This was my first time witnessing and I led 2 people to the Lord. One was a homeless guy. This was an awesome experience!

Shentel S
Kauai Hawaii United States

Rodney Howard Browne teaches from: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].  Isaiah 7:14 AMP

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  Matthew 1:20-23 NKJV

I.  Emmanuel means “God with us”

• Rodney Howard Browne shows us that Jesus came as one of us; to live with us; to die for us; so He could dwell and abide in us; so we could live eternally in His presence!
• Hebrews 8:10-12 NKJV – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.  12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
• The Father sent Jesus to die for us and pay the price for our sins so that each one of us could personally, intimately know the Father.
• Emmanuel—God IN us—not just a God far out in the heavens.
• Jesus came to show us the Father’s heart and to introduce us to Him.
• We can have our own relationship and fellowship with the Father through Jesus—we don’t need to go through another human.

II.  Jesus came to save “whosoever”

• John 3:16-18 NKJV – 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.
• Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that Jesus came to save the world—not to reject, to condemn, or to pass sentence on the world (John 3:17 AMP).
• Romans 10:11-13 NKJV – For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.
• Galatians 3:8-9 NKJV – And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”  9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
• Jesus died for every person in every nation. There is no one, who comes to God in faith, whom He would ever reject.
• The Lord is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

III.  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and set the captives free

• 1 John 3:7-9 NKJV – Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
• For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Jesus came to destroy sin and everything that is a fruit of sin.  
• Acts 10:38 NKJV - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
• Sin, sickness, disease and death are a product of sin. Jesus came to “do good” and to save us and to completely deliver us from the devil and all his evil works.
• Luke 4:18-19 KJV – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath 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, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
• Jesus came to preach good news and to do good works.
• Luke 19:10 AMP – For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.
• The Greek word for “save” is sozo (sode’-zo), which means to save; to deliver; to protect; to heal; to preserve, to do well, to make or be made whole.
• Luke 9:56a KJV – For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.

IV.  Rodney Howard Browne shows us that Jesus came to give us abundant life

• John 10:10 NKJV – 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.
• The Amplified Bible says: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Ephesians 3:14-15 KJV

1. For the Believer there are two kinds of family: the Natural family – the one you are born into in the flesh – and the Spiritual – the one you are born into in the Spirit.

The Natural – with a father and a mother. We all had our beginning with the union of a male and a female, coming together in intimacy, producing life.

This was – and still is – God’s plan.

The Spiritual – the new birth. A sinner comes to Jesus, and by confession of his/her need of a Savior, he/she acknowledges the Cross, the Blood and his/her need for redemption. By the seed of the Word of God and intimacy with God, through the Holy Spirit, he/she is born again into the family of God! They are now sons and daughters of the Father.

Christian life and family guidelines – Colossians 3:5-25

2. They say that blood is thicker than water – but natural families often have many problems.

Families – joined by blood – are often divided. Many won’t even talk to each other and it may be for very petty reasons.

Eg. Cain and Abel; Jacob and Esau

People who pledged to commit – get divorced. They cannot or will not get along and so they claim incompatibility.

This division spills over into other relationships outside of blood families – even into the family of God.

3. The number one reason for the breakdown of relationships is that people have no understanding of covenant.

What does covenant mean?

It is a commitment not based on feelings or circumstances, but on a conscious decision.

This covenant springs out of the agape love of God.

Covenant is this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us – that’s commitment!

John 3:16-17 NKJV – 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.

4. There are 5 kinds of love:

Agape – self-sacrificial love

Storge – affection

Phileo – friendship

Eros – romance; sexual intimacy

Epithumia – desire; attraction; lust

5. A covenant based on anything other than agape – unselfish love – cannot stand Affections fail – friendships fail – romance fails – physical love fails – attraction fails

The agape love of God never fails!

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NKJV

Jesus said, Go, and sin no more. He released her from her

sin, and He is still releasing people from their sin today. He does

not condone sin, but He has compassion on and forgives sinners.

He releases people from their guilt and condemnation.

