But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. John 10:2 AMP

4. A Pastor/Minister must have a divine anointing.

a. An effective Pastor/Minister needs to have divine leading and divine help. He/she cannot rely on, or put their trust in, human education, human wisdom, polish or self-effort. The Pastor/Minister needs to be anointed and totally led by the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:11-13 Jesus says that if you ask your Heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit, that He will give you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter – Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby. Without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. He anoints us, leads us, and empowers us to do God’s will and His works.

In John 14:12-18 Jesus said, “If anyone believes in Me, he will do the things I do, and greater things. Whatever you ask for in My Name, I will give you, so that the Father will be glorified in the Son. If you love Me, keep my commandments and I will send the Holy Spirit to live in you and be with you always.” In John 14:26 Jesus said that the Father would send the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name – in His place, to represent Him and act on His behalf – to teach us and also to remind us of His words. In John 15:26 Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth – He comes from the Father and testifies regarding Jesus. In John 7:37-39 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.” He was speaking here about the Holy Spirit, who had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist said that (Jesus) would baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire! In Luke 24:49 Jesus told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (from heaven). In Acts 1:8 Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, that you will receive power – ability, efficiency, and might – and you will be His witness from your home town out into the whole earth! The Holy Spirit gives you the power and ability to boldly preach the gospel wherever He sends you.

b. A Pastor/Minister must preach God’s word under God’s anointing – not man’s ideas by man’s methods (1 Corinthians 2:1-10)

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 AMP – As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; 2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. 3 And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. 4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], 5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

c. The spiritual gifts that a Pastor/Minister needs, in order to minister effectively, are given by the Holy Spirit, at His discretion.

1 Corinthians 12:5-11 KJV – And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

d. A Pastor/minister is to be a living epistle – God’s laws written on their hearts – reflecting Jesus everywhere they go (2 Corinthians 3:1-18)

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 KJV – Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

e. A Pastor/Minister must be completely yielded to the Holy Spirit to do and say what He tells them to say – to preach when and where He leads – and not to be intimidated by man.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 NKJV – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2. Grace cannot set aside the failure of saved men to meet the conditions of salvation. Grace won’t cover disobedience.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:7-10 NKJV

When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, He washes away all our sin and makes us a new creation in Him. Because Jesus put sin to death in His body on the cross and now has the keys of death, hell and the grave, sin has no more power over us. We are translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Now we walk in the light. He did not bring us into the light to send us back to the darkness. We must deal with the sin in our lives through repentance. If we repent, He will forgive us and wash the sin away. If we say we have no sin, when we know we do, we are calling God a liar. We cannot continue to sin, without repentance and still expect God’s grace to cover our sin. God is not mocked – whatever a man sows – that, and that only, will he reap. You cannot sow seeds of sin and reap a harvest of righteousness.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:1-13 NKJV

Jesus saved us to walk and live in the Spirit; to conduct ourselves according to the Spirit.

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20 NKJV

This passage is talking about bringing correction to a believer to save his soul from death. You cannot play around with sin and think that heaven is guaranteed no matter what. You must have a healthy respect for God and His law and choose to please God and walk in obedience. One sin may not condemn you to hell, but continuing on in sin is a path that leads to death.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV

Those who practice the works of the flesh will NOT inherit the kingdom of God!

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:21-23 NKJV

Jesus wants to present you to the Father holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight. This is only possible if you continue – grounded and steadfast – in the faith.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV

As you received Jesus, keep walking in Him. He gave you a new heart so that you could serve Him, holy and blameless. Don’t let the devil lie to you that you can go back to sinning after your sins have been forgiven. You have a new life in Jesus – make the choice to live a godly life, to serve Him, and to not push the boundaries of His grace toward you.

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall bow down and worship before You, 28 For the kingship and the kingdom are the Lord’s, and He is the ruler over the nations. Psalms 22:27-28 AMP

Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! 21 He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding! Daniel 2:20-21 AMP

It is GOD who is in charge of the times and the seasons. Wisdom and might are His. He brings kings up and brings them down. All wisdom has its source in Him. And He is the ruler over ALL the nations.

I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power. 15 By me kings reign and rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth. Proverbs 8:14-16 AMP

Not everyone on earth is IN authority over others, but absolutely everyone is UNDER someone else’s authority. The Supreme Authority in the universe is Almighty God. If you are in a leadership position, then you are accountable to God! No matter who you are, you are going to need His help to be a leader of men.

