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

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11 NKJV

Every true “Mark 16:15-18” believer will suffer persecution, but there are blessings that come from being persecuted.

Blessing #1: Perfection
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test?  2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

Opposition and persecution make you look at yourself critically to know whether you are truly in the will of God in your life – in your attitude, your words, your actions and your direction. Measure yourself – not by man’s opinion – but by the standards set by the Word of God. Do not be selective in your scriptures, but receive the whole of God’s Word as though it were spoken directly to you. As you consider your own self and allow the Lord to prune your branches, you are refined and perfected in your faith.

Blessing #2: Establishment in the faith
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Romans 1:11-12 NIV

Persecution will either drive you stronger into your faith in God or away from it. If you do not yield to the pressure, you will certainly come through stronger than before. We are also strengthened by each other’s faith as we stand together and stand strong through persecution. As the saying goes – what doesn’t kill you makes you better!

Blessing #3: Spiritual strength
Greek: sthenos (NT:4599), to bind together and strengthen so there will be no danger of warping, splitting, or falling apart. Only used here. The Lord – His Spirit and His Word – is the source of our strength through every, and any, trial and temptation we may face. Just as the muscles of our body are strengthened by exercise and use, so our spiritual strength is built and developed by use; by standing strong in the Lord.

Blessing #4: Becoming settled or grounded in the faith
Greek: themelioo (NT:2311), good foundation. To be settled means to not be moved. Being grounded in something means that you have become deeply familiar with it – you know that you know. Founded – grounded – in the faith. Nothing built, that stands the test of time, does so without a good, strong foundation. There are no shortcuts to a good foundation – it takes time, effort and skill. Your foundations are built and settled as you grow and are established through the tough times.

Blessing #5: Persecution helps to spread the Gospel further abroad
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. Acts 8:1-6 NKJV

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Acts 11:19-21 NKJV

At the time that the Church was scattered by the persecution, they were most likely not too happy. However, it ended up in being highly beneficial because the Gospel was successfully preached in all the places they went to along the way.

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:12-14 NKJV

Even though Paul was in chains, he continued to boldly teach and preach the Gospel. This inspired the rest of the Church to be bolder and to preach with no fear. In this day and age, it seems that the Church will do anything to avoid persecution. They will even compromise God’s Word to be liked. This makes the Church weak. Persecution sorts the men out from the boys; it is a sifting process – each person will have to decide whose side they are on; because of this, persecution causes the Church to be strong and pure.

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

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5 AMP

When you become a child of God, you are grafted in to the Vine, you become a branch of the Vine – Jesus is that Vine. You have a new nature and a new identity in Him. You no longer function as a wordly, carnal person, because His life and nature have been imparted to you. Those who continue to operate like the world they died to in Christ, are obviously ignorant of this great new life they have been offered in Him. It is necessary for them to have their minds renewed to the truths of God’s word.

We (the believers) each and all represent Jesus Christ to the world and, as such, are ministers of the Gospel and ambassadors of Christ. Some are called as five-fold ministers, given to the Body of Christ for the perfecting of that Body for the work of the ministry. These five-fold ministers will be judged by a higher standard than the rest of the Body. That is why it is not wise to seek an office to which you have not been called by the Father, Himself. We should not seek an office or a position or a title, but each of us should rather just be content to do only what the Spirit of God leads us to do even as we fulfill Mark 16:15-18. Here are some requirements for those who want to be used by God.

True ministers of the Gospel are those who are:

1. United to the Vine (John 15:5)

2. Chosen and ordained by God to the work of ministry

John 15:15 AMP – I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NKJV – Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

1 Timothy 1:12-13 NKJV – And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

3. Laborers to bring forth fruit, not idlers or lazy wasters of time and opportunities

John 15:16 AMP – You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.

John 6:27 TMB – “Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.”