 

But religion does not release you from guilt and condemnation.

Religion has to make you feel guilty in order to survive,

because religion is a parasite that thrives on your guilt. As long

as you’re guilty, you’re caught in religion’s trap. You’ll go

through all the rituals and try to keep all the laws, and when you

can’t do it, you’ll be even more guilty and condemned. It’s a

vicious cycle that only Jesus can break.

 

When you’re released from your guilt and sin by receiving

Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you’re free from religion’s control.

The power of God is not only working on the inside of you, but

works through you. You can cast out devils, heal the sick, and

raise the dead just like Jesus did! Religion does not want you to

do that.

 

That’s why Jesus was a total oddity to the religious world.

He came in total opposition to the religious system of the day and

wreaked havoc. The religious people were the ones who put Him

on the cross. They were the ones who said, “We’ve got to get rid

of Him.” Jesus had a power they did not understand — the power

of unconditional love which sets men and women free and allows

them to know God personally, for themselves. But religion says,

“Do what we say and we’ll tell you what God says.”

 

The history of Jesus is greater than any James Bond 007

movie. Jesus the God/Man came to the earth and took on human

flesh for the purpose of paying the price and becoming the eternal

sacrifice for man’s sin. God-and-man-in-one did it, so that all we

have to do is say, “I believe!” and salvation becomes ours.

 

Jesus speaks to me. His body speaks to me of the fact that

He is a human being and understands everything I’m going

through. (See Hebrews 2:17,18.) The beatings He endured speak

to me that by His stripes He bore my sicknesses and carried my

diseases. His blood shed on the cross speaks to me that He washed

away my sin. (See Isaiah 53:5.) And His resurrection speaks to me

that because He lives, I can also live — really live! I’m talking

about eternal life! I’m talking about everlasting life! (See

Galatians 2:20.)

 

We know that Jesus could have walked away at any time.

Even on the cross, He could have called thousands of angels to

help Him. (See Matthew 26:53.) But He gladly laid His life

down for us. Heaven’s court of justice was waiting to be satisfied,

the price for sin had to be paid, and Jesus did it — for you and me.

Who is Jesus?

 

He is the God/Man who paid the price for our sin so that

we could know God and be set free from sin and all religious

bondage. Hallelujah!

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee,

wherein thy great strength lieth and wherewith thou

mightest be bound to afflict thee.

 

And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven

green withs that were never dried, then shall I be

weak, and be as another man.

Judges 16:6, 7

 

He knew that they could bind him with whatever

they wanted to and they weren’t going to hold him down.

But in the back of his mind he’s thinking, The last time

they bound me, I snapped those cords and took a jawbone

of a donkey and killed a thousand of them. Let’s just play

around with this. They can tie me up again. I’ll just tease

these people a little while, mock them. They think they’re

going to play with me. I’m the great Samson. I’m

indestructible.

 

Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her

seven green withs which had not been dried, and she

bound him with them.

 

Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with

her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The

Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs,

as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So

his strength was not known.

 

And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast

mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee,

wherewith thou mightest be bound.

Judges 16:8-10

 

The devil will come at you constantly and he will

try to find the key to the anointing on your life. Now

remember, twice before, Delilah’s plan had failed.

 

Playing on the Cliff of Your Life

 

But Samson is going to play again. He’s going to

make up some funny story and mock them again. You’d

think he would be wise and say, “No, I’m on the edge of

the cliff about to fall off. I need to be cautious here. I

need to leave this woman. I need to leave this company

and go and do what God has called me to do and stop

messing around here in the camp of the world.”

 

But it seemed good to him to have fun. You see,

people have this idea that they can carry on in the world.

They think they can carry on with ungodly relationships

and ungodly acquaintances and it’s fine. They say, “It’s

not having an affect in my life.”

 

It might not have an affect on you now. But two

or three years from today what type of person are you

going to be? It might not show an affect in your life right

now. But five years from now, where will you be?

