Rodney Howard Browne Seeing Jesus.com

TV reports is commonly stuffed with interviews and photos of people that have suffered some unthinkable crisis. One day we see tornado survivors, whose houses were torn to shreds by winds. Another day we may see massive floods sweeping thru a trusting neighborhood. Sometimes, we even see houses that are swallowed full by the earth in awful tremors.

The expressions on the faces of people who have suffered loss can be haunting. These losses always draw our attention toward the fragility of those things we regularly hold most dear, our houses, families, and careers, as an example. We infrequently like these “wake-up calls” that remind us of the basic instability of earthly life. In a world that is shaking apart, followers in Christ Jesus have the concession of sharing the top news possible: there is a thing that is stable, something that is absolutely secure. There’s a rock on which we will stand, and it may not be shaken. That unshakable foundation, naturally, is almighty God. The Lord gives us other immovable truths too. We will be able to trust that His Word is His unwavering, always-relevant truth forever.

We are able to rely on a safe relationship with Him for all perpetuity thru His Son. And we can be certain a heavenly home awaits all those that place their religion in Christ. We may have stability, even in this unstable world. Who in your life desires this life-saving news? Who is drowning around you, desperately needing you to throw a lifeline? Don’t wait; do it today.

All around us is proof that home life is curving downward. There are likely a variety of reasons for this forty-year trend, but many homes suffer as the results of an irresponsible dad refusing to believe the godly position he has been given. Scripture obviously teaches that God has singled out the person to be responsible for the family unit. The Lord loves both man and woman similarly, but He gave to occupy the job of heading the family (Genesis 3:16). Even if a father does not measure up to expectations, he remains the leader because God does not change His mind. A father’s responsibility can be summarized in one word: provision.

He is to see to the physical wishes of his household. Even as importantly, he makes provisions for emotional desires. Some fathers can’t give their families top end cars or fancy homes.

But each father can share his time and love, which works to build the self-esteem of his youngsters. Any kid would select a father’s love, understanding, and support in preference to a home. Naturally, fathers are spiritually responsible too.

It is essentially a person’s job to educate kids to read the Bible and pray. A father must select for his household a church that announces biblical beliefs. The responsibility for religious expansion can’t be delegated to even the most godly other half - God does not accept that excuse. To help with living a godly life, the Lord gives the Holy Spirit to each believer-this includes pas bearing the responsibility of their responsibility. Dads, the Holy Spirit will allow you to be a godly leader.<-->

 

This is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, to all the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and make yourselves at home. Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. 6 Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away. 7 Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare. Pray for Babylon’s well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you.” Jeremiah 29:4-7 The Message Bible

 

A teaching in the word by Rodney Howard Browne

 

First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, 2 For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. 3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, 4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth. 5 For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time.  1 Timothy 2:1-6 AMP

 

Rodney Howard Browne shows us these important points

 

1.     It is the will of God that we pray for our nation and for those in positions of authority. This is for our own welfare and benefit.

a.    Under the unction of the Holy Spirit, Paul exhorts us – he admonishes and urges us – to offer petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all men, beginning with those who are in positions of authority.

b.    When God commands us to pray for something specific – like for our leaders - we should take it personally and hear and obey Him.

c.    Remember - God is in control! He is the one who brings kings up and brings kings down.

d.    Daniel 2:21a says that God, “changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings.” The ERV (Easy to Read Version) says: He gives power to kings, and he takes their power away.

e.    Proverbs 8:15-16 KJV - By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

f.    We have less than 2 weeks – we have to pray for God’s will to be done!

 

2.    God has given us both the authority and the responsibility - we must use it.

a.    Joshua 10:5-14 – many powerful enemies came out against Joshua and the Israelites, but God delivered them into their hands. They needed more time, so Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stand still.

b.    God supernaturally gave the Israelites one whole extra day of sunlight so that they could defeat their enemies.

c.    Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stand still - for a reason – to fight and win the battle!

d.    John 9:4 AMP - We must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while it is daylight; night is coming on, when no man can work. 

e.    The sun is fast setting on the horizon of time – we must have some more daylight for the harvest to come in.

f.    I am convinced that God will grant us a few more hours of daylight to bring in this harvest!

