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

Foundation scripture:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Hosea 4:6 KJV

1. People Suffer Because of Lack of Knowledge: 

a. People need to be teachable, humble themselves, and learn.

b. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

c. God’s word is freely available to us. There is no reason to be ignorant. We have access to books, CDs, DVDs, the Internet, etc.

2. Not Acting on the Word of God:

a. Matthew 7:24-27 KJV – “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great  was the fall of it.”

b. James 1:22 KJV – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

3. Opposing the Truth:

a. 2 Kings 5:9-14 KJV – Naaman, the Syrian, wanted to be healed of leprosy, but he didn’t want to dip himself in the Jordan as Elisha commanded him, because he thought the Jordan was not as good as his rivers back home. Although it was a simple enough assignment, he thought it was beneath him. It was only when he swallowed his pride and  dipped where he was told to dip, that he received his healing.

b. Some people call themselves Christians, but have no respect for the Word of God. They don’t think that it applies to them.

c. Some people are in outright rebellion toward the Word of God. They are going to do it their way no matter what the word says.

d. Humble yourself and obey.

4. Living in Sin:

a. Galatians 6:7-8 KJV – “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

b. If you sow to the flesh – rebellion; self-will; carnality – you will reap corruption. The wages of sin is still death.

c. Isaiah 1:19-20 KJV – “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

5. Not Discerning the Lord’s Body:

a. 1 Corinthians 11:17-30 KJV

b. Verses 29-30 KJV – “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

c. Discern the Lord’s body – beaten and broken for you – His stripes for your healing.

d. Discern the Lord’s body – love your brothers and sisters – walk in love toward the Body of Christ.

6. Unforgiveness:

a. Mark 11:22-26 KJV

b. Verse 25-26 KJV – “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

7. Envy, Strife, and Pride:

a. James 3:14-16 KJV – “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

b. Proverbs 16:18 KJV – “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

8. Murmuring and Complaining:

a. 1 Corinthians 10:10 KJV – “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

b. Deuteronomy 28:45-48 KJV

c. Verse 47 KJV – You are cursed with a curse: “Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things”

9. Persecution:

a. It is scriptural to suffer persecution for preaching the Gospel, and nothing to be ashamed of. God will grace you to handle it and deal with your enemies on your behalf.

b. 2 Timothy 3:12 KJV – “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

c. Mark 10:29-30 KJV – “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”

d. If you suffer as a result of your own foolishness or wrongdoing, then you must also suffer the consequences – this suffering is your fault, not God’s. Bear it without complaining.

e. 1 Peter 4:15-16 KJV – “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

f. The suffering that is NOT God’s plan for you is sickness, disease, poverty, lack, torment, misery, fear, curses, etc.

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

For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf. Philippians 1:29 AMP

The Bible speaks about Christians suffering with and for Christ. This is not the undeserved suffering of sickness and disease as some misinformed, religious people have taught, because that is unscriptural. The only suffering that is appropriate and even inevitable for a true Christian is persecution and the pressures and opposition that come from obedience and yieldedness to God’s will. Opposition and persecution come from the devil and demons and from ungodly people. Sometimes, even lukewarm or backslidden Christians are the ones who are used by the enemy to persecute those who are living godly lives and who are on fire for God. Persecution is a consequence of faithfulness toward God and His word and being a doer of the Word and will of God.

1. It is not strange or unusual for Christians to suffer—godliness attracts persecution

1 Peter 4:12 AMP – Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you.

2 Timothy 3:12 AMP – Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].

2. You should rejoice when you become a partaker ofthe sufferings of Christ­—you are not alone—and great is your reward

1 Peter 4:13 AMP – But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].

Matthew 5:10-12 NIV – Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

3. The greater the suffering you experience, the greater also your joy and glory

Romans 8:17-18 AMP – And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. 18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!