4. Goers to the work, not waiters for the work

Acts 1:8 NKJV – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Mark 16:15-18 NKJV – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

5. Prayers that get results (John 15:16)

James 5:16b NKJV – The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

1 John 3:22 AMP – And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.

6. Lovers of all men (1 Corinthians 13)

John 15:12-13 NKJV – This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

1 John 3:18-19 NKJV – My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

1 John 3:22-23 NKJV – And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

firm, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to possess it. 8 It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit – depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 AMP

By the end of his life, Moses had brought the people as far as he could, and it was time for new leadership – the baton was being passed. Joshua was God’s choice to take over from Moses. God gave Joshua his mission: to finish what Moses started. Joshua wasn’t better or worse than Moses – but he was God’s choice for the task that remained to be done at that time. Before Moses died, he publicly installed Joshua as his successor at the Lord’s direction, so there could be a smooth transition, with no arguments from the people later. Most of the time, if people are given their own choice of leadership, they will choose by looking at their appearance – the way they look or the way they present themselves. God chooses based on the heart! God’s choice doesn’t always look to man like the best choice, but it IS! We should not be too quick to judge anyone after the flesh – from a human point of view – especially under the New Covenant. 2 Corinthians 5:16 AMP says, “Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh].” God does not call a person because of their ability alone, but He calls them because they make themselves available to Him, to obey and follow Him!

Joshua, not only had to face giants, but he also had to convince the Israelites to follow his leadership even as he followed God’s orders. The secret was in meditating in God’s word day and night and doing only what the Lord instructed him to do. God promised Joshua that if he implicitly obeyed Him, he would be successful in everything that he did! If God calls us to do something and if we worry too much about the opinion of other people, then we will choose our path based on what the people want rather than on what God wants. The Bible says that the fear of man is a trap of the enemy. If we choose to please people and do what we think will make them happy or what will cause the least amount of “waves”, then we cannot and will not please God!

Paul says this about when the Lord initially called Him: “But when it was the good pleasure of the One who set me apart before I was born and called me by His grace to give me an inward revelation of His Son in order that I might proclaim Him as glad tidings among the Gentiles, immediately I did not put myself in communication with flesh and blood for the purpose of consultation; neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and again returned to Damascus.” (Galatians 1:15-17 Wuest). It is fine and right to have certain godly people who offer godly counsel for your life, but when God clearly speaks to you, then stop talking and go and do what He’s told you to do! Asking everyone else for their opinion is a distraction, and waiting for their approval is a time-waster. We must focus on the Lord and what He’s called us to do and just get on with it. Leave the rest to the Lord to take care of. God knows what He’s doing – just trust Him and do what He says. It takes courage to obey God and to do it in spite of other people’s opinions!

Again Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 AMP, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase. 7 So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater. 8 He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor.”  People are often tempted to compare their leaders with other leaders, either favorably or unfavorably; lifting one up even as they are putting the other down. It is human nature to compare and compete, but if you get hung up with comparisons and picking sides, then it will only result in strife and competition! This comparing and competing is a work of the flesh and betrays the carnality of those involved.

Romans 12:3 AMP says, “For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.”  We must not have a too high estimation of ourselves OR a too low estimation of God and His ability in and through us! We are nothing without Him; but with and through Him, we can do all that He’s called us to do. We must appreciate each other for the gift that each of us is to the Body of Christ and also that we are each called to a different calling. If we will mind our own business, obey God for our own life, and get on with the task He has assigned to us, then God’s overall will shall be done in the end!

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  John 8:12 NKJV

Jesus is the Light of the world. If we follow Him, we will walk in the light of life. The place Jesus preached this was in the Temple – specifically He was in the treasury. People brought their offerings there, but there were also some burning candles there that represented the Pillar of Fire that went before the children of Israel when God led them out of Egypt, kept them while they were in the desert and led them into the Promised Land. The Pillar of Fire represents God’s presence, protection, and guidance – which we also have in the person of Jesus Christ – if we follow, and continue to follow, Him.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:16-21 NKJV

God sent Jesus – the Light of the world – to save the world. We are not waiting for the light – light is already here – however, many people won’t come to know this wonderful light of freedom, because they love the darkness more than the light. Their deeds are evil and they refuse to come to the light because they want to sin and keep sinning. To come to experience God’s light, through Jesus, one must be prepared to come to the light, have sin exposed and cleansed and then to walk free from the power of sin.

