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

When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”  10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.   Luke 7:1-10 NIV

Matthew 8:10-12 NIV says that, “When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The centurion’s great faith was a shock to Jesus! This centurion was a Gentile, a Roman officer, and not a son of Abraham! And yet even among the Israelites, the “sons of Abraham,” Jesus had not yet seen such great faith.

The centurion asked Jesus to come to his house to minister to his servant and Jesus consented, but while Jesus was still on His way, he sent word to Jesus that He did not have to come to the house itself, because he did not feel worthy to receive a personal visit from Him. He let Jesus know that all he expected Him to do was to speak a healing word over his servant, because he was convinced that that was all it would take for his servant to be healed. He fully expected his servant to be healed simply by one word from Jesus!

As a military man, the centurion had an understanding of the power and the ability and also the limitations of a man in authority. He had experience being under authority and he had experience being in authority. He must have known what good could be achieved by godly authority. By his faith in Jesus and the authority of His word, this man showed greater respect toward Jesus than those of His own nation – Israel. He was not blinded by religion nor was he confident in his own worthiness before God, but he recognized the anointing upon Jesus and also His power and authority over sickness, disease, demons and anything else hell has to offer. This “heathen” man had no foundation of godliness in his life that we know of and he was not in covenant with God through heritage, yet he came to Jesus completely by faith and dependent on His grace and that is why he got what he asked for!

Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”  58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.  Matthew 13:54-58 NIV

You cannot receive from an anointing that you do not respect. If you respect an anointing, then it is not hard to receive from that anointing. If you honor the anointing, you will be blessed by that anointing. If you judge and condemn that anointing, how can you receive anything from it? Many times respect has very little to do with the respectability of the person being judged and disrespected as it does with the prejudices of the person doing the judging. Receiving requires humility. Until you humble yourself before the Lord and believe that He is willing and able to help you, you will not receive the things you need from Him. As long as you judge and disrespect those whom God anoints, you will not be able to receive anything from their anointing or their ministry.

The centurion had complete faith in the authority of Jesus over sickness and infirmity. In contrast, Jesus’ own home-town folks had no respect for Him whatsoever. In Nazareth He could do “no mighty works,” but because of the centurion’s respect for Jesus’ authority and for the authority of His word, his faith activated the power of the anointing on Jesus and his servant was immediately healed!

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

Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you [yourselves] may not be judged.Look! The Judge is [already] standing at the very door. 10[As] an example of suffering and ill-treatment together with patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers]. 11 You know how we call those blessed (happy) who were steadfast [who endured]. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the Lord’s [purpose and how He richly blessed him in the] end, inasmuch as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy.  James 5:9-11 AMP

There are times in life when we feel that we have been mistreated by others. Sometimes it is true that someone has deliberately mistreated us, but sometimes it is just a matter of our perception of what occurred! For instance, you know that children often feel mistreated just because Mom made them wash the dishes or Dad told them to go to bed or clean up their room before their favorite cartoon was over. Now anyone with common sense will realize that the parents are making decisions that are in the best interests of the child and preparing them for the realities of life and responsibility. They will eventually appreciate their parent’s “tough love.”

Unfortunately, even adults sometimes do not know the difference between a deliberate mistreatment and feeling mistreated just because they did not get their own way! There are many people, who complain continuously about how they have been abused by others, when all it is, is that they would not let them have their own way in the situation. People who regularly behave like this are usually selfish and self-centered, with a victim’s mentality. This is not how Christians should behave.

God makes provision for every situation and circumstance you find yourself in: if people are treating you badly- whether real or imagined – the Lord tells you to walk in love and in forgiveness. He tells you not to murmur or whine or complain. In fact, when you complain, you bring judgment upon yourself, because with your complaining, God says that you are judging the other person and His Word already says that if you judge, you will be judged with the same measuring stick!