 

Rodney Howard Browne shows us the power of prayer

 

3.    We must press in to pray for America.

a.    Pray for this nation to be shaken.

b.    Pray the Lord of the harvest that He send forth laborers.

c.    Pray for the provision for the laborers to reap the harvest.

 

4.    America MUST have another Great Awakening!

a.    America is not ready for what is coming.

b.    We have got to move quickly!

c.    Zechariah 10:1 AMP – Ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter or spring rain. It is the Lord Who makes lightnings which usher in the rain and give men showers, and grass to everyone in the field.

d.    We, the Church, are living right now in this prophesied season of the latter rain - the spring rain.

e.    You can ask God for rain and He will give it to you.

 

 

Rodney Howard Browne teaches on Self-existence

1. John 5:26 AMP - For even as the Father has life in Himself and is self-existent, so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself and be self-existent.
2. God is the absolute source of all life and being.
3. Colossians 1:17 AMP - And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).
4. He is before all things and by Him all things consist.
5. He is not dependant for being or essence upon any source outside Himself, thus He is self-existent.

Immutability

1. Malachi 3:6a KJV - For I am the Lord, I change not
2. James 1:17 NKJV - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
3. Hebrews 13:8 NKJV - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
4. 1 Kings 8:56 NKJV - Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.
5. Romans 8:38-39 NKJV - For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eternity

1. 1 Timothy 1:17 NKJV - Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
2. Exodus 3:14 KJV - And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
3. Psalms 90:2 NKJV - Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
4. Revelation 1:8 NKJV - “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
5. Revelation 22:13 NKJV - I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
6. 1 John 5:12 NKJV - He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that God is Omnipresent

1. Jeremiah 23:23-24 NKJV - “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.
2. 1 Kings 8:27 NKJV - “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
3. Matthew 28:20b NKJV - And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
4. John 14:16-17 NKJV - And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
5. Everywhere the Church goes, there the Holy Spirit is present.
6. John 16:8 NKJV - And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

Omniscience

1. Psalms 139:1-4 NKJV - O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
2. 2 Kings 4:20-27  
3. Acts 5:1-11
4. Revelation 2:1 – Revelations 3:22
5. Ephesians 1:7-10
6. Ephesians 3:8-11
7. Romans 8:28 NKJV - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Omnipotence

1. Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV - Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
2. There is not a limitation of His power.
3. We see the greatness of His power in His created works.
4. 2 Corinthians 4:18
5. Isaiah 40:15 NKJV - Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.
6. Daniel 4:35
7. Genesis 18:14
8. Ephesians 1:15-23

Sovereignty

1. God is sovereign over angels, principalities and powers, demon spirits and Satan himself.
2. He rules in heaven, on earth and under the earth.   
3. Ephesians 1:4-5 NKJV - Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
4. Revelation 22:17  
5. Matthew 23:37
6. John 5:40
7. John 3:16-17
8. 2 Peter 3:9

Moral Attributes

1. Holiness
2. Leviticus 11:44-45
3. Isaiah 6:1-5 1 Peter 1:13-16
4. Righteousness (Justice)
5. Genesis 18:25 Deuteronomy 32:4
6. Romans 3:22b-26
7. Love (Mercy; Goodness)
8. 1 John 4:8-11
9. 1 John 4:16
10. Deuteronomy 7:6-8
11. Truth
12. His Word is true.
13. He is the only true God.
14. He is faithful to keep all His promises.
15. Titus 1:2a
16. John 1:14
17. John 14:6
18. Romans 3:4

Let’s go on a journey through the Bible, from Genesis to

Revelation, and let’s see how Jesus is portrayed through the Word

of God. 1

 

In Genesis, He is the Seed of the Woman.

In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb.

In Leviticus, He is our High Priest.

