dickbraswell

Word for Today:  July 17

Look up.

Why are you broken, wounded and sad?  What has come into your life that produced fear and dread and pain?  What are those elements in the Human Experience that make life miserable?  Do you understand that every misery and pain in life is caused by the devil?  By the powers of darkness… by those spirits in high places that purpose to kill, steal and destroy?    Here are some and I know you can find some of these lurking within your heart….

Rejection, loneliness, being unloved, failure, frustration, fear, worry, uncertainty, bondage, being “blue,” feelings of melancholy, unhappiness, burdens… loaded with care, being broke… strapped financially, guilt, condemnation, sickness, disease, pain, broken hearted, weariness and fatigue, anxiety, grief, hopelessness, no joy, continual sadness, feelings of worthlessness, no purpose  in living, disappointment, boredom, lack of self-esteem, feelings of emptiness, resentment, anger, unforgiveness, and on and on I could go.

Are you in here somewhere?  Did you meet your “personal pain” in this list?  Are you continually coping with any of these?

Do you know that all of these are works of darkness and that they are sent from the devil to destroy you?  Do you realize Jesus took these on Himself, shed His Blood and DIED to make you FREE of these?

Since satan did not succeed in keeping you from getting saved, he now purposes to make you miserable.  To make you tired of living.  To frustrate God’s Purpose for your life and to keep you blind and ignorant of the MAGNITUDE of YOUR REDEMPTION.

“Two prisoners stared through prison bars…One saw mud, the other stars…”

Look Up

Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh…   Lu

Word for Today:  July 16

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

Wherefore putting off the lie…

In these passages, Paul is speaking about the Believer.  He is talking about “putting off” and “putting on”.  This is an act of the human will.  We determine what we “put off” and what we “put on.”  We are to “put on” the New Man with all his privileges and provisions and we are to “put off” the old man with all his lack and need.

This speaks of personal action that issues forth from the human will.  You do it or you do not do it.  If you do it you get the results the Bible promises and if you do not do it you don’t.

There are two primary principles involved in living and not dying.  One is Truth and the other is “the lie”.  Operating in TRUTH results in LIFE.  Operating in “the lie” results in DEATH.  Jesus said:  “I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE…”  John 14:6.

In the 17th chapter of John, Jesus declared:

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (kosmos).  Sanctify them through thy Truth:  thy Word is Truth… (16-17).

Every man has the option of living by Truth or living by the Lie.  The Lie is from hell.  It is authored by satan.  It is the operating principle of the kingdom of darkness.  demons operate and function by the lie.  Everything in hell operates and functions by the lie.  Pain, lack, fear, sadness, depression, worry, sickness, disease, poverty, anxiety, stress, condemnation, guilt, dread, bondage, no hope, no joy, no happiness, no satisfaction, no purpose, misery, uncertainty, terror, death…. all these operate by the force of the lie.

And the Word commands us to

Put away the lie…

Word for Today:  July 15

Be encouraged.

God wants to build you up in your most Holy Faith…  He wants to strengthen you and help you and deliver you.  He wants you to be blessed.  He wants you to know that He is able to set you free from every snare and every devil and every fiery trial.  He speaks to you by His Word, through the Anointing and even in this brief message.  He wants to assure you that He has everything under control.

He has great plans for you that you cannot even imagine.  He will bring you into a new place, give you a new vision and fill you with a fresh sense of purpose.  The best days of your life are beginning and as long as you Trust Him, you will realize and fulfill your reason for living.  Understand that disappointment and defeat are not in God’s plan for you.  You are destined to win and to win big.

We are blessed with an abundance of His Word…  Yet, many are hurting and wondering and wishing… some are doubting and even more are struggling with apparent impossible situations and trying circumstances. But remember, if you are one of those, God is for you. And nothing is impossible for those who Believe.

God wants you to be encouraged.  God wants you free.   God wants you to rule and reign in your life.

And He is Able to put you there TODAY

Word for Today:  July 14

There are two kinds of faith.

First, there is Natural Faith and secondly, there is Supernatural Faith.

Natural Faith is based on what we see (our senses) and Supernatural Faith is based on what God Says.  Thomas exercised natural faith.  He would not believe (have faith) unless he saw the evidence.  He heard that Jesus was alive, but he refused to believe it unless he actually saw Him.  This is natural faith.