People, who don’t have Jesus, like to talk about “enlightenment”. The dictionary says this about the word “enlightenment”: 1. The act or means of enlightening or the state of being enlightened. 2. Buddhism: the awakening to ultimate truth by which man is freed from the endless cycle of personal reincarnations to which all men are otherwise subject. 3. Hinduism: a state of transcendent divine experience represented by Vishnu: regarded as a goal of all religion. 4. The Enlightenment, a philosophical movement of the 18th century, characterized by belief in the power of human reason and by innovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine.

People seek “enlightenment” by human means and human knowledge and understanding, but if you don’t want Jesus’ light, then you will continue to walk in the darkness, striving in vain to attain some light of understanding with your natural mind that will ultimately get you nowhere. People are trying to BE gods, when they could have Him come live on the inside of them if they would only receive Jesus! It’s the devil, up to his old tricks, trying to usurp the throne of God; deceiving people into thinking they can be like God and know what He knows. On earth, even if it is night time, you have the moon and the stars, but if you die without Jesus, you will end up in a place of darkness where there is NO light at all, no matter how much “enlightenment you think you have attained.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  John 1:1-9 NKJV

John the Baptist was not the Light of the world, only the one who went before Jesus to bear witness that He was the true Light, who lights every man! Even as the sun shines upon every man – Jew or Gentile – so, every man was to be blessed by the Messiah (see also Isaiah 49:6). “The darkness did not comprehend the light” – this actually means that the darkness of evil could not extinguish the light – it never has and never will overcome God’s light! Darkness could not: “seize upon; keep down or under; stop; to catch up with in the sense of to discover or detect” the light. It means that the satanic powers of darkness did not overcome the Word/the Light, but that the Word/ the Light overcame and spoiled them on the cross!

In the light of God’s presence, we see ourselves as we really are – sinners in need of a Savior. When we follow Jesus, the true Light, He removes the darkness of sin from our lives; we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin; He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. We are not the source of God’s light, but, just like John the Baptist, we are reflections of it – pointing people always toward the Lord Jesus Christ!

Simeon dedicated the baby Jesus with these words from Luke 2:29-32 NKJV: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”  Then in Matthew 4:16 NKJV, Jesus quoted Isaiah 9:2, saying, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  John 9:5 NKJV

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”  John 12:35-36a NKJV

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

John 1:1-4 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

We know God’s thoughts and ways through His Word.

Many have little understanding of the Father.

John 14:9 – Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Seventy percent of Jesus’ ministry was healing the sick and casting out devils.

Daniel 11:32 – And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Mark 16:15-18 – 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.

People attend the same church with the same Bible. One understands and one doesn’t.

You cannot receive God with the natural mind; you have to receive Him with the heart.

John 4:23-24 – 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.

God needs to be the final authority in our lives: God’s WORD is to be final authority in our lives. Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

The fire burns up the chaff, religion, and tradition. (Jeremiah 23:29 – Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? )

Press into Him by studying His Word and following His promptings, the promptings of the Holy Spirit—be willing and obedient. (Isaiah 1:19 – If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.)

Quote: Smith Wigglesworth while preaching the message Power of the Word of God:

“Believers are strong only as the Word of God abides in them. The Word of God is spirit and life to those who receive it in simple faith, and it is a verifier of all who own its sway.

Know your Book, live it, believe it, and obey it. Hide God’s word in your heart. It will save your soul, quicken your body, illumine your mind. The Word of God is full and final, infallible, reliable, and up-to-date, and our attitude towards it must be one of unquestioned obedience.

If a thing is in the Bible, it is so; it is not even to be prayed about; it is to be received and acted upon. Inactivity of faith is a robber, which steals blessing. Increase comes by action, by using what we have and what we know. Your life must be one of going from faith to faith.”

