Rodney Howard Browne

Good News of Great Joy

But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. 11 For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!
Luke 2:10-11 AMP

There was great joy at Jesus’ birth—not just because a cute, little baby was born, but because of all He was destined to do for mankind, in His death, burial, and resurrection!

You have loved righteousness [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and You have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God (Godhead), has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond Your companions.  Hebrews 1:9 AMP

In Psalms 45:6-7, a prophetic word is given concerning the Messiah, which Paul quotes here in Hebrews. Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy and gladness above and beyond His companions because He loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Joy was His reward. True joy—the joy every human heart is so hungry for—is only available to the heart that is submitted to Almighty God! Jesus is God, Himself, but still, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father. His obedience was absolutely necessary for the fulfillment of the Father’s plan of salvation for mankind, however, Jesus did not obey because He had no choice or because He was forced to; He obeyed because He chose to, and therefore, He was anointed with the reward of great joy.

Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2 AMP

The good news is that Jesus never yielded to the temptations of sin, or His own flesh, or His own will or desire—He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, because of His expectation of the joy that would follow as a result of His great sacrifice. Jesus knew the terrible things He would have to endure and still He committed Himself to do everything that was required of Him, without complaint or argument. This was the course of His appointed race. You and I also have an appointed race. It is not an easy race—it is very tough, at times—but there is a joy-reward that lies before us when we obey God and run our assigned course. There is no reward for disobedience—there is no blessing in choosing our own way— we are blessed when we choose to go God’s way for our lives!

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight].  Jude 24 AMP

Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself.  Revelation 19:7 AMP

The Good News for the believer is that there is joy unspeakable and full of glory—wonderful, triumphant joy and exultation (unspeakable, ecstatic delight)—waiting for us in the presence of the Lord. If we, the Bride of Christ, prepare ourselves for heaven, by obeying the heavenly call, we will live to join the lavish, joy-filled, heavenly celebration that has been prepared for us—the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 AMP

From life’s first cry to final breath—and on into eternity—if we remain in God’s presence, we will continue on in His joy.

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lesson 25 from Deuteronomy

The Law of the Tithe
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 14 verses 22 – 29

You shall surely tithe all the yield of your seed produced by your field each year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God in the place in which He will cause His Name [and Presence] to dwell the tithe (tenth) of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and your flock, that you may learn [reverently] to fear the Lord your God always. 24 And if the distance is too long for you to carry your tithe, or the place where the Lord your God chooses to set His Name [and Presence] is too far away for you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 Then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place [of worship] which the Lord your God has chosen. 26 And you may spend that money for whatever your appetite craves, for oxen, or sheep, or new wine or strong[er] drink, or whatever you desire; and you shall eat there before the Lord your God and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 And you shall not forsake or neglect the Levite [God's minister] in your towns, for he has been given no share or inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite [because he has no part or inheritance with you] and the stranger or temporary resident, and the fatherless and the widow who are in your towns shall come and eat and be satisfied, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.  Deuteronomy 14:22-29 AMP

1.  The tithe was to be brought as an act of worship, to honor God, by all those who feared His Name

a. It was to be brought with joy – not with sadness or with reservations. It was a time to feast and rejoice and give thanks.
b. The whole family was involved – you and your house. God continually emphasizes the importance of His people personally obeying His word and also teaching these principles to their children and establishing them as a way of life so that every generation would love and serve the Lord. Joshua says, “As for me and my house, we WILL serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15b)

2.  Give according to the increase.

a. You are to tithe and give, according to the blessing of the Lord. As He has blessed you – give.
b. You are supposed to bring a tithe to God off of your increase. You are expected to increase – not decrease. God expects you to increase. You are to expect increase in your own life. God tells us to bring a tithe of that increase.

