A young adult couple accepted Jesus. It was my first time out witnessing. God used me.

Lillian S
Kauai Hawaii United States

Rodney Howard Browne shares the Foundation Scripture: Hebrews 8:10 Hebrews 8:10 AMP

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

I.  How to train the human spirit:

• By giving the Word first place in your life
• By meditation in the Word
• By practicing the Word
• By instantly obeying the voice of your spirit
• By praying in the Spirit

II.  Rodney Howard Browne instructs us to give the Word first place in your life

• First place means first place. First place means that you exalt the Word of God above all the words of man.
• First place means that when you have a choice, you believe the Word of God and not your circumstances, your feelings or what your head tells you.
• Proverbs 4:20-22 AMP – My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.
• Proverbs 7:1-3 NKJV – My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
• The only way you can make the Word of God first place in your life is if you know it—if it is in your heart and mind—if it abides in you and you abide in it.
• This is how you make the Word part of who you are:

III. Meditate on the Word

• The Word of God will not work for you if you just mentally assent to it (agree with it). It will only be effective if it becomes part of you—if every thought you have, every word you say and every action you take is governed and regulated by the Word that is in your heart.  
• Joshua 1:8 AMP – This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
• Meditate means to reflect on, contemplate, or ponder something.
• The Hebrew word for “meditate” means “to murmur. It is also translated in the KJV as “mutter”; “imagine”; “roar”; “speak”; “study”; “talk”; “utter”.
• Psalms 1:1-3 NKJV – Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
• This man is truly blessed—because he fully embraces God’s life-giving Word!
• Because you delight in the Lord, you drink deeply from His Word and you meditate on His Word day and night; the result is that you bring forth fruit in season, your leaf doesn’t wither, and whatever you do prospers!

VI.  Practice the Word

• James 1:21-22 AMP – So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
• If you refuse to be led, directed and changed by God’s written Word, how in the world do you think that you will recognize or obey the voice of His Spirit?
• 1 John 5:8 NKJV – And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
• Water is symbolic of the Word. The Spirit and the Word will never contradict each other.
• Matthew 7:21 AMP – Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.
• Romans 6:17 AMP – But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed.

V.  Instantly obey the voice of your spirit

• Proverbs 20:27 NKJV – The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
• The Lord will lead and guide you through your heart—not your head.
• You can trust your heart when it is trained in the Word of God and submitted to God and His Word.
• Romans 9:1 AMP – I am speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying; my conscience [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with me.
• Your spirit and your conscience are one and the same.
• Hebrews 5:14 AMP – But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.
• When you spend a lot of time in the Word of God, even your senses become trained to know what is right and wrong.
• 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
• Do not allow your carnal mind to rule you. Submit your thoughts completely to God’s Word.

VI. Pray in the Spirit

• Praying in tongues helps you develop a sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit and your own spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 NKJV – For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
• When you pray in tongues, your spirit man rises up, even as your mind grows quieter.
• 1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV – For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
• Jude 20 NKJV – But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
• Praying in the Holy Spirit builds you up in your faith, drawing you closer to God and His will for you.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondmaid and one by the free woman.

23 But whereas the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise.

24 Now all this is an allegory; these [two women] represent two covenants. one covenant originated from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] and bears [children destined] for slavery; this is Hagar.

25 Now Hagar is (stands for) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to and belongs in the same category with the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage together with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem above (the Messianic kingdom of Christ) is free, and she is our mother.

27 For it is written in the Scriptures, Rejoice, O barren woman, who has not given birth to children; break forth into a joyful shout, you who are not feeling birth pangs, for the desolate woman has many more children than she who has a husband.

28 But we, brethren, are children [not by physical descent, as was Ishmael, but] like Isaac, born in virtue of promise.

29 Yet [just] as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh despised and persecuted him [who was born remarkably] according to [the promise and the working of] the [Holy] Spirit, so it is now also.

30 But what does the Scripture say? Cast out and send away the slave woman and her son, for never shall the son of the slave woman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.

31 So, brethren, we [who are born again] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free [the supernatural]. Galatians 4:22-31 AMP

Jesus Christ has paid the price for us and redeemed us from the curse of the Law! There is not one person on the earth who could ever hope to meet God’s approval and be acceptable to Him by means of the Law, because it is impossible for sinful man to keep the Law, for even if you break one small Law, you have broken the whole Law. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

In the Old Testament God gives us an allegory – a type and shadow of what is to come. Jesus came, in a supernatural way, to bring us into the liberty of the Spirit. In Galatians we see that the child of the slave woman (Hagar) is born according to the flesh, but the child of the free woman (Sarah) is born in fulfillment of the promise! Ishmael’s birth was something that was possible with man. He was a child of the flesh.

