dickbraswell

Many years ago, a dear humble farmer would travel over 60 miles each Sunday to attend our small, rural church in Mobile.  He drove an old used-up, dilapidated truck that was showing its age.  You could almost hear him drive in the parking lot because of the worn-out muffler on his truck.  When he got out, he would be dressed in some clean, fresh-pressed overalls.  He was one of our most faithful members.  

Several years after he began attending our little church, he drove all the way down one day to see me in my office.  He came in dressed in his usual attire and was carrying a crumpled paper bag.  Before he took a seat, he walked over and dumped the contents of the bag in the center of my desk.  To my surprise, a collection of pure gold coins rolled out.  I’d never seen that much gold at one time anywhere.  It was remarkable.

“Preacher,” he said, “I’ve had this gold stored away for many years.  When I was younger, I got it by collecting and trading old sewing machines to a group that would export them into other countries and sell them.”  I was listening intently.  The he continued, “God has been speaking to me about helping our church with the building program for our new auditorium.  The only thing I really had of any value was this gold.  So, I am giving it to help pay for our new building.”  Then, we prayed and he left to head back home. 

Nothing like this had ever happened to me before.  We had the gold appraised and converted it into cash for our building project.   If I remember correctly, it turned out to be around thirty thousand dollars. 

We were able to complete our building project successfully and our new auditorium was beautiful.  We had carpeted floors, new padded pews and everything we needed… new sound system, new lighting, a stunning platform with decorative stone walls…. It was awesome.

I was greeting folks at the door one Sunday, and saw a brand-new shiny pick-up truck drive in our parking lot.  When it stopped, my friend, the gold-giver, got out with a big smile on his face.  I was able to get him aside and ask him about his new vehicle.  “Well,” he said, “Preacher, some well drilling guys came out to my place a while back, did some testing, and found that my farm was sitting on a large oil field.  I now have one oil well and more on the way.    God is good, isn’t He?”

That’s the rest of the story

Word for Today:  September 7

It’s up to you.

You are Born Again to release God’s power into the earth.  It is up to you and up to me.  It is up to the church.  The Power of God will not prevail in the earth until and unless we release it.  And it will not happen unless we make it happen.   It will not come out of the Church until it comes out of you.   All of creation is waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God.

For the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Rom. 8:19

Nothing is too hard for God and God lives in you.   The Bible says that with God all things are possible.  Paul wrote that:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me… 

The Word declares that if “You can believe (have the God-kind of faith) all things are possible to him that believeth…”  Mark 9.

When you got saved, God made a Divine Deposit in you.  Your body became the Temple of the Holy Ghost.  You are no longer your own because you were bought with a price…  We are to glorify God with our bodies.  We are Born Again to release the Power of God into the earth.

God is calling us to be channels of His Power.  We are the only restraining force holding back all the relentless powers of darkness that are poised to overthrow every kingdom and nation.

Why is it that atrocities such as those that are presently happening in other parts of the world are not happening here in America?  Because we are called to be the nation from which God will release His power into the earth and throughout the earth.

This nation is the One Nation that God has sovereignly raised up to release His Power into the Human Race.

It starts with you and with me

Word for Today:  September 6

Rivers.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:38

We should come together at ministry time with the Stream Flowing.   Most come to Church to get filled.  They are already dry and empty.  They have been drained by the demands of the unbelieving world and the constant constraints of the enemy.  They come in need.

This is not bad, but it is not the Best.  To come filled up is better.  Filled up and running over.  Can you imagine what kind of a service we would have if everybody came filled up and running over?  No need to get “worked up.”  No need to get “pumped up.”  Coming in as a Mighty Stream.  A Rushing River.  Men and women and young people and children with Rivers of Living water gushing out of their inner beings.  What a gathering!

The Stream is the Anointing.  The Anointing is the continual pouring forth of the Holy Ghost.   It is the One Thing Needed most.  In the Church.  In the Pulpit.  In the Choir loft.  In the Musician.   In the Body of Christ.

I must tell you, the Anointing in my life is essential.  Without the anointing, I have nothing, I can do nothing, I am nothing and I have no desire to live.  The Anointing… the Stream of Living Water… is the most important thing in my Life.  It is Jesus flowing out of me in Power and Compassion.

My prayer is that I might see with the Eyes of God.  Feel with the Heart of Jesus.   Minister with the Mind of Christ.  Flow with the Power of the Holy Ghost.

Without this, I am nothing.  The ministry is nothing.  And I will accomplish nothing.

Neither will you

Word for Today:  September 4

The approaching Renaissance.

We are on a collision course for a Moral and Spiritual Renaissance.  And this is good.  Finally, it seems that many are realizing that there is a deadly sickness among us.  An infectious sickness that will ultimately bring about the destruction of our nation if it is not treated and cured.