In Numbers, He’s our Pillar of Cloud by day and our Pillar of

Fire by night.

 

In Deuteronomy, He is the Prophet like unto Moses.

In Joshua, He is the Captain of our salvation.

In Judges, He is our Lawgiver.

In Ruth, He is our Kinsman Redeemer.

In First and Second Samuel, He’s our Trusted Prophet.

In Kings and Chronicles, He is our Reigning King.

In Ezra, He’s our Faithful Scribe.

In Nehemiah, He’s the Rebuilder of the broken walls.

In Esther, He’s our Advocate.

In Job, He’s our Ever-Living Redeemer.

In Psalms, He is the Lord, our Shepherd, so we shall not want.

In Proverbs, He is our Wisdom.

In Ecclesiastes, He is our Goal!

In the Song of Solomon, He is our Lover and our Bridegroom.

In Isaiah, He’s the Prince of Peace.

In Jeremiah and Lamentations, He is the Weeping Prophet.

In Ezekiel, He’s the Wonderful Four-faced Man.

In Daniel, He’s the Fourth Man in the burning, fiery furnace.

In Hosea, He’s the Eternal Husband, forever married to the

backslider.

 

In Joel, He’s the Baptizer in the Holy Ghost.

In Amos, He’s our Burden-bearer.

In Obadiah, He’s our Savior.

In Jonah, He’s the Great Foreign Missionary.

In Micah, He’s the Messenger with beautiful feet.

In Nahum, He’s our Avenger.

In Habakkuk, He’s the Evangelist pleading for revival.

In Zephaniah, He’s the Lord, mighty to save.

In Haggai, He’s the Restorer of the lost heritage.

In Zechariah, He’s the Fountain springing up with

everlasting life.

 

In Malachi, He’s the Son of Righteousness, rising with healing in

His wings.

 

In Matthew, He’s the Messiah.

In Mark, He’s the Wonder Worker.

In Luke, He’s the Son of Man.

In John, He’s the Son of God.

In Acts, He’s the Holy Ghost, moving among men.

In Romans, He’s the Justifier.

In First and Second Corinthians, He’s the Sanctifier.

In Galatians, He’s the Redeemer from the curse of the law.

In Ephesians, He is the Christ of unsearchable riches.

In Philippians, He’s the God who supplies ALL of our needs.

In Colossians, He’s the fullness of the godhead bodily.

In First and Second Thessalonians, He’s our Soon-coming King.

In First and Second Timothy, He’s the Mediator between God

and man.

 

In Titus, He is the Faithful Pastor.

In Philemon, He’s the Friend of the oppressed.

In Hebrews, He’s the Blood of the everlasting covenant.

In James, He is the Lord who raises the sick.

In First and Second Peter, He’s the Chief Shepherd, who shall

soon appear.

 

In First, Second, and Third John, He is Love.

In Jude, He’s the Lord coming with ten thousand of His saints.

In Revelation, He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

This was when he began to play with the

anointing on his life. It is so dangerous to play with the

anointing of God. He delivered himself into the hands of

the Philistines, then broke the cords easily. He was

mocking them, but in reality, he was setting himself up

for his final undoing. He began to compromise what he

believed. Many people compromise what they believe in

order to be accepted.

 

Samson had a great anointing, but he played the

fool and lost the anointing. Samson got to the place in his

life that he thought he could do anything he wanted and

get away with it. I’m convinced that men of God get to

that place because of what God’s doing in the ministry.

 

Because of the anointing, the signs, the wonders, and the

miracles, they get into the place where they think, I can

do anything I want.

 

And if that’s so for the men and women of God,

how much is it for everyone in the Body of Christ? God

blesses them just a little bit and they get to the place

where they think, I can do whatever I want. No, you

can’t. Your life is not your own. You don’t belong to you.

You belong to the Most High God.

 

Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot,

and went in unto her.

 

And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come

hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for

him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all

night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall

kill him.

 

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight,

and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two

posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put

them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the

top of an hill that is before Hebron.