3.  Every one doing their part – taking responsibility – this is how the kingdom of God functions.

a. Don’t forget the Levites – the priests – the ministers of the Gospel. Don’t forget to bless and support them. The Body of Christ is responsible to take care of their own. Bring your tithe to your local church. Pray and give offerings as the Holy Spirit leads you. This is God’s way of taking care of ministers and the ministry. God does not want us to forget those who labor in the ministry.
b. God says that those who labor in the ministry are worthy of double-honor. When Jesus sent the disciples out to preach and minister, He told them not to make provision for themselves, because “the workman deserves his support (his living, his food). (Matthew 10:10 AMP) Also, 1 Timothy 5:17 AMP says, “Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching.”   
c. Today, so many people are totally focused on themselves and their own needs and they forget the stranger, the fatherless (orphans), and the widows. Hebrews 13:2 NIV says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”  James 1:27 NIV says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Bless them as God blesses you.

4.  If you obey God in this, He promises to bless you and to bless all the work of your hands.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
Every one of us, in the Body of Christ, has a responsibility toward God and His Kingdom. God’s plan for His people is blessing and more blessing. Some of us are called to ministry; some of us are called to business; ALL of us are called to support the Gospel and each other. God does not want us to fearfully sit on what we have – He wants us to spread the blessing around. As the blessing is spread around, the Lord increases it. The more we give, the more increase comes to our life.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
There are many people, in the church world today, who want to be blessed even though they are disobedient to the word of God. With every one of the promises, there is a condition. If we meet the condition, we receive the promise. The tithe is Holy – it tells God you love Him, and fear Him, and put Him first, above all. Take care of God’s servants, the stranger, the orphans, and the widows. These are the basics of our financial responsibility in and to the Kingdom of God. If you don’t get this, then, as far as spirituality goes – you are still in pre-school!

Prayer and Confession:
Father, thank you today that I have the privilege of blessing You, even as You have blessed me. I honor you and covenant with You to obey Your word. I expect the increase and I thank and praise You for it.

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lesson 21 from Deuteronomy

God’s Supernatural Provision
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8 verses 1 – 10

All the commandments which I command you this day you shall be watchful to do, that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your [mind and] heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not become old upon you nor did your feet swell these forty years. 5 Know also in your [minds and] hearts that, as a man disciplines and instructs his son, so the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and [reverently] fear Him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; 9 A land in which you shall eat food without shortage and lack nothing in it; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for all the good land which He has given you.  Deuteronomy 8:1-10 AMP

1.    In verse 1 the Lord says that if His people are watchful to do all His commandments then they will live and multiply.

a. God’s plan is to bless His people and to provide for them.
b. One of the greatest problems we deal with today in believer’s lives is that they don’t see their heavenly Father as their Provider.
c. He loves us so much and wants to provide for us. He wants us to recognize Him as our source of supply.
d. He wants us to go in and possess the land He has provided for us.

2. In verse 2, the Lord reminds His people of their journey through the wilderness – how they were dependant upon Him for absolutely everything – and He does not want them to forget it. He wants them to continue to keep their eyes on Him.

a. A wilderness journey is where you find out what you are made of – everything that’s in you will come out. You will find out if your heart really belongs to God; whether you will continue to obey and serve Him; whether you will trust Him or blame Him.
b. Man shall not live by bread alone – but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Life is about more than food for your mouth right now – it’s about eternal choices.
c. The Lord tells His people that they should respect Him and receive His correction.

3. God promised His people certain things if they obeyed Him. For 40 years:

a.Their clothing would not become old upon them.
b.Their feet would not swell.

4. The land that God was bringing them into was:

a. A good land.
b. A land of brooks of water.
c. A land of fountains and depths that spring out of valley’s and hills.
d. A land of wheat and barley, vines and fig trees and pomegranates.
e. A land of olive oil and honey.
f. A land in which they would eat their bread without scarceness and in which they would not lack anything.
g. A land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills they could dig brass.   

