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Learning to Handle the Difficulties in Life

We do not know the character of Paul’s affliction, but it was not a pleasing one. Maybe it was physical. Maybe it was emotional. But we do know it was agonizing.

3 times Paul went before the Lord, begging Him to take away this burden. And 3 times, Paul was denied. Are there burdens and anomalies in your life? Do you question why you may experience them? Be assured that if God authorized a trial in your life, you’ll be in a position to bear it. ( one Corinthians 10:13 ) When we ask God to take these burdens and trials away, we must research our requests. Are they as we simply don’t want them around? Are we able to not go on anymore? Are our burdens simply uncomfortable?. That irrespective of how heavy the load appears, God is there with you. He’ll use the responsibility or trial to transform you, to switch you, to use you. The answer Paul received why his burden would not vanish was this : “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly,, I will rather boast about my faults, so the power of Christ may dwell in me” ( two Cor.

12:9 ). In his weakness, Paul was made robust, stronger than he would’ve been had he not suffered. In your weakness, you will also be made powerful thru Him.

Let God Choose Your “King”

When you come to the land which the Lord your God gives you and you possess it and live there, and then say, We will set a king over us like all the nations that are about us, 15 You shall surely set as king over you him whom the Lord your God will choose. Deuteronomy 17:14-15 AMP

Being a great leader is not just about the ability to order other people around; it is about leading in such a way that it brings blessing and peace to all – which is God’s will. Moses is referring to a king, but there are many leadership positions: head of a household; head of a business; head of an organization; head of a ministry; head of a town or a state or a nation; etc. A great leader does not make decisions that benefit only him, but that benefit those under him. Only God can choose, and make, a truly great leader!

1. When you choose a king, he shall be from among your brethren (Deut. 17:15)

Someone who has no heart for the people he leads is not going to make good decisions for the people. If a father does not love his wife and kids, he will not be the best father he can be; if a minister does not love people with God’s love, he will not be the best minister he can be; if a leader in any area does not have the best interests of the people at heart, he will be a bad leader.

2. Do not choose a Gentile to reign over you

“…you may not set a foreigner, who is not your brother, over you.” (Deut. 17:15b) The two commandments we must follow are: love God and love people. A great leader loves and honors God first. He is personally submitted to, and accountable to, God and seeks to please Him above all. A man who loves God first, will love his family and serve them. A leader who loves God first and who loves and cares for those under him will serve them and put his interests over his own. If you are a woman who is not married yet, then DO NOT marry an unbeliever, or someone who does not respect God or His word, and think that he will treat you well for the rest of your life.

3. Your king shall not multiply horses to himself

“…he shall not multiply horses to himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to multiply horses, since the Lord said to you, You shall never return that way.” (Deut. 17:16) A leader should not be focused on building personal power for the sake of power. In Scripture the horse is a symbol of fleshly strength and might in war. God does not want leaders to be arrogant or to spend time and money on preparing for “war”. Winning, and being on top, is not more important than doing what’s right. Egypt represents the worldy system and all forms of idolatry. If you look to the world to set the standards for your life, you will only end up hurting yourself and others. You can’t tread on others to advance yourself. The devil promised Jesus the world – its power, glory and wealth – if He would bow to him and you and I have the same choice to make! We must trust God to be the one who calls us, directs us, promotes us, provides for us and protects us!

4. He shall not cause you to return to Egypt (Deut. 17:16)

Egypt represents the world and the bondage of sin. It is vital that a husband, a father, a minister, a boss, a leader, must be godly and committed to serve God no matter what! If a leader loves the world too much and if he looks to the world for direction and the way forward, then he will keep leading those under him back into bondage. A leader must make some difficult decisions. Leading a family, a group, a nation, on in what’s right and good for them is not always popular. You have to make decisions to do what’s right even if they don’t like it. If a leader feels pressure from those under them to do what’s wrong, he must stand up to it and make a godly decision.

5. He shall not multiply wives to himself

“…he shall not multiply wives to himself, that his [mind and] heart turn not away.” (Deut. 17:17) God’s perfect plan for a man is to have ONE wife and to be faithful to her all of their lives. If a leader is unfaithful to his wife, it follows that he will NOT be faithful to anyone under his leadership. Many a man has destroyed his own life, lost the respect of others, and lost his position by being unrestrained in this area of the flesh. Even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, did not follow God’s advice for his life. Because he had so many wives and concubines, he never found, nor enjoyed the company of, the perfect wife. The many wives caused only strife and division in his life and led him off into idolatry, which was devastating for the entire nation.

