Rodney Howard Browne

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:16-21 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 AMP

We did not imagine God or make Him up, as some fools have claimed. (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Psalms 53:1a KJV) God created us and He loved us before the foundation of the world. HE reached out to us before we ever knew Him. HE sent Jesus to die as a sacrifice for sin to bring us back into relationship and fellowship with Him and to give us everlasting life – if we believe.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

God did NOT send His Son into the world to judge, reject, condemn, or pass sentence on the world. He sent Him to love the world and save the world from their sin. When we know He loves us, we are no longer afraid of Him or afraid of being punished by Him. We know that we are accepted and loved.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: 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 casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:16-19 NKJV

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Every person born on this earth is born with sin in their flesh and a death sentence hanging over their head. The first time they break the Law, they are judged to be guilty, condemned as a sinner, and doomed to end up in hell when they die. God does not want even one person to go to hell. He would like every person to hear His message of love, mercy, and forgiveness and for them to accept His offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Those who believe in and receive Jesus are instantly acquitted of sin and declared innocent before God! They are not condemned to death and hell. Their sentence has been commuted.

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Romans 3:23-24 says that, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Everybody has sinned and everybody has the option of being justified freely by His grace. Some people are willing to come to the light and be washed by the blood of Jesus, but some people do not want to let go of their sin, so they stay as far away from the light of Jesus as they can.

People, who are submitted to God and who have conformed to His word and yielded to His Spirit, are not afraid of the light or to have their deeds exposed to the light, because their conscience is clear. They are not afraid of the light of God because their works are wrought in God – divinely prompted, done with God’s help, and in dependence on Him – and are acceptable to God. Trying to keep the Law in order to please God is fruitless. Any works which are not wrought in Him, or done with His help, are not acceptable to Him.

God has released His children into the liberty of the Spirit. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are a new creation; no longer living under any condemnation whatsoever. We are no longer governed by the Law, but by the Holy Spirit and the Law of Love!

Two things have I asked of You [O Lord]; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 Lest I be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9 AMP

These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa and Solomon thought enough of them to include them in his Book of Proverbs. Agur asked God to remove falsehood and lies from him. He made a commitment to God to speak the truth and asked for His help in doing it. He also asked God to give him neither poverty nor riches—only that which he could handle.

When carnal people have all they need, they may become arrogant and deny God, taking the credit for their success for themselves. When carnal people are in a position of lack, they may steal from others to meet their needs, sinning against God and their neighbor. Both of these are very wrong. Some people believe that all their problems will be solved if they just have what they want, and others believe that spirituality and godly character come only from poverty and lack. Both of these beliefs are wrong too. Do not judge yourself by what is or isn’t in your hands. You are not a better person with stuff, or worse without it, and visa versa.

Neither poverty nor riches has the power to make you a better person, they merely reveal what is already in your heart. Being a better person comes from making a heart commitment to God. If you have made a sincere commitment to God, poverty or riches should not have the ability to sway you or change you. If you are sold out for God, poverty will not stop you, and riches will not corrupt you. Your heart attitude determines the outcome of your circumstances. It’s what you have in your heart that counts—not just what you have in your hand! Your sincere commitment to God will protect you from making a mess of your life, no matter what your economic situation.

Agur asked God to give him only that which he could handle without getting a bad attitude or sinning against God. Depending on your mindset, you could look at this request two ways. You could look at Agur as a man who doesn’t want God to give him very much or as a man who is asking God to enlarge him on the inside and make him able to handle all the blessing God can send his way! The fact of the matter is that we always get what we expect to get. If you expect to get only a little, you can have it, but if you want the ability to handle more and you expect God to do a work in your heart in this area, you can have that too.

Look into your own heart and judge yourself. Do you believe that you are not good enough for God’s blessing? Do you think that He wants you to be poor? Do you believe that He loves you? Do you believe that He would really like to bless you? Will you humble yourself and press into the Lord, allowing him to do a work in your heart and life in order to prepare you for all that He has in store for you?

Remember, if you want more ability from God, you must also be prepared for more responsibility. It has everything to do with obedience and faithfulness with the things God has already put in your hands and the commitment to be even more obedient and faithful day by day. Some people want the blessing with no commitment to the will of God on their part. There is a price to pay for the blessing of God on your life. If you will give your heart into God’s hands and ask Him to give you only that which you can handle, then it will be up to you to focus your attention on a heart change, allowing God to enlarge you on the inside so that you can be able to handle more. Make the adjustments, make God the center of your life, and make your stuff just stuff. Remember that God has promised to give you bread to eat (what you need to satisfy you) and seed to sow as well (to be a blessing to others).

