dickbraswell

Word for Today:  December 31

A Higher Call

God calls His People into realms beyond the natural.  We are birthed into a higher dimension when we get Born Again.     The New Creation is delivered from the “old things” and brought into the realm of “all things new”.   The Word says “we are in the world, but not of the world…”  We are citizens of “another country” and we have been raised up to sit with Jesus in “heavenly places…”   The New Testament is the Believer’s Instruction Manual.  It tells us how to Live in the realm of the Supernatural and it gives instructions about how to live Heaven’s Life here on earth.

The majority of the Church is living far below the full potential God has birthed in it.  Most who make up the Church do not know the hidden forces that are in them.  The very Forces that make God, God are inside every Believer…  There is great and awesome potential inside every New Creation in Christ.  Why do you think the Word tells us that we “can do all things through Christ…”  Why do you think God tells us that “nothing shall be impossible to you…”  Why do you think God promises us that “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven…”  We are called to be “more than conquerors…” and we have been equipped with mighty weapons of warfare that are “not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds…”  God is calling you and me to SEE THE INVISIBLE and DO THE IMPOSSIBLE…   Heb 11:27

Live in your Supernatural Dimension

Word for Today:  December 30

There is only one fool-proof evidence of the New Birth.

Jesus gave this criteria to us in His Word.  This is the one most important characteristic of the Christian Walk.  Nothing is more important than this.  This one demand and one command is basic.  Jesus talked about it more than anything else and He demonstrated it more perfectly than any other message of His earthly ministry.  He longed to see it in His disciples and He knew that it would be the basis for the New Testament Church.  If the Church is to BE what Jesus died for it to be and if the Church is to DO what He died for it to do, then this one thing is absolutely necessary.

I am convinced that this is the greatest need in this hour.  It is a need for the Church and it is a need for all Evangelical Ministries.  It is perhaps the greatest need in your life as a Believer.  It is not impossible.  It is possible.  It is necessary.  It is vital.  It is fundamental to the continuation of the Gospel on earth.

Jesus called this a “new commandment.”  A new commandment I give unto you…  (John 13:34)  He knew that He was soon to depart and He wanted so desperately for His followers to be adequately equipped to continue His Ministry on earth.  He did not emphasize theology.  He did not emphasize education.  He did not emphasize experience or ability.  He brought attention to the one thing that will guarantee the continued success of the Gospel Message.

He also stated that this would be the one qualifying characteristic that would cause the world to know how we stand with God.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples… (John 13:35)   BY THIS….

This is the one thing that will tell the world where you stand with God.  And this is the greatest thing needed in the world today.

That thing is LOVE

Word for Today:  December 24

The Word Became Flesh.

Tomorrow, the whole world will recognize and celebrate the Miracle of the Ages.  Nothing in time or eternity can match the significance of what happened on a Judean hillside nearly 2000 years ago.

All of time has been divided into “before” and “after” because of this Divine Visitation.  Jesus came.  Jesus came from heaven.  Jesus was sent by God into the earth.  He came in the form of flesh and was born of a virgin.  This had never happened before and it will never happen again.

This is the Miracle of the Ages.  God became Flesh.

And 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

The Incarnation is the most significant, awesome and overwhelming work of God since the Creation of all things. It (the Incarnation) is the crowning achievement of the Work of God and is the most complete expression and revelation of His Nature and Character.

This is the Real Christmas

Word for Today:  December 21

Christ hath…

Christ hath (past tense) redeemed us from the curse of the law… that the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:13; 29)

• The Believer is redeemed from the curse of the Law.
• The Believer is redeemed from Guilt and Condemnation.
• The Believer is redeemed from Sickness and Disease.
• The Believer is redeemed from Failure and Poverty.
• The Believer is redeemed from satan’s control and dominion.
• The Believer is redeemed from the penalty of sin (hell).
• The Believer no longer lives under the law of sin and death but has been redeemed and empowered to live by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:2)

“Redeemed” means purchased or ransomed in order to set free.  Therefore, the Believer is a Purchased Possession of the Father.   We are bought with the Precious Blood of His Dear Son Jesus Christ.

And we belong to and are the property of God.  We are literally God’s Possession, God’s Dwelling and God’s Building.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.  1 Cor 3:9

“For God so loved the World He gave…”  Jesus loved so much He took off His God suit and put on a human suit, left heaven and came to earth. 

