turn and we have a few feet left to go before we cross the finish line, then we know we can continue to run and we will probably run harder than we have ever run before. But what if our race has 70 laps to go? How do we keep a good pace to finish well the race that lies before us? By looking toward Jesus our coach, the official, and our personal trainer. And we tune out the crowd who is trying to distract us. And we tune into the few people in the crowd trying to encourage us.  Looking at the world around us we can see that Jesus may be returning soon and we are exiting the last turn and it is time for us to run harder because the world needs to know that God loves them and has sent Jesus to them so that they may spend eternity with Him. If we were to run as hard as we can for the whole 70 laps we can easily fizzle out and grow weary and be less effective for Jesus, but since we have only a few feet left let us press on toward Jesus with all we