 

Will you be more on fire for God five years from

now? If you are less on fire for God than you were five

years ago, then you need to change what you’ve been

doing for the last five years and get to the place where

you can stay on fire for God, full of the Holy Ghost, and

walking in the Spirit.

 

And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with a

new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak,

and be as another man.

 

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him

therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon

thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in

the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like

a thread.

Judges 16:11,12

It is interesting to note that Jesus spent thirty years

of His life preparing for three and a half years of

ministry. Today people go to Bible seminaries and

prepare three years for thirty years of ministry. There

must come preparation.

 

You are always in continuous preparation for the

next phase of what God has for your life. I know in my

own life that even after the encounter I had with the Lord

in July of 1979 until the present, I am still in preparation

for what God has for my life and ministry. I am not

satisfied with what we are doing and I know that there is

more that is available. I want to push higher and deeper

into the things of God.

 

Smith Wigglesworth said that the only thing that

he was satisfied about was the fact that he was

dissatisfied. We don’t ever want to get to the place of

lethargy and complacency, satisfied with where we are.

Otherwise we will never press in to what God has for our

life and ministry.

 

Dissatisfaction with where you are now will cause

you to arise and press in to what God has told you to do.

It is time to get off your blessed assurance and start acting

upon the Word of God. Start doing whatever your hands

find to do and then the anointing will increase.

 

Different Kinds of Anointings

 

We see that in the Word of God there are different

kinds or types of anointings given to man. Ephesians 4:7

says, “But unto every one of us is given grace according

to the measure of the gift of Christ.” The word grace

means enablement, ability, or anointing. We have already

seen in chapter one that the anointing is the supernatural

equipment to get the job done.

 

In Luke 4:18, 19 Jesus said, “The Spirit of the

Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach

the gospel to the poor; he hath 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.”

 

There Is an Anointing to Preach

 

Any preacher will tell you that the anointing to

preach is like a fire shut up in your bones. You can’t get

rid of it. When the message burns deep in your heart, it

has to come out and it does so with great power.

I think the greatest characteristic about preaching

is the unction by which the message is delivered. Some

think that shouting is preaching. Well, you might get

excited and shout when God’s power fails on you ¾ I

know that I do ¾ but it really has to do with the unction

to preach. God anoints your tongue and makes it as “the

pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1). You begin to speak

as an oracle of God.

 

The scripture also says, “Is not my word like as a

fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the

rock into pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29). God’s Word, when

preached under an anointing, will bring conviction and

bring a change in the lives of the hearers. Sermons are not

meant to be enjoyed; they am meant to be adhered to.

 

Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort

 

The Apostle Paul, in speaking to Timothy, said,

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;

reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and

doctrine” (Second Timothy 4:2). I want you to notice he

says, reprove – which means to admonish or to advise.

Then he says, rebuke – which means to reprimand; and

then, exhort ( which means to encourage, to urge.

 

Two-thirds of preaching is reproving and

rebuking and one-third is exhorting. One of the problems

we have in the Church today is that many preachers

would rather preach around an issue than address the

issue. The Bible says in the last days, men would “heap to

themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall

turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned

unto fables” (Second Timothy 4:3, 4).

 

The Art of Persuasion

 

If we study the ministry of Charles Grandison

Finney, we find that he was not only criticized because of

the manifestations in his meetings, but also because of his

method of preaching. When he spoke about sinners,

instead of saying, “they,” he would say, “you.” He would

speak about hell in such a way that people would be

shaken in their seats. In every message he forced a

decision.

 

The art of preaching is not so much homiletics

(three points and a poem), but rather the ability to bring

people to the point of a decision. King Agrippa said to

Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”

(Acts 26:28).

 

Charles Finney was a lawyer prior to entering the

ministry. When he entered the ministry, he used his

ability to take a subject and present it as a legal case. He

would preach as though he were standing in front of a

jury and needed to convince them. At the end, he would

demand a decision from them.

 

This was his success in the ministry during an age

when there was no radio, television, or amplifiers and

microphones. He won about five hundred thousand

people to Jesus. It is said of his converts that about 85

percent stayed true in their faith. In comparison to

modern-day evangelism, we find this figure is extremely

high.