Leaders are responsible, before God, far more than someone who is not in leadership, because they are responsible for ALL those under their jurisdiction. No matter who you are, and whether you believe in God or not, you WILL give an account to Him for your life. The person, who realizes that they will have to give an account to God, is much more likely to follow God’s principles for life and leadership than the person who doesn’t. However, God’s principles for successful leadership and prosperous societies apply to both the believer and the unbeliever – for the government and courts as well as the Church. Each one of them will be held accountable before Almighty God.

Woe to those [judges] who issue unrighteous decrees, and to the magistrates who keep causing unjust and oppressive decisions to be recorded, 2 To turn aside the needy from justice and to make plunder of the rightful claims of the poor of My people, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! 3 And what will you do in the day of visitation [of God’s wrath], and in the desolation which shall come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you deposit [for safekeeping] your wealth and with whom leave your glory? 4 Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall [overwhelmed] under the heaps of the slain [on the battlefield]. For all this, [God’s] anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out [in judgment]. Isaiah 10:1-4 AMP

A great leader is also always going to be a godly and God-fearing leader.

1. A great leader has wisdom and understanding.

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 15:33 AMP

There is no [human] wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30 AMP

Since wisdom and understanding come from God, any leader who does not respect God’s absolute authority, is going to be a leader who falls far short in their leadership. Since you cannot fight God and win – any leader who defies God’s authority, laws and principles is doomed to fail and also to have a very negative impact on those they govern.

2. A great leader is one who can command the willing respect of those under them.

Choose wise, understanding, experienced, and respected men according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you. Deuteronomy 1:13 AMP

Respect is earned. Respect is earned when a leader leads by example and proves himself or herself to be honest and trustworthy. True respect is commanded, not demanded. You can TRY to demand respect, but it won’t be true respect, it will be nothing more than fear of retribution from the leader.

3. A great leader is conscientious.

You shall not be partial in judgment; but you shall hear the small as well as the great. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.
Deuteronomy 1:17 AMP

He appointed judges throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 And said to the judges, Be careful what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord, and He is with you in the matter of judgment. 7 So now let the reverence and fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking of bribes. 2 Chronicles 19:5-7 AMP

The king who faithfully judges the poor, his throne shall be established continuously. Proverbs 29:14 AMP

A conscientious leader or judge is one who is controlled by, and acts according to their conscience. They are scrupulous with the law. Every aspect of the law – whether large or small – is important to them, just as it is to God. God’s word tells us that if we transgress one law, it’s as if we’ve transgressed ALL of them. A great leader is meticulous, careful, painstaking, and particular about doing what is right. They are not loose, or lazy, or compromised, but they set a standard and they keep to that standard at all times.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18 KJV

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11 KJV

This Greek word translated “pleasure” means desire, pleasure, or will. All things were created and exist according to God’s will and desire, and to please Him.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV

This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. Genesis 5:1-2 NKJV

God made mankind in His own image – in the image of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – and Heblessed them the day they were created.

Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7 NKJV

This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. Isaiah 43:21 NKJV

Our – and all mankind’s – ultimate purpose is to bring God glory and declare His praise.

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. Psalms 89:11 NKJV

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. Psalms 89:14-15 NKJV

God created all things and they are established in His righteousness, mercy and truth. The only way for the whole earth to thrive and prosper is by his mercy and through His righteousness and truth.

I have made the earth, And created man on it. I — My hands — stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward,” Says the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 45:12-13 NKJV

God declares here that it is He who made the earth and created man on it. He did not create us for evil or to do what we wish, but He created us for righteousness and to serve His purposes.

Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the Gentiles, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:5-9 NKJV

Jesus was called in righteousness to fulfill His purpose, which was to destroy the works of the devil and to redeem mankind. Because He was raised from the dead in righteousness, we too, have been the righteous of God in Christ. God has a wonderful plan and purpose for each of us. From the moment we are made righteous, God’s ultimate plan for each of us kicks in. we are created in righteousness to BE righteous and to DO good works that glorify God.

Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another By profaning the covenant of the fathers? Malachi 2:10 NKJV

The same God created all of mankind. We honor our Creator and act righteously when we love one another and treat one another with kindness and generosity. We dishonor Him when we are unfaithful and treacherous toward our neighbor. Who is your neighbor? Jesus says everyone is your neighbor, not just the people you like and trust.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God planned for us to walk in! Not for anything else.

