“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. John 10:2 AMP

5. The good Pastor/Minister cares about his flock. He/she is well acquainted with his flock. He gives them godly private and public instruction and counsel. He/she is there to help and to serve.

a. The good Pastor/Minister leads his flock and always points them toward Jesus.

John 10:3 AMP – The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.

John 10:9 AMP – I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.

b. The good Pastor/Minister prays for and intercedes for his flock to grow in the Lord, to know Him better, and to know who they are in Christ.

Ephesians 1:15-16 AMP – For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.

c. The good Pastor/Minister is a giver in every way. He sincerely preaches the truth. He is not manipulative. He puts his flock before himself and makes their spiritual well-being a priority. He gives his time and attention. He is not greedy and he does not covet any of the flocks’ possessions; neither is he a burden to them. He only loves, serves, encourages, warns, exhorts, encourages, protects and watches over the flock.

Acts 20:26-35 NIV – Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”

1 Thessalonians 2:4-13 NIV – On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

d. The good Pastor/Minister sets a godly example for the flock and watches over their souls.

Hebrews 13:7 AMP – Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).

Hebrews 13:17 AMP – Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either].

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

3. Grace cannot cancel free moral agency (free will and personal responsibility).

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:21-23 NKJV

Verse 23 says, “…if you continue in the faith…”

When you receive Jesus and you are born again and saved, you open your heart and life to Him.

However, you still have the same freedom of choice that you did before. God doesn’t take over your life and force you to do what’s right. He shows you the way, but you must choose to walk in His ways and continue on in them.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NKJV

“…if we walk in the light…”

Jesus translated us out of the darkness into the light. “Walking in the light” means operating in the fruit of the spirit and not the works of the flesh. When we are truly walking in the light, the proof or fruit of it is that we love other people and have fellowship with them. We have to choose to love and fellowship with others. God can’t and won’t force you to; you must choose to do it.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:15-16 NKJV

You still have the free-will choice to be a slave of sin or a servant of righteousness!

4. Grace cannot keep men saved when they sin and/or continue to sin.

Romans 8:12-13 NKJV – Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Sin is a destructive force. The more you sin, the more you harden your heart, sear your conscience and give place to the devil in your life. Unfortunately God’s grace cannot cover you or deliver you if you keep on deliberately sinning.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV – Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV – Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

James 5:19-20 NKJV – Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV – For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 10:26-29 NIV – If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

2 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power. 15 By me kings reign and rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth. Proverbs 8:14-16 AMP

4. A great leader is one who is honest and truthful and who loves justice and righteous judgment.

You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not misinterpret or misapply judgment; you shall not be partial, or take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 Follow what is altogether just (uncompromisingly righteous), that you may live and inherit the land which your God gives you. Deuteronomy 16:18-20 AMP

The Lord requires of leadership that they judge righteously and impartially, according to the laws of the land. They are NOT allowed to show favor to certain people in violation of the truth and the law. A great leader does not misinterpret the law or misapply judgment. A great leader is one who is not partial to, or favorable toward, only certain people. A great leader NEVER ever asks for or accepts a bribe.

And I charged your judges at that time: Hear the cases between your brethren and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger or sojourner who is with him. Deuteronomy 1:16 AMP

Thus has the Lord of hosts spoken: Execute true judgment and show mercy and kindness and tender compassion, every man to his brother; 10 And oppress not the widow or the fatherless, the temporary resident or the poor, and let none of you devise or imagine or think evil against his brother in your heart. Zechariah 7:9-10 AMP

You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his cause. 7 Keep far from a false matter and [be very careful] not to condemn to death the innocent and the righteous, for I will not justify and acquit the wicked. Exodus 23:6-7 AMP

A great leader may NOT EVER pervert justice. There is NEVER a justification for perverting justice. A great leader does NOT disregard the rights of any person, for any reason. Leaders are bound by God’s law to execute justice – and not to delay it either. Deliberately condemning the innocent and acquitting the guilty is completely unacceptable to God. If you want to make God very angry, then call the wicked, good, and the good, wicked!