 

The disciples came to Jesus after He had sent them

out to minister. They were so excited, they were jumping

up and down. “O, Jesus, isn’t it wonderful? Demons are

subject to us through Your name. We’ve been casting out

devils and you know what, they listen to us.”

 

Jesus said, in effect, “So what. I beheld Satan as

lightening fall from heaven. He’s defeated. Don’t rejoice

over the fact that demons are subject to you, but rejoice

over the fact that your name is written sown in the Lamb’s

Book of Life.” (See Luke 10:17-20).

 

My name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of

Life! My name may not be down in Who’s Who in the

Zoo. My name may not be down on this roll and that roll

and the bank roll. But my name is written down “when the

roll is called up yonder.” And I’m going to be there!

 

I’m part of the family of God. I’ve been bought

with a price. I’ve been brought out of darkness into light.

I’m an ambassador from the kingdom of heaven. I have my

passport made out. My visa’s stamped in the blood of

Jesus. I have first-class air tickets. I’m sitting on Rapture

Airlines. The flight attendant is serving me living water,

and new wine, and heaven’s bread. That’s something to get

excited about.

 

We don’t serve a dead God. We don’t serve a God

who’s deaf. We don’t serve a God who’s blind. We don’t

serve a God who has no power. Our God is still God. He’s

the same God of Moses and Elijah and Daniel. And He’s

alive in 1992. He wants to manifest Himself in 1992.

Too much importance has been placed on what

church you belong to. “Well, I’m of Paul and I’m of

Apollos,” we say. “We have a 5,000-seat church and a

thousand-voice choir. And you should see our deacons.

They can deke like no other dekes. Our elders can eld like

no other. Our church board is one of the boardest boards in

the city. We’ve got an orchestra. And have you heard our

pipe organ?” Well, who cares?

 

It doesn’t matter what church you belong to. It

matters what family you belong to. You are in either one

of two families. You’re either in the family of the devil or

you’re in the family of God.

 

To be born again is not confirmation. “I’ve been

through confirmation, Brother Rodney.” Well, wonderful.

 

Have you been born again? Jesus never said, “Ye must be

confirmed.” Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.”

“Well, Brother Rodney, I’ve been to catechism.”

You can’t “ism” it any other way. Have you been born

again?

 

“Well, Brother Rodney, we joined the church. We

filled in a membership.” Jesus never said, “Ye must fill in

a church membership. Ye must put thy name on the roll.”

He said, “Ye must be born again.”

 

“Well, Brother Rodney, we’ve been baptized in

water.” You can live under water till you get webbed feet.

But I’m telling you right now Jesus didn’t say, “Go under

water.” He said, “Ye must be born again.”

 

“Well, Brother Rodney, we had some water

sprinkled on our head.” You can have water sprinkled on

your head until you grow like a plant. He didn’t say, “Ye

must get water sprinkled on your head.” He said, “Ye must

be born again.”

 

“Well, Brother Rodney, we take communion.

Every week we have the Holy Sacrament.” You can

swallow grape juice or wine and wafers three times a day.

He didn’t say, “Ye must take communion.” He said, “Ye

must be born again.”

 

“Well, Brother Rodney, we observe religious duties.

We go to church regularly every Sunday morning and

 

Sunday night. We’re on every church committee.” He

didn’t say, “Ye must observe religious duties.” He said,

“Ye must be born again.”

 

You see, some people’s idea of the new birth is

adhering to what their father did and what their grandfather

did. But God has no grandchildren. Each one of us must

be born again for ourselves.

 

Many people have only an intellectual conception

of the Lord Jesus Christ. “I believe in Jesus,” they will say.

But is He your Lord and Savior? “Well, I believe in Him.”

Have you been born again? “Well, I believe Jesus, you

know. I believe in God.” The devil believes in Jesus. The

devil believes in God.

 

Even some of the worst sinners believe in God and

the Bible. When they get into a crisis situation, you’d be

amazed at what comes out of their mouth – the Bible.

