What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do unto me?  Psalms 56:3-4 AMP

When I am afraid I will trust in my God. I will place my confidence in Him. I will trust Him and rely on Him. I will not be confident in my ability. I will not trust the arm of the flesh nor rely on human reasoning. I will exalt his word in my life. His word is true. I will trust His word. I will believe His word and stand on it. I will not consider my circumstances, but I will look to His word. I will not allow fear to control me nor to influence my decisions.

In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What man can do to me? Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living?  Psalms 56:11-13 AMP

I will confidently rely on my God. I will continue to praise and thank Him, demonstrating my faith. I praise Him because I trust Him. He will sustain me. He will preserve my life.

Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You, yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident, until calamities and destructive storms are passed. I will cry unto God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]!  Psalms 57:1-2 AMP

My God is merciful and gracious. My soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in Him. My mind is stayed on Him. My will is submitted to His. I am calm because He is my strength. I have His peace in my heart. I know that I can call on Him and that He will be there for me. I will cling to Him and He will protect me. I will ride out the storm in the palm of His hand. I will shelter in the shadow of His wings. No matter how powerful the storm I am safe in His presence.

God has a plan for me. He performs on my behalf. He does those things that He said He would. He rewards me by bringing to pass His purposes for me. He completes me. He completes my life. Not only does He begin His work in my life, but He also completes it. He follows through with His promises. He does everything that He says He will do. He will never let me down or take me only half way. He will take me all the way. If He said it – He will do it!

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?  Numbers 23:19 NKJV

The NIV says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?”

Not only can I trust Him – I can confidently trust Him – because He does not lie. He will fulfill His promises to me.

Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne was the Key Note Speaker at a special banquet held in Jerusalem Israel for the 2nd Jerusalem Assembly celebrating Israel’s 60th year as a nation. It is sponsored in cooperation with the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus. In 1948, history was made when the State of Israel was born and Israel celebrated its 60th birthday, a significant milestone that deserves special recognition and provides a great opportunity to celebrate its achievements and history.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].  1 Corinthians 15:58 Amplified

If you are a Christian and you want to please God and be victorious in all you do, the first thing you must be is immovable.  You must be firm in your convictions and steadfast in your commitment.  You must have made up your mind what it is you believe and you must be prepared to stand firm against all opposition and all persecution.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7 NIV

The more you press in to His presence and His Word, the more you are built up in Him and strengthened in your faith and the more solid you become.  You are a rock that does not budge—no matter how huge the waves of persecution and adversity may be.

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”  John 6:28-29 NIV

Everybody thinks that they know what it is to do the works of God.  They imagine that it is something they do by their own effort, but it has much more to do with your faith than your own works.  The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent—Jesus.  The works that please God are the works that spring out of your faith in Jesus—who He is, what He did for us and what He told us to do.  He told us to preach the gospel, to cast out devils, to speak in tongues, to not be afraid of serpents or poison and to lay hands on the sick (Mark 16:15-18)! 

We must love, give, pray, forgive, be kind, be patient and be truthful.  These are the works that we should be doing.

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NIV

Some people do works that are based on religion, tradition and what they think God would like.  However, your work springs from your faith.  If you really believe something, then you will do only those things that support and spring out of what you believe.  The only work that pleases God is the work that is done according to your faith in God.  Your labor must be prompted and motivated by love. 

Anything you do must be because of love—because you love God and because you love people.  Some people labor for recognition or money, but we must labor because we want to serve and to bless.  Your endurance is inspired by hope in Jesus.  You can endure anything, because of the hope that sustains you. You have a hope—a favorable confident expectation—that God’s Word is true and that Jesus is real.  You believe that God is for you, Jesus is with you and the Holy Spirit is in you as your strengthener, teacher, guide and comforter.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Whatever work we do must be done as if it is for God Himself.  We should always abound in the work of the Lord—always doing superior work, excelling in what we do, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord.  Because He always does exceedingly abundantly more than we can dream of for us and on our behalf.  He is El Shaddai—the God who is more than enough.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9 NIV

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.  Hebrews 6:10 NIV

Your labor in the Lord is not futile—it is never wasted or to no purpose.  Nothing you do is overlooked or forgotten.  God sees everything.  He records every good thing you do.  There is a great reward for you—both here on earth and in eternity.

We started tonight in North Central Phoenix and the altar was packed. We still have 8 days of Holy Ghost and Fire meetings left. With 1,423 harvesters we seen over 23,000 decisions for Christ.

November 9, 2008 – November 14, 2008

Rodney Howard Browne will be at Crossroads Church, (formerly Crossroads Cathedral) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sunday November 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. through Friday November 14, 2008. Everyone from across America is invited to attend this Holy Ghost and Fire 6 day event.

Visit http://www.howardbrowne.com/for more information.

Speaker: Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne
Crossroads Church
(formerly Crossroads Cathedral) (map/directions
8901 S. Shields Blvd.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73149
United States
(405) 634-1495
Power Evangelism-8th-15th @ 9 am

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.