Tag Archives: Rodney Howard-Browne 2015

Running the Heavenly Race


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

RUNNING THE HEAVENLY RACE
Foundation Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
       1. The Race for the Prize.
 
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.  26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
2. Perseverance and persistence will gain you the prize.
2 Timothy 2:3-13 NKJV – You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 
 
3. We have to press in toward the mark.
Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV – Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV – Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV – For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
James 1:12-17 NKJV – Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
 
 1 Peter 5:1-4 NKJV – The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
 Revelation 2:10 NKJV – Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
 
 Revelation 3:10-11 NKJV – Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 
 
     4. Crown No. 1—The Crown of Rejoicing—The Soul-Winner’s Crown.
 
 Philippians 4:1 NKJV – Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
All heaven rejoices over one sinner that comes to repentance (Luke 15:7).
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy (Psalms 126:5).
Every soul you win, or help to win, will come to your account.
This goes toward your Crown of Rejoicing.
      5. He Who Wins Souls is Wise.
Proverbs 11:30 NKJV – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Psalms 2:8 NKJV – Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
Set your sights on the soul-winner’s crown!

 

Living for Eternity

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

For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin]. Isaiah 57:15 AMP

Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, lives in the realm of Eternity. He has no boundaries and no limitations—no boundaries of time or space. He can do anything He wants to do! When I say “no limits” I do not mean that He is not bound by any rules at all. He is also a good and a righteous God, therefore, even though He has no boundaries or limits, He binds and obligates Himself to His Word and all that He does is also only good.

I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]. Psalms 119:96 AMP

Everything human has its limits and comes to an end, but God is unlimited. Things of earth; things of man; will all come to nothing—only eternal things will last. The humble and repentant souls are the ones who are destined to live forever in eternity with the Father.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 AMP

• He has made everything beautiful in its time.

God has a wonderful plan for your life. Everything He has called you to do you can do—with His help. Don’t even try to do anything in your own strength or ability. Rather trust the Holy Ghost to do His work in you and His work through you. There is a direction and a time for everything. The Holy Spirit is the one who will drop a desire in your heart that is in line with His call and purpose and it is the Holy Spirit who will prompt you when it is time to move ahead. That is why we must remain both sensitive and obedient to His voice. You will not succeed unless you implicitly follow Him on the path He has laid before you, just as the Israelites followed the presence of God—the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire—when and where they went. As long as you are walking in obedience to the Lord, everything God has spoken to you will come to pass. You can’t make it happen and you can’t stop it.

Walking in God’s will requires collaboration—us cooperating with the Holy Spirit. Never be intimidated by other people and don’t compare yourself to others. It will only make you to feel either inferior or prideful. Your identity must be in who He has made you to be and what He has called you to do. It’s not a popularity contest. Just do what He tells you to do. God’s will! Nothing more! Nothing less! Nothing else!

• He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy].

God has planted eternity in your heart and mind. He has a Master Plan; a plan that was activated at the foundation of the earth and has continued to work through the ages; a plan that is still being worked out. Ephesians 1:4 AMP says, “Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.”

Every one of us is part of His plan. We are called to carry out our small part of His big plan. God is the one who puts a divinely implanted sense of purpose in your heart. He puts the desire in your heart and only He can satisfy that desire!

• Yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

No one can figure God out or know what He knows or what He is doing, so don’t even try. That is why it is so important to obey even if we don’t understand it all; even if we don’t have all the information. The Lord expects us to trust Him. He is blessed and glorified when we trust Him. You are not displaying weakness to trust God—you are displaying strength. The weak individuals are the ones who trust the arm of the flesh.

Eternity is planted in your heart; live your life for eternity; make your life, and everything you do, count for eternity!

For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity]. Philippians 1:21 AMP

Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! 18 Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 AMP

Five Foundational Pillars of the Church

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

Acts 2:40-47

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Foundational Pillars in the life of the born again believer can be defined as the core system of values, beliefs, and fundamental truths, which are based completely on the Word of God, upon which all Truth is established. These foundational pillars are to be lived out and modeled in everyday life in order to strengthen and advance the Kingdom of God in the Earth through the life of every believer!

It is of paramount importance that we begin and continue our Christian walk on solid, Christ-centered, Biblical foundations. It is on these sound, Biblical foundations that all Truths of the Word of God rest. These foundations anchor us to the Kingdom of God and empower us to fulfill God’s purposes and plans for our lives here on the Earth. The strength of and commitment to these Biblical foundations largely affect how we finish the race set before us and the impact we make on eternity.

Foundational Pillar #1: PRAYER

•Acts 1:14 & 2:1-4 – The Church was birthed through prayer.

