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

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ “

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:1-11 NKJV

When Jesus was born, Father God put a star in the sky, which led wise men from the East right to the house in Bethlehem where Jesus, Mary and Joseph were living. When they finally arrived at their destination they were so excited to see the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of Lords that they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. The Amplified Bible says that, “they were thrilled with ecstatic joy.”

When they saw Jesus, they fell down and worshiped Him. They opened their treasures and presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were very precious and expensive gifts from a king to a King. In life, when we come into the presence of a king, or a queen, or a president, a prime minister, or anyone else we highly respect, it is considered right and necessary to bring a gift. The gift honors the recipient. We might feel underdressed, inadequate and unprepared if we forget to bring a gift.

There is a common theme in the Bible concerning our giving and it is demonstrated very clearly in this story of Jesus and the wise men. If we love God and if our heart is right with God, we will give generously and cheerfully. We will not have to be forced or coerced, but we will give of our own free will and we will do it joyfully. Our giving is a measure of our love and respect for the Lord.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”  10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV

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

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

Luke 1:67-75 NKJV

Jesus is the light of the world. John was the prophet sent to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John was not the light — he came only as a witness — to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all men might believe. Zacharias, John’s father, had been struck dumb for nine months for not believing the angel who told him that he would be a dad in his old age. When John was born, Zacharias’s mouth was opened. He informed the neighbors and relatives gathered on the eighth day for the child’s dedication, circumcision and naming, that the child’s name would not be called Zacharias, according to the tradition, but he would be called John as the angel had instructed. Then he began to praise God and prophesy about Jesus and how John was anointed and appointed to go before Him and to announce His coming.

This was a great day and time in the history of the world. God was about to fulfill a promise that He had made many years before to Abraham and to establish a covenant that could not be broken. He reminded us of this promised covenant through the ages, since the world began, by the mouths of His prophets. This was a holy covenant — a promise of mercy — that we would be saved and delivered from the hands of our enemies and that we might serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

What a great promise – that we could serve God without fear! If you do not serve God -– you are right to be in fear –- fear for your eternity – fear because the evil one has dominion over you. Even for God’s people, under the Old Testament, there was fear. Men’s sins were only covered, not redeemed. They had to walk very carefully before the Lord. They were not born again into the family of God and they had to struggle with their flesh.

Thank God for His grace and His redemption. Now that Jesus has come, we can enjoy a wonderful new relationship with God. Our salvation is not in what we can do by our own efforts, but it is in the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. All we have to do is surrender to His mercy for it is in our self-surrender that we accept this wonderful, priceless blessing. God desires that we should serve Him without fear.

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 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 4:14-19 NKJV

God is love! The Holy Spirit has shed his love abroad in our hearts. His love has been perfected in us. Perfect love casts out fear. Fear involves torment -– expecting judgment and punishment — and the one who is in fear has not been made perfect in love. We love God because He loved us first. When you know that God loves you, you lose your fear. Because love will never harm you – love will always bless you, protect you, and forgive you. It is this love that enables us to come boldly into His presence.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

Even though we have made mistakes, because of His love for us, we can be bold in God’s presence — even on the day of judgment. It is only a man who is innocent, who can have boldness on his judgment day. He is innocent, not because he is perfect, but because he is forgiven. He can serve God without fear!

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

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].  James 5:16b AMP

When a righteous man prays a continued, earnest, heartfelt, prayer, there is a tremendous power that is released – a dynamic active power that effectively goes to work – producing the desired result. If you want our prayers to be answered, there are a few things that you must do to ensure the desired result – you must walk righteously before the Lord, you must pray sincerely and fervently – and very importantly – you must pray according to God’s will.

5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 “Then the one inside answers, `Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  Luke 11:5-13 NIV

Jesus uses many examples of natural principles to help you to understand spiritual principles. In this case, He speaks of a man for whom it is an inconvenience to get out of bed to give his friend the bread he is requesting. He tells him to go away and stop bothering him and his family. However, because the friend persists and does not give up, the man eventually climbs over his sleeping kids, gets out of bed, grabs the bread and gives him the three loaves. He probably asked him if there was anything else he needed, and gave it to him while he was up, because he did not want to get out of bed again.

