dickbraswell

Word for Today:  May 18

What is the truth about FAITH?

Probably nothing I have ever taught (except the Baptism of the Holy Ghost) has caused more persecution than what I have taught about faith.  It is so good, people have a hard time believing it. 

Who hath believed our report?  Isa 53:1

What I learned about Faith has been one of the most liberating truths I have ever received.  The Revelation God gave me about Faith has been the mainstay of my life and ministry for nearly a half century.

Over forty years ago, God began to speak to me about Faith.  As I received this revelation, I began to teach this truth and to lead the church of which I was pastor in the actual implementation of a Ministry that operated totally by Faith.

Not only were we blessed with a mighty increase, but our people moved into a new dimension of success and victory as they began to live and function by faith.  We had fewer people get sick.  We had more people move into prosperity.  We saw better kids, better jobs, better marriages, and better relationships.  A new wave of encouragement and determination swept through our congregation.  We had fewer deaths and fewer funerals.  As a matter of fact, we fenced off half of the old Church Cemetery and turned it into a parking lot… we needed more places to park cars than to bury people.

God challenged me (and my wife) to lead our family in living by faith.  God called us to set the example and to prove to everybody that He is able to supply every need… and to do so abundantly and supernaturally.  This continues to be a Faith ministry.  God has never failed us.  And He never will.

God honors Faith.  Faith pleases God.

Word for Today:  May 15

What pleases God?

What is it that really pleases God?  What one thing brings Him the most pleasure and fulfillment?  What gives Joy to the Lord?

When we receive to the fullest measure what He has freely provided, God is pleased.

Our acceptance of and confidence in His Covenant moves us into the place of receiving the Kingdom and all Kingdom benefits and provisions.  This is what brings joy to the father.

  …for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  Neh 8:10

The joy in this verse is referring to the Joy God receives  (as well as us) when He sees us living in and receiving  the Supernatural Strength which comes from the blessings and benefits of our Salvation.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.   Lu 12:32

Word for Today:  May 10

Faith comes by hearing.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Rom 10:17

Bartimaeus the blind beggar heard about Jesus.  What do you suppose he heard?  Did he hear that the “day of miracles is over”?  Did he hear that “healing is not for this dispensation”?  Did he hear that the “supernatural” has no place in the modern, structured, organized churches?  Did he hear that the “GIfts of the Holy Ghost” and that the Supernatural Manifestation of the Presence of God were not for today?

Did he hear about all the hypocrites and the charlatans and the false prophets and the greed and the graft and the merchandising in the ministry?  NO! He heard that Jesus was coming his way! He heard that Jesus was healing the sick and raising the dead and casting out demons.  He heard that Jesus had GOOD NEWS and that Jesus had the ABSOLUTE ANSWER for every problem and every pain and every impossibility!

If he had heard all the negative stuff that most people are hearing today I really wonder if he could have had his blind eyes opened….

Hearing leads to seeing

Word for Today:  May 9

The same kind of faith.

We having the same spirit of faith… 2Cor. 4:13

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith… 2Pet. 1:1

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.   Ro 12:3

Paul says “your faith is just like mine.”  Peter says “your faith is just like mine.”  The “measure” of faith God gave you is just like theirs.    Some think their measure is less than others.  Not so.  Did God give the same AMOUNT to every man?  YES.  Because God is no respecter of persons.  He gave you the same amount (measure) He gave the Apostle Paul, Simon Peter, John and all the rest of His disciples.

How much is a “measure”?  Enough.  What is the greatest natural miracle in the world?  Physical birth.  The conception, creation and birth of a human being is the greatest miracle that can ever occur in the natural world. What is the greatest miracle in the Spiritual World?  Of all the Spiritual Miracles we know of the New Birth is, without doubt, the greatest.

If the Measure of Faith was enough for the Greatest Miracle, (and it was), then, it is enough for anything else.  Healing.  Deliverance.  Salvation.  Restoration.  Prosperity.

If you had enough faith to get Born Again, then you have enough Faith for anything else.

Only believe

Word for Today:  May 7

What is the truth about FAITH?

Probably nothing I have ever taught (except the Baptism of the Holy Spirit) has caused more persecution than what I have taught about faith.  It is so good, people have a hard time believing it.

Who hath believed our report?  Isa 53:1

What I learned about Faith has been one of the most liberating truths I have ever received.  The Revelation God gave me concerning Faith has been the mainstay of my life and ministry for more than a half century.

Over forty years ago (It’s 2018 as I write this), God began to speak to me about Faith.  As I received this revelation, I began to teach this truth and to lead the church of which I was pastor in the actual implementation of a Ministry that operated totally by Faith.

Not only were we blessed with a mighty increase, but our people moved into a new dimension of success and victory as they began to live and function by faith.  We had fewer people get sick.  We had more people move into prosperity.  We saw better kids, better jobs, better marriages, and better relationships.  A new wave of encouragement and determination swept through our congregation.  We had fewer deaths and fewer funerals.  As a matter of fact, we fenced off half of the old Church Cemetery and turned it into a parking lot… we needed more places to park cars than to bury people.

God challenged me (and my wife) to lead our family in living by faith.  God called us to set the example and to prove to everybody that He is able to supply every need… and to do so abundantly and supernaturally.  This continues to be a Faith ministry.  God has never failed us.  And He never will.

God honors Faith.  Faith pleases God.

Faith works

Word for Today:  May 6

Be willing to wait.