6. He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold (Deut. 17:17)

Jesus said that we all have the choice to make for God OR mammon. The love of money is the root of ALL evil. If a man loves money too much, he will NOT be a good leader. He will make selfish ungodly decisions that will rob from those he leads. Pursuing wealth and riches is greed and idolatry. Accumulating wealth results in pride, arrogance, selfishness, heartlessness and looking upon and disregarding the welfare of on others. A great leader honors God above money and things and he makes decisions that bless the family and bless the people and/or bless the nation!

7. He shall write a copy of the law in a book, and it shall be with him to read all the days of his life (Deut. 17:18-20)

Solomon had everything going for him, but he did all the things God said not to do. When he became rich, built up a large army of men and horses, and married many wives, then his own heart turned from God. Out of Solomon’s sin came Israel’s disobedience, followed by their division and captivity. A great husband, father, minister, boss, and/or leader, must be a man of God’s word. He must have his own Bible, keep it with him wherever he goes, read it every day, and obey it. God’s word must be hidden in his heart so that he may learn to reverently fear God all the days of his life and to keep His Law. When you respect God’s word, you respect Him; when you respect Him, you obey Him: you will not exalt yourself, in your heart or mind, above others, or forget God in the day of prosperity. The only way to prosper is to know God’s will, and the only way to know his will is through His word.

The Seven Excepts of Salvation

Because of mankind’s sin nature, people are always trying to find a way to “get away with” sin. They want to do their own thing and they want their sin to be acceptable with God. The problem is that, no matter how we would like things to be, we are still accountable to God and His judgment stands. The only way to be acceptable to God is to do what He tells you to do. The promises of God come with conditions that we need to meet. Here are some requirements God gives us. Unless we do these things, we cannot expect His blessing. Except and unless are synonyms. Here are seven “excepts” that we need to make sure that we do.

1. Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish:

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:1-5 KJV

God can only forgive the sin of which you repent. He cannot forgive unrepentant sin.

2. Except you become converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven:

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 KJV

3. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3 KJV

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2:29 KJV

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 1 John 5:1 KJV

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:11-13 KJV

Good deeds cannot earn salvation – you must be Born Again by faith.
4. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7 KJV

“Born of water” represent natural birth, and also the cleansing and regeneration of the Word and Spirit of God. “Born of the Spirit” is what happens when you receive Jesus, and are born again.

5. Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you:

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:53-54 KJV

Eating Christ’s bread and drinking His blood represent: accepting Him as Lord and Savior; becoming united with Him by believing in Him, and what He did, and by living for Him, devoted and obedient to Him. It means that His life has become ours.

6. Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven:

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 KJV

Righteousness is through Jesus and obedience to Him, not religious works alone.

7. Except one abide in Me … he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:4-6 KJV

Once you receive Jesus, and are born again, you need to continue to walk with Him and continue serving Him. You serve Jesus by continuing to walk in the righteousness He purchased for you – not by going back to the sin from which He already redeemed you. Continue to abide in Him.

Because of mankind’s sin nature, people are always trying to find a way to “get away with” sin. They want to do their own thing and they want their sin to be acceptable with God. The problem is that, no matter how we would like things to be, we are still accountable to God and His judgment stands. The only way to be acceptable to God is to do what He tells you to do. The promises of God come with conditions that we need to meet. Here are some requirements God gives us. Unless we do these things, we cannot expect His blessing. Except and unless are synonyms. Here are seven “excepts” that we need to make sure that we do.

1. Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish:

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:1-5 KJV

God can only forgive the sin of which you repent. He cannot forgive unrepentant sin.

2. Except you become converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven:

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 KJV

3. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3 KJV

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2:29 KJV

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 1 John 5:1 KJV

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 John 5:11-13 KJV

Good deeds cannot earn salvation – you must be Born Again by faith.

4. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7 KJV

“Born of water” represent natural birth, and also the cleansing and regeneration of the Word and Spirit of God. “Born of the Spirit” is what happens when you receive Jesus, and are born again.

5. Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you:

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:53-54 KJV

Eating Christ’s bread and drinking His blood represent: accepting Him as Lord and Savior; becoming united with Him by believing in Him, and what He did, and by living for Him, devoted and obedient to Him. It means that His life has become ours.

6. Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven:

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 KJV

Righteousness is through Jesus and obedience to Him, not religious works alone.

7. Except one abide in Me … he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:4-6 KJV

Once you receive Jesus, and are born again, you need to continue to walk with Him and continue serving Him. You serve Jesus by continuing to walk in the righteousness He purchased for you – not by going back to the sin from which He already redeemed you. Continue to abide in Him.

Having an Understanding of the Anointing

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Foundation Scripture: Luke 4:14 -19

14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

15And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

It is so important to have an understanding of the anointing in the day and time that we are living.  Many today do not recognize the power of God.  They wouldn’t recognize the anointing if it slapped them in the head!

When I was a child growing up, there was not much information on the subject of the anointing.  There had been more teaching from the standpoint of the Old Testament – about the anointing oil, the make up of the oil, etc.  As far as the Church goes, I think that there has been a limited understanding of the anointing and the administration of that anointing, from the New Testament standpoint.

We have to realize that the anointing has absolutely nothing to do with the natural world and the natural mind. The anointing is God’s presence.  That alone, puts the anointing in the classification of the realm of God.  This means that you cannot put God on paper or try to work Him out with your carnal mind.  The things of God have to be understood with the heart of man.  The word “anointing” many times has been used very glibly.  It has become a cliché, used without any understanding of what it really is or what its purpose is.

People often say, “Oh, the anointing is here,” but when you ask them how they know, they reply, “Well, it’s just here.”  They don’t know any more than that.  If it is happening in the realm of the Spirit, then it will be manifested in the natural realm.  You will feel it and see it.  People may say that a singer, who sings very well, is anointed, but a good voice alone, is not at all the same thing as the anointing.

Many people, including ministers, do not recognize the anointing when it is present – the anointing is the presence of God, manifested. They don’t recognize the tangible presence of God. They have difficulty comprehending how a personal Father God can touch His people with His presence, in a tangible way.  This is evident to me, especially when I begin to pray for people.  There are times that I will call those who sense His presence upon them to come forward for prayer.  Some people come to the front, but you can see that they have no anointing on them.  Others sit in their seats, trembling under the power of God, not realizing that God was touching their life, maybe because they have never felt His presence before.  When I finally pick them out of the crowd and call them forward, and I tell them the power of God is all over them, they say, “Oh, is that what this is?”

What Is the Anointing?

The anointing is not some mystical something out there.  The anointing is the presence and power of God manifested.  We could say that the anointing is the manifest presence of God.

We need to realize that there is a vast difference between the omnipresence of God and the manifest presence of God.  The Lord is always omnipresent, but He is not always manifesting or displaying His power everywhere.  When God’s power does manifest in a way that we can see or sense, then something is going to happen.  I can give you many Old Testament examples.  When God created the heavens and the earth there was a visible display of His power (Genesis 1).  When Moses stood in front of the burning bush there was a visible display of God’s power. Moses took off His shoes (Acts 7:30-34).  When a band of men from the chief priest and elders came to capture Jesus, He said to them, “Whom do you seek?”  They said, “We seek Jesus of Nazareth.” He said, “I am He!” As soon as He said to them, “I am He,” they went over backwards and fell to the ground  (John 18:16).

When Jesus rose from the dead, the keepers of the tomb fell as dead men (Matthew 28:4).  When Saul of Tarsus was on the Damascus road, a great light shone from heaven and he fell to the ground, hearing Jesus saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:1-5).  John on the Isle of Patmos – when Jesus appeared to him – fell at His feet as dead. (Revelations 1:9-17).  We read in Luke 5:17 that the power of the Lord was present to heal.  When God walks into a person’s life, something happens, something takes place.  The anointing is tangible.  It can be felt.  Just as electricity is tangible, so the anointing is tangible.  This is not about man meeting man, but about man coming into contact with a living God – the creator of heaven and earth.  This power – this anointing – was promised to us by Jesus (Acts 1:8).

Teach Your Children

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Deuteronomy 5:29  (NKJ)

29      ‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

 

When you have a heart after God and honor Him and His word then you will always be blessed and your children will be blessed.

