“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

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

Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].  2 Corinthians 5:9-10 AMP

Nothing that you do here on earth goes unnoticed in eternity. You may think that you can sin and get away with it, or maybe you did a good thing and you think that no one took notice of it. However, at the judgment seat of Christ, everything you did – good and bad – will be revealed and exposed. The judgment seat of Christ is a judgment seat for believers.

So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his [due] commendation from God.  1 Corinthians 4:5 AMP

Every one will be judged and receive his or her pay according to what they did – good or evil – and according to their purpose and motive in doing it. You will be judged according what you have achieved, what you have been busy with, and what you gave your attention to accomplishing. So it makes sense that we should all take a good hard look at our own heart, attitude, motives and works and judge them know. Then we can make the necessary adjustments so that on the day when all is revealed, we are not ashamed over anything that we have done on earth.

For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it. 11 For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law. 12 So speak and so act as [people should] who are to be judged under the law of liberty [the moral instruction given by Christ, especially about love]. 13 For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment.  James 2:10-13 AMP

If you are a Christian, you are no longer subject to the Law – you have been redeemed from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). Your focus is not on keeping the Law itself, but rather on walking in the love of God toward all men, because love fulfills the law – if you walk in the love, you will not transgress the Law (Romans 13:10). So you should speak and act like people who are to be judged under the law of liberty – the law that commands us to walk in the love of God. If you are merciful, you will receive mercy, but if you are hard and judgmental toward your brothers and sisters, then you will be shown no mercy either. So, in a sense, you are the one who chooses the measure of judgment that you will receive. You would be smart to start showing as much mercy as you can!

None of us lives to himself [but to the Lord], and none of us dies to himself [but to the Lord, for] 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. 12 And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. 13 Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.  Romans 14:7-13 AMP

None of us lives or dies to himself, but we live and die as unto the Lord – whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. With that in mind, we should be constantly ambitious and earnestly strive to be pleasing to Him. We please Him when we are kind, considerate and merciful toward each other. If we do this then we will not be ashamed to give an account of ourselves to God when we stand before Him.

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

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.   Romans 8:1 AMP

There is no condemnation – no guilt – for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They are totally forgiven and the record of their sin has been completely wiped out by the blood of Jesus. Jesus bore the punishment of their sin. They are acquitted of any wrongdoing in the high Court of Heaven. There is no more accusation that can legally be brought against them.

Revelations 12:10 says that the devil is the accuser of the brethren. He is also a liar. He does not want you be forgiven or to receive God’s forgiveness. He wants you to be condemned to hell for your sin and if he can’t keep you from being washed in the blood of Jesus, he will try to keep you from the presence of God through guilt and condemnation. He wants you to remain in bondage to sin and guilt. He brings accusation and condemnation and tries to make you think that it is God Who feels that way about you.

However, the Word of God says that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit certainly do not accuse the blood-washed Christian. John 3:17 AMP says that, “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.” Jesus has no desire to condemn you to hell at all – that’s why He was born and that’s why He died – to love you, to accept you, and to save you from death and hell.

Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?  Romans 8:34 AMP

Jesus is at the right hand of God right now interceding for you, standing in the gap for you, asking – pleading – for mercy for you. There is no way He would be condemning you at the same time.

For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.  Romans 8:2 AMP

There are physical laws and spiritual laws. On the earth, there is the law of gravity and the law of lift. Even if you said that you didn’t believe in gravity and jumped off a building to prove it, you would still fall all the way down until the ground suddenly stopped your descent! The law of gravity worked on you. However, there is a law that transcends the law of gravity and that is the law of lift. If you climb into an airplane and start the engines and go fast enough, you will take off and fly through the air. In this case the law of lift transcends and overrides the law of gravity. Only if you run out of gas or if something goes wrong with the plane, that compromises the law of lift, will the law of law of gravity then take over, once again, and the airplane will make sudden and unfortunate contact with the ground.

