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

March: My Worship

Foundation Scriptures: Matthew 28:1-8

Now after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat upon it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his garments as white as snow. 4 And those keeping guard were so frightened at the sight of him that they were agitated and they trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified. 6 He is not here; He has risen, as He said [He would do]. Come, see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. 8 So they left the tomb hastily with fear and great joy and ran to tell the disciples. Matthew 28:1-8 AMP

1. Around the world, people worship idols of wood and stone—gods that have eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear, and a mouth that cannot speak.

We worship the One and Only True and Living God—Creator of heaven and earth.
Religion is man trying to reach God by or through millions of ways—Christianity is God reaching out to man by and through One Way and One Person—the Way, the Truth, and the Life—Jesus Christ!
John 3:16-17 AMP—For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ( unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

2. The One we worship is alive and we are allowed to have a personal relationship with Him 24/7.

Worship involves intimacy:
It’s a love relationship
He loves us and we love Him
He loved us before we knew Him and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
He gave us His all
Ephesians 5:25 AMP—Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:32 AMP—This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church.
It’s a marriage—He is the Groom and we are the Bride of Christ

Jesus’ Blood was given as an offering for sin and a purchase of our freedom.
Jesus’ Body was given as an offering for sin and a purchase of our freedom.

3. A week before He was crucified, Jesus made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but even as they worshipped Him, He wept over Jerusalem.

Luke 19:41-42 NKJV—Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

They missed their Day of Visitation—much like the modern Church!

4. Today—and every day—we can celebrate the Resurrection—He’s alive—He lives—He reigns!

Worship involves a sacrifice.
He loved us and He loves us now—He gave His body and His blood—as a ransom for many.
We love Him—we give our hearts, our minds, our bodies, our finances—and we worship Him.
We interact with Him
He speaks—we listen
We speak—He hears
He loves on us
We love on Him
We tell about Him
He tells about us

Will you worship Him today—spirit, soul and body?
Will you give Him your all—your best?

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

The mission of the local church is: Preaching and teaching; Making disciples; Fellowship; Worship; Missions and evangelism; Maturity of the believer; Ministry in the home; Ministry to material needs.

Worship:

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.  John 4:21-24 KJV

The Church – the Body of Christ – was in the heart and the mind of God from the foundation of the world. The world had never seen anything like it – it was a mystery known only by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus talked about the Church, but, not until He died and rose again, was she revealed for all to see. This Church is not a mere organization, but it is a Kingdom – the Kingdom of God – that has no geographical boundaries, no cultural boundaries, no racial boundaries – no boundaries or limitations at all. The invitation to salvation is extended to every generation and every family, tribe and nation on the face of the earth.

Worship is the hallmark of the Church. That is what we do – we worship God and Him alone. We worship Him in spirit and in truth. We worship Him in every way possible! We don’t worship at a particular place, in a particular way with mere rituals or lip service – we can and should worship God from the heart anywhere, anytime. In the local church and wherever Christians gather, they worship God by singing, praying, preaching, giving and serving. An important mission of the local Church is to promote and sustain an atmosphere that is conducive to worship, prayer and praise. The Lord should always feel welcome in our midst.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV

We are a peculiar people – God’s own purchased, special people – a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy, dedicated nation. Set apart to show forth and publish His praise, virtues and excellence. We worship God personally because of what He has done for us and also for Who He is. At the same time, by our worship, we reflect the goodness and greatness of our God to the world He loves and died for.

For here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come. 15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.  Hebrews 13:14-15 AMP

In the Old Testament, the offering of animal sacrifices was usually a part of their worship of God, but in the New Covenant, the Church offers up to God a sacrifice of praise. We worship in Spirit and in truth by praising with heart and lips – thankfully acknowledging and confessing and glorifying His name. The spirit of worship, prayer and praise, is what brings revival, renewal and growth to the Church.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.  Romans 12:1 AMP

Another way we worship God is by presenting ourselves – spirit, soul and body – to God, as a living sacrifice. We worship God by refusing to allow sin to have its way in us and by dedicating ourselves to holiness and godliness with the help of the Holy Spirit. Our godly lives serve to worship and bring glory to God. This is our reasonable service – the very least we can do for such a wonderful Savior!

