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

Foundation Scriptures

Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14  Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign:  Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us ).

Luke chapter 7 verses 10 & 11  And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again.  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a great throng accompanied Him.

1 John chapter 3 verse 8  But he who commits sin (who practices evildoing) is of the devil (takes his character from the evil one), for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil (has done).

It is a historical fact that Jesus was born.  What scholars dispute is whether He was all God or all man or part God and part man.  We know, from the Bible, that He was God manifest in the flesh.  He is completely God and completely man.

Think about this:  His birth, life, death and resurrection have affected the earth like none other before or since.  This year is 1996 A.D. – Anno Domini – the year of our Lord!  He was the Word made flesh and dwelt among us.  He affected the timetable of a whole planet – this is not something you can deny or ignore.

Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6  –  For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of Eternity), Prince of Peace.

His name shall be called “Wonderful” because He is so wonderful.  There is none like Him in all the earth.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is so wonderful in His saving, healing and delivering power.  Wonderful in His miraculous virgin birth, wonderful in His sinless life, wonderful in His miracle ministry of signs and wonders.  Wonderful in His conquest of sin, sickness and satan at Calvary.  Wonderful in His supernatural resurrection from the dead.  Wonderful in His present day ministry interceding for us at the Father’s right hand in Heaven.  Wonderful in His power to cleanse and forgive every sin.  Wonderful in His ability to set every captive free.  Wonderful in His grace that heals the broken hearted and breaks every bondage.  He is wonderful because His love reaches out to touch and transform all who will come to Him and call upon His name.

Acts chapter 4 verse 2   –  But many of those who heard the message believer (adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus as the Christ).  And their number grew and came to about 5,000.

This Christmas, reflect again on the goodness of God and the fact that Jesus really is the reason for the season!  As Christians, we have something to shout about and celebrate, because Jesus lives and in Him we live and move and have our being.

Rejoice, child of God, for unto us a son is born, a Savior who is Christ the Lord!

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

MY ABSOLUTES—THE THINGS I CANNOT COMPROMISE
THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Foundation Scriptures: John 1:1-2; John 8:58; John 10:30

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1-2 NKJV

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”  John 8:58 NKJV

I and the Father are One.  John 10:30 AMP

His Virgin Birth.

1. Isaiah 7:14 AMP—Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].
2. Luke 1:26-38—The angel visits Mary
3. Matthew 1:18-23—The angel comes to Joseph in a dream: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

His Sinless Life.

1. Isaiah 53:9 AMP—And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.
2. 1 John 3:5 NKJV—And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
3. Hebrews 7:26-28—Jesus, our perfect High Priest.
4. 1 Peter 2:22 AMP—He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips.

His Miracles.

1. Acts 2:22 AMP—You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and attested to you by God by the mighty works and [the power of performing] wonders and signs which God worked through Him [right] in your midst, as you yourselves know.
2. Acts 10:38 KJV—How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
3. John 2:11
4. John 2:23
5. John 3:1-2
6. John 11:47
7. John 20:30-31 NKJV—And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

His Substitutionary Work at the Cross.

1. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV—For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2. Hebrews 9:28a NKJV—So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.
3. 1 Peter 2:24a NKJV—Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.
4. 1 John 2:2 NKJV—And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
5. 1 John 4:10 NKJV—In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
6. Propitiation: an atonement; to render favorable; favorable, gracious, kind. The earliest recorded form of the word is propitiatorium: the mercy seat, place of atonement.
7. Colossians 1:22 AMP—Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence.
8. Hebrews 2:17 NKJV—Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
9. Romans 4:24b-25—Jesus—betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and raised to secure our justification.
10. 2 Timothy 2:11 AMP—The saying is sure and worthy of confidence: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
11. Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV—He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
12. Revelation 1:5-6—Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

His Bodily Resurrection from the Dead.

1. Matthew 28:5-6 NKJV—But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Luke 24:36-43—Jesus shows Himself alive to His disciples after the resurrection.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4—He was buried, and rose again the third day.
3. Acts 2:23-28—God raised Jesus from the dead, because it was not possible for death to hold Him.