 

Deuteronomy 6:5-7  (NKJ)

5        “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6        “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

7        “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

 

You need to walk the walk in front of your children. You need to be a DOER of the word – not just a hearer. You need to TEACH your children about God and teach them to love, respect and obey Him. Just because you are saved, does not mean that your offspring are born saved! They need to make their own decision to accept Jesus as their Savior. They are not going to absorb God’s word by osmosis either. YOU have to open your mouth and SPEAK God’s word and His will to them, so that they will choose to serve Him too. Children will do what we expect. Expect them to serve God and lead them by your example. You can’t push from behind – you must lead from out in front!

 

Deuteronomy 31:12-13  (NKJ)

12      “Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law,

13      “and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”

 

Psalms 78:1-8  (NKJ)

1        Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2        I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

3        Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

4        We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

5        For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;

6        That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children,

7        That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;

8        And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

 

We need to teach GOOD things to our children – not bad things. All they learn from stubbornness and rebellion is how to be stubborn and rebellious. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree so make sure that your “tree” is healthy and that your “fruit” is the fruit of the Spirit! It is YOUR responsibility to raise your children in God’s ways – not the church or the pastor. They are there to back you up and reinforce the good things that you are already teaching your children.

 

Psalms 103:17-18  (NKJ)

17      But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children,

18      To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

 

Teach your family to keep covenant with God because His mercy and grace are poured out on those who keep His covenant and upon the generations that follow them. If you love your children and if you want God’s blessings on them and their children – take time to raise them with a good understanding of God’s word and his covenant of peace with them and how incredibly much He loves them.

RUN WITH VISION

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

HABAKKUK 2:2-3

2          And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3          For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

 

When the Lord called Adonica and I to start this church, He showed us the need for a local church that would:

 

  1. Be a place where the Spirit of the Lord would have liberty to do whatever He desires.
  2. Have powerful praise and worship.
  3. Have powerful Word-based preaching and teaching.
  4. Be a church of givers – in every way.
  5. Be a praying church.
  6. Be a place where people will come to be saved, healed, restored, renewed and then when they are ready – sent out to set others free.
  7. Be a place where the average believer is fulfilling the great commission.
  8. Be a church where we reach the community through powerful outreaches, bring in the lost, and make disciples of them.

 

In just three and a half years this local church has almost 1300 members and has been a part of spreading revival around the word and has also been a large part of two great soul-winning events in New York City and Shreveport/Bossier. The best is yet to come.

 

We believe that the time is coming soon to rise and build a place that we, as a local church, can call home. We have sown much and harvest time is upon us.

 

We want to announce September 3rd as “Membership Sunday 2000.” We would love to have all the members of this congregation present at one time, so that we can share the vision for the next three years. You can choose to attend either one of the two morning services. Those members who work on Sunday mornings, please let us know that you will only be able to make it on Sunday night. This will help us facilitate the flow of the day. This is an important date. Please place this on your calendar and mark it for special attention. On this day we want to introduce all our staff to you and to show you all the different areas of this ministry. As your pastors, we want to share our hearts with you. Everyone will be given a nametag at the door. During the month of September, we will also be doing a survey to see how many people are coming through the doors in a week and a month – this will help us to plan and to minister to you in a more efficient way.

 

Prayer request – please stand in agreement with us for a church bus in order to help those who do not have transportation, to get to and from church.

 

We trust that you have an enjoyable service with us today.

September 3rd 2000 – Membership Sunday.

September 10th 2000 – Bring a friend Sunday – mark your calendar.

THE LORD WILL BLESS THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS – 2

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.  Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV

You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands, and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers.   Deuteronomy 30:8-9 NIV

We all want the blessing of the Lord on our lives, and indeed, He desires to bless us! He is not the One withholding blessing from us. He tells us that He wants to bless us and He also tells us what we must to do to receive His blessing. The Word clearly states that God will bless the work of our hands! God cannot bless nothing. We must give Him something to bless. We have God’s promise that if we are obedient to His word that He will bless our work. So we must do two things to receive God’s blessing – work and obey! If we do the right thing – we will be blessed and our family will be blessed.

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.  2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 NKJV

God commands us to mind our own business, to work and to do good. God gives us our own areas of responsibility and He expects us to take care of those things that He has placed in our hands. He also expects us not to be interfering in other people’s areas of responsibility. If we are overly concerned with other people’s business, we will not have enough time for our own. Some well-meaning yet misguided people spend too much time trying to solve their friends’ problems, while their own family’s needs are neglected. You are not responsible for other people – you are responsible for your own family. By the same token, other people are not responsible for solving your problems either.

