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

I am a virtuous wife and a true daughter of Sarah, who honored and respected her husband as the head of their home and family
I covenant with God to love, honor and respect my husband as the head of our home, in obedience to the Word of God
I covenant to be faithful to him
By faith, I submit to my husband’s authority in our home
I do this as a service to the Lord
I subordinate myself to my husband so that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach, blasphemed or discredited
I trust my husband’s leadership and choose to depend on him
The Lord will protect me and provide for me, because I trust Him enough to obey His Word
Therefore I am not anxious or wrought up
I will do right and let nothing terrify me
I will not give way to hysterical fears or let anxieties unnerve me
I adapt myself to my husband
I make myself beautiful for my husband, but I know that true beauty comes from within
I have a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God
I am temperate and disciplined and I exercise self-control
I love righteousness
By the grace of God:
I am pure and modest and discreet
I am good-natured and kind-hearted
I am gracious and good
I am wise, understanding and prudent
I am earnest and strong in character
I am a crowning joy to my husband
I am trustworthy
I do not give him an occasion to be ashamed of me
My husband can confidently trust in me and securely rely on me
The secrets of his heart are safe with me

I love my husband
I reverence him
I respect him
I regard him
I notice him and pay attention to him
I am sensitive to his needs and desires
I build my husband up
I encourage him
I prefer him
I defer to him
I revere him
I honor him
I esteem him
I venerate him
I appreciate him
I prize him
I adore him
I admire him exceedingly
I praise him
I am devoted to him
I deeply love him
I enjoy my husband

I belong to my husband and my husband belongs to me
My body belongs to my husband and my husband’s body belongs to me
My desire is toward my husband and my earnest desire is to please him
My husband is my best friend
He is a great blessing to me
Thank You Lord for my husband

 

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

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lessons from Genesis

Sowing in Famine
Foundation Scriptures: Genesis 26:12 – 14

Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings. 13 And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished; 14 He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants, and the Philistines envied him.  Genesis 26:12-14 AMP

1. Isaac sowed seed in the land – not in a time of plenty – but in the time of famine.

a. When it comes to cultivating the land, in this natural world, the middle of a drought and famine is definitely not the optimum time to sow seed.

b. However, in God’s economy, it does not matter when you sow seed. He is the Lord of the harvest!

c. Sowing seed in a time of famine takes great faith in God, because you have to have confidence that you will reap a harvest in spite of the fact that all odds are against you.

2. Not only did Isaac reap a harvest at all, but he reaped a miraculously huge harvest – a 100-fold harvest – 100 times as much as he had planted!

a. Some people don’t believe that you can trust God for a 100-fold return on your giving, but Jesus talked about it several times. In Matthew 13:23 and Mark 4:20 Jesus said that those who hear the Word, understand it, receive, accept, and welcome it, will bear fruit – some yielding 30, some 60, and some 100-fold! In Matthew 19:29 and Mark 10:30 Jesus said that those who have had to give up relationships or property for His sake would receive it all back multiplied by 100 here in this lifetime and they would also inherit eternal life.

b. Of course most of us would love to have the 100-fold return, but even a 20 or 30-fold return is better than “no-fold”! It is dependant on your faith and your walk with God – the more you obediently submit your life to Him, the more you can be trusted with, the more He can bless you.

3. The Lord favored Isaac with blessings

a. Proverbs 10:22 AMP says, “The blessing of the Lord–it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].” When God blesses you, He really blesses you. You must realize that it’s not dependant on your works alone, but on your faith in God.

b. The favor of God: when God’s favor is on your life, you don’t even need the money to get things done. Favor will make a way for you and take you where money alone cannot.

c. The Lord has many blessings available to those that are counted as His own.

4. Isaac became great, and gained more and more, until he became very wealthy and distinguished.

a. He owned flocks, herds and a great supply of servants – so much so that the Philistines envied him.

b. Because Isaac trusted in God, and not in himself or in the elements, he prospered while others were struggling. If you obey God, He can multiply you in the midst of the worst circumstances of life and grant you favor. Even in the middle of famine – when everyone else is decreasing, losing, and going under – you can be prospering, increasing and multiplying!

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts
Our relationship with the Lord is a faith relationship. It’s not based on our five senses. It is not performance based. The Lord is always trying to get us to recognize and acknowledge the fact that He Himself is the Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher, the Creator and the Master of all, our Source and Supply. If you trust in yourself, you can try your best, and never accomplish what you could accomplish through simple faith in God and obedience to His Word. Sowing seed, when you can least afford to, is a powerful demonstration of your faith and gives God a mighty opportunity to prove Himself and to show Himself strong in your behalf, that will turn out to be a sign and a wonder to those who do not believe! God will bless you because He loves you and at the same time He will show His glory through you to those who have not yet bowed their knee. Trust and obey God. Give Him an opportunity to use your life as a witness at the same time as He blesses you super-abundantly!

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts
Back in South Africa, in 1982, this truth changed our lives. You can read about it in depth in our mini-book called “Sowing in Famine.” When Adonica and I were in a situation of famine in our own lives, we sowed a seed that changed our lives. This seed broke the Spirit of poverty off of us and changed our lives. Since the Lord opened our eyes to this truth, we have applied this principle and have truly experienced the 30, 60, and 100-fold return. God’s Word is amazing – it never returns void. He always