4. Not only is there a greater glory that is to come, but Christians also have the Holy Spirit upon them now to help them and enable them to endure

1 Peter 4:14 AMP – If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you—happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

Romans 8:26-27 AMP – So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. 27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.

5. Christian sufferings glorify God and it is an honor and not a shame, to suffer as a Christian

1 Peter 4:16 AMP – But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed worthy to suffer] in this name.

6. Christians should patiently bear sufferings according to the will of God, realizing that God is always faithful toward those who are His own, in the midst of their sufferings

1 Peter 4:17-19 AMP – For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God? 18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked? 19 Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God’s will must do right and commit their souls [in charge as a deposit] to the One Who created [them] and will never fail [them].

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Jesus suffered major persecution and when we accept Him as Lord and Savior, that is what we sign up for as well—whether we like it or not. But for those who endure and don’t buckle under the pressure—there remains great rewards from our Father in Heaven! You will not be tested beyond your ability to endure—God’s grace is always enough for you. So don’t back off; don’t give in, keep hanging in there and praising God, and you will finish your race and win your prize!

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

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:3-14 NKJV

When the disciples asked Jesus for the sign of His coming and the end of the age, the first thing Jesus warned them of was to “Watch out that no one deceives you.” You see, if you are always looking for “signs”, you will also be susceptible to deception. There always have been false prophets and other liars around – some of whom claim to be Jesus or an Old Testament prophet resurrected – and there are more that will rise up as we get closer to the end. False prophets don’t preach or personally live by the truth of the Gospel; but they say what people want to hear, even and especially when the people are not following God as they should. According to Jesus, many – even believers – will be deceived by the false prophets and their counterfeit powers. False teaching and loose morals tend to go together. Many people claim to love and serve God, but their drinking, immorality, covetousness and witchcraft tell the real story. They want heaven, but they also want to fulfill the lusts of their flesh.

The only way you can be sure to keep from being deceived is to keep your heart right with God and keep your eyes on Jesus and on the Word of God. Don’t look for special signs; don’t spend time looking at other people; look to Jesus. Many Christians are being deceived by false prophets even now, because they have downplayed the importance and essentialness of the Word of God in their lives. They don’t read or study it and they won’t submit to it. The Word of God is our only sure guide and light in this dark age of endless sinful choices and pressure to conform to the world’s standards. A true Christian is personally submitted to God and His Word. Make sure that the Word of God has a place of honor and respect in your life; make sure you are a DOER of the Word.

Jesus said that near the end there would be increased trouble and strife on the earth – wars and rumors of wars; nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom; famines, pestilences, and earthquakes all over the place. It sounds like our News today! He also said that His followers would be persecuted – some severely – by those who hate Him and what He stands for. Some of them would even be betrayed by fellow “Christians”, friends and family!

There are levels of persecution. Some persecution is just verbal – people belittling you – saying bad things to you or about you. Some of it is meant to humiliate you – people used to throw eggs or rotten tomatoes, or send a mule with a burr under his tail through the church. But some persecution is truly hateful – they want to shut you up even if they have to kill you. It is not just the Early Church who suffered persecution and death for their faith. In every generation, there have been those who lost their lives, their families and/or their possessions because of people motivated by Satan, who hate God and hate the Gospel. We need to remember to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering today for their faith and keeping the Gospel flame alive despite terrible persecution.

The thing about persecution is that it has a tendency to sort out the true Christians from the fair-weather Christians. Those Christians who “play” church, who have pastors who “tickle” their ears, and who are not sold out to Jesus – will not be able to withstand the pressures of persecution. The vast majority of American Christians in America have never experienced anything more than mild persecution, if any, but Christians in other parts of the world have and still are suffering intense persecution. You have to ask yourself the hard questions: Am I sold out to Jesus? Would I still serve Him, and preach the Truth, if my life depended on it? Would I be prepared to give up my possessions, my relationships, my security and even my life, for the Gospel’s sake? Could I keep walking in love if a close friend betrayed me? You need to prepare your heart to withstand the pressure to conform and deny Jesus. Remember that other people died to preserve the truth of the Gospel and to pass it down the generations to reach you!