Abraham, on the other hand, exercised supernatural faith.  Abraham determined to believe (have faith) regardless of what he saw or felt.  His “senses” were not consulted.  He chose to Believe God.

Most believers are living in the realm of natural faith.   They tend to believe only what they can see.  They are subject to their senses and are dependent on natural facts.  Natural faith operates only in the realm of the visible, the sensible and the factual.

Other believers have determined to live in the realm of supernatural faith.  They can and do believe things that they cannot see.  They are not bound to the sense realm.  They are able to move beyond the natural and physical into the realm of the supernatural and spiritual.

They live by Truth instead of Facts

Word for Today:  July 13

Where do we begin in our quest to develop aggressive faith?

First, we need to know that we have FAITH.  We have it because God says we have it.  God has given to every man “the measure of faith…”

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.  Rom. 12:3

The Word declares:

for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it (faith) is the gift of God…  Eph 2:8.

Faith is a Gift.  Faith is a Gift from God given to you.  Faith is the ability to really believe God.  It is revelation.  It is in the heart.  It is in the innermost part of our being.  It is resolve.  It is dependence.  It is confidence.  It is relying on.  It is trusting.  It is seeing the invisible.  It is holding the intangible.  It is reaching out into nothing and holding on until nothing becomes something.  It is as­sur­ance.  It is a certainty.  It is REAL.

Second, we determine to develop it. We make a definite decision to develop and increase our faith.  Faith is developed by hearing the Word.

Faith cometh (groweth) by hearing and hearing by the Word of God…  Rom 10:17.

Faith is devel­oped by being around faith.  Like begets like.  Praise, worship, rejoicing, singing, dancing, shouting, clapping, running, leaping… all these, when done in the Name of Jesus, will develop faith.

Faith is developed by the preaching of the uncompromised Word of God.  As you read these words, your faith is being built up.  You will be stronger after you read this than you were before you read it.

• Faith is developed by doing the Word.
• Faith is developed by saying the Word.
• Faith is developed by and through Love.
• Faith is developed by making right decisions.
• Faith is developed by remembering past victories.
• Faith is developed by “keeping the flesh under.” 1Co 9:27
• Faith is developed through intimacy with God.

Aggressive faith moves mountains

Word for Today:  July 8

Have you ever been in a place where you honestly confessed that you did not know what to do?

The first temptation is the temptation to try to fix it ourselves.  Plans.  Procedures.  Steps to take.  People to see.  We want to “fix things.”  We want to “fix” people.

Instead of throwing our cares and worries and tribulations on Jesus, we think we can fix it ourselves.  We try.  And it does not work.  We try something else, and it does not work either.  We reason.  We consider the problem.  We analyze it, examine it, look at it from every angle and try again.  Another failure.

Finally, we remember God.  And seek God.  And ask God.  Turn to God and confess that without His intervention, all our human and natural efforts will not produce any answers or solve any problems.

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2Chron 20:12

The King’s army was outnumbered (2 Chron 20). He was defenseless against such overwhelming odds.  He had no escape route…. Nowhere to run.  Nowhere to hide.  Nowhere to seek refuge.  He was in line for defeat.  Humiliation.  And death.

He had exhausted all his resources.  Nothing he had and nothing he could do would be able to deliver him and his nation from total disaster and defeat.  He finally confessed: “I don’t know what to do.  But my eyes are on You, Lord….”

There are some attempts at victory that you need to “give up.”  Because they are your plans, your ideas, your efforts and they are done in your strength.

I remember praying one time:  “Lord, I don’t know what to do.  I’ve tried everything I know to try.  I don’t have any resources left.  I give up.”   In my fit of self-pity and false humility, God responded to my heart:  “Good!  Now that you are through with it, I can do something about it!”

And He did.

Giving up on all your efforts does not necessarily mean giving in to failure. It simply means changing your “trying” into “trusting” and then

Leaving it all up to GOD

Word for Today:  July 7

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  1Co 2:9

This verse is not necessarily limited to mean only those awesome things awaiting the Believer in Heaven.

God has prepared unimaginable “things” in the present for those who love Him.  Do you love Him?  Then those “things” are for you and they are for you today.  Right now.

So, praise God and act as if the answer has already come. Refuse to doubt.  Believe with all your heart.  Hold on to your confession of faith.  Get your mind renewed by the Word of God.  Talk right.  Say the Word.  Confess the Word.  Talk the Word. Act out your faith.  Act like you already have “it” and you will get “it.”