Judges 16:1-3

 

The Prostitute and the Gates

 

The walls of some of the cities in those days were

so wide, they could ride six or eight chariots on the top of

them. So you can imagine how big the gates of the city

were. This man has just been with a prostitute. He gets up

out of bed, takes the city gates, and walks away with

them. He says, “I’ll show you. You lie in wait for me. I’m

going to take your gates away.”

 

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman

in the valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.

 

And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and

said unto her, Entice him …

Judges 16:4, 5

 

You see that’s what the devil wants to do to you

He wants to entice you. He wants to draw you. He wants

to lure you. He wants to get you to that place of

compromise so that at your weakest time, he can destroy

you.

 

Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth

(find out what the key is), and by what means we may

prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict

him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven

hundred pieces of silver.

Judges 16:5

 

The teaching anointing is different from the

preaching anointing. It is more subdued, but it has a

definite flow to it. You will find that the teaching

anointing carries revelation that causes the listener to see

plainly and clearly what the Spirit of God is saying to the

Church.

 

I am convinced in many circles today that instead

of teaching the simple gospel of the Word of God, men

are complicating the lives of God’s people. Instead of

teaching that brings one into freedom, they preach people

into bondage and tradition.

 

Paul wrote to the Galatian church and said, “O

foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?” (Galatians

3:1). You see, the Judaisers were preaching circumcision

and trying to get the Galatian church back under the law.

Paul said to them, “Having begun in the Spirit, are ye

now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).

 

Keep the Message Simple

 

We must keep the gospel simple to feed the flock

of God, not choke them. Even Psalm 23:2 says, “He

leadeth me beside the still waters.” A true shepherd will

not take his flock to drink in a fast-running brook.

Because of the position of the sheep’s nostrils, the sheep

would drown. The shepherd cuts a U shape in the bank of

the river and allows the water to run into it. The sheep

can drink from the still water.

 

So it is in the church. Whenever the Word of God

is taught with simplicity, then God’s people will be set

free and they will grow into maturity. There are some

things that we can be dogmatic on such as basic Bible

doctrines, the absolutes of God’s Word. But we cannot

and should not be dogmatic concerning the non-absolutes

of God’s Word.

 

In Africa, one of the animals that roams freely is

the giraffe. The giraffe is known for its long neck. It has

the ability to feed upon the leaves up high in the tall trees.

The smaller animals, such as the little deer, cannot reach

these tall trees and so have to eat on the ground.

Starving Sheep and Constipated Shepherds

Many ministers are feeding giraffes while the

little deer are starving because they do not have the

ability to reach the food. They do not even understand

what is being preached.

 

I am disturbed by the fact that many people do not

understand what is being preached from the pulpits of the

land. They will sit in their pews and think, I don’t know

what he’s talking about.

 

Then they observe others taking notes and they

think to themselves, Well, they understand what he’s

talking about. I know I don’t, but then I have always been

slow in understanding certain things. But they should

realize that the person taking notes didn’t know what he

was talking about either and was probably writing a note

to a friend. If the truth were known, the preacher doesn’t

know what he’s talking about himself.

 

Let’s get back to the simplicity of preaching the

gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ so that the sheep may be

fed. You know, God’s Word is so simple, you need an

idiot to help you misunderstand it.

 

There Is an Anointing to Heal

 

We have to understand that there is an anointing

to heal. The scripture says in Acts 10:38, “How God

anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and

power: who went about doing good, and healing all that

were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him,”

The anointing is the presence of God. We know

that in His presence is the fullness of joy and so in His

presence is healing divine. In His presence there is no

lack.

The Bible says it’s the goodness of God that leads

us to repentance (Romans 2:4). I think repentance has

become a bad word today. If you talk about repenting in

the church you’d think you’d just cussed. Some people

will bawl crocodile tears and say, Oh, I’m so sorry. I’ll

never do it again, Brother Rodney Howard Browne,

I’ll never do it again.”

 

You pray with them and they go right out the door and do it

again. They didn’t repent!

