dickbraswell

Word for Today:  December 13

God has given us weapons

 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds,) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.   2Cor 10:4-6

They are mighty weapons through God to the pulling down of strongholds  … they are not carnal and they are not natural … they are Supernatural and they are efficient and they are effective and they work.

They are given to every believer in order that every believer might overcome the attacks of the enemy. These weapons are for warfare. They are not for vacation. They are for pulling down and destroying and they are to be used.

The reason we have these weapons is that we might overcome the powers of darkness…. that we might stop the devil. If we do not use them, they will not work, and we will not stop the devil. If we do not exercise them, we will not break through and put the devil on the run.

God gave them. God gave them to Believers. God gave them to Believers in order that Believers might confirm what Jesus did to the devil.

Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. Those works are still destroyed. The Bible says that

…to as many as received Him to them gave He power to become…  John 1:12.

You have the power and authority to become whatever God has purposed for you to become.

This is why Paul says… “I can do all things though Christ…”

Word for Today:  December 12

Worship God.

Come before His Presence.  Stand in Awe of His Glory and His Goodness and His Power.  Be still.  Listen.  Wait.  Be quiet.  Weep.  Tremble.  Fall on your face.  Bow down.  Kneel. Worship God.  Get lost in God.  Get “caught up” in God.  Stand before Him.

When the Glory filled the temple in the Old Testament the priests could not minister so powerful was the Presence of God.  On the Day of Pentecost in Acts, the saints who were filled with God staggered as drunk men and spoke in unlearned languages.

All around them people knew that something supernatural had taken place.  Some were amazed.  Some were confounded.  Some marveled.  All were moved by the awesome Presence of God… They Worshipped and God responded.

I walked into a convention center filled with over 1000 people 40 years ago and was met by an overwhelming Presence of the Holy Spirit.  Those present were mesmerized in True Worship.  They were singing in the Spirit.  They were praying in the Spirit.  Some were standing with uplifted hands, others were kneeling…. They were weeping and rejoicing and dancing and many were prostrate on the floor laying at the feet of their Glorious God.

They were as one and they all were literally “drunk with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2).  It was the most moving and emotional meeting I had ever experienced in my entire life.  It was at that moment God let me know I could have More of Him than I had ever received.

This revelation came in the atmosphere of True Worship.  I remember rushing to the altar for prayer.  I remember a saintly Episcopalian Rector who laid hands on me and gently prayed for me.  I was literally flooded with the awesome and Real Presence of the Holy Spirit… and my life (and ministry) was forever changed.

God-Life has it birth in the Womb of Worship

Word for Today:  December 11

The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth… John 1:14.

He is more than a HELPLESS BABY wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

He is more than a once-a-year Christmas celebration.

He is more than a mere Carpenter’s Son

He is more than an itinerant wandering Preacher

The world saw Him (and still does) as a religious radical.  A revolutionary fanatic.  A miss-guided dreamer.  A disillusioned Jew and a false messiah.

Religion sees Him and a handy Crutch to lean on.  A “last minute” and last resort relief for panic and pain.  A “security blanket” to embrace when times are tough.

He is greater than Adam.  He is greater than Abraham.  He is greater than Moses.  He is greater than the angels.  He is greater than the prophets.  He is greater than the apostles. He is the Epitome of Perfection.  He is GOD.

He is the BREAD of LIFE

He is the LIGHT of the WORLD

He is the DOOR into the FOLD

He is the GOOD SHEPHERD

He is the RESURRECTION and the LIFE

He is the TRUE VINE

He is the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE

He is the ALPHA and the OMEGA

He is the GREAT I AM

He is KING of kings and LORD of lords

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.   Isa 9:6

Word for Today:  December 10

Spirit, Soul, Body

Spirit

When you became Born Again the King of kings and the Lord of lords Recreated your human spirit and gave it power to rule and reign with Jesus through the power of His Righteous Nature.

The new birth experience is compared to the Old Testament rite of circumcision.

For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit…  Romans 2:28-29

Just as there is a cutting away of the flesh in physical circumcision, there is a cutting away of the flesh in the Circumcision of the heart.  The sword of the Word cuts away and removes forever the sin nature in us and we are made righteous.  We do not have two natures… we have one nature… and that nature is the Nature of Christ.

But he that is JOINED unto the LORD is ONE SPIRIT… I Cor 6:17

Soul

Just as spirit was dead to God before the New Birth so was our mind darkened and blinded because of sin.  It was bound and limited to operate by reason, emotion and sense knowledge.

As our spirit was Quickened (made alive) and joined to the Lord, our soul (mind, will and emotions) was also joined to Jesus.  As our Spirit took on the image of Jesus Christ our mind (soul) became the mind of Christ capable of thinking God thoughts and storing up Word Truth.

For who hath known the mind of the LORD that He may instruct him?  But we have the MIND of CHRIST…  I Cor 2:16

Body

Our unsaved physical body also functioned in slavery, darkness and bondage to sin.  Its appetites and desires were unchecked and undisciplined.  It was subject to satan’s dominion and destined to die.

