Rodney Howard Browne

Each Sunday , many of us all around the globe sit in church buildings, hear the Gospel, and then go their own way with a fake sense of security. They are quite convinced that if they were to die, they might go to heaven. To them, it’s quite easy. They believe, Heaven is where the good folks go, and since I am good, I am going there. Often , these truly are good folks by most community standards. In reality, their conduct is frequently superior to some who’ve been saved and are committed to Christ.

Like the wealthy young ruler who came to Jesus ( Luke 18:18-23 ), they have kept the commandments as best they know how but fail to recognize how needy they really are. Their confidence is predicated on the concept that since God loves everyone, He actually would not let any good person go to hell.The difficulty actually comes down to a misunderstanding of what deliverance is all about. Deliverance isn’t a behavior alteration program built on self-effort, but instead a metamorphosis of the inner man.

When you’re saved, you receive a new disposition that the Bible pertains to as “born again.” This new birth means that Jesus comes into your life to express Himself thru you. Yes, it does result in good conduct, but this new behavior comes from the Holy Spirit living inside you instead of from your resolution to enhance yourself. Your life will afterward be primarily based on a moment-by-moment submission to the will of God, from which you’ll derive purpose, direction, and meaning - as well as the real security only he will be able to give.

On long journeys in unfamiliar places, we will be able to start wondering if we are traveling in the right direction. Following God’s will can appear to be this too. The Lord may exhibit His plan to us, but the steps to achieving it are not always clear. To learn obedience needs moving ahead at God’s signal, even if the way is confusing.

As we travel along this path of obedience, we shall most likely experience conflict. Challenges could arise because what we think or need is contrary to God’s plan. Or there may be conflict between God’s values and the planet’s (Corinthians 7:5). We who are babes of light must be ready to suffer conflict - we’ve got to move thru it and obey. A life of obedience also includes submitting to earthly authorities (Romans 13:1).

God has given some folk jurisdiction over us so we can discover what it is like to obey. Obedience similarly needs learning submission to God (Hebrews 12:9). God’s way is perfect. We are to surrender our needs to His, even if we don’t understand or when the price seems too high. Ultimately, to learn obedience needs a willingness to accept divine censure.

Not one of us live an ideal life, and we go off course daily.

God, out of His great love, will discipline us to turn us back toward Him (Hebrews 12:6-7 NIV). Though there’s a learning curve for obedience, God has provided us with His Spirit to educate us, and he predicts us to conquer our lessons. What type of student are you?

He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant to be forever; holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear.  Psalms 111:9 AMP

Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was their Husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.  Jeremiah 31:31-33 AMP

1. We have a covenant Father. He has made promises that He will never, ever break.

Adam
Abraham; Isaac; Jacob (Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:1-21)
Moses (Exodus 2:24-25; Exodus 6:4-5; Exodus 19:5; Exodus 24:7-8; Exodus 34:27-28;
David etc. through Jesus to us (Psalms 98:3; Isaiah 55:3)

2. The Father loves man so very much—He has chosen to be in relationship with us and interact with us. He makes covenant provision for us and gives us the choice to accept it. He gives us choices and even tells us which is the right and good choice that will bring the blessing.

Noah and the Ark (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9-17)
Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:17-19)
Solomon and wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-14)

3. Come let us reason together.

Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.  Isaiah 1:18-20 AMP

Jesus came to bridge the gap between God and man ­—to show us the Father. Colossians 1:20 AMP - And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.
He sent the Holy Spirit to make us one with Him. 1 John 4:13 AMP - By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit.
Work out your own contract with God.
He is waiting to hear from you.

4. Things you need to know about your Father.

This covenant is sealed in the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:12-14 AMP - He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us). 13 For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body, 14 How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?  
This covenant cannot fail. Psalms 103:17-18 AMP - But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children’s children–18 To such as keep His covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who [earnestly] remember His commandments to do them [imprinting them on their hearts].
This covenant has over 30,000 promises.
This covenant favors you—the recipient—to receive His grace and favor, because of Calvary—the Cross, the Resurrection and Pentecost.

For I will be leaning toward you with favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you, and establishing and ratifying My covenant with you.  Leviticus 26:9 AMP

Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), 21 Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).  Hebrews 13:20-21 AMP

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because be hath anointed

me to preach the gospel to the poor; he bath sent me to

heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,

and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty

them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

LUKE 4:18-19

 

This is the message Jesus declared all during His earthly

ministry. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath

anointed me to preach the gospel…, and the Gospel is Good

News! There are too many bad news preachers in the earth today.

 

All they want to do is bring doom and gloom. Some people seem

to think they’re Old Testament prophets, called to rail out against

sin. But thank God we’re under a new covenant. The message of

this new covenant is the same message that Jesus proclaimed: the

Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and He has anointed me to preach

the Gospel, the Good News.

