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

Foundation Scriptures: Psalms 139:1-16 Vs.1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. Vs. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Vs. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Vs. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. Vs. 5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Vs. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

 Vs. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Vs. 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Vs. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, Vs. 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Vs. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” Vs. 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

 Vs. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Vs. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Vs. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Vs. 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

 Sometimes we feel as if God is so far from us that He does not hear us or care, but that is a lie from hell. God always hears us. He knows us even better than we know ourselves. There is nowhere that we can go to hide from Him because He is everywhere—in the darkness, in the light, in the heavens, on the earth and under it! We cannot escape His eyes, or His ears, or His love, or His care. God sees into the darkness as if it were daylight.

God made and formed us in our mother’s womb. In fact, He knew everything about us before we were even conceived. The miracle of birth is indeed that—a miracle. It is very hard to hold onto evolutionary beliefs as you wonder at the miracle of your newborn baby. How could something so perfect and marvelous be a result of chance and a blob of amoebae?

We see an imposing building and we know there was an architect who designed it and a builder who built it. We see an impressive piece of art and we know that an artist somewhere conceived and created it. But the most intricate, specialized creation ever—you and me—some people think just happened by chance. You have to have more “faith” to believe in the evolutionary theories than you need to just believe that there is a Creator and that He did, indeed, create us perfectly—spirit, soul and body.

If God watched over us so carefully as we were forming in our mother’s womb and if He knew our days before we even existed, how much more does He watch over us now! He loves us dearly, cares for us tenderly, and is very near to us all the time. No matter what you feel or see, God is very near to you, watching over you, listening to you, and making your way straight before you. You cannot run away from Him. You might as well surrender and let Him have your life and make something beautiful out of it. He is the Master Planner and He has plans for you!

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

Just because you can’t do it – doesn’t mean I can’t do it.

Just because you can’t see it – doesn’t mean I can’t see it.

Just because you won’t do it – doesn’t mean I won’t do it.

Where you see hopelessness – I see hope.

Where you see lack – I see supernatural provision.

Where you see barriers – I see bridges.

Where you see weakness – I see God’s strength.

Where you see darkness – I see a light shining.

Where you see hindrances – I see God’s favor.

Where you see no way – I see a path.

Where you see desert – I see a river of life.

Where you see fear – I see faith in God.

Where you see sickness – I see healing power.

Where you see man’s limitations – I see God’s unlimited resources.

Where you see the curse – I see God’s abundant blessing.

Where you see sin – I see grace and mercy.

Where you see pain – I see restoration.

Where you see confusion – I see wisdom.

The critic says, “Don’t do anything. Just stand there.”

God says, “Don’t just stand there. Do something.”

God gives the grape.

The critic makes vinegar. The believer makes wine.

2 Corinthians 4:18  (NKJ)

18         while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Ephesians 3:20-21  (NKJ)

20        Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

21         to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   Romans 10:8-17 NKJ

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Doubt and unbelief come from listening to the world’s opinions and ideas and the devil’s lies. Faith means simply ”believing that God will do what He says He will do”. Your faith in God is built on what you know about Him and His plan for you and His will for your life. There is only one place you can go to find what you need to know about God and that is His Word.

Shortly before you were born again, you heard the Word of God and faith rose in your heart. You acted on your faith, believing in your heart that God’s Word was true – that Jesus died for you and that God raised Him from the dead and so you confessed with your mouth that He is your Savior and your Lord and you were transformed. Faith for healing and the blessing of God comes to you the same way – you hear the Word. Your faith is what makes the promise of God as reality in your life. Jesus made this statement regularly, “YOUR faith has made you whole!” At other times He rebuked people for their doubt and unbelief. YOU are the one who chooses to walk either in faith or in doubt.

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them– the children of Israel. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.  Joshua 1:1-3 NKJ

“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. “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.”  Joshua 1:8-9 NKJ

God told Joshua to take the children of Israel across the Jordan because He had given them all the land of Canaan. He told Joshua that He would be with them and would cause them to be victorious over their enemies. Joshua had never fought a battle, never mind led anyone else into battle. He had to use his faith and trust that what God said would be, would be. God gave him some sound advice to build up his faith and give him wisdom. God told Joshua to take the Book of the Law and read it and study it and meditate on it. He needed to get it from his head into his heart. You will never move God’s Word from your head to your heart, unless you meditate on it constantly. It must become part of you so that you see it as your ultimate reality and you believe every word and your faith is established in and on God.

