God is Calling Us to Him

Rodney Howard Browne tells us that God, wants our attention. He has much to point out to us and wants us to adjust our schedules so we are able to fellowship with Him. We get engrossed with what has happened around us, and before we think we know it, days have passed and we have neglected to spend much time with Him.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us the way to get God’s attention. What does it take for God to get our attention? Will a twitchy spirit cause us to find godly counsel? Do we listen when God sends somebody to indicate His way? When blessings come, do we turn to God to see a way to use them? Is it God we seek when our requests go unanswered? How long does it take us to get past our feelings over disappointments, problems, and screw ups to hear what our heavenly Father has to say? In times of great monetary crisis, crisis and illness, do our eyes and minds lift heavenward to seek God’s love and wisdom? Begin now to coach yourself to give God your full attention.

Permit what occurs in your day to draw you to Him. He is waiting for you.

Jesus is a Multiplier

When you get into that position, you’ve got to truly believe that Jesus is a multiplier. You’ve got to believe that He doesn’t look at how much you have, but takes what you have and multiplies it, stretches it, and makes it go further than it’s ever gone before. You might look at your income as limited, but He will stretch it to do more than it’s ever done before.

 

When I look at what God does through this ministry with the income we receive, I’m amazed. Our income is not even a tenth of what some of the larger ministries in America receive, yet what God’s doing through this ministry is so tremendous! God can stretch it. He can make it go further than ever before!

 

Of course, we realize that God blesses us also because we’re good stewards of our resources; we tithe, and give offerings to honor Him. When we honor Him, He blesses us. My wife, Adonica, and I have seen that when we have limited resources available and God tells us to give, we give. We still end up doing everything we wanted to do with the limited resources — even minus what we’ve given — because God stretches it and multiplies it. Faithful tithers have long seen that the 90 percent they retain after tithing goes much farther than if they’d kept 100 percent.

 

God not only provides food, drink, and clothing, He provides open doors. He provides supernatural favor to meet our every need. I want to show you several more miracles of provision. When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the half shekel [the temple tax] went up to Peter and said, does not your Teacher pay the half shekel?

 

He answered, yes. And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him [about it] first, saying, what do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or tribute — from their own sons or from others not of their own family?

 

And when Peter said, from other people not of their own family, Jesus said, Then the sons are exempt. 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 17:24-27 AMP

 

Now Peter’s a fisherman, and in all of Peter’s years of fishing, He’s never caught a fish with a coin in its mouth. But he never needed it until now. It’s a relief to know that Jesus knows where the fish are and that He wants to take care of your needs! When they were getting near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent ahead two of His disciples And instructed them, Go into the village in front of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied, which has never been ridden by anyone; unfasten it and bring it

[here]

 

If anyone asks you, why are you doing this? answer, The Lord needs it, and He will send it back here presently. So they went away and found a colt tied at the door out in the [winding] open street, and they loosed it. And some who were standing there said to them, what are you doing, untying the colt?

 

And they replied as Jesus had directed them, and they allowed them to go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their outer garments upon it, and He sat on it.

MARK 11:1-7 AMP

A Moment of Weakness

Rodney Howard Browne differentiates between temptation and sin. Despite the universal nature of temptation, many people still mistake temptation for the actual act of sin. However, these two are not the same. If we are to achieve victory in the Christian life, we must learn to distinguish between them.

Be clear on this important point: the enticement to sin does not mean that the act of sin MUST follow. Rather, temptation involves a process through which our hearts, minds, and bodies are preparing for the act of sin. Interrupting this process can stop the growing temptation dead in its tracks.

How does this process flow? It begins with something as simple as a look or a glance. Isn’t this how it began with David in 2 Samuel 11:1-5? The enticement entered through his eyes, and then he nursed that desire.

Rodney Howard Browne instructs us to make the right choice. Then, with the image set in our minds, we make a choice: am I going to continue with this desire or not? As these thoughts tumble through our minds, we begin to fantasize and then develop a great desire for the object.

From there, we fall quickly through the areas of decision and pursuit, through which we do whatever is necessary to achieve the goal. Finally, this process culminates with the actual sinful act.

You see, sin doesn’t happen immediately. It is the result of a process. That means that you have the ability to bring that momentum to a halt at any time. Ask God for the presence of mind to perceive these steps as they happen, so that you might end the sinful progression before it’s too late.

