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My Roadmap — The Word of God

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

LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Foundation Scriptures: Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

The Bible is Our Handbook.

  • Every intricate thing that is made by man has a handbook or a manual.
  • God created and made us and all of creation.
    • Psalms 139:14 NKJV – I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
  • The Handbook or Manual for our lives is the Word of God—the Bible.
    • Psalms 119:105 KJV – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
  • God’s Word is our Roadmap and our Guide on the path of life.
  • Sadly, many believers don’t believe the Bible is the final authority for their lives—they don’t believe that His Word is true.
  • Some people explain God’s Word away by saying that He doesn’t mean what He says. If God does not mean what He says, then why doesn’t He just say what He means? He did say what He means—read it, believe it and act on it!
  • God’s Word is firmly established and will never move or change.
    • Psalms 119:89 KJV – Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
    • Psalms 119:160 KJV – Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
  • John 17:17 NKJV – Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
  • God and His Word are one—they can never be separated.
    • John 1:1 NKJV – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  • You cannot and should not try to “spin” the Word of God to suit your self. God does not allow any personal or private interpretation of any scripture.
    • 2 Peter 1:20 KJV – Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
  • God’s Word is final authority for the believer—in ALL areas of life and conduct.

What Roadmap Are You Following?

  • Your own way is the wrong way.
    • Proverbs 14:12 AMP – There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.
  • God’s Word will lead you to Life.
    • Psalms 119:11 KJV – Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
  • God has given us His Word—which is His will. His will is His way.
  • In John 14:23-24, Jesus says that if a person really loves Him, they will keep and obey His Word, and if a person does not really love Him, they will not keep or obey His Word.
  • If you want something from God, you must come to Him on the basis of His Will—His Word—or your prayer will remain unanswered.
    • 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
  • Psalms 138:2b NKJV – You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
  • Jeremiah 1:12b AMP – I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
  • Isaiah 55:11 NKJV – So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
  • Mark 13:31 NKJV – Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

God’s Word is Our Final Authority.

  • Child of God—you need to settle this, in your own heart and life, once and for all.
  • Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. The Word shows us the way.
  • John 1:1-14
  • Jesus said only what the Father told Him to say.
    • John 8:28-29 NKJV – Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.  29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
    • John 3:34 AMP – For since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God’s own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!
  • We must obey His Word as He obeyed His Father’s Word.
    • Matthew 7:21 AMP – Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.
    • Luke 6:46 NKJV – “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

Let’s Settle This Today!

  • God’s Word has the answer and is the answer for everything in your life.
  • God’s Word is your guide for your conduct—spirit, soul and body.
  • God’s Word will cause you to prosper in every arena of life.
  • Joshua 1:3-8
  • Psalms 1:1-3

The Gospel of Glad Tidings by Rodney Howard Browne

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end. Matthew 24:14 AMP

Rodney Howard Browne says that the Gospel is good news! The word Gospel literally means good news or glad tidings. The Greek word is “euangelizo”, so when we talk about evangelizing, it literally means “sharing the good news”. Isaiah 61:1a AMP prophesies about Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings…”  According to Rodney Howard Brown that John the Baptist preached the good news that Jesus was coming. Jesus preached the good news about the Kingdom of God and healed people everywhere He went. We, today, preach the good news that Jesus has come and died and rose again for our salvation and we show His goodness by doing the works of Jesus.

Great Awakening Tours enumerated The Gospel is the Good News about:

1.  The Kingdom of Heaven and of God
– Matthew 4:23 AMP – And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (Gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every weakness and infirmity among the people.
– Matthew 9:35 AMP – And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity.
– Mark 1:14-15 ERV – After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee and told people the Good News from God. 15 He said, “The right time is now here. God’s kingdom is near. Change your hearts and lives, and believe the Good News!”

 

2.  God
– Romans 1:1-2 ERV – Greetings from Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. God chose me to be an apostle and gave me the work of telling his Good News.  2 God promised long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures to give this Good News to his people.
– Romans 15:16 AMP – In making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I act in the priestly service of the Gospel (the good news) of God, in order that the sacrificial offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable [to God], consecrated and made holy by the Holy Spirit.

