Rodney Howard Browne Gathumble

We are united in the need for acceptance and appreciation. Generally, we’d like our peers to express approval so we will be able to experience the sensation of being accepted. Though Christians know that feelings are untrustworthy indicators of truth, followers fall into this pattern of looking for discernible approval too. Honestly , one of our most precious possessions is God’s acceptance of us as we are now.
Thanks to Jesus Christ, we own a full measure of God’s grace.

The Father does not say, “When you clean up your life, I can accept you.” Grace and performance is not a workable formula in God’s economy. If being a Spirit-filled follower meant achieving some lofty behavioral standard on our own, we’d all wear ourselves out in the attempt. We borrow this concept of performance-based religion from the planet. Folk change their garments, habits, finances, and roles to gain acceptance from their peers.

The sole problem is the people who like your appearance today will not like it tomorrow. It is true you can’t please everyone, but you can thrill the Lord by spotting His unconditional acceptance of you. We’ve all the standing we need : we are the youngsters of God and envoys of Jesus Christ, living in the dominion of light! If we ignore our main possession - acceptance by God - then we shall finish up in the planet’s vain cycle of consistent effort and activity as a plan to earn the Lord’s confirmation. Liberty and intimacy are rooted in His openly given acceptance. Rather than shielding ourselves from His judgment, we will bask in God’s gracious love.

The folks asked, “Who sinned, this person or his fogeys, that he would be born blind?” Jesus offered an explanation, “It was neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but it got so the works of God could be displayed in him” (John 9:2-3). Far too frequently, we rush to believe negative thoughts. The important lesson here isn’t whether or not sin was concerned, but that God had opened this person’s eyes. When you walk in religious darkness, God wants to offer you religious sight. He is always in the midst of bringing religious healing and fullness to your life.

The person born blind was heading for a miracle. From birth, God had ordained the day of his healing. It is just as vital to the Lord when you all of a sudden receive your visual acuity in an area in which you were once spiritually blind.

Foundation Scriptures: John 14:16-19; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-14

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Indwelling of the Father and the Son 19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.  John 14:16-19 NKJV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 14:26 NKJV

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.  John 15:26 NKJV

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.  John 16:7-15 NKJV

•    The Personality of the Holy Spirit:
•    He convicts of sin – John 16:8
•    He teaches – John 14:26
•    He only speaks about Jesus – John 15:26
•    He guides – John 16:13; Romans 8:14
•    He comforts – Acts 9:31
•    He helps our infirmities – Romans 8:26
•    He searches the deep things of God – 1 Corinthians 2:10
•    Omnipresent – everywhere – Psalms 137:7-16
•    Omnipotent – all powerful – Luke 1:37
•    Omniscient – knows all – 1 Corinthians 2:10

•    The Names of the Holy Spirit:
The Spirit of God; the Spirit of Jehovah; the Spirit of Lord Jehovah; the Spirit of the Living God; the Spirit of the Holy God; the Spirit of Jesus Christ; the Spirit of His Son; the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit and Fire; the Holy Spirit of Promise; the Spirit of Holiness; the Spirit of Truth; the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding; the Spirit of Counsel and Might; the Spirit of Knowledge and Fear of the Lord; the Spirit of Power, Love and a Sound Mind; the Spirit of Life; the Oil of Gladness; the Spirit of Grace; the Spirit of Grace and Supplication; the Spirit of Glory; the Spirit of Adoption; the Eternal Spirit; the Comforter; the Promise of the Father.

•    Rodney Howard Browne teaches that the Holy Spirit is a Perfect Gentleman.
•    Matthew 3:16-17 NKJV - When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
•    Gentleness; tenderness; lowliness; innocence; mildness; peace; purity; patience.
•    Not religious; does not bring heaviness; brings liberty; does not bring bondage.
•    2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NKJV - Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
•    Galatians 5:1-2 NKJV - Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
•    He does not condemn, but He convicts. (John 16:8)
•    He is love. (1 John 4:8&16)

•    The Symbols of the Holy Spirit:
•    Dove – gentleness
•    Fire – purging
•    Wind – refreshing; energizing
•    Water – thirst quenching
•    Oil – lubrication and fueling
•    Wine – new wine; celebration

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God,” on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, there shall no evil befall you, not any plague or calamity comes near your tent. For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness —trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

PSALM 91:1-16 AMP

The Bible tells us that in the last days men’s hearts will fail them for fear of the things that are going to come upon the earth. (See Luke 21:26.) People are afraid of a lot of things. Some are afraid to get on an airplane. Some are afraid of the dark. Others are afraid of driving in the city. Fears grip the hearts of many of God’s people for various reasons.

God, however, doesn’t want His people fearful. God wants His people faithful. But you can’t be faithful when you’re fearful. We learned in an earlier chapter that the word “salvation” comes from the Greek word sozo, which means soundness, wholeness, healing, preservation, deliverance, provision, and protection. Jesus is not only our Savior, He’s our protector. He’s our all in all.

Jesus is your hiding place. He’s your shelter in the time of storm. It doesn’t matter where you are or what conditions of life surround you. You could be in the inner city in the middle of a drive-by shooting, you could be where bombs are going off or where planes are crashing. It doesn’t matter — He’s there to protect you and to shield you.

Noah walked with God, even in a corrupt world. How did he do it? Part of the answer’s in Genesis 5:24. Noah’s great granddad, Enoch, walked with God. The lifestyle of Noah’s family gave the chance for him to stroll with God though none of his neighbors did.

Noah was taking a walk with God before he built the ark.  Pastor Rodney Howard Browne explains that we learn how to walk with God by just following Him each day. We learn how to be prepared for the gigantic issues when we walk with God on the standard days. Then, when an enormous challenge comes along, we are walking by religion. Noah’s test of obedience came when God gave him unusual instructions - to build an ark and to bring 2 of each animal within. Thru all this, Noah continued his unswerving and successful walk with God. He kept his target the Lord’s plan, the Lord’s project, and the Lord’s direction.

When you and I walk with God, we learn how to hear Him and hear His voice.

Then it’s not relevant what other people say, so long as we think we know we’ve heard the Lord. Some of us have journeyed thru tricky places in our lives. But it is not where we walk that matters, but with whom. Anywhere we walk with God - regardless of how distressing it feels - is a place of serenity and safety. And remember, when we walk with God, we’ll never take an incorrect step. We’ll never regret a day. We’ll always be thankful for the present we made a decision to go alongside almighty God.