The spiritual principle here is one of persistent faith – not taking no for an answer. When you pray an “if it be Thy will” prayer, there is no faith involved because there is no expectation of an answer. This is the prayer of a person who wants to take no responsibility for their own destiny – they want God to take the responsibility for everything that happens to them. This is also the prayer of a person who does not want to get their hopes up and then be disappointed, so they don’t even look for a specific answer or result. If it happens – they would be happy. If it doesn’t – they haven’t lost anything. This is not the way the Lord tells you to pray. He tells you to ask and to keep on asking as if you expect an answer!

He even assures you that even as you, as a natural parent, are good to your children and bless them when they ask for something, your Father God is even more wonderful and faithful to answer your specific prayers and requests and give you the good things you asked for.

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, `Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, `Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!'” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:1-8 NIV

If an unjust judge would try a woman’s case and give her justice, just because of her persistence, then how much more will your God, Who loves you, hear you and move on your behalf when you are persistent in your faith. The woman knew that the law was on her side, all she needed was for the judge to do his job. You must know what the Word has promised you and then you must persist in your faith until you receive all that has been promised to you.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12 “Everything is permissible for me”-but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”-but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”-but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”  17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 NIV

“Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me-but I will not be mastered by anything.”  Many of the problems that had arisen in Corinthconcerned their behavior and morals. They were saved, but they needed to realize that some of the behaviors that they were accustomed to were physically, morally and spiritually destructive behaviors and therefore unacceptable for God’s children. Paul spent a lot of time giving them ethical advice in his correspondence with them.

“Everything is permissible”-but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible”-but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.  1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NIV

The main principle Paul teaches is that “all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.” Christians ought to use their freedom for the glory of God and the good of their neighbors, not for not for their own self-advantage. It is not about a bunch of “do’s and don’ts,” but it is a blueprint for a way of life that will produce life, liberty and blessing, not death and destruction.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.  Galatians 5:13-15 NIV

Just because you can do something, does not mean you should do it. Our freedom is tempered and shaped by our love. Love leads the way into godliness and a way of life that brings blessing to our liberty. We are free – not free to sin, but free from sin. We are not free to be selfish, but we are free to love each other.

Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspection [when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock]. 13 Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 Or to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance (punishment, justice) to those who do wrong and to encourage those who do good service. 15 For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons. 16[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God. 17 Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor.  1 Peter 2:11-17 AMP

2 Peter 2:19 NIV says that, “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” We are free from sin and free to worship God and serve Him. If we come into the freedom of the gospel and then use our freedom to excuse our wickedness, we are just putting ourselves back into bondage. You are truly free when you have placed your flesh and carnal appetites under the control of the Holy Spirit and when your only Lord and Master is Jesus.

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

I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah 16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul. 17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. 19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!  Psalms 66:13-20 NKJV

David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He had a deep reverential fear of God and a whole-hearted commitment to his Lord. He put God first and himself second in everything for most of his life. He made some mistakes and some bad decisions, but he also repented immediately when God dealt with him and submitted with humility to the consequences of his actions.

There are always consequences! When you make a decision or a choice, you should be willing and prepared to live with the results of your actions – whether good or bad. Too many people want to eat their cake and still keep it at the same time. People want to make selfish decisions and then they expect God, or their parents, or their teachers, or their boss or their friends, or their spouse, to let them off the hook, bale them out, and save their skin. They want the best of both worlds. They are selfish and they want to have everything go their way – no matter what. This does not work in real life!

People treat God like they treat people – they use Him, lie to Him, take advantage of Him and try to manipulate Him. But you can’t lie to God – He is looking right into your heart – and you will find out that what you dish out will come back to you – on every wave! You cannot escape it. You cannot make a promise to God and then not do it – no matter how pressured you were when you made the promise. Some people wonder why nothing ever works out for them and why God is not blessing them, but they have all these rash promises floating out there that need to be kept. God is waiting for them to do what they said they would do when they were in trouble. If you are afraid of people’s response to you not keeping a promise – what about the Creator’s response?

People call on God – He hears their promise – He rescues them – and now they go merrily on as if a promise was never made. They act like they got themselves out of the predicament they were in and that they did not need God’s help. That is what you are saying when you refuse to acknowledge God with your promised gift. That might seem to work for you for a while, but only until the next lot of trouble you get yourself into. Then who are you going to call? If your car breaks down and you call for a man with a tow truck and then you don’t pay him – you are not going to be able to call on him ever again – at least not until you pay him what you owe him.

Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed — 5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.  Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 NKJV

Some people treat people better than they treat God – they pay their bills because they are afraid of the trouble they will get into if they don’t – but they have no problem owing it to God forever. They have no fear of God and no respect for His kindness. Some people see kindness as a weakness and even though they ask God for His help, they disrespect Him by forgetting their promise. It may seem like you are getting away with not keeping your promise and not paying your vow, but you will be held accountable and you will have to stand and face Almighty God eventually and give an account for your words, together with every other person who ever lived.

It would be better to not open your mouth and utter a rash promise than to promise what you have no intention or ability to fulfill. Think about what you are saying before you make a promise. Make a decision to do as you have promised at your earliest opportunity and do not quit until it is all done! Start paying your vow even before you are out of trouble! If you will pay your vows promptly, and keep your promises exactly, then God will be able to bless you as He loves to do. God is no man’s debtor – He does not owe you anything. He wants to bless you, but He is only able to bless you as you keep your word and do as you have promised to do.

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

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  Revelation 2:1-7 NIV

In the Book of Revelation, John recorded a message to each of seven churches, from Jesus Christ, Himself. The first message was to the Angel of the Church at Ephesus. Ephesus was built near the sea, with a marvelous climate. It was “the Light of Asia.”. Its harbor was crowded with vessels and it had access to the whole interior continent because of the junction of roads which met there. It was wealthy and prosperous. It was even the fashion capital of Asia at that time. In Paul’s time it was the residence of the Roman proconsul and its degenerate citizens would do anything to maintain the favor of Rome.

The civilization of the city was a mix of Greek and Oriental. It was the headquarters of the magical arts and various superstitious. The great temple of Diana, the Oriental, not the Greek divinity, was ranked among the Seven Wonders of the World, and Ephesus was her headquarters. The Asians worshipped her first and the Greeks adopted and accepted her. They considered her the great mother of the gods. She represented the nourishing and replenishing powers of nature. Sexual impurity was normal to their worship and their culture.

Next to Rome, Paul put the most effort into Ephesus – he devoted three years to that city – the center of the circle of churches established by him in Ionia and Phrygia.

Jesus says to the Ephesian church, “I know how hard you have worked and persevered with patience. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, including those who claim to be apostles but are not; that you have tested them and realized that they were false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My Name, and have not grown weary.”

The members of the Ephesian church had been ungodly heathens, but now they were saved and set free. Paul taught them the Word of God and how they ought to live and walk. Over time, they had focused on doing good works, working hard and not tolerating evil in their midst, but they forgot to maintain a close, personal relationship with Jesus, Himself.

Jesus goes on to say, “However, I have somewhat against you. You have forsaken your first love. Remember where you have come from – the height from which you have fallen. Repent and go back to doing what you did at first, when you first fell in love with Me.” He is talking about the first enthusiastic devotion of the Church to her Lord and Savior.

He adds, “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place!” The KJV says that He will, “remove thy candlestick out of his place.” Indeed, its candlestick has been for centuries removed out of his place. Obviously, they did not listen to the warning. This was a center of Christianity and now there are no Christians left there. It is a mass of shapeless ruins, the harbor is a reedy pool, and the marshes are stagnant and full of malarial mosquitoes. There is almost nothing to indicate that this was a once such a wealthy ancient civilization.

Jesus says one more thing to them, “But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” These Nicolaitan heretics were hated and expelled by the Church of Ephesus, but were, unfortunately, tolerated by the Church of Pergamum (Pergamos).

The Nicolaitans were a sect which sprang from Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch, one of the seven deacons of Jerusalem, who perverted the truth of the Word of God, and became the founder of an Antinomian Gnostic sect. They appear to have been characterized by sensuality, seducing Christians to participate in the idolatrous feasts of pagans, and to sexual immorality. The Nicolaitans taught that, in order to master sensuality, one must know the whole range of it by experience. Therefore they abandoned themselves, without reserve, to the lusts of the body, since they believed that it involved only the body and did not touch the spirit. This is not very different from the way some ungodly people behave today! But the scripture tells us that sexual sin is sin against your own body. Sexual impurity definitely negatively affects your spirit and your soul as well as your body.