In the same way, the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus transcends and overrides the law of sin and of death. The law of sin and death is in operation on the earth. However, Jesus holds the keys to death and hell and the law of the Spirit of life overrides the law of sin and death in the lives of all those who believe in Jesus and have received His eternal life and who obey His commandments.

But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].  Romans 8:10 AMP

When Jesus lives in you, even though your body has the law of death at work in it, the law of life is operating in your spirit and your spirit is alive. Your spirit will never die, never be separated from the presence of God. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and you have eternal life living and working in your spirit right now.

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.  2 Corinthians 4:16 AMP

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

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP

Fear does not come from God. God is the author of love and of faith, which go hand in hand. The Bible says that God has given us a spirit of love. There is no fear in love.

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:14-18 NIV

We know and rely on the love God has for us. As we live in God and He lives in us, His love is made complete in us. Perfect love casts out fear. The more we become aware of how much God loves us, the less we fear punishment and death. If we don’t fear death, if we don’t fear God, if we don’t fear His wrath, then what else is there to fear? When we are confident in God’s love, we are also confident in His hand upon us—His hand of protection and provision. We have nothing to fear from man or beast, because we know—we have a revelation—that God is on our side at all times and in all things. We can go forward confidently—fearing nothing and no one!

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:38-39 NIV

Faith pleases God—fear does not! God is not pleased with the fearful, faithless person. Those who have no faith cannot be His, because the only way to come to God is to come in faith. If you are His, it is because you have faith in Him. God wants you to know Him—His nature and His character—that He IS and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. It pleases God when you have faith in Him and when you press in to Him—believing that He is a rewarder. The whole foundation of your relationship with God is founded on faith in Him, confidence in His Word, and an expectation of receiving the rewards He has promised.

The righteous live by faith! The righteous are righteous because of their faith! They have met God; they know God; they have come to know His nature and His character; they know how much He loves them; they know how much He has done for them and how much He has promised to do for Him. They have the absolute confidence in their Heavenly Father that a young child has in their loving, caring, earthly father. Our Heavenly Father wants us to know how kind and loving He is. Anyone who believes otherwise does not know Him and, therefore, is not one of His children.

Those who shrink back in fear do so because they have no faith in God and no knowledge of Who He is. God is not pleased with those who shrink back in fear, but He is pleased with those who believe, because it is this very belief that is your salvation.

In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). Ephesians 3:12 AMP

Because of Jesus; because He loves you; because of what He has done for you; because you trust Him; you have no reason to be afraid of the Father. It is the Father Who sent the Son to die and be raised up again to bring you and me into a relationship with Him. He initiated the relationship and the fellowship. He is the One Who desires to bless us. Because of Jesus, when you come into God’s presence to speak to Him, you do not expect Him to punish you, but you expect Him to receive you, hear you, answer you, and bless you. The more you know of God’s love for you, the more confident you become in that love and the more confident you become in your everyday life.

Fear has no place in your life. Because you have faith in God, your Father, you have confidence to go forth and do His will and live your life in faith and in peace!

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

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

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

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

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

The best way to avoid sexual sin is to stay away from the source and cause of it. Protect your eyes and ears. Don’t even think that you can look at it and be okay. The battle between good and evil, sin and righteousness in your life begins in your mind. Guard yourself in this area. Don’t allow ungodly TV channels in your home. Put a blocker on your computer. In order to avoid sinning, you have to be able to control your body, but if you feed your mind pornography and perversion, you can be sure that you are going to have a very hard time preventing your mind and your body from leading you straight into sexual sin! You control your body by keeping your mind on things that are pure. The heathen don’t know God. They don’t feel that there is anything wrong with what they do with their bodies. You are not an ungodly heathen. You know the difference between right and wrong. Don’t follow ungodly people down the path of destruction. You are not ignorant of God’s will for you!

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

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

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

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

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