When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don’t do it! When you are persecuted for the Gospel’s sake, don’t take it personally. God did not call us to give up nor to fight back in the flesh – He said that He would vindicate us. He just asks us to trust Him, obey Him, walk in love, and preach the Truth. Remember the benefits of staying strong. Jesus said that, “he who endures to the end shall be saved.” He also said that, “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We can be the Church who denies Jesus or the Church who stands strong and continues to fulfill the Great Commission no matter what it takes! Which Church are you?

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalms 92:12-15 KJV

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:
The Hebrew word “flourish” used here means: to bloom or blossom; to spread or grow; to fly (as extending the wings); to break forth; to break out; to spring up. Palm trees are known for their long life. To “flourish like a palm tree” means to stand tall and to live long. The AMP says that the righteous will be: long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful.

Palm trees have been important to humans throughout much of history. They are mentioned nearly 40 times in the Bible. Palm trees are among the best known and most widely cultivated plant families in the world. Palms can be found in every type of habitat, from rainforests to deserts – which means that they can grow almost anywhere. In barren soil palm trees are watered deep at the roots. They are not just functional in providing shade, but practically all the parts of the palm have a useful purpose. The fruit of the palm provided a great part of the diet of the East. Various palms also provide a great variety of usable materials – both in Bible days and now. The various parts of the palm tree produce highly nutritious foods, fruits, oils and syrups, waxes, dyes, medicines, varnish, raffia and palm woods. From the products of the palm tree, you can make furniture, baskets, doormats, brushes, mattresses, ropes, thatching and clothing. In many historical cultures, palms were symbols for victory, fertility, peace and plenty. Palms were laid before Jesus at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The uncompromisingly righteous will be like a palm tree – long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful! They can grow, flourish and produce fruit anywhere in any conditions!

The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon:
The Hebrew word, “grow” means: to enlarge – especially upward; to grow; to grow up; to increase. The AMP says that the righteous: shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon – majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible! Cedar trees were very important in Bible days. They have strong, beautiful wood and they were used to build very important and stately buildings, such as temples and palaces. The words cedar, cedars or cedar wood are found nearly 80 times in the Bible.

Cedar trees are large, evergreen trees, which live a very long time and grow very tall. The cedars of Lebanon were particularly large and of the best quality. Cedar trees are common in forest areas that have a good deal of annual rainfall. Cedar trees can live a long time, because the moist habitat they enjoy is relatively free of fire. Their wood is also very resistant to disease. The wood of cedar trees has a very pleasant smell, which comes from natural oils in the wood that are toxic to insects and fungus. These oils do not develop in the younger cedar trees, which often leads to the rotting of their heartwood, resulting in mature trees that have hollow trunks. Cedar trees have been very important to humans for thousands of years. Their wood was used to build buildings, canoes and boats, and other useful items. Their bark was used to make blankets and coverings. Cedar wood is also an excellent source of fuel.

They usually grow to a height of 50 feet, but some grow 80 to 100 or 120 feet tall and can be 30-40 feet around the trunk, thus, they were solid, strong, and immovable. Some are supposed to be 1,000 years old! Cedars express the ideas of majesty, durability, incorruptibility, and stability. The older they get, the better they get!

The uncompromisingly righteous shall grow up like a cedar in Lebanon – majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible. Even though they may face challenges, they keep on going and keep on growing. They are honorable; they are incorruptible; they are solid, stable and immovable; they endure through the years and through the seasons of life; they have withstood the onslaught of sin, devils and demons; they have withstood sickness and disease; they only improve with age; they are clothed with strength and dignity; they will stand before kings; they will be held in honor. The righteous are upright, strong, and unmoved by the winds of circumstance. If you place your faith firmly in God, then you too can have and enjoy this strength and vitality and you will only get better with age!