5. God says when you have eaten, and are full, then you should bless the Lord your God for the good land that He has given you.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
The Lord constantly tried to remind the Israelites of what He had done for them and emphasized that they should tell their children about it too. Not because He is an ego-maniac, but because if they forgot that God was their source and supply and giver of life, they would go off and serve the devil and take a curse on themselves. God never wants you cursed – He only ever wants you blessed. You are a stupid person if you forget Him after He has blessed you and you go and serve your enemy!
 
Gratefulness for the past ensures blessings for the future. Be grateful for what the Lord has already done for you; be grateful for what you have right now. Thank Him for His provision for tomorrow. Having faith for God to provide for you is not just about asking – it’s about thanking and praising Him for those things for which you have already asked.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
In this passage it is evident what the Lord has in mind is to bless His people abundantly! All He asks is that, when you are blessed, you thank Him for His abundant, supernatural provision. Many times I just stop and thank God for all His abundant blessings upon my life, remembering where He brought us from and where I could have been, and thanking Him once again for His goodness.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I pray that I will always bless you for blessing me and that I would always remember where all my blessings come from. Please help me to remember to always be grateful, and to pass the blessing on to others. As I remember to thank and serve You, I thank You for Your continued blessings on my life.

Giving So Much They Had To Be Restrained
Foundation Scriptures: Exodus 36 verses 1 – 7

Bezalel and Aholiab and every wisehearted man in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary shall work according to all that the Lord has commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab and every able and wisehearted man in whose mind the Lord had put wisdom and ability, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work; 3 And they received from Moses all the freewill offerings which the Israelites had brought for doing the work of the sanctuary, to prepare it for service. And they continued to bring him freewill offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise and able men who were doing the work on the sanctuary came, every man from the work he was doing, 5 And they said to Moses, The people bring much more than enough for doing the work which the Lord commanded to do. 6 So Moses commanded and it was proclaimed in all the camp, Let no man or woman do anything more for the sanctuary offering. So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work and more.  Exodus 36:1-7 AMP

1. People were stirred to come and give their best and those who were wise and skilled in their work were stirred to sow to the Lord by working with their hands to build the tabernacle.

a. They were stirred so much so that they brought the Lord free will offerings every morning and every night.

b. The people brought, and brought, and brought—so much that they needed to be restrained.

c. There was sufficient all around. There was enough for the tabernacle and the people still had much left over.

2. God asked only for those who were willing and generous to bring stuff for the sanctuary. Can you imagine their excitement; can you imagine their joy? There was no hesitation; no regrets; no doubts; no second thoughts. They came to the Lord with willing and generous hearts and with a continual flow of offerings.

a. They gave every day—in the morning and in the night.

b. When enough had been given for the sanctuary, they had to be restrained from bringing anything else. Most people have to be begged to give—these people were begged to stop!

c. Sufficient means: enough for a particular purpose. Verse 7 says that the STUFF they had was sufficient for ALL the work—not just sufficient, but more than enough—to make whatever was needed.

N. B.  What a day that will be when we see God’s people willingly and generously bringing to the Lord, so much, that they need to be restrained.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
If anyone would want to stop the building of the Kingdom of God or His sanctuary, it would be the devil. The devil always tries to ply us with fear about parting with what we have and to supply us plenty of reasons why not to give to God’s work. He knows that money gives power on earth and he does not want the church to have the power to expand or extend God’s Kingdom on earth. Don’t be fooled by him; don’t play into his hands. What we must do is move in the opposite spirit. We must confront our fears and see God’s call to give for what it is: an opportunity, to bless God, bless the work of God and to receive a great blessing in return. It is not merely your action of giving that matters, but your attitude in giving. Stepping out in faith to give generously and willingly breaks a spirit of poverty and poverty-mindedness off your life.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
Putting God first place in our life means that we give His House and His Kingdom top priority. Can you imagine a day, in the 21st century, when God’s people would take His Kingdom and His purpose and make it theirs? Malachi says that each man runs to his own house—eager to build it—and to his own plans. But God says, “seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). We started building our first house back in 1993, and moved in 1994. When the foundation was laid, I stood on it and lifted up my hands, thanking the Lord for our house, when I heard the Lord say, “Son you have built my house for the past 14 years and now I am going to build yours!” God so blessed us with that house and provided everything we needed for the house including all the furniture. It was exceedingly above all that we could have done on our own. When God builds something, He does it well!