  • 1.
  • Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant , how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
  • 2.
  • And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
  • 3.
  • And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
  • 4.
  • And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them : and that Rock was Christ.
  • 5.
  • But with many of them God was not well pleased : for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
  • 6.
  • Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted .
  • 7.
  • Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written , The people sat down to eat and drink , and rose up to play .
  • 8.
  • Neither let us commit fornication , as some of them committed , and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
  • 9.
  • Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted , and were destroyed of serpents.
  • 10.
  • Neither murmur ye , as some of them also murmured , and were destroyed of the destroyer.
  • 11.
  • Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come .
  • 12.
  • Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall .
  • 13.
  • There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
  • 14.
  • Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
  • 15.
  • I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say .
  • 16.
  • The cup of blessing which we bless , is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break , is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
  • 17.
  • For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
  • 18.
  • Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
  • 19.
  • What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
  • 20.
  • But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice , they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
  • 21.
  • Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
  • 22.
  • Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy ? are we stronger than he?
  • 23.
  • All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient : all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
  • 24.
  • Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
  • 25.
  • Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat , asking no question for conscience sake:
  • 26.
  • For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
  • 27.
  • If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go ; whatsoever is set before you, eat , asking no question for conscience sake.
  • 28.
  • But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it , and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
  • 29.
  • Conscience , I say , not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
  • 30.
  • For if I by grace be a partaker , why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks ?
  • 31.
  • Whether therefore ye eat , or drink , or whatsoever ye do , do all to the glory of God.
  • 32.
  • Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
  • 33.
  • Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit , but the profit of many, that they may be saved .

Seven Things Jesus is in the Gospel of John

1. I am the Bread of Life

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” 41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” John 6:35-51 NKJV

2. I am the Light of the World

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5 NKJV

3. I am the Door of the Sheep

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:7-9 NKJV

4. I am the Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:11-14 NKJV

5. I am the Resurrection and Life

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. John 11:25 NKJV

6. I am the Way, Truth, and Life

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 NKJV

7. I am the True Vine

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:1-6 NKJV

REPROOF BRINGS WISDOM

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

2 Timothy 3:16-17  (NKJ)
16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Reproof means: conviction of sin, punishment or refutation of error. Correction means: a straightening up again, a rectification or a reformation.

Instruction means: tutorage, education, training or disciplinary correction. It is translated in the KJV as chastening, chastisement, instruction or nurture.

The word of God is given to us to convict us (make us aware) of our sin. The word straightens us up, chastises, trains and corrects us. If we receive the word into our lives and hearts and if we allow it to do its work in us, we are wise and we will be even wiser. In other words it takes a measure of wisdom to have a heart open to instruction in the first place and as we allow the word into our hearts, it makes us even wiser. As you grow in God, you are continually learning from Him and being corrected and straightened up by Him.

Proverbs 10:17  (NKJ)
17He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.

God’s instruction leads us into life and produces life. When we won’t hear God’s instruction, we go astray – we make mistakes, we make wrong decisions and we go in the wrong direction.

Proverbs 12:1  (KJV)
1Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

Brutish basically means stupid. Part of the meaning of the Hebrew word, translated brutish is – to be consumed by fire. When people refuse God’s wisdom in their lives, they will end up in the Hot Place!  I don’t know about you – but I don’t want to be stupid or hot!  I think that I would rather receive God’s rebuke now, than His judgement later!

Proverbs 13:18  (NKJ)
18Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

Proverbs 15:5-6  (NKJ)
A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent. 6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

Proverbs 15:31-32  (NKJ)
31The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. 32He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

Poverty, shame and trouble are the punishment of fools, who will not receive God’s instruction or the wise instruction and correction of their parents. Honor, wisdom, understanding and treasure are the reward of those who hear and obey God’s correction and instruction.

Proverbs 29:15  (NKJ)
15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

When we were children, our parent’s discipline and the spankings they administered controlled our flesh and carnal nature. As we grow up, we must allow the word of God to minister to us and thereby deal with the sin and foolishness in our carnal nature. We grow in wisdom as we allow the word to discipline and correct us.

Proverbs 17:10  (NKJ)
10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool.

It is a wise man or woman who will have a humble, teachable spirit and who will allow God’s word to reprove, correct and instruct them – even if it is painful to the flesh. A fool will not heed or obey God’s word. Not even a beating can straighten out a fool. Be a wise man/woman and receive God’s word as discipline and correction and instruction in your life and you will always be blessed in every area of your life.

Hebrews 12:11  (NKJ)
11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

SPEAK TO YOUR MOUNTAIN

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

Mark 11:11-14  (NKJ)

11       And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12      Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

13      And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

14      In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

 

Mark 11:20-24  (NKJ)

20      Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

21      And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22      So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

23      “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.

24      “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

 

Jesus spoke to the fig tree, cursing it, as He passed by. The next day it was withered away. His disciples were amazed, but Jesus was not. Jesus was present when the world was created. It was created by and through Him. God spoke and the world came into being.

 

John 1:1-3 (NKJ) says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  Hebrews 11:3 (NKJ) says, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

 

Jesus spoke to things and they did exactly what He commanded. He instructed us to do the same. He said that we must speak to objects in faith and they would obey. Jesus said that if we believe without doubting as we tell the mountain to move – that it would move.

