dickbraswell

Word for Today:  April 28

See what you are believing for.

The farmer wants to harvest a crop.  So he begins with seeds.  The farmer will look at the seed package. The seed package has a picture of a healthy, fully matured, producing plant on it. That is the goal the farmer is shooting for…. a healthy, fully matured, producing plant.

When he plants the little seed, he can already see in his heart what the healthy, fully matured producing plant looks like. He sees hundreds of them. They are all lined up in neat rows and they are flourishing and healthy … no fungus, no bugs, no imperfections … he sees the PERFECT FINISHED product IN HIS HEART.

To increase your crop see what you sow.  See it in its COMPLETED, GOD-CREATED form. See it with your eye of faith.

“Take heed (blepo: to see) what you hear, with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you; and to you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath (the Word) to him shall be given, and he that hath not (the Word), from him shall be taken even that which he hath … And He said, So is the kingdom of God… Mark 4:24-26.

We are told to walk by Faith (believing) and not by Sight (reasoning).   When we walk by Faith, we see the Finished Product with our Faith Eyes.

Just like God created it to be

Word for Today:  April 27

What God wants.

God wants His Kingdom to come in the earth.  God wants His will to be done in the earth.  God wants the same things that are happening in heaven to happen on earth.  This is the prayer that Jesus prayed in Matthew chapter 6:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven…

This is what God wants.

This is why you have a purpose in life.  This is why you can do all things through Christ.  This is the reason for the existence of the Church.  The Church is here to bring God’s Kingdom from heaven to earth.  If we are not bringing God’s Kingdom from heaven to earth we are not doing what we were born again to do.

The Christian Faith is not a salve for the guilty conscience.  The Christian Faith is not a passive religious experience to make people “feel” good.  It is a dynamic declaration of victory to the powers of darkness and a furious fight to take enemy territory.  The Christian Faith… especially the Spirit-Filled Christian faith is Warfare. We are fighting the Good fight of Faith.  The battle is the Lord’s and the Victory is ours.

Any time. Every time.  All the time.

Word for Today:  April 25

Life at its BEST.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

“Life” in this verse is the word “Zoe,” a Greek term that describes a quality of life, not a quantity, but a quality of life.  It is the word that describes the very same kind of life that God has.  Jesus is saying here, “I have come that you might have life and that life will be the same kind of life that I have and the same kind of life that God has… ”

This is the abundant life that Jesus has given to you and to me.  It is not simply “living and breathing” or “natural, physical” life, but it is the same quality of life that God has.  The same type of Life God has.  It is the “God Kind” of life.

Can you imagine God being worried?  Can you imagine God being afraid?  Can you imagine God being sick?  Can you imagine God being in a bad mood?  Or having a “bad hair day?”  Can you imagine God being poor?   Can you see God being depressed or stressed?  Or sad, or melancholy or “blue?”

God is not saving up for a rainy day.  God is not getting ready to go to the hospital.  God is not tired out or “wore” out… God is not planning on anything bad happening to Him.  He never has and He never will.  God is just fine.

If God is OK then you are OK.

Word for Today:  April 24

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.Matt. 21:22

IF we will apply Word Principles to the affairs of our lives, there will be increase and abundance.  Guaranteed.  Not just materially, but emotionally, physically and spiritually as well.  There are some Strong Guarantees and some incredible promises given to us (who believe) the Word.  When we exercise these promises and activate these provisions by our faith, increase comes.  Abundance comes.  Life happens. Real Life.

We have looked at these promises, and wondered if they could really be true.  We have not seen the manifestation.  We have not experienced the answers we have believed for and discouragement has set in.  satan has seen to it that we rationalize and reason and move into the place of doubt and unbelief.  This is his strategy.  This is his plan.  his only hope is that he can weaken, limit and ultimately destroy our faith.

Now, it’s time.  It’s time for you and me to move out of our complacency and comfort and begin to invade satan’s territory.  It is time for us to be aggressive.  To be on the offense.  Not the defense, but the offense.  If we are satisfied to remain in our comfort zone…if we are satisfied in the place we now are, we are, in fact,  backslidden.  We are not keeping up with God and His divine purpose and plan for us.

Are you ready?  Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  Are you willing to put it all on the line for God?  Are you ready to do whatever it takes?  Are you willing to take a “faith risk” today?  Are you ready to reach out and hold on to nothing until nothing becomes something?

God is looking… searching throughout the earth diligently seeking those to whom He can show Himself strong.  Will you volunteer?  Will you be one of the ones who will demonstrate the Power and the Glory of Letting God do in you whatever it takes?

