dickbraswell

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 14

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

Word for Today:  August 12

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.  Taking down fences and opening gates.

Our past religious traditions have built too many walls.  We are called and purposed 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 separate piles…. Different piles.  Diverse piles. Cultural piles.  Racial piles.  Economic piles.  And “church” 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
• Nationality 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.

Be a healer today

Heaven is a Place where we all want to go, but most do not know what we will find when we get there.  We have been exposed to some really weird ideas about Heaven.  (Puffy white clouds and robed individuals sitting on them and plucking harps.)  However, the Word is very plain in describing heaven.  It tells us what Heaven is like.  It tells us who is there.  It tells us what it is.  And It tells us how to get there. 

There are three heavens.  The First heaven is the sky where the clouds are.  The Second heaven is outer space where the planets and galaxies are.  The Third Heaven is where God’s Throne is and where God presently dwells.

The part of Heaven Believers will inhabit forever is a city (Rev 21).   It is a city located in the Larger Place called Heaven.  This City is filled with the glory of God and has an outward appearance of beauty, precision, and wealth that has never been witnessed by humanity.  It has walls and gates.  And foundations comprised of precious jewels. It is the largest (1500 miles wide) and most elaborate city ever imagined by man.  It has a surrounding wall two hundred feet high made of indescribable material that resembles precious stones.  The twelve gates in this great wall are made of solid pearl. The streets in this city are pure transparent gold… nothing like this has ever been seen by human eyes.  The glory of God is of such brilliance that the city has no need of the sun for light. 

There are pure, crystal clear rivers flowing from the Throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev 22:1).   There are great Broadways proceeding from each of the four sides of God’s Throne.  On either side of these great golden broadways there are rows of Trees of Life which bear fruit each month.  There is no sickness, no disease, and no death in Heaven…  Every inhabitant will enjoy Eternal Life. 

Conditions will exist eternally as they did before the curse caused by the rebellion of Lucifer and Adam.  The inhabitants of Heaven are the redeemed, the faithful angels and all of earth’s original creatures.  The lamb will lie down with the lion.  Death is abolished.  All animals will be herbivorous.   Those there will be allowed to see the Face of God.  His Name will be written on their foreheads, and they will rule and assist God in the administration and affairs of all Creation.  They will live with God FOREVER. 

That’s where I’m headed

Word for Today:  August 11

Faith’s potential.

What you do with your faith determines what happens to your faith.  If you use it, it increases.  If you don’t use it, it decreases.  Use it or lose it.   Faith demands action.  Faith demands risk.

Faith is a creative Force.  The Faith of God is the Force behind all creation.  Faith is a “first-order” force.  God is a Faith God.  We are commanded to have the “God-kind” of Faith.

 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Mark 11:22

“Have the Faith of God.”  You have the same kind of Faith God has.  Faith is a Divine Attribute of God.  When you and I got Born Again, we received an impartation of the very Nature and Character of God into our Recreated Human Spirit.  When we were Regenerated, we were “RE-GENED…”  God Supernaturally changed and altered the Genetic Mapping of our human nature.  He “imputed” His Faith into us.  NOW… we have the Faith of God.

Just as you received certain biological and genetic characteristics from your earthly parents at the time of your physical birth, your also received certain Spiritual and Supernatural characteristics from your Heavenly Father at the time of your Spiritual Birth.  You look like your parents.  You have personal and emotional characteristics like your parents.  The color of your eyes.  The color of your hair.  Your physical size.  The way you walk.  The way are physically built.  Your size.

All these were built into you… mapped by the genetic structures of your parents… and passed on to you at the time of your physical birth.  If all these intricate and miraculous physical attributes were placed in you when you were born, what about the wonderful supernatural characteristics that were imputed into your recreated human spirit at the time of your Spiritual Birth…  When you were Born Again?

If the faith of God is behind all creation, (and it most certainly is) and if you and I have the same kind of faith, (and we most certainly do) then we have access to the most awesome force known in the universe.

That is a Spiritual Reality

All things are possible to him that believeth…  Mk 9:23

Word for Today:  August 16

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.

Word for Today:  August 9

Be strong and of a good courage…  Joshua 1:6

Be strong and courageous.  Being strong is a decision you make.  You do not “get strong” you “be strong.”  Being strong is a decision.  You decide to be strong and you decide to be weak.  You decide how you are going to be in your life.  It is really up to you.  You do not wait to get strong…. You “be strong!”  It is a specific choice you make.

God is saying to us:  Be Strong.  Don’t be weak.    Be strong in faith.  Strong in the stand you take.  Strong in the Word.  Strong in your calling.  Paul commands us to “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”  You can be strong or you can be weak.  Strong is better!

Strong wards off hell.  Strong defeats the devil.  Strong believes the Truth.  Strong refuses the Lie.  Strong never fails.  Strong never fears.  Strong resists.  Strong STANDS.