Don’t be impatient. You don’t have to rush God. The production time of the Word is programmed in and it is as dependable as God is dependable. What is programmed will come to pass. In due season you shall reap if you do not faint (Gal 6:9).  Waiting will develop your patience and James tells us to let patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… (James 1:4).

Here is the hardest thing to do in Word production. It is not hard to sow. It is not hard to believe…. But it is next to impossible to wait, with patience, until God will produce in us the “wanting nothing” condition. God HAS SAID that we would “reap in due season IF we faint not… “

In Hebrews the Word declares: “For consider Him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds…’ (Hebrews 12:3).

“Contradiction” here is anything that appears to disagree with God’s Promise. It is the “High Thing” that exalts itself against God that Paul writes to the Corinthians about.

The contradictions are what cause our patience to waver. When we see those things that seem to make God and His Word out to be a lie… these are the things that attack our patience.

Consider HIM… lest ye be wearied…

Word for Today:  May 5

Word for Today:  May 12

See the invisible.

In the New Creation provision, we are called to See the Invisible.  The Word says:  while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen… (2Cor 4:18)  This is not some psychic phenomenon, or some fortune-teller foolishness, but a real Command to Look beyond what we see until we see what God sees.

Until we are able to “see the invisible” we will never be able to accomplish the impossible.  If we are living in the realm of the possible, we are just like all the other natural, “mere” men on the earth.  You know and I know that we are not called to be “mere men” but New Creation Men.

We are Born with Heaven inside us.  We are called and commissioned to take the world away from the devil and lay it again at the feet of Jesus.  We are a New Breed.  A New Species.  We are Aliens on earth because we are Born to Live in Heaven.  We are a generation of Jesus People, equipped with the Word and empowered by the Spirit.

We are Peculiar

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  1Pe 2:9

God?  Can you hear me?  Do you remember who I am?  My voice is not as strong as it used to be, neither is my spirit.  I worry if my prayer even will reach you.

I’m distressed, God.  I wandered from the safety of your house; I ignored the direction of your Word.  I have found myself somewhere in this slough of despair, and I am afraid.

The mornings come, but I stumble in the dark with no light in this desolate place.  When night falls, my soul aches for rest, but there is no restful sleep there.  This place is a wilderness, and even in my slumber the enemy whispers in my ear.

God, I want to come home, but I can’t find the way!  I keep walking down roads that only take me farther away from you.  Some roads deceive me and I take them over and over again.  I just wander aimlessly in vain.

I am the one who longed for the adventure of this journey.  I have only myself to blame.  Like a foolish child, I thought nothing of danger and consequence.  I have tested waters that produce only drowning and death.

Will you save me?  Dare I beg for you to pluck me out of the sea that encompasses me?  With each wave that crashes over me, I can taste the bitter salt of what I have done.  I am ashamed, and full of sorrow… is there any hope for my redemption?

Oh, my God, I cry out in desperation.  The enemy has found me and now uses me for his delight!  For while I was drowning in this pit, he offered refuge on his vessel of deceit, and I willingly climbed aboard.

My Father in heaven, I have sinned against You…I have rebelled against Your perfect ways…I know I am not deserving of Your forgiveness, let alone Your divine intervention.  I ask You, no, I beg You, in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, to wash away my sins.  I pray that Your Holy Spirit will return to me, and guide me once again.  I ask that You search my heart and if You find that I am sincere, that You will save me from myself and this wilderness that surrounds me.

Let me once again glorify your Name, that the world would see You in me and know that You are God.

In Jesus’ name I offer up this prayer and humbly ask for Your Forgiveness….

Thank You for hearing…. And

RESCUING ME FROM THIS QUAGMIRE OF DESPAIR

Word for Today: May 4

Power’s evidence.

The Power of the Holy Spirit so prevalent in the New Testament is, unfortunately, not a present day reality in the majority of churches.

Signs, wonders and miracles are not the real evidence of Holy Ghost Power.  The evidence of the Power of God is:

• Changed lives.
• Sin, repented of and removed.
• Love and forgiveness prevailing toward those who have wronged us.
• Clean living and holy thinking and right doing.
• Caring more for prayer and fellowship with the Father than for personal pet pastimes.
• True Worship, Joyful Praise and Strong Word Preaching and Teaching.
• Desiring God more than anything else… seeking Him and crying out to Him and longing for Him.
• When everything that offends is cut away and put down… when all our Idols are smashed and reduced to dust.

The Power of God always causes SOMETHING to HAPPEN.  God’s Power produces results.

We don’t need more education or super-star preachers.  We don’t need bigger and better buildings or more efficient organization and more talented administration.  We don’t need more professional choirs and musicians and more skilled worship leaders.

We need the Power of God

And ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you… Acts 1:8

Word for Today:  May 3

It’s time.

“IT is finished!” It is done. It is settled. It is established. It is accomplished. It is MINE. God says so. The Word declares it. I believe it. Therefore I will be glad and rejoice in it. I will praise Him. I will worship Him. I will thank Him. I will show Him my appreciation.  It is Done.

Now, it’s time. It’s time for you and me to move out of our complacency and comfort and begin to take back what the devil has stolen. 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… in the place we now are, we are turning our back on God.   We are limiting the Holy One of Israel.  We are slandering God and His divine purpose and plan for us.

Are you ready?

Will you demonstrate the Power and the Glory of God?  Will you do whatever it takes?

Where do you start?  Right where you are.  When do you start?

NOW