Some people don’t take care of their responsibilities and then when everything falls apart, they want the church to make it right for them. It is not the church’s responsibility to feed, house and clothe you and your family – it is yours. We, as Christians, are to be a blessing to others, but we are not responsible for others. We should do good to others if it is in our power to do it and we should help people when they need our help. There are people who have fallen on hard times and they need a helping hand so that they can get back on their feet. However, each person is responsible to work and to provide for themselves and their family. Laziness and irresponsibility are not acceptable before God or even in the eye of the law. The law holds you responsible for your family – to provide for them and to protect them. If you do not take proper care of your children, then under the law, the state is obligated to punish you.

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8 NIV

Whether you are a believer or not, you are obligated to take care of your family. This is your first responsibility before God. You must feed them, clothe them, put a roof over their heads and keep them safe and happy. Before you go out to save the world – you must work to take care of your own family.

Too many people sacrifice their family on the altar of ministry – something that God has not asked you to do. God must be your first priority, your family second and the work of ministry third. However, if anyone sacrifices anything for the sake of ministry it should be the one whom God has called – you – not your kids who have no choice in the matter.

We remember some ministers for their great ministries, but all their kids remember is no Christmas, no birthday presents and no parents there when they needed them. Even if you work and work hard to provide for your family’s physical needs – you must do whatever it takes to take care of their emotional needs too. Remember, they need you and your love and attention more than anything else. You must work to provide for the needs of your family’s bodies, but you also need to work to provide for the needs of their souls and spirits. If you will work hard to provide for your family, spirit, soul and body – you will have a blessed family.

THE LORD WILL BLESS THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.  Genesis 2:15NKJV

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  Genesis2:15 NIV

God expects us to work. He gives us talents and abilities and He requires that we work and use them. Work was not a curse of the fall. Even Adam worked in the Garden of Eden.  Adam had to tend and keep the Garden—to work it and take care of it. In the Garden, his work was fruitful and productive.

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, `You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”  Genesis 3:17-19 NIV

After the fall, the curse was that his work would be fruitless and frustrated. It would require much hard effort and yield negative results—thorns and thistles.

The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.  Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV

Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 30:9-10 NIV

The blood of Jesus has redeemed us. If we will do things God’s way He will bless the work of our hands and make us exceedingly fruitful and prosperous. Whether we work in the ministry or in a secular occupation, providing for our families and supporting the ministry, God wants us to work and work wisely and well. Then He can bless us. If you do no work—God has nothing to bless! Some people think that being in the ministry and living by faith means sitting at home doing nothing. On the contrary, ministry is work and lots of it, but it sure is a joy and a blessing!

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.  Proverbs 18:9 NIV

If you are a sloppy worker, you are about as much good as a vandal. If you do not do a good job—the best you can do—then you are cheating your boss, cheating your customers and cheating yourself. An unfaithful person cannot be relied upon. Your work should be excellent in quality and quantity. As the saying goes, “God will bless the work of your hands, but He cannot bless the seat of your pants!”

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.  Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Whatever you do—do it to the best of your ability. God does not expect you to do what you cannot do, but He does expect you to do what you can do. Your very best might not be the same as someone else’s best, but that is all that God asks for—your very best. God won’t even be mad at you if you fail at something, as long as you are trying as hard as you can and really doing everything you can.

Even if your paycheck comes from man at the end of the month, you should work as if God is your boss. You should work as if your reward comes from God, not man, because ultimately it does.

SONS OF THE MOST HIGH LOVE THEIR ENEMIES

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

35 But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one: and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked. 36 So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive and compassionate) just as your Father is [all these].  Luke 6:35-36 Amp

Love your enemies.

God’s ways are higher than our ways and His ways always work in your favor in the end. You may not think so at the time, but obedience to the Word of God – even and especially when it seems like the most ridiculous thing to do – will bring a favorable result to your life. When He says, “Love your enemies” then you need to love your enemies, because it will bring a favorable end to you and to them. God is not necessarily on your side against another person, especially if your “enemy” is another believer, but He has a blessing for all concerned if they will only yield to Him. You cannot be held responsible for the behavior or attitude of your enemies, but you are responsible and will give an account for your behavior and attitude! So pick a good attitude and behave like a child of God, not a child of the devil.