3.  Jesus Christ
– Mark 1:1 AMP – The beginning [of the facts] of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
– Romans 1:16 AMP – For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power workinffg unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
– Romans 15:29 AMP – And I know that when I do come to you, I shall come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

4.  Salvation and Redemption for All
– Mark 16:15 AMP – And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].
– Luke 4:18-19 AMP – The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound.]

5.  The Grace of God
-Acts 20:24 NKJV – But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

6.  Peace
– Romans 10:15 KJV – And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
-Ephesians 6:15 KJV – And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

7.  The Promises
– Ephesians 3:6 KJV – That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel.
Hebrews 8:6 NKJV – But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

8.  The Truth
– Ephesians 1:13 NKJV – In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Colossians 1:5 NKJV – Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel.

9.  Having a Lifestyle of Faith
– Philippians 1:27 NKJV – Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.

10.  Giving Hope
– Colossians 1:23 NKJV – 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.

11.  Living Forever – Immortality
– 2 Timothy 1:10-11 NKJV – But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

God has called us believers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, to baptize them in water and in the Holy Ghost, to get them healed delivered and on fire for God! The Gospel of the Kingdom is not a Gospel of something only in the future – a kingdom that is to come – but is the Good News of salvation and all the benefits of the redemption we have through Jesus Christ, which are available right now. We can have and enjoy His eternal life right now!

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

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

Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Psalms 24:3-5 AMP

Sin cannot enter or stand in the presence of God and neither can anyone who is full of sin. Who can ascend into Heaven? Who may enter the Father’s Holy Presence?

Only those who:

1. Have clean hands
• Hands that have not committed sin – sin free
• Hands that are innocent – blameless; clean; clear; exempted; free; guiltless
• Psalms 15 NKJV – Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?     Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
• No matter what we have done in the past, we can repent and have a heart-change, receive God’s forgiveness, have our sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and have the power of sin broken over us. We can have a brand new start and begin to do right from that moment on.

2. Have a pure heart
• A heart empty or void of sin and iniquity
• A sincere heart; beloved
• A choice, clean, clear, pure heart
• Psalms 51:7-11 NKJV – Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
• Malachi 3:2-3 NKJV – “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.
• Matthew 5:8 KJV – Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

3. Do not lie, have idols or live a selfish, ungodly life
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV – Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus 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.
• Hebrews 12:14 KJV – Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

4. Love truth
• Revelation 21:8 NKJV – But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Have you received Jesus as your Lord? Do you live to do His will and not your own? Heaven welcomes those who are perfect – not perfected by their own goodness, but who have truly repented, been washed in the blood of Jesus, been forgiven and who continue to serve Him in the beauty of holiness.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.  Hebrews 12:22-24 NKJV

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.  25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.  27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Revelation 21:21-27 NKJV

Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Only those with clean hands and a pure heart, whose names are written in there, will be able to enter that glorious City of God, to live forever with Him, filled with and surrounded by His joy and His peace. The reward of having clean hands and a pure heart is that you will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of your salvation!

 

20 LIFE LESSONS FROM EPHESIANS 5

Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. 3 But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God’s consecrated people). 4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God]. 5 For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain] — for he [in effect] is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience. 7 So do not associate or be sharers with them.  For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light]. 9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life. 10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]. 11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light. 14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. 15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. 19 Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, 20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. 21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Ephesians 5:1-21 AMP

1. Be imitators of God – copy Him and follow His example

2. Walk in love sacrificially – just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us

3. Immorality, impurity or greediness must not even be named among you

4. NO filthiness, obscenity, indecency; nor foolish and sinful, silly and corrupt talk; nor coarse jesting should come out of your mouth

5. Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments for these sins – because God will be punishing those who commit these sins

6. Don’t associate or partner with people who practice the works of the flesh – those who are rebellious and disobedient

7. Walk as children of the Light

8. Learn what pleases God – and do those things

9. Have no fellowship with the works of darkness

10. Reprove the works of darkness – let your life be so in contrast to these so as to convict and expose them

11. Wake up! Awake from sleep and death – let Jesus shine His light into your heart and life

12. Walk circumspectly – live purposefully and worthily and accurately

13. Walk as wise men – as sensible, intelligent people

14. Redeem the time – make the very most of the time you have

15. Don’t be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is

16. Don’t be drunk with wine or alcohol

17. Do be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit

18. Edify yourselves with worship, music and singing that glorifies God

19. Continue to give thanks to God in Jesus’ name

20. Be submitted and accountable to one other

Commemorate and Celebrate

So they brought the ark of God and set it in the midst of the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 And he distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. 4 He appointed Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord and to celebrate [by calling to mind], thanking and praising the Lord, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, next to him Zechariah, Jeiel (Jaaziel), Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, and Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; 6 Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day David first entrusted to Asaph and his brethren the singing of thanks to the Lord [as their chief task].  1 Chronicles 16:1-7 AMP