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are mighty heroes at drinking wine and men of strength in mixing alcoholic drinks! — 23 Who justify and acquit the guilty for a bribe, but take away the rights of the innocent and righteous from them! 24 Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be like rottenness and their blossom shall go up like fine dust — because they have rejected and cast away the law and the teaching of the Lord of hosts and have not believed but have treated scornfully and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 5:20-24 AMP

Leaders who are arrogantly disrespectful of God and His laws will pay the price of His retribution! Leaders who get carried away by their own importance, and who are drunk on their own power – better beware. If they are a careless drunk, or covetous, or a glutton, or a philanderer, and they make the satisfaction of their own needs more important than doing the right thing, then it will be virtually impossible for them to do what is right. If you are transgressing God’s laws yourself, then you are not likely to apply justice in your judgment of others!

You need a clear head to judge wisely and to lead righteously. God forbids drunken leaders, because they always pervert justice. Because they have yielded to their carnality, and not held themselves to any decent standard, they can be either bribed and/or black-mailed to twist the law. Those leaders and judges who pervert justice for bribes, make no mistake, they will have a very bad ending.

5. A great leader is one who is not partial to, or favorable toward, only certain people.

These also are sayings of the wise: To discriminate and show partiality, having respect of persons in judging, is not good. 24 He who says to the wicked, You are righteous and innocent — peoples will curse him, nations will defy and abhor him. 25 But to those [upright judges] who rebuke the wicked, it will go well with them and they will find delight, and a good blessing will be upon them. Proverbs 24:23-25 AMP

You shall not be partial in judgment; but you shall hear the small as well as the great. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it. Deuteronomy 1:17 AMP

A great leader sees people through God’s eyes and does not take advantage of them just because they can. A great leader does NOT disregard the rights of the powerless: an outsider, an orphan, a widow; a temporary resident, or a poor person. Justice must be applied according to truth and law, not according to a person’s station in life or what their life is worth in the eyes of man. In God’s eyes, ALL are equal, whether: rich or poor; old or young; pretty or ugly; male or female; master or servant; king or ordinary citizen. The Lord requires that law and justice be applied equally and impartially to all.

Cursed is he who perverts the justice due to the sojourner or the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. All the people shall say, Amen. Deuteronomy 27:19 AMP

He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks, and insults his Maker, but he who is kind and merciful to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31 AMP

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent or go unpunished. Proverbs 17:5 AMP

The Hebrew word for heal – “rapha” – has no reference to spiritual healing whatsoever. It refers directly to the healing of the physical body. There are at least 14 Hebrew and Greek words, found in a number of passages, which plainly teach physical soundness, healing, health, preservation, salvation, and deliverance. Sometimes, in the same passage, one of these words is used of both body and soul. Father God wants us to be well and healthy in spirit, soul and body.

Fourteen Hebrew and Greek words that refer to physical healing:

Hebrew words:

1. Rapha (OT:7495) means: to mend; cure; heal; repair; make whole. It is translated in the KJV as: cure; make whole; heal; healed; healeth; thoroughly healed; physician.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases. Psalms 103:3 NKJV

2. Marpe (OT:4832) means: curative; a medicine: a cure; deliverance. It is translated in the KJV as: cure; curable; healing; health; remedy; sound; wholesome; yielding.

For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:22 NKJV

The following scripture has three different Hebrew words in it that all mean health and cure:

Behold, I will bring it health (aruwkah) and cure (marpe), and I will cure (rapha) them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. Jeremiah 33:6 KJV

3. Yeshuwah (OT:3444) means: something saved; deliverance; aid; victory; prosperity. It is translated in the KJV as: deliverance; health; help; helping; salvation; save; saving (health); welfare.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalms 42:11 KJV

With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation. Psalms 91:16 NKJV

4. Aruwkah (OT:724) means restoration to sound health; wholeness. It is translated in the KJV as: health; made up; perfected.

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8 NKJV

5. Chabash (OT:2280) means: to wrap firmly; to stop; to rule; health. It is translated in the KJV as: bind (up); gird about; govern; healer; put; saddle; wrap about.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. Isaiah 61:1 NKJV

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3 NKJV

6. Riphuth (OT:7500) means: a cure; health. It is translated in the KJV as health.

It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:8 NKJV

Greek words:

7. Therapeuo (NT:2323) means: to wait upon menially, to adore (God): to relieve (of disease). It is translated in the KJV as: cure; heal; worship.

