Walking with Jesus

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.Psalms 37:3-5 KJV

Psalms 37:4 says that when you delight yourself in the Lord — He will give you the desires of your heart. Notice that it says that God will give you the desires of your HEART – not of your head or your flesh! A man or woman who delights themselves in the Lord, is one who has a heart after God. They have a heart that longs to please God – a heart filled with good desires. God will not honor the ungodly, sinful desires that spring from an unrenewed mind or unrestrained flesh. He only honors godly desires. If your desire is toward the Lord, then it will also be toward the things of the Lord and He promises to fulfill those desires.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:18-23 NKJV

The word teaches us that after we are born-again we desire God and the things of God in our heart, but the flesh hankers after those things that are sinful and evil. We need to allow our heart to rule our flesh.

We need to allow the desires of our heart to take precedence over the desires of the flesh.

The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath – NKJV.The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath – NIV – Proverbs 11:23

What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.Proverbs 10:24 NIV

When you are righteous, your desires are righteous desires and God will give you those things. Your righteous desires will be fulfilled.

The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. Psalms 145:14-20 NIV

The word shows us that God is good to all and His tender mercies are over all His works. He rains on the just and the unjust. He reaches out to bless all those who reach out for Him. The wicked will be destroyed and their plans will come to nothing, but God hears the just and save those who honor, respect and fear Him.

Psalms 73:25 NIV says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” There is nothing on earth or in heaven to be desired beside our God. Proverbs 3:14-15 says that she – wisdom – is better, more precious and more profitable than gold, silver or rubies and nothing you can desire compares with her. We will be blessed if we desire after, and ultimately find, wisdom. 1 Peter 2:1-3 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 says that we should, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.”

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. Proverbs 13:19 NIV

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. NKJV. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. NIV – Proverbs 13:12

Desire the wisdom of God, the word of God, the gifts God gives and most of all God Himself and you will be refreshed and fulfilled.

Check out this site for some great information on God’s word

Jesus by pastor Rodney Howard Browne

 

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. Revelations 2:1-5 NIV

In the book of Revelation, the Lord speaks through John to seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. He commends them, encourages them and rebukes them. The Lord commended the Ephesians church for working hard, being committed to the truth and persevering through hardships without giving up. But He had to rebuke them because they had forgotten to enjoy their relationship with Jesus and to keep Him first in their priorities. You cannot work for or earn anything that

God has given you or anything He has done for you. It is all a free gift given by grace and received in humility. Humility is the ability to receive that which you do not deserve. If the devil can’t stop you from serving God then he tries to get you so busy laboring and working hard FOR the Lord that you forget to have a relationship WITH the Lord. Jesus was your first love and He must remain your first love. The Greek word for “first” means foremost – in time, place, order or importance. It is translated variously as “before, beginning, best, chief, first of all, and former.” Jesus is the most important person in your life – your first love and your only love. When you marry your earthly true love, you commit to love them only and forever. You love them so completely that you are not ever tempted to even look around at another.

We are to commit to the Lord for eternity like we would to a marriage that will last a lifetime. God hates divorce and separation because when He commits to us, it is forever for Him. When we are flaky and uncommitted in our earthly relationships, then we will most likely be inconsistent and unfaithful in our heavenly relationships. The Lord loves us with all His heart. He longs to have a close relationship with us. He longs to fellowship and commune with us. The closer we get to Him, the closer we get to His protection and His blessing. He will never leave us alone – we are the ones who stupidly make the mistake of moving away from Him and the blessing of His presence.

If Jesus is your first love then you should treat Him like your first love. You should respect Him, reverence Him, notice Him, regard Him, honor Him, prefer Him, venerate Him, esteem him, defer to Him, praise Him, and love Him exceedingly! What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all– how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died— more than that, who was raised to life— is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39 NIV 

God is FOR us – He is on our side! He did not spare His OWN SON to redeem us from the pit. WHO is there that can accuse us when GOD has justified and acquitted us? Jesus, Himself, is actually PLEADING as He intercedes on our behalf at the right hand of God. NOTHING in heaven, on the earth or under the earth will stop the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit from loving us! When you know how much God has given and how much He has done to show His love for you – how can you be fickle and wishy-washy about loving Him? Give Him your ALL – He is worthy of it! He is worthy of the best that you have. He is worthy of ALL your love, ALL your devotion and ALL your praise. Stop wasting your time on things that do not matter in eternity and show Him how much you love Him today. Give Him your heart and your life and He will never let you go!