Live in an atmosphere of Praise.  Thank God.  Praise God.  Give God glory.  Worship God.  Pray in the Spirit.  Praise and thank Him in all situations and circumstances. Honor Him.  Trust Him.  Esteem Him.  Glorify Him.

And you will see your situation begin to change.    Immediately.  Now.

Today

Word for Today:  July 6

Where the Power is.

One reason many do not have Power is because they do not know where it is.  If they do not know where it is they cannot function in it.   If they cannot function in it they cannot use it.  If they cannot use it they will be buffeted and whipped by the devil.  And the things that need changing will not be changed.

God’s power is not exclusively in heaven.  We have been taught that we are to pray for God’s Power to fall on us.  For God to “send the Power…”  For the “Fire of God” to fall and come down from heaven.

We were led to believe that we could do nothing unless the Power “fell” on us.

I often prayed for a Revival to come down from Heaven.  Our concept of God’s power has been flawed.  No wonder we can’t operate in God’s Power… we don’t even know what it is, where it is, how to get it or how to release it.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the (wonder-working, miraculous) power that worketh in us…  Eph 3:20

God’s Power does not “come down” or “fall on us.”  God’s Power emanates and rises up from our re-born human spirit that is Re-created in the Image of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!   It is not in heaven and it is not floating in space or gathering in the skies to fall on us when we “pray through…”

IT is in us

Word for Today:  July 5

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psa 150:6

Praise God and thank Him for the answer before your answer comes.  Praise God for the answer before you see it, feel it, or have it.  Your sight and your feelings are subordinate to the Word of God.  As far as God is concerned, you already have what you believed for.  He has already given you all things that pertain to life and godliness…

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  2Pe 1:3

I have a question.  What situation or circumstance would you like to see changed more than everything else?  What one thing have you been believing for over everything else?  What is the greatest desire of your heart at this very moment?  What one thing drives you and is the focus of your passion?  What is that one thing?  The One Thing that is presently the heart of your praying?   That One Thing that rises above all other situations and circumstances that you really would like to see manifest?

What if God visibly walked right into your presence now… at this moment… and with loving grace and mercy actually presented you with that One Thing you have so longed for?   Here it is.  What you have prayed and believed for.  This is it.  It is yours.   You now have in fact what you have believed for in faith.

Now… how would you act?  What would your response be?  Would you sort of glance off to the side and say “ho hum…”  “Well, so what?”  Could you walk off and be passive and unappreciative?   Would you be thankless and ungrateful?  Just what would you do?  How would you act?  What would your physical and mental reaction be if you got that One Thing that had been the focus of your believing for all these years?  Would you shout?  Would you praise God?  Would you leap for joy?  Would you run around the room?  Would you whoop and holler and dance and rejoice?  Is that what you would do?  Most of us would.  We would be uninhibited and unashamed to react in a noticeable physical manner.

Here’s a famous verse from the Gospel according to Bro. Dick… “Act like you got it and you will get it….”  Acting as if it is already here in the now is a fulfillment of Mark 11: 23 and 24.

And this is perfectly natural for any Spirit Filled, faith-filled, Word Believing individual.

The world cannot understand this

Word for Today:  July 4

From the hearts of fifty-two framers of the Constitution, flowed the documents and structures which formed the foundations for this great nation: The United States of America.

“Of all the writings of the founders of our country, 94 percent either directly or indirectly cited the Bible.

In September 1774, the First Continental Congress opened its initial session with prayer.  Psalm 35 was read aloud:  “My soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation… awake and rise to my defense!  Contend for me my God and Lord…”

George Washington often spent hours in prayer without interruption.  In his prayer book, he wrote:  “Direct my thoughts, words, and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit…  Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ…”

In his dying words, Alexander Hamilton, signer of the Constitution, spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ.  “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am a sinner.  I look to Him for mercy.”

Samuel Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, declared:  “First of all, I resign my soul to the Almighty Being who gave it… relying on the merits of Jesus Christ for the pardon of my sins…”

81 year-old Benjamin Franklin speaking at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 said:  “I have lived long, Sir, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable than an empire can rise without His aid?  We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’  I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without this concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”

From where did these men come?  What gave rise to such character and such confidence and such faith in God?  How did these men and women develop into such Champions of Liberty and Democracy?  I tell you, they came from Christian, Bible-believing, God-honoring, morally pure families.

Oh, God, give us Godly leaders…..