At the time JESUS appeared as a Babe in Bethlehem, Israel had been without a prophet for more than five hundred years.  There had been No Word from Heaven.  No Fresh Revelation.  No Holy Ghost Visitation.  There was No Vision and No Visitation.  Human hearts were stricken with barrenness and emptiness.  God seemed to be gone and heaven appeared to be brass.  Prayers were prayed in vain, and religion had lost its life.  Spiritual Desperation had swept over Israel.

Godly people were at the mercy of a Political Monster.  Rome was in power, and Caesar was their god.  Humanistic philosophers and unbridled immorality ruled.  The Roman Army was cruel, savage, and merciless.  Poor people were the pawns of injustice, slavery, oppression, and fear. 

The sick remained sick until they died.  The lame remained crippled, and the blind remained sightless.  The bruised and broken and found NO ANSWER.  People were hurting and hearts were crying.  Jesus came to HEAL and HURTING WORLD.

Some of you are hurting.  This is not a time of “great joy” and “celebration” it is a time of heaviness, sadness, grief, and despondency.  Some of you are bruised and wounded and lonely and forgotten.  Sin and satan have taken their toll and despair has set in.  Suicide seems logical and quitting is easier than coping.  All the lightheartedness and celebration only send you deeper into despair. 

I have news for you… GOOD NEWS!  Jesus came to HEAL YOUR HURT.  He is more than a BABE wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a MANGER…  HE IS THE LORD GOD WHO REIGNETH FOREVER!  He is here NOW to bless, rescue and restore you.  He is here to fix your brokenness and bring you out of your slough of despair. 

At this special season HE is reaching out to you.  Everything you see that is about Christmas is a reminder from God that HE LOVES YOU and gave HIS LIFE for you.

Word for Today:  December 17

One Factor.

There is only one factor that gives credibility to any legitimate ministry.    There is only one factor that guarantees the success of Kingdom work.  There is only one factor that makes preachers really preach and churches really produce lasting results.  Effectiveness and productiveness are not the result of man’s effort, ingenuity or education.   Success is not correctly measured by size.  Bigger is not always better.   And smarter is not always wiser.   Breadth is never as important as depth.

In Kingdom Ministry it is the Anointing that produces results.  Without the anointing all our efforts are but sounding brass and tinkling symbols.  Where there is no anointing, there is no Life.  It is the anointing that breaks the yoke and sets the captive free.  It is the anointing that brings revelation and produces conviction.  It is the anointing that moves the heart and rends the soul.

With all our getting, preachers, let us be certain we get unction.  Education is good, but it can never substitute for anointing.   Personality and popularity and acclaim are good, but they can never accomplish what the anointing can accomplish.  The coming Millennial Kingdom will operate in limitless anointing.  This anointing will change nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues.  The anointing will bring glory to God and honor to Jesus.

In all the years of ministry, I’m not so sure as to exactly what the anointing really is, or how to adequately explain it, but I can surely tell when I haven’t got it.  And so can you.

• The anointing gives credibility to ministry.
• The anointing eradicates human limitation.
• The anointing speaks the truth.
• The anointing breaks the stronghold of the enemy.
• The anointing ignites the hearts of complacent Christians and impregnates the barren church to produce children.

We must have the anointing

Word for Today:  December 16

God chose you.

According as He hath chosen us in Him, before the foundation of the world… having predestinated (foreordained) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His Will… Eph. 1:4-5

God chose you and called you.  You are a special Selection of the Father.  He brought you into the world in this narrow corridor of time to provide you with the very best.  You are blessed.  You are chosen.  You are called.  You are favored.  God carefully orchestrated gene pool of your ancestors to produce in you the very talents and abilities that are necessary for you to be effective and victorious in the Things of God.  You are important.  You are unique.  You are special.  You are one of a kind.

God not only chose you but He also called you.  You have a calling on your life.  You have a purpose and a ministry to fulfill.  No one else can do it.  If you do not do it, it will not get done.  Every New Creation individual is called to produce and bear fruit.  To Reproduce.  To Multiply.  To Expand and Extend the Kingdom of God.

Never forget…

You are Significant

Word for Today:  December 12

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

How do we get God’s abundant supply to our need?

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 existing (in the present) side by side.  One is the Natural World (the world we can see and touch and taste and hear and feel).  The visible, natural, physical world.  This is the world we live in.  The world that our mind (soul) and our body relates to.  This world is easy to perceive because it relates 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.  It effects change in the Natural World because it is reality in the Spiritual. World.  What we make as a determined and conscious act of our human will starts things happening.

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.