What can we learn from the Ephesians? Keep the main thing, the main thing. It is good to live a godly life and to keep yourself pure, however, at the same time, do not forget to put JESUS FIRST. Whatever else you do, spend time with Him yourself, walk closely with Him, and allow Him to speak into your life, every day.

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

He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]? 13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely). 14 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers of money, heard all these things [taken together], and they began to sneer at and ridicule and scoff at Him. 15 But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God.  Luke 16:10-15 AMP

The Pharisees, religious leaders, appeared “holy” on the outside, but, in reality, their hearts were far from God. They were covetous and lovers of money, therefore, they were offended at Jesus’ words. They loved mammon more than they loved God.

If you read all of Jesus’ words taken together, you will see that He never says that you cannot have or enjoy material possessions. He does make it abundantly clear that material possessions should not have you!  You cannot serve God and mammon, and every person must make their own choice for God or material possessions. God must be more important to you than your possessions – after all, everything you own is His first. Only when you recognize that your blessing comes from God, and not by your own power alone, can you truly enjoy the things He gives you.

If you pursue God and put Him first in your life, trusting in Him and depending on Him, He will pursue you with blessings. You will not ever need to worry about whether or not you will be taken care of. However, if you put things first in your life, trusting in them and depending on them, you will spend all your time and energy on trying to acquire them and protect them, with no time to just enjoy your life.

Jesus says that if you want the blessing of God on your life, you should be faithful in three areas.

You must be faithful first in small responsibilities

The principles of faithfulness remain the same, whether in a big thing or a small thing. If you are faithful in very little things, you will also be faithful in the bigger things, and if you are dishonest and unjust in very little things, you will also be dishonest and unjust in the bigger things. It is not possible to suddenly be faithful in big things if you have not already been faithful in the small things! You always begin small, therefore, you must be faithful in small things; things that seem little, too easy, insignificant, unimportant, menial, not noticed, not obvious, taken for granted, expected, not valued by others, or “beneath you.” Only then, will you be given responsibility for bigger and more important things.

You must be faithful with money

Who would have thought that the way you handle your money would determine how you handle spiritual things – the true riches? Jesus says that the two are inseparable. You prove that you will be faithful with the things of God – His Word; His call; His anointing; His gifts – by how faithful you are with plain, ordinary money. Covetousness corrupts. If you are covetous, then you will allow your greed and selfishness to determine how you handle the things of God. You will put yourself first and you will manipulate people for your own ends, instead of lovingly serving them as Jesus did. You will do things for a selfish money motive, not allowing the Word of God or the Holy Spirit to lead you. You won’t be submitted to the Lord – you will set your own agenda. How should you show your faithfulness with money? Put God first where your money is concerned. Work, be a giver, be a person of integrity, do not take that which is not yours, and always pay what you owe.

If you want to be a good boss you need to be a good worker

Before you are given your own authority and responsibility you will be asked to take responsibility for that which belongs to another. Only when you have taken responsibility for someone else’s stuff and proven your faithfulness, will you be given your own responsibility and authority. Your integrity and faithfulness is what causes you to be promoted, in due time. The natural realm carries into the Spirit realm. The way you treat another man’s things is an indication of how you will handle God’s things. If you are faithful when you are under authority, it follows that you will be faithful when you are in authority. Even then, any authority you have is given by God and you are still responsible to Him. Every gift, talent, call, and anointing you have is God’s and is given to you for His glory – not yours!

If you make the decision to put God first in your life, before mammon, you will not find it difficult to be faithful in these areas, and you will be rewarded by the Lord in your due season. Remember – nothing you ever do for Him will go unnoticed or unrewarded!

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

Gracious is the Lord, and [rigidly] righteous; yes, our God is merciful.

Psalms 116:5 AMP

The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works. Psalms 145:17 AMP

For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 AMP

Because of religious tradition, men have an erroneous image of God and His nature and character. They assign Him attributes that are way off the mark. In the mind of religious tradition, to be rigidly righteous is to judge sin and condemn and reject sinners – an image of punishment delivered. God may be rigidly righteous in all His ways, but He is also gracious and merciful in all His works. He is gracious and merciful toward those who least deserve it. Most people are not righteous in their ways and yet they feel free to judge others all the time, but God is personally rigidly righteous and yet merciful toward us at the same time!