And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” Matthew 8:7 NKJV

8. Iama (NT:2386) means a cure (the effect); healing; repairing. It is translated in the KJV as: healing.

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 1 Corinthians 12:30 KJV

9. Iaomai (NT:2390) means; to cure (literally or figuratively). It is translated in the KJV as: heal; make whole.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 NKJV

10. Iasis (NT:2392) means: the act of curing. It is translated in the KJV as: cure; heal; healing.

And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ Luke 13:32 NKJV

11. Hugiaino (NT:5198) means: to have sound health; be well (in body); to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine). It is translated in the KJV as: be in health; be safe and sound; whole; be whole; wholesome.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2 NKJV

12. Hugies (NT:5199) means: healthy: well; well in body; true (in doctrine). It is translated in the KJV as: sound; whole.

So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:31 NKJV

13. Sozo (NT:4982) means: to save; deliver; protect; heal; preserve; make whole. It is translated in the KJV as: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. Sozo is used 86 times in reference to saving the soul, but in the passages below it refers to saving the physical body and healing it of sickness and disease:

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. Mark 6:56 KJV

14. Diasozo (NT:1295) means: to save thoroughly; to heal thoroughly; to cure; preserve; rescue; make perfectly whole; etc. It is translated in the KJV as: bring safe; escape (safe); heal; make perfectly whole; save. It is used of the body being healed.

And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Matthew 14:36 KJV

Pharaoh swept his hand out wide, in order to include all that massive land of Egypt, and expounded, “It’s all yours, Joseph.” Then he took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph’s hand. You know what that ring signified, don’t you? It was actually the platinum charge card of that day. It was actually the way the king stamped the invoices, the laws, or anything more he needed to confirm or validate with his seal.

Now Joseph had that ring on his finger, placed there by the Pharaoh himself. When the reward comes, thank God without pride. Only God can bring you thru and out of the dungeon. Only God can reward you for your faithfulness. Remember, with meekness, that it is God who has put you there. A small number of you are on the edge of promotion and you do not even know it, because God doesn’t announce His appointments ahead. What you’ve got to do, while you wait, is to believe His promises.

While in the darkness of your dungeon, by religion, trust him to bring the light of a new dawn. The God of Joseph will stay beside us in the dungeon days ; he won’t forsake or forget us. He is going to be there in the blast of the winter storm, holding out the guarantee of spring. He’ll be there thru the darkest night, silently reminding us of the guarantee of morning light.

Joseph learned a damaged and ashamed heart isn’t the end, but the start. When the affliction stopped, he’d been refined, and he came forth as gold. He had become an individual of bigger stability, of deeper quality, of stronger personality. God’s guarantees are just as much for us as they were for Joseph. His tender mercies go with us from the pit to the apex.

When money is our objective for contentment, we must live in fear of losing it, which makes us paranoid and suspicious. When celebrity is our target, we become competitive lest others upstage us, which makes us envious. When power and influence drive us, we become self-serving and strong-willed, which makes us conceited. And when possessions become our god, we become materialistic, thinking enough is rarely enough, which makes us greedy. He teaches that all of these pursuits fly in the face of happiness and joy. Only Christ can satisfy, whether we have or don’t have, whether we are known or unknown, whether we live or die.

And the excellent news is this : Death only sweetens the pie. That alone will make you giggle again.

The New Testament in Modem English, reads : “For living to me means simply ‘Christ,’ and if I die I should only gain more of him.”.

Twice we read in that short account, “The Lord was with Joseph.” Joseph started to see the hand of The Lord God in his jail experience. In what might have been the direst of positions, the dreariest of places, Joseph thrived. Heexplains that due to this, he was made available to be utilised by God strategically in the lives of at least 2 men. Fake accusations put Joseph in jail, but it was actually the Lord who stayed near him and nurtured his soul while he was there.

The warden trusted and respected Joseph such a lot that he “did not control anything under Joseph’s charge as the LORD was with him ; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.”. You see, the Lord God stayed 1st in Joseph’s life ; He was the focus of his life. He shares that the lens of the Lord God’s will stood between Joseph and his circumstances, enabling Joseph to see God in them, to read God in them—and enabling God to use him in them.

