dickbraswell

Word for Today:  October 31

Agape is the God-kind of love.

It is characteristic of God and it is totally self-less.  It is a deliberate assent of the will… it is released by choice.  This kind of love is the underlying characteristic of God and it is this kind of love that is imputed to every believer at the time of Regeneration.  Paul said (in 1 Corinthians 13) that Love (Agape) is more important than:

• Speaking in Tongues
• the Gift of Prophecy
• Understanding (revelation)
• Mountain-moving Faith
• Giving to the poor
• Dying a Martyr

Love is an affection and not an emotion.  Love is a choice.  Love is a decision you make.  Love is deliberate.  Love is active.  Love moves from Word to deed.

• Love is not impatient but, instead, longsuffering.
• Love is not envious of others.
• Love is not self-centered, proud, haughty or puffed up.
• Love is not conceited.
• Love is not rude or crude.
• Love is not touchy or fretful or resentful.
• Love takes no account of the evil done to it.
• Love does not rejoice at the failures of others.
• Love believes the best of every person.
• Love bears up under anything that comes.
• Love endures every hardship without weakening. (1Cor 13 Amp)

The opposite of love is not hate… it is selfishness.  The most important product of the Christian faith is Love.  It has more significance and substance than anything that anyone can do, say or profess.  It is the primary characteristic of our faith and our salvation.  The incredible thing is we can all do this.  We can all choose to love.   It is not restricted to some high level of Christian achievement or some special gift from God.  The God-Kind of love is imputed into every believer and every believer has the privilege of giving it away.  And this One Thing will change everything.

Love never fails

Word for Today:  October 30

The fact is, life does deliver some crushing blows

We need to “get real.”    It is unprofitable for us to live in some dream world where everything always is perfect.  Life is not some Hollywood American Utopia where there is no pain and no disappointment…  The devil is real and the kingdom of darkness is real.

Some of these contradictions that we are unable to understand are aimed at believers as well as unbelievers.  The church is not immune to demonic attacks.  In fact, the purpose and ploy of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy… primarily that and those who are not already “his.”   Therefore, how we react and cope in difficult and trying times is extremely important to the Kingdom of God.

We must understand that the “curse” is far reaching.  Even though the Redemptive Work of Jesus cancelled it for the Believer, its effect and influence are still very active in the natural world.  That’s why we are experiencing war and murder and injustice and abuse….  All manner of wickedness and evil that is contrary to the Kingdom of God.

The world we live in is influenced by principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).  This is a principle that those in the early church were well aware of.  However, the Message that motivated those experiencing the trials and tribulations of such an unfair and unjust environment was a Message of great encouragement.  It declared that even though times were tough, they were Overcomers.

This one of the recurring themes of New Testament Theology and it is a contemporary Message of encouragement to us as well.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  1John 5:4

Word for Today:  October 29

There is only one fool-proof evidence of the New Birth.

Jesus gave this criteria to us in His Word.  This is the one most important characteristic of the Christian Walk.  Nothing is more important than this.  This one demand and one command is basic.  Jesus talked about it more than anything else and He demonstrated it more perfectly than any other man on earth.  He longed to see it in His disciples and He knew that it would be the basis for the New Testament Church.  If the Church is to BE what Jesus died for it to be and if the Church is to DO what He died for it to do, then this one thing is absolutely necessary.

I am convinced that this is the greatest need in this hour.  It is a need for the Church and it is a need for all Evangelical Ministries.  It is perhaps the greatest need in your life as a Believer.  It is not impossible.  It is possible.  It is necessary.  It is vital.  It is fundamental to the continuation of the Gospel on earth.

Jesus called this a “new commandment.”  A new commandment I give unto you…  (John 13:34)  He knew that He was soon to depart and He wanted so desperately for His followers to be adequately equipped to continue His Ministry on earth.  He did not emphasize theology.  He did not emphasize education.  He did not emphasize experience or ability.  He brought attention to the one thing that will guarantee the continued success of the Gospel Message.

