dickbraswell

Word for Today:  October 21

Jesus’ self-emptying.

(Jesus) Who existing in the Form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation (Kenoo) and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…  Phil. 2:6-8

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel…  Isa. 7:13

The Kenosis of Jesus is a Foundation Truth that many have failed to grasp.  Kenosis or “self-emptying” simply declares that Jesus willingly “emptied” Himself of His God Characteristics and condescended to the stature and state of a man… a human being… born of a woman… and came to earth to live and die as part of God’s Plan to Redeem Man from Adam’s failure.

Jesus laid down and left in heaven certain characteristics and privileges He exercised as God.  He willingly emptied Himself of His God Form… His God Power… His God Knowledge… His Eternal Life.  He became subject to sickness, disease, death, failure, sin and any and all human liabilities and limitations imposed by Adam’s sin and failure.  The Scripture tells us that:

He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin… (Heb. 4:15)

Jesus willingly and obediently subjected Himself to the possibility of sin and the possibility of failure when He put off His God Characteristics and took on Himself the form and limitations of humanity.

But He was Victor over temptation.  He was Victor over sin.  He was Victor over every human weakness.  He was Victor over all…

Even death and the grave

Word for Today:  October 20

It matters

It really matters what and how you believe.  You can’t just believe anything and everything and live.  If you do not Believer Right you move into the realm of death.  If you do not Believe Right you will constantly be defeated and overcome by demon forces.

Jesus said to Martha at the tomb of Lazarus:

I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live;  and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believeth thou this?  John 11:25-26.

Do you Believe?  What do you believe?  How do you believe?  In whom do you believe?  Be sure you believe right.  Ignorance is no excuse.  False doctrine and flawed teaching is no excuse.  Religious tradition and denominational doctrines are no excuse.  To believe right is believing:

• That the Bible is the Word of God.
• That Jesus is the Son of God.
• That Jesus Died on the Cross for the sin of the world.
• That Jesus went to hell and conquered the devil.
• That Jesus rose again in the fullness of His Resurrection Power.
• That He is Alive.  Now.  And forever.
• That He has empowered His Church to do His Work on earth.
• That He is returning to claim His own and establish His Earthly

Believing this really matters.

Believing right determines your eternal future

Word for Today:  October 19

Your choice to live and not die must be made in the present.

It cannot be made in the past and it cannot be made in the future… it must be made in the present.    Once you choose you set the entire course of your life.  Your life begins to flow in the direction of your choice.  When you choose to live things pertaining to life begin to happen all around you.  When you choose to give in and give up, you begin to die and things of death begin to happen all around you.

Your choosing life will affect your family and your future.  It will save or destroy.  It will bring health or cause disease.  Your choice to live will change circumstances and situations.

As you choose daily to live and not die you determine your daily Spiritual and Physical Welfare.  You will win when you choose life.  You will lose when you choose death.  These are choices you make on a daily and hourly basis.  People who are constantly sad, frustrated, depressed, despondent, anxious, hurt, angry and impatient are experiencing all these negative forces simply because they refused to choose life.

Have you wondered how some people seem to always be happy and full of joy?  Have you wished that you could be the same way?  You can, too.

Because it is up to you.

It is a matter of choice.

Your Choice

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:  Deut 30:19

Word for Today:  October 18

Practically every situation on the world scene today is indicative of death, decay and defeat.

Fear prevails.  War threatens.  Terror rules.  Starvation and deprivation are the norm for two-thirds of the earth’s population.  There is NO HOPE in the natural.  Even at life’s best, death is only a heart-beat… a single breath away.  Cemeteries and funeral homes and hospitals and morgues are a constant reminder of the relentless pursuit of death.  Death is the counterpart of life in the world system and it is constantly overtaking the living.

But there is a way to live and keep from dying.

The Bible says that we can Choose Life and Refuse death.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you Life and Death blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may LIVE…   (Deut 30:19).

To choose Life and refuse Death is to Choose God and refuse the devil.

For He (God) is thy life and the length of thy days… (Verse 20).

Now, since people had rather live than die how can they do it?  Had you rather live than die?  Then it’s up to you.  Most think they can do nothing about life and nothing about death, but the Bible says that you have the privilege of Choosing which one you want…  The Bible says that we have a choice in the matter.  As a matter of fact, it gives us a simple multiple choice test.  Then, God is so anxious for you to get it right, He tells you which answer to choose!

When you choose to live you also choose for your seed to live.  When you choose to die you also choose for your seed to die.