 

Jesus spoke to the fever and it left Simon’s mother-in-law in Luke 4:38-39 (NKJ) “Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.”

 

Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea in Mark 4:36-40 (NKJ) “Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

 

No matter what situation you are facing – according to the Word of God – you must speak to it, in faith, and it must change. As long as you are obedient to the Word of God in every area of your life you can command every situation in your life to line up with the Word of God. Speak to your body – command it to be strengthened and to function as God created it to function. Speak to sickness and disease – command it to leave. Speak to your finances – command the blessing on your financial affairs.

 

Speak to the mountain!

LIVE IN THE LIGHT

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

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:9-14 NIV

Several things happened to you, at the same time, on the day that you repented of your sins, accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and were born-again. You were redeemed by the blood of Jesus and forgiven of your sins. You were made a saint of God and qualified by God to share in an inheritance in the kingdom of light, together with all the other saints. And on top of all that your Father has delivered you and drawn you to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness. Sin has no more dominion over you. The devil has no more authority over you. You have been delivered from the power and control of sin and the devil. So many Christians live below the standards that God has ordained for them because they are ignorant of His will and His plan for them. They have no idea what He has already done for them and in them.

Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with a full, deep and clear knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and a spiritual understanding. Many people think that God’s will is unknown, but if God wanted His will to be hidden then why does Paul pray for us all to know it? You can know the will of God. His will is His Word. The Spirit of God will instruct you and reveal God’s will for your life. As you walk worthy of the Lord you steadily grow and increase in the knowledge of God. You must live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord – fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things – bearing fruit in every good work.

You cannot please God if you yield to sin or the devil in any way. The tragedy is that it is the devil who harasses and torments Christians and then gets them to believe the lie that it is God’s will when all along God is telling them that He has delivered and saved them from all the devil’s power and authority. The devil’s influence over you ended on the day you were washed in the blood of Jesus.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJ

The disobedient (sinners) are subject to the devil and his evil influence, but not the children of God. You were once in bondage to the devil, but now you have been saved by God’s grace and His great love and rich mercy. You are raised up and seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Live and walk worthy of His great love and the grace and mercy that He has lavishly poured out on you. Don’t treat His salvation as a weak, ineffective force. You are saved and redeemed from the darkness and all the power of the enemy. Walk as a child of the light. Walk free from sin and darkness and walk all over the devil. Don’t give him any place or any attention. Take authority over him and walk in the light of the fact that Jesus already defeated him. All you have to do is enforce his defeat by reminding him of what Jesus already did. Live in the light of God!

BLESSED IS HE WHOSE TRANSGRESSIONS ARE FORGIVEN

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

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”– and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.   6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10    Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalms 32:1-11 NIV

 

According to the Amplified Bible, when you are blessed you are happy, fortunate and to be envied. The most wonderful thing that can happen to us is to have our sins permanently washed away by the blood of Jesus and to know that we have God’s forgiveness permanently exercised upon us. It is awesome to know that any sins – past, present and future – are not held against us as long as we confess our sins and ask God for forgiveness. By rights, we should all pay for our own sins and transgressions with our lives, but thank God, Jesus paid the price for us.

 

Nothing in the whole world can compare with the joy of a heart that is at peace with God because it is forgiven! No money, alcohol, drugs, fame or power can compare with the experience of the favor of God together with the joy of a clean heart.

 

When we have sin in our lives, we cannot be truly happy until we confess it to God. The most unhappy situation we can be in is to be living with unconfessed sin.

 

We must be sorry for our sin, admit that we are wrong and ask God to forgive us. God is just waiting and longing to forgive us – He is just waiting for us to take a step toward Him. He took the first step – He offered Jesus up as a guilt-offering on our behalf. The next move is ours. We can live in great peace, in spite of our outward circumstances, as long as we know that we have the favor of God upon our lives.

 

We must acknowledge all our sin and not try to hide anything from Him and He will instantly forgive us. When you walk in the knowledge of the total and complete forgiveness of God on your life, the waters of adversity are not able to overwhelm your spirit. When we are stubborn and unteachable, we will have many troubles and problems, but if we walk in God’s ways, we will also walk in His protection and guidance.