Don’t have a poverty mentality—have a blessing mentality! Allow God to set the level of your prosperity. Ask God to give you only what you can handle and only what He wants you to have. If you think you want something, ask God for His opinion on the matter. Ask Him if He wants you to have it at this time. Consult with the Lord on all your purchasing decisions. “Give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me only what I need as I serve You with all my heart!” is the heart cry of a person who loves God with all his/her heart and who wants only what God wants.

You will see that if you will acknowledge God in this area of your life, He will invariably do exceedingly abundantly—superabundantly—far over and above all that you could ask or think—even infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams—according to the power that works in you (Ephesians 3:20).

Dr. Rodney Howard Browne is leading a group through the Sea of Galilee and Holy Land this month. The Sea of Galilee lies on the ancient Via Maris. The Greeks, Hasmoneans, and Romans founded flourishing towns and settlements on the lake. The Flavius Josephus wrote, “One may call this place the ambition of Nature.” It is a thriving fishing industry at this time, with 230 boats regularly working in the lake.

Much of the ministry of Jesus occurred on the shores of Lake Galilee. The gospels of Mark (1:14-20), Matthew (4:18-22), and Luke (5:1-11) describe how Jesus recruited four of his apostles from the shores of Lake Galilee: the fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew and the brothers John and James. One of Jesus’ teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, was given on a hill overlooking the lake while many of his miracles were recorded.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

The Amplified version says, “28 Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good – not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable gracious and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.”  

Jesus gives an invitation to everyone of us who are weary, fatigued, heavy-laden and overburdened - because we have been working hard, toiling, and laboring in our own strength - to come to Him. He offers help and a solution. He was not talking only to us about physical labor alone, but also about mental, emotional and spiritual labor.

There are some burdens that we were not designed to bear. We were not designed to bear the burden of sin and everything else that hell has to offer. We were designed, by the Father, to live in His presence and to draw our life from Him and to be sustained by Him, not to be lone rangers – struggling and limping along under the weight of our heavy burdens.

There is no help, no salvation, no relief from our burdens in anything that is in our wisdom, strength or ability – nothing we can do ourselves can come close to what the Father does for us if we will humble ourselves to receive from His hand all that He has already provided for us.

The term heavy-laden means to be loaded up like a pack animal, or in a figurative sense, to be overburdened with ceremony or spiritual anxiety. That is what religion does. It loads you up with burdens, and yet offers no solutions, no way out and no relief. No wonder religion makes some people miserable and grumpy and others just run away.

Unfortunately, they run away from God as well. The meaning of religion, in the dictionary, has to do with a belief in and a commitment to something or someone. It also means that a person is bound to the something or someone. Now commitment to God and being bound to Him is not a bad thing, but the problem is that most people are bound to a set of rules and regulations, most of which were instituted by man, not God!

God is not religious! Yes, you read it right! He hates religion with a passion. Jesus, Who speaks for the Father, tells us what He thought of religion and tradition.

In Matthew 15:1-9, the Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples broke the tradition of the elders by not ceremonially washing their hands before they eat! But Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for breaking the command of God for the sake of their tradition and called them hypocrites because they honored God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. He told them that they worshipped God in vain because their teachings were nothing more than rules taught by men.

If we want the blessing of God on our lives, we must be bound by and to the commands of God, but not the traditions that are set in place by man. Your prayer should be, “Father, burn every bit of religion and tradition out of me. Let me be filled with love and devotion to You and to Your Word alone.” Those who do not practice what they preach and who put unfair religious burdens on others – burdens that they themselves are unwilling to bear - anger the Lord (Matthew 23:1-4).

We should not lay any burden on someone other that what God requires and what we ourselves are willing to do.

The yoke is a wooden frame or bar with loops or bows at either end, fitted around the necks of a pair of oxen, etc. for harnessing them together. It represents a coupling – something that binds, unites, or connects, such as the marriage relationship. People use the term “the yoke of matrimony.” Figuratively, it has to do with servitude - a law or an obligation.

We are yoked to the Lord, but it is neither a hard or unpleasant yoke. A burden is, literally, freight or, figuratively, a task or service. It should not be difficult for us to serve God – if we do it right! It should be a joy and a pleasure. If you are serving God and you are not having the time of your life, then you better check out what you are doing and believing, because according to Jesus, our yoke should be easy and our burden should be light! Cast your cares on Him today. Stop trying to work for your salvation and stop trying to please God in your own strength or ability. Stop! And receive His grace and His mercy, which will refresh your souls!