The agape love of God is not concerned with the character or deservedness of an individual, but He reaches out to love the unlovely and the undeserving and the ungrateful. It is a love that springs from the character of God that sees every person as valuable and precious when they are nothing of the sort.

Be kind and do good. Do favors so that someone derives benefit from them.

Be kind to your enemies. Do good things to and for your enemies. Do favors to and for your enemies – favors that benefit them in some way. Don’t do a favor that has a sting in the tail. Don’t do something that is outwardly kind and good, but nasty in the end, only to make a point or to rub their nose in it. Get an attitude adjustment. Let your favors be done out of a genuine love and a humble spirit that is submitted to the will of the Father. Do this in order to release yourself from the vicious cycles of hate and retribution that can spiral out of control like a giant whirlpool, sucking everything that gets close enough to it down to be dashed on the rocks on the sea bed below.

Lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return.

Don’t give or bless expecting a particular result or reward. Don’t look for a particular response from the recipient of your favor. Give and bless and sow in faith, trusting God and expecting Him to do His will, as only He can, in the situation. If you give just to give – in compliance with the will and Word of God – then He will take care of you. His favor and protection will be on you.

Consider nothing as lost and despairing of no one.

Don’t give up on anyone. Don’t think of your favor and blessing as being wasted on anyone. Don’t give up on your seed. Plant it and leave it in the ground, watering it with your faith that just as you have done your part, that God will do His. Just because you do not see an immediate result or response, it does not mean that your favor did not have an impact. Just as you must give regular seed time to germinate and spring forth, so you must give your blessing-seed time to work and produce. Even if you must walk away and never see the end result except in Heaven – then do it anyway, trusting your Heavenly Father to do the right thing and to honor your faith and obedience.

Then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked.

When you obey God’s word and bless your enemies, the Lord will bless you with a great reward – a rich, strong, intense and abundant reward. Not only will you receive a blessing, but also when you bless your enemies, you are showing yourself to be a child of your Heavenly Father because He is kind charitable and good to the ungrateful, the selfish and the wicked. You should be glad that He is so merciful to the wicked because you were wicked once and even now that you are saved, you still do and say wrong things and you still need His mercy. Thank God for His mercy to the wicked and also to you when you did not deserve it!

So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive and compassionate) just as your Father is [all these].

God does not ask us to do anything that He is not already doing. He does not expect you to do anything that will not benefit you in the end. Everything that the Lord tells you to do is ultimately going to be a great blessing in your life. When you bless others, especially your enemies, you will receive blessings and satisfaction and peace in your own life.

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE DUST

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children– 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.  Psalms 103:8-18 NIV

God is so good to His children. He is so compassionate, merciful, gracious, faithful and just. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. He is abounding in love – He has more than enough love to give – His love is as high as the heavens are above the earth. He heals your infirmities and forgives your iniquities. Because of His love and mercy, He does not treat you the way you deserve to be treated.

When your life is one big mess – He doesn’t even care how messy your messes are – He is willing to jump right in the middle of them and clean you and them up. When the world has finished with you, lost patience with you and cast you aside, God has only just begun to work with you and help you.

Psalms 103:14 says that, “He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” God remembers that you are dust, and He has mercy on you, but sometimes you forget. You think that YOU are all you need and then you think to call on the Lord only when you have failed to make it on your own or when you have boxed yourself into a corner.

You all have natural parents who care for you until you become independent of them and you no longer need them, but as you grow spiritually, God teaches you to rely less on yourself and moreand more on Him. He wants you to trust Him completely and lean on Him entirely. He wants you to lay down your own visions, dreams, and desires and yield your will to His. He knows something you don’t know – that your greatest blessing comes when you lose yourself in Him.

Your natural mind has a hard time understanding this. You take a huge leap of faith when you first begin to rely on Him and His wisdom instead of your own. Luke 17:33 says, “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” And John 12:25-26 says, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

You must lose your life in order to find it. Lose yourself in the Spirit of God and you will find out who you really are. Realize that you are nothing and He is everything and you begin to open yourself up for His blessing.

There is a realm in God that you will never experience until you have yielded your heart, soul, will and strength to the Father. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all you need to make it in this life. You can trust the arm of the flesh and struggle for years, or you can place your whole life in the hands of the Father and be an over-comer in every arena of your life!