Teaching Your Children by Rodney Howard Browne

Deuteronomy 5:29(NKJ)
29’Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

When you have a heart after God and honor Him and His word then you will always be blessed and your children will be blessed. Deuteronomy 6:5-7(NKJ)

5″You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

 

6″And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

 

7″You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You need to walk the walk in front of your children. You need to be a DOER of the word – not just a hearer. You need to TEACH your children about God and teach them to love, respect and obey Him.

 

Just because you are saved, does not mean that your offspring are born saved! They need to make their own decision to accept Jesus as their Savior. They are not going to absorb God’s word by osmosis either. YOU have to open your mouth and SPEAK God’s word and His will to them, so that they will choose to serve Him too. Children will do what we expect. Expect them to serve God and lead them by your example. You can’t push from behind – you must lead from out in front! Deuteronomy 31:12-13(NKJ)

 

12″Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law,

 

13″and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”

 

Psalms 78:1-8(NKJ)1 Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

 

2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

 

3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

 

4 We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

 

5 For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;

 

6 That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children,

 

7 That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;

 

8 And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.We need to teach GOOD things to our children – not bad things. All they learn from stubbornness and rebellion is how to be stubborn and rebellious. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree so make sure that your “tree” is healthy and that your “fruit” is the fruit of the Spirit! It is YOUR responsibility to raise your children in God’s ways – not the church or the pastor. They are there to back you up and reinforce the good things that you are already teaching your children. Psalms 103:17-18(NKJ)

 

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children,18 To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.Teach your family to keep covenant with God because His mercy and grace are poured out on those who keep His covenant and upon the generations that follow them. If you love your children and if you want God’s blessings on them and their children – take time to raise them with a good understanding of God’s word and his covenant of peace with them and how incredibly much He loves them.

 

The River by Rodney Howard Browne

 

Foundation Scripture: Habakkuk 2:2-3

 

2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

 

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

1. God has raised this Church up for a Reason Luke 4:18-19

 

18 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.

1. To preach the Gospel to the poor.
2. To heal the broken-hearted.
3. To preach deliverance to the captives.
4. The recovering of sight to the blind.
5. To set at liberty those who are bruised.
6. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

2. This is a Church on the Move—Goa. He told us to GO into all the world and preach the gospel.b.

Mark 16:15-20

 

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

 

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

 

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

3. This is a Church of Signs and Wondersa. God confirms the Word preached—with signs following.
b. Powerful worship, powerful preaching and teaching and demonstrations of the Holy Spirit.

Our Vision @ the River @ Tampa Bay To be a local church that reaches the community with the Good News of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. To prepare them to live a victorious life and then prepare them for Heaven. To make disciples of all nations—getting them full of the Word and the Holy Ghost and then sending them out to a lost and dying world.

Persecution by Rodney Howard Browne

Matthew 5:10-16 (NKJ) 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

12 “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that when you are born again, filled with the Spirit of God and doing the works of Jesus – don’t think that it is going to be an easy ride. The devil stirred up the religious folks against Jesus and he will stir them up against you. You cannot afford to get angry and to fight with people, because they are not your problem. Neither can you back away from the truth and the power of God or compromise.

You have to realize that you cannot take persecution personally. Be bold to let your light shine brightly. God will specially bless you for your patience and your faithfulness and people will acknowledge your good works and glorify God. Matthew 5:21-24(NKJ)

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.