Therefore you have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce]. 2[But] we know that the judgment (adverse verdict, sentence) of God falls justly and in accordance with truth upon those who practice such things. 3 And do you think or imagine, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment and elude His sentence and adverse verdict? 4 Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)? 5 But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God’s righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed. 6 For He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve].  Romans 2:1-6 AMP

God has plenty to complain about concerning you and me and He has every right to do so, but He chooses to love us, forgive us, be patient with us and be kind to us. In this way, He leads us to repent. He expects us, as His children, made in His image, to behave like He does – not just for the sake of others, but for our own sakes. If you will open your eyes and realize that the way you treat others is the way you will be treated and the way you judge others is the way you will be judged, then you will finally begin to behave in the ways in which the Lord is leading you. If you are His disciple, then you will walk, talk and behave like Him – you will walk in love, forgiveness and kindness and you will leave God to judge those who do not obey the Word. Other people are not your responsibility – they are responsible for themselves before God – you are your responsibility – so take care of your own attitude and do not complain about other people! Love others in the same way that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit love you.

God’s love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, because it is not self-seeking, it is not touchy, fretful or resentful. Love takes no account of the evil done to it and it pays no attention to a suffered wrong. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes and love is always ready to believe the best of every person (1 Corinthians 13:5&7 AMP paraphrased). If you will not complain when people do the wrong thing to you, if you will walk in love and patience and joy, then God will bless you and protect you and whatever has been taken from you will be restored to you with interest!

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

All these curses shall come upon you and shall pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 They shall be upon you for a sign [of warning to other nations] and for a wonder, and upon your descendants forever. 47 Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of [mind and] heart [in gratitude] for the abundance of all [with which He had blessed you], 48 Therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and in want of all things; and He will put a yoke of iron upon your neck until He has destroyed you.  Deuteronomy 28:45-48 AMP

Deuteronomy 28 is a record of the blessings of obedience, and of honoring and serving God, and the curses that come from refusing to honor and obey God. God would love for you to walk in abundant blessings and in a surplus of prosperity. He is not the one withholding blessings from you. It is your choice – you position yourself to receive or not. A major key to tapping into the blessings of God and protecting yourself from the attacks of the enemy is in your attitude. If put God first in your life, if you are grateful to God for all His blessings, and if you serve Him with joyfulness of mind and heart, the blessing on your life will increase. However, if you are ungrateful and you complain and do not appreciate the blessings you do have, you will open the door for the devil and bring curses on yourself and your family.

Gratefulness keeps you close to God and keeps you trusting in Him. You see His hand in every area of your life. You appreciate what He has already done for you yesterday, what He is doing for you today, and you look forward with a joyful, confident expectation to what He will do for you again tomorrow. If you slip into an ungrateful way of thinking, you begin to doubt God. You begin to think that He has not done enough for you. Maybe you doubt that He did anything for you at all – maybe it was you who did it for yourself. You start to think, “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth!” (Deuteronomy 8:17) You even begin to resent Him because you think He has done little or nothing for you. All the blessings you have received begin to grow smaller and smaller in your mind and your troubles and trials begin to grow bigger and bigger.

All this time, the state of your attitude has had nothing to do with what God has actually done or not done, but it has everything to do with your own perception of what He has done or not done. You begin to push away from God when you really need Him the most. Of course, when you leave the presence of God, you step into the devil’s territory. This is why the devil loves to stir up ungratefulness in people. It brings them into a place where he can control, manipulate, and have dominion over them.

But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].  1 Corinthians 8:3 AMP

Your grateful recognition of God’s blessing in your life is an expression of your love for Him. Love is a decision, not a feeling. God already loves you. You must decide to respond to His love and you must love Him back. It is a win-win situation for you and for God! Ungratefulness denotes a lack of love. When husbands begin to be ungrateful toward their wives or when wives begin to be ungrateful toward their husbands, for who they are or what they have done or not done, it erodes the love they felt for each other at the beginning and signals an end to the relationship – unless they get an attitude adjustment. When children do not appreciate their parents, it makes for a rocky relationship. Some kids have been raised by wealthy parents who gave them everything they wanted. Even so, they were greedy and ungrateful – they did not love or appreciate their parents. The more they got the more they wanted and so they even went so far as to murder their parents and siblings to get it all. However, they just ended up losing it all when they were put in jail!