“Great faith is the product of great fights.”

“Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests.”

“Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.”

Psalms 18:30-32 – As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Natural persons’ ways and God’s ways are a world apart. God wants to lift us into heavenly places.

Mark 7:13 – Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Prayer: Show me Your ways not through the eyes of religion and tradition.  Show me Your plan and purpose for me. I will do Your purpose. I will do Your plan.  I am expecting to hear, “Well done thy good and faithful servant…”

Jer 29:11-13 NIV – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

1) I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.  John 15:1 AMP

Jesus is the Vine. God is the Vinedresser; the Husbandman; the Gardner; the Farmer. Believers are the branches. The grapevine is a very prolific plant – from a single vine comes forth numerous branches that bear many grapes. Grapes, in the Old Testament, symbolize the fruit brought forth by Israel when they obeyed God and served Him. The fruit of the vine in the Passover meal symbolizes God’s goodness toward His people.

2) Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.  John 15:2 AMP

There is a difference between pruning a branch and cutting it off. A branch that bears fruit is pruned to promote growth – so that it can bring forth even better fruit. From time to time, the Lord has to discipline us so that we can grow and be stronger in character and faith. Whoever the Lord loves, He disciplines.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Hebrews 12:11 NIV

A branch that that bears no fruit at all is useless and will be totally cut off at the trunk. A fruitless branch is not only useless and worthless, but it might contaminate the rest of the tree. It is important that we stay plugged in to Jesus, and that we allow Him to prune us and that we continue to bear good, healthy fruit.

A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.  Matthew 7:18-20 AMP

Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with [your] repentance [that is, conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin]. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up descendants for Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, so that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.  Luke 3:8-9 AMP

3) You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].  John 15:3 AMP

The Word of God will cleanse, purify and “prune” all those who receive, believe, and obey it.

4) Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.  John 15:4 AMP

Branches must “abide in” Christ and Christ in them in order to produce fruit.

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  Philippians 1:11 NKJV

5) I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.  John 15:5 AMP

The branch, by itself, never can and never will produce fruit by itself. Its life, its support and its nourishment come from the roots via the trunk. The branches are completely dependent on the trunk and roots – in fact, without them, the branch would not even exist. If we live in Christ and He and His Word live in us, then we will bring forth abundant fruit. Without Him we can do nothing. Jesus cannot produce fruit through us unless we remain in Him; united with and in Him.

6) If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.  John 15:6 AMP

The branches must live, abide, and remain in Christ, or be cut off and burned.  Remaining, or abiding, in Christ means: You believe that Jesus is God’s Son; You receive Him as Savior and Lord; You do what God says; You continue to believe the Good News; You walk in love toward the community of believers; the Body of Christ.

7) If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.  John 15:7 AMP

Branches (believers) must not only remain in Christ, but must have His words abiding in them. When they have done that, then they can ask whatever they will and God will do it for them. What a great promise!

Many people try to please God and produce fruit only with good works and by doing what they think is right. However, Jesus says that the key to producing fruit is to stay closely connected to Him, like a branch is closely connected to a vine. Apart from Christ, all our efforts are unfruitful. He makes it easy for us – as we connect, and stay connected, with Him then we are nourished by Him and we will inevitably produce good fruit.

8) When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.  John 15:8 AMP

God can only be glorified by the branches when they remain in Christ and produce much fruit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.  Ephesians 5:8-10 NIV

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.  Colossians 1:10 NIV

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens]. 90 Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.
Psalms 119:89-90 AMP

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.
Luke 1:37 AMP

The ASV says, “For no word from God shall be void of power.”
The TLB says, “For every promise from God shall surely come true.”

Rodney Howard Browne Shows us that God’s Word is True.

1. Psalms 119:160 KJV – Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
2. Psalms 138:2 – You have magnified Your Word above all Your name!
3. Proverbs 30:5 AMP – Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.
4. John 17:17 NKJV – Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Rodney Howard Browne Teaches us that Every Word God Speaks is Full of Power and Potential.