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Thank you, Father, that you are the LORD, who heals me, you are my life-giver and you bring me health.  Exodus 15:26b

You will take sickness away from the midst of us. The number of our days you will fulfill.   Exodus 23:25-26

Father, I choose life that both my seed and I may live. You are my life, and the length of my days.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20

I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  Psalms 42:11

Father, I will set my love upon You, therefore will You deliver me: You will set me on high, because I have known Your name. I shall call upon You, and You will answer me: You will be with me in trouble; You will deliver me, and honor me. With long life will You satisfy me, and show me Your salvation.  Psalms 91:14-16

I am planted in the house of the LORD. I shall flourish in the courts of my God. I shall still bring forth fruit in old age; I shall be fat and flourishing.  Psalms 92:13-14

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all my iniquities; who heals all my diseases; who redeems my life from destruction; who crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies my mouth with good things; so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  Psalms 103:2-5

I will cry unto You LORD in my trouble, and You will save me out of my distresses. You sent Your word, and healed me, and delivered me from my destructions.  Psalms 107:19-20

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.  Psalms 118:17

Thank you Father that Your words are life unto me, and health to all my flesh.  Proverbs 4:22

As I wait upon the LORD I will renew my strength; I will mount up with wings as eagles; I will run, and not be weary; and I will walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Surely You have borne my griefs, and carried my sorrows. You were wounded for my transgressions, You were bruised for my iniquities: the chastisement of my peace was upon You; and with Your stripes I am healed.  Isaiah 53:4-5

Father, Your word says that You will restore health unto me, and You will heal me of my wounds.  Jeremiah 30:17

Thank you Father that you will hasten my recovery and my cure.  Jeremiah 33:6

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:2

If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in me, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken my mortal body by His Spirit that dwells in me.  Romans 8:11

Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree.  Galatians 3:13

Jesus Himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we are healed.  1 Peter 2:24

Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.  Genesis 2:15 NKJV

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  Genesis 2:15 NIV

God expects us to work. He gives us talents and abilities and He requires that we work and use them. Work was not a curse of the fall. Even Adam worked in the Garden of Eden.  Adam had to tend and keep the Garden—to work it and take care of it. In the Garden, his work was fruitful and productive.

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, `You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”  Genesis 3:17-19 NIV

After the fall, the curse was that his work would be fruitless and frustrated. It would require much hard effort and yield negative results—thorns and thistles.

The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.  Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV

Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your

God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 30:9-10 NIV

The blood of Jesus has redeemed us. If we will do things God’s way He will bless the work of our hands and make us exceedingly fruitful and prosperous. Whether we work in the ministry or in a secular occupation, providing for our families and supporting the ministry, God wants us to work and work wisely and well. Then He can bless us. If you do no work—God has nothing to bless! Some people think that being in the ministry and living by faith means sitting at home doing nothing. On the contrary, ministry is work and lots of it, but it sure is a joy and a blessing!

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.  Proverbs 18:9 NIV

If you are a sloppy worker, you are about as much good as a vandal. If you do not do a good job—the best you can do—then you are cheating your boss, cheating your customers and cheating yourself. An unfaithful person cannot be relied upon. Your work should be excellent in quality and quantity. As the saying goes, “God will bless the work of your hands, but He cannot bless the seat of your pants!”

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.  Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Whatever you do—do it to the best of your ability. God does not expect you to do what you cannot do, but He does expect you to do what you can do. Your very best might not be the same as someone else’s best, but that is all that God asks for—your very best. God won’t even be mad at you if you fail at something, as long as you are trying as hard as you can and really doing everything you can.

Even if your paycheck comes from man at the end of the month, you should work as if God is your boss. You should work as if your reward comes from God, not man, because ultimately it does.

Rodney Howard Browne will be at Skyway Church of the West Valley in Goodyear Arizona on Saturday October 11, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. through Monday October 13, 2008. Saints across America are invited to attend this 3 day event.

Join us for

20 days of Power Evangelism at 5 different locations across the city!