The devil doesn’t care how you end up, as long as it is in a big mess. God does care for you – He wants you to experience abundant life in every area of your existence. He has done so much for you and has so much more planned for you. He wants to be able to do things for you, so wonderful that you haven’t even dreamt them up yet, never mind asked for them. He wants to be able to carry out His purpose and do exceeding abundantly above all that we dare ask or think – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams! (Ephesians 3:20)

Open up your heart and your life for the blessings of God by remembering to joyfully and gratefully thank Him every day for everything He has done, everything He is doing, and everything He is about to do for you!

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

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 AMP

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 Because we know that Christ (the Anointed one), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. Romans 6:8-9 AMP

I have been crucified with Christ. I was in Jesus when He died on the cross. I was in Jesus when He was raised from the dead. Death no longer has any power over me. The moment my faith connects with His promise, this becomes my reality. I am transformed from the inside out – a new creature in Christ. My life is not governed merely by external regulations, but it is led, guided and prompted by the Holy Spirit. I don’t live a life dictated and controlled by the flesh. I no longer fear the wrath of God. I live a life of absolute faith and implicit trust with one goal – to please Him and only Him.

I am not perfect yet – I am a work in progress. However, the more I come to know Him; the more I come into a revelation of His word, His character, and His plan for me – the more I realize how awesome He is, the more I fall in love with Him, and the more I commit my life into His hands. I no longer live just for me, I live for Him and He lives big on the inside of me. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live here in the flesh, on the earth, I live by faith in my precious Lord and Savior, Who loved me so much He gave me His all – He gave Himself up for me.

For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity]. 22 If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference [I cannot choose], 23 But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; 24 But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and stay by you all, to promote your progress and joy in believing, 26 So that in me you may have abundant cause for exultation and glorying in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again. Philippians 1:21-26 AMP

I am in love with Jesus. I have a revelation of what it means to have everlasting life. I will never die, but I will live eternally in God’s presence. I have eternal life right now. If my body dies, I (my spirit) will live on with Him forever. I already died the death of the cross the day I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. That old man is dead. That old sin nature is dead. No one can ever steal from me my resurrection life, purchased with the precious blood of the Lamb. I have glimpsed eternity and I am no longer afraid of death. Because I have crucified my flesh and counted the things of earth as dung, it makes no difference to me if I live here or if I live in heaven. My heart’s desire is rather to be in His glorious presence, but while I still live here on earth, there is work to be done. It is better for those who need Jesus that I remain and labor in the harvest field. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Either way I win!

None of us lives to himself [but to the Lord], and none of us dies to himself [but to the Lord, for] 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Romans 14:7-9 AMP

Whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. We don’t live for ourselves alone – we are accountable to Him. Whether we live or die, we will always belong to Him. We no longer live to and for ourselves, but to and for Him, Who died and was raised again for our sake.

For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] one died for all, then all died; 15 And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 AMP

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

If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?–such as] 21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], 22 Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. 23 Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.] Colossians 2:20-23 AMP

When we were living in the flesh (mere physical lives), the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused up by [what] the Law [makes sin] were constantly operating in our natural powers (in our bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh), so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life]. Romans 7:5-6 AMP

You can be saved and still be a carnal Christian rather than a spiritual Christian. There is a difference between a carnal Christian and a spiritual Christian:

-Carnal Christians have not renewed their mind with the Word of God, or allowed the Holy Spirit to change them.

-They think, talk, and act, like the rest of the world and follow the world’s way of doing things.

-They allow their flesh and fleshly impulses to control them.

-They only function in the sense realm – what they can see, hear, touch, smell and taste.

-They only trust what they can see; they judge things by outward appearance.

-They try to keep God’s Law in their own ability.

-They try to control behavior without changing the heart.

-They try to serve God their way.

-They are afraid of God’s wrath.

-They do not have a revelation of God’s love for them, or His grace and mercy extended toward them, or the freedom that is available to them.