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I put your house first; I make your priorities my priorities. I am a willing and generous giver. I pray that I come to the place where I am so blessed that I am able to give so much that I have to be restrained in my giving because it is more than enough for what needs to be done to build God’s Kingdom. Thank you, Lord, for all your abundant blessings bestowed on me!

Thoughts on Stewardship
Lesson No. 6 from Genesis

Don’t Eat of the Tree
Foundation Scriptures: Genesis 3 verses 1-7

In Genesis 2:15-17, God took Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it. He gave him a commandment that he could freely eat of every tree of the garden, but not of the tree of good and evil because, “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit from the trees of the garden, 3 Except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4 But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil and blessing and calamity. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves apronlike girdles. Genesis 3:1-7 AMP

1. Have you ever wondered why God would  put a tree in the Garden if He did not want Adam and Eve and their kids to eat the fruit of it?

a. God made us to be stewards of all that He has given us and all that He has placed on the earth.

b. However, He always sets something aside, keeping it for Himself, and tells us not to eat of it. It’s Holy; it belongs to God alone.

c. It’s all about obedience and the free will of man. God gave us a free will so we could choose to obey. Obedience pleases God.

2. This is what Satan used to tempt Eve and cause her to sin. His plan was to get her to eat of that which was under their stewardship, but was not to be touched.

a. They could eat of every tree—including the tree of life, but they were not allowed to eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and of Evil. God told them, “the day that you eat of the tree in dying thou shalt die.” They would die spiritually (be cut off from God) and then die physically.

b. The scripture declares that if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). The devil knows that the only way that he can trap us is to get us moving in the direction of disobedience and against God’s Word.

3. In this day and this age, there is still a tree that is Holy, and it belongs to God. It is called the Tithe.

a. It is tempting to someone, who has not been taught how Holy the tree (tithe) is, to want to eat it.

b. To eat the tithe tree is to use the tithe for your personal use.

c. The tithe is Holy. Don’t eat that which belongs to God. Set it aside and bring it to the altar of worship where you are fed the Word of God.

d. Giving it as an act of worship as a first fruit to the Lord.

4. Many of those who have eaten from the tithe tree are now barren and naked and suffer lack. They have removed themselves from God’s protection.

Pastor Adonica’s thoughts:
From the time I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, at the age of 17, I was taught about tithing. I fell in love with Jesus and fully committed to Him. I worked for my father at the time and when I received my monthly pay of 175 South African Rands, I immediately set aside my tithe, rounding it up to R20, and then sowed it into the offering the very next church service I attended. This became a committed habit for me, as it did for Rodney, and as God blessed and increased us, we continued to tithe on everything we earned. It is not a difficult thing to do because we committed to do it a long time ago and we would not dream of using the tithe for anything else. As a result, we expect—and receive—God’s blessing and favor on our lives and He has never let us down!

Pastor Rodney’s thoughts:
I can remember, as a child, being taught the principle of the tithe. I would tithe on my allowance. I would also tithe on the income I earned as a child working at whatever job I could find during school vacations. I knew that I wanted to do my part and sow seed into the Gospel. When we first arrived in America we heard that 20% of the body of Christ tithed. Apparently, the current statistic is that 6% actually tithe! This means that 94% spend their time eating of the tithe tree that is Holy and yet they wonder why they struggle financially and are unprotected—naked and barren.

I so desire God’s people to be blessed! God so desires to bless and increase all of our lives!  Even though He has a strong desire to bless you, His hands are tied when you eat that which does not belong to you. Don’t forget—the tithe is the Lord’s!  You are stewards over the tithe—don’t eat it—set it aside as Holy unto the Lord and allow the blessing of God to transform your life and overtake you from every side!