When our Believing explodes as a Revelation coming out of our Spirit, it produces change in the physical, natural world.

His supply will always satisfy our need

          Faith really does work.  However, we need to un­derstand some basic principles about the Spiritual world and the Natural world.  Faith is a spiritual force.  It works first in the spiritual world before it is manifested in the natural world.  Let me attempt to explain.

          There are, right now, two separate and dis­tinct worlds in existence and they are existing simultaneously.  They are real.  They exist side by side and they exist now.  The one world we are most familiar with is the natural world.  This is the world that we see.  This is the world that relates to our five physical senses.  This world is easy to believe and re­late to because we can see it, feel it, hear it, smell it and taste it.  It is the natural world. 

However, there is also an­other world, just and real and just as vital as the natu­ral world.  It is the spiritual world.  It is more difficult for us to understand and relate to because it is unseen.  It does not relate to our physical senses.  It is invisible and spiri­tual.  But just be­cause we cannot see it does not mean it is “not there.”  We cannot see air, but we know it is pre­sent.  Electricity is invisible (apart from lightning) but we know it is real.  We cannot “see” many of the suns, moons, stars, planets and galaxies that are in our uni­verse, but we know they are there, and they are real.   We cannot see our brain or our heart or our mind or our internal physical organs, but we know they are there because we are alive and functioning. Therefore, just because we can­not “see” something does not mean that it is not “there.” 

The Bible tells us about things that are in­visible.

For the invisible things of him from the cre­ation of the world are clearly seen, being under­stood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without ex­cuse: Rom. 1:20  

Who is the image of the invisible God, the first­born of every creature: Col. 1:15  

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and in­visible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Col. 1:16  

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisi­ble, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1Tim. 1:17  

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebr. 11:27  

          The spiritual world is just as real as the natural world.  Physical forces and physical beings work in and relate to the natural world.  Spiritual forces and spiritual beings work in and relate to the spiritual world.  Faith is one of the spiritual forces that works in the unseen spiritual world.   Here are some interesting verses that of­ten cause trouble for the Believer:

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 18:19  

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matt. 21:22   

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glori­fied in the Son. John 14:13  

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14  

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7  

And in that day ye shall ask me noth­ing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. John 16:23  

          Maybe we have “asked” and nothing seemed to happen.  We may have even “asked in Jesus’ Name” and still nothing appears to have happened.  Did you ever sin­cerely “ask in prayer, believing” and still got “no answer?”  Perhaps the Word abides in us as far as we can tell, and when we pray, no answer seems to come.   What is wrong?  What is the matter?  What is the hold-up? 

Look at it this way:

          We did get an answer.  We just cannot “see” it yet.  It was just as God said it would be in His Word.  The thing we need to understand is that the answer came in the spiritual world.  This is the world we cannot “see” into.  But it is real.   It is just as real as the natural world.  Now, what we must do is see it with our “faith eyes.”  Remember what the Bible says about “walking by faith?”

For we walk by faith, not by sight:  2Cor. 5:7  

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2Cor. 4:18  

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1  

          We need to be totally convinced that it (the an­swer that is presently in the spiritual world) is “on the way” to being manifested in the physical world.   We do not need to keep on pray­ing about it and asking for it be­cause we do not “see it” in the natural world with our natural eyes.  The Bible thing to do is to thank God for the answer and praise God for the answer even before you ex­peri­ence it in this world.  It really is on the way.  When will it get here?  Remember the delay Daniel’s prayer had because of the conflict in the heaven­lies?

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to under­stand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. Dan. 10:12  

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia with­stood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Dan. 10:13  

          Actually, three things are happening as we wait for our answer.

First, God is working. 

He never puts us on “hold.”  He hears and He begins to work in our be­half.  We may not know it or be aware of it, but He is doing things and moving things and working things out in the spiritual realm that will answer our prayer and mani­fest our miracle.  Thank Him for actively “processing” your case.  Give Him time to get it done.  Do not blame Him for not hear­ing.  He always hears.  He never slum­bers or sleeps.  His ear is always inclined toward us and our in­terces­sion.

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, there­fore will I call upon him as long as I live. Ps. 116:2  

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall nei­ther slumber nor sleep. Ps. 121:4  

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isa. 65:24  

Second, Satan is fighting.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph. 6:11  

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12  

          The powers of darkness are warring against our an­swer.  They will fight, complicate, hold up and hinder in any way possible just to keep us from receiving our an­swer.  Just as the Prince of Persia withstood Daniel’s prayer, so will these same prin­cipalities and powers with­stand our praying, our asking and our believing.  But that does not mean that God has not heard and that He has not an­swered our asking.  Satan is fighting.  demons are warring.  Principalities and powers are resisting and complicating and hindering.  But we have power over all the powers of the devil.  Therefore, we can bind and we can loose and we can keep on be­lieving.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and what­soever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.   Matt. 16:19  

Third, our patience is being developed. 