What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.  
1 Corinthians 14:15 NKJV

We worship God in Spirit, by the Holy Spirit, sincerely from our hearts. We worship God in Truth, according to, and conforming to, His precious word and His image. We worship with our mouth, in our earthly language, and in words we know and choose. We worship in the spirit, in tongues, in our heavenly language with words that come directly from the Spirit Himself. In the spirit, we can worship gloriously and with no reservations or limitations. The Holy Spirit worships our most wonderful, glorious, majestic, mighty, gracious Heavenly Father, through us, with words more fitting that mere human language could ever express! Thank God, that He gave us a way to truly express how much we love and appreciate Him and all He has done!

Who shall not reverence and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]? For You only are holy. All the nations shall come and pay homage and adoration to You, for Your just judgments (Your righteous sentences and deeds) have been made known and displayed.  Revelation 15:4 AMP

For all eternity, the Church, together with the angels and heavenly creatures, will worship and praise their God and King!

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

In like manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives, 2 When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him — to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].  1 Peter 3:1-2 AMP

This passage starts off using the phrase, “In like manner…” or “Likewise…” referring to the instructions that precede this passage. The chapter before it, talks about having a respectful attitude toward authority. It also talks about doing the right thing because it’s right and also because we belong to Jesus. He is our example – we follow Him and do what He did! 1 Peter 2:15-16 AMP says, “For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons. 16 [Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God.”  

In chapter 3, wives are encouraged to follow Jesus by being submitted first to Jesus and secondly to their own husbands. You honor Jesus by honoring your husband as the head of the family.

When men get saved, they often bring their whole family into the Church, but when a woman gets saved, often she has to go back into a home where her husband is not serving the Lord…yet. This passage is wisdom on how you win your husband to Jesus! Peter reassures wives that they don’t have to only “preach” to their husband to win him, but husbands could be won rather by the way you love them, honor them and be the best wife you can be. One thing is sure – a man is highly unlikely to be won over by a nagging, whiny wife. No one likes to be told what to do or what to believe or ordered around. Love and a smile works far more effectively. No one can fight the love of God and win!

Whether your husband is saved or not – you are still “one flesh”! This oneness merges two people – husband and wife – in such a way that there is little that can affect one without affecting the other. Being “one” in marriage doesn’t mean that either of you lose your personality in the personality of the other person, it just means caring about your spouse as much as you care about yourself, learning to anticipate their needs and helping them to become the best they can be. God created men and He created women. He instituted marriage and He knows how we can have a wonderful marriage. He gives us His wisdom on what we can do to make our marriage great. Men and women are very different. If we can respect our differences and do what Father God tells us to do, then we will get the most out of our relationships. He tells men to love their wives and women to reverence their husbands. When you quit arguing and questioning His wisdom, and start just doing it, even if it doesn’t make sense to you – then you will be surprised at how effective His counsel is!

A wife, who is pure and modest and who adapts herself to her husband and who reverences him, is sure to make a good impression on him. Men will respond way better to a woman who behaves like a lady than one who tries to behave like a man or who tries to dominate, or compete with him. If a wife is motivated by the God-kind of love in her heart and chooses to lovingly and unselfishly serve her husband, she is bound to get his attention and make a good impression. If you are an exemplary wife, your unsaved husband could – at the least – allow you to go to Church and serve God. At the best, he could end up going to church with you and giving his life to Jesus. The key here is to be a great wife because it’s right in God’s eyes to be a great wife – not just to manipulate your husband into going to church with you!

If your husband is already a Christian, then you are not off the hook! You can’t get lazy or behave badly or act like the world, just because your husband is already serving God! Being a good and a godly wife is just who you are, if you are a believer, no matter if your husband is saved or unsaved. Verse 2 says that you are to reverence your husband – to feel for your husband all that reverence includes. Reverencing your husband is not just an act – you have to feel it – you have to be sincere; you have to mean it.

Reverence means this: to respect, defer to, revere him, to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband. Love is a decision – it is a choice – you choose to love and reverence your husband. You choose to honor your husband; you choose to esteem him, to appreciate him, to prize him and to adore him! You choose to admire him, to praise him, and to be devoted to him! You choose to deeply love and enjoy your husband! It is not just about what he does for you – it’s what you choose to think, feel, and do – that makes the difference. It is an activation of your faith. By faith you choose to do these things and treat your husband like this – trusting the Father to do His work in your husband. You would be amazed at how, when you make the choice to act in this way toward your husband, that he will react favorably toward you and before you know it, you will have the marriage your heart desires!

