dickbraswell

• Do you ever ask “why?”
• Have you wondered about what God is really like?
• Would you like to know what motivates God?

Read the next few lines and find out some amazing things about God, Jesus and YOU!!

Why does He do what He does?     

There is definitely no explanation, none whatsoever, for the reason why God does what He does apart from His matchless, boundless, measureless, eternal love.  There is absolutely no physical, visible, scientific, way or reason that He should do What He does other than the fact that He just loves us.  Just like we are.   With all our human limitations and imperfections and shortcomings, He just loves us.  He just loves us.  He just loves us.  His love for us is not based on our performance.  He does not love us conditionally.  He loves us unconditionally. He is Love personified.  He is Love demonstrated.  He is Love manifested.  He is Love illustrated.  He is Love embodied.  He is Love epitomized.  He is LOVE.

Worthy is the Lamb.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…

Why does He do it?  That’s why He does it.  Because He “so loved the world….”

For God comendeth His love toward us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us…

The mystery is:  He loved us… even when we were engrossed in sin and disobedience.  The fact is we as human beings will never be able to comprehend the “why” of His love, so there is no logical or reasonable explanation left for us to understand this demonstration of God’s compassion and care for us.  It’s Grace.  It’s Mercy.  It’s His Priceless Gift to us.

Limited as we are in our darkened understanding… we cannot comprehend the measure of God’s love.  If I stood here until Jesus came and until angels blew their trumpets and until the skies were torn in two and until every grave was opened and every saint in ages past were raised by the power of the Omnipotent God… if I preached constantly till that day I could not tell you nor explain to you the measure of God’s love.

Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the Love of God above

Would drain the oceans dry,

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Tho stretched from sky to sky.

Frederick M. Lehman

I’ve always been amazed at what happened to people when they saw Jesus. They were never the same again.  Never.  They were changed.  They were different.  They were taken into a new place in the human experience.

Not only were they changed, but the world as they previously saw it was also changed.  God “became” evident everywhere.  In all of creation.  The grass was greener.  The flowers were more spectacular.  The birds sang better.  The whole world became a demonstration of the Glory of God.

Worthy is the Lamb.

The Prophet Isaiah saw Him high and lifted up and then beat upon his breast and buried his face in his hands and he cried “Woe is me for I am man of unclean lips.”

Moses saw Him and was told to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground.

John saw Him on the Isle of Patmos and fell at His feet as dead.

Thomas saw Him when He walked through the wall and appeared there in the midst of the disciples, and old doubting Thomas put his finger in the print of the nails in His hands and His feet and His side and he said “My Lord and my God…”

Paul saw him on the dusty Damascus Road when a light as blinding as twelve sunshines shone in the middle of the day, and he fell on his face and cried out “Who art Thou, LORD?”

I saw Him one day many years ago when I was a 12-year-old boy sitting about half-way back in a little country church… and after of years of fear and dread and frustration, anxiety, nervousness… I saw Him.   I did not know a fraction of what Jesus had for me, the only thing I knew was that I was afraid, and I needed help.  And I came in my own childlike way that night to the altar of a Baptist church and prayed a simple prayer… and I saw Jesus.

Jesus has been gracious to me through all these years.  Over half a century now.  He called me to preach.  He gave me a wonderful, loving, understanding and supporting wife.  He gave us five great children.  He has protected me from all kinds of satanic oppressions. He supernaturally provided for all our need… took excellent care of us for forty plus years by faith with no salary but love offerings that He sent us through loving friends.  He set me in a place of ministry and allowed me to share the Good News with numberless, hungry, God-seeking people here and in more than seventeen nations abroad.

I’ve never been more fulfilled in my life than I am right now.  I am grateful to God.  When you leave this post today, I want you to leave with just one phrase on your lips and that is…

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

Word for Today:  November 7

Jesus breaks the shackles of dead religion.

In spite of the horror of a world without God, Religion flourished.  Religion does not need God to flourish.  Most religion is without God anyway.  It is true today and it was true 2000 years ago.

In the Inter-biblical Period, (the time between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament) the Judiastic system continued on its path of rule and regulation and legalism.

Jesus makes us free.

• Free from dead religion and man’s traditions and denominational customs.
• Free from laws and rules and regulations.
• Free from bondage to carnal deacons, elders, ungodly church leaders and unscriptural church government.

Jesus said that we would and could know the Truth (the Gospel) and the Truth would make us free.   John 8:32

The Jews in Jesus’ day lived in total subjection to:

• The Law of Moses
• The sayings of the Prophets and
• The Writings that had been handed down from generation to generation.

There were 613 separate laws, commandments, rules and regulations that every Jew was required to obey and keep.   Every day.   That is why Jesus said of the Scribes and Pharisees:

“They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on men’s shoulders: but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers…”  Matt. 23:4

Jesus came from heaven to earth to break the shackles of dead religion.

• Religion builds walls. Jesus builds bridges.
• Religion separates. Jesus joins together.
• Religion kills.

Jesus gives Life

Word for Today: October 6

_{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, by force and by faith.}

_{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.  Get up and go over.}

_{And take it back} 

Word for today:  October 5

What Authority is:

Authority is the Ability to do something accompanied by the Right to do it.  Ability coupled with Right equals Authority and Dominion.

A policeman has authority that is enabled by the badge he wares.  And the right to use that authority is empowered by the .45 he packs on his belt.