David appointed regular singers and musicians – musical priests from the ranks of the Levites – to minister continually before the ark. Their job description was to play musical instruments, blow trumpets in front of the Ark of the Covenant and sing and worship God continually. They were to personally worship God and also lead the congregation in worship. They were appointed to thank and praise God and call to mind – for the people – what God had done for Israel. They were to record – which means: commemorate; earnestly make mention of; be mindful of; recount; remember; make to be remembered; bring into, or keep in, remembrance; think on – the good things God had done. They were to celebrate the goodness of God and continue to remind the people – in music and song – what God had done, how good He is, and what He had promised. These psalmists ministered continually, morning and evening, from this time on through all of David’s life and also part of the time when other kings ruled. God’s praises should be continually in our heart and mouth!

O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His doings among the peoples! 9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them! 10 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually! 12 [Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds which He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered [as in Egypt], 13 O you offspring of [Abraham and] of Israel His servants, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! 14 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. 15 Be mindful of His covenant forever, the promise which He commanded and established to a thousand generations, 16 The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His sworn promise to Isaac. 17 He confirmed it as a statute to Jacob, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 18 Saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan, the measured portion of your possession and inheritance. 19 When they were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it, 20 When they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people, 21 He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes, He reproved kings for their sakes, 22 Saying, Touch not My anointed, and do My prophets no harm.  1 Chronicles 16:8-22 AMP

After David appointed the psalmists, he began to do just what he had instructed them to do. He began to worship and praise God, commemorating His goodness and His glory. He did it for himself personally, and also led them in it, and in so doing, demonstrated to them what their function was to be. Not merely their function, but their very heart attitude – because praise comes from the heart. We don’t do it out of duty we do it out of genuine love and thanksgiving!

David admonished them to:

1. Give thanks unto the Lord.

2. Call upon His name.

3. Make known His deeds among men.

4. Sing unto Him.

5. Sing psalms unto Him.

6. Talk of all His wondrous works.

7. Glory in His holy name.

8. Let the hearts of seekers rejoice.

9. Seek the Lord.

10. Seek His strength.

11. Seek His face evermore.

12. Remember His marvelous works.

13. Remember His wonders.

14. Remember the judgments of His mouth.

15. Be always mindful of His covenant.

In this psalm, we find four elements of true thanksgiving:

-remembering (and commemorating) what God has done,

-telling others about Him and what He’s done

-showing God’s glory to others, and

-offering your own gifts – giving yourself, your time, and your resources.

If you are truly thankful, your life will show it – people will see it, and hear it, in and through you.

Praise and thanksgiving should be a regular part of our routine – each and every one of us – and we should not reserve it only for celebrations. These are some of the things that you should keep in mind when you are praising and worshipping God. Give thanks to God; call on His Name; sing to Him; sing about Him; sing about what He has done; remember and speak of His wonderful works; glory in His name; let your heart rejoice; seek the Lord – His face and His strength; remember His commandments. We should also be always mindful of His covenant – be mindful of: all that He has done for you;  all that He has done in you; all that He has promised; who He is to you; who you are in Him; how faithful He is; how generous He is; how awesome and wonderful He is! He is indeed worthy of our praise!

He Who Has a Glad Heart Has a Continual Feast

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  Philippians 4:4 NKJV

All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].  Proverbs 15:15 AMP

It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in the Lord – at all times and in all conditions. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10)! The Lord supplies us with all the grace we need to meet any circumstance of life fully (2 Cor. 12:9). Our attitudes color every aspect of our lives. We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can choose our attitude toward the situation and how we respond. The secret to a happy heart and a happy life is to fill our thoughts with things that are good, pure, and lovely, dwelling on the good things in life (Phil. 4:8). If good men (and women) do not have a continual feast, it is by their own choice – they cannot blame God -it is their own fault (Prov. 15:15)!