Isaac’s birth was supernatural, because it was impossible with man. Unlike Jesus, Isaac had a natural father and mother, however, because it was impossible for them to have children, because they were so old, and because Sarah was barren, his birth was a miracle – it was all God’s doing. He was a child of the Spirit.

How does this relate to us? All of mankind is born of the flesh initially. They can stay in that bondage if they choose to OR they can choose God’s way; they can choose Jesus; they can choose the miracle of the New Birth and be born again of the Spirit of God – the child of the free and the supernatural! The son of the slave will not inherit with the son of the free. There is only an inheritance for the son of the free woman!

Do you not know, brethren–for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the Law–that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive?

2 For [instance] a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is loosed and discharged from the law concerning her husband.

3 Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her [she is free from that law]; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.

4 Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.

5 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 7:1-6 AMP

Another allegory is this: while she lives, the married woman is bound to her husband, but if he dies, she is free to be married to another. Once we were “married” to the Law. We have undergone death as to the Law through the crucified body of Christ, so that now we may belong to Another (Christ).

We belong to Jesus! We are married to Him! We are discharged (delivered) from the Law, having terminated all intercourse with it. That old marriage is over – the law no longer applies. We died to that which once held us captive. Now we serve, not in bondage, under obedience to the old code of written regulations, but in freedom, under obedience to the promptings of the Spirit in newness of life! We are no longer governed, guided, constrained, and compelled by the outward force of the written code, but we are led and guided inwardly by the Spirit of God. He is the One who leads us into life and blessing as we yield and submit ourselves to Him in faith!

Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin.  John 8:34 AMP

Sin’s purpose is to enslave you. As long as you yield to sin, it will be your master. Jesus’ whole life purpose was to free mankind from the bondage and slavery of sin by the power of His blood.

He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.   Proverbs 28:13 AMP

When Adam and Eve committed the first sin against God, they also ran to hide from Him. People are still hiding from God today. Sin is always followed and accompanied by guilt and also the conviction of the Holy Spirit and your own conscience. Hiding away from God and/or covering up sin will not make it disappear. Those who want to retain their sin will keep it hidden. You are not fooling God, though. If you want to be blessed, you must expose sin—bring it out of the dark and into the light—so that you can obtain mercy.

Blessed, (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me; my moisture was turned into the drought of summer. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]–then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!  Psalms 32:1-5 AMP

When you cover up your sin because of shame or pride, you will continue to feel guilt and condemnation. There is no peace in your heart or your life. But when you are honest with God, and you tell Him all, acknowledging your sin, and offering no excuses, then forgiveness and peace will be poured out on you. There is no more shame; you are free from the enslaving bondage of that sin!

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! 3 For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment.  Psalms 51:1-4 AMP

When asking for forgiveness, it is very important to humble yourself before God, and not make excuses for your sin. If, because of pride, you defend your actions and excuse your behavior, you show no evidence of repentance, which is a prerequisite to forgiveness. It is essential that you not only declare what your sin is, but that you also acknowledge that it was a sin and that you have no excuse. You can’t fool God. If it is mere lip service made with excuses in the heart and a defensive posture, it will count for nothing with Him.

Some people are so hardened by sin that even when they are caught out in sin and exposed, they are still not sorry for their sin, only sorry that they got caught. You must admit that you have sinned before you can ask to be forgiven. Along with the admittance of guilt, there must be a willingness to bear the consequences of the sin and to make restitution. Some sin is over when it is admitted to God and forgiven by God, but some sin involves restitution. Make sure that you make right with God and man, so that you can have a truly clear conscience.   

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].  1 John 1:8-10 AMP

You must realize that it is the will of the Father to forgive everyone and to set them free from sin! But he can only forgive those who believe His Word and who come to Him, in obedience, to be washed clean from their sin. If you say you have not sinned when you have, you are self-deceived and you will die in your sin. It is important to freely admit that you have sinned and confess your sins to God. When you do that, He will immediately forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, because He is faithful and just and because He has obligated Himself by His Word.  

You have no power to right the wrongs you have done—only God can cancel your past and give you a brighter future.

And Moses said to the heads or leaders of the tribes of Israel, This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: 2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break and profane his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. Numbers 30:1-2 AMP

In this day and age, it is becoming rarer to find a person who always keeps his or her word. So many people today think nothing of promising what they cannot or will not deliver. They don’t ever plan on keeping their word, but they give it anyway. They promise to do something and then “forget” and never show up; they promise to pay something and then default on the loan; they marry and promise to be faithful and then they cheat on their spouse; they promise to give something and then never follow through. It is time for us as Christians to come clean and make a fresh start. If you make a promise or a pledge or a commitment, you should do everything you can to fulfill it.