His Exaltation to the Right Hand of God.

1. Acts 1:9-11—This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
2. Acts 2:32-36—Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God.
3. Hebrews 1:1-3—Jesus appointed Heir of all things.
4. Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV—Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Thus has God fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (the Messiah) should undergo ill treatment and be afflicted and suffer.  Acts 3:18 AMP

Jesus suffered and died for us, bearing our sin, shame, sickness, disease, torment and death. The suffering that Jesus bore, in His own body, was necessary for us in order that we would, through Him, escape the suffering of eternal damnation. He rose also from the dead for us, so that we might receive His life.

For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf. 30 So you are engaged in the same conflict which you saw me [wage] and which you now hear to be mine [still].  Philippians 1:29-30 AMP

It is a privilege to live for Christ and a privilege also to suffer on His behalf. Only when you truly treasure His sacrifice made for you, will you realize that it is a privilege, not a shame or a hardship to suffer for Him.

But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; 16 For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.  Acts 9:15-16 AMP

When you truly accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have a revelation of how much He has done for you, in dying for you, and you are now motivated to devote yourself also to fully live for Him. This commitment means that you will also inevitably suffer on His behalf. The suffering you are to bear is not sickness or disease, but it is the suffering of persecution and also the hardships connected with what it takes to preach the Gospel to ALL people, whether it is received or not, so that on That Day none will have an excuse before God. Look at what Paul endured for the sake of the Gospel:

We put no obstruction in anybody’s way [we give no offense in anything], so that no fault may be found and [our] ministry blamed and discredited. 4 But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities,5 In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger; 6 By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love; 7 By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; 8 Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest. 9 [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed; 10 As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.  2 Corinthians 6:3-10 AMP

Are they [ministering] servants of Christ (the Messiah)? I am talking like one beside himself, [but] I am more, with far more extensive and abundant labors, with far more imprisonments, [beaten] with countless stripes, and frequently [at the point of] death. 24 Five times I received from [the hands of] the Jews forty [lashes all] but one; 25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been aboard a ship wrecked at sea; a [whole] night and a day I have spent [adrift] on the deep; 26 Many times on journeys, [exposed to] perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from [my own] nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as believers [but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety]; 27 In toil and hardship, watching often [through sleepless nights], in hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold and exposure and lack of clothing. 28 And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care and anxiety for all the churches!  2 Corinthians 11:23-28 AMP

You can see that Paul did not suffer sickness to glorify God, but he did suffer great opposition, in the spirit and in the flesh, and much persecution.

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).  2 Corinthians 12:10 AMP

We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; 9 We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; 10 Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies.  2 Corinthians 4:8-10 AMP

Because we have Jesus Christ living in our hearts, we will never be totally defeated. In the end the devil never wins. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost always prevail. Whatever the devil intends for harm, the Lord will turn it around for good and frustrate his plans. So take heart – continue to keep your eyes on Him and continue to walk in His joy – you will finish your course, you will run and complete your race and you will win your prize!

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

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.  1 Peter 4:12-14 NKJV

If you are a child of God, submitted to the Spirit, and a doer of the Word of God, you WILL be persecuted for it. REJOICE because you are BLESSED! Reacting in anger, against persecution or opposition, is an indicator that you are not submitted to the Father and you are operating in the flesh, not the Spirit. Fighting back accomplishes nothing – you hurt the devil more by getting people saved, healed and delivered!

In 1 Timothy 4:10, Paul encourages Timothy (and us) to continue to press into the Word, into purity and into God’s will for our lives, because when your hope and trust is fixed on the living God – knowing Him as your Savior, Preserver, Maintainer, and Deliverer – then you are willing and strengthened to continue, despite the pressure to give up before the task is completed. In 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Paul says that the servant of the Lord must be patient, forbearing and willing to suffer wrong in order to continue to preach the Gospel, which has the power to open their eyes to the Truth, so that they come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil. Never just see people doing things – see that it is the devil behind the persecution, because he wants to continue to enslave people. See people as God sees them – God loves them; Jesus died for each and every one of them! You are just the messenger, bringing life and hope to the lost and dying. Don’t fail, by giving up, just because you see only with your natural eyes. See the big picture with your spiritual eyes.