Courageous is Alert, Steadfast, Established, Prevailing, Obstinate… It is to be “on foot” and alert.  It means to be awake and not asleep.  It means to be locked and loaded.  It means to be ready.

Do you have the courage to do something about your situation?  Do you have the courage to challenge hell over your family?  Your marriage?  Your finances?  Your health?  How much courage do you have?  God commands us to BE COURAGEOUS.  Courage is the opposite of fear.  It is boldness and assertiveness.  It is refusing to stand still and watch the devil devour your possessions.  It means to launch an attack.  It means to be aggressive.  It means to be offensive.  It means to run into the battle!   Just as David ran toward his giant.

Don’t look at the size of the enemy.  Look at the size of the prize.  (Phil 4:13)

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

There is no such thing as “I can’t” in the life of a real believer.  You can because God says you can.  God would not say you can if you can’t.   What God says is absolute… it is beyond questioning, never on the table for discussion, and it is beyond any shadow of doubt. 

God tells us that to those who have received Jesus, He gives the Authority to be the Children of God.  Many are still at the starting stage.  This explains the failures and the dropouts in the Body of Christ…  We are called to be complete.  We are born into the Kingdom to be “all that we can be…”   We are washed in the Blood to be mature and full grown, strong, and able. 

 If  you are not where you want to be, God has given you Power to Become.  If you are not pleased with your Spiritual condition, God has given you Power to Become.  If you want to do more,  accomplish more, win more, go more, give more, pray more, know more, grow more,  God has provided a WAY…

Seeing the Invisible

“For we walk by Faith, not by sight…”  2 Cor 5:7

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…”  2 Cor 4:18

“By Faith, he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he (Moses) endured as seeing Him Who is invisible…”  Heb 11:27

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven…” John 3:3

God calls His People into realms beyond the natural.  We are birthed into a higher dimension when we get Born Again.  According to Paul, “if any man be in Christ, he is a New Creation, old things are passed away; behold all things are become new…”  2 Cor 5:17.  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.  It gives instructions about how to live Heaven’s Life here on earth.  It provides Revelation regarding our Position in Christ and our Purpose on earth.

In the New Creation provision, we are called to See the Invisible.  The Word says:  “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…”  This is not some psychic phenomenon, or some fortune-teller foolishness, but a real Command to Look beyond what we see until we see what God sees.   Until we are able to “see the invisible” we will never be able to do the impossible.  If we are living in the realm of the possible, we are just like all the other natural, “mere” men on the earth.  You know and I know that we are not called to be “mere men” but New Creation Men.  We are Born with Heaven inside us.  We are called and commissioned to take the world away from the devil and lay it again at the feet of Jesus.  We are a New Breed.  A New Species.  We are Aliens on earth because we are Born to Live in Heaven.  We are a generation of Jesus People, equipped with the Word and empowered by the Spirit.  We must See the Invisible.

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 LIFE CHURCH to SEE THE INVISIBLE and DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. 

Look at Moses.  He FORSOOK Egypt.  He saw beyond the Natural and the Immediate and into the Spirit and the Future.  He left what everybody thought was a “sure thing” because he saw the Invisible.  The world held no attraction for him.  Money, power, rank, station, reputation, future…. all these were weighed against the “Invisible” things he saw by faith and the promises of God were much better than the wealth of the world.  Hallelujah.   He left the world, the world system, and the things of flesh behind and he “endured” (kartereo: to be strong, steadfast, patient) because he saw the invisible.  Seeing the invisible is preceded by Forsaking and Enduring.  Faith has a flip side.  It is not all just “believing with the head and heart” it is believing with a DETERMINATION to Do the Word and Obey God.  “Faith without works is dead…”

How do we “see the invisible”?  How can we penetrate the Dimension of the Supernatural?  How do we get “raised up” so that we can sit together with Christ in Heavenly places?

I.  OPEN YOUR EYES.

Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see… John 3:3

Get saved.  Stay saved.  Resist the attractions of the world and live for God.  Get Baptized in the Holy Ghost and submit to the Spirit of God.  Walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. 

You may not be able to “see” because you are not right with God.  You can never see the Invisible until you are Born of the Spirit.  The natural man cannot discern the things of God because they are Spiritually discerned.  You cannot walk by faith and not by sight unless you are Born Again.  The natural world burdens your heart, and the problems load your soul.  You can only see things as they are, and you cannot look beyond the natural and see the invisible.

Nicodemus was religious.  Nicodemus was educated.  Nicodemus was righteous.  Nicodemus was seeking God.  Nicodemus was moral.  Nicodemus was LOST and he was BLIND, and he could not SEE the INVISIBLE.  He would have made a GOOD CHARISMATIC, but he was limited by lack of sight.  Jesus said, except a man be BORN AGAIN he cannot see…

If Jesus said it, it must be important.  He wants you to be able to SEE the INVISIBLE and DO the IMPOSSIBLE.  Without the NEW BIRTH this will never happen.