All classes will be conducted in English and Spanish

Skyway Church of the West Valley
14900 West Van Buren Street
Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-935-4858

Fountain of Life Christian Fellowship

6052 E Baseline Rd; Suite 137
Mesa, AZ 85206-4803 Phone: 480 219 9443

Church for The Nations

11640 N. 19th Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85260
602-861-0000

Community Church of Joy

21000 N. 75th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308
623-561-0500

Love International Ministries

5201 N. 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
602-242-8644

HOTELS:

Best Western Phoenix Goodyear
55 North Litchfield Road
Goodyear, AZ 85338
(623) 932-3210
Distance from venue: 1.5 miles
Double Bed: $89

Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix-Goodyear
2000 N. Litchfield Road
Goodyear, AZ 85338
(623) 536-1313
Distance from venue: 2.0 miles
Double Bed: $140

Holiday Inn
1188 North Dysart Road
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
(623) 547-1313
Distance from venue: 2.7 miles
Double Bed: $140

Hilton Garden Inn
114600 W Hilton Way
Avondale, AZ 85323
(623) 882-3351
Distance from venue: 4.8 miles
Double Bed: $189

Courtyard-Phoenix W Avondale
1650 N 95th Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85037
(623) 271-7660
Distance from venue: 8.8 miles
Double Bed: $159

ATTENTION PASTORS!
JOIN US AT THE LOCATIONS BELOW
FOR SPECIAL PASTORS’ & LEADERS’ MEETINGS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH @ 10 AM
Skyway Church of the West Valley
14900 West Van Buren Street
Goodyear, Arizona 85338
(623) 935-4858

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH @ 10 AM
Fountain of Life Christian Fellowship
6052 E Baseline Rd; Suite 137
Mesa, AZ 85206-4803
(480) 219-9443

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST @ 10 AM (Translation Available)
Love International Ministries
5201 N. 27th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85017
(602) 242-8644

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2ND @ 10 AM
Church for The Nations
11640 N. 19th Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85029
(602) 861-0000

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2ND @ 10 AM
Community Church of Joy

21000 N. 75th Ave.
Glendale, Arizona 85308
(623) 561-0500

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH @ 1 PM
WITH DR. RODNEY HOWARD-BROWNE
Desert Rose Community Church
4445 W. Olive Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85302
(602) 993-5353

The Seed

Rodney Howard Browne shows that the farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop– thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”Mark 4:14-20 NIV

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that the seed is the word of God and the ground is our heart. The Lord sows the seed of the Word into our heart through the written and the spoken word. The seed is the same seed that is sown into each person. The quality of the seed is never in doubt, but rather it is the condition of our heart that determines the quality of the harvest we reap from that seed. The seed is very, very good, but it must be planted in optimum conditions in order to produce an optimum harvest.

There are four categories of ground, mentioned in Mark 4, that the seed falls on to. They are ground with: no soil, stony soil, thorny soil and good soil. The first heart, which has no soil, is not open to receive the seed of the word of God at all. They hear it, but their hearts are closed and hard and the word doesn’t even get anywhere near their heart. They hear, but they don’t receive. It goes in one ear and out of the other. The devil has already convinced them that the word is unimportant and they don’t need to even pay attention to it. He snatches it away immediately.

The next heart that Jesus mentions has some soil, but it is still very stony - partly hard and partly soft. These people initially hear the word and accept, receive and welcome it – with joy! They like what they hear, but they don’t allow the word to change their heart. They don’t allow the word to take root and become established in their lives. They have merely a superficial grasp of God’s word, but they have not allowed it to impact them. They expect God to do everything for them, but they are not prepared to make a stand for Him. They walk with the Lord for a little while, but when trouble and persecution comes against them because of the fact that they had initially received the word in their lives, they immediately get offended with God and those who brought them the word. They say, “This is not supposed to happen to me. This stuff doesn’t work. I am going back to what I believed before and back to the way I used to live!” They are displeased, indignant and resentful and they stumble and fall away.

The third heart is thorny ground. It does have soil and has no rocks, but it is full of seeds already – unfortunately they are weed seeds. The seed of the word is received into their heart and they allow the word of God to take root in them and to grow up. Everything looks like it is growing just fine, but unless the weeds and their roots are ripped out of the ground, this heart will be in big trouble before long. This person allowed God’s word in to grow up in their heart, but they did not deal with their fleshly and worldly thoughts and desires. They left the roots of sin alone in their hearts and the weeds continued to grow up alongside God’s word. They did not allow God to weed their garden and clean them out so now the weeds choke the good word of God in their lives and it becomes unfruitful – it does not work for them. They allow the worry weed to choke the word that says that God is faithful. The cares and anxieties of the world are more real to them than the provision and protection that God offers.