God has bestowed awesome power in you.  He has given you the power and authority to choose.  What you choose and accept is what will come to pass.  What you refuse and resist is what will go away.  This is a Divine Principle set forth in the Word.

What choice will you make today?

Word for Today:  October 14

Behold Jesus as a Perfect Man

ALL the miracles that Jesus performed while He was on earth were performed by a Human Being Full of the Holy Ghost and Power.  What He did… we can do.  What He accomplished as a Man, we can accomplish as men and women full of the Holy Ghost and living in that anointing.

He spoke to storms and they stopped.  He spit and made mud from it, put it on blind eyes and they were opened.  He confronted demon powers and they feared and trembled and begged for mercy.  He touched crippled and broken bodies and they were made whole.   He spoke healing to the sick and diseased and they were healed.  He received sinners and had mercy on the guilty.  He loved the unlovable and had compassion on the masses.  He raised the dead… cleansed lepers… resisted the devil… opened graves… interrupted funerals and restored the dead to their families…   He made wine out of water… friends out of enemies… peace out of confusion and torment… joy out of sadness and Heaven out of hell…  And then He told us that:

greater works than these shall ye do; because I go unto my Father… John 14:12.

Jesus is our Example.  Jesus is our Pattern.  Jesus is the guarantee that we can overcome the devil and take dominion over the powers of darkness.

What He did… we can do

Word for Today:  October 13

One of the greatest illustrations of God’s Power being released through the Gifts of the Spirit happened to me back in the late 70’s when I was invited to teach in a leadership conference being held in Santiago, Chile, South America.

My assignment was to teach on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to a group of Methodist leaders who had come from many districts in Chile to attend the conference.  When my interpreter (from English to Spanish) failed to show up, I was faced with an insurmountable difficulty.  It was impossible (in the natural) to communicate with the class of about 30 who had chosen to learn about the Holy Spirit and His present-day work in the Church.

After a few minutes of utter frustration, I began to forcefully speak out loud in Tongues.  The room was suddenly filled with the Power of God.  The interpretation was supernatural.  When I finally found someone to come and translate for me, I was informed that those in the class heard and understood what I had spoken in their native language, Spanish.

They told me through the interpreter, that they received specific instruction on how to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

And they all did.

It was a Miracle of the First Order

Word for Today:  October 12

Unity.

When the Body of Christ is functioning in Unity, the Power of God is Released into the earth.

There is unimaginable power in Agreement.  One of the greatest and most powerful tactics of the enemy is to divide the Body of Christ and in dividing, he can conquer.  When we are together… in unity…. we will all say the same thing with the same mind and heart and when we do the forces of darkness are crippled.  Defeated.

Demons cannot operate and the devil cannot destroy when we are One.  This unity must be one that crosses all lines.  Racial lines. Cultural lines.  Economic lines.  Family lines.

Whatever the walls of division are…. They must be destroyed if His Power is to be experienced in us and released into the earth.

What can you do today to build a bridge instead of a wall?

Word for Today:  October 11

The present-day New Testament church cannot be successfully governed by carnal, uncalled, unanointed leadership. It is not and never was the Will of God for the Church to be a democratic institution.

As difficult to understand as it is in our American culture, proper New Testament church government is not democratic in principle.  We need to understand that the leadership of the local church MUST be unfettered.  They must never be controlled, influenced or manipulated by those who are not spiritually minded.

The early church, which is described in the Book of Acts, had a unique and innovative method of government.  It was not governed by democratic principles as most denominational churches are in this present day.  It was Apostolic in nature.

Decisions and actions undertaken by the church must be made and implemented by those whom God has placed in positions of leadership. The Apostle.  The Prophet.  The Pastor.  The Teacher.  The Evangelist. Ruling Elders… those with a Call from Heaven on their lives who are demonstrating the anointing of the Holy Ghost in their lives and ministry. And those who are privileged to occupy such honored positions need to be accountable to one another and respected for their varied ministries.

God will lead, the Word will Guide and success will be guaranteed.

A Prophetic Perspective of Present Day Global Event

Ezekiel 36 – 39

The Book was written while Ezekiel was exiled in Babylon (Iraq) approximately 600 years before Christ

His ministry extended over twenty-three years  595-573 B.C. 

He was contemporary with Daniel and Jeremiah, and probably also with Obadiah.

His prophesies deal with:

                The captivity of Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem

                Judgment on other nations for their part in Israel’s sin and rebellion

1. In the Last Days Israel will be Re-Born

37:11  Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

37:12  Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

37:13  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

37:14  And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

36:24  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

2. In the Last Days Israel will be Restored

36:33  Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.