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I worship you with that which has been set apart for You—the tithe—it is Yours and I honor you with it and thank you that I will never be naked or barren or ashamed, and Your provision and protection will be upon me, all the days of my life.

Thoughts on Stewardship from the Book of Genesis

First Fruits or Leftovers?
Foundation Scriptures—Genesis 4 verse 1-5

And Adam knew Eve as his wife, and she became pregnant and bore Cain; and she said, I have gotten and gained a man with the help of the Lord. 2 And [next] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. 4 And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering, 5 But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed. Genesis 4:1-5 AMP

Verse 3 says that Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground in the course of time. The King James says he brought it in the process of time. Abel brought his first fruits, but Cain brought his leftovers.

Some people think that God rejected Cain’s offering because He prefers meat over vegetables, but that is not true. God does not expect anyone to bring what they do not have. By faith, Abel put God first. Before he partook of the fruit of his labor, he honored God with his first and his best—the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. God was pleased and received Abel’s offering. After a while Cain brought a portion of his harvest to the Lord, but it was not his first fruits, neither was it his best. Obviously, Cain had no faith in God and no respect for Him. Cain grew angry when God had no respect for him or his offering and when He did not receive or accept it. When Cain saw that his offering was not accepted, he could have and should have repented and changed his own attitude and behavior. However, he got mad at Abel, who was accepted, and killed him instead.

Many people do what Cain did—they spend their money and pay all their other bills before they bring their offering to the Lord. The tithe is the first fruits—the first tenth of all your increase—of all your income. God honored Abel because he brought the first fruits of the flock. Your attitude in your giving is a huge part of your giving. People might see your gift, but God sees your heart and your gift. God knows when you are putting Him first and honoring Him in your giving or not. God does honor first fruits, but He rejects leftovers. The Bible says that Cain was very angry and depressed. This is what happens to you when you bring God your leftovers. People who are angry and depressed—mad at God and mad at believers who are blessed—are people who have been bringing God their leftovers!

Comments: Pastor Adonica Howard-Browne

Even if you get paid on a Monday and you only go to church on a Sunday, you should set it aside to bring to the Lord before you spend any other money on anything. When you work for a boss, your company is required by law to take your taxes out and pay it for you. Why? Because the government knows that they would have a hard time getting it from 90% of the people if they gave them the option to pay it themselves and they don’t want to wait until the end of the year and find out that you have already spent it and can’t pay it anyway! Money has a funny way of disappearing unless we have a definite plan and we execute that plan right away. Even though you receive your pay check without the taxes that were taken out, your gross income is still your income and 10% of your gross income is your tithe.

Before you decide to argue about this—remember that no one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to do—it is completely your choice and your decision. However, you must also remember that God is not obliged to bless you either! The tithe is a covenant obligation—it establishes your covenant with Almighty God. By paying your tithe—first—you activate the power of God to work on your behalf—to rebuke the devourer, to protect you, provide for you, and favor you!  

Comments: Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne

One of the things that every believer has to do is honor God with the first fruits of all their income—the money coming to you before you even pay your taxes. If you don’t bring your first fruits, then it is a sign that you have forgotten God in your life. By bringing the first fruits you signify that you have put God first place—above everything—your house; your car; even your hopes and dreams. Something happens when you put God and His house first place —He will put your house first place!

Prayer and Confession:

Father I make a decision to honor you with the first fruits of all my income. Thank you for your abundant blessings on my life. 

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.  John 15:5 AMP

God uses growing things – plants; fruit – as examples when He talks about our relationship with Him, how He expects us to behave, and what He expects us to do. He expects us to be grafted into Him, to abide in Him, and to bring forth good fruit. The Spirit realm created the natural world and similar laws apply. Know that there are no shortcuts with God or with the Word of God. You cannot manufacture or fake fruit – good fruit is produced only under the right conditions – with the right amount of sunlight, water, and good soil.

Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.  Romans 7:4 AMP

Jesus died and was raised from the dead – like a seed that is planted in the ground has to die before it can grow and produce fruit. We can bear fruit for God because of His resurrection power at work in us.
 
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  Matthew 7:16-20 NIV

Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.  Matthew 12:33 AMP

The tree is recognized by its fruit. If the tree is corrupt, rotten, diseased, and bad, then the fruit is corrupt, rotten, diseased, and bad. Be a good tree. Your roots – the foundation of your life – your heart must be good. You must be grafted into God; you must draw your life from Jesus, the Vine.

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].  Galatians 5:22-23 AMP

For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
Ephesians 5:9 AMP

You can’t bring forth fruit in your own ability. The only way to bring forth good fruit in your life is to yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in you and through you.

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness--in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].  Hebrews 12:11 AMP

The fruit-bearing process involves yielding to God’s correction and discipline. We produce good fruit when we conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action – when we carry His heart and when we completely do what He asks of us.

The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men--he gathers and receives them for eternity].  Proverbs 11:30 AMP

The fruit that is produced in you as you grow and abide in the Lord becomes a tree of life and a blessing to other people.
 
The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. 13 Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. 15[They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.  Psalms 92:12-15 AMP

The righteous are compared to palm trees and the cedars of Lebanon. They are planted in God’s house; they flourish in His courts; they grow in grace; they bring forth fruit – even in old age; they are fat and flourishing; full of sap; full of life; their fruit is plentiful and delicious; they are living memorials to God’s righteousness and faithfulness!

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. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV

When God created Adam and Eve, He instructed them to have children and for those children to have children. God loves us and He loves our children. He wants to bless us and our children. God wants to bless us with children. In a perfect world, no one would have any difficulty conceiving or giving birth to healthy offspring, but we do not live in a perfect world. Many people have a difficult time producing children and many never do. However, God’s Word is still true. We can stand on God’s Word concerning children, just as we can for healing or for finances. If it is not possible for us to have our own children and if God has not made us a specific promise about it that we can attach our faith to, and we still would like to raise some children, there are many options open to us. God loves ALL children and commands us to take care of ALL of them as a society. It is God’s people, who have more love in their hearts than anyone, when it comes to children.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; 8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. 9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.  Psalms 113:7-9 KJV
 
God promises to make the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children! Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for Isaac. It took that long for Abraham’s faith to grow so solid and so unshakeable in the promise of God, so that when Isaac was a teenager, he did not hesitate to obey God and give him back to God as a sacrifice, expecting God to raise him up from the ashes! If he had not had 25 years to build strong faith in God and His promise, he may have hesitated to obey God at that moment.

Hannah waited for years for children and had none, but when she made a vow to God, to give Him her firstborn, He heard and answered her fervent prayer. He gave her the desire of her heart and this son was the great priest, Samuel. Hannah gave Samuel to God and He blessed her with many more children. God also gave children to other barren women, with the proviso that these children would be separated unto Him. God spoke to Manoah’s wife and gave her the child named Samson. He spoke to Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, gave birth to John the Baptist. These families were so grateful for the children that God gave them, that they were more than happy to obey Him in the naming and raising of these children.

If God gives you an assurance in your heart about your own children, then, by all means, put all your trust and faith in His promise. You see, when you know that the answer is already yours, you know it in your heart – you have not one doubt. You might have an occasional doubtful thought that tries to intrude into your head, but your heart is fixed on God and His promise! If you are just hoping, but you have doubts in your heart, first talk to God some more. Clarify the issue in your heart before God. Whatever you have a release for in your heart, you can apply your faith to. Whatever you have a “scratchiness” or uneasiness about requires more prayer and time in God’s Word. You can only extend your faith into areas that God has said, “Yes” to not the things that are “No” or “I don’t know.”