He also stated that this would be the one qualifying characteristic that would cause the world to know how we stand with God.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples… (John 13:35)   BY THIS….

This is the one thing that will tell the world where you stand with God.  And this is the greatest thing needed in the world today.

That thing is LOVE

Word for Today:  October 28

Has God ever come to rescue you in the past?

Has He ever gotten there in the “nick of time?”  Just consider the many times He has reached down and picked you up.  Held your hand.  Helped you to your feet again.   Remembering the Faithfulness of God in the past is a great deterrent to discouragement and despair in the present.  IF God was there then, He is there now.  If God was able then, He is able now.

Are you ready for deliverance?  Have you come to the place of casting all your care on Him?  Will you “give up” with your own efforts and trust God Totally?

An experienced mountain climber got caught on the face of a mountain.  He had fallen and dropped to the very end of his life line.  It was dark.  It was beginning to snow and a blizzard was approaching.  He hung on in the blinding snow and in the dark.  He knew he could not survive the night exposed on the mountain side.  He was not really praying man, but he began to pray:  “Dear God, please help me.  Tell me what I must do to be delivered.  Speak to my heart and give me some direction… if you don’t I’m going to die.”

The voice of God spoke to him and said:  “Let Go.”  The climber refused because he was afraid.  He was convinced that if he turned loose he would fall thousands of feet to his death.

They found him the next day hanging on the end of the safety line… frozen to death.  One foot below his dangling feet was a ledge… a ledge large enough for him to find refuge from the storm and deliverance from certain death.

Let Go.  Trust God.

Word for Today:  October 27

_{Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,}

_{Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.   Joshua 1:1-2}

_{Notice what God tells Joshua: “Take possession of what I have given you.”  Every place… I have given unto you…  It is there for you.  I have saved it for you and provided it for you.  It is a land of abundance.  It is a land of plenty.  It is a land of rest and success.  It is a place of healing and health.  It is a land of safety and security.  It is a land of deliverance and protection.”}

_{God has purchased awesome possessions for you through the Blood of His Son, Jesus.  The victory has been won and the prize has been captured.  It is for you and it is for me.} 

_{However, you will never have these possessions until you go over and take them.  They will never benefit you until you make up your mind to get up, go over and take possess them.  By action and by force.}

_{The devil is “squatting” on what is legally yours.  he will stay there and laugh at you until you get up and go over and take it back.  he will homestead on it until you get mad enough, brave enough, faith-filled enough to go in and kick him out.  So, get up, go over}

_{And take it back} 

Word for Today:  October 26

_{God is with you.     What more can you ask?}

 _{If God be for us, who can be against us?  Rom 8:31}

_{The Lord is on my side; I will not fear…” Psa 118:6} 

_{If God is with us what can we fear?  Is anything too hard for God?  Is any devil bigger than God?  Is any sickness impossible for God?  Is any financial situation too bad for God to fix?  Is any marriage out of range for God?  NO!  God is with you.  God will not leave you.  God will not forsake you.  God is in you and He is more than enough!} 

_{No enemy can stand in your way.     No need to fear or be timid.  God says that no man (demon, devil, situation, circumstance, etc.) can stand before you (if they cannot stand, then they have to bow!)  all the days of your life.  How long?  All the days of your life! When you are young and when you are old.  When you are strong and when you are weak.  When you feel bad and when you feel good.} 

 _{Nothing and nobody can stand in your way.  When you are in pursuit of God and God’s will for you… nothing can stop you.  When you choose to live and refuse to die, when you choose Truth and refuse the lie… you connect with God and nothing can stand before you.} 

_{Hell has to move over}

Word for Today:  October 25

_{Be strong and courageous.} 

_{Being strong is a decision you make.  You decide to be strong.  You decide to be weak.  You decide how you are going to be in life.  It is really up to you.  You do not wait to get strong… you “be strong!”  It is a choice and decision you make.} 