Many are ready to do something.  Many are coming to the conclusion that our only hope is Revival.  I believe that this is you and me.  Us.  The Church.  The believers in our city.  In our Nation.

We must never be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem.  This sickness is “not unto death” but I believe an excellent opportunity for God to be Glorified.  This was the case when Lazarus died (John 11).  He did die, but Jesus turned the tragedy into triumph.  I am confident the same Jesus can and will turn our moral tragedy into a great Triumph.

Never underestimate the power of the minority.  Martin Luther King, Jr. proved this point.  (“I have a dream…”)

Gideon and his 300 proved this point.

The Nation of Israel continues to prove this point.

We may be in the minority, but we have God.  And God has us.

That turns the table and changes the equation

Word for Today:  September 3

Determine to be a healer

I’m not talking about laying hands on the sick.  I’m talking about healing relationships.  Healing divisions.  Healing differences.    Building bridges and not walls.  Take down the fences and open the gates.

Our past religious traditions have built enough walls, we are called to tear them down and build bridges in their place.

According to the Word, believers are living stones.  We are to be collectively built up into a Spiritual House (not houses, plural) but a House (singular).

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house…   1Pe 2:5

In the past we have been divided, and put in piles…. separate piles.  Different piles.  Diverse piles.  Cultural piles.  God wants us to be One Pile not many piles.

• We have had Baptist piles
• Methodist piles
• Catholic piles
• Presbyterian piles
• Pentecostal piles
• Episcopalian piles
• White piles
• Black piles
• Hispanic piles
• Asian piles
• Native American piles
• Rich piles
• Poor piles
• Educated piles
• Uneducated piles

God is calling us to One Pile so that He can build a Spiritual House… and that is what happens when we make a determined effort to heal broken and bruised relationships.

Why not be a healer today?

TRUE STORY

He’s Waiting for You

Facing the dread of red tape and standing-in-line crowds to get a tag for my utility trailer at the County License Commissioner’s office, I left early, planning to spend most of the day in this mundane task.  Having put off this citizenry duty about as long as possible, I set out towing the trailer (it had to be inspected) to the designated office about 12 miles from the house.  

As soon as I arrived and got into the cue line for the paperwork, before I got to the window for the clerk to process the paperwork, a kind lady stepped up to me and inquired what I needed, took my credentials, and went to a window down the hall.  She returned and said, “Mr. Braswell, here is what you will  need, go to window 17 right now, he’s waiting for you.”  

The man at “window 17” took the papers, asked for my driver’s license, and said. “I see your driver’s license is about to expire, would you like to get it renewed while you are here?”  “Sure,” I replied.  He continued, “tell you what, why I am processing the tag for your utility trailer, I’ll take your driver’s license information over to the lady at window 8, she’s waiting for you.”

I walked to  window 8 and a sweet, born-again lady said, “Hello, Mr. Braswell, if you will step over in front of the camera, we’ll get your picture.”  In a few minutes she added, “Here is your temporary copy that will work till your hard copy comes in couple of weeks.”   “You know, God is Good!”  “Now if you will return to window 17, he’s waiting for you.”

Back at window 17, the man who was waiting for me, handed me the new tag, along with all the necessary stuff along with it and said, “Mr. Braswell, have a good day.”

I entered the office at 8:15 and walked out at 8:34… deal done.  Neatly planned and orchestrated by my Heavenly Father who was Waiting for Me.

Even the smallest things in life become exponentially great when you see

The Big Picture

Word for Today:  September 2

The world will never understand a spiritually minded believer.

We simply believe what the Word says about who we are, what we have and what we can do.

• The Word says we are kings and priests. Therefore, we act like kings and priests.
• The Word says we are healed and not sick. Therefore, we act like we are healed.
• The Word says we are the head and not the tail. Therefore, we act like we are the head.
• The Word says we are above and not beneath. Therefore, we act like we are above our circumstances and situations.
• The Word says we are rich and not poor. Therefore, we act like we are rich.
• The Word says we are more than a conqueror. Therefore, we act like overcoming conquerors.
• The Word says we can do all things through Christ and nothing shall be impossible to us. Therefore, we act like nothing will ever be impossible for us.

We have the courage and the faith to attempt the impossible, see the invisible and obtain the supernatural.

So don’t worry about being “misunderstood…”

In the early days (late 60’s and early 70’s) of the Charismatic Movement, which had such a powerful influence on our small Baptist church in Mobile, it became evident that we would need a very special visitation from God to lead our congregation into the Grand Plan He had for us.  So many things were happening in such a powerful way and so quickly, it would be necessary for us to really know how to hear from God, believe Him and have some sort of special revelation regarding leading our Baptist Church into that of a full Gospel ministry. 

There would be times of testing, scrutiny and examination by our Baptist peers so we needed to be able to lead our flock in the Truth of God’s Word in a way that it would dispel all arguments and all accusations.  So it was imperative that we learn How to Believe God.