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing:
The Hebrew word for “bring forth fruit” means: to germinate; to cause to flourish; to bring forth fruit; to make cheerful; to increase. The word for “fat” means: fat; rich: fertile. The word translated “flourish” here, means: to be green; verdant; new; prosperous; flourishing.

The AMP says that the righteous are: growing in grace – they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall continue to be full of the sap of spiritual vitality and rich in the verdure of trust, love, and contentment. Psalms 1:3 says that the man who trusts in the Lord and delights in His word is, “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” So if you honor the Lord, you will not grow old and weak and sickly and lose your faculties, like the rest of the world. Instead, you can expect to grow stronger; to increase, not decrease; to continue to bring forth fruit; to be fertile and productive and prosperous; and full of joy.

We – the righteous – are living memorials to the goodness of God. Our blessed lives show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises and also show that He is our Rock, and that there is no unrighteousness in Him!

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:1-11 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. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV

We – the believers – are to be imitators of our Father God. Jesus saved us from the world – from sin and from death. He justified us. We are not saved to continue in sin – we are saved FROM sin, to sin no more. Jesus Christ loved us and gave Himself for us – an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. We belong to Him and we owe it to Him and ourselves to follow Him and stay true to Him. Those who have clean hands and a pure heart will see God – they will know Him here on earth and go to heaven when they die – but those who are unrighteous and who practice the works of the flesh and the works of darkness will not see God. The unrighteous and the sinner – the children of disobedience – will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Now we must walk as children of light and we must expose the works of darkness for what they are.

These classes of people will not inherit the Kingdom of God:

1. Whoremongers or Fornicators (the immoral)
Greek: pornois – Fornicator; whoremonger; male prostitutes; libertines – persons who are morally or sexually unrestrained

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 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.” Revelation 21:7-8 NKJV

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. Revelation 22:14-15 NKJV

2. Unclean persons
Greek: akathartos – homosexual; pervert; impure; foul; unclean; immoral; lewd; or demonic. This word is used 23 times of demon spirits and only twice in reference to people.

Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. Luke 4:33a NKJV

3. Effeminate (catamites)
Greek: ?malakos: of uncertain affinity; soft to the touch; effeminate; figuratively, a catamite. A catamite is a young man who submits his body to unnatural lewdness; a boy or youth who is in a sexual relationship with a man. “Soft to the touch” refers to men who have feminine traits to an inappropriate degree; lacking in manly strength or aggressiveness; especially marked with weakness, softness, and love of ease; excessively affected in his emotions.

4. Abusers of themselves with mankind
Greek: ?arsenokoites – sodomites; homosexuals; pederasts (lover of boys); lesbians; one guilty of unnatural offenses; sexual pervert

5. Adulterers (the unfaithful)
Greek: ?moichos – a (male) paramour; illicit lover; figuratively, apostate (a person who forsakes his religion or his cause)

6. Covetous men
Greek: pleonektes – holding or desiring more; eager for gain; avaricious, hence a defrauder.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 NKJV

7. Thieves (robbers)
Greek: kleptes – a thief; a stealer (literally or figuratively).

8. Idolaters (false worshippers)
Greek: eidololatres – servant or worshipper (literally or figuratively) of an image or an idol.

9. Drunkards (drinkers of intoxicants)
Greek: methusos – a person who is habitually or frequently drunk.

10. Revilers (abusers of others)
Greek: loidoros – mischief; abusive, railer: reviler; verbally abusive; to assail with contemptuous or opprobrious (outrageously disgraceful or shameful) language; address or speak of abusively.

