dickbraswell

Word for Today:  March 30

Inventory

When we take an inventory, we see what is lacking and discover what is needed.  Then we can place an order so that we will be prepared for the increase.

The wisdom of this world has become greater than the wisdom of the Body of Christ. They (the world) know just where they are and what they have to do in order to make progress.  To succeed.  To make a difference.  The merchants of the world system are wiser than the Children of the Kingdom when it comes to knowing and understanding exactly where they are.  They live in the Inventory Mode.  They have devised technology that instantly and precisely and without error reveals just what they have, what they lost and what they need.

Just what does our spiritual “bar code” tell us when we get scanned by the Holy Spirit?

What kind of record do we have in heaven?  Have we increased?  Have we decreased?  Are we lacking?  Are we depleted?  Do we need to restock? Maybe we need to

Take an Inventory

Word for Today:  March 25

We are made out of dirt.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Ps 103:14

We are all created from (out of) the dust of the earth.  Dirt is necessary for the mass production of any harvest.  Seeds are put into the dirt.  Seeds that are alive and that have full and complete potential for maturing and producing a harvest are planted (put into) in Dirt.  Soil.  Ground.

Jesus gave a parable about how our heart is like ground.  He said the condition of the ground determines the success of the crop.  When the condition is “good” there will be a bountiful harvest.  “Some 30, some 60 and some 100 fold…”

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it;  (puts it together)  which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Mt 13:23

The heart condition must be characterized by (1) hearing the Word (2) understanding the Word and (3) doing the Word.   Hearing is more than listening.  It is hearing with the heart.  Understanding is more than knowing.  It is revelation.  Revelation is powerless unless it is acted on.

What God has planted in you He has destined to come out of you.  It may be in seed form now, but the seed has the power to grow into its fullest manifestation.

In the parable of the Sower (Mark 4), there is an interesting word that is translated “sow.”  It is spi’ ro  and it is derived from a primitive Greek verb which means “to draw out.”

The Bible concept of sowing is DRAWING OUT or PULLING OUT what God has PUT IN.

It does not necessarily mean to scatter or throw out or to cast out it means to “draw out” or “pull out.”  In order for the Seed of God to produce, the ground must PULL OUT of it what GOD has PUT IN IT.

Paul tells the Philippians to “work out your own salvation.” (2:12b)  And this is the idea of “working out” or “pulling out” what God has put in.

In order for sown seed to produce the GROUND has an important responsibility. It must PULL OUT what God has put in.

Work out (pull out) your harvest

Word for Today:  March 24

You can change things.

We are the only limitation God has.   It’s up to us.  Many are sitting around waiting for God to do something and God is waiting for us to do something.  God does not have to do anything else.  He has already done everything for you.

The only limitation in the life of any believer is the believer himself.    Some are praying and believing and fasting and seeking and worrying and weeping and repenting and trying to get what God has already given them.  He has made everything we will ever need available.  He has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  (Eph 1:3)

Not many people are really satisfied with the way things are.  The good news is you can change those things you don’t like.  Most people who are in undesirable situations are saying “I can’t help it.”  But the “I can’t help it” excuse is really a cop out.  And it flies in the Face of God and slanders every promise in the Word.

This kind of information processing results in the “I can’t help it” mind set.  And it is really a MIND SET it is not a WORD SET.  You can change things.  The Word says you can.     When we find ourselves in situations and circumstances that contradict the Word and do not glorify God and enhance His Kingdom, we can change them.

The main reason some cannot change things is because they do not know how to change them.   If they do not know how, then they are among those the Bible speaks about when it says:

My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge…   Hos 4:6

And the Apostle Paul admonishes us to:

Not be ignorant, brethren…   1Thes 4:13

Word for Today:  March 23

There are only two kinds of people on earth.

And I do not mean Men and Women.  People who or either Alive or Dead.  You can be Dead before you are dead.  If you are Alive you know it.  If you are Dead you know it.  The devil is the mer­chant of death.  Jesus came that we might be Become Alive and Stay Alive.

The ultimate purpose and mission of the devil is to kill and destroy.  The devil deals in death and destruction.  Jesus gives Life and Restoration.

All problems and at­tacks are designed by satan to kill you and destroy you.  The devil wants death and destruc­tion to take you over.  Jesus wants Life and Restoration to take you over.

How did Jesus deal with death?  The Bible says He conquered death, hell and the grave.  If He did, they still are.  We need to deal with death just like Jesus dealt with it.