22 “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Rodney Howard Browne shows us it is important that you walk in love and forgiveness toward your brother (or sister) in the Lord. If you have hate, anger and bitterness in your heart, your fellowship and relationship with the Lord will be negatively affected. We cannot have boldness in the presence of God with un-forgiveness in our lives. Sin cannot stand in the presence of God. Matthew 5:43-48(NKJ)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45 “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

God’s word shows us that most people are kind and pleasant to those they love and who love them, but God says that we should love, forgive, bless and pray for those who are mean to us and who persecute us. When you bless your enemies, you demonstrate that there is something different about you – different than the rest of the world – you are a child of God. When you are angry and bitter, you are all bound up and in debt to the one you hate. When you bless your enemies you are released and free. They have no power over you. When you walk in forgiveness and bless your enemies – they have no power to affect you negatively. You are lifted above the fray.

The Word by Rodney Howard Browne

Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NAS)
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.”

God, our God, is the God of new beginnings. It does not matter what you have gone through or what you have done – there is a new beginning for you. God has no pleasure in your death and destruction. He has made a way for you to have a brand new start and all it takes is repentance being sorry for the sin in your life and turning around to follow the Lord. You cannot let pride stand in the way of receiving a fresh start from God. The first thing that God wants to do for you is give you a fresh, new heart – a fresh new spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJ)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

As a Christian, you have a new heart, but you still make mistakes. Don’t let sin stand in the way of your relationship with God and your spiritual growth. Be quick to confess your sin and admit your mistakes so that your Father God can forgive you and wash you and so that you can continue to grow into all the new things that God has for you.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NAS)
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

Rodney Howard Browne shows us that when God washes you and cleanses you and gives you a new heart and spirit, He also puts His Spirit in you to help you to walk in His ways. You are not alone, struggling to make it through the day. The Spirit of God is there to help you to walk in newness of life. All that is required is that you totally yield yourself to the Spirit of God on a daily basis and keep a repentant attitude.
Colossians 3:8-11 (NKJ)

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that you have a new beginning in God and you keep on being renewed into the image of Him who created you as you walk in obedience to Him. It is an ongoing process.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Thank God His love, mercy and compassion is extended toward us new and fresh every morning and great is His faithfulness.

God’s Riches by Rodney Howard Browne

Foundation scripture: Ephesians 2:1-11(KJV)
1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wath, even as others.

4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Once we were dead in our sins, but God, who is rich in mercy and who loves us with His great love has quickened us together with Jesus Christ.

Rodney Howard Browne shows us that quicken – means to make alive. We were dead to God and alive to sin – now, with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are dead to sin and alive unto God! Verse 4, in the Amplified Bible, says that His love for us is great, wonderful and intense. We are saved by grace so that in the ages to come He might clearly demonstrate the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing riches of His free grace (unmerited favor) in His kindness and goodness of heart toward us (Amplified – verse 7).

The word of God teaches us that we are not just saved by grace, so that we can barely make it into heaven. Being saved by grace is only the doorway into all the wonderful things that God has for us. Through the ages to come, throughout all eternity, forever and ever, our Heavenly Father will be expressing to us the riches – the exceeding, immeasurable, limitless, surpassing riches – of His wonderful, unmerited, undeserved, free grace and favor as He reveals and extends to us, His goodness and His kindness.

The bible further explains that we cannot even begin to comprehend, with our limited mental abilities as people, the love that our Father has for us. We cannot comprehend the riches of His grace and favor and goodness and kindness. Many people do not believe that God loves them and wants to bless them, but even those who do believe it, have a hard time grasping the unlimitedness of God’s love and grace toward them. We feel that we are not worthy, and so we accept only little tidbits at a time of His love and grace and favor, but it has absolutely nothing to do with being worthy, and everything to do with how He feels about us.

He wants to show us His favor and He wants to bless us – not because of any worthiness on our part, but simply because that is the nature of the love of God. He loves the undeserving – He showers blessings on the undeserving. God blesses us because of His nature and in spite of ours. It makes no difference how we feel about it – it is so anyway. If you can even begin to understand free grace and unmerited favor, you will realize what a slap it is in God’s face for men to think that they should, or even could, earn His favor.