In these bodies of flesh, we struggle to fully understand who He is and what He does, but if we will submit to His will and accept Him at His word, we can begin to put together a picture of Him, and when we do, we will realize how truly wonderful and precious He is, how great is His love for us, and how little we deserve it. Even though we are unworthy of His mercy, to turn Him down or to turn His gift down; would be nothing short of prideful. Knowing full well that we deserve no grace and no mercy, out of respect for Him, we must accept the gift He offers – the gift of His Son; His blood poured out; the sacrifice of the Innocent for the guilty, the Just for the unjust.

Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. 24[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. 26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 AMP

God demonstrates His righteousness by forgiving, justifying, and accepting as righteous, all those who have faith in Jesus. He did not expect us to keep the Law in order to be saved. He, more than anyone, knew that it was impossible for sinful man to keep the Law. Before He created us, He had a plan to rescue us. Before we sinned and fell from grace, He set in motion the plan to restore us by and to His grace!

But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. 28 And now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming. 29 If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father’s will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [God]. 1 John 2:27-29 AMP

When we receive Jesus, we also receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and thereby the ability to live for Him and to serve Him. We cannot hope to fix ourselves up to be acceptable to Him – we must come as we are and humble ourselves to allow Him to change and transform us from within. Jesus and His anointing change us from the inside out – there is nothing on earth that can change us from the outside in.

His anointing teaches us to abide in Him, live in Him, and never depart from Him. We must be rooted in Him and knit to Him. When we abide in Him, remaining and living permanently in Him, and He in us, we are able to be confident and bold in His presence. When we abide in Him, we will be like Him. We will neither be ashamed to stand before Him nor shrink from Him at His coming. Jesus Christ is absolutely righteous and He conforms completely to the Father’s will in every way – in purpose, thought, and action. You can know for sure that someone is born of God, and one of His children, if they do righteously and are just like Jesus, conformed to God’s divine will in their purpose, thought, and action.

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

At Summer Campmeeting in the Sun Dome in Tampa, July of 1996, Pastor Rick Shelton from St Louis, spoke a word from the Lord to Adonica and myself. The Lord showed Pastor Rick a church in the Sun Dome – our church. At that time we were not interested in starting any church. We were very busy with our traveling ministry, spending approximately 46 weeks of the year on the road. Sometimes we spent as many as 13 weeks in meetings, out on the road, before coming home for a few days off. A church was not in our plan, but it was in God’s plan.

We did not think about it again until we went on a short vacation for our wedding anniversary in the first week of October 1996. The Lord began to deal with me about a Sunday church service. We knew that God wanted us to have an auditorium for some meetings, but we were thinking that we would use it for some revival meetings, from time to time. When the Lord spoke to us about a regular service, we tried to talk Him into a Saturday or a Monday, but He wouldn’t hear of it! The Lord told us, “I want Sundays back!”

We had tens of thousands of people who were touched by our ministry in the central Florida area over the previous three years and many of them were not attending any of the local churches. We knew this because we would bump into them at malls and restaurants on Sundays and we would ask them why they weren’t in church and they would tell us that it was because they could not find a Holy Ghost church. When you have been touched by revival, it is hard to sit in a dead church. The Lord told us, “Go get your babies!” Our “babies” were all the people who had been saved, and all those who had come back to the Lord, under our ministry and who were hungry for God. We did not want people who were already committed to another church, we wanted those who were had been touched by revival and who were hungry for God. There are about 2.5 million people in the Tampa Bay/St Pete/Clearwater area. We need many good churches in Tampa Bay so that we can impact this region with the power of God!

Adonica asked me if we could wait a year to prepare for the role of pastor and I said, “Okay,” but as my feet touched the ground in Tampa when we arrived home, the Lord said to me, “Do it now!” So we did. On the first Sunday in December – December 1, 1996 – we started The River at Tampa Bay. In that first service, we had 575 people!

