dickbraswell

Word for Today:  November 23

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.  He literally risked His Deity.

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:  November 21

The Kingdom

“Religious” thinking (this is always a big problem) has removed the Kingdom from where it really is to where we think it is.  When we think of “heaven” we think “far away.”  We think “eternity.”  We think “after we die.”  We think “sometime in the future.”

The devil sees to it that we think wrong about the Kingdom and where it is.  Because he knows that when we find out the Truth, he is doomed.

The Kingdom is in (or within) every believer.   If you are a believer, the Kingdom is inside of you.  Jesus said the Kingdom of God is “within” or “inside” of you.

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within (entos:  within, inside) you.”  Luke 17:21

Now, just what is in the Kingdom?   What is there?  What is inside of you?

• Life
• Health
• Peace
• Joy
• Power
• Success
• Prosperity
• Boldness
• Love
• Faith
• Forgiveness
• Patience
• Strength
• Soundness of mind

In fact “all things that pertain to life and godliness” are in you. (2Pet 1:3)   It is all there.  It is inside of every believer.  It came at the time of your conversion.  It is the Kingdom of God and it has come.  It is the Answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in Matthew chapter 6.  It will function when you let it.

All Kingdom resources are in you.

Word for Today:  November 20

What matters to Jesus.

Heart condition matters to Jesus.  The Word tells us that He looks on the Heart… not the outward appearance.  What is in your heart and the condition of your heart will determine the depth of your relationship with Jesus.

What comes out of your mouth was first in your heart.  How you feel toward others and toward God and toward the Church comes from the inner most part of your re-created Human Spirit… your heart.

Revival and Restoration comes from the “reconditioning” of the heart…. Commitment and dedication and fruit production all come from the “reconditioned” heart.  How is your heart?  Are you plagued with “heart trouble”?  The kind of coldness and indifference that is spiritually fatal?

The “don’t care” attitude and the “good-enough-as-I-am” and “satisfied as is” attitude is the direct result of a hardened heart… an “evil heart of unbelief” (Heb. 3:12).

Check your heart

Word for Today:  November 19

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.   (John 11:4)

Jesus “heard” the bad report.  Faith comes by hearing and doubt also comes by hearing.  Unbelief can be stimulated by hearing.  Distress can come by hearing.  Fear can be initiated by hearing.  What are you hearing?  Whatever you are hearing will either build your faith are add to your unbelief.  Jesus determined not to be moved by what He heard.

Then, Jesus declared with His mouth what the situation was going to be.  He took the opportunity to prophesy what the situation was going to be because he knew the will of God in the matter.   Jesus “heard” and then He “said.”  What He heard did not alter what He said.  He refused to give in to the sense realm by believing what the opinions of men were.

“It’s not over.  It’s not final.  It’s not what it’s going to be.  God is working.  I am waiting.  I am believing.  I am standing.  I am speaking.  I am prophesying.  What I say is in agreement with God and because of this, the devil (and all his works) will have to move aside.”

• Sickness is an opportunity.
• Adversity is an opportunity.
• Every impossibility is an opportunity.
• Your fiery trial is an opportunity.

They are opportunities for us to exercise our faith.  They are opportunities for us to get into the Word and find out what God is saying.  They are opportunities to turn tragedy into triumph.

God is the Master at giving us Beauty for ashes.  (Isa 61:3)  When we see our “death” situation in this light, we will be encouraged to say the same thing Jesus said:

“This thing is not unto death…. it is an opportunity for God to show Himself strong in my behalf and to give me a powerful testimony of His Faithfulness.”

Your crisis is not “unto death”

During the early years of my flying experience, it became obvious that God had some special expert angels assigned to keep this amateur pilot alive and safe from what could have been fatal accidents.

On one of our flying trips in the Piper Cherokee 180, returning from the Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona, I was having to plan and navigate through some weather systems that were active along my returning route.  Since I was a VFR only (visual flight rules) pilot I was restricted from flying into IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) and required to rely on visual references and checkpoints.  There were minimums beyond which I was not allowed to fly because it was usually fatal for pilots without an Instrument rating.  Those accidents were usually due to disorientation caused by restricted visibility when flying into clouds.

On this particular return trip there was a cold front lying adjacent to the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.  It was visible from more than ten miles out and I was headed east toward Jackson.  There was a solid wall of cloud cover down to just a few hundred feet above ground level.   My passengers were fellow ministers who assisted in our Navajo Indian ministry in Arizona.  As we approached this “wall clouds” I informed the guys with me to pray for an opening so we could continue out trip home without having to land and wait for the weather to improve. 

As I continued flying toward the “wall” it became very obvious that something must happen soon, or I would be forced to reverse my course and head back to better weather conditions.   About two or three miles out with no improvement in the situation, suddenly it was as if Some One pulled a Curtain Rope behind the “stage” and the wall of clouds parted. A small opening was revealed…. Just barely wide enough for me to navigate safely through.  And we (like the children of Israel at the Red Sea) passed right through to safe weather and flying on the “other side.”  And were soon home again. 

Another mini-miracle.

Word for Today:  November 18

Weights.