I believe you are.  I know I am.

Word for Today:  April 22

Seize the opportunity you have TODAY.

Jesus was leaving Jericho headed for Jerusalem.  He was on His way to die and He would never again pass that way.  Blind Bartimaeus did not know that, but it was still the truth.  Who knows when our last opportunity will come?  Who can tell when our Day of Visitation will expire?

If all the blind and halt and lame had known that Jesus would never pass that way again, they would have lined the streets and pressed in and mobbed Jesus as they sought for their miracle.

I wonder how many have missed their miracle because they ignored a present day opportunity.  I believe that God has prepared this brief message just for you.   And He has purposed that you would read and heed it today.

Some need forgiveness.  Some need healing.  Some need deliverance from sin.  Some need the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Some need fellowship with other Believers.  Some need to get to a place where they can hear from God.  Some need a miracle to deliver them from a desperate situation.

Jesus is passing your way.   Right now. I want to believe He will pass your way again, but I have no guarantee of it.  Nor do you.  Don’t be like the hundreds that missed Jesus while He journeyed through their city.

 Seek ye the Lord while He may be found… call ye upon Him while He is near…  Isa 55:6

Word for Today:  April 21

Sow the seed that matches the need.

Every need has a matching seed.  Find the seed that matches the need and sow it.  One unfailing principle of God’s Word is the principle of Sowing and Reaping.  You will never have a need if you practice sowing according to God’s Word.  You do not have a “need” problem… you have a sowing problem.  Seed does no good as long as you hold it.  It must be sown… put in circulation.

If you need joy… sow joy.  If you need healing… go pray for someone who is sick.  If you need encouragement, go to some discouraged individual and speak encouragement to them.  If you need finances… give into the Kingdom.  And be sure that the soil you choose to sow in is good ground.

Finally, prepare for the increase.  Plan Big.  Think Big.  Talk Big.  Expect Big.  Believe Big.  You are the key.  God allows you to set your own limits and fix your own boundaries.  You initiate and heaven shouts Amen!  You begin and Heaven confirms.  You loose on earth and God looses in Heaven.  You bind on earth and God binds in heaven.

You begin and God finishes

Word for Today:  April 20

Get up and go

God spoke.  God still speaks.   And God is speaking loud and clear right now.  He spoke to Joshua.  He speaks by His Word.  He speaks prophetically.  He speaks by the Holy Spirit… He is speaking to His Church.  He is speaking to you and He is speaking to me. God spoke to Joshua and said, “Arise and Go Over…”   Jos 1:2

Arise means “get up.”  Arise means change.  Arise means do something.  Arise means get ready.  The command was to pass over the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.  Moses is dead.  The past is past.  The time to move is now.   Get Up and Go Over.  Do not plan on staying where you are.  Do not think it is going to be like it was in the past.  Do not believe you are going to be like you used to be.  Get Up.  Wake Up.  Move Up.  Move On.  And do it NOW.

It is time to stop living in the past.  It is time to:

“forget those things that are behind and reach forth unto those things which are before and PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…”  Phil 3:13-14

The manna was great, (remember the story in Exodus?) but it is time to press on.  The supernatural provision of the water was wonderful, but it is time to press on.  The miracles were astounding, but it is time to move on.  The helpless dependence on Moses was comforting, but it is time to move on.  There is Something Better.

Your “something better” is beginning today

The RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST from the dead is the GREATEST EVENT in HUMAN HISTORY.  Nothing is more encouraging or strengthening to the Believer than the fact that JESUS IS ALIVE.  On this day believers all over the earth are gathered together to CELEBRATE and COMMORATE the GREATEST VICTORY in CREATION.  Even the doubter and the unbeliever and the skeptic and the agnostic and the atheist are forced to CONSIDER THE RESURRECITON of JESUS because the WHOLE EARTH pauses to recognize this significant day.  HE IS ALIVE.  And He Lives in the heart of every believer. 

1. Sin brought DEATH to man’s spirit

2. Sin brought SEPARATION from man’s Creator

3. Sin brought a Curse upon man and creation

1. JESUS came that we might be MADE ALIVE IN OUR SPIRIT

2. JESUS came that we might be RECONCILED to GOD

3. JESUS came that we might be REDEEMED from the CURSE   

JESUS CAME to UNDO what satan did in Adam and to fix the human race so that it could be exactly WHAT and WHO GOD CREATED IT TO BE.  (We are coming into that today.)  This has been a “mystery” through the ages, but today it is being REVEALED and UNVEILED.  The Same Spirit that Raised Christ from the dead is DWELLING IN EVERY BELIEVER.