At the grave of Lazarus, Jesus saw impossibility as an opportunity. And He refused to let the death-devil change His plans.  He heard Lazarus was sick but He refused to rush to his bedside in a panic mode.  He knew that nothing, even death, is final when God shows up.  He was not moved by the shocked opinions of those who were looking on.  Instead, He was full of faith and ready to change the impossible.  He spoke life into Lazarus and that dead body recognized the sound of its Creator’s Voice.  Death lost its sting and the grave forfeited a victory.

Deal with your “death situation” just like Jesus dealt with His “Lazarus” situation.

Today can be your Resurrection day

Word for Today:  March 22

What God has sown

What God has planted in you is destined to come out of you.  It may be in seed form now, but it is time for the seed to grow into its fullest manifestation.

It’s in there.  It’s time for it to come forth.  It’s up to you.   Who will you be?  A King or a Kid?  A Seed or a Tree?

Name your dream.  Declare your intentions.  Speak with your mouth words that make things happen.  Faith words.  Word words.  God Words.  Heaven Words.

You will never exceed your declarations.  Your declarations determine your direction. Your declarations determine our destiny.  What you speak out of your heart will create or destroy.  Words are instruments of creation or destruction.  Words make things.

There are Life Producing Forces (seeds) inside every believer.  These forces are put in us by the Work of the Holy Spirit at the time we are Born Again.  They are seeds destined to grow and produce.  They are forces that need to be released into the world.  Into our families.  Into our relationships.  Into the total experience of our lives.

They are in me.  They are in every Believer.  However, seeds are worthless unless they produce.  One seed is not sufficient to sustain life by itself.  It takes many seeds which are planted in good ground to bring forth a crop that is sufficient to sustain victorious living.

The real challenge is to grow these seeds into maturity.  As God plants these Seeds in us, the enemy plants weeds. The purpose of the weeds is to choke out the seeds.

These seeds are the building blocks of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus prayed for the Kingdom to come and for the Will of God to be done ON EARTH just as it is presently being done in Heaven.  These Seeds will produce God’s Kingdom on earth when and if they are planted in good ground and if proper conditions for growth are present.

There is Something great in you

Word for Today:  March 20

What are Storms?

Storms are circumstances and situations.   Storms are problems.  Storms are crises.  Storms are hindrances and delays and disappointments.  Storms are situations that plague us and harass us and attempt to destroy us.  Storms are sicknesses and physical attacks. Storms are Family conflicts and marriage troubles.  Storms are difficulties and impossibilities in the work place. Storms are addictions and habits that keep us in bondage.  Storms are demonic.

Where do Storms come from?  What causes them?

Storms are caused by the devil.  They are demonic attacks.  They are designed to do what the devil wants to do to you… to kill you, to steal your goods, and to completely destroy you.  Storms are planned and birthed in hell.  They are crafted for you personally by the devil and his demons.  They are intended to keep you as far away from God and God’s Purpose as possible.

What is the Purpose of Storms?

The purpose and intent of storms is to stop you before you get where God wants you to be.  Storms arise and winds blow in the process of ministry and spiritual growth.  When you determine to obey God and be a blessing to others is when you will find yourself in a storm with the devil attempt­ing to sink your boat.

The moment you decide to go to the Other Side with Jesus, satan will send a storm to stop you and capsize your boat.  You hear the voice of God… the challenge… the command… (This is point A) and you start out toward point B which is the place where God wants you.  And on the way…. You run into a STORM.

How do we Calm the Storm?

The Word spoken in faith and prayed in faith always creates a calm and produces peace.  When Jesus found Himself in a great storm, He “rebuked” the wind and “said” to the sea… (Mark 4:39)  There is a time to pray and there is a time to arise and speak the Word.

Faith-filled words will make the Natural submit to the Spiritual.  If “no-faith” which is what the dis­ciples had (“how is it that ye have no faith…?”) yields to the destructive power of storms then Faith (which is what Jesus had) makes the de­structive power of storms submit to the Power of God.

Talk to your storm

Over a half century ago, because of the Great Charismatic Controversy (the Baptism of the Holy Spirit), which I received and preached, my heart was troubled, because it seemed my Calling was going to fail, the church which I pastored was going to split, and I would be unable to continue in the ministry.  During this critical period, God gave to me a VERY SPECIAL PROMISE. 