We have been hindered by “weights.”   Some of these “weights” have been manufactured by the church and fostered by the ministry.  We have become consumed by Procedures and Techniques and Easy Formulas that will try to manipulate God and attempt to provide Instant Cures for all that ails us.

We have developed a Mind for God and a Knowledge about God, but our hearts and Spirits are dry and stunted and hungry for a Simple and Genuine Relationship with the Risen Jesus.

• Just to Know Him.
• Just to Love Him.
• Just to Commune with Him.
• Just to Walk with Him.
• Just to Fellowship with Him.

Forget about all the “buttons to punch” and all the “strings to pull” and all the empty “words to say”…. let’s come back to JESUS.  Let’s really make Him Lord and keep Him Lord.  Let’s Behold His Glory and Look into His Wonderful Face.

We have been like Martha “cumbered about with much serving” when we need to be like Mary who sat at Jesus’ Feet loving Him and hearing His word.

Mary chose that Good and Better Part.

So should you

Word for Today:  November 17

It is more than knowledge.

It is acting on the Truth that sets you free… It is more than inspiration.  It is more than feeling.  It is more than emotion.

God expects you to act on what you know and when you do, you sow seeds that begin to grow.  What you sow and what you grow is what you harvest and what you receive.  (Mark 4)

• You cannot draw out of the bank what you have not put in the bank.
• You cannot grow in your garden what you have not planted in your garden.
• You cannot harvest what you have not sown.

When you sow Word Seed in good ground, you are guaranteed a bountiful harvest. You literally begin to “pull out” what God has “put in.” The principle of Sowing is one of the most profound revelations that I ever received from God.

If you know this Truth and then DO this Truth, God promises to make you free.    John 8:32

What you sow is what you grow…

and what you grow is what you get

Word for Today:  November 16

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

God supplies, and His supply comes out of Jesus.  Now, tell me, Where is Jesus?  Where does He Live?  Where does He Dwell?  Where is His Kingdom?  Where is His Throne?  “Christ in you the Hope of Glory!!”  (Col 1:27)

It is the Will of God for you to live in Abundance.  It is one of the Reasons that Jesus left Heaven and came to Earth… He came to “redeem us from the curse… that the Blessings of Abraham might come on us.”  (Gal 3:13-14)

The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of Abundance.   It is a Realm and a Dimension in which all the Believer’s needs are met and supplied according to God’s Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.  (Phil 4:19)

The Church is to function in Abundance. It is the most successful and the most powerful organism on this planet.   Believers are to control the wealth of this earth and the resources of this earth.   The very wealth of the wicked has been laid up and reserved for the Righteous.

When we live in the Abundance Jesus provides, we are living in Victory.

Jesus is your Abundance.  And He lives in you.

Wherever your need is, take Jesus there, show it to Him, and trust Him to supply that need.  He wants to.  He wills to.  He delights in doing it.

He is waiting patiently for you to let Him

In the early years of my flying experiences, I purchased 1947 Stinson 108-3 “flying station wagon.”  It was seemingly in fair condition due to engine time and age, so this became the first four-place aircraft we owned.  It was located, unhangared, and tied down on the east side ramp, at the Mobile Regional Airport. 

Since we are in Hurricane Alley, one was headed our way surging north from the Gulf of Mexico.  Without the Stinson being safely hangered, it was in grave danger of being destroyed if left on the East Side Ramp at Mobile airport.  In order to safeguard it I ferried it to the Hattiesburg airport for safekeeping. 

When the storm passed, I picked up the Stinson from Hattiesburg and began a relatively short flight back to Mobile.  Since the weather was really great, I decided to fly directly south from Hattiesburg, intersect the Gulf Coast and then head east to Mobile.  The flight was wonderful… at 3000 feet and CAVU weather with bright sunshine. 

As I turned back east from Gulfport and flew NE to Mobile and was approximately 12-15 miles SE of the Mobile airport, there was an abrupt jolt as the 165 hp engine threw a rod and exploded out the side of the crankcase. Engine oil immediately spread over the windshield and the only good visibility was to look out the door window.  Total engine failure.  Now it was dead-stick flying and engine-out procedure to land and land very shortly.

Trying desperately to remember my emergency landing check list and procedure, my first priority, besides flying an engine-out airplane, was to locate an appropriate and safe landing location.  It just so happened I was about 3000 feet directly over a grass landing strip, often used for military training, at Saint Elmo, Alabama.  I had more than enough altitude to execute an approach and safe dead-stick landing.  When the old Stinson came to a stop, I opened the door, got out, laid down on my face and kissed the ground. A farmer nearby was plowing his field and witnessed the whole scenario.

Another mini-miracle

Word for Today:  November 15

The Church is “Jesus on earth” today.

It is His Body and if the world is ever changed, it will be changed by the Church.

When Revival comes, it will come by and through the Church.

When the Will of God is done, it will be done by the Church.

When the Word of God is released into the earth it will be released by the Church.  And when this happens, the Kingdom of God is manifested.

When YOU use your faith to release the Revelation of the Word that is in you, you cause the Kingdom of God to appear at that very place.  At that very time.   For that specific purpose.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Mt 16: 18

Jesus prayed for the Kingdom of God to come and for God’s will to be done on earth.  (Mt 6:10)

You can be the answer to His prayer today