When a dungeon experience comes, the swiftest and easiest reply is to feel that you have been forgotten by God. I do not know if you checked out the cartoon “Ziggy,” but I enjoy him—maybe as he frequently claims the things I have been thinking. One of my tops shows Ziggy, with his giant nose and bald head, standing on a mountain and staring far above him.

The sky is dark, and there’s one lonesome cloud up there. Ziggy screams, “Have I been put on hold for the remainder of my life?”. You have felt like that, haven’t you? “Lord, will You ever answer?” how frequently the heavens appear more like cold brass than God’s loving abode. Make no mistake about it, Joseph did not merit jail, but he answered to it fantastically. Firstly in his life was his imperative and consistent relationship with his Lord. And due to that, God used him in strategic and important ways.

2017″From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was most likely written by David. David was a successful man—as an individual and as a leader—because he reverenced the Word of God, held it in high esteem and lived by it. Even when he made a mistake, he asked the Lord for forgiveness and continued to be submitted to every word that the Lord spoke to him. There are some people who, because they themselves do not want to submit to the Word of God, belittle the Bible and claim that it was written only by the imaginations of mere men and not by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV says that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Whether people agree or not with God’s word, they will still be judged by it in the end.

Many books that people base their whole life on were written by single authors, many of whom claim to have received their revelations from an angel. The Bible, on the other hand, had 40 authors, but is consistent throughout. There is no doubt it was written by men under inspiration of the Holy Spirit and it is God’s word written directly to us and for us! If we love and honor God’s word, we will succeed and prosper in every area of our lives. To those who have no respect for God’s words, they mean nothing, but to those who love the Word of God and whom have realized its value, it is sweeter than honey and more precious than gold! Romans 11:33 NKJV says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” Indeed, there is no list or description that can fully do justice to all the words of Almighty God, but read and meditate on this description of the Word of God, taken only from Psalms 119, and let it minister to your Spirit and encourage your heart.

The Word of God is to us:
• The law of the Lord—verse 1; 18
• A record of His testimonies—verse 2; 14; 31; 36
• A revelation of His ways—verse 3; 15
• A code of His precepts—verse 4; 15
• A list of His statutes—verse 5; 33
• The sum of His commandments—verse 6; 32; 35; 86
• The righteous judgments of God—verse 7; 13; 62; 75; 106
• The source of cleansing—verse 9
• The words of God—verse 11; 16; 57
• A ready counselor—verse 24
• The source of life—verse 25; 40; 50; 88
• A history of God’s wondrous works—verse 27
• A tower of strength—verse 28
• The way of truth—verse 30; 142; 151
• The way of God—verse 1; 37
• The way of righteousness—verse 40
• The way of salvation—verse 41
• A true trust—verse 42
• The word of truth—verse 43; 142; 151
• The source of hope—verse 49; 81; 114
• A source of comfort—verse 52
• The subject of songs—verse 54
• The foundation of good judgment and knowledge—verse 66; 130
• A source of delight—verse 70; 92
• Something better than riches—verse 72
• A book of promised mercies—verse 76
• The testimony of His mouth—verse 88
• An eternal plan—verse 89; 91
• An unforgettable code of laws—verse 93
• Something infinite in its scope—verse 96
• A source of wisdom—verse 98
• A source of knowledge—verse 99; 104; 130
• Something sweeter than honey—verse 103
• A lamp to the feet—verse 105
• A light to the pathway of life—verse 105
• An eternal heritage—verse 111
• A source of joy if obeyed—verse 111; 112
• A stay in trouble—verse 116
• Something to be feared—verse 120
• The word of God’s righteousness—verse 123
• Something to be loved more than silver and gold—verse 127
• Something wonderful—verse 129
• The source of light—verse 130
• Something understandable to the simple—verse 130
• A code of laws for the upright—verse 137
• A righteous and faithful testimony of God—verse 138
• The pure Word of God—verse 140
• The truth from the beginning—verse 160

* Forty-eightfold Description of the Word of God from Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible.

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5  (NKJ)
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

One day, I was reading a Bible commentary written by a theologian who had decided to explain away every passage of scripture that contained any reference to the anointing or the supernatural power of God.  He said that it was asinine to think that in this day and age the anointing can actually be transferred by the laying on of hands.