By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man–not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil. Proverbs 16:6 AMP

In contrast, the spiritual Christian has submitted themselves to the Word of God and the Spirit of God, to be taught and to be changed into His image: -They have died to material ways of looking at things.

-They function not just in the earthly realm, but also in the Spirit realm.

-They trust the unseen – the Holy Spirit.

-They trust the Word of God.

-They know God loves them and they love Him.

-They joyfully submit themselves to God’s Word, obey God’s commands, and serve Him.

-They act on the Word, doing what it commands.

-They practice the love walk.

-They enjoy the liberty of the Spirit.

-They are not afraid of God or His wrath, because they believe His Word.

-They have a revelation of His grace and mercy extended to all who believe. -They think, talk, and act like Jesus.

-They have a revelation of their place in God’s family.

-They see themselves as God sees them.

-They humbly acknowledge that they are nothing without Him and that He is always to be glorified and lifted up in their lives.

-At the same time, they are bold to stand up and declare and decree a thing, knowing that Heaven stands behind them to carry it out.

-They serve – not under obedience to the old code of written regulations – but under obedience to the promptings of the Spirit in newness of life.

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

Hebrews 12:11 AMP says, “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Discipline – instruction, training, correction – is not pleasant at the time it is being administered, but it produces righteousness in the person being disciplined and ultimately it produces peace. If you will submit to God’s discipline – through His Word and His Spirit, you will bring forth the fruit of righteousness and peace.

And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him; 6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. 7 You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline? 8 Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. 9 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] and respected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live? 10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.  Hebrews 12:5-10 AMP

The biggest problem in the Church today, is that you have too many people calling themselves Christians – children of Father God – who do not, and will not, submit themselves to God’s discipline through His Word and Spirit. Paul tells us not to take God’s discipline lightly and not to get all bent out of shape or give up when He corrects you. We have seen so many people going round and round the mountain one more time, because they have areas of their life that are off limits to God. They will not allow the Lord to bring correction to them in particular areas of their lives, therefore they never grow in those areas and are always in bondage to the mistaken attitudes and ways of thinking that come with pride and sin. Of course, discipline is not pleasant at the time! None of us likes to be disciplined – its hard on our flesh and our pride and our ego – but if we will humble ourselves and allow the fire of God to do its work in us, we will come through the other side with a burden lifted; freer and more joy-filled than we have ever been before; with a new appreciation for our Father God and how much He loves and cares for us!

Paul asks the question: “For what son is there whom his father does not thus train and correct and discipline?” Discipline is for the good of the child. In those days fathers would instruct and discipline their children and God expects fathers to continue to do that today. Instructing, disciplining, correcting, and training his children is one of the main responsibilities of a father – not just putting a roof over your kid’s heads, clothes on their back, food on their plate, and sending them to a good school. None of these things will produce obedient kids and good, productive citizens without your personal, daily input. You have to realize that if you do not give your children guidance – someone else will; if you do not mold them and shape them – someone else will.

Politicians are always trying to remove or hinder parental authority – in the guise of what is good for the child – and have succeeded in many instances, but God put the responsibility for teaching, training, and discipline squarely on the parents, especially the fathers! You have to understand that we are in a war for the hearts of men. Ungodly law-makers and educators would love to have the opportunity to shape your child’s mind and attitude. Why do you think it was so important to the atheists for prayer to be taken out of school? This one decision has changed several generations – and not for the good. America is losing its moral compass as society encourages rebellion against authority and disdain for all that is good. If you do not take responsibility for appropriately disciplining your children, you leave them open for a life of rebelliousness against authority, resulting in rebellion against God, Himself!

Raising and disciplining a child is not the easy way or the lazy way – it requires effort and time and consistency. You have to discipline yourself to take the time and make the effort to input into your children. It takes lots and lots of love and patience. You have to put your own flesh under; you cannot afford to be selfish; you cannot abdicate your responsibilities and leave it up to the mother of your children to do it all on her own. A father’s influence on his kids is huge – whether he takes responsibility or not. He is directly responsible for how they turn out. A father who refuses to be involved with his children’s upbringing – whether he lives in the house or not – is sending a message to his children: you are illegitimate! That may sound strong, but illegitimate children are usually not acknowledged nor treated as sons. If you ignore them – that is the message you are sending – you are saying, “You are not loved or wanted.”