We began to study and research the subject of New Testament Faith because we knew that “without faith” it would be “impossible to please God.”  (Heb 11:6)  And if we were to please God we would have to know everything we could find out about faith.  It was going to require supernatural faith to get us through the quagmire of denominational doctrine, embedded traditions and common practices that were going to oppose our neo-Pentecostal objective.   In this early stage of the Charismatic Movement, the Biblical truth regarding the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit was under scrutiny.  Especially the practice of speaking in tongues.  We were in desperate need of having faith to see us through.

Our limited knowledge and experiences of operating in faith and living by faith were going to have to change.  We needed someone or some book or some teacher to lead us in our quest to understand and move in faith.  So we prayed for help.

One evening, late, as we were preparing for the night, someone knocked on the front door of the parsonage, our home situated next to the church.  When I answered, a man dressed in a suit and carrying a small brief-case was standing on the steps.  He told me that he was a minister and teacher of the Gospel passing through Mobile, and needed a place to stay for the night.  He was very apologetic and stressed that he only needed a place to sleep… he asked if would we be able to accommodate him even though he was a complete stranger and was very clear stating that he would not, in any way, want to inconvenience us.   Needless to say, we were sort of “put on the spot.”  My wife and I exchanged glances and I could tell by her expression she thought it would be ok.   So, we moved our daughter out of her bedroom and gave it to him. 

If I remember correctly, there was very little visiting time spent with him before we retired for the night.  We had an understanding with him that we would have breakfast together the next morning before he continued on his way.

The next day, when we got up to prepare breakfast, our friend was nowhere to be found.  He had gotten up early, made the bed up and left without so much as a “thank you.”   Then we noticed something strange.  On the table near the front door was a small package.  When we examined it, we discovered it was a group of cassette teaching tapes all bound together with a rubber band.  And the subject of the series of in-depth teachings was…. FAITH.  And it was this revelation that God used to navigate us through a difficult time that resulted in unbelievable miraculous results. 

We had “entertained an angel…. unaware”

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  Heb 13:2 

Word for Today:  August 31

We are under a Divine Mandate from Heaven to get with it or get out of it.

We are not on a vacation and we are not seeking a blessing… We are not striving to get God to do something for us.  Folks….it is harvest time.

We do not need squatters or homesteaders.  We need goers and doers and givers and pray-ers…. We need laborers because it is harvest time.

What is it going to take to bring Revival to the Church?  What are the prerequisites for a Spiritual Renaissance… an Awakening?

Do we have to bottom out before we get up?  Are we so slow that IT must happen everywhere else before IT happens to us?

• We have built nice buildings, but this didn’t work.
• We have upgraded and acquired the latest and most sophisticated technology.  Didn’t work.
• We have established great programs, but this didn’t work.
• We have brought in outstanding “world-class” preachers and evangelists and teachers, but this didn’t work.
• We have hired world-class staff members and revolutionized our “worship” and music.
• We have established educational programs and Bible Institutes and recreational projects and we have preached on TV and Radio, we have published books and pamphlets, but none of these have really produced New Testament Results.
• We have promoted, organized, educated and funded but this didn’t work.

What will it take?  I’ll tell you what it’s going to take.

• It is going to take hungering and thirsting for God.  It is going to take passion and desperation.
• It is going to take seeking God and searching our hearts.
• It is going to take rearranging our priorities.
• It is going to take repentance and humility.
• It is going to take praying and forgiving.
• It is going to take loving.
• It is going to take a divine visitation from God.
• It is going to take a Holy Spirit Out-Pouring.
• It is going to take a Pentecostal renewal.

Only God can do what must be done to wake up the Body of Christ.  And when we make our Move

God will make His.

Word for Today: August 30

Attitude.

Notice the attitude of those gathered in the Upper Room in Acts chapter 2:

FIRST:  They were serious about God.  They were serious about Church.  They were serious about Spiritual Things.  They were not playing games or pretending.  They were committed.

SECOND:  They were praying.  They were believing.  They were expecting.

THIRD:  They loved each other, forgave one another and were together in unity.  Petty differences were forgotten.  The playing field was level.

FOURTH:  They wanted IT.  They wanted fire from heaven.  They wanted revival.  They wanted God and all that God had for them.

FIFTH:  They were “In one accord…”   They were not arguing doctrine or comparing spiritual gifts.  They were not competing for attention or envious of others.

SIXTH:  They were filled with praise and thanksgiving to God.  They were unashamed and bold.  They were not intimidated and they were not shy.  They were not embarrassed about the Holy Ghost.

FINALLY:  They were not going to quit until they got it and until the whole world was touched.

What we are content  with determines what God can do in us.

Dissatisfaction leads to greater possibilities