This is a prayer you can pray every time you bless your food:
You shall serve the Lord your God; He shall bless your bread and water, and I will take sickness from your midst. 26 None shall lose her young by miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. Exodus 23:25-26 AMP

God’s promise to us always comes with a condition. Serve God so that He can bless you. If we meet the condition, He will keep His word. Remember, it is always according to your faith – not merely your hopes or your wishes. God wants to bless you and He already has a plan for your life. Sometimes, we want to give God the plan and ask Him to bless it. Find out what God’s plan is for you – it is already blessed! When it comes to believing God for children, it seems as if more people get messed up in this area than any other, because it’s such an emotional issue. God wants us to love children, protect them and provide for them – whether it’s your own or another’s. Whether we raise our own children, adopt children, build orphanages, or give money to those who take care of abandoned or orphaned children. God loves children and will bless those who bless them!

May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. 15 May you be blessed of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth! 16 The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth has He given to the children of men.  Psalms 115:14-16 AMP

Truly God is [only] good to Israel, even to those who are upright and pure in heart.  Psalms 73:1 AMP

The Psalmist is correct when he speaks of the goodness of God. God is a good God and He is good to those who are upright and pure in heart. We choose blessing by choosing to serve and honor God.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they suffer no violent pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they smitten and plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride is about their necks like a chain; violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe]. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish; and the imaginations of their minds overflow [with follies]. 8 They scoff, and wickedly utter oppression; they speak loftily [from on high, maliciously and blasphemously]. 9 They set their mouths against and speak down from heaven, and their tongues swagger through the earth [invading even heaven with blasphemy and smearing earth with slanders]. 10 Therefore His people return here, and waters of a full cup [offered by the wicked] are [blindly] drained by them. 11 And they say, How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who always prosper and are at ease in the world; they increase in riches.  Psalms 73:2-12 AMP

The psalmist was not in a good place. He had nearly lost his way, because he started to look to the wicked and think that they had it better than him. He looked at their wealth, their pride, and their arrogance; he looked at they way they scoffed and blasphemed; and yet they seemed to have it so good. They seemed only to increase in riches.

Surely then in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been smitten and plagued, and chastened every morning.  Psalms 73:13-14 AMP

The psalmist is tempted with thoughts of envy for the wealthy wicked. He starts to feel that serving God and his self-sacrifice have not been beneficial to him; that God has not taken care of him; that he does not have it as good as the arrogant wicked.

Had I spoken thus [and given expression to my feelings], I would have been untrue and have dealt treacherously against the generation of Your children.  Psalms 73:15 AMP

Thankfully, the one mistake he does not make, is to open his mouth and speak his negative thoughts out loud. Even though he is tempted by the devil to make terrible accusations against God – in his heart, he knows the truth. If he had spoken these demonic lies he would have been lying and he would have been betraying every child of God, who loves and serves Him and who has experienced His goodness.

But when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful  17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood [for I considered] their end. 18[After all] You do set the [wicked] in slippery places; You cast them down to ruin and destruction. 19 How they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!  Psalms 73:16-19 AMP

It was hard for him to understand why the sinners – the arrogant, wealthy people seem better off, but he started to understand when he realized what their end would be. No man can stand against God and live. Only those who honor Him will live forever. This life is so short and eternity is so long. You can serve yourself and think that you are really something, but if you refuse to humble yourself before God, you will suffer in hell forever. Forever is a long time! Whatever the believer suffers on this earth in order to serve God, it is nothing compared to eternity in the glorious presence of God!

As a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself [to take note of the wicked], You will despise their outward show. 21 For my heart was grieved, embittered, and in a state of ferment, and I was pricked in my heart [as with the sharp fang of an adder]. 22 So foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.  Psalms 73:20-22 AMP

The psalmist is honest with God. He confesses the torment he went through, as a result of feeling that life was unfair, until his conscience pricked him and he realized the truth – that he was stupid for thinking like that and stupid for listening to the devil.