They’ll quote anything they can think of. They get in a

motor car with a friend and he’s doing 120 miles an hour,

they start quoting scripture. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I

shall not want.” But that won’t save them. Jesus said, “Ye

must be born again.”

 

“Well, Brother Rodney, I’m a moral person,” some

will say, “If God is God how can all the good people in the

world, go to hell?” Because Jesus said, “Ye must be born

again.”

 

“But look at Brother Joe Blow. He was a good

man. He didn’t rob from anybody. He wouldn’t even hurt

a flea. Do you know that if he found a bug in his house,

he’d go and pick it up and nicely put it out. What a moral

man. What a man of high standing in the community.

Fifty years of marriage to the same woman. His children –

one is a doctor, the other one’s a lawyer. They were all

well respected. Do you mean to say he’s going to hell?

Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.”

 

You can’t be born again until you realize your need

to be born again. And you can’t realize your need to be

born again until you come face to face with the Lord Jesus.

The Bible says there is a way that seems right to man but

the end thereof is death (Proverbs 14:12). We have plenty

of cultured, refined, moral people, but unless they are born

again, they’re going to split hell wide open.

 

There is a Heaven to Gain and a Hell to Shun

There was a certain rich man,

which was clothed in purple and fine

linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

And there was a certain beggar

named Lazarus, which was laid at his

gate, full of sores,

 

And desiring to be fed with the

crumbs which fell from the rich man’s

table: more-over the dogs came and

licked his sores.

 

And it came to pass, that the

beggar died, and was carried by the

angles into Abraham’s bosom: the rich

man also died, and was buried;

 

And in hell he lift up his eyes,

being in torments, and seeth Abraham

afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

 

And he cried and said, Father

Abraham, have mercy on me, and send

Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his

finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I

am tormented in this flame.

 

But Abraham said, Son, remember

that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy

good things, and likewise Lazarus evil

things: but now he is comforted and thou

art tormented.

 

And beside all this, between us and

you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they

which would pass from hence to you

cannot; neither can they pass to us, that

would come from thence.

 

Then he said, I pray thee

therefore, father, that thou wouldst send

him to my father’s house:

 

For I have five brethren; that he

may testify unto them, lest they also come

into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They

have Moses and the prophets; let them

hear them.

 

And he said, Nay, father

Abraham: but if one went unto them

from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto him, If they hear

not Moses and the prophets, neither will

they be persuaded, though one rose from

the dead.

Luke 16:19-31

 

This was not a parable. Jesus said, “There was a

rich man.” This actually happened. The rich man, who had

never begged in his whole life, died and he went down to

hell. Lazarus was the beggar who had nothing. All he

could do was eat the scraps from the rich man’s table. He

died and was carried into Abraham’s bosom.

 

The rich man was in torment. This tells me that hell

is a place of torment and that heaven is a place of rest and

peace. The earth is the only hell that the child of God will

ever know; the earth is the only heaven the sinner will ever

know.

 

The Bible says it’s appointed unto man (…once to

die, but after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). There are

people who are committing suicide and they’re thinking

that they’re going to end their life and go into blessing and

peace. They go from the frying pad into the fire. They go

straight into hell, a place of eternal damnation and eternal

torment.

 

Did you know they’re trying to pass laws in the

state of California where it’s illegal for a preacher to preach

on hell because he’s causing duress on people’s emotional

state? They’re trying to pass laws in this country where it’s

illegal to preach the gospel and bring people to a place of

decision.

 

If they ever pass that law, they’re going to have to

lock the door and throw away the key on me, because I am

not going to quit preaching the truth of the Gospel of the

Lord Jesus Christ. I’m going to tell people there’s a heaven

to gain and a hell to shun. Hell wasn’t made for man. Hell

wasn’t made fro God’s people. Hell was made for the devil

and his angels.