We rejoice because God has made our heart glad:

Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise [to God].  James 5:13 AMP

We choose to rejoice; and rejoice again:  

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.  Philippians 3:1a KJV

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  Philippians 4:4 NKJV

Rejoice always.  1 Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV

We rejoice jubilantly – in high spirits:

But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.  Psalms 5:11 AMP

But let the [uncompromisingly] righteous be glad; let them be in high spirits and glory before God, yes, let them [jubilantly] rejoice! 4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him Who rides through the deserts — His name is the Lord — be in high spirits and glory before Him!  Psalms 68:3-4 AMP

We rejoice because we are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ and partakers of His holiness:

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!  Psalms 32:11 AMP

Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing with God]; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].  Psalms 33:1 AMP

The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust and take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory and offer praise.  Psalms 64:10 AMP

Light is sown for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart [the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection]. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you [consistently] righteous (upright and in right standing with God), and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.  Psalms 97:11-12 AMP

We rejoice because He is our provider; our source and supply:

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.  Psalms 37:4 AMP

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! 22 Be not afraid, you wild beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness have sprung up and are green; the tree bears its fruit, and the fig tree and the vine yield their [full] strength. 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.  Joel 2:21-23 AMP

We rejoice because He is our comforter and defender:

When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!  Psalms 94:18-19 AMP

We rejoice because sorrow is not an option:

A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.  Proverbs 15:13 AMP

All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].  Proverbs 15:15 AMP

We rejoice in His goodness:

So now arise, O Lord God, and come into Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength and power. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints (Your zealous ones) rejoice in good and in Your goodness.  2 Chronicles 6:41 AMP

We rejoice because our names are written down in heaven:

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.  Luke 10:20 NKJV

Finally:

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have any being. 34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord. Psalms 104:33-34 AMP

As for me I WILL rejoice in the Lord!

God’s Protection

rodney howard browne

 

There’s no more powerful description of God’s protection than Psalm 91. As we just read in The Amplified Bible, verse 1 says, He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty. [Whose power no foe can withstand]. You must realize that God is all-powerful. There is no other power greater than Him. You need to focus on His power and His ability to protect you, rather than those things that cause fear to rise up in you.

 

Now if you don’t have these truths firmly fixed and established in your heart, you will live in fear. You’ll drive down the road at night, and you’ll be afraid. You won’t even be able to go out. When you get on an airplane, you’ll be sitting there holding onto the seat, your knuckles white.

 

Have you been afraid of something recently? You need a revelation of Psalm 91! Fear comes knocking on every door. It even has the nerve to call on me! But God wants you to get to the place where you’ve become stable and your heart is fixed on the fact that He is your protector and no foe can withstand Him.

 

There’s no enemy big enough to prevail over Almighty God. So guess where I’m going to hide? Psalm 20 says that some trust in chariots, and some trust in horses, but we will remember the name of our God. Proverbs 18:10 says that the name of the Lord is a strong and a mighty tower, and the righteous run into it and are saved.

 

When this becomes a revelation to you, you’re going to be believing differently and speaking differently. Psalm 91:2 in The Amplified Bible says, I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge. When trouble comes, you will find out what a person believes, because it will come out of their mouth. When some people get into a crisis situation in an airliner, for instance, the first thing they say is, “Awwww we’re going to die!”

 

But when I get in an airplane, bless God, I don’t care if there is a bomb on board. I know there will be ten angels holding that bomb so it cannot go off until we’ve landed and deplaned. I believe that with all my heart. God is our protector. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, my fortress, my God, on Him I lean and rely and in Him I confidently trust. This is our confidence; this is our hope. He will deliver us.

 

When you say He is your refuge, your protector, that’s when you stand still and you see the salvation and deliverance of God. You don’t have to lie awake at night worrying about your family members. His hand is upon your family. He will protect them. He will protect their rising up and their lying down, their coming in and their going out.

 

You won’t have to pray, “Lord, please give us blessing on this journey.” I’m not saying you shouldn’t; I’m saying you won’t have to pray it when you say it. You’ll just say, “He’s my refuge and my fortress.” You acknowledge Him because you know He’s right there in the automobile with you. He’s right there in the plane with you. He’s right there when you get up. He’s right there when you lie down. He’s right there when you come in and go out. He’s your refuge, your strong tower, your fortress, your shield, your protector, your bomb shelter.