1. Every word that God speaks is a true word. Every word that God speaks is a word that comes to pass.
2. Isaiah 55:11 AMP – So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
3. God never wastes His words. He only speaks words that He means, words that produce life and words that produce results.
4. Numbers 23:19 KJV – God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

1. God is Faithful to Keep His Word.
2. Psalms 105:8 AMP – He is [earnestly] mindful of His covenant and forever it is imprinted on His heart, the word which He commanded and established to a thousand generations.
3. 2 Timothy 2:13 AMP – If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.
4. 1 Kings 8:56 AMP – Blessed be the Lord, Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise which He promised through Moses His servant.
5. Hebrews 10:23 – He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.
6. 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord does not delay His promises, but He patiently waits for us.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that God is a Righteous Judge.

1. He keeps His promise to reward and His promise to punish.
2. Ezekiel 12:25 AMP – For I am the Lord; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed (come to pass); it shall be no more delayed or prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it, says the Lord God.
3. Daniel 9:14

God Expects You to Believe Him When He Speaks.

1. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 AMP – And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].
2. Romans 4:20-21 – Abraham was fully assured that God would keep His promises.
3. Hebrews 11:11 – Sarah received because she believed.

God’s Promises are Conditional.

1. God has made us over 30,000 promises.
2. If you want to receive His promises and walk in His blessings, you must believe and obey His word.
3. Luke 11:28 AMP – But He said, Blessed (happy and to be envied) rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey and practice it!
4. Deuteronomy 28:1-2
5. Proverbs 13:13 AMP – Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] is rewarded.

Reasons Why God’s Word Doesn’t Work for You.

1. God only ever speaks truth. He never jokes and He cannot lie.
2. If you don’t believe your own words—if you talk nonsense most of the time, joke around, and/or tell lies yourself—then you will have a hard time believing anyone else’s words: even God’s words.  Ephesians 5:4 – Clean up your mouth.
3. God takes our words seriously and He expects us to take them seriously.
4. Matthew 12:36-37 AMP – But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
5. Religion and tradition robs God’s Word of its power in your life.
6. Matthew 15:6
7. God’s word + faith = results. God’s word + no faith = no results.
8. Hebrews 4:2 NKJV – For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

But the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:25 AMP

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

Foundation Scripture: Ephesians 3:10-12  (NAS)
10in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly {places.} 11{This was} in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

Ephesians 3:12  (NIV)
12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

The word “boldness” in all these verses can mean outspokenness, frankness, bluntness, and/or assurance. It can also be rendered as boldness of speech, confidence, or to speak or act freely, openly, or plainly. When you begin to talk about boldness or to act boldly, certain people might interpret it as arrogance. But it does not mean that at all. It simply means confidence – confidence in the power of God and in His grace and mercy. It means to have confidence in His word and in His promises – confidence in the fact that He has washed our sin away with His blood and removed our iniquities as far as the east is from the west. We can be both confident in what God has done in and for us – and humble, knowing that it is all because of Him and nothing to do with us.

Hebrews 4:15-16  (NKJ)
15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NKJ)

Hebrews 4:16  (NIV)
16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus came down to our level to bring us up to His level. Because He understands us and sympathizes with us, we can come confidently to Him, knowing that He accepts us unconditionally. A sin-consciousness will cause a person to want to retreat from God and hide from Him. The blood of Jesus has made the way open for us to come into His presence with confidence, because we have been made righteous by our faith in Him.

Hebrews 10:19-23  (NAS)
19Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and since {we have} a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled {clean} from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

As we allow the Blood of Jesus to purify our hearts and the Word of God to wash us clean, it causes us to have the confidence to come even closer into God’s presence. We have the confidence because of what He has done not because of what we have done. We can make requests of our Father and be sure of the answer, because our God is faithful.

I John 4:16-18  (NAS)
16And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

We can have confidence on the day of judgement because there is no judgement for us because we are washed in the Blood. We have confidence because His life and His love, lives in us.