 

Those who are in hell right now – given the

opportunity – would want to come out because of the

torment. But if you told the, “When you come out, you just

accept Jesus,” they would turn Jesus down. That’s why

they must go to a lost eternity. It’s not because God wants

to keep them there, but because they do not want to accept

Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

The rich man said, “If you would send someone out

to talk to my five brothers, they would believe.” Abraham

said, “They have Moses and the prophets. They didn’t

believe them, why are they going to believe someone back

from the dead?”

 

The rich man never begged in this life. Lazarus

begged in this life. But the rich man became a beggar in

the life to come. I’d rather be a beggar in this life and not

beg in the life to come, than be someone who does not beg

in this life but must beg in eternal life. He was begging for

a drop of water to cool his tongue. He was begging that

Abraham would send somebody to go and speak to his

brothers. But even someone from the dead would not

convince some people of their need to be born again.

 

My schoolmates used to mock me and say, “You’ve

wasted your whole life serving God. You don’t run to the

parties, you don’t get drunk like us.”

 

I said, “First of all, I don’t want to do that because I

love Jesus and I’m having great fun anyway. But let’s say,

just for argument’s sake, that there is no God. Let’s say

there is no eternity. When I die and you die, we’ve lost

nothing.

 

“But what if there is a God and there is a heaven

and a hell? When I die, I’m going straight to be with the

Lord. What will you do when you stand before the

Almighty God? What will you say the? God will take you

back to this day when you and I were talking face to face

and you told me it’s a bunch of hogwash. You’ll spend the

rest of eternity in hell realizing the opportunities you’ve

missed.”

 

Hell is a place of torment. The people there are

going to see the missed opportunities they had to accept

Jesus.

 

I shudder to think of people who have come to our

meetings and stormed out because they didn’t want to

accept Jesus as Savior. In hell they will remember and say,

“O God, if only, if only, if only.” The reason they have to

go there is not because God wants to punish people but

because they do not want to accept Jesus Christ as their

Lord and Savior.

 

There’s only one way to God. The new birth is

through one door and that’s Jesus Christ. The new birth is

not through Mohammed. The new birth is not through

Buddha. The new birth is not through Confucius.

 

The difference between Jesus Christ and Buddha

and Mohammed and Confucius is you can go to Buddha’s

grave today and it’s full. You can go to Mohammed’s

grave today and it’s full. You can go to Confucius’ grave

today – it’s also full.

 

But the grave of the Lord Jesus Christ is empty! He

is risen. The stone is rolled away. That’s what makes

Christianity different from every other cult and every other

religion. Jesus Christ is alive. He is risen! If He hadn’t

risen, Christianity would be like every other cult. But He

rose from the dead.

 

Jesus rose and He’s coming back again. When He

left the earth, the angels said the same Jesus you’re seeing

go now is coming back (Acts 1:11).

 

If You Were Arrested for Being a Christian

The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a

new creature: old things are passed away” (Second

Corinthians 5:17). But if you look at some Christians,

there’s no telling that they’ve passed from death unto life.

 

I heard one preacher ask, “If you were arrested for

being a Christian, would there be enough evidence against

your life to convict you?” Some Christians would get off

on probation. Others would get life sentences without the

chance of parole.

Foundation Scriptures

Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14  Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign:  Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us ).

Luke chapter 7 verses 10 & 11  And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again.  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a great throng accompanied Him.

1 John chapter 3 verse 8  But he who commits sin (who practices evildoing) is of the devil (takes his character from the evil one), for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil (has done).

 

It is a historical fact that Jesus was born.  What scholars dispute is whether He was all God or all man or part God and part man.  We know, from the Bible, that He was God manifest in the flesh.  He is completely God and completely man.

 

Think about this:  His birth, life, death and resurrection have affected the earth like none other before or since.  He was the Word made flesh and dwelt among us.  He affected the timetable of a whole planet – this is not something you can deny or ignore.

 

Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6  -  For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of Eternity), Prince of Peace.