Have faith in God

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  Mark 11:22-24 NKJV

Jesus commands us to, “Have faith in God.” If people could put as much faith in the Word of God as they do in the word of man – then they would assuredly get their prayers answered. If people have faith in God, their prayers would be answered without any human effort. Prayer would be a simple transaction of everyday business between them and God. If you claim to have faith in God, then your actions should bear that out. Most people won’t come out and admit that they place no confidence in God’s word, or that they do not believe that God is faithful to His word, but by their actions, they prove it’s so. They are happy to believe that unanswered prayers are God’s fault or God’s will. They will fight tooth and nail and go to court with other people over broken contracts, but they don’t exercise any faith in God to keep His contracts. God goes out of His way to emphasize to us that He will keep His word to us if we will claim all the promises of that word!

God speaks to every generation to remind them of His faithfulness and that He will never do anything that’s contrary to His word. He means what He says and He says what He means! God obligates Himself to His word and He keeps those obligations as long as we extend our faith according to His word, with nothing wavering. All failure is on the part of man, not God, so the sooner you realize that and make the adjustments or the corrections, the sooner you will see God answer your prayer.

Listen to good preaching

Good preaching is not a matter of style or technique – three points and a poem!

Good preaching is preaching that:
– presents the truth of the Word of God
– preaches the integrity of the Word of God
– tells us of all the great things that God has done
– inspires us to believe His word
– inspires us to believe that He’ll keep His word today

For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.  Romans 1:17 AMP

When we hear all the great miracles God has done and how He blessed and protected and delivered His people, when we hear personal testimonies of God’s faithfulness, then our faith rises. We realize that whatever God has done – He can and will do, to keep His obligations to give us what He has promised. Our faith is built up and we have a powerful expectation of answered prayer. Believe and accept any record of what God has and will do that is in harmony and agreement with the Word of God.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.  1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NKJV

Reject all bad preaching

When we go to churches where the minister belittles the Word of God or explains it all away as either something that didn’t really happen or something that’s “passed away”, or he claims that God didn’t really mean what He said, then our faith is hindered and squelched.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  1 Corinthians 1:18-21 NKJV

The message of the cross is foolishness to the world, but to the believer it is the power of God! On the other hand, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”  1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NKJV

No one can listen to preaching where man’s wisdom is exalted, and where God and His word are criticized, and expect to have their faith built up. If you want to develop a simple, unwavering faith, you cannot listen to preaching that contradicts the Word of God. Any man-made traditions or religions or sects that are faith-killing, Spirit-quenching, and truth-destroying, must be rejected if you want to build your faith and get results. Don’t tolerate any church or any preacher who slanders God’s word – for it is the source of your faith and your eternal life.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  2 Timothy 4:2 KJV

The Great Commission was a call to EVERY believer to preach the Gospel — anywhere, to anyone. Then there are those whom God has called, anointed and raised up into full-time ministry, to preach and to teach. This is more of a “pulpit” ministry; however, we are to be prepared and willing to preach the Gospel wherever we are — whether one-on-one or to a gathering of people. There is NO time, place or “season” when the Gospel should NOT be preached. The Gospel should be preached in season and out of season: whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable; whether it is convenient or inconvenient; whether it is welcome or unwelcome; whether it is popular or unpopular; whether it is invited or uninvited! It is always the season to preach the Gospel — to every creature in every nation!

I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: 2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. 5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.  2 Timothy 4:1-5 AMP

We cannot afford to preach based on what people want to hear — we must preach the truth of the Gospel even, and especially, when it’s not what they want to hear. Many preachers today are preaching to the “itching ears” — preaching what they think people want to hear, but that is not the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel is offensive to the carnal minds of sinners, but it brings Holy Ghost conviction to the heart, resulting in conversion and deliverance!

Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. 24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. 26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus.  Romans 3:23-26 AMP

Since the day Jesus died and rose again, it has been the NOW season for ALL men to be saved and the NOW season to preach the Gospel!

[The Servant of God says] The Lord God has given Me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple [as one who is taught].  Isaiah 50:4 AMP

The Holy Spirit promised to give us a word to speak in season. That means the right word at the right time to the right person, producing a right result. The Spirit of God knows exactly how to reach each person. Even if they reject His word, they are then without any excuses on the Day of Judgment.