The Hebrew word “meditate” also means to murmur; to ponder; to imagine; to mutter; to roar; to speak; to study; to talk; and to utter. If you want the Word of God to build your faith, you must take time to not only study it, but to speak it out loud to yourself all day. Even if you just take one scripture and mutter it to yourself over and over – the Holy Spirit will cause it to become revelation to you and it will drop down from just being head knowledge into a heart understanding. Knowledge without understanding is not very effective. Faith comes from your heart so you must put God’s Word deep down into your heart.

People want God to just pour faith into them without any effort on their part. Some people wait many years for this to happen, but it never does. God is not going to just douse you in faith. You have to make a decision to fill yourself up with God’s Word and when you do, doubt will never bother you again. You will be saturated in God’s Word and infused with faith in God. So then faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God!

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

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Hebrews 4:12-13 NKJ

The word of God is not just dead words in an old dusty book. It is not man’s ideas or man’s philosophy. It is alive and it is powerful. It is precise and discerning, cutting to the heart of the matter and bringing forth the truth. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. Everything is like an open book to Him. He sees and knows everything – all the way into our hearts and our thoughts. We have no way to lie or cover up because there is nothing to hide behind and no excuses we can make – because we know that He knows and He sees all.

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. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  John 1:1-17 NKJ

Jesus is the Word made flesh. He dwelt among us as one of us. He came from the Father’s presence to bring us grace and truth. In Him is life and this life is the light of men. His light shines the truth into the heart of every man. His light shone in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it. He created the world, but the world did not know Him. He came to His own, but they did not receive Him. Those who did recognize Him and receive Him saw His glory.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.  Hebrews 11:3 NKJ

God created the universe with His words and with the “Word” – Jesus. The worlds we see were created from a world we cannot see. The spirit realm created the natural realm with words.

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  I John 5:7 NKJ

The Father, Jesus (the Word), and the Holy Spirit are one. They always agree. They always say the same thing. God’s will is God’s word. God’s word is His will.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.  1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJ

The word of God is just that – the word of God. It is not the word of man. The word works effectively in those who believe in the power and integrity of the word of God.

I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.  Psalms 138:2 NKJ

God’s name is awesome, but His word is magnified above His name. That is because your name is only as good as your word. You only have a good name when you are a keeper of your word – when you do what you say you will do. That is having integrity – people know that they can trust you because you always do what you say you will do. Your name carries weight. Both sinners and saints will respect you. God always keeps His word. We can trust His word because He always keeps His word. He says what He means and He means what He says.

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

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, `You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, `Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “`Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, `You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, `Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. `These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, `and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, `Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16 NIV

God is calling for laborers to work in His vineyard. He even tells us to pray for laborers in Matthew 9:37-38. “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  There is plenty of harvest waiting to be reaped. The Lord needs more of us to hear and heed the call to be His voice and His hands in the earth today.

We are each a part of the body of Christ. Even though we have differing functions, we are all equally important in the grand scheme of things. We all have a place in this world and it is important that we do what God asks us to do – that we perform our function and meet our responsibilities. We need to forget about who gets paid what and we need to concentrate on pleasing God and doing only what He has asked us to do.

The Lord rewards us for whatever we do that He has asked us to do. He does not judge one ministry as better or more important than another. He rewards us according to our obedience, not according to the size of our ministry. He is not a respecter of persons. Romans 2:11 says that, “there is no partiality with God.”  God is impartial. He treats us all the same. If we labor in His vineyard, He will bless us all the same.

In Matthew 20:11-12, the laborers who were hired first, grumbled against the landowner because, at the end of the day, he paid everyone the same wage even though they had worked all day and others had worked a shorter time. Some of them had only worked for an hour! They had agreed to the wage and had no right to complain. They were envious because the landowner was generous!

We have no right to be envious just because God is generous. God rewards us all the same. As we obediently work to do what He has asked us to do – He will reward us accordingly.