 

When we trust God with our lives enough to lay down what we want and to bow our knee in repentance, then we will experience His preservation and His joy. The wicked have no peace, but the righteous walk in continual peace and joy.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD

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

For even when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no ease or rest, but we were oppressed in every way and afflicted at every turn – fighting and contentions without, dread and fears within [us]. 6 But God, Who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us by the arrival of Titus. 7 [Yes] and not only by his coming but also by [his account of] with which he was encouraged and refreshed and cheered as to, while he told us of your yearning affection, of how sorry you were [for me] and how eagerly you took my part, so that I rejoiced still more.  2 Corinthians 7:5-7 AMP

We can all find reasons to be sad or depressed or angry or bitter with life, with circumstances, with other people or even with God. Even Paul went through some moments of discouragement and of feeling sorry for himself. Some people fall into depression very easily, but even normally very positive people experience a certain amount of mental and physical pressure in their daily lives and can be tempted from time to time to think negative thoughts and to begin to feel depressed. It is easier to feel better and have a more positive outlook when you are refreshed, when your body and mind have had some rest and comfort. However, when you have had no opportunity to rest and refresh yourself, when you are pressured from every side, fighting and contentions without, dread and fears within – if it isn’t one thing it is another – then it is not hard to become really discouraged and depressed.

In their discouragement, depression and despair, many people even become angry with God for their circumstances. This is because we don’t think that it could have anything to do with us at all and we choose to find fault with someone or something outside of ourselves. We think – wrongly – that God is our servant and that He is supposed to line everything up in our lives in a way that should always benefit us. We are fine until something goes wrong, or until we are inconvenienced and then we throw our little tantrum, we blame God and everybody else for our problems, and we sink into feeling sorry for ourselves and into discouragement and depression. Many times, the depression and discouragement we feel involves a fair amount of ungratefulness. We do not consider nor appreciate God’s blessing upon our lives.

We need to remember that God gives us a choice of good and bad, death and life, cursing or blessing. We live in an imperfect world and are subject to that world system. We need to remind ourselves that God is not our problem, but He is our answer. Stuff happens, but God is our way out. It is God, Who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking! If you are a child of God then it is God Who is the One Who is on our side. God is the One Who is for us not against us. When we remember that God is the answer, then we will begin to be grateful for His blessings and we will become encouraged once again.

So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.  1 Samuel 30:3-6 KJV

The NKJV says, “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” And the NIV says, “But David found strength in the LORD his God.”

The Israelite men were grieved at the destruction of their city and the loss of their wives and families. Then they became angry and bitter and they looked for someone to blame. David was as upset as they were, plus he felt the pressure of being at the receiving end of the wrath of his men. Then David did something that was key to his survival and key to his prosperity and the blessing of God upon his life – he turned to the Lord instead of from Him. Many times we take the tragedies of our lives as a sign that God doesn’t like us anymore, but that is not true. Many times, we trust in the strength of our own hand, but at times like these, God is the only One we can turn to and Hewill come through for us.

David was successful, because he chose to encourage himself in the LORD his God. David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. David found his strength in the LORD his God. When we feel discouraged, disheartened and depressed, we need to remind ourselves that God loves us, He is on our side, He is working for us not against us, and He is the way out, the answer to all our problems and the source of all we need.

GOD’S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OURS

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

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

 declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

God’s ways are higher than our ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. But what are His ways? People use this scripture to justify their theories about God. They make ignorant and misguided statements about God, His character, His ways, His thoughts and intentions and then tell us that we cannot understand God – that His plans and purposes do not make sense. But that is just not true!

God and His ways make perfect sense. Even though we cannot fully know God here on earth – it is only because of our human limitations – not because God is hiding His nature, character and intentions from us, because He has already revealed Himself to us in His Word and by His Spirit. Let us look at what God says about Himself right before He says that His ways are higher than ours.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  Isaiah 55:6-7 NIV

God is a merciful God. He freely pardons those who turn to Him. He chooses to forgive us. In fact He longs to show us His mercy. He is not willing to abandon us to our destruction. We are given the choice, to choose life or death, blessing or cursing, but God’s plan and desire for us is life and blessing! (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:22-26 NIV

For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.  Lamentations 3:31-33 NIV

Because God is a good, kind, loving, compassionate God – and He never changes – mankind has been graciously spared through the ages even though we have severely tested God’s patience, love, grace and forgiveness.

“For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.  Malachi 3:6 NKJV

“I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.  Malachi 3:6-7 NIV

As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s love for those who fear Him. In our mind, God should hate us and be angry with us, because we are all sinners. He should punish us, because we deserve it. We also think that God should send all those who offend us, wrong us, or who commit evil against us straight to hell with no chance of redemption. In our ungodly, human thinking – without the washing of the water of the word – we expect God to behave as we would if we had the fate of our enemy in our control. However God does not behave as we think He would. He responds with grace – and it is this grace that we cannot begin to understand unless we allow God to do a work in our heart and the Word to renew our minds.

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

The LORD has compassion on those who fear him just as a father has compassion on his children. From everlasting to everlasting the love of the Lord is extended toward those who fear him, and who keep his covenant and who obey his precepts. His righteousness is offered to their children’s children. God is a good God and it is His ways of His grace, mercy and forgiveness that are beyond our human comprehension and higher than ours.

Rodney Howard Browne bringing Revival to North Miami Beach

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