What Authority means…

It means that every believer has the ABILITY and RIGHT to exercise and enjoy every privilege of Salvation.  This includes, Healing from all sickness and disease, deliverance from all demonic powers,  total protection from all dangers, catastrophes, accidents, or threats to life, prosperity and provision for every need,  preservation in and through every trial, test or temptation, soundness of mind and peace of heart.

It means that every believer has the ABILITY and the RIGHT to redeem every promise God has given.  It means that you are WORTHY to receive what God has promised on the basis of the Righteous Nature in you through Jesus Christ.

For God hath made Him to be sin for us (Who knew no sin) that we might be made the Righteousness of God in Him…  2 Cor 5:21

It means that every believer has the ABILITY and the RIGHT to take complete dominion over all the powers of darkness.  This is what Reigning in Life is.  The Believer is given all that he needs to Reign in Life… life on earth at this time and in this place.  Right now!

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.   Rom 5:17

Word for Today:  October 4

Our main problem is a mind problem.

The mind tends to believe and act on what the senses tell it.  This is called “sense knowledge.”  When what we do is dictated by sense knowledge, we are living in and on the natural, carnal level.  The Word tells us that:

To be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace… (Rom 8:6)

“Death” has many first cousins.  Worry is one.  Fear is another.  Then comes anxiety, dread, stress, unrest, sickness, poverty, bondage, terror, unstable marriages, messed up kids, fractured and broken relationships.

Death has many facets.  Sense knowledge invites death into our lives and hinders our Spirit from believing God.  This is why Paul tells us that it is important for us to “renew” our minds.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:2

How you think and what you think determines who and what you are

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:  Pro 23:7

Word for Today:  October 3

Here are some Lies that many Believers have bought into:

• It’s a lie that you are a victim of circumstances.
• It’s a lie that you are helpless and can do nothing about your situation. (According to the Word is no such thing as “I can’t help it.”)
• It’s a lie that you are locked into impossibilities and hopeless conditions.
• It is a lie that “things will never change.”
• It’s a lie that you must be miserable, sad, depressed and defeated most of your life.
• It’s a lie that you must stay sick.
• It’s a lie that you must continually live in lack and need.
• It’s a lie that your family cannot be saved and delivered and that they will never love and live for God.
• It’s a lie that you can never change.
• It’s a lie that your marriage is beyond repair.
• It’s a lie that you will never have a good job, and that you will never make a decent living.
• It’s a lie that you will never be out of debt. (Unless you disobey the Word regarding your money, your giving and your spending.)
• It’s a lie that you must always live under a curse.
• It’s a lie that you will never get better, feel better, become stronger, stop worrying, overcome fear, or be a success.
• It’s a lie that you can’t.
• It’s a lie that it’s impossible.
• It’s a lie that you are weak.
• It’s a lie that you are a loser.
• It’s a lie that Prayer does not work.
• It’s a lie that it is “too late.”
• It’s a lie that things are going to get better in the world.
• It’s a lie that God does not care.
• It’s a lie that miracles never happen anymore.
• It’s a lie that God does not speak today.
• It’s a lie that the government and welfare will be your unfailing security.

“Fear Not” is the most reoccurring command in the Bible.

Fear believes the lie.

Faith believes the Word

Word for today: October 2

Faith and facts.

Truth, which is activated by Faith, is more powerful than Facts.  Facts are activated by reason.   Faith was present before Facts existed.  Faith gave birth to facts.  The Faith of God produced the Fact of Creation.  Faith always takes precedence over facts.  Truth has more power than Facts.  When the Word (Truth) is mixed with Faith it becomes Revelation.  It becomes Wisdom.  It becomes the primary force that functions in the Spiritual World.

Truth is Spiritual.  Facts are natural.  Truth is “unseen” Facts are “seen.”  Truth is understood by Faith, Facts are understood by Reason.  Truth is the functioning force in the unseen Spiritual World; Facts are the functioning force in the visible Natural World.  What we believe and how we believe determines which “World” we live in.

When we Believe with the Heart… we are making a decision to live by Faith.  By trusting God.  Living by Revelation.  By the Rhema Word.  By understanding.  By KNOWING.

This enables us to discern the difference between the Truth and Facts.  When facts contradict Truth we disregard the facts and choose to believe the Truth.  And we continue to believe the Truth until the Truth becomes a fact.

Faith creates facts

Word for Today:  October 1

The natural world and the spiritual world.

We need to understand the Natural World as it relates to and exists with (alongside of) the Spiritual World.  Most people do not realize that there are literally two Worlds presently existing side by side.

One is the Natural World (the world we can see and touch and taste and hear and feel).  It is the visible, natural, physical world.  This is the world we live in and the world that our mind (soul) and our body understands and interacts with.  This world is easy to perceive because it is connected to our reasoning… our senses… our sight.   It can be experienced and understood by the natural faculties of man.  However, the “natural” man cannot receive (understand) the things of the Spirit of God because they are “spiritually discerned…” they relate to the Other World…The Spiritual World.

But the natural man (psuchikos) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14

But he that is spiritual (pneumatikos) judgeth (investigates, examines, searches and discerns) all things, (as to whether they are Truth or Fact…)  1 Cor 2:15

Believing God begins in the Spirit and manifests in the Natural.  The Spiritual World effects change in the Natural World because it is more real and more authoritative.

What we make as a determined and conscious act of our human will starts things happening in the Spiritual World.   When it (our faith) explodes as a Revelation coming out of our Spirit, it produces change in the physical, natural world.  And in everything that relates to it.

The Spirit of God and the Truth of His Word are always more Powerful in operation than the natural and physical facts that are happening all around us.

Truth has more power than Facts