REMEMBER: 

     What God did in CHRIST is greater than what satan did in Adam.                           

     The Glory of the Latter is greater than the glory of the former.

     Where sin abounded…. Grace did much more abound.

That which is emerging in the earth today is the GREATEST WORK GOD HAS EVER DONE IN MAN.  The Church is becoming infused with RESURRECTION POWER and performing the WORK of the RESURRECTED CHRIST..  It may seem small… but it is no small thing.  It may look insignificant… but it is the final and concluding and perfecting work of our God in the BODY OF CHRIST.  It is happening TODAY and it is happening HERE.  It is happening in this hour because the TIME IS SHORT.  (Much shorter than the world thinks).

On the day of Pentecost, men were AMAZED.  During the Life of Jesus, men were AMAZED.  In the OT men were AMAZED.  AMAZEMENT is a characteristic of the Power of God.  God’s Power is AMAZING.

Men were AMAZED at Jesus.  They were AMAZED at HIS ABILITY… HIS AUTHORITY… HIS POWER.  They were AMAZED at what He did and how He did it.  They were AMAZED because He was DIFFERENT.  He did not fit in the RELIGIOUS MOLDS of the day.  He acted DIFFERENTLY… TALKED DIFFERENTLY… THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY… LIVED DIFFERENTLY.  He did DIFFERENT and UNUSTAL THINGS:

     1. HE spoke to a storm

     2. HE made mud out of spit and rubbed it in a blind man’s eyes

     3. HE talked to devils and demons

     4. HE broke religious tradition and shattered dead doctrines

     5. HE made friends with Gentiles and forgave sinners, tax gatherers,

         adulterers, murderers and prostitutes.

     6. HE raised dead people…

     7. HE got money out of a fish’s mouth… cleansed the untouchables (lepers)… and called things that were not as though they were… fixed broken homes and destroyed satan’s strongholds.

JESUS came to earth as the LAMB OF GOD  (John 1:29)

HE humbled Himself and took the form of a SERVANT

HE emptied Himself of His God-Characteristics and Power

HE accepted the LIMITATIONS of human flesh

HE died as the Lamb of God and as the Son of Man

HE went into hell and faced-off with satan

HE conquered hell, death and the grave.

HE AROSE in the FULL STATURE of HIS GOD NATURE and POWER

HE AROSE CLOTHED in OMNIPOTENCE and FILLED with all the glory He shared with the FATHER from the BEGINNING.

“The God-Forsaken Son Who died in shame and sorrow on the cross AROSE the LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT WHO REIGNETH FOR EVER AND EVER.”

NOW…  BECAUSE HE LIVES:

1.  WE LIVE

And we live in the authority and ability of RESURRECTION POWER.  Our mortal bodies have been QUICKENED with the SUPERNATURAL OVERCOMING RESURRECTION POWER of the Risen Jesus.

We Live as a NEW CREATION.  A New Race.   A New Breed.  A New Species.  We are infused with LIFE (ZOE) and we exercise power and authority over demons and devils and sickness and death.  We are a RACE of men and women FILLED with the HOLY GHOST and POWER.

2.  satan IS DEFEATED

All the demon forces were dethroned at the resurrection of Jesus.  he is still stripped of his power and authority.  The Resurrection of Jesus is the FINAL and AUTHORATIVE PROOF that satan is defeated and hell is powerless.

We have been redeemed from the curse and from satan’s dominion and we have legally become the Masters of satan and all his demons.  Because JESUS LIVES You have POWER over devils. You can CAST OUT devils.  You can HEAL THE SICK.  YOU can OVERCOME POVERTY and DISTRESS and PAIN and NEED. 

3.  The CHURCH will PREVAIL.

The Body of Christ will never fail and it (we) will ALWAYS PREVAIL.  The Church is GUARANTEED VICTORY.  EVERYTIME and ALL THE TIME.  No enemy shall successfully come against us and NO WEAPON that is formed against us shall prosper.  Jesus declared that  “the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church…”  Announce to all the powers of darkness that you will not slow up, back up, ease up, let up or give up.  We are here to REDEEM the LOST… to TRAIN and TEACH saints in spiritual warfare… To SET CAPTIVES FREE… to OVERTHROW satan’s kingdom and to prepare men for the return of JESUS.