11. Extortioners (those who obtain by violence or threats)
Greek: harpax – rapacious; extortion: ravening.

12. Deceivers
Greek: apatao – to cheat; delude; deceive.

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:13 NKJV

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Titus 3:3 NKJV

13. Children (sons) of disobedience
Greek: apeitheia – disbelief; obstinate and rebellious; disobedience; unbelief.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Colossians 3:5-6 NKJV

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. John 10:1-6 NKJV

When Jesus spoke to the people and told them, “He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep,” He was referring to Himself. Jesus is the Shepherd of the sheep, who came through the door. He did not try to sneak in any other way, but He came in the honest, open, right and legal way.

The “door” of the sheepfold that He is speaking of here is natural birth. The Son of God came down from heaven and was born a man child; born of a virgin; and became one of us in order to save us. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

“Water” represents natural birth – specifically amniotic fluid – we are conceived, grow and develop in our mother’s womb for 9 months, then we are born into this world as we are pushed out of the womb and take our first breath. Every one of us is born into this earth through the process of natural birth – including Jesus. The difference between us and Jesus was that He didn’t have a natural father – He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and His Father is Almighty God.

In order to save us from our sins and be able to legally represent us in His death, burial and resurrection, God had to come down and actually become one of us. Jesus, the Son of God, was the Father’s legal representative – born to die – taking our sin and death and exchanging it for His eternal life! That is why there is salvation ONLY through Him! Anyone else, or any other gods, who claim to be the Way to Almighty God are only thieves, robbers and liars.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:7-10 NKJV

Jesus came through the natural “door” of birth so that He could become the Door through which all men must go in order to be saved from sin and enter into eternal life. He didn’t come to “take” – He came to “give”! When you believe on Jesus, and receive Him as Lord and Savior, you walk through the Door – leaving sin and death behind you as you enter into a new life in Christ! Jesus said in John 3:13-15, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus is the ONLY Door to the Father, the only Doorway into heaven, eternal life, and the presence of the Father. The good news is that ANYONE who believes in Him is able to come through this door and experience God’s eternal life!

Arriving there, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had accomplished with them and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom we obtain salvation in the kingdom of God].
Acts 14:27 AMP

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. John 14:6 AMP

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 NKJV

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40 NKJV

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
John 20:30-31 NKJV

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 NKJV

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:9-13 NKJV

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. John 10:1-6 NKJV

When Jesus spoke to the people and told them, “He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep,” He was referring to Himself. Jesus is the Shepherd of the sheep, who came through the door. He did not try to sneak in any other way, but He came in the honest, open, right and legal way.

The “door” of the sheepfold that He is speaking of here is natural birth. The Son of God came down from heaven and was born a man child; born of a virgin; and became one of us in order to save us. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

“Water” represents natural birth – specifically amniotic fluid – we are conceived, grow and develop in our mother’s womb for 9 months, then we are born into this world as we are pushed out of the womb and take our first breath. Every one of us is born into this earth through the process of natural birth – including Jesus. The difference between us and Jesus was that He didn’t have a natural father – He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and His Father is Almighty God.

In order to save us from our sins and be able to legally represent us in His death, burial and resurrection, God had to come down and actually become one of us. Jesus, the Son of God, was the Father’s legal representative – born to die – taking our sin and death and exchanging it for His eternal life! That is why there is salvation ONLY through Him! Anyone else, or any other gods, who claim to be the Way to Almighty God are only thieves, robbers and liars.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:7-10 NKJV

Jesus came through the natural “door” of birth so that He could become the Door through which all men must go in order to be saved from sin and enter into eternal life. He didn’t come to “take” – He came to “give”! When you believe on Jesus, and receive Him as Lord and Savior, you walk through the Door – leaving sin and death behind you as you enter into a new life in Christ! Jesus said in John 3:13-15, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus is the ONLY Door to the Father, the only Doorway into heaven, eternal life, and the presence of the Father. The good news is that ANYONE who believes in Him is able to come through this door and experience God’s eternal life!