1 Peter 4:16 says that if you are ill-treated and suffer as a Christian, that you should give glory that you are counted worthy to suffer in Jesus’ mighty Name! In Acts 5:41-42 the Church rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer persecution for the sake of His Name and, in spite of the threats, they continued to do exactly what they had been doing – walking in the love of God; preaching, proclaiming and demonstrating the Gospel. Persecution should not result in any other reaction from you than to humble yourself even further and give more responsibility for your life to the Father. Just commit, and continue to commit, your soul – your life – into His hands, because He will NEVER fail you (1 Peter 4:19).

Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. 26 He considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).  Hebrews 11:25-26 AMP

And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,  33 Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions, 34 Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts. 35 [Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. 36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated – 38 [Men] of whom the world was not worthy – roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth. 39 And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, 40 Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].  Hebrews 11:32-40 AMP

Moses and all these great people mentioned above did only this: they despised the shame and the temporary pain of persecutions, suffering and death, for the joy of the rewards of faithfulness that were before them in the presence of their God. The world was indeed not worthy of them! At the end of your life, could your name be added to this list or will you disappear into the obscurity caused by your weakness and fear?

1 Peter 1:5-8 says that you are being guarded – garrisoned – by God’s power through your faith in Him, so you should be exceedingly glad for this reason: that though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, the genuineness of your faith is being tested and as you pass the test, your rewards are piled up waiting for you for the day you finally stand before Jesus’ throne. So continue to rejoice with inexpressible, glorious, and triumphant heavenly joy! So do not fear suffering or persecution for the Gospel’s sake; be strong in faith; be loyally faithful, even unto death (Revelation 2:10). You will receive the Crown of Life handed out by none other than our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself!

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“There [the Lord] made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them, 26 Saying, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do what is right in His sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord Who heals you.”  Exodus 15:25b-26 AMP

“You shall serve the Lord your God; He shall bless your bread and water, and I will take sickness from your midst.” Exodus 23:25 AMP

Father God made a covenant of healing with Israel. This covenant applied also to those who desired or chose to come under this covenant and who committed to its commandments. There are two parts to this covenant: the commands and the promises.

The Commands:

• Diligently hearken to God’s voice
• Do that which is right in His sight
• Give ear to – listen to and obey – His commandments
• Keep all His statutes

The Promises:

• I will put none of these diseases upon you
• I am the Lord Who heals you
• I will take sickness from your midst

This covenant was made a part of the New Covenant, because Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53:4 when He Himself, “took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17).

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”  Isaiah 53: 1-12 KJV

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 NKJV

When you did not know God and were ignorant of His word, you expected that sickness and disease were inevitable. When you became ill, you went to the doctor, or took medicine, or perhaps you just let it have you. Without knowledge of God’s word, most people expect to die of sickness. God says, “No!” He has provided for His obedient children to walk in divine health. For God’s part, He has done all that He can, in Jesus, and simply awaits our response. In order for us to walk in the blessing of this healing promise; this healing covenant; there are four things we must do: 1) familiarize ourselves with God’s promise to us and the conditions attached to the promise (meditate in His word until it becomes real to you); 2) take it personally (believe it’s for you): 3) walk in obedience to the conditions; 4) act on the promise (claim it as yours).

It is not enough for you to sit back and to say that you believe God’s word. You must believe that it is written TO YOU and FOR YOU! You do not need anyone else’s faith or gift. YOU can speak it, act on it and walk in it!

And I have declared that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.  
Exodus 3:17 AMP

Therefore you shall keep all the commandments which I command you today, that you may be strong and go in and possess the land which you go across [the Jordan] to possess.  Deuteronomy 11:8 AMP

When the Lord says that He is going to do something – He WILL do it! However, He needs a man or a woman of faith to take a stand and to trust Him and to obey Him, in order to bring it to pass!