4.   YOU CAN WIN

No power apart from God’s Power can put you in victory and keep you in victory.  Your failures and disappointments come out of your weak human nature.  You can be infused with the very Nature of the Resurrected Jesus and enjoy the same victory over hell that He enjoyed.  “Because as He is, so are we in this world…”  (I John 4:17).  

  
 Most have no problem believing in a God Who lives in Heaven.  None would doubt His Power and Authority and Ability… However, the church has great difficulty in accepting the FACT of the INDWELLING CHRIST in the HEART of EVERY BELIEVER.  “HE’S IN THERE..”  He has been since the day you were Born Again and He delights in releasing His Power and Working His Work through you… It is CHRIST IN YOU that gives you the HOPE OF GLORY.  If you are “in Christ” you are a New Creation… Your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost and it (your body) has been Quickened (made alive) by the same Spirit that Raised Christ from the Dead..

You are satan’s master and demons have no dominion over you or YOUR SEED.  You are EQUIPPED to do the WORK that JESUS did while He lived on earth and we are all commanded to DO IT.  We are not weak… helpless…. inadequate… unable.  WE are WINNERS because JESUS WON OVER DEATH.

I invite you to JOIN the COMPANY of the REDEEMED and participate in the BUILDING of the KINGDOM OF GOD here on EARTH.   

Have you? 

Will you?

Word for Today:  April 14

The Resurrection of Jesus means:

A New Species of Men… and New Race of Men… a New Breed of Men… a New Creation of Men… has been brought forth to walk in great Power and Authority on the earth.

If any man be in Christ he is a New Creation.  2Cor 5:17

The Resurrection gave birth to a Race of Supermen.  Men and Women and Young People with God inside of them.  People who are literally infused with resurrection power and resurrection life.   Zoe life.  A Race who has power over devils and demons!!  A Race who lives in a different realm of life.  A Race filled with the Holy Ghost and Power.

The devil and all demon powers are dethroned and defeated.  At the fall of Adam, satan gained control and dominion over all the earth.  At the Resurrection of Jesus,  satan was factually and actually dethroned and defeated.   he is stripped of his power and his authority.

The Resurrection of Jesus was and is the final proof of satan’s downfall and defeat.  Sickness, sin, defeat, sorrow, death, sadness are forever conquered.  We (Believers) have been redeemed from satan’s dominion and we have legally become the masters of satan and his demons.  You have power over the devil because Jesus rose from the dead.  You can cast out devils. You can heal the sick.  You can call things that are not as though they are.  You can overcome poverty and distress and pain and need.  Because Jesus is alive… you are filled with Resurrection Life.

There will be no judgment for us like it was for Jesus.  God will not forsake us.   For us there will be no Cross… no crown of thorns… no separation from God… no suffering in hell… no guilt and no condemnation.

Jesus PAID IT ALL

April 12

The scene in Heaven the day Jesus stepped down from His Exalted position in Obedience to His Father, and willingly vacated His God-Power, His God-Nature and His God-Position, would stagger the imagination of every human being who had ever lived.

I believe the Heavenly Choirs stopped singing.  The Heavenly Orchestras stopped their anthems.  The Heavenly praise dropped to a low and God Himself was stricken with a measure of sadness.  The lights were dimmed a bit and the heaven-inhabitants were moved into an emotional place they had never ever been in all eternity.

It was a New Day in Heaven.  Only God, by His Omniscience, knew how the scene would play out.

While Jesus fulfilled His Redemptive Work here, all heaven watched anxiously.  They saw Him in His prime and they witnessed the culmination of His earthly ministry…. His rejection.  His suffering.  His freely-given measureless love.  His abject Obedience.  And His untimely torture and crucifixion…  the shock resonated through the expanse of God’s Great Heaven.

Then:  the news came concerning the Victory of Jesus and the unconditional surrender of the powers of darkness in the bowels of the underworld.  Jesus stripped satan of his power and deprived demons of their authority and undid the sting of death and the conquest of the grave.  And leading a Great Easter Parade HE led those held captive in Paradise into a Glorious Entry into heaven.

Then:  Jesus, the Sinless Lamb of God, emerged from the grave as the LION of the Tribe of Judea, clothed in all the glory and power and splendor of the God Head.

And

The Heavenly Choirs began singing a New Song. The Heavenly Orchestras Played a New Anthem.  The Heavenly Praise rose to a New Crescendo and REJOICING reverberated throughout all the boundaries of God’s Great Heaven.

And the lights were bright once again.