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You will destroy all who are false to You and like [spiritual] harlots depart from You. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.  Psalms 73:23-28 AMP

The psalmist once again reminds himself of God’s faithfulness and His promises, and he testifies of it to others. Sometimes we feel that life is unfair and that we have not been appropriately rewarded for doing right, but we must remind ourselves of God’s goodness. The devil would love to separate us from God with his lies, but when we hide God’s word in our hearts, we will keep on believing right and talking right and we will live to see His blessing on our lives.

Furthermore, brethren, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and gratify God, as indeed you are doing, [and] that you do so even more and more abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in living this life].  1 Thessalonians 4:1 AMP

When your mother gave birth to you, you had everything you needed to live on this earth as a member of your family. You were “you” only a smaller version, with no knowledge of the world you were born into. You had your body, but you didn’t know what to do with it or how to control it. All you knew how to do was to drink milk and to cry when you were hungry, tired, or uncomfortable, or when you needed to be held. You had to grow up and learn how to control your body and your impulses. You had to learn how to walk, talk, feed yourself, communicate, obey, be courteous, share, work, give, be kind, be a decent person, etc. You had to learn to obey and respect your parents. If your family did not care for you and teach you, you would not have the skills you needed to be successful in your relationships and your life.

When you receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior your heart, your spirit, is instantly changed. You are like a brand new baby in the spirit. The only problem is that you have this body that wants to do its own thing and you have to learn how to control it and bring it under subjection to your spirit. The way you do that is through the Word of God. Many people claim to be “born-again,” but their conduct tells another story. Some of them have never been taught that they must obey the Word of God and that they ought to walk and conduct themselves in such a way so as to please and gratify God. They are still pleasing themselves.

For you know what charges and precepts we gave you [on the authority and by the inspiration of] the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice, 4 That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor, 5 Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will  1 Thessalonians 4:2-5 AMP

The best way to avoid sexual sin is to stay away from the source and cause of it. Protect your eyes and ears. Don’t even think that you can look at it and be okay. The battle between good and evil, sin and righteousness in your life begins in your mind. Guard yourself in this area. Don’t allow ungodly TV channels in your home. Put a blocker on your computer. In order to avoid sinning, you have to be able to control your body, but if you feed your mind pornography and perversion, you can be sure that you are going to have a very hard time preventing your mind and your body from leading you straight into sexual sin!

You control your body by keeping your mind on things that are pure. The heathen don’t know God. They don’t feel that there is anything wrong with what they do with their bodies. You are not an ungodly heathen. You know the difference between right and wrong. Don’t follow ungodly people down the path of destruction. You are not ignorant of God’s will for you!

That no man transgress and overreach his brother and defraud him in this matter or defraud his brother in business. For the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we have already warned you solemnly and told you plainly. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 AMP

Don’t defraud your fellow Christians with your sexual impurity. Don’t go after someone who is not your wife – she belongs to someone else. If you go after her, you will wreak havoc in many people’s lives through your lack of self-control. Keep your eyes and your hands to yourself. Keep you mind pure in this area.

Don’t defraud your brother or sister in a business transaction! There seems to be so many people, who call themselves Christians, who are liars and thieves when it comes to money and business. God is very serious when He tells us to be honest and faithful with money. He tells the thief to steal no more and to work honestly with his hands and to give to those who are needy (Ephesians 4:28). Don’t be a thief; don’t be a liar; don’t defraud people by deception; don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep; don’t take what is not yours. Do you have any fear of God? Remember that God is the avenger in all these things!

For God has not called us to impurity but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity]. 8 Therefore whoever disregards (sets aside and rejects this) disregards not man but God, Whose [very] Spirit [Whom] He gives to you is holy (chaste, pure).  1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 AMP

God has called us to purity – to consecrate ourselves to Him – to be dedicated to Him. If we disregard God’s word about sexual purity, we are not rejecting man, but we are rejecting God. Every person who chooses sexual immorality is also making a choice against God. It is a fact that Atheists and Agnostics are way far more likely to see nothing wrong with sexual impurity and sin, than a person who loves and obeys God. Always stay in close relationship and fellowship with God – this fellowship is your protection!