It is a snare to a man to utter a vow [of consecration] rashly and [not until] afterward inquire [whether he can fulfill it]. Proverbs 20:25 AMP

You cannot and should not make a promise if you have no idea whether or not you have the means to actually keep that promise. If you make it a priority to always keep your word then you will not be rash with your promises. If you commit to keep your vows, then you will be careful to promise only what you are prepared to fulfill.

Vow and pay to the Lord your God; let all who are round about Him bring presents to Him Who ought to be [reverently] feared. Psalms 76:11 AMP

Some people solve the problem of unfulfilled vows, by never committing to anything. This is not a solution. You need to commit to give to the Lord in as many areas as you can—generously. He is so generous with you and me! You need to decide for yourself what you will give—of your time; your effort; your money—and you need to give it freely and joyfully.

I will come into Your house with burnt offerings [of entire consecration]; I will pay You my vows, 14 Which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in distress. Psalms 66:13-14 AMP

Many people make all kinds of promises to God while they are in distress, but when He comes through for them, and when they are all fine and dandy, they just conveniently forget about the vow they made. These people have no respect for Almighty God. It is very important that we acknowledge God’s hand in our deliverance. It is very rude to ignore the One Who saved you. If you made God a promise in exchange for His help, then you must follow through and keep your word to Him. He did what you asked of Him and He expects you to do what you said you would.

When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not be slack in paying it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and slackness would be sin in you. 22 But if you refrain from vowing, it will not be sin in you. 23 The vow which has passed your lips you shall be watchful to perform, a voluntary offering which you have made to the Lord your God, which you have promised with your mouth. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 AMP

When you make a vow to the Lord, you should not be slack in paying it. God requires that you keep your word. It is a sin for you to be slack in your promise.

Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business and painful effort, and a fool’s voice with many words. 4 When you vow a vow or make a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God has no pleasure in fools (those who witlessly mock Him). Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not allow your mouth to cause your body to sin, and do not say before the messenger [the priest] that it was an error or mistake. Why should God be [made] angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in a multitude of dreams there is futility and worthlessness, and ruin in a flood of words. But [reverently] fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is]. Ecclesiastes 5:2-7 AMP

Don’t be rash with your mouth; don’t be hasty to make promises before God. It’s great to have plans and dreams, but it takes much time and effort to make them happen. Just because you talk about doing something, doesn’t mean it will just happen. You need to work the dream; you need to do what you say you’ll do. Pay what you vow. It is better to never make a promise than to promise and not keep it. Don’t just be a talker, be a doer. If you will keep your word to God, He will keep His word to you.

October 22, 2008 – October 24, 2008

Rodney Howard Browne will be at Love International Ministries in Phoenix Arizona Wednesday October 22, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. through Friday October 24, 2008. Saints in Arizona and across America are invited to this Holy Ghost and Fire meeting. Please, rearrange your schedule and come help us shake an entire city. Get ready to attend this special 3 day event. Speaker:

Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne
Love International Ministries
5201 N. 27th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85017
United States
(602) 242-8644
(602) 285-1777

Join us at this location for 20 days of Power Evangelism October 6th-25th @ 9 AM.
All classes will be conducted in English and Spanish.

Rodney Howard Browne gave his heart to the Lord at the age of five. Rodney Howard Browne came to America with a passion burning in his heart to see souls saved and lives touched. In December 1987 he traveled to America to fulfill the call and plan and purpose of God. The Lord told him to, “Stir up the churches and tell them to get ready for the coming revival.” in order to see a great harvest of souls. Rodney Howard Browne feels that God has called him to teach the body of Christ, by example, so that the presence of God can be made welcome and so that He can touch His children as He sees fit. Rodney Howard Browne has seen mighty revivals break out in North, South and Central America, Africa (including South Africa), the United Kingdom, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Israel and run anywhere from one to four consecutive weeks. Rodney Howard Browne was called to stir up the churches and the pastors, shake them out of their complacency, fire them up to press in deeper with the Holy Spirit, and then leave them to do what God has called them to do in their city. Rodney Howard Browne and his ministry team, under the banner of Revival Ministries International, travel about 46 weeks of the year, holding weekly meetings in cities across North America and around the world. They also pastor a church in Tampa, Florida, The River at Tampa Bay, which he founded and which now has 3000 members.