This promise came from His Word, and this promise has KEPT our MINISTRY ALIVE through many years of attacks and satanic conflicts.  Every time it seemed that we are beyond recovery, every time it looked like the end, every time discouragement set in, every time we sank lower, programs failed, finances dried up, every time our dreams were dashed and hope was all but lost… GOD REMINDS ME of this Promise…  Listen:

 “Behold (second person, singular: “you behold…” the word means: look, see, know, be aware, understand, be sure) I have set before thee an open door (“a door standing open…” a continuing fact) and no man can shut it…” (Rev 3:8).

This OPEN DOOR has remained open, and it stands open today.  It is a door of opportunity.  It is a door of continual Word Ministry.  It is a door to our city, our state, this nation, to the islands of the sea and to the nations of this world. 

It is OPEN and God is keeping it that way.  In many years of trials, tests, afflictions and attacks NO MAN has been able to close it.  A major denomination could not.  Lawyers could not.  Crooks and con men could not.  Banks and bankers could not.  Angry and violent men could not.  Personal pain and vicious attacks on my family could not.  NO MAN has been able to shut the door and NO MAN will ever be able to shut the door.

Because of this OPEN DOOR, and because of the Promises of God in the past, and because of His Performance in our behalf and because of His Faithfulness over 55 years, God has challenged my heart to expect the remaining years of my life to see the further fulfillment of the Call and Commission He has given to me…  Because

God Keeps His Word

Word for Today:  March 18

I believe we have missed the point somewhere.

Religion has formed opinions and manufactured definitions of what church is.  I wonder if church is today what it was in the first century?  I wonder if we did today what they did in the first century… would we qualify as ministers…. Or churches… or Christian assemblies?   Would it be acceptable?  Would it fit in our specified scheduled service times?  What would happen?

Perhaps we have become acclimated and accustomed to contemporary activity we call “church” and maybe it is not church at all… at least not church in the sense of the New Testament definition.

Does God wonder what we are doing?  Maybe we should re-evaluate what we do on the Lord’s Day and what happens on Sunday and then compare it with Scripture and see if it is really church or not.

Much of what we call “church” is not church at all.  It may qualify as a “meeting” but it certainly is not “Church.”  Our first question after the services should be “did we have Church?  Or did we just have a meeting.”  Many services in many churches would go right on without the Holy Ghost showing up and many would never know the difference.

• Church is not church if nothing happens.
• Church is not church if shock waves are not sent through hell. (Remember the “gates of hell” thing?
• Church is not church if people in church can sleep right through it.
• Church is not church if it does not engage with God.
• Church is not church when everything is planned and orchestrated by professional religious personnel.
• Church is not church if there is no excitement. No movement.  No action.
• Church is not church if there is no rejoicing.
• Church is not church lives and situations are not changed.

Real Church is radical

Word for Today: March 17

We are suffering loss because we have allowed loss to happen.

Every defeat and every spiritual set back is the result of our laziness, our ignorance, our stupidity or our rebellion.

satan moves in when he is not resisted.  satan stays when we draw back and let him stay.   satan sets up housekeeping when we give place to him.  satan builds strongholds when we do not fight back.  satan cannot do what he is not allowed to do.

Our spiritual condition is precisely what we have allowed it to become.  We can fuss and cuss about the government about world conditions about immorality and crime and ungodliness… we can criticize and complain but what IS is what we as the Body of Christ have allowed to be.

God has equipped us and supplied us with every effective and offensive weapon to stop the devil and drive out demons and take back what hell has stolen… the problem is we have grown fat and lazy and we have gone to sleep.

And while we slept the enemy came and invaded.  Now it is time to attack.  It is time to declare our independence from the powers of darkness… it is the hour to move into the territory of the devil… to charge the gates of hell and demand a refund.

Just go ahead and do it.

Word for Today: March 15

Stand on the WORD.

Maintain your confidence in God’s Faithfulness.  God said it… That settles it.   God promised it and God will provide it.

Let God be true and every man a liar… Rom 3:4

Do not let the things which you have heard “slip”… resist falling back into unbelief and doubt.  Stand on the Word… no matter what.  “Having done all…. stand!”

Actively look for and seek places where you can prove God’s Word.  Hold forth the Word of Life.   Believe the Word by Acting on the Word.  Do the Word.  Speak the Word.  Honor the Word.  Obey the Word.

• Resist compromise and cast out doubt.
• Question your questions and doubt your doubts, but believe God’s word.
• The Word is alive and filled with Power.
• The Word will perform and accomplish that which God purposed it to accomplish.
• The Word will not return void.

It will work.  Anytime.  Every time.  All the time.