 

The Gospel is Good News, my dear friend. Good News! I

bring you Good News! I bring you glad tidings. I bring you Good

News! Hallelujah! I get happy just thinking about the Good

News!

 

We all know the world is full of bad news. You can turn on

television news and all you hear is bad news. The last thing you

need is a preacher bringing you more bad news. We need to hear

the Good News of the Gospel: that Jesus still saves, Jesus still

heals, Jesus still sets free, and that Jesus is coming again. That’s

the Gospel!

 

The problem is that many Christians are confused. They

have a little bit of the old covenant, a little bit of the new

covenant, and they’ve made up their own covenant. Their own

covenant brings them under condemnation and bondage one

minute, and it sets them free the next.

 

In their confusion, they think God is blessing them one moment and the next moment He is saying, “I’m going to kill you.” They walk around waiting for God to beat them and hurt them for reasons known only to Him.

 

That’s not the Good News! The Good News is the same as it was when

Jesus walked the earth. Do you know why it’s still the same? Because

Jesus is still the same. Jesus has not changed!

 

The question I pose to you is, “What happens when Jesus shows up?” What happens when Jesus walks in the door? I want you to know that when Jesus walks in the door, the very atmosphere of the room changes. When Jesus walks in the door, sickness and death and poverty and the curse of hell go out the back door, saying, “It’s time for us to the leave.”

 

When Jesus walks in the door, you will know that He is there. You can see His nature and His character in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What happens when He shows up? Jesus answered that Himself.

 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it

more abundantly.

JOHN 10:10

 

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from

the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,

that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 JOHN 3:8

I had to go to the Gospels to see Jesus and then to know Him. I

used to spend a lot of time, as I was growing up, thinking about

His conception and His birth, His life as a baby, as a child, as a

boy, a teenager, and then a man.

 

Although Jesus’ life and ministry fulfilled all the Old Testament

prophecies for the first coming of the Messiah, the details are

always astounding and unpredictable. The prophecy said the

Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2), but no one

could have guessed exactly the King of kings would arrive on the

scene.

 

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:

When as his mother Mary was espoused to

Joseph, before they came together, she was found

with child of the Holy Ghost

 

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and

not willing to make her a public example, was

minded to put her away privily.

 

But while he thought on these things, behold, the

angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,

saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take

unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived

in her is of the Holy Ghost.

MATTHEW 1:18-20

 

Something really hit me when I first read this. How would you

like to be Joseph or Mary?

 

“Joseph, I’m pregnant, okay? Now listen, I know this is going to

sound crazy; and I love you with all my heart, but I have not

allowed another man to touch me. I’m a virgin, but I’m pregnant.

Oh, and the angel of the Lord told me that God was the father.”

Joseph’s not married and his lady, Mary, is pregnant. Talk about

embarrassing! How in the world do you explain to your family

 

The Man Behind the Myth

 

and friends how your girlfriend got pregnant if you say you

haven’t done anything? “Mary’s pregnant, and I know we’re

not married yet, but this is different. This is not what you think

it is.”

 

“You’re not even married, you haven’t had marital relations,

and she’s pregnant? Yeah, right. Don’t lie to us, Joseph.”

 

Do you understand what we’re dealing with here? These are

not saints; they are normal, everyday people. So Joseph came

to the only conclusion he could. He was going to have to break

off his engagement to Mary. I mean, who’s going to believe he

didn’t touch her — and just forget that crazy story about the

angel of the Lord? But then the angel of the Lord spoke to

Joseph in a dream and said, “Don’t break off your engagement

with Mary?

 

This whole thing is of God.” Now Joseph can say

for sure, “No, I am not lying! I’m telling you the truth? I never

touched Mary and neither has anyone else. An angel came to

me and said that the baby was conceived by the power of the

Holy Spirit.” But can you imagine the frustration? This has

never happened before. This is a unique, one-of-a-kind event.

Who will believe him? What will family and friends say about

this?

 

Thank God for the Word of the Lord that came to Joseph

through the angel. Knowing that this was done by the hand of

God was the only reason he and Mary could endure the shame

and reproach. I guarantee you, there were family members,

close friends, and neighbors who said, “Yeah, we know what

Joseph and Mary have been doing!”

 

“But we didn’t do it! The Holy Ghost did it? The angel of the

Lord spoke the Word and that’s it. We promise you, before

God, we did not do anything.

 

For me, this is where it all begins: Jesus’ supernatural conception.

He was born of a virgin. Jesus entered humanity in controversy,

as the rock of offense, the stumbling block —

because the whole thing was supernatural.