They drop God’s word like a hot potato to go after the pleasure, delight, false glamour and deceitfulness of riches and the craving and passionate desire for other things. Except they don’t realize that they are pursuing a lie! They become distracted from the truth of God’s word by the pull of the world and all it offers – they allow the world’s voice to ring louder in their ears than God’s voice. They are tempted to go out and go after things the quick and easy way. They think that things will make them happy, but they will never be happy until they do things god’s way. They have not realized what a liar the devil is and that all he can give is pain and misery. They are looking at the beautiful icing on the cake and are tempted to take a bite, not realizing that there are worms chewing on the cake underneath the surface! If they would only lay down their lusts for other things and love God more and serve Him - then He would give them all those things besides – together with peace and joy and contentment!

The bible teaches that the last heart that Jesus mentions has good, well adapted soil. They hear the word, receive it, accept and welcome it. They hear the word, giving it entrance into their lives. They receive it as the truth and believe every word of it. It doesn’t matter what the world says, or what they hear or see, they receive God’s word as the final authority. They accept the word and allow it to change them. They obey the word and allow it to burn out the junk that was there from the past. They welcome the word. The word moves in and is at home permanently in them. When the devil and his lies, pressure and persecution come knocking at the door, they tell him that he is not welcome. Not only do they believe God’s word is true, but they take him at His word. They act on His word and they are doers of His word. God’s word produces good fruit in their lives up to a hundred times as much!

God’s word is good and will produce good fruit in our lives if we will make the adjustments and make our hearts good soil to receive, accept and welcome the living, powerful, fruitful word of God into our lives!

Visit http://www.drrodneyhoward-brown.com

Grace and Truth

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that God offered His salvation to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. God is not a respecter of persons. To whoever believes in Jesus and recognizes Him as the Messiah, Savior and Redeemer, He gives the power - authority, liberty and right - to become the children of God. Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The first time we were born of the flesh into a legacy of sin and death and lack – cut off from God. The second time we are born of the Spirit – made alive unto God with a legacy of life, liberty, divine health and the provision of God.

The Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. You can worship the letter of the Law or you can worship the God of the Law. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6). The Bible calls Jesus “the Word of God”. You can allow the Word to put you into bondage or you can allow it to set you free. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, in the Amplified Bible, says that even if we have plenty of Bible knowledge, we don’t really understand it if we don’t understand the love of God.

The law was given to give men guidelines to live righteously, but at the same time it made men aware that they needed a Savior - because it was not possible to keep the Law in the body of this flesh. As we read the Word of God we must keep in mind God’s great love and grace and mercy and we will come into the freedom God intended for us and not into the bondage of religion. A religious spirit tries to keep you bound, but Jesus came to bring you into the liberty of righteousness, so that you can have boldness to come into the presence of God and you can also have boldness on the Day of Judgment. He gives you the freedom of a life washed in the blood of Jesus and forgiven of all sin and iniquity. Thank God that he sent the Word, Jesus, in the flesh to redeem us and bring us freely into His presence!

Luke 7:36-50(NKJ) 36Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” 40And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Teacher, say it.” 41″There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42″And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45″You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46″You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47″Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” The character of God is wonderfully revealed in this passage as we see Jesus’ response to this “notorious” sinner woman, “a social outcast, devoted to sin” (Amplified Bible). He is eating at the house of a Pharisee called Simon, when this woman of bad reputation walks in with an alabaster box of precious ointment. The last place a sinner woman would willingly go would be to a Pharisees’ house, because it was very likely that she would be stoned! But, she was so desperate for God’s forgiveness, that she was willing to risk censure and even death. Romans 2:4 (NKJ) says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Many sinners long for forgiveness and release from the bondage of their sin, but they are told by the religious leaders that God hates them and that He rejects them. When they find out the true nature and character of God and that He loves accepts and forgives them, they come running to bathe His feet with their tears! The Pharisee began to doubt that Jesus was actually a prophet because he thought that Jesus had not discerned what type of woman she was. In his mind, Jesus, the prophet, should have rejected this woman, but he had the wrong idea about God as many people do. But it is a lie of the devil! Romans 5:8 (NKJ) says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loves sinners—He loves them right into His arms. Jesus Christ did not die for His friends, but for His enemies. He died for the unlovable and the unlovely. The Pharisee, Jesus’ host, did not wash His feet, did not greet Him with a kiss, or even anoint His head with cheap, ordinary oil. But, this sinner woman wet Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed His feet and anointed them with the rare, costly ointment. The woman had faith in the love and forgiveness of Jesus, the Son of God, and she received His mercy and forgiveness. Thank God—He loves us with an everlasting love that has nothing to do with our worthiness, but with His grace and His mercy extended toward us.