Rodney Howard Browne shares a teaching on Forgiveness

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”– and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! Psalms 32:1-11 NIV

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that according to the Amplified Bible, when you are blessed you are happy, fortunate and to be envied. The most wonderful thing that can happen to us is to have our sins permanently washed away by the blood of Jesus and to know that we have God’s forgiveness permanently exercised upon us. It is awesome to know that any sins – past, present and future – are not held against us as long as we confess our sins and ask God for forgiveness. By rights, we should all pay for our own sins and transgressions with our lives, but thank God, Jesus paid the price for us.

Rodney Howard Browne shows us that nothing in the whole world can compare with the joy of a heart that is at peace with God because it is forgiven! No money, alcohol, drugs, fame or power can compare with the experience of the favor of God together with the joy of a clean heart. When we have sin in our lives, we cannot be truly happy until we confess it to God. The most unhappy situation we can be in is to be living with unconfessed sin. We must be sorry for our sin, admit that we are wrong and ask God to forgive us. God is just waiting and longing to forgive us – He is just waiting for us to take a step toward Him. He took the first step – He offered Jesus up as a guilt-offering on our behalf. The next move is ours. We can live in great peace, in spite of our outward circumstances, as long as we know that we have the favor of God upon our lives.

Rodney Howard Browne explains that we must acknowledge all our sin and not try to hide anything from Him and He will instantly forgive us. When you walk in the knowledge of the total and complete forgiveness of God on your life, the waters of adversity are not able to overwhelm your spirit. When we are stubborn and unteachable, we will have many troubles and problems, but if we walk in God’s ways, we will also walk in His protection and guidance.

When we trust God with our lives enough to lay down what we want and to bow our knee in repentance, then we will experience His preservation and His joy. The wicked have no peace, but the righteous walk in continual peace and joy.

Rodney Howard Browne shares a teaching on The Spirit of God

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

When we are born again and we receive Jesus Christ of Nazareth as our Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God transforms our heart and makes us a brand new creature. We no longer have the same sinful desires or motivation. If we allow the Holy Spirit to continue the work in us that He has begun, we will find that we are changed from glory to glory. Instead of the works of the flesh being manifested in our lives, the fruit of the Spirit is manifested. We become blessed and a blessing. The Agape love of God is a fruit of the Spirit.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5 KJV

The Holy Spirit is the one who deposits the Agape love of God in our hearts and the one who works in us to strengthen us in the love of God. If we don’t have the love of God flowing through us then we have nothing. Without love, even all the wonderful gifts and talents that God has given us, are nothing but hollow and noisy.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NIV

Some things, like the gifts of the Spirit, are only useful to us here on the earth. We will no longer have any need of them when we get to heaven. But the love of God will always endure. We will always need the love of God and we will always walk in the love of God, in heaven and throughout eternity. When the Holy Spirit lives big on the inside of us, He guides us into all the truth and we choose to walk in love instead of the way the world walks.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.Luke 6:27-36 NIV

We demonstrate the true love of God, not when we love those who love us, but when we love those who hate us, despise us, use us, abuse us and who try to take advantage of us. The manner in which we conduct ourselves under these difficult circumstances is the measure of the fruit of the love of God that is developed and manifested in our lives.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”John 13:34-35 NIV

When the fruit of the love of God is manifested in your life by the way you love others, then people will know that you are a child of God and a follower of Jesus. It is not what you say that counts as much as what you live and what you do!

1 Peter 1:15-19(NKJ) says, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”God judges us impartially according to our works. It is up to us to see that we live in a manner that pleases our Father God. God is a holy God, and as His children, we need to walk holy and talk holy and act holy. We can walk in holiness because the precious blood of Jesus has redeemed us. The blood of Jesus has washed away our sins, stripped sin of its power over us, and caused us to be able to continue to walk free from sin.
John 3:16-18(NIV) says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” God does not judge us according to some standard that we know nothing about and that is out of our control. He judges us according to our own choices and actions. In other words—we choose our judgment—not God. He offers us the choice of life or death and then acts according to what we have chosen. It is not up to God—it is up to you and me. God did His part—He sent Jesus as a sacrifice to cut a covenant between God and us, so that life and blessing would actually be one of our choices. Without Jesus—there is no choice—death and cursing would be our destiny.
Isaiah 11:1-4(NIV) says, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD—and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.”God judges in righteousness and justice. To “judge” simply means “to make a decision”. God makes a decision concerning us according to the decision we make for and about ourselves.
Romans 2:4-11(NKJ) says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.” God is not partial. He does not like one better than the other. He does not have “favorites”. He treats everyone the same. Whatever we sow—we will reap.
Acts 10:34-35(NIV) says, “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right