We are not illegitimate offspring – we are children of our Father God. Discipline produces respect. If we respect our earthly fathers and obey them, should we not even much more submit to our Heavenly Father and live! Earthly fathers discipline us for only a short period of time and chastise us as seems proper and good to them; but God disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.

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

Foundation Scriptures: Colossians 3:5-25

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.  Colossians 3:5-25 NIV

1. In the Family, we have been raised to a new life through Jesus Christ—He was raised to new life therefore we have been raised up with Him.

• We are to seek the rich eternal treasures that are above—in the Heavenlies.
• Set your mind on the higher things.
• You died with Him, you were buried with Him and you have been raised to new life with Him.
• Putting off the old—verses 5-9
• Putting on the new—verses 10-12

2. Your conduct in the Family of God.

• Forgiving one another—verse 13
• Put on love—verse 14
• Let peace rule—verse 15
• Be thankful—verse 15
• Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord—verse 16
• Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him—verse 17

3. Christian family conduct.

Verses 18-25

• Husbands; wives; children; parents; fathers; servants.
• The Word of God must be the foundation for our lives.

4. Foundational things you must do in order to live your life prosperously and effectively in the Family of God.

• Decide to obey God’s Word and take it as the written, spoken, God-breathed pattern for your life in the Family.
• Don’t be conformed to the world—its ways and ideologies.
• Don’t be persuaded by outside influences—be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit is the One who has been sent to help you live your life in the Family.
• He will constrain and restrain you and also release, empower and enable you to live by the grace of God to handle any situation that might come your way.

NB You are part of the Family of God in Heaven and Earth!

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

Psalms 33:1-3  (KJV)
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

In the Bible we are encouraged to sing a new song with a loud noise.  This word “new” does not mean new in that it has not existed before, but new in quality as opposed to that which is used and worn.  When the scripture says that Jesus was laid in a new tomb, it does not mean that it was newly made, but that no other body had ever lain in there.  We must sing a new song to the Lord.  In fact, we must continually be singing new songs to the Lord.  These are not necessarily brand new songs that have never existed before, but it is our heart and our attitude that makes it new.

Because we are redeemed, we can sing a new song of praise and rejoicing and thanksgiving.  Our praise is new every morning, just as God’s mercy is extended to us new every morning.  Every day is a new day.  Every day we are refreshed and renewed.  Every day we rejoice afresh in God’s mercy and His love.  It doesn’t matter that we praised Him yesterday, today is a new day.  He loves and forgives us new every day — we can lift our hearts and voices and praise and magnify Him fresh and new as if we were only just saved.  You can be saved for fifty years and yet still praise His Name anew every morning.

Verse 1 says, “praise is comely for the upright” (KJV); “praise is becoming to the upright” (NAS); “it is fitting for the upright to praise him” (NIV); and “praise from the upright is beautiful” (NKJ).  It is comely, becoming, fitting, and beautiful for the righteous and upright to praise God!  Who are the righteous?  The believers.  Are you a believer?  Praise looks very good on you!  Sometimes people are afraid to praise God freely, because of what others may think.  They feel strange and awkward to lift their hands and voices.  However, according to God’s Word, you look beautiful when you praise the Most High God.  You were made and created for this purpose to praise the Lord  and praise becomes you.
In verse 3, “loud shout” is also translated “shouts of joy.”  You can praise loudly and you should praise joyfully with voices and instruments as you sing your new song to the Lord every day!

Psalm 98:1, 4-6 (KJV)
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

Psalm 98:4  (NKJ)
4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Revelation 5:9-10  (NAS)
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood {men} from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 And Thou hast made them {to be} a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

We have a brand-new song to sing every day, the song of the redeemed, purchased with blood and made to be kings and priests reigning on the earth.  Do not hold back one more day, sing your new song in praise of your redeemer today!