 

Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come

to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”

(John 6:37).

 

God doesn’t reject you, He accepts you. Yet there are

ministers who thinking they’re John the Baptist

and they want to knock people over the head all the time

and hope that they’re going to come in and get saved.

 

Even an old hog has enough brains to know that if

every time he goes to drink from a water trough, a brick

falls on his head – he shouldn’t drink there anymore. And

people wonder why no one wants to come to church. It’s

because the preacher beats them up.

 

The Bible says it’s the goodness of God that leads

to repentance. The Bible also says, “Whosoever shall call

upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

God will not cast anyone away.

 

You may say, “Brother Rodney, I’ve had it with

that person. I’m as the end of my rope with that person.”

The end of your rope is the beginning of God’s rope.

Where your grace ends, God’s grace begins. Where your

mercy ends, God’s mercy begins. Where your love ends,

the love of God begins.

 

Some Christians are a terrible advertisement for the

Lord Jesus Christ. In actual fat, I wouldn’t send some

Christians to help someone on the brink of suicide. The

man’s standing at the top of a 30-story building about to

jump off. You send some believer there and the man will

take one look at them and say, “That’s it. I thought there

might be hope, but now that I look at his face I know

there’s no hope.”

 

Too many Christians are walking around looking

like a bomb hit them. “I’m saved, Brother Rodney Howard

Browne.” Saved from what?

 

“I’ve been in the Way for forty years.” It’s

time you got out of the way so we can move one.

Some people believe 1 John 1:9 is for the sinner.

 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us

our sins.” That’s not written to the sinner; it’s written to

the Church. If a 40-year-old sinner had to confess his sins,

he’d have a lot of sins to confess. It would take him

another 40 years to confess his sins. It’s for the believer to

confess his sins.

 

God doesn’t find out about your sins when you

confess them. Some people think when they go to God and

say, “Lord, I’ve sinned,” God says, “My, I didn’t know

that.” God is not surprised by your sin. He’s waiting for

you to confess them so He can forgive them.

 

Sin separates. You watch people who were on fire

for God and suddenly they get into an area of deception and

they open themselves up to sin. The devil knocks them in

the head and they go into an area of sin and then they stop

going to church.

 

Romans 10:8, 9 says, “But what saith it? The word

is nigh thee, even in they mouth, and in they heart: that is,

the work of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt

confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe

in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou

shalt be saved.”

 

God wants you to run to Him, not from Him. If you

confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, believe in your

heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

That is what gets us born again.

 

For with the heart man believeth

unto righteousness: and with the mouth

confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture sayeth,

 

Whosoever believeth in him shall not be

ashamed.

 

For there is no difference between

the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord

over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever shall call upon 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, except

they be sent? as it is written, How

beautiful are the feet of them that preach

the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings

of good things!

Romans 10:10-15

 

But as many as received him, to

them gave he power to become the sons of

God

John 1:12

 

God has a plan for your life. Accept Jesus today,

come as you are, and allow Jesus to come into your heart.

 

Pray this prayer right now:

 

Father, I come to You in the precious name of

Jesus. Lord, You said in Your Word that if I confess with

my mouth Jesus is Lord and I believe with my heart that

God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved. So Father, I

confess right now Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior.

Lord Jesus, come into my heart. I repent of all my

sins. Wash me in Your precious blood and cleanse me of

all my sin. I turn my back on the world. I will serve You

from this day onwards. Thank You for changing my life.

Amen.

 

What It Means to be Born Again

 

Foundation Scripture: John 3:16

 

1. Needs to be a greater understanding of the New Birth.

a. 2 Corinthians 5:17

b. A New Creation

c. Colossians 1:13

 

2. My Name is Written Down.

a. Luke 10:17-20

b. Proverbs 14:12

c. Luke 16:19-31

 

3. The New Birth Brings Change.

a. John 3:1-4

b. John 3:5-21

c. 1 Peter 1:23

d. 1 John 3:14

e. Romans 10:8-10

 

Prayer to accept Jesus as Your personal Lord and

Savior;

 

Father, I come to You in the precious Name of Your

Son Jesus. Lord You said in Your Word, that if I confess

with my mouth that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior

and I believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the

dead that I will be saved.