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

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6:12 NIV

The fight of faith is a good fight. A good fight is a fight that you win! It is a good fight for a good cause with a good ending. The only way you lose the fight is if you start in faith and end in doubt and unbelief. Doubt and unbelief are the only things that will defeat you and take you out. As long as you stay in faith, God can work on your behalf. And you know that if God is for you there is no foe – in heaven, on the earth or in hell – that can stand against you!

Faith begins with a confession – a declaration. The day you were born again, you made a declaration before heaven, earth and hell. You said, “I don’t belong to this world anymore. I don’t belong to the devil. I don’t even belong to myself. I belong to Jesus!”

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  Romans 10:8-10 NIV

There is power in your mouth. The words you speak, from a heart that believes, have the power to change your life. All the power you need is in your mouth.

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:20-23 NKJV

God’s word is life to you and healing to your flesh. As you hear His word and as you speak it out of your mouth, it has the power to give life and to heal you – spirit, soul and body.

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.  Proverbs 18:20-21 NIV

This scripture is saying that you will be a partaker of what you are saying. If your stomach is going to be filled with what comes out of your mouth – you better make sure that it is sweet. If you want to be a partaker of life and blessing and health and healing – you better be declaring those good things over yourself and your family!

For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.  Job 22:26-28 NKJV

When you delight yourself in the Lord and when you put your trust in Him and pay your tithes and give your offerings – then you will declare a thing and it will be established and come to pass in your life. Job 22:28 NIV says, “What you decide on will be done.”

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  Mark 11:22-24 NIV

The key to receiving what you need is to first believe and then speak. Speak to the mountain. Declare God’s word to and over your situation. Don’t speak the problem – that is doubt and unbelief. Speak the solution. Speak the answer. Speak God’s word in the present tense. Decree and declare it. Confess that you have it now – because God has already given it to you. Once you have asked God for what you need, once you have spoken His word over the situation – begin to thank God that it is already done. In the Spirit it is done. You must thank and praise Him with your lips until the answer gets to you!

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

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. 25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment; 28 for she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” 31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” 35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat. Mark 5:21-43 NKJV

As we study the gospels, it becomes evident that there were certain individuals who received their miracle, or their healing, or their need met because they placed a demand on the anointing on the life of Jesus. In John 21:25 NIV, John says that, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Jesus did many miracles, but the Holy Spirit prompted the writers of the Gospels to record only certain ones. I believe that these examples were permanently recorded for us so that as we read the Word, our faith is stirred up for our miracle and so that we will place a demand on the anointing and in so doing, receive our miracle as well.

Besides the woman with the issue of blood, who placed a demand on the anointing by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment and Jairus, who was convinced that his daughter would be healed if Jesus laid His hands on her, some of the people who placed a demand on the anointing were:

The wise men, who followed the star to worship Jesus and to bring Him an offering (Matt 2:1-12); blind Bartimaeus, who cried out loudly to Jesus for mercy so that he could receive his sight (Mark 10:46-52); the centurion, who believed that all Jesus had to do was to speak the Word and his servant would be healed (Matt 8:5-13); the four men, who ripped up a roof to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus (Mark 2:3-12); the Syro-Phoenician woman, who was convinced that the crumbs from the children’s bread were enough for the deliverance of her daughter (Mark 7:24-30); the ten lepers, calling for mercy, to be healed and cleansed and the one grateful leper who was made whole (Luke 17:11-19), little Zacchaeus the tax-collector, who climbed up a tree to see Jesus and Jesus and salvation both came to his house (Luke 19:1-10).

Although they were different kinds of people with very different needs, they had their own breakthrough because of something they had in common – they all placed a demand on the anointing. Placing a demand on the anointing will cause you to enter into the realm of the miraculous. Adonica and I would like to encourage you in this – that every time you come to The River you come hungry and thirsty, always placing a demand on the anointing. If you will do this, we believe that your needs and the needs of your family will be supernaturally met. We want you to know that we love you and we are placing a demand on the anointing for ourselves and for you as well.

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

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had left him, Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your posterity forever. 16 And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the land, the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.  Genesis 13:14-17 AMP

When God chose Abram and set him aside, bringing him out of his own land and away from his family, he brought him to the land of Canaan. God told him to look north, south, east and west because He had already given all this land to him and his posterity – his descendants. God made acovenant promise to give this land to Abram and his posterity.