When Moses was getting ready to obey God and take the Israelites into the Promised Land, he sent twelve scouts ahead – one from each tribe into Canaan – to spy out the land. Even though it truly was a land of “milk and honey”, ten of the spies brought a bad and fearful report about the people living there, and only two brought a report of hope and faith in the Word of Almighty God! Joshua and Caleb testified to the Israelites in Numbers 14:7-9 AMP: “The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense and the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not.” The people were so negative and fear-filled at that time, that they reacted angrily to Joshua and Caleb’s faith and even wanted to stone them. Now God was calling Joshua to stand up and finish what Moses started and lead this same nation – albeit the next generation – into their promised land! In the natural, it was a daunting task. Would the people follow Joshua and his faith in God, or would they do what they did to Moses? Joshua had no way of knowing. He needed faith and he needed courage; most of all he needed the Lord’s help in a powerful way, every day! Whatever God has called YOU to do – you are going to need faith and courage to accomplish it!

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. 7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NKJV

And [the Lord] charged Joshua son of Nun, Be strong and courageous and firm, for you shall bring the Israelites into the land which I swore to give them, and I will be with you.  Deuteronomy 31:23 AMP

In Joshua 1:1-9, God gives Joshua his winning strategy:

– Be strong
– Be confident
– Be of good courage
– Do according to the law which Moses commanded you
– Turn not from My words to the right or the left
– This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth
– Meditate on it day and night
– Observe and do according to all that is written in it

This is not just Joshua’s winning formula, but it is mine and yours, too. If we want to see victory and success in our own lives, then we need to do what Joshua did!

First, we need God’s personal plan for our lives. God does have a plan for each of us! We must find out what that plan is and obey God in it.

Secondly, we need to believe that God is for us, not against us. We need to have strong faith in His Word and His promises. We need to throw away all our fear; we need to stand up and be strong, confident, and of good courage. Nothing and no one can stand before us, when God is on our side!

Thirdly, we need to obey God precisely. We must be personally submitted to God’s written Word and we must also obey the Spirit of God, when He directs us. God’s will is His Word! You can only receive and experience the blessings of God when you are in the will of God. Don’t think that you can be rebellious, disobedient to God’s Word, and carnal, and still have the blessing of God on your life! Don’t turn from God’s Word – to the left or the right! We must consistently measure our lives against God’s Word and be making the adjustments to line our heart and life up with His will.

Fourthly, we must spend time in God’s Word to build our faith. Romans 10:17 NKJV says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We can’t be courageous if we don’t have faith in God. We can’t have faith in God if we don’t have God’s Word in us.

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.  Psalm 27:14 AMP

The Lord tells Joshua – if you do these things then:

– You will cause these people to inherit the promised land
– You will prosper wherever you go
– You will make your way prosperous
– You will deal wisely
– You will have good success

Then the Lord reminds Joshua again:

– I’m commanding you
– Be strong
– Be vigorous
– Be very courageous
– Do not be afraid
– Do not be dismayed
– The Lord your God is with you wherever you go!

When you absolutely trust and obey God, and DO what He tells you to do, then you are going to be successful! And God WILL be with you wherever you go!

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

Foundational scripture:  Isaiah 55:6-11    (KJV)

1. 6         Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near;
2. 7         Let the wicked forsake his way, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
3. 8         For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
4. 9         For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
5. 10       For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thiter, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater;
6. 11       So shall my word be that goeth forth out of mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

So shall My Word be – it shall not return to me void.  It shall accomplish that which I please – it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God’s World never, ever returns to Him void.  Void means empty; vain; without producing any effect; useless.  God’s Word is never empty, vain or useless.  It always produces the result He intended.  Just as the rain and the snow come down to water the earth and cause it to be productive and produce seed and food for us, so God’s word is sent out to be a blessing and to accomplish God’s will and plan.

God never sends His Word without having a plan for it.  The entire universe was created and came into being by the words that God spoke; He never wastes His words.  If He speaks it, it will come to pass!

Jesus was the same way.  Luke 4:32 (AMP) says, “And they were amazed at His teaching, for His word was with authority and ability and weight and power.”