It is impossible to pay this debt we owe to God. The debt was paid in the blood of Jesus – far too high a price for us to earn, even over a lifetime. The best we can do is realize the price has been paid and humbly and sincerely and wholeheartedly receive our free gift, knowing that we will never be able to repay it. Realizing the extent of God’s love and blessing – even though completely undeserved – causes us to want to serve Him, to love Him and obey Him. He paid so high a price – the very least we can do is give Him everything we are and everything we have as He continues to pour out on us and show us His love and His kindness throughout all eternity and the ages to come.

Romans 2:4(KJV)
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Wisdom and Revelation Rodney Howard Browne

Foundation scriptures: Ephesians 1:15-23

 

15For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which {exists} among you, and your love for all the saints,

 

16do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention {of you} in my prayers;

 

17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

 

18{I pray that} the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

 

19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. {These are} in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.

 

20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly {places}

 

21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.

 

22And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

 

23which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

 

(NAS) Ephesians 3:14-21

 

14For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father,

 

15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

 

16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man;

 

17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; {and} that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

 

18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

 

19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.

 

20Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

 

21to Him {be} the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

(NAS)

 

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that every one of us wants to know God better and we all want a deeper understanding of the things of God. Some people run into trouble because they want a deeper revelation – so deep that God does not even know what they are talking about! Or they want a new revelation – so new that God has not even heard of it! There is no “new” revelation. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The revelation is the same – it is just sitting there, waiting to be uncovered by the sincere, hungry believer. It is “new” because it is new to you ! Things are always new the first time that you hear them.

 

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that these two prayers in Ephesians, prayed by Paul, are also the prayers of Jesus for you. God is not withholding Himself from us, we are the ones who do not make the effort to come into His presence to receive from Him. Sometimes we make the effort to know Him better, but because we come with preconceived ideas, we are not open to hear the truth. We should be hungry for the truth, not just for “new” revelation. Pray these prayers sincerely, in faith, out loud over yourself (change the ‘you’ to ‘me’) every day for a month and see what begins to happen! Do not forget to also read your Bible daily with a humble (teachable) spirit. I believe that you will begin to grow incredibly in the things of God.

What are you believing God for this year? Recently, as I was waiting on the Lord, He began to remind me of the power of a vow. I remember, in 1978 as I stood by my brother’s death bed, I made a vow. I told the devil, “Devil, you will pay for what you have done! I vow people will laugh at you all over the world!” I had no idea that God would give me a ministry of joy that would impact every continent of the world!

Rodney Howard Browne remembers crying out to God one day in 1985, walking up a fairway of a golf course in South Africa. I knew that God had more planned for me than what I had seen so far and I told Him that if He would get me out of where I was, that I would give away what I had to the nations of the world. Two years ago, I happened to be on the same golf course, playing the same hole, and the Lord reminded me, then and there, of the desperate vow I had made nearly 20 years before! As I looked back over the time between then and now, I was both humbled and awed by what God has done. God does not take vows lightly!

Rodney Howard Browne vowed, when Kelly died in my arms—100 million souls and $1 billion into world missions! The devil will pay for what he has done!

What are you believing for? Make a sincere, heartfelt vow this year, 2008 and let’s believe God for a supernatural breakthrough in your life.

Look what happened in Genesis 28:20-22. After Jacob had seen the vision of the ladder that reached to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it, he poured oil on the rock that was his pillow, turning it into an altar, and then he made a vow:

• If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go
• If God will give me food to eat and clothing to wear
• So that I may come again to my father’s house in peace
• Then the Lord shall be my God
• This stone which I have set up as a monument shall be a sacred place to me

Jacob vowed that if God would do these things for him, he would give a tenth of all of his increase back to God.

God is not asking us to build an altar of stone and pour oil on it. However—by way of example—this is a ministry that the Lord is using to bring in a mighty harvest of souls. Souls are very precious to the Lord and we bless and honor the Lord by pouring our oil—our finances—onto something that is sacred and precious to the Lord!