Arriving there, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had accomplished with them and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom we obtain salvation in the kingdom of God]. Acts 14:27 AMP

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. John 14:6 AMP

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 NKJV

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40 NKJV

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31 NKJV

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 NKJV

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:9-13 NKJV

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because be hath anointed

me to preach the gospel to the poor; he bath sent me to

heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,

and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty

them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

LUKE 4:18-19

 

This is the message Jesus declared all during His earthly

ministry. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath

anointed me to preach the gospel…, and the Gospel is Good

News! There are too many bad news preachers in the earth today.

 

All they want to do is bring doom and gloom. Some people seem

to think they’re Old Testament prophets, called to rail out against

sin. But thank God we’re under a new covenant. The message of

this new covenant is the same message that Jesus proclaimed: the

Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and He has anointed me to preach

the Gospel, the Good News.

 

The Gospel is Good News, my dear friend. Good News! I

bring you Good News! I bring you glad tidings. I bring you Good

News! Hallelujah! I get happy just thinking about the Good

News!

 

We all know the world is full of bad news. You can turn on

television news and all you hear is bad news. The last thing you

need is a preacher bringing you more bad news. We need to hear

the Good News of the Gospel: that Jesus still saves, Jesus still

heals, Jesus still sets free, and that Jesus is coming again. That’s

the Gospel!

 

The problem is that many Christians are confused. They

have a little bit of the old covenant, a little bit of the new

covenant, and they’ve made up their own covenant. Their own

covenant brings them under condemnation and bondage one

minute, and it sets them free the next.

 

In their confusion, they think God is blessing them one moment and the next moment He is saying, “I’m going to kill you.” They walk around waiting for God to beat them and hurt them for reasons known only to Him.

 

That’s not the Good News! The Good News is the same as it was when

Jesus walked the earth. Do you know why it’s still the same? Because

Jesus is still the same. Jesus has not changed!

 

The question I pose to you is, “What happens when Jesus shows up?” What happens when Jesus walks in the door? I want you to know that when Jesus walks in the door, the very atmosphere of the room changes. When Jesus walks in the door, sickness and death and poverty and the curse of hell go out the back door, saying, “It’s time for us to the leave.”

 

When Jesus walks in the door, you will know that He is there. You can see His nature and His character in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What happens when He shows up? Jesus answered that Himself.

 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it

more abundantly.

JOHN 10:10

 

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from

the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,

that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 JOHN 3:8

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

Foundation scripture: Proverbs 3:1-2  (NKJ)
1My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 2For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 4:20-23  (NKJ)
20My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

In God’s word we find life. Life springs from God. God is life. There is no death in Him. Every action of God produces life. Every word of God produces life. What is life? Life is every good thing. Life is blessings, life is abundance. Life is everything you could find in God’s presence. Life is healing and wholeness for your spirit, soul and body.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  (NKJ)
19″I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20″that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Life is a choice we make. We choose to have life and to walk in life. We choose life by choosing God, choosing His word above all other words, choosing His ways before all other ways, choosing His voice above all other voices.

Proverbs 3:13 & 18  (NKJ)
13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;

18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

God’s wisdom is a tree of life to us. We allow God to plant His tree in us and it produces the fruit of His abundant life in and through us.

Proverbs 11:30  (NKJ)
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

We become a tree of life to others. Because of the life and nature of God on the inside of us – everywhere we go, we bring life and blessing to others. Everywhere we go, people get saved, healed, delivered and set free – because God’s life lives on the inside of us and flows out of us. We cannot contain it.

Proverbs 21:21  (NKJ)
21He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 22:4  (NKJ)
4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.

When we follow after God earnestly. When we desire Him more than anything else this world has to offer. When we love Him, honor Him, and humble our hearts before Him, He will fill us with His life and His blessing and His life and blessing will be all that we experience. Death and cursing will depart from us as we walk in the presence of the life of God.