_{God is saying to us:  Be strong.  Don’t be weak.  Strong in faith.  Strong in the stand you take.  Strong in the Word.  Strong in your calling.  Paul commands us to “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…”} 

_{You can be strong or you can be weak.  Strong is better!  Strong wards off hell.  Strong defeats the devil.  Strong believes the Truth.  Strong refuses the lie.  Strong never fears.  Strong stands!}  

_{Courageous is Alert, Steadfast, Established, Prevailing, Obstinate…  It is to be “on foot” and alert.  It means to be awake and not asleep! It means to be ready!}

_{Do you have the courage to do something about your situation?  Do you have the courage to challenge hell over your family?  Your marriage?  Your finances?  Your health?  How much courage do you have?  God commands us to be courageous.  Courage is the opposite of fear.  It is boldness and assertiveness.  It is refusing to stand still and watch the devil devour your possessions.  It means to launch an attack!  It means to be aggressive.  It means to be offensive.  It means to run into the battle!}    

_{Do not look at the size of the enemy.}

_{Look at the size of the prize} 

Word for Today:  October 24

The Bottom Line

The sum total of your life is the result of what you have chosen and what you have refused.  And your future will be determined by what you choose and what you refuse.

You are not a “Victim of circumstances” you are a “victim” (or a victor) of the choices you have made and the temptations you have refused.

Everything you are today is the result of choices you have made.  Everything you have today is the result of what you decided to choose and what you decided to refuse.

• Your problems are not the result of your environment.
• Your problems are not the result of your family.
• Your problems are not the result of your ancestry.
• Your problems are not the result of your race.
• Your problems are not the result of your economic situation.
• Your problems are not the result of your lack of education.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:  Deut 30:19

Your problems and “circumstances” are the result of what you decided to choose and what you decided to refuse.   Choose life and blessing.  Refuse death and cursing.

The choice is yours to make

Word for Today:  October 23

Put away the lie.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth…   Eph 4:25

• satan never operates in truth.
• he is a victim of the lie himself.
• he was fooled into believing that he could be equal with God.
• he was deceived into believing that he could rule heaven.
• he is the father of the lie and he is the author of the lie.
• hell is the result of the lie.
• The world system functions by the lie.
• The kosmos is fueled by the lie.
• The fallen human race is cursed by the lie.
• The lie produces death.
• The lie produces misery.
• The lie produces hopelessness.
• The lie causes pain, and defeat.

Every failure is the result of The Lie.  So put it off.  The Lie put Jesus on the Cross.  The Lie put Jesus in the Tomb.  The Lie put Jesus in hell.

The Truth brought Him out!  Just as the Truth produced the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the Truth working in you will produce life.

Overcoming life

Word for Today:  October 22

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… Gal 5:16.

Right living is a decision.  People choose the way they live.  They can determine what they do, what they say and what they yield to.  The devil has no power to make anyone sin.  Sin and sinful living are the results of decisions and choices that are made.

No temptation is irresistible.  No trial is too much or too great or without a way of escape for the Believer. (1Cor 10:13)  The quality of life you are now living is the direct result of decisions you have made.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace…   Rom 8:5-6

In this hour of compromise and moral failure, decide to live right.  Decide to resist the wrong and embrace that which is good, honorable and right.

It takes no courage to drink or pop pills or shoot up.  It takes no talent to be mean, ugly and violent.  But it takes old fashioned backbone and intestinal fortitude to resist the temptations of the flesh and stand for God and what’s right.

If you want to live and not die… choose to live and choose to live right.   Walk in holiness, purity, honor and integrity.  Determine to present your body to God as a living sacrifice.  (Rom 212:1)   Refuse to hang out with so those who tempt you and lure you do stuff you know is not in the will of God.

Walk in the Spirit.

And you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh