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

Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

I am blessed and happy, and fortunate, because I reverently fear and worship the Lord and because I find great delight in His commandments.

My children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth, riches, prosperity and welfare are in my house and my righteousness endures forever.

Light arises in the darkness for me, because I am upright, gracious, compassionate and just, and I am in right standing with my Father, God.

A good person deals graciously and lends.

Good is coming to me, because I am generous and I lend freely.

It is well with me because I guide and conduct my affairs with discretion and justice.

Surely I will never be shaken. Surely I will not be moved forever.

A righteous person will be remembered forever.

I will not be afraid of bad news or evil tidings.

My heart is steadfast – firmly fixed – trusting, leaning on and being confident in the Lord. My heart is secure, established and steady.

I will not be afraid – I will wait to see my desire established upon my adversaries – in the end I will look in triumph on my foes.

I have freely distributed gifts to the poor and needy, my righteousness endures forever and my horn will be exalted and lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see it and be grieved and angered; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; he will disappear in despair. The desire and longings of the wicked shall perish and come to nothing.

Psalms 112:1-10 Paraphrased from the AMP, NIV and NKJV

Romans 4:17 says that, “God gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did,” (NKJV) “God gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were,” (NIV) and “God gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.” (AMP)

God speaks into existence those things that He plans and desires. They do not exist until He speaks them into existence. People of faith have learned to do exactly what their Father God does. He created the universe – He knows how to get the best results. The Lord has made you many exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4), but they will only be yours when you do what He tells you to do.

You must live a godly life and practice what you believe. You must know what God’s Word says about what He has promised you and you must do what God does – you must speak out His promises. You must call those things that are not as though they were. You might be financially strapped – call yourself blessed in Jesus’ Name. You might be sick – call yourself healed in Jesus’ Name. You might be depressed – call yourself filled with joy in Jesus’ Name. You might be childless – call yourself a joyful mother of children in Jesus’ Name. Your relationships might be full of strife – speak God’s peace over them in Jesus’ Name. You might have suffered loss – speak restoration over your situation in Jesus’ Name.

Whatever it is that you need – don’t waste your time speaking about the problem – rather speak the answer. You might not feel blessed, healed, joyful, or peaceful, but you can become blessed, healed, joyful, and peaceful, as you speak life and blessing, from God’s Word, out over your life, family and situation.

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

Love is a reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion that is inspired by God’s love for us and in us. Love sees all as valuable and precious, even when they do not appear to be so.

If I can speak in the tongues of men and even of angels, but have not love I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not God’s love in me, I am nothing – a useless nobody.

Even if I dole out all that I have to the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not God’s love in me, I gain nothing.

God is love and His love is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Because love lives in me:

I endure long and am patient and kind;

I am never envious nor do I boil over with jealousy,

I am not boastful or vainglorious, neither do I display myself haughtily.

I am not conceited, arrogant or inflated with pride;

I am not rude or unmannerly and I do not act unbecomingly.

I do not insist on my own rights or my own way, for I am not self-seeking;

I am not touchy or fretful or resentful;

I take no account of the evil done to me,

I pay no attention to a suffered wrong.

I do not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but I rejoice when right and truth prevail.

I bear up under anything and everything that comes, I am ever ready to believe the best of every person, my hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and I endure everything without weakening.

Because love never fails, I never fail. God’s love in me never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end.

As for prophecy, it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

For our knowledge and our prophecy is fragmentary – incomplete and imperfect,

But when the complete and perfect comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim and blurred reflection of reality as in a riddle or enigma, but then when perfection comes we shall see in reality and face to face!

Now I know in part – imperfectly – but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood by God.

And so faith, hope, love abide

Faith is believing that what God said He would do, He will do.

Hope is a joyful and confident expectation.

Love is true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for us and in us.

The greatest of these is love.

Paraphrased from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 John 4:8&16 and Romans 5:5 AMP

You will never walk in the blessings of God’s Word until you put it on the inside of you. You must get into the Word and get the Word into you so that it can start to work for you. The Christian who will not walk in love is immature, worldly, and carnal. If you desire to be a spiritual and mature Christian then you must become an imitator of your Father, God, and walk in love toward God and your neighbor – Christian and non-Christian alike – in all circumstances and at all times. Confess this passage of scripture until it becomes so much part of you and so real to you, that you begin to automatically walk in it everyday.

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

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs or a part of his side and closed up the [place with] flesh. 22 And the rib or part of his side which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 Then Adam said, This [creature] is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man. Genesis 2:21-23 AMP

Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord. Colossians 3:18 AMP

God created man and out of Adam He took and built Eve. Eve comes from Adam and is created to complement him and complete him. He needs her femininity and she needs his masculinity. They are never as effective alone as they are together. The two once more become one. The husband is required by God to love and protect his wife. The wife is blessed with the ability to adapt to her husband and it is her responsibility to do so.

Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body. 24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. Ephesians 5:22-24 AMP

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church. 33 However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. Ephesians 5:31-33 AMP

Wives, as you submit and adapt yourself to the Lord Jesus, submit and adapt yourself also to your own husbands. Nowhere in the word of God does it say that all women should be submitted to all men, but it does say that wives are to be submitted to their own husbands.

In like manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives, 2 When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him–to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband]. 1 Peter 3:1-2 AMP

The greatest mistake many wives make is to try to change their husbands, especially by nagging. This is counter-productive and ineffective. You need to let God change him. God gave women an ability to influence their husbands and it is important that they use this power for good and not for selfish or evil motives. The Lord says that men will be won over, not by discussion, but by the godly example of their wives. Wives, have faith in God to minister to your husband and to take care of you and your needs – don’t give way to hysterical fears or let anxieties unnerve you – trust the truth of His word and obey His leading. He will work with you and in you.

Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; 4 But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were [accustomed] to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands [adapting themselves to them as themselves secondary and dependent upon them]. 6 It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you]. 1 Peter 3:3-6 AMP

God is not opposed to make-up, jewelry, or nice clothes, but He wants you to know that your appearance is not the most attractive thing about you. Your true beauty comes from your heart – the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is not anxious or wrought up – this is very precious in the sight of God.

The greatest need of a wife is to be cherished by her husband and the greatest need of a husband is to be respected by his wife. Wives – always respect and reverence your husband; notice him; regard him; honor him; prefer him; venerate and esteem him; defer to him; praise him; love and admire him exceedingly; appreciate, prize, and adore him; admire him; praise him; be devoted to him; deeply love and enjoy your husband.

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

My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (one Who will intercede for us) with the Father–[it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action]. 2 And He [that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the sins of] the whole world. 3 And this is how we may discern [daily, by experience] that we are coming to know Him [to perceive, recognize, understand, and become better acquainted with Him]: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments). 4 Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him. 5 But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him: 6 Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. 1 John 2:1-6 AMP

The way you know that you are getting to know the Lord more and more is because you keep His commandments; you do what He tells you to do; you conform to the Father’s will in purpose, thought, and action. Many people want God to speak to them by His Spirit, but they do not listen or obey when He speaks to them through His Word! When you are a new Christian, the primary way you come to know God is through His Word. The Holy Spirit is the One who reveals the truths of God’s Word to you and helps you to understand it. As you walk in the ways God has ordained for you, you will grow and mature in your love walk – you are an imitator of Jesus Christ and you walk and conduct yourself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy one, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things. 21 I write to you not because you are ignorant and do not perceive and know the Truth, but because you do perceive and know it, and [know positively] that nothing false (no deception, no lie) is of the Truth. 22 Who is [such a] liar as he who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah)? He is the antichrist (the antagonist of Christ), who [habitually] denies and refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son. 23 No one who [habitually] denies (disowns) the Son even has the Father. Whoever confesses (acknowledges and has) the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, keep in your hearts what you have heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the first dwells and remains in you, then you will dwell in the Son and in the Father [always]. 25 And this is what He Himself has promised us–the life, the eternal [life]. 26 I write this to you with reference to those who would deceive you [seduce and lead you astray]. 27 But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. 28 And now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming. 29 If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father’s will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [God]. 1 John 2:20-29 AMP

The name “Christ” means “Anointed One,” so “anti-Christ” means anti – or against – the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The anti-Christ spirit is opposed to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is opposed to who they are and also everything that they are doing. The anointing is the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit. You cannot say that you are listening to the Holy Spirit if you are against everything He says and does. The proof that you hear and obey the Holy Spirit is that you honor, respect, and obey Him. If you submit to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will teach you His Truth and also cause you also to recognize the Truth or the lie when you see them. The Holy Spirit will teach you all the things you need to know to live a successful life in God, here on the earth. When you give the Holy Spirit place in your life by your honor, respect and obedience, you will walk in the Truth of God’s Word and in all the blessings of God.

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

And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord–Christ] shall be saved. 22 You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and attested to you by God by the mighty works and [the power of performing] wonders and signs which God worked through Him [right] in your midst, as you yourselves know–23 This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men. 24[But] God raised Him up, liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it. 25 For David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from my secure and happy state]. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope [will encamp, pitch its tent, and dwell in hope in anticipation of the resurrection]. 27 For You will not abandon my soul, leaving it helpless in Hades (the state of departed spirits), nor let Your Holy one know decay or see destruction [of the body after death]. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture me [diffusing my soul with joy] with and in Your presence.  Acts 2:21-28 AMP

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up to address the people of Jerusalem and in the course of his speech, he quoted King David: “Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope” and the Amplified Bible expands on this statement, adding the words: “will encamp, pitch its tent, and dwell in hope in anticipation of the resurrection.” A tent is a temporary dwelling – it is not meant to be a permanent dwelling. Today we use them to go on a camping vacation; people use tents in emergencies, as temporary housing; in turbulent parts of the world, tents are used to house refugees. Except for certain peoples like the Bedouin, a tent is not where we ultimately aspire to be – it is not permanent – it is just something we have and use on the way to our more permanent and fixed habitation.

Hope is like a tent – it is not our house, but it is an appropriate temporary habitation on the way to our permanent house – the fulfillment of the promise. We may not have the promise – we may not be living in the house yet – but we know its coming! Not only is hope the tent, but hope is a tent pitched in a particular place – the place where it expects the house to be built.

[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. 9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.  Hebrews 11:8-10 AMP

Abraham was prompted by faith to leave his home and family and live as a temporary resident in a strange land, while he expectantly and confidently waited for a city with fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. Abraham pitched his tent, and lived in it, in the land, promised by God to his descendants. This is the land in which his children and grandchildren would be born and the land they would eventually occupy. Abraham never built a house there – he lived in his tent until he died – because Abraham was not only looking forward to an earthly city – he was looking forward to a heavenly city! Faith confidently expects God to answer prayers and fulfill His promises. Abraham’s faith was his tent while he patiently waited and looked forward to his permanent habitation in the glory of God.

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].  Hebrews 11:1 AMP

Our faith is the proof that we have what we are believing for. We cannot see it yet, but the answer to our prayer of faith is on its way. We live in our tent of hope and faith while the house is being built for us and before long we will move into the house and experience the blessing we hoped for and confidently expected!

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

God – not man – instituted the offering
Lesson No. 17 from Leviticus

Foundation Scriptures: Leviticus 1 verse 1 – 17
The Lord called to Moses out of the Tent of Meeting, and said to him, 2 Say to the Israelites, When any man of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of [domestic] animals from the herd or from the flock. 3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it at the door of the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. 4 And he shall lay [both] his hands upon the head of the burnt offering [transferring symbolically his guilt to the victim], and it shall be an acceptable atonement for him. 5 The man shall kill the young bull before the Lord, and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall present the blood and dash [it] round about upon the altar that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 6 And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and lay wood in order on the fire; 8 And Aaron’s sons the priests shall lay the pieces, the head and the fat, in order on the wood on the fire on the altar. 9 But its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar for a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a sweet and satisfying odor to the Lord. 10 And if the man’s offering is of the flock, from the sheep or the goats, for a burnt offering, he shall offer a male without blemish. 11 And he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall dash its blood round about against the altar. 12 And [the man] shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. 13 But he shall wash the entrails and legs with water. The priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet and satisfying fragrance to the Lord. 14 And if the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, then [the man] shall bring turtledoves or young pigeons. 15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 And he shall take away its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes. 17 And he shall split it open [holding it] by its wings, but shall not cut it in two. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet and satisfying odor to the Lord.  Leviticus 1:1-17 AMP

1. The offering is God’s idea:

a. In verse 2, Moses gave instructions to the people of how they were to bring their offering to the Lord.

b. It’s not just about bringing an offering – it’s about bringing an offering that is acceptable to the Lord.

c. Verses 9, 13, and 17 speak of the burning of the offering, by fire, as a sweet, and satisfying odor to the Lord.

d. Barnes’ Notes says: “The substance of the victim was regarded not as something to be consumed, but as an offering of a sweet-smelling savor sent up in the flame to Yahweh.”

e. When you present an offering to the Lord, it is not lost or “consumed”, but it rises as a sweet savor to Him.

N.B. We need to realize that offerings are not man’s idea, but God’s idea. The Lord asks for our offering and He receives it as a sweet and satisfying fragrance or an odor when we bring it in faith as an act of worship and obedience.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
The burnt offering was offered as atonement for sin and it was pleasing to God. A burnt offering can never be retracted by man – you can’t ask for it back. Once it is given and burned it is well and truly God’s. Before you give this offering, you must totally commit it to God and leave it with Him. Ephesians 5:2 says that Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. He was a slain offering for you and I and a sacrifice to God. He personally became that sweet fragrance. God looks upon the heart. When you give out of love and obedience, your offering smells fragrantly sweet to the Lord.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
When we come to worship the Lord, we build an altar to the Lord and offer our gifts upon this altar. Throughout this passage, as Moses speaks of how God desires the offering to be presented and burned, he mentions the sweet and satisfying odor of the burnt offering to the Lord. God receives our gifts and they come up before Him as a sweet smell and a fragrance. The scripture speaks of our praise and worship as a sacrifice of praise, God is waiting to receive from us, even as we are waiting to receive from Him.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I thank you that I have the privilege to honor you and worship you with my giving. Please accept these gifts. May they be a sweet and satisfying odor to you!

 

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

Thus says the Lord: Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house would you build for Me? And what kind can be My resting-place? 2 For all these things My hand has made, and so all these things have come into being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands.  Isaiah 66:1-2 AMP

Almighty God created everything that exists—the universe and everything in it—including man. As He has declared: heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool! Yet men have not reverentially feared the Lord, as they should have and as He is worthy of, and have exalted themselves, thinking that they are more than what they really are. This was the devil’s mistake. He dared to exalt his throne above the throne of God!

The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people].
Acts 17:24-25 AMP

Men have exalted themselves by casting God aside—the very God to whom they owe their very existence; the God who gave them their life and breath—treating Him as if He is irrelevant, ignoring and disregarding Him as if He is only an invention of man. On the other hand, men have exalted themselves, believing that they could actually build Him buildings that could contain Him. There is no building that could be built—no matter how magnificent by man’s standards—that is a worthy dwelling for our God! So great is He!

Just because you think you are really something—doesn’t mean that you are. You can choose your own way and your own path, but it is the road to nowhere. God is not interested in what you can do for Him or impressed by what you can build for Him. He is only interested in what is in your heart.  The man or woman whom God will regard, whom He is looking for and whom He cares about, are the ones who are altogether humble before God. There are many who claim humility, and yet are not, because they are proud of their humility. It is only a surface humility and makes God sick. He especially hates hypocrisy. God has respect and regard for the one who trembles at his word and reveres His commands!

If you are indeed a humble person, you will highly respect God’s word. God, and the rest of us, will all see and know this when we see how personally you take His word to you. We will see it by whether or not you act on God’s word, instead of just talking about it, and we will see it by how promptly you obey His commands. This is the only true measure of humility. John 4:24 AMP says that, “God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).”  Worship that is acceptable to God is worship that is absolutely sincere, coming straight from the heart.

But in every nation he who venerates and has a reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and sure of being received and welcomed [by Him].  Acts 10:35 AMP

God is NO respecter of persons. Anyone—no matter who you are; no matter what you have done; no matter what your nationality—can be acceptable to God on the basis of worshipful obedience!

And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).  Acts 2:43 AMP

So the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified [growing in wisdom, virtue, and piety] and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.  Acts 9:31 AMP

The respect and reverential fear of God was a hallmark of the early church. When Jesus is your First Love, you will give Him the place of honor in your heart and life!

Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.  2 Corinthians 7:1 AMP

Let’s not miss out on any of the wonderful things God has in store for us. Let’s consecrate ourselves afresh to reverence Him—to humble ourselves before Him, to get rid of all sin and pride, and to remind ourselves how precious, how wonderful, how powerful and how magnificent our God is and how worthy He is to receive all our praise, honor, adoration and obedience!

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

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 KJV

God is good and He is good all the time. You could not call Him good if He was sometimes good and sometimes not. Goodness is not just about being good and doing good; it’s about being constant and consistent; being predictably good. Because God is good, He is consistently merciful and benevolent, kind, generous and forgiving.

“O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.” Psalms 34:8 AMP

“Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.” 1 Peter 2:2-3 AMP

The word “taste” represents an experience. We can personally experience God’s goodness. It is our choice. The goodness and the kindness of the Lord were manifested in the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ on our behalf. God has done everything He can do to show us His goodness; now it is up to each one of us to choose to personally experience – taste – that
goodness for ourselves! We taste God’s goodness when we trust and take refuge in Him.

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 AMP

“God passed in front of him and called out, ‘God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient — so much love, so deeply true — 7 loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. Still, he doesn’t ignore sin. He holds sons and grandsons responsible for a father’s sins to the third and even fourth generation.’” Exodus 34:6-7 TMB

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” Psalms 86:5 NKJV

God’s goodness, mercy and kindness never run out. He displays His goodness by showing His mercy. If you sin without repentance, God will have to hold you accountable – you will not get away with it. However, if you sincerely repent and ask God to forgive you, He will do so immediately. The Lord always forgives and shows mercy to those who call on Him, but those who rebel against Him, never have the privilege of experiencing His goodness.

“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NKJV

It’s God’s good pleasure to fulfill His goodness in you, through you, and for you! We must desire and strive to be worthy of what He has called us to do. When we have faith in God, He will work in and through and for us in power! God’s plan is that Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in Him.

“Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.” Psalms 65:4 AMP

“Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the Lord — For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, And they shall sorrow no more at all.Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow. I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:12-14 NKJV

People are drawn to and attracted to God’s goodness. God’s goodness is in His house, in His presence, and is freely available to those who are full of Him and who stay close to Him. God’s goodness is all we need. God will cause His loyal people to always be satiated and satisfied with His goodness.

“Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.” Hosea 3:5 NKJV

“Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.” Jeremiah 33:6-9 NKJV

God’s will for us is that we should experience His goodness and His prosperity. God’s people must never take His goodness for granted, but it is very important that we respect and appreciate the goodness of God and how good He is to us. God says that when the nations of the earth see and hear about His abundant goodness toward His children it will be a mighty testimony – they will fear and tremble – they will be in awe of God. Give thanks to God for His goodness!

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalms 107:8-9 NKJV

I should be praying for them, asking God how I can be a blessing to them each and every day! I need to say, God how can I meet someone’s need today? And I will challenge myself to do this! God didn’t pour his love on me so I could keep it to myself, he gave it freely, so I will give it freely as well!

God is dealing with me about being a good steward of my time, managing my schedule and making sure that I don’t leave Him out of my daily activities and decisions. But there is always something to do, someone to talk to, a project to complete, family that needs help or an unexpected emergency. By trying to complete things in the flesh and not spending time with God, actually frustrates me. I learned that I need dedicated time with God. He is my source, He is my strength, and He is my wonderful counselor.