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:9-11 NKJV

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Our New Man is recreated once again in the image of our Creator when we are born again. We must make a conscious decision to put off the Old Man and then to put on the New Man. We must stop acting like the devil is our father and start acting like Jesus and our own Heavenly Father, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19 NKJV

Keep doing good – even when the pressure is on for you to quit and give up; even when your good deeds result in persecution and suffering. Commit your soul to your Creator – the One who made you – He is faithful and will see you through and reward you for your faith and your faithfulness.

After those two full years, Joseph experienced a significant point in his life—on a day that appeared like every other day. That morning dawned like each other morning over the prior 2 years. Like the morning that dawned before Moses saw the burning bush.

like the morning that dawned before David was anointed by Samuel as the king-elect. For Joseph, yet another dungeon day—except for one small matter Joseph knew nothing about : the evening before Pharaoh had a bad dream. The king of the land had a dream, and in it he saw 7 fat, graceful cattle coming up out of the marshy Nile delta. Then 7 foul, thin, starving cows came up from the same stream and devoured the fat, sleek cows. Pharaoh awoke, maybe thinking that large meal he’d eaten before he went to bed wasn’t setting too well on his stomach.

Before long he dropped back to sleep, and his dream continued. This time he saw a stalk of grain with 7 plump and healthy ears. But then 7 lean ears, scorched from the east wind, sprang up and devoured the 7 healthy ears of grain. When Pharaoh heard that there had been someone around who could let him know what this discouraging dream meant, he naturally related, “Go get the man.”.

Talk about comprehensive integrity This was Joseph’s moment in court, his wonderful opportunity to point out, “Do you realize that I may have been out of that place 2 years back if that dummy standing right over there hadn’t forgotten me?” But there was none of that. You know why Joseph may be so humble and talk so openly? Because his heart had been damaged. Because he’d been attempted by the fire of affliction. Because while his external circumstances seemed nearly intolerable during those years, his internal condition had been turned into pure gold. We are now witnessing the advantages of enduring affliction with one’s eyes on God.

I went to school barefoot till the 4th grade, and I was still playing childish games when I was in high school. Life was permitted to run its own course back then. There’s a new child in our town streets. Music, books, films, and TV increasingly portray the young as precocious and seductive. Feelings and feelings are the most intricate and complicated part of a kid’s development.

Rodney Howard Browne explains that they have their own timing and rhythm, which can’t be hurried. Growing up is hard enough with no-one pushing.

Am I overreacting to proffer the unique traumas among today’s children are somehow tied to all this? Younger and younger alcoholics. Rodney Howard Browne points out to the record high suicide rate among children and teens is definitely telling us something. If nothing else, at least for those youngsters, it’s informing us we are reacting too late.

Rodney Howard Brown explains that scripture obviously states, “There is an appointed time for everything” Eccles. What about time to be a child? What about time to reach adulthood slowly, carefully yes, even protected, naive? Otherwise, it is too far, too quickly, too shortly.

If anyone knew about bigoted treatment, about a fake indictment, about being a trusting victim on the receiving end, it was Joseph. Rodney Howard Browne explains that, first, he got prejudiced treatment from his folks. His siblings hated him, wanted to kill him, but sold him into slavery instead. He changed into a slave in a country where he did not even know the language. One minute he was a seventeen-year-old boy with his entire life before him, and the subsequent he was completely in the power of—actually the property of—some stranger.

Following all that, he was falsely charged. After earning the favor of his master, Potiphar, the master’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph. When he did not submit to her wishes, she lied and expounded, “This slave attempted to rape me.” as a consequence of her lies, he was unjustly put in jail and abandoned. Remember those words from Isaiah’s pen as he repeats God’s message? Nor are your tactics My ways,” declares the LORD.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,. There’s a vast difference between “My thoughts” and “your thoughts” claims the Lord. “My ways” aren’t like “your ways.” they’re higher ; they are much more surpassing, deep, mysterious—and I would add, surprising. Rodney Howard Browne teaches that our human techniques are based mostly on what appears fair. We forcefully believe that when a person does what’s right, rewards and blessings result.

When somebody does what’s wrong, there are serious results, even punishment. Rodney Howard Browne teaches that God is been known to permit bigoted treatment to happen in the lives of fully trusting folks—for reasons much more surpassing and deep than they or we might have imagined.

“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).

“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.

“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 3^rd 2000 – Membership Sunday.

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