But now we are:

Members of His Body, of His Flesh, and of His Bones…  Eph 5:30

Our physical body has become the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which (who) is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s… I Cor 6:19-20

Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  I Cor 3:16

We are a New Creation

There are at least five factors in the REDEMPTIVE PLAN God has set forth for the human race that we need to see. Each one of these factors concerns a specific part of the Ministry of Jesus. When we focus on JESUS we touch the heart of God. Jesus is the CENTRAL SUBJECT of GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN for Man. It is not Systems or Doctrines or Churches or Denominations or Traditions or Religions. IT IS JESUS… It is not Preachers or Ministries or Programs or Procedures or Personalities… IT IS JESUS.

1. The MIRACULOUS BIRTH (Incarnation) of JESUS. This was the fulfillment of the Prophetic Utterances of OT prophets and the Completion of the Promises God had made concerning a COMING MESSIAH­ – REDEEMER. The Birth of Jesus came in the “fullness of times” according to the Master Plan of Father God. Jesus was Prophesied and Promised and Foreordained. (Gen 3:15) Jesus came at the precise time and in the prescribed manner that GOD HAD SAID.

2. The MIRACULOUS MINISTRY  of JESUS. He came to SET THE EXAMPLE and ESTABLISH GOD’S PLAN for the Church on Earth. He Preached, He Taught, He Healed the Sick, He Cast out devils and He Raised the Dead. He SET IN MOTION the PLAN of GOD for the CHURCH on Earth… and it is STILL BEING CARRIED OUT.

3. The MIRACULOUS DEATH of JESUS on the CROSS. This is where we are right now. We are considering the CROSS. The Church is once again forced to come to the Cross and to Behold the Suffering Savior. He suffered in preparation for Sovereignty. He could not be SOVEREIGN without SUFFERING. HIS BLOOD RATIFIED the COVENANT GOD has given to the Church aced made all the REDEMPTIVE PRIVILEGES and POWERS WORKABLE. “For by one offering, He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified…” (Nab 10:14)

4. The MIRACULOUS RESURRECTION of JESUS from the DEAD. His Resurrection from the dead provided POWER and ABILITY and AUTHORITY to implement and fulfill the Plan of God for the Human Race “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead lives in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you…” (Rom 8:11) Resurrection Power is, the Enabling Power and Authority of the New Creation. It is the very’ FORCE that PREVAILS and grants the CHURCH of the LIVING GOD VICTORY over DEATH, HELL, and the GRAVE. Hallelujah!

5.  The MIRACULOUS ASCENTION of JESUS into HEAVEN. The ASCENSION of Jesus ESTABLISHED the BELIEVER’S HEAVENLY POSITION “IN CHRIST” “And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:6) “…because as He is so are we in this world…” (I John 4:171

Word for Today:  December 9

The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth… John 1:14.

He is more than a HELPLESS BABY wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

He is more than a once-a-year Christmas celebration.

He is more than a mere Carpenter’s Son

He is more than an itinerant wandering Preacher

The world saw Him (and still does) as a religious radical.  A revolutionary fanatic.  A miss-guided dreamer.  A disillusioned Jew and a false messiah.

Religion sees Him and a handy Crutch to lean on.  A “last minute” and last resort relief for panic and pain.  A “security blanket” to embrace when times are tough.

He is greater than Adam.  He is greater than Abraham.  He is greater than Moses.  He is greater than the angels.  He is greater than the prophets.  He is greater than the apostles. He is the Epitome of Perfection.  He is GOD.

He is the BREAD of LIFE

He is the LIGHT of the WORLD

He is the DOOR into the FOLD

He is the GOOD SHEPHERD

He is the RESURRECTION and the LIFE

He is the TRUE VINE

He is the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE

He is the ALPHA and the OMEGA

He is the GREAT I AM

He is KING of kings and LORD of lords

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.   Isa 9:6

Word for Today:  December 8

Jesus came to reveal the Nature of God.

He came from Heaven to show us what God is like.  He came to earth to answer the question:  “What is God like?”  And He is the Perfect Revelation of God.  Jesus “condescended” and “made Himself of no reputation…” to reveal to you and me and all creation Who God is and What God is like.

The Incarnation of Christ is the greatest miracle of all time.

All the world can now know God and God’s Person, Nature and Character.

Jesus perfectly and completely reveals the Nature of our Father God.  He said:

 “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father…”

Jesus condescended to this earth and “made Himself of no reputation”   He “laid down” and literally “left in heaven”:

• His equality with God
• The Glory He shared with the Father in Heaven
• His Authority in Heaven
• His Divine attributes and outward powers

He “Emptied Himself” order to reveal the Nature and Character of God.  Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.

Philippians 2

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery  (something to be grasped at)  to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, (emptied Himself) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus came to earth and put a Face on God

Word for Today:  December 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:  December 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:  December 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