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).  Ephesians 6:18 AMP

We are to pray and to expect God to answer at all times – on every occasion, in every season. God is not limited by circumstances — He will hear and answer every faith-filled prayer.

And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.  Galatians 6:9 AMP

Keep faithfully sowing the seed of the Gospel in every season — in due season you will reap and see a bountiful harvest.

My Dear Friends and Partners

I am excited about this upcoming meeting in May which will culminate in the graduation of the River Bible Institute and the River School of Worship Class of 2009. I have spoken to Reinhard Bonnke and he said that he would come over 1 night – we have not locked in the night as of yet.

The importance of the GAT Camp meeting and Calling all Evangelists Conference I believe is Huge in moving forward in the next 36 months in the Harvest of souls both here in the USA and in the Foreign Fields.

I would encourage every Pastor – Evangelist – missionary to do whatever you can to be here even if only for 1 day – we have Dave Smethurst with us who God has used as an Evangelist for decades and is a mighty soul-winner. Pastor’s if you could bring some of your key leaders and come. I do believe that you will be excited about this strategy that the Lord has given me.

It’s not about me – I am doing everything I can it’s about you – I want to help you do everything and more to help Jesus bring in the Great Harvest of Soul’s America is ripe right now – Easter Sunday we had 1465 people pack our building – 252 Adults in the Altar Call – 195 Kid’s saved – total for Sunday 447 decisions for Christ – come and hear how to reach out for your Church – and then receive the strategy for whole regions.

This is going to be a high water mark in the Spirit and a meeting of strategy – I would like to meet personally with every minister in attendance.

Please – pre-register now and make sure to attend and don’t let the enemy stop you

Thank you for taking the time to read this

Yours for the Harvest

Pastor Rodney Howard Browne

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.  Psalms 100:1-5 KJV

Make a JOYFUL noise unto the Lord, ALL ye lands!

All the nations of the earth are created by Almighty God. He loves them and He is ever reaching out to them. It is the believer’s responsibility to preach the Gospel to every creature and to all nations. Mark 13:10 AMP says, “And the good news (the Gospel) must first be preached to all nations.” He is not just the God of certain tribes and nations, He is God over all nations, whether they know it or not. He is the only one with the power and right to rule the nations. All of them are not only under His dominion, but also recipients of His benevolence, and at the end will give an account to Him alone.

For I know their works and their thoughts. And the time is coming when I will gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. Isaiah 66:18 AMP

All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them [the people] from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; And He will cause the sheep to stand at His right hand, but the goats at His left. Matthew 25:32-33 AMP

All nations will be judged by Him. If they only knew the truth, they would come flocking to Him, to worship Him and to acknowledge that the Lord is God!

We acknowledge Him as Almighty God when we come into His presence to worship Him, to serve Him, to sing and to shout our praises.

Almighty God is not just one of the many gods worshipped out there – He IS God! We must come to know Him as God and Lord and Savior in our own personal life. We must know that He is the only true God – King of kings and Lord of lords. He asks us to come into His presence to worship Him willingly and of our own accord – with sincere gladness and joy in our hearts and on our lips. He won’t force us. He doesn’t want us to come out of religious duty, but rather with unfeigned faith and a sincere joy-filled heart; making ourselves available to Him in every way – to be touched and changed – and to let His will be done in every area of our lives.

A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. 24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).  John 4:23-24 AMP

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.  Mark 7:6 NKJV

We acknowledge Him when we appreciate His status as our Creator.

Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.  Psalms 90:2 AMP

He created us – we did not create ourselves. We do not belong to ourselves, but to Him. Many people live life as though they created themselves; they are the center of their own little world. This mind-set leads inevitably to pride, greed, and idolatry. Then when they lose everything, they lose all hope as well. When you know that God created you and everything else, then you will want to give to and be a blessing to others even as He has provided for you and blessed you. You have confidence that even if you lost everything you have, you still have Him and He will take care of you.

The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. 10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]! 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power.  Psalms 145:9-11 AMP

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.  Psalms 148:5 AMP

We acknowledge Him when we accept His authority in every detail of life.