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

2 Peter 3:9  (NKJ)

9        The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

God is very, very patient with us – earnestly desiring that we should come to repentance. He wants us to realize that we are hopelessly unable to save ourselves and to throw ourselves on His grace and mercy. Many people are under the false impression that God sends people to hell and that He is seeking every opportunity to do so. On the contrary, He is seeking any opportunity to send us to heaven! If He wanted us to go to hell He should not have sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be born of a virgin, suffer, die and be raised up again for our deliverance and salvation. He should have and could have left us alone, because we were already going to hell all by ourselves.

 

John 3:16-21  (NKJ)

16      “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

17      “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18      “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19      “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20      “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

21      “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

 

God does not condemn us. We condemn ourselves by our refusal to accept the way He has made for us. The gospel is as simple, as it is powerful. People try to complicate it, but the truth is not hard to understand for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Jesus bore the penalty of our sin so that we could be born again into the family of God.

 

John 14:6  (NKJ)

6        Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

All we do is repent of our sin, believe that Jesus died and rose again, and accept Him as Lord of our life. From that moment on you are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light and you become a partaker of God’s eternal life. Your heart will be forever changed from within and you will live in the presence of God eternally.

 

Ezekiel 36:24-27  (NKJ)

24      “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.

25      “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26      “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27      “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

 

God’s love and mercy have been extended toward you. He wants you in His family – He wants you as His child and He wants to be your Father. He loves you – you are valuable and precious to Him. He has done everything He can for you – in Jesus – and He is waiting for you to take the next step toward Him. He will meet you at the point of your faith and you will never be the same again!

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

People all over the earth make New Year’s Resolutions at the end of every December, but they usually don’t last even into the 2^nd of January! We have a hard time acting out our good intentions even if we have the help of the Holy Spirit. But no matter how many times we make mistakes or mess up, God walks patiently with us to help us and to reach out to forgive us the moment we repent and turn to Him. Just as every 1^st of January is a New Year and every morning is a new day – in God there is a new beginning for every one of us! In fact, we don’t even have to wait for a New Year. God extends His mercy and grace to us new and fresh every day.

Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJ

Every morning, God is ready to forgive us again. His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is immeasurable. We may break our covenants and let Him down, but He never breaks a covenant and He never forgets or neglects His promises, even to a thousand generations.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:5-6 NIV

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9 NKJ

People are intimidated and held in bondage by the devil because they are focused on the fact that because of the sins of the fathers the curse is passed down to the third and fourth generations. But that pales in comparison to God’s covenant of blessing and mercy which is extended to a thousand generations of those who love Him! Beside all that, the curse was on those who hate God. Do you hate God? No, you love Him. He is your Lord and Savior. The curse was removed the moment you said, “I do” to God. You said, “I do repent and turn from sin. I do believe that Jesus died and poured out His blood to save me. I do believe that God raised Him from the dead. I do believe that He is coming back for me”. When the devil tries to treat you the same old way, lying to you and trying to put you back into bondage to the curse, tell him to pack up his lies and go back to where he came from. You can boldly stand up to walk in the fullness of your covenant with Almighty God, because His blessing is on your life and His tender mercies are extended, fresh and new, to you every morning!

 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22 NKJ

Jesus tells us to forgive each other an unlimited number of times and He does what He tells us to do. The blood of Jesus washes away all sin – past, present and future. While we do not deliberately sin as a way of life, when we do do something wrong He is ever ready to forgive us up to seventy times seven every day!

 Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.           “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:6-9 NKJ

God’s ways of mercy, grace and pardon are what are so much higher than ours are. We think that God should judge and destroy, but He chooses to love and forgive. We cannot understand how God could love us so much that He would send His only begotten Son to suffer and die and yet He did it. We don’t understand how God could love and forgive the most rotten sinner and make them the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and yet He does.

Our God is great and He is worthy of our praise and adoration. Thank God for His abundant and most precious mercy and grace. Just because it is free, does not mean that it is cheap. God’s grace, purchased at a great cost with the blood of Jesus is offered to us at the inexpensive price of simply believing.