 

I make the decision today to surrender every area of

my life to the lordship of Jesus. Jesus come into my heart take

out the stony heart and put in a heart of flesh. I turn

my back on the world and on sin-I repent and I put my trust

in You-I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I would like to

thank You for dying on the cross for my sin and shedding

 

Your blood for me so that I might be forgiven of my sin.

Thank You that You rose from the dead and that one day

You are coming back for me.

 

I confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh ad

the He is my personal Lord and Savior-thank You Lord

Jesus for saving me. I accept by faith the free gift of

salvation. Amen (so be it).

 

Dear Friend,

If you just prayed that prayer, I would like to

welcome you into the family of God- your sins are forgiven this

is the good news of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

You are now a child of God and you will live with Him

forever. I encourage you to do several things to get to

know Him.

 

1. Read your Bible and pray every day (talk to Jesus about

everything in your life).

 

2. Find a Bible-believing church that believes in the

lordship of Jesus Christ.

 

3. Be around strong believers that will encourage you in

your walk with God and lift you up.

 

4. Tell someone around you of your new- found faith and

joy that only Jesus can bring.

 

5. Use this book and my other books and tapes to help you

in your new walk with God.

So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord.  Acts 3:19 AMP

The root meaning of repentance is: a change of mind (and heart) and purpose. It is deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing, or the like. The only way to repent is to have true godly sorrow. There is a difference between regret and repentance. Some people are sorry for being caught in the act of sin, but are not repentant of the sin itself. Sin is not a weakness, an unfortunate happening, or a mistake. It is a transgression of divine law; any act regarded as such a transgression, especially a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle; any reprehensible or regrettable action, behavior, or lapse. Sin is a personal guilt—each one independently will give an account of his/her own sin.

Iniquity is gross injustice or wickedness. Some people have iniquity in their heart. Deep down on the inside, they desire to commit sin even though they have not yet done it for fear of the humiliation of being caught. Sins of the heart also require repentance. Turn to God. Acknowledge your sin and then confess your sin with godly sorrow and the gift of repentance, which only God can give you. Acts 11:18b says, “Then God has also granted to the gentiles repentance unto life.” 2 Timothy 2:25b says, “…if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.” You repent by believing God’s Word. Jonah 3:5 AMP says, “So the people of Nineveh believed in God and proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth [in penitent mourning], from the greatest of them even to the least of them.”

God’s mercy should never be taken for granted, because some things can never be changed, no matter how sorry you are afterwards. Hebrews 12:16-17 AMP says that Esau sold his birthright for a single meal. “For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears.”

REPENTANCE FOR THE SINNER
1. By the preaching of the Gospel
Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do? 38 And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:37-38 AMP

2. Through the Goodness of God
Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?  Romans 2:4 AMP

3. Remember this very important fact: God’s mercy is extended to ALL
The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9 AMP

REPENTANCE FOR THE BELIEVER
1. Through God’s reproof and chastisement
For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.  Hebrews 12:6 AMP
For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness. 11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].  Hebrews 12:10-11 AMP
Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].  Revelation 3:19 AMP

2. A New Vision of God
I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. 6 Therefore I loathe [my words] and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.  Job 42:5-6 AMP

3. The Loving Reproof of a Brother
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.  2 Timothy 2:24-26 NKJV

THREE FRUITS OF REPENTANCE
1. Acknowledgement and confession of sin

2. Humility - asking God for mercy
But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am!  Luke 18:13 AMP

3. Very, very important – making restitution (or apologizing)
So then Zacchaeus stood up and solemnly declared to the Lord, See, Lord, the half of my goods I [now] give [by way of restoration] to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I [now] restore four times as much.  Luke 19:8 AMP