When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram, and a horror (a terror, a shuddering fear) of great darkness assailed and oppressed him. 13 And [God] said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs [Egypt], and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years. 14 But I will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 And you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old (hoary) age. 16 And in the fourth generation they [your descendants] shall come back here [to Canaan] again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full and complete.  Genesis 15:12-16 AMP

God prophesied to Abram about events that would take place for hundreds of years after his death – his descendants would not go straight into Canaan, but they would take a little detour. Before the time came to go in and possess the land, they would multiply in number, they would become slaves, God would judge the nation who oppressed them, He would bring them out with great possessions and in the fourth generation they would come back to Canaan again.

He says something significant at this time – Abram’s descendants had to wait a while before they went in to take possession of their promised land because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full and complete.”

Know therefore this day that the Lord your God is He Who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall dispossess them and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you. 4 Do not say in your [mind and] heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out from before you, It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land–whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. 5 Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your [minds and] hearts do you go to possess their land; but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out before you, and that He may fulfill the promise which the Lord swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6Know therefore that the Lord your God does not give you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a hard and stubborn people. 7[Earnestly] remember and forget not how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.  Deuteronomy 9:3-7 AMP

God did not drive all these nations out before Israel because Israel was righteous and upright – because they were hard, stubborn and rebellious – He drove these nations out because of their own wickedness and because of His covenant promise to Abram. God drove the Amorites out because their iniquity was now full and complete!

What can we learn from this? The Word of God says that He rains on the just and the unjust. God loves every man and every woman from every nation. There is not one nation better than another. He gives every one of us an opportunity to choose righteousness and be blessed or to choose unrighteousness and be cursed. Every one of us, as individuals and as nations and peoples, must humble our hearts before the Lord. We must realize that He has a plan for our lives and He has awesome things prepared for every one of us – blessings that exceed our expectations – if we will submit ourselves to Him and allow Him to direct our path and lead us in the way.

God’s blessing does not come from your own hand or worthiness, but it comes by His grace as we exalt Him in our lives, as we give Him place and as we stand on the promises He has made.

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

Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled). 32 And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentiles as well as Jews] to Myself.  John 12:31-32 AMP

Adam, in the garden, was given authority over the earth and everything in it. When the devil succeeded in deceiving Adam and Eve, he took this authority away from them. God told him that he should not get too comfortable, because the seed of the woman would bruise his head – representing his authority – and he would bruise His heel – representing the physical battering that the seed would endure. Jesus was this Seed. Jesus died and rose again and in the process, bruised the devil’s head, stripping him of his authority over all those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Men would turn from the devil and his influence and turn to Jesus. He plundered hell to populate heaven!

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ( unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. 18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation–he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]   John 3:16-18 AMP

God gave Jesus the right and ability to judge all men, but Jesus loves us so much that He chose to save the world and not to judge, to reject, to condemn, or to pass sentence on the world. He came to give every one of us an opportunity to miss hell and make heaven. You can see how much He loves us by the way He forgave those who crucified Him, and He even asked God not to lay this sin to their account. What we need to realize is that you don’t have to die before God decides whether you go to heaven or hell. That is already decided. Judgment has already been passed on every man. If you have not received Jesus – if you have rejected Him – you are already destined for hell. The only one who can change your eternal destiny is you!

If you want to make heaven your ultimate destination, then you must hear the words of Jesus and you must make a decision to believe them, receive them, and act on them. Jesus took the punishment that you deserved and when you realize this, believe it, and accept that it was done for you, personally, in the courts of heaven, you are acquitted of all your sin. Judgment ceases instantly. You will never again be judged – even after you die. You are made safe and sound in Jesus. You need never be afraid to die again. Those who have already accepted Jesus, already have eternal life now. Eternity lives in their hearts. They have passed from death into life.

The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. 20 For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved. 21 But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are–wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence upon Him].  John 3:19-21 AMP

Jesus came to shine His light into every heart. The way every person responds to Him is an indication of what is in their heart already. You will either want to be free from sin and will welcome Jesus or you will embrace sin and wrongdoing and reject Jesus. You are the one who chooses your judgment – not God.

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.  John 5:24 AMP