Many who are saved have difficulty “seeing” and “forsaking” and “enduring”.  They are continually knocked down and drug through by the enemy.  They are overcome more often than they overcome.  They are subject to worry, fears, doubts, and discouragement.  They are depressed and done in.  They are unhappy and continually victims of violent mood swings.  One day is good.  Then ten are bad.  One victory is won, then fifteen are lost.  Ground that has been gained is constantly being lost and retreat is the only way out.  You need to receive Power from on High.  You need an encounter with the Holy Ghost that gives you the ability to resist the devil and win the battle.  You need to be Filled with the Spirit and Baptized in the Fire of God. 

Seeing the invisible and doing the impossible.  The first priority is to GET BORN AGAIN and BAPTIZED with the HOLY GHOST.

II.  REALLY BELIEVE

If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth…

 Mark 9:23

Faith Vision is seeing THINGS AS THEY CAN BE instead of seeing things the way they are.  Faith vision is seeing THINGS as GOD SAYS they can be instead of seeing things as the WORLD SAYS they will be.  To believe is to abandon all REASON.  To believe is to hold to TRUTH instead of being moved by FACTS.  To believe is to hook up to the WORD and to plug into GOD.  To believe is to resist all doubt, negativism, and pessimism.  To believe is to TRUST IN and RELY ON and DEPEND ON and ADHERE TO God and His Promises.

Faith believes when there is NO HOPE.  Faith trusts when there is NO FEELING.  Faith relies on when there is no ENCOURAGEMENT.  Faith adheres to when ALL ELSE FAILS.  Faith holds on when everybody gives up and everything falls apart.  You can see the INVISIBLE when you look beyond NATURAL.  When you resist every symptom and rebuke everything that contradicts the Word of God.  Faith sees.  Even in the dark.  Faith sees over the horizon and beyond the natural.  Faith is believing. 

            David BELIEVED.

            Joshua BELIEVED.

            Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego BELIEVED.

            Moses BELIEVED.

            Abraham BELIEVED.

            Paul BELIEVED.

            Jesus BELIEVED.

Because they BELIEVED, they SAW THE INVISIBLE and ACCOMPLISHED THE IMPOSSIBLE.  Jesus Christ is the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever.  God is no respecter of persons.  What God did for others, He will do for you and me.  And he will do it NOW.

III.  DO IT NOW.

“Today is the day of salvation…”

“Now is the accepted time…”

Some today will continue to live and look and see only in the realm of the natural.  Some will fall right back into the same trap and same bondage and same defeat.  Some will stay sick and stay whipped and stay depressed and stay lost.  Some will continue to be harassed and vexed and tormented by the devil and demons.  Some will say “next time” or “later” or “not today”.  Some may slip away and never be as touched by the Holy Ghost as you are today.

 “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near…”  He is Here.  He can be found in this place this morning.  He is near.  He is calling you and prompting you to DO IT TODAY.  You have intended to.  You have planned to.  You want to.  DO IT NOW.  You need healing.  You need forgiving.  You need peace.  You need to know that you are loved.  You need power over the flesh and power to see the invisible.. 

When you SEE THE INVISIBLE you can DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.   

Word for Today: August 8

Who hath believed our report?  (Isa. 53:1)

Many in the Body of Christ are walking in defeat and despair and darkness because they will not “believe our report”…  They simply think it’s “too good to be true…”   But it is good and it is true…

Our report…

• Our sins are forgiven.
• We have strength and power to live right and do right.
• We are delivered out of satan’s dominion.
• We are seated with Christ “in the heavenlies.”
• We have the Nature of God our Father.
• We have authority to use His Name.
• We are in possession of Eternal Life.
• We will live and never die.

Can you believe this?

Word for Today:  August 7

Jesus Paid it All

The devil and all demon powers are dethroned and defeated.  At the fall of Adam, satan gained control and dominion over all the earth.  At the Resurrection of Jesus,  satan was factually and actually dethroned and defeated.   he was and stripped of all his power and all his authority.

The Resurrection of Jesus was and is the final proof of satan’s downfall and defeat.  Sickness, sin, defeat, sorrow, death, sadness are all forever conquered.  We (Believers) have been redeemed from satan’s dominion and we have legally become the masters of satan and all his demons.  You have power over the devil because Jesus rose from the dead.  You can cast out devils. You can heal the sick.  You can call things that are not as though they are.  You can overcome poverty and distress and pain and need.  Because Jesus is alive… you are filled with Resurrection Life.

There will be no judgment for us like it was for Jesus.  God will not forsake us.   For us there will be no Cross… no crown of thorns… no separation from God… no suffering in hell… no guilt and no condemnation.

Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe…Sin had left a crimson stain…He washed it white as snow

Elvina M. Hall  1865