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

Galatians 5:22-23  (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. As you allow the Spirit of God to do a work in your heart and life, the natural result will be that the fruit of the Spirit is manifested through you. If you are full of God, you will be full of joy.

1 Chronicles 15:16  (NKJ)
16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy

When we praise God, we should do so with joy. Joy has a voice. If you are full of joy it will be evident to others around you. They will see joy on you countenance and they will hear joy in your voice and in your song of praise.

1 Chronicles 29:9-10   (NKJ)
9 Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to  the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly. 10 Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, LORD God of  Israel, our Father, forever and ever.

1 Chronicles 29:16-17  (NKJ)
16 “O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from  Your hand, and is all Your own. 17 “I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of  my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here  to offer willingly to You.

It is right and scriptural to give willing and joyful offerings to God.

Isaiah 12:1-6  (NKJ)
1 And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, your anger is turned  away, and You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; he also  has become my salvation.'” 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make  mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

Verse 3 says that with joy we draw forth water from the wells of salvation. In other words, you could say that joy is the bucket we use to draw forth the salvation that God has provided for us. The Hebrew word translated here as “salvation” means deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), and welfare. God has already handed salvation to us on a platter. It is up to us to open our hearts to receive it. Joy is a key to receiving from God that which we need.

True joy is not manipulated by our circumstances like happiness (which is dependent upon positive circumstances). Even in the midst of a storm, joy is there, strongly anchoring us to the Word of God. We are instructed by God to cast all of our cares upon Him. There is a rest and a joy for us as we allow Him to carry our burdens. When your faith is working for you, you rest in joy, knowing that God is bringing it to pass. Why worry when God is in control!

Zephaniah 3:17  (KJV)
17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in  his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

The Lord rejoices over you. He loves you with an immense, incredible, everlasting love that cannot be stopped. He will never stop loving you. All you need is His love. In His love is every answer to every question you could ever have. He loves you so much that He sings joyfully over you. You can rejoice over the fact that He loves you and that He rejoices over you!

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

OUR TEACHER

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

John 16:12-15 NIV

The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth.” God’s Word is true and sure. He never changes and His Word never changes. He cannot lie or deceive. What He speaks comes to pass. All His paths are straight paths. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are in one accord. They speak the same things and they do the same things. They never contradict each other — they uplift and confirm each other. Jesus spoke the Father’s words and did the Father’s will and so does the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies Jesus. He reveals the character and nature of God to us and He confirms every word that Jesus spoke to us. When we act on God’s word and do what Jesus said to do, then the Holy Spirit acts to confirm the Word with signs and wonders following (Mark 16:20).

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit– just as it has taught you, remain in him.  I John 2:20 & 27 NIV

The anointing of the Holy Spirit on us and in us teaches us all of the truth that is revealed in God’s Word. One definition of the anointing is that it is the presence and power of God manifested. The anointing is the tangible presence of God. These scriptures do not mean that no one can teach us anything and that we do not need pastors or teachers or other Christians to instruct us. It means that as we receive God’s Word — whether by reading it ourselves or by hearing it preached by others — the Holy Spirit will give us revelation of what it means to our lives. He will speak to us personally and show us the things that apply directly to us. Everything that the Holy Spirit reveals to us and teaches us will cause us to move closer to God and to become more like Him.

God’s word and His will are not hidden from us – they are revealed in His written word. We cannot understand the things of God -– no matter who tries to teach us — unless the Spirit of God opens the eyes of our understanding. Without the help of the Spirit, it is as if we have a veil over our eyes and we walk in darkness (1 John 2:11). The more of the Spirit we have, the more of God we come to know and understand. The natural mind does not understand the things of the Spirit. When we are born-again, we understand more of Him. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we understand even more. The more we submit ourselves to God and the more we allow Him to work in our lives, the more we come to know Him. We are made in the image of God. He wants us to think like Him, talk like Him and act like Him!

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NKJ