•Jeremiah 33:3 – God reveals things to His people through prayer.

•Mark 11:22-26 – God answers the prayer of faith from His people.

•Luke 18:1 & Matthew 6:5 – Jesus commands us to pray!

•James 1:5 – God grants wisdom to those who pray.

•Acts 12:1-17 – God sends supernatural deliverance due to the Church praying.

•James 5:13-18 – The prayers of the righteous are full of power!

•2 Chronicles 7:14 – God moves on a nation when His people seek Him through prayer, repentance, and holy living!

Foundational Pillar #2: PRAISE AND WORSHIP

•Psalm 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, & 150 all start with praise unto the Lord! Praise and Worship elevates us into the presence of God where His power is readily available!

•Acts 16:23-26 – Chains and shackles are broken, prison doors are opened, and people are set free through praise and worship!

•2 Samuel 6:14-15 – David ministered unto the Lord through praise and worship!

•Our praise is irresistible to God. As soon as He hears us call His name, He is ready to answer us. Every time we praise Him, His presence comes.

•PRAISE entreats the favor of the KING! (See Judah, whose name means praise, and Joseph in Genesis 44&45)

Foundational Pillar #3: PREACHING AND TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD

•The greatest voice of faith that you will hear is YOUR VOICE speaking the Word of God!

•John 1:1-3, 14 – Jesus is the Word of God!

•Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by hearing the Word of God!

•John 17:17 – The Word is TRUTH!

•John 14:66 & John 10:10b – The Word is LIFE!

•Hebrews 4:12 – The Word is ALIVE and full of POWER!

•2 Timothy 3:16 – The Word is God breathed!

•Matthew 6:18 – The gates of Hell shall not prevail against a person who has revelation of the Word of God!

Foundational Pillar #4: THE FLOW OF THE HOLY GHOST

•Everything that Jesus did during His earthly ministry was based upon His relationship with the Father and the Holy Ghost! Jesus stayed in the flow of the Holy Ghost!

•M 3:11 & Luke 3:16 – Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Ghost! To get in the flow of the Holy Ghost, you need to be filled with the Holy Ghost!

•Acts 1:8 – POWER to be a WITTNESS!

•Acts 4:31 – BOLDNESS!

• – COMPASSION for others!

•John 14:16-18, 26 – Comforter, Spirit of Truth, with you and in you!

•John 15:26 – The Holy Ghost reveals Jesus!

Foundational Pillar #5: FELLOWSHIP

•With the FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST!

•With your FAMILY! (wife, husband, children)

•With your CHURCH! Hebrews 10:25

•Mark 16:15-20 – And you GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE JESUS WITH THEM!

Walking in the Word – Part One

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

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God’s revealed will). Psalms 119:1 AMP

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It has 22 sections, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It was written to be memorized and carried in our hearts. The Lord instructs us to learn these things, remember them and teach them to our children. The theme throughout this psalm is that God’s word is good and true, pure and wonderful. God’s word will keep you and stick by you, if you stick to it and stay true through the bad times; through the challenges and hard times; no matter how bad the rest of the world becomes. The only way to be truly happy is to obey God’s commands.

HOW DO I STAY PURE?

How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. Psalms 119:9 AMP

The world is becoming more and more filthy and impure. There are temptations everywhere. How do we keep ourselves pure in the middle of all this? We cannot do it on our own; we don’t have the strength in ourselves to stay pure. We find the strength to overcome temptations in God’s word and by doing what it says. Psalms 119:11 AMP says, “Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” It is not enough to just memorize His word; we must act on it and live and conduct ourselves according to it.

BLESSED BOUNDARIES

Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared and recounted all the ordinances of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways [the paths of life marked out by Your law]. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live; and I will observe Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law. 19 I am a stranger and a temporary resident on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me. 20 My heart is breaking with the longing that it has for Your ordinances and judgments at all times. 21 You rebuke the proud and arrogant, the accursed ones, who err and wander from Your commandments. 22 Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I keep Your testimonies. 23 Princes also sat and talked against me, but Your servant meditated on Your statutes. 24 Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. Psalms 119:12-24 AMP

Our human flesh does not like rules or boundaries. We are naturally selfish and we want to be free to make our own decisions and choices at all times. The devil is fully aware of this and uses it to deceive and enslave us. The Word of God tells us that we are either a slave to sin or a servant of righteousness (Rom 6). Notice the terminology here: slave and servant. A slave has no rights and no choices – he is told by his master what to do and is forced to do it – however, a servant voluntarily submits to the authority of his master. It may seem to us that we are “free” when we are satisfying our fleshly desires and when we are doing what we want to do, but in reality, we are becoming more and more enslaved to sin.