Jesus spent 30 years filling himself with the Word of God.  He had a thorough knowledge of the Word.  He was intimately acquainted with the Word.  Not only was He God in the flesh, being familiar with God’s spoken Word, but also in His humanity, He had an extensive knowledge of the written Word of God.  Even though He was God, He spent His whole human existence immersed in the Word of God.

When He spoke the Word of God, He spoke it with authority and power, because He was in the Word and the Word was in Him.  He knew what the will of God was because He had spent time in God’s Word and in His presence.  He could speak boldly and with results, because He was fully acquainted with God’s will and His plan for man.

Matthew 7:28-29 (NAS)

1. 28       The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching;
2. 29       for He was teaching them as (one) having authority, and not as their scribes.

The scribes could not speak the Word of God with confidence, because they had not spent time in His presence.  We are not as bold as we should be because we have not spent enough time in His presence.

Jesus could speak boldly because He was perfect in every way.  There was no sin in Him that the devil or anyone else could accuse Him of.  He had a clear conscience.  When you have a clear conscience before God, you can speak the Word boldly and see results.

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

Joshua 1:6-9  (NKJ)

6        “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

7        “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

8        “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

9        “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

God has made us many great and precious promises, but we will never see them manifested in our lives unless we gather the courage to act on God’s Word and do those things He commands us to do. Joshua was commanded by God to take the Israelites into the land that God had promised to Abraham. This was not just a case of packing bags and moving to another location. The land was occupied by some other people who had no intention of moving away to make space for Joshua’s people.

Joshua was not the first one called to do this task. Moses was supposed to take the people into the land, but they had been so influenced by their captivity in Egypt that they had no vision and no confidence in their God. While they were in captivity God had heard their whining and begging. Because of the promises He had made and because of Moses’ faith and obedience, He was willing and able to bring them out of Egypt. All they had to do was kill the lamb, put the blood on the doorposts, eat and pack to go. God brought them right to the entrance to the Promised Land, but they missed their opportunity to have the manifestation of God’s promises in their lives, because of their fear and their doubt and unbelief.

In Numbers 13:1-33, Moses sent twelve spies, one from every tribe of Israel, into the land to report on it. They came back with a good report on the condition of the land – “it flows with milk and honey” – but ten of the spies also reported negatively on the people who dwelt there. They said that they were huge and strong and that their cities were walled and great. They spoke their fear into the people. Joshua and Caleb tried to get the people focused back onto God and His promises – that they were well able to overcome their enemies and to take the land – but they would hear none of it.

Because they were too afraid to trust God, they had to endure 40 years in the desert, living from one miracle to another, until they died. Their children, who had been raised on miracles and on the Word of God, as free men without the influence of Egypt, went on to take the land for their possession. Again, Joshua had to remind them to be courageous, as God had reminded him, and to have faith in God, so that they could do what God had promised. It doesn’t matter how courageous you are in an area God has not promised – you will not be successful. However, when God speaks, you might as well put your brave clothes on, because you are going to have to obey God.

The Israelites were successful in taking possession of the land that God had promised to them and their fathers, as they gathered their courage and their confidence in God’s Word and followed Joshua’s brave leadership. God will be on your side as you obey His command. It is not always easy, but you will always prevail, as you swallow down your fear and allow your courage to lead you.

2 Corinthians 2:14  (KJV)

14      Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

The Word of God is the source of your courage and the antidote to your fear and it is God who always causes you to triumph in Christ Jesus.

Don’t speak your fears – speak your courage and your faith.

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

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  John 1:1-4 NKJ

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. I John 5:11-13 NKJ

The word “life” used in these scriptures is the Greek word “zoe”.  Zoe is used in the NT to mean life as a principle and life in the absolute sense. Zoe is life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son, to have in Himself, Zoe is “life intensive”. Zoe continually expresses all of the highest and best, which the saints possess in God. Jesus was zoe manifested in the world. Man was cut off from that life in the fall and became a stranger to it. Adam was acquainted with this God-kind of life before the knowledge of sin entered his heart resulting in him becoming more acquainted with death than life. In the fall, man was cut off from God, who is the source of all zoe life.