This is probably the hardest part.  Waiting.  Waiting without get­ting discouraged and disappointed.  Refusing to get mad at God or to blame God or to doubt His Word… all these are very hard to do if we do not see immediate results to our praying and be­lieving. 

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Rom. 8:25  

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebr. 10:36  

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:3  

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4  

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who pros­pereth in his way, be­cause of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Ps. 37:7  

          Here are some things we can do while we wait:

          We can understand that our waiting is developing pa­tience: (hupomone “cheerfulness, en­durance, con­stancy”).  According to James we should count this “all joy” (Jas 1:2)

          Hold on to hope.  Hope believes that better things are on the way.  Hope knows that changes for the better on coming soon.  Hope is optimistic and expectant. 

          Know that God is faithful (trustworthy).  God will honor His Word.  God will al­ways perform what He Promises.  “God is faith­ful…”  is the Magna Charta  of the New Testament Church.  He will not fail us.  He will not forsake us.  He will show up and deliver us in time and at the right time.  

The Bible is a record of God’s faithfulness.  “In the full­ness of time…”  There is a “time” set aside for every pur­pose and every answer.  Do not frustrate God’s Grace by getting impatient.  Impatience has birthed many Ishmaels.  Taking over before God gets through can be disastrous.  Let “patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (teleos: com­plete, full grown) and entire (complete in every part, perfectly sound, whole), wanting nothing…”  (James 1:4)

          There is a way of escape.   God is faithful.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Cor. 10:13  

He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can stand.  But with every temptation, He will also make a Way of escape.  Remember, Jesus said:  “I am the Way…”  (Jn 14:6)

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the en­emy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19  

          Nothing shall by any means hurt us.  No evil shall come near the place we dwell…

Because God is faithful!

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thou­sand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.  Psa 91:7   

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isa. 54:17  

Remember the Word.  Recall  the Word.  Rehearse the Word.  Exercise it like you exercise your mus­cles.  Use it.  Let it rise up out of your spirit.  Temper the Word with aggressiveness.  Be offen­sive and attack your hard situation with the Revelation God gives you in His Word.  “It is writ­ten…”  “God says…”  “The Word declares…”  “God, you said…”  “Father, You promised…”   Say the Word and say it out loud so that God can hear it and you can hear it and your situation can hear it and the devil and demons can hear it. 

          Quit worrying.  At least 99% of the things we worry about never happen.  Settle in your heart that ev­erything is really all right.  Remember… “All is well.”  Satan exaggerates and intensi­fies and magnifies the negative.  God is in control.  The devil is a liar.  So whatever he tells us, the very op­posite is the truth.   If  he says you are going to lose, then the truth is you are going to win.  If he says you are going to fail, then the truth is you are going to succeed.  If he says you are terminally ill, then the truth is you are going to live and not die.  

          Worship Jesus. Seek Jesus… not the answer to your problem.  The more we worship Him the less we think about our problem.  Sing.  Pray.  Bow before Him.  Pray in the Spirit.  Prophesy to your­self.  Worship God.

          Let’s summarize some of the things we have learned about Faith:

1.  We have faith.   God gave us faith.  Our faith is a gift from God, and we have it right now if we are born again. 

2.  Faith is an attribute of God… it is a part of God’s nature and as God’s children we have received a nature like that of our Heavenly Father.  God is a Faith God, and we are “partakers of His Divine Nature…” 1 Pet 1:4

3. Faith is developed by Hearing the Word of God.  Where the Word is abundant, Faith is strong, and miracles happen.  No Word means no faith.  Little Word means little faith.  Much Word means great faith.  Faith is proportionate to hearing, be­lieving and doing the Word.

4. Faith has more power than facts. Faith is a first order force… it was here before facts were here.  God used Faith to make facts.  Faith has more power than facts.  Therefore, functioning faith will change, alter and negate facts.  Faith will cause facts to agree with the Word of God.

5.  Faith works.  Faith works for every believer.   If faith is not working for us and elevating us to the position of Reigning in Life, it is our own fault and failure.  We need to recognize this and correct it. 

Word for Today:  December 6

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