We did not stop our traveling ministry – we continued to travel during the week – but we made a commitment to not miss one Sunday morning service for the first year. I had to spend two weeks in Hong Kong that year and so I flew back to Tampa on the weekend, halfway through the meetings, to preach at The River and then flew straight back to Hong Kong to preach the second week! We are committed to The River at Tampa Bay! The first year, we had no nursery and no children’s church – the children sat through the services. We wanted everybody to get “Riverized” before they started ministering in the church. We want revival in every part of this ministry and you cannot give what you don’t have. Religion and tradition won’t cut it – we must have the freedom and liberty of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of what we do! By the time we started River Kids Children’s Church, those kids sure knew how to worship God! They were so filled with the Holy Spirit. Even now we encourage the children to enter into God’s presence and allow Him to touch them and fill them, and He does.

We are a local church with a vision to touch the world! Our heart for The River at Tampa Bay is that we would have a church that stays hungry for God and open to the move of the Holy Spirit. We want to see anointed praise and worship, anointed preaching, and anointed demonstrations of the Holy Ghost and power! We do not want to be people pleasers – we want to be God pleasers! In the process, many people have been, are being, and will continue to be powerfully touched and changed by the love of God and the power of God.

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. 19 Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord.  Ephesians 5:15-19 AMP

Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.  Psalms 127:1 AMP

The Lord supernaturally blessed us with our current facility five years ago and as we move into this new phase, preparing to “rise and build,” we ask you, our River Family, to stand with us and lift up our hands. You are not here by accident and neither are we – God has called you here and He has called us here for such a time as this. Together we will do it!

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

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lessons from Genesis

Jacob’s Vow
Foundation Scriptures: Genesis 28:18-22

Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”  Genesis 28:18-22 NKJV

1. Right after Jacob saw the vision of the ladder with the angels ascending and descending, he took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. Then he made a vow to the Lord – with some conditions. He asked this of God:

a. If God will be with me

b. If God will keep me in the way that I go

c. If He will give me bread to eat

d. If He will give me raiment – clothing – to put on

e. So that I come to my father’s house in peace – so that I die content and satisfied; in right-standing with God

2. Then Jacob made his vow. He spelled out his commitment to the Lord and what he promised to do in order to maintain his covenant with Almighty God:

a. He made a sincere, heartfelt, committed vow – a covenant promise that he would keep all of his life

b. Jacob promised God at least one tenth of all He gave him from then on. Jacob felt that if God would do these things for him then the least he could do would be to give God one tenth of his increase!

c. A covenant is a two-way street. God takes you at your word and expects you to take Him at His. When you make a promise or a vow, God acts to empower you to keep your promise. If you do not keep your word after God has kept His, it is like a slap in His face. Jacob kept his vow to God and so, even in the middle of an extreme seven-year famine, he and his family were protected and provided for.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
How many of us really, truly appreciate what God, through Jesus, has done for us? I am sure that if we really believed and understood God’s undying, unconditional, sacrificial love for us, we would do most things very differently. We would be much more committed to God; we would be much more willing and generous in all our dealings with Him; we would be more prompt to obey Him; we would be more grateful for all He has done for us. What do you think that God’s “love language” is? Do you speak His love language? Do you know that God is so thrilled when his kids really love Him and show it? How does God know that you genuinely love Him beyond your lip service? How do you demonstrate your love for God? Do you praise Him with your heart and lips? Do you spend time with Him? Do you obey Him? Do you love your neighbor? Do you tithe? Do you sow financially into His Kingdom? Your tithe is not just supporting the Gospel – your tithe is your covenant promise to God that enables you to remain blessed all the days of your life.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
There is something about a vow that causes God to respond – He responds to genuineness, sincerity and faith. Throughout the scriptures, we see men making various vows to God. We see that God always honored His part and kept His vows, but unfortunately the men who made vows to God did not always keep their vows or honor their part. In our lives, Adonica and I have made several vows to the Lord. We made vows of consecration – I first made this vow when I was young and single. When we were married, we made a covenant vow to God and each other that we would be committed to each other. I made a vow to God at my brother’s death-bed and another one at my daughter’s and I have endeavored with all my heart and might to keep every one of them.

Remember, that anything you ask God for must be something He already promised in His word. Once you make a vow, God watches to see what we will do. If we will keep our word, He will keep His; He will do what we have asked of Him. God will meet us on the basis of our vow. If you have never done this then take a step of faith and make a vow and see what God will do.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I thank you that You honor Your word and that You watch over Your word to perform it. As I make my vows to You and as I purpose, with all my heart, to keep my part I know that you will watch over your word and bring it to pass.