Most of us are irritated by rules, thinking that we are being restricted, being controlled or missing out on something and not able to do what we want. To the natural mind, hearing the psalmist rejoicing in God’s word and saying that following it is better than silver and gold and riches, sounds strange. However, God gave us His laws and commandments precisely to make us free – free to enjoy our lives in Him and free to be all that he wants us to be! God’s laws only restrict us from all that would harm us and keep us from being our best and doing our best. God’s word keeps us on His straight path to joy and blessing and protects us from taking the paths of destruction that lead to sorrow and death.

OUR MAP AND COMPASS

Psalms 119:19 says, “I am a stranger and a temporary resident on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me.” A stranger, or temporary resident, is someone who is not naturally familiar with the terrain and needs guidance – a map or a guide. We are strangers and pilgrims in this world’s system. Our passport has been stamped, “Kingdom of God”. We are living here now, but our final destination is in His presence. God’s word is like a roadmap and travel guide in one, leading us on the safest most direct route to our final destination. It will help us to avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the way. It is our compass; keeping us on track and moving us in the right direction, as we journey on. If we ignore God’s roadmap and if we are not wise to study it, we will wander aimlessly through life and risk missing out on our true destination.

Walking in the Word–Part Two

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

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God’s revealed will). Psalms 119:1 AMP

The theme of this series is how wonderful the Word of God is—that it is not just a bunch of controls and limitations; not just dead rules and regulations—but a living, breathing force that brings blessing into every heart and life that respects it, honors it, exalts it and joyfully and willingly submits to it.

Psalms 119:27-28 AMP says, “Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on and talk of Your wondrous works. 28 My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.” Not only does the Lord give us the guidelines, but He also gives us the strength, ability and power of the Holy Spirit to keep His word and walk in His ways! Our responsibility is to welcome Him to work in, and speak into, our lives and to receive and act on what He says to us.

I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. 45 And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts. 46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings and will not be put to shame. 47 For I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. Psalms 119:44-47 AMP

When we keep God’s laws, we are not limited and restricted—we are set free! Set free to be all that He has designed and intended for us to be—free from bondage; free from fear; free from sin; free from guilt and condemnation; free to walk in love and free to walk in peace, joy and victory! Jesus is the Word made flesh! When we realize that the only hope for salvation is through Him, then we can stop running from God, we can stop striving in the flesh to please God, and we can humbly receive all He has wrought for us.

Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me. 99 I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. 102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Psalms 119:97-104 AMP

Wisdom does not come merely with age, experience or even intelligence. Some people never seem to get any wiser, no matter how old they are or how much they go through, and they prove it by their foolish choices. Wisdom is gained only by those who yield to it and model their live after it. Because the psalmist revered, honored and exalted God’s word and commandments, and lived by them, he became wiser than his enemies and wiser than even his teachers. The more he resisted temptation and restrained his fleshly impulses, the more he saw the good fruit of it and the more he grew to love and value the power and impact of God’s word at work in his life.

Psalms 119:105 AMP says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” If you can’t see the road, if you can’t see where you are going, you are bound to stumble and fall and injure yourself. God’s word is the light that shows us the way so that we can stay on the correct course and not hurt ourselves or others, or lose our way. If we have a foundation in God’s word, we know the truth. We must study the Word of God so we will be able to see well enough to stay on the right path.

Psalms 119:125 AMP says, “I am Your servant; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension), that I may know (discern and be familiar with the character of) Your testimonies.” With the light and discernment we get from God’s word we will be able to recognize the devil’s lies and temptations; we will be able to avoid false values and philosophies; we won’t be deceived by cults or psychics or foolish friends who try to get us to do evil things with them, or any other reasoning that is contrary to the truth.

Psalms 119:160 AMP says, “The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever.” God’s word is Truth, but many people get themselves into trouble when they just pick individual scriptures out of the word and base their life on it. The truth of the Word of God is found in its entirety—that is why it is so important to study the whole bible and to spend time meditating on it.

Psalms 119:113 NKJV says, “I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law.” When people are unfamiliar with God’s word, they do not know what the truth is and so they don’t even know what they themselves believe. They are swayed by contrary opinions and so they make wrong decisions that hurt both them and others. Some people just do what “feels” right at the time, but what FEELS right and what IS right are two different things.

Psalms 119:165 AMP says, “Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” Only God’s word—nothing else—can deliver GREAT peace. When you are full of and guided by His word, He will cause you to walk in His peace in any and every situation and circumstance of life!