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

For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
2 Corinthians 8:9 AMP

Because Jesus became poor, you and I have been made rich – rich in every way – not just spiritually. We know this, especially since this scripture, taken in context, is talking about money and material things. How did Jesus become poor? There is no evidence that Jesus, or His family, were any poorer than any of the other people among whom they lived. Rather, Jesus became poor by voluntarily becoming a man – giving up His rights and privileges, as God, and becoming human. He became subject to human limitations such as place and time. He was still essentially God, in the flesh, but He set aside His glory and His rights to experience everything we experience and ultimately, to take our place and bear the punishment for our sins and sickness and death and lack. Hebrews 2:17 AMP says, “So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins.”

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 KJV

Jesus Christ humbled Himself to come and serve us. He became “poor” when He became human, because He gave up, and set aside, so much on our behalf – even His reputation. However, He never went without anything that He needed. He had a money bag and a treasurer (Judas), He had houses to stay in and people to serve Him and provide for Him. He never went without. When Jesus had a need, He knew exactly where to find it every time. In this way, He demonstrated the provision of God that would be available for all God’s children if they would believe and obey.

When Jesus needed temple tax, He got it out of a fish’s mouth:
However, in order not to give offense and cause them to
stumble [that is, to cause them to judge unfavorably and unjustly] go down to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find there a shekel. Take it and give it to them to pay the temple tax for Me and for yourself. Matthew 17:27 AMP

When the multitudes needed food, He fed them from only five loaves and two fish (and still had leftovers):
Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:19-21 NKJV

When He needed transportation, He knew where to go to get it and who would willingly give it up for His use:
When He came near Bethphage and Bethany at the mount called [the Mount of] Olives, He sent two of His disciples, 30 Telling [them], Go into the village yonder; there, as you go in, you will find a donkey’s colt tied, on which no man has ever yet sat. Loose it and bring [it here]. 31 If anybody asks you, Why are you untying [it]? you shall say this: Because the Lord has need of it. 32 So those who were sent went away and found it [just] as He had told them. Luke 19:29-32 AMP

Paul learned the secret. He knew that he would never lack anything if he put his faith in God. He did not need to worry or fear, because the Lord was his source and supply:
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].
Philippians 4:12-13 AMP

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 AMP

The Lord is my Shepherd – I will not lack! (Psalms 23:1) If you are a tither and a giver, then you are not dependant only on an earthly bank account – you have a heavenly bank account! Whatever you need is available to you, when you need it, because Jesus became poor so that you could become abundantly supplied! Hallelujah!

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

Foundation Scriptures: Romans 8:14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14 AMP

I.  The sons of God are led by His Spirit.

• As a child of God, one of the greatest and most important things that you and I can learn and master is the ability to hear God’s voice and to be led by the Spirit.
• Romans 8:16
• NKJV – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
• AMP – The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
• Proverbs 20:27 KJV – The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
• God will enlighten us; He will guide us; through our spirits.

II.  We need to become Spirit-conscious.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV – And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• I am a Spirit being—I have a soul—I live in a body.
• Your Spirit is instantly made a New Creation when you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
• Your soul is a work in progress.
• The difference between Spirit and soul:
• Hebrews 4:12 AMP – For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
• 1 Corinthians 14:14 NKJV – For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
• James 1:18-21 NKJV – Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
• You cannot receive the Word of God or the things of the Spirit of God while you are filled with the spirit of the world and yielding yourself to sin and uncleanness.
• Present your body to the Lord:
• Romans 12:1 NKJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
• 1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV – But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

III.  The Number One way God leads us is through the Inward Witness.

• God does not lead you through your head – your thoughts – He leads you only through your spirit man!
• He leads you through an inward intuition.
• When God leads you in a direction, you might feel: a desire in your spirit toward that thing; a peace; a green light; or a go-ahead.
• When you are heading in the wrong direction God will restrain you, you might feel: a check; a red light; or be grieved in your spirit.
• 1 John 5:10 NKJV – He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
• Romans 8:16 AMP – The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
• 1 John 3:24 NKJV – Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
• 1 John 3:14 NKJV – We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
• Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV – I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
• Never put out a fleece.
• Judges 6:36-40 NKJV – So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said — 37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
• The enemy can influence circumstances.

IV.  Following the Inward Witness.

• Psalms 18:28 NKJV – For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
• Isaiah 28:16 KJV – Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
• You can train your spirit and you can trust the inward witness of the Spirit to lead and guide you.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-23 KJV

We draw near to God:

1. By boldness:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV

We can come boldly into the Father’s presence – the throne of grace – because of Jesus and His righteousness. He has made us worthy to come into His presence. If we understand the perfect righteousness that has been made ours, then we can come in boldly. If we try to come in timidly, we may as well not come in at all. You come – not based on your righteousness – but on His.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:17-19 KJV

Even on the Day of Judgment, we can have boldness because we know that our sins are washed away, and we stand righteous before him, because of the love of God for us through Jesus.

2. By the blood of Jesus:

“…to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus…” Hebrews 10:19

The only way we can come anywhere near to God is by and through the blood of Jesus.

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:20-21 KJV

Jesus’ blood made peace between God and man and reconciled us to Himself.

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24-25 KJV

He is the mediator of the New Covenant established through the shedding of His blood.

3. By a new and living way:

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. Hebrews 10:20

It’s a new way – a New Covenant – and because He is alive forever – a living way.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 KJV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Galatians 6:15 KJV

Sin cannot stand in the presence of God. When we receive Jesus, He gives us a brand new heart and makes us a new creature. Now we can come into His presence, the righteousness of God in Christ.

4. By the high priesthood of Christ.

“And having an high priest over the house of God…” Hebrews 10:21

Under the Old Covenant, the only way into the presence of God was through the high priest. Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our High Priest forever. We must come through Him to the Father.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 KJV

He is a merciful and faithful High Priest – showing mercy – not judgment. Anyone, who comes to Him, can be reconciled to God.

See Hebrews 4:14-16 above

Jesus was in all points tempted like as we are – He went through everything we go through, yet He did not give in to sin or temptation. Only a sinless man could go to the Cross on our behalf. He knows exactly what we go through, He understands, and He has made a way to the Father for us – through His blood. We can come to Him, not on the basis of our good works (because none are good enough), but on the basis of what He did for us.

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV

We have the right to come into God’s presence and stay there – eternally – because our High Priest – Jesus – obtained that redemption for us.

Jeremiah 29:11. He knows the thoughts and plans He has for me. Thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, not of evil, and to give me hope in my final outcome! I know that He has plans for my very well-being! This gives me the assurance that no matter how many times I mess up, God still loves me and will never change the course He has for me!

Friday, we came outside our home to drive to school in the morning and our tires and rims were stolen off our car. It couldn’t have happened at a worst time. I went in the house and began to pray for about 20mins. The Lord spoke to me and said He would take care of it. That same day, I spoke with my brother and he came by and dropped off his car for us to drive for the week. Then, that Sunday (two days later) we spoke with our friend from out of town and she said to go get rims and tires. She paid for everything. She not only paid for the rims and tires but sent an extra $500 which paid for some other bills. Then, the insurance company called and said they woould also reimburse us with two checks. We received one already for $767 and the other is on the way. I can say now truly that God is my provider and takes care of all my needs.