36:34  And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

36:35  And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.

36:36  Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.  (and He has!)

3. In the Last Days Israel will be Re-United

37:15 ¶  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

37:16  Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:

37:17  And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

The Divided Kingdom (Judah and Israel) becomes One Kingdom in the End Time…

4. In the Last Days Israel will be Re-Gathered

37:21  And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:

37:22  And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

5. In the Last Days Israel will be Invaded by Armies from the North

1 ¶  Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

2  And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

AND… “in the last days…”

Restored Israel will be Invaded by Gog and his army… (Eze 38)

38:14 ¶  Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

38:15  And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

38:16  And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

“Gog” is a person.  The “Chief Prince” of a group of nations.

“Magog” is an assembly of nations that will be led by Gog in the invasion of Israel in the last                                          days.

Magog, Meshech and Tubal were sons of Japheth (remember the sons of Noah and the “table of nations” in Gen 10?)  They are the ancestors of the people of northern Eurpope…  (the Russians, Muscovites, Cappadocians, etc)

Gog, in the land of Magog, the chief prince of (Rosh), Meshech, and Tubal, will invade the restored land of Israel from the North, with a powerful army of many nations. (38:1-9)

Their intention will be to plunder Israel, which will be dwelling in security. (38:10-16)

But when Gog and his army (from the north) invade Israel, they will be destroyed by the wrath and judgment of the Lord.

On the mountains of Israel Gog with all his hosts and nations will be destroyed by the wrath of God.

The inhabitants of the cities of Israel will spend seven years in burning the weapons of the fallen foe, and seven months in burying the corpses in a valley.

In the meantime all the birds and wild beasts will fill themselves with the flesh and blood of the fallen

What is the meaning of this?

 This is a global conflict that will end this age.

This is a war that will be like no other war in all recorded history.

This will be a group of nations led by a “mad man” with the intent of destroying Israel and Israel’s God.

This battle will be the “mother of all battles” and will be won in an instant.

God will intervene and destroy Gog, Magog and all the nations set in array against Israel

This could well be the Biblical “Battle of Armageddon”… the Apocalypse

Gog and Magog may well be the antichrist and his gathered forces that will attempt to overthrow Israel and destroy Israel’s God

NOW… where are we in all of this??

At this moment in history, all eyes are on Israel and Iran.  They are in the vortex of an impending conflict.

BUT… The USA and Russia are also key players in this end-time scenario.

Iran is hell-bent on destroying Israel… and has publically declared that it will “wipe Israel off the map…”

Iran is driven by an Islamic Mad Man who believes it is his mission in life to create a world-destroying war in order to bring back the Islamic “messiah.”

In light of this… Israel is poised for an immediate pre-emptive strike to defend itself… and rightly so.

Ahmadinejad has vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the map.

He has asked Muslims to envision a world without the United States.

He believes that Israel is the Little Satan and the U.S. is the Great Satan.

He believes the end of the world is just a few years away and that it is his mission to bring it about.

Iran is developing its nuclear capability and could literally be weeks away from deploying missiles with atomic warheads.

Today, for the first time in two thousand years, we are seeing all these signs come true, and the rebirth of Israel is the most dramatic sign of them all. We can, therefore, have confidence that Jesus’ return is closer than ever. What’s more, we can be confident that our generation will not pass away before we see this remarkable event occur.  (Mat 24:24)

No other generation in history has been able to say that, but we now can. It is true that Jesus cautions us not to speculate on the exact day and hour of his return. But we are encouraged to watch current events closely and know when the clock is running out.

Word for Today:  October 9

Use what you have. Begin where you are.

David, the sling shot boy, did not wait until he had something else or something better… he took what he had and trusted God to make it work…  He took his staff… his sling… and five smooth stones.  He did not wait for something better or delay for more equipment to arrive… He used what he had.

You can take what you have and defeat the devil today.  If you have been waiting for something else you have been waiting in vain.  Some are waiting for more faith…. more strength… more favorable circumstances… more money…  but God wants you to take what you have and use it to overcome the devil.

You are a New Creation in Christ Jesus and you can do all things through Him.  You have more than enough right now to overcome the devil. Remember… the devil’s biggest and best is still no match for the smallest and weakest in the Kingdom.   Jesus said: “He that is least in the Kingdom is greater than John the Baptist…”

David took what he had and partnered with God. And that, friend, will always give you the advantage over the powers of darkness.  Any warfare with the devil is always unfair to the devil…  he always has the short end of the stick and is at the mercy of the weakest Believer.

What you have is enough.

Just. Use. It.