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

King David, who wrote most of the book of Psalms, was a man after God’s own heart. One of the reasons God favored him was because he loved to praise and worship Him. The praises of God were on his lips all day and all night. We have a heart after God, like David, when we have a worshipping heart and attitude.

Psalm 100:1-5  (NKJ)

1              Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

One of the meanings of “joyful noise” is “to split the ears”! God is happy when we worship Him with a joyful heart and a LOUD noise. Usually when people SHOUT about something – it is because they are really passionate about that thing. They feel it deeply. It is okay to shout joyfully in worship of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

2              Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.

The word “serve” has to do with total commitment – like a slave – except a willing one. “Gladness” is “blithesomeness” or “glee”. It is exceeding gladness, joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, and rejoicing. We sing with a joyful and triumphal voice.

3              Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

We must worship Him as our creator and the One who knows us best and who knows what is best for us. He made us – we did not make ourselves (evolution from swamp gas?) – and He has all the answers we need for every situation we face. We belong to Him and He rules over us. We bow our knee at His throne and obey Him, yielding to His will and desire.

4              Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

We enter into His presence with songs and confessions of praise, thankfulness and adoration. We kneel and bow before Him as our Lord and King.

5              For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

The Lord is good, He is kind, and He is gracious. He is as good as good can be. There is not one drop of evil in Him. He is light and has no darkness in Him anywhere. With our sin nature we may find it difficult to imagine total goodness – no evil – but God is ALL good. His mercy, kindness and favor is perpetual and never-ending. His truth stands unshaken and unmoving through every generation.

eople may believe and speak whatever they will, but there is truth that will always be true no matter what men may say. God will always have the final word because it is His truth that has and will stand the test of time. You can try to do things your way, but you will be judged in the end and for eternity by God’s truth and His Word that will never change or die.

Choose to worship God in His way according to His will and be blessed for all eternity!

“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

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 NKJ

God is love and in His presence there is great joy and great peace. In His presence are life and blessing and every good thing. The scripture says that there is fullness of joy in God’s presence. Another meaning for the Hebrew word for “fullness” is to be satisfied. When you are satisfied, you have everything you need – you lack nothing. In God’s presence we are filled and satisfied with His joy. We don’t just have a little bit of joy – we have fullness of joy.  

“You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. “Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you shall be altogether joyful. Deuteronomy 16:13-15 (NAS)

Contrary to popular religious opinion, God is not sad and sour and He does not want us sad or sour either. He wants us to be joyful in His presence. When God gave Israel instructions concerning the solemn feast of tabernacles, He told them, “you shall rejoice” and “you shall be altogether joyful!” Even the Hebrew word “solemn” means to move in a circle, more specifically: to march in a sacred procession or to observe a festival. By implication, it means to be giddy. It is translated in the KJV as celebrate, dance, to keep or hold a solemn feast (holiday), or reel to and fro. God loves for us to joyfully celebrate Him.

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.  Proverbs 15:13NAS

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.Psalms 98:4 KJV

When you are full of joy, it will be evident. You will have a cheerful face. You will be loud and bold in your praise.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  Romans 14:17 KJV

The kingdom of God is not about rules and regulations – it is about us being filled with the Holy Ghost and about being made righteous and filled with peace and joy. The Holy Ghost is the author of joy in our lives. We are full of joy, not just happiness. Happiness is temporal and is affected by our feelings and our circumstances. Joy is eternal and it is constant in any and every situation.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV

When you are in a time of need, when you feel weak and defeated, there is a strength that rises from out of your spirit with comfort and encouragement, empowering you to overcome the fear and the doubts and the discouragement that try to destroy your life. No matter what you go through or what you have to face, the joy of the Lord will rise up in your heart and cause you to see not just the circumstance you face, but to see God’s answer and His miracle working power.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.John 15:11 KJV

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 13:52 KJV

If you need joy, just get full of the Word and full of the Holy Ghost! When you realize how much the Father loves you and how precious Jesus is and how awesome God’s grace and mercy are, you will be rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory!

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:2-4 KJV

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.Isaiah 51:11 KJV