Jesus is the Head of the Church – the Body of Christ. He is the Word, made flesh, and dwelling amongst us. We acknowledge His authority and headship when we submit ourselves to the Word of God – as we renew our minds to it and as we conform ourselves to it. He is our Lord and Master – we serve Him – not He us. We must also submit to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, as He leads us through our own spirit, according to the Word of God. We do not do our own thing, but we do what He tells us to do.

We acknowledge Him when we enthusiastically agree with the guidance He gives us and when we obediently do what He commands.

Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)?  Romans 6:16AMP

Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?  Luke 6:46 AMP

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21 AMP

We acknowledge Him when we express our thanks for His unfailing love.

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!  1 Chronicles 16:34 AMP

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

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.

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

THE SCRIPTURES
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (II Tim. 3:16, I Thess. 2:13, II Peter 1:21).

THE GODHEAD
Our God is one, but manifested in three persons – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Phil. 2:6). God the Father is greater than all; the sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begotten(John 14:28, John 16:28, John 1:14). The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1, John 1:18, John 1:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).

MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but, through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” As it is written, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Rom. 5:14, Rom. 3:10, Rom. 3:23, I John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph.2:8).

ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life (II Cor. 7:10, I Jn. 5:12, Jn. 3:3-5).

WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Matt. 28:19, Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12, Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendations regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted: to wit: “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by his authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matt. 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:9, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:4).

SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Heb. 12:14, I Thess. 5:23, II Peter 3:18, II Cor. 3:18, Phil. 3:12-14, I Cor. 1:30).

DIVINE HEALING
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-15, I Peter 2:24, Matt 8:1-17, Isa. 53:4-5).

RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air….” (Acts 1:11, I Thess. 4:16-17). Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 20:6).

HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God (Heb. 9:27, Rev. 19:20).

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

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

The Greek word for “meekness” here does not mean weakness, but rather it has to do with humility. When you have humility you have a teachable spirit and you esteem and regard others more highly than yourself. You are humble toward God and man. You do not promote yourself, but you exalt the Lord in everything.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:3-11 NIV

Humility is not selfish, nor is it pushy. Humility puts the interests of others above its own. Jesus did not first consider His own welfare or His own best interests when He agreed to be born into the earth in the body of a man. He was not thinking of Himself when He took the place of man, taking man’s sin upon Himself, being judged on man’s behalf, and dying a cruel death on the cross. Jesus was thinking only of His Father and of us. His Father asked Him to take our place and bring us back into His family. His sacrifice would save and redeem us. And because Jesus humbled Himself – Almighty God highly exalted Him!

The meekness – humility — demonstrated by Jesus was not weakness, but it was the fruit of power. He was not meek because He could not help Himself — He was meek because He had the infinite resources of God at His command!  When the soldiers who were sent by the chief priests came to arrest Jesus, His disciples tried to defend Him. He told them to put their swords away because He had more than 60,000 angels (twelve legions) at His disposal — all He had to do was to ask for them (Matthew 26:53). Jesus humbled Himself by laying His life down, even though He had heaven on His side. No one could have laid a finger on Him without His consent.

Therefore putting aside all filthiness and {all} that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.  James 1:21-22 NAS

When you are humble you are teachable. You receive God’s Word for your own life and allow it to discipline and correct you. You hear the Word and you do it. When you are humble you allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and teach you without excuses or rebellion. You obey the Spirit instantly and precisely. You conduct your life in the way that the Word and the Lord leads you to.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  James 3:13 NIV

When you are full of God’s Word and when you have grown in His wisdom then you will display humility. A wise person is also a humble person. Proverbs 12:15 and 15:5 says that a person who thinks that he knows everything and refuses instruction is a fool.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Galatians 6:1  KJV

Even when you have grown in the Lord and have become a very spiritual person, bringing correction and speaking into the lives of others, you must do it with a humble attitude. If you have a humble attitude then you will protect your own heart and you will not be tempted to fall into sin yourself. People who try to bring correction to others in an arrogant, know-it-all attitude tend to end up falling into sin themselves. When you are humble, you do not believe that you are infallible. You do not have to walk in constant fear of falling into sin, but by the grace of God you should guard yourself, never allowing yourself to be put into a situation where you could be faced with temptation. You avoid the very appearance of evil.

Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” When your head is lifted up in pride – you can’t see where your feet are going. You cannot see the trap that the devil would like to set for you. Humble yourself and let God do the exalting. You know that you are humble when you don’t care about being exalted anymore!

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4:6 NKJ

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:10 KJV