CONCLUSION
In order to stay in right standing with God, you must maintain a repentant heart toward Him. You must keep your heart humble and have a teachable attitude and a thankful heart. Never be self-righteous. Check your own temperature on a daily basis. Be very careful with whom you associate and whom you allow to influence you. Allow the Word of God to be your guide and the peace of God to reign in your heart. When you sin, confess immediately. Make right, accept the cleansing of the blood, and walk on. In this way, you ensure that your heart is a consistently repentant heart and is always right in the eyes of God

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lesson 27 from Deuteronomy
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 15 verse 19-21

Offering of the Firstlings

All the firstling males that are born of your herd and flock you shall set apart for the Lord your God; you shall do no work with the firstling of your herd, nor shear the firstling of your flock. 20 You shall eat it before the Lord your God annually in the place [for worship] which the Lord shall choose, you and your household. 21 But if it has any blemish, if it is lame, blind, or has any bad blemish whatsoever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.  Deuteronomy 15:19-21 AMP

1.  It is very important to God that His people set aside and bring the firstling of their flocks and herds to Him

a. They had to be firstlings – the firstborn of the flock  
b. It took faith to bring the firstling – you had to believe that there would be a “secondling”, a “thirdling”,
    and a “fourthling”, etc.
c. This firstling was to be set aside ahead of time and then brought to the place of worship
d. It was sacrificed to the Lord at the place of worship and then eaten in His presence
e. The firstling could not be lame or blind – it had to have no blemish or imperfection whatsoever
f. It would need to be carefully inspected
g. If something is inspected, it means that it has to be considered and carefully looked at - with much
    contemplation and thought – rather than something brought haphazardly or as a mere afterthought

2.  Even though this command was given under the Old Covenant, why would we – under the New – assume that we are free to dishonor God by giving to Him any other way?

a. Maybe we don’t raise animals - but we do earn a living – we must bring the Lord the “firstling” – right
    off the top
b. We honor God by putting Him first, rather than last in our priorities
c. We should set aside our offering with much thought, contemplation and inspection - and then bring it to
    His house as an act of worship - to honor Him for His goodness, His mercy, His grace, His loving
    kindness, and all of His bountiful blessings
d. If we really respect a person – a man or woman - and we really want to bless them, we will do
    something to honor them, such as bringing a gift that reflects our gratitude and appreciation
e. It is extremely appropriate – and in some cases, expected – that you bring a gift when you are meeting
    someone very important
f. Your gift sends a message. For instance, we give gifts to our husband, wife, family, or friends, on
    birthdays, or anniversaries, or other special occasions, that reflect how much we think of them
g. They would be offended if we forgot to bring something or if we gave an inferior gift
h. What about our Heavenly Father? Is He not more important - is He not more precious to us - than any
    mortal man? We expect His generous, abundant, timely blessings on us and so we should also honor
    Him in kind

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
Isaiah 43:22-25 AMP says, “You have not called upon Me [much less toiled for Me], O Jacob; but you have been weary of Me, O Israel! You have not brought Me your sheep and goats for burnt offerings, or honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not required you to serve with an offering or treated you as a slave by demanding tribute or wearied you with offering incense. You have not bought Me sweet cane with money, or satiated Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have only burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities. I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
Is this you? Have you taken advantage of God’s grace and generosity? Have you offered God nothing but your sins and iniquities? Have you done nothing but burden Him and weary Him? If so, it’s time for a change. It’s time to make up your mind to start to please God and bless Him with your obedience and your blemish-free firstlings!

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
Everything we have comes from God. Nothing we have comes from ourselves. He loves us – we love Him. He blesses us – we bless Him. It amazes me how many people expect the blessing of the Lord in their lives and yet the Kingdom of God is neither their priority nor their concern. When we make the Kingdom of God our priority - when we put God’s house first and bless and honor Him – then He will bless and honor us. Let’s honor God by bringing our first and our best – not the last or the lame or the blind.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I honor You with my firstlings and I honor You with the best that I have. I will obey You and bless You, because everything I have is Yours.