 

In addition, He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence (v. 3). All around the world there’s turmoil and wars and rumors of wars, men against men and nation against nation. But as believers, as those that are washed in the blood of the Lamb, with Jesus on our side, we’ll just see it. It’s not going to come near us, for He is there to protect us. And when the enemy comes against us, there’s that wall of fire about us.

 

Remember the exodus? When the children of Israel left Egypt, God gave them a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But when they got to the edge of the sea and Pharaoh started coming behind them, the fire of God went between the children of Israel and the enemy so they couldn’t get near them. He’s still our pillar of fire today!

 

Then it says in Psalm 91:4: He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you find trust and refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. This is not a tiny shield; it’s a giant shield covering you. The enemy can’t even find you. All he sees is God’s shield.

The Gospel of Glad Tidings

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

And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end. Matthew 24:14 AMP

The Gospel is good news! The word Gospel literally means good news or glad tidings. The Greek word is “euangelizo”, so when we talk about evangelizing, it literally means “sharing the good news”. Isaiah 61:1a AMP prophesies about Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings…”  John the Baptist preached the good news that Jesus was coming. Jesus preached the good news about the Kingdom of God and healed people everywhere He went. We, today, preach the good news that Jesus has come and died and rose again for our salvation and we show His goodness by doing the works of Jesus.

The Gospel is the Good News about:

1.  The Kingdom of Heaven and of God
– Matthew 4:23 AMP – And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (Gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every weakness and infirmity among the people.
– Matthew 9:35 AMP – And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity.
– Mark 1:14-15 ERV – After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee and told people the Good News from God. 15 He said, “The right time is now here. God’s kingdom is near. Change your hearts and lives, and believe the Good News!”

2.  God
– Romans 1:1-2 ERV – Greetings from Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. God chose me to be an apostle and gave me the work of telling his Good News.  2 God promised long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures to give this Good News to his people.
– Romans 15:16 AMP – In making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I act in the priestly service of the Gospel (the good news) of God, in order that the sacrificial offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable [to God], consecrated and made holy by the Holy Spirit.

3.  Jesus Christ
– Mark 1:1 AMP – The beginning [of the facts] of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
– Romans 1:16 AMP – For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power workinffg unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
– Romans 15:29 AMP – And I know that when I do come to you, I shall come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

4.  Salvation and Redemption for All
– Mark 16:15 AMP – And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].
– Luke 4:18-19 AMP – The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound.]

5.  The Grace of God
-Acts 20:24 NKJV – But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

6.  Peace
– Romans 10:15 KJV – And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
-Ephesians 6:15 KJV – And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

7.  The Promises
– Ephesians 3:6 KJV – That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel.
Hebrews 8:6 NKJV – But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

8.  The Truth
– Ephesians 1:13 NKJV – In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Colossians 1:5 NKJV – Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel.

9.  Having a Lifestyle of Faith
– Philippians 1:27 NKJV – Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.

10.  Giving Hope
– Colossians 1:23 NKJV – 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.

11.  Living Forever – Immortality
– 2 Timothy 1:10-11 NKJV – But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

God has called us believers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, to baptize them in water and in the Holy Ghost, to get them healed delivered and on fire for God! The Gospel of the Kingdom is not a Gospel of something only in the future – a kingdom that is to come – but is the Good News of salvation and all the benefits of the redemption we have through Jesus Christ, which are available right now. We can have and enjoy His eternal life right now!

A Clean Heart

rodney howard browne

Rodney Howard Browne discusses how to have a clean heart. To understand how to have a clean heart, let’s first think about what happens when your hands are dirty: you wash them. In fact, you probably wash them multiple times each day, even if you can’t see dirt on them. You wash them because they feel dirty, or because you just sense that they are not clean.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us to receive Jesus as our Savior. Once we have received Jesus Christ as Savior, we are clean in His eyes, but that doesn’t mean we have once and for all attained sinless perfection. As we go out into the world, we naturally get a little dirt on us—in any given day, we can say hurtful things, manifest inappropriate attitudes, or think wrong thoughts. We are clean only as long as we are obedient, which means that we can get dirty all too easily. For this reason, Jesus told Peter, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean” (John 10:13).