His name shall be called “Wonderful” because He is so wonderful.  There is none like Him in all the earth.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is so wonderful in His saving, healing and delivering power.  Wonderful in His miraculous virgin birth, wonderful in His sinless life, wonderful in His miracle ministry of signs and wonders.  Wonderful in His conquest of sin, sickness and satan at Calvary.  Wonderful in His supernatural resurrection from the dead.  Wonderful in His present day ministry interceding for us at the Father’s right hand in Heaven.  Wonderful in His power to cleanse and forgive every sin.  Wonderful in His ability to set every captive free.  Wonderful in His grace that heals the broken hearted and breaks every bondage.  He is wonderful because His love reaches out to touch and transform all who will come to Him and call upon His name.

 

Acts chapter 4 verse 2   -  But many of those who heard the message believer (adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus as the Christ).  And their number grew and came to about 5,000.

This Christmas, reflect again on the goodness of God and the fact that Jesus really is the reason for the season!  As Christians, we have something to shout about and celebrate, because Jesus lives and in Him we live and move and have our being.

 

Rejoice, child of God, for unto us a son is born, a Savior who is Christ the Lord!

Don’t Forget the Full-time Minister
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 18 verses 1–8

The Levitical priests and all the tribe of Levi shall have no part or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings made by fire to the Lord, and His rightful dues. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He promised them. 3 And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first or best of the fleece of your sheep you shall give the priest. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name [and presence] of the Lord, him and his sons forever. 6 And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel where he is a temporary resident, he may come whenever he desires to [the sanctuary] the place the Lord will choose; 7 Then he may minister in the name [and presence of] the Lord his God like all his brethren the Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord. 8 They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what may come of the sale of his patrimony.  
Deuteronomy 18:1-8 AMP

1.  This sharing of God’s provision was not man’s idea but God’s idea

• Verse 1 says the priests should share in His bounty—they were to partake of the offerings brought to the Lord—His rightful dues 
• Ministering before the Lord, on behalf of the people, was the priests’ full-time job
• If the people did not support them there was nothing else and no one else to sustain them
• Verse 3 says this would be the priests’ due from the people—it was the people’s duty to support the ministers

2.  The priests were entitled to be blessed from the first fruits of the people

• The people brought their best stuff to the Lord and to the priests—the choicest parts of their animals, the first fruits of their grain, the new wine, the oil, the first and best of the fleece of their sheep
• This provision was not only for the priest, but for his sons and his family forever
• All priests were treated equally and provision was made for all—today, that would be the whole five-fold ministry—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
When the Lord divided up the Promised Land, He gave each tribe and each family a portion of it. However, He did not include the Levitical priesthood or their families. They were set apart unto the Lord’s work and would not have time to waste working the land, therefore, there was no way for them to be fed and kept unless the people brought the fruit of their labor to the house of God. God made it the responsibility of all those who were given land, to meet the needs of the priests. Each side supported and served the other.

It is still the same today. It is the minister’s responsibility to handle the Word of God honestly, and every other believer’s job to generously support those men and women of God who serve them in full-time ministry. Even Paul made tents for a season, but ministers—or their wives—should not need to work another job all the time, just to put food on the table, because the Church is disobedient. God’s order is for the minister’s needs to be met by those believers who work in the marketplace. If we all fulfill our purpose, submit to the Word of God, and joyfully do what God tells us to do, we will see the will of God manifested on the earth!

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
It’s interesting that, in the day and age that we are living, that people in the full-time ministry always seem to come under more scrutiny and criticism for their income, than other people. It is as if the religious world has this idea: Lord, You keep them humble and we’ll keep them poor! I am not saying for one moment that there are not abuses that have not taken place on both sides: there is the minister, who is without integrity, but also the believer who will not obey God and give. Even though people do not always do as they should—still we must remember—that it was God who instituted this mutual dependence. It was not instituted by man as a way to extract money from people—it was instituted by God, in order that the needs of the ministry—and God’s servants—could be met.

We discussed an Old Testament passage above, but the New Covenant declares that those ministers who perform the duties of their office well, be considered doubly worthy of honor and of adequate financial support, especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17 AMP). Although I was not raised in a preacher’s home, we were around ministers all the time and we were taught, as children, to look after them, to take care of them, and to bless them. Still today, even though I am in the ministry myself, I have a love for full-time men and women of God, and a desire to bless them. 