He had chosen to overlook the supernatural aspect of God’s Word.  He said that the supernatural occurred by the laying on of hands under the Old Covenant, but under the New Covenant it was merely symbolic.  He was confused. The Old Covenant is symbolic (types and shadows), while the New Covenant is the substance.  The Old Covenant made promises, but the New Covenant delivers them!

The laying on of hands for impartation is New Testament.  It is one of the basic doctrines of Christ (Hebrews 6:1-6).

In many church circles they deny the power of God its rightful place.  Why?  Because they deny that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Apostle Paul moves now like He did in Bible days.  Many also believe what is called the “passed away” theology – that everything in the Gospels and the book of Acts passed away with the last Apostles.  I DON’T BELIEVE THAT – NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL.

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8).

It is no wonder that many people, especially our youngsters, are turning to rock, heavy metal music, grunge music, drugs, alcohol, free sex, and alternate lifestyles.  The yuppie generation is turning to the cults, the psychics and the New Age movement.  This happens because they have a hunger in their hearts for the supernatural.  They want something that is real.  The Church is not meeting or fulfilling the need of the heart of man for the touch of God.

The church has become a referral system.  Alcohol and drug addicts are sent first to other places for rehabilitation, instead of being set free by the power of the Holy Ghost.  God is so awesome and so powerful that if the world could see Him as He really is – they would be changed!

One of the things I have a hard time understanding is that people would want to have a church meeting without God and without His presence.  Is it because, maybe they are afraid that if God manifested His presence then He might offend someone?  Or is it because they might have to change?  Why is it that some people pray for revival, but they don’t welcome or accept it when it comes?  Is it because it is not packaged the way they want it packaged?

They want something that is dignified and something that is acceptable to man.  However the move of God must not become acceptable to man, but man must become acceptable to the move of God.  If you are going to have a church meeting involving Almighty God then something is going to happen.  It is impossible for God’s presence to be made manifest and then nothing happens.

Don’t tell me that the anointing of the Lord was present in a meeting, but nothing happened!  You might have a large church, thousands of people, a beautiful robed choir, beautiful chandeliers, clarinet solos, celebrity speakers, and a large television ministry, but without the anointing and the touch of God – you have nothing at all.

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Psalms 113:1-9

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”

God is so awesome! He is so great and so mighty—the Creator and the Ruler of the universe! The Lord is high above all nations—His glory is high above the heavens! The whole of creation bows down before Him! Praises ring out to Him from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same! Every created being has to bow their knee at the very mention of His Name! And yet—He humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth. It is so wonderful that someone so important and so incredibly magnificent would make the time and the effort to come down to where we are to reach out in love and kindness toward us and to draw us to His side. He comes down to show us that He loves you and me so much! He knows us inside out and He cares about us and pays attention to every detail of our lives.

How wonderful that He would send Jesus—the best that He had, in fact, all that He had—His only begotten Son—to be the mediator of an everlasting covenant between God and man. The Lord came down from Glory to lift us out of the dust and the ash heap and the dunghill of life—and seat us at His own right hand to eat at His table. This is not just for heaven—this is for right here down on earth. The Bible says that there will always be poor people with us, but the good news is that they don’t have to stay poor. There will always be people on the ash heap of life, but they don’t have to remain on that ash heap. God, Himself, has reached down to lift us up out of whatever mess we have gotten ourselves into and to set us at the table of restoration and honor and blessing and provision.

Psalms 138:4-8

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Even though there is none higher than the Lord and all the kings of the earth praise Him—when we humble our heart in repentance before Him, He reaches down to us, extending His mercy to work on our behalf. He takes all the little broken pieces of our lives—all the things we have messed up, all the things that have gone wrong through the years, all the bad things that have happened to us—and He makes them all right. He will wipe out the past and bring us into a place we have only dreamed of. He turns things right side up and restores the years that the locusts have eaten and He perfects the things that concern us. Who else, but God, would take people from the dunghill and set them at the princes’ table? What an awesome God we serve!

Don’t waste time wallowing in the dust and the ash heap of your sin and your disappointments. Come running to God in humility, admitting your sin and mistakes, and He will wash you, restore you and set you at His table! No matter what life has thrown at you—God can wipe it away and bless you beyond your hopes or dreams!