Ephesians 5:26 speaks of cleansing “by the washing of water with the word.” Spiritually, the way our hearts become clean is by using God’s “cake of soap”—the Bible. A heart must be clean for the Holy Spirit to work in it. God’s living Word has been given to mankind as an instruction book and as a means to keep us clean by revealing our wrong thinking or behavior. As Scripture speaks to our heart, we confess and repent, which is how the cleansing takes place. (1 John 1:9) Have you washed yet today?

  • 1.
  • Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
  • 2.
  • Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied .
  • 3.
  • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
  • 4.
  • To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
  • 5.
  • Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • 6.
  • Wherein ye greatly rejoice , though now for a season, if need be , ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
  • 7.
  • That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth , though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
  • 8.
  • Whom having not seen , ye love ; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing , ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory :
  • 9.
  • Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
  • 10.
  • Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently , who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
  • 11.
  • Searching what , or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify , when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow .
  • 12.
  • Unto whom it was revealed , that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
  • 13.
  • Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober , and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
  • 14.
  • As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
  • 15.
  • But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
  • 16.
  • Because it is written , Be ye holy; for I am holy.
  • 17.
  • And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
  • 18.
  • Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
  • 19.
  • But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
  • 20.
  • Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
  • 21.
  • Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
  • 22.
  • Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
  • 23.
  • Being born again , not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
  • 24.
  • For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth , and the flower thereof falleth away :
  • 25.
  • But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

MY ROADMAP—THE WORD OF GOD

rodney howard browne

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

Rodney Howard Browne Teaches that The Bible is Our Handbook.

  • Every intricate thing that is made by man has a handbook or a manual.
  • God created and made us and all of creation.
    • Psalms 139:14 NKJV – I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
  • The Handbook or Manual for our lives is the Word of God—the Bible.
    • Psalms 119:105 KJV – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
  • God’s Word is our Roadmap and our Guide on the path of life.
  • Sadly, many believers don’t believe the Bible is the final authority for their lives—they don’t believe that His Word is true.
  • Some people explain God’s Word away by saying that He doesn’t mean what He says. If God does not mean what He says, then why doesn’t He just say what He means? He did say what He means—read it, believe it and act on it!
  • God’s Word is firmly established and will never move or change.
    • Psalms 119:89 KJV – Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
    • Psalms 119:160 KJV – Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
  • John 17:17 NKJV – Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
  • God and His Word are one—they can never be separated.
    • John 1:1 NKJV – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  • You cannot and should not try to “spin” the Word of God to suit your self. God does not allow any personal or private interpretation of any scripture.
    • 2 Peter 1:20 KJV – Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
  • God’s Word is final authority for the believer—in ALL areas of life and conduct.

Rodney Howard Browne tells us to ask: What Roadmap Are You Following?

  • Your own way is the wrong way.
    • Proverbs 14:12 AMP – There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.
  • God’s Word will lead you to Life.
    • Psalms 119:11 KJV – Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
  • God has given us His Word—which is His will. His will is His way.
  • In John 14:23-24, Jesus says that if a person really loves Him, they will keep and obey His Word, and if a person does not really love Him, they will not keep or obey His Word.
  • If you want something from God, you must come to Him on the basis of His Will—His Word—or your prayer will remain unanswered.
    • 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
  • Psalms 138:2b NKJV – You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
  • Jeremiah 1:12b AMP – I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
  • Isaiah 55:11 NKJV – So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
  • Mark 13:31 NKJV – Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.


Rodney Howard Browne Teaches that God’s Word is Our Final Authority.

  • Child of God—you need to settle this, in your own heart and life, once and for all.
  • Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. The Word shows us the way.
  • John 1:1-14
  • Jesus said only what the Father told Him to say.
    • John 8:28-29 NKJV – Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.  29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
    • John 3:34 AMP – For since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God’s own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!
  • We must obey His Word as He obeyed His Father’s Word.
    • Matthew 7:21 AMP – Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.
    • Luke 6:46 NKJV – “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

Let’s Settle This Today!

  • God’s Word has the answer and is the answer for everything in your life.
  • God’s Word is your guide for your conduct—spirit, soul and body.
  • God’s Word will cause you to prosper in every arena of life.
  • Joshua 1:3-8
  • Psalms 1:1-3