Prayer and Confession:
Father, Your word declares that if we receive and welcome and accept a prophet, because he is a prophet, we shall receive a prophet’s reward, and if we receive and welcome and accept a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, we shall receive a righteous man’s reward. You also said that if we give to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water, because he is Jesus’ disciple, that You would surely reward us (Matthew 10:41-42). Father, I thank You that my heart is right with You for I purpose to bless those who minister; I purpose to bless Your servants.

Thoughts on Stewardship
Worship at a Set Place
Foundation scriptures: Deuteronomy 12 verses 5 – 19

But you shall seek the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His Name and make His dwelling place, and there shall you come; 6 And there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the offering of your hands, and your vows and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock. 7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. 8 You shall not do according to all we do here [in the camp] this day, every man doing whatever looks right in his own eyes. 9 For you have not yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God gives you. 10 But when you go over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God causes you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about so that you dwell in safety, 11 Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His Name [and His Presence] to dwell there; to it you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes and what the hand presents [as a first gift from the fruits of the ground], and all your choicest offerings which you vow to the Lord. 12 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, and your menservants and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no part or inheritance with you. 13 Be watchful not to offer your burnt offerings in every place you see. 14 But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all I command you. 15 However, you may kill and eat flesh in any of your towns whenever you desire, according to the provision for the support of life with which the Lord your God has blessed you; those [ceremonially] unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the hart. 16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it upon the ground as water. 17 You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your new wine or of your oil, or the firstlings of your herd or flock, or anything you have vowed, or your freewill offerings, or the offerings from your hand [of garden products]. 18 But you shall eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God shall choose, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and the Levite that is within your towns; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake. 19 Take heed not to forsake or neglect the Levite [God's minister] as long as you live in your land.  Deuteronomy 12:5-19 AMP

1.  Even though this is an Old Testament passage concerning, the children of Israel, and the altar—the place of worship—we believe that several aspects of it apply to us today:
 
a. It is not scriptural to hop from church to church.
b. It is not scriptural to not go to church at all.
c. God sets the solitary in families.
d. We are not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together—even the more so when we see That Day approaching.
e. It’s not a matter of control—it’s a matter of covenant.

2.  We believe in the local church as the modern day “altar”—the place where we bring our worship and our offerings (our sacrifices).

a. God does not live in tabernacles made with hands.
b. We understand that He lives in us and that we are His temple.
c. Corporately we come together to fellowship with one another, to worship, and to bring our offerings, in the place that God chooses.
d. Not every church is where you should be but you should be where God sends you. Bring your families; your kids. Be rooted and grow. Come to a place of maturity.
e. Those who refuse to do these things are out of order—they are not under God-given authority. The apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ”. The prerequisite for leadership is that they must follow Jesus and point you also to Jesus and not themselves. If they do not do this —what are you doing there?
f. Put your seed into good ground—that which produces for eternity.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
If you call yourself a Christian and you are not submitted to God in every area of your life, especially giving, then you are nothing less than rebellious. If you do what seems right to you and you do not obey the written word or allow the Lord to lead you on all these things, you have idols of self-will and un-submissiveness in your heart (Ezekiel 14:4 AMP). Pray about which church you should commit to and then commit, through thick and thin. Don’t follow the line of least resistance. Commit to a church and allow God to burn the junk out of your life.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
This passage is very plain. God did not want people sacrificing on any altar available. Even though we are on television, we have always believed that you are to tithe to the local church. The tithe does not go anywhere other than where you are being fed. That would be like living in your parent’s house, eating at your parent’s table, using their electricity, their covering, their wisdom, and paying board to the next door neighbor. You would be supporting those who do not even care for you. It is important for your spiritual well-being, just like the commitment of marriage. You don’t go around sowing your seed all over the place—only with the wife of your youth. You must be committed to a local church and bring your offerings and sacrifices there.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, this day I commit to support Your work in the place You have chosen for me. In faith I give and I worship You with my giving.