dickbraswell

Word for Today:  October 16

It is important to know Who we are, What we have, What we can do and Why we can do it.

The devil constantly tempts us to doubt.  he wants us to doubt who we are (he tried to get Jesus to doubt Who He was) or to wonder who we are or to be ignorant of who we are.

As long as we are not sure of our position in Christ, our Authority and our Faith will not work.  We cannot receive and achieve if we are confused, conflicted or uncertain about what God says concerning who we are, what we have, what we can do and why we can do it.

God has raised up strong Word Churches and anointed preachers in order to instruct His people about their privileges, their powers and their Rights which are revealed in the Word.

Anointed Leaders are set in the Body as master craftsmen to build us up in the Word.  We are “God’s Building” and they are Holy Ghost Craftsmen equipped with the Proper Building Materials to make us strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might.

They are Called and Sent by God for our instruction, our enlightenment and our inspiration.  They are God-appointed “explainers,”  and “exhorters” and to inform us and give us insight and revelation regarding what God says concerning:

• Who we are
• What we have
• What we can do and
• Why we can do it

Knowing this gives us a winning advantage over every attack of the enemy.

Word for Today:  October 15

In the past our concept of God has often been limited and incorrect.

We have been led to believe that God is mad and mean.  We have often lived in great fear and anxiety because we were told that God was going to get even…  He has been presented as a God of Judgment and a God of revenge and great wrath.

At the same time we were told how unworthy and sinful we were and, as a result, we lived under continual condemnation.  The main message from the pulpit was fear oriented and it continually emphasized how hot hell is and how endless eternity is.   Thank God, times have changed…  Our level of Revelation has greatly increased and we have discovered the true nature of God.

• God is a Giver. God is a Giver because He is a Lover.
• God us a Lover because He is a Father.
• God does not Kill, murder, take away, hinder, hurt, test, try, make sick, give cancer, cause poverty, or “get even.”
• God is Good. He loves, gives, multiplies, heals, delivers, makes free, provides riches, fixes, helps, strengthens, provides, protects…  and on and on we could go.  And we could never exhaust the wealth of blessings God has for those who love Him.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Co 2:9

It’s the devil that kills, steals, destroys, hinders, hurts, binds, subtracts, crushes, takes your money, your happiness, your joy, and your peace.

A simple test to find out where all the stuff than happens to you comes from.  I offer this simple yet accurate criteria:

If it is Good it’s God, if it’s Bad it is the devil…

The devil can’t do good things and God doesn’t do bad things.

Therefore:

If it’s GOOD it is God.

If it’s BAD it is the devil.

Theology 101

Word for Today:  October 14

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 God 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.

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 last 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

What is involved in Salvation?

God has a part and we have a part.  God’s part is called Regeneration and our part is called Repentance and Faith.  When we repent of our sin and believe in our heart that Jesus is Messiah and openly confess our heart-belief, we become Born Again.

God impregnates us (natural man) with His Life (Spirit) and we are made Supernatural Creations.  God’s Life comes into us along with all the other God Characteristics and we become the Sons (and daughters) of God.  “As many as received Him to them gave He power to become the Sons of God…”  We receive God’s Life, God’s Power, God’s Authority, God’s Love, and God’s Faith.   His Word becomes flesh.

All these come INSIDE of you when you get Born Again.  God purposes this for you.  God wills this for you.  God has prepared this for you.   Your body literally becomes the Temple of the Holy Ghost.  You are bought with a price and you belong to God. You have been Born, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed, the Word of God.

Salvation has responsibilities.  It is free but it is not cheap.  It is received by Faith but it is outwardly expressed in works.  We are not saved by works but works will follow salvation.  We are told to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling…” and this means we are to work out what God has worked in.  Salvation will be demonstrated by and through a changed life.

If any man be in Christ he is a new creature (creation) old things are passed away and behold all things are made new…   2Cor 5:17

Eternal Salvation is the greatest miracle available to man

Word for Today:  October 10

Do not faint in your mind.

Your Mind is the key to the power in you.  That is why satan attacks the mind… he knows if he can get you to faint in your mind  (give in to discouragement)  you cannot draw from the Power God has built in you. (Eph 3:20)

When you faint in your mind:

1. You forget what you know (the Word)
2. You become caught up in the problem… moved by the circumstance
3. You begin to doubt and fear sets in
4. You fall into this seven-fold temptation:

(1) Discouragement

(2) Depression

(3) Despair

(4) Resignation… (“Nothing will help… it will always be this way”)

(5) Acceptance of Failure

(6) Condemnation, guilt, inferiority

(7) Death

The way to fix your mind… your “fainting” mind… your “shaken” mind… your “weary” mind is by considering Him…

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Heb 12:3

Just think about Jesus

Word for Today:  October 10

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

Get Smart

Word for Today:  October 9

Use what you have. Start where you are.

David, the sling shot boy, did not wait until he had something else… 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.

Use it

Word for Today:  October 8

Agree with God.

In every conflict with the enemy, speak words of Faith and Confidence.  Make your words agree with God’s Word.

David confessed that God would deliver him and he made this confession before he confronted the giant.  “… He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…”  David knew the same God that had delivered him out of the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear would deliver him out of the hand of the uncircumcised Philistine.

After David made this powerful confession of his faith, he based his actions on what he had confessed.  He SAID and then he DID.  So make your confession and base your actions on what you confess.  DO what you SAY.  Say it.  And then do it.

How are you talking?  What are you saying?  Is your mouth speaking what is in your heart? The words of your mouth will determine the outcome of your battle.  Remember:

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth… (Prov. 6:2)

The size of the “giant” you are facing has nothing to do with your impossibility.    Nothing is too hard for God…  God and one are always a majority.   Resist complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. Make your most powerful confession in the face of your most formidable enemy.

Listen to what David said as he faced the giant:

• “The Lord will deliver thee into my hand…”
• “I will smite thee and take thine head from thee…”
• “I will feed you and the Philistines to the buzzards…”
• “The battle is the Lord’s…”
• “He will give you into our hands…”

David said it. David believed it. David did it.  And David got exactly what he said.

And so will you

Word for Today:  October 7

God is able

…our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king…  (Dan 3:17)

Let’s declare that GOD IS ABLE!  God impregnated His Church with Power to prove to us that HE IS ABLE.    You are a living testimony that demonstrates God is Able.   What men can’t do GOD CAN DO.  What governments can’t do GOD CAN DO. What doctors and hospitals and medicine can’t do GOD CAN DO.  What banks and money and education and political power can’t do GOD CAN DO… because GOD IS ABLE!

As we face the storms that satan sends to discourage, dishearten and destroy us, my word to you today is, GOD IS ABLE to deliver us…. And HE WILL!

God wants to reassure us today.  He wants us to look at HIM instead of the approaching storms that are heading our way.  He wants to build us up in our most Holy Faith.  He wants to strengthen us and help us and deliver us and bless us.  He wants us to KNOW that HE IS ABLE to protect us from every snare and every devil and every fiery trial.  He speaks to us by His Word and through the Anointing and assures us that HE is our REFUGE, our FORTRESS, our MIGHTY GOD and our STRONG TOWER.  Be encouraged.

We will win.