However, man became a partaker once again of this wonderful life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Author of life to everyone who trusts in Him. Jesus is the life of every believer and the life that He gives He also maintains and sustains. The word “life” refers to more than physical existence. It refers to the spiritual life that results from man’s relationship with God. Eternal life means more than eternal existence. Eternal life refers to eternal fellowship with God. Eternal life is the highest quality of life you can have. According to the apostle Paul, eternal life is freedom from sin, holiness, and a positive relationship with God. Before we knew God’s Zoë life we were in a state of spiritual death – cut off from the life of God – which results from a life of sin.

Eternal life belongs to every believer right now, because of his or her relationship with Christ. You are not waiting to become a partaker of life as God knows it – you have it as your possession now. We have this hope and look forward to this life filling up and changing our bodies when we receive our glorified body as Jesus did when He was resurrected from the dead.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV

The “life” that Jesus laid down is the Greek word “psuche” Besides its meanings, “heart, mind, soul,” this word denotes “life” in two chief respects. It means “breath of life” or the “natural life” and “the seat of personality”. Generally speaking, psuche means “the individual life” or the “living being”, while zoe is the life of that being. Jesus, Good Shepherd, laid down His life (psuche) for the sheep so that they can have life (zoe) and have it in abundance.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 NKJ

We can life the “high” life – God’s higher life – if we our life in God and for God. God does not only remove the curse and the fear of death and separation from God from us, but He actually gives us His life. Life as He lives it! We can live our lives – not just barely making it – but we can live in the abundance of peace and joy and blessing that He lives and walks in.

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

For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 AMP

As humans, we live on this earth in the realm of the flesh. We function in the sense realm through our five physical senses – touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. But we must remember that there is also a spirit realm and we must learn to be aware of and sensitive to the things of God like we already are to the things of the world. Although this earth realm is our reality, the battles we fight are spiritual battles. We must remember that people themselves are not our enemies – the devil is the enemy. However, we have the advantage – God is on our side! He gives us spiritual weapons to deal with a spiritual foe.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (NAS) says, “for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses”. Our weapons are divinely powerful – the weight of heaven is behind us – resulting in the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. We cannot war in our own ability, but we war in the power and might of the Holy Spirit, because the fortresses, or strongholds, that we wage war against are not in the flesh or up in the air somewhere – they are found in the minds of people! The battle arena for the spirits of men is the soul – the mind, the emotions and the intellect. Only God’s word and His Spirit can penetrate the darkness of a blind mind.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NIV

The devil – referred to here as the god of this age – has blinded the minds of many people with his lies and corruption. They think that they know the truth and they think that they are right, but they cannot see the truth and they refuse to see the truth. The fortresses and strongholds in people’s minds are arguments, theories, reasoning, attitudes, opinions and imaginations that oppose the true knowledge of God. Because of pride and arrogance, people believe a lie and in their minds, set themselves against the truth. God’s word is the truth and it is the only reality. Anything else is a lie and will lead you into darkness, confusion and destruction.

Either God or the devil is holding every person’s thoughts and purposes captive. We fight a battle to capture our own thoughts and purposes and the thoughts and purposes of others with the word of God and the Spirit of God. Instead of thoughts being held captive by the devil – we capture them for Jesus. We must cast down vain imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Our thoughts and motivation must be lead captive into the obedience of Christ – the Anointed One. The anointing will capture your mind and heart if you will allow him to work freely in you. Don’t allow your thoughts to run wild – reign them in and control them with the word and the anointing. If you wish to succeed in your life you must control your thoughts – you don’t let them control you.

But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  2 Corinthians 3:14-18 NKJ

The light of God’s word will shine in to bring truth and life and freedom into our lives. When we receive the truth of the Gospel, the veil that was on our heart is removed in Christ. We can now receive the truth and we can begin to understand God’s word and come to know His heart for us. Just as God’s word and His anointing have transformed us, so they will transform others. Always be bold to preach the truth of the Gospel and to allow the anointing of the Holy Ghost to flow through you so that the strongholds that hold people prisoner may be brought down, demolished and destroyed. So that they may walk in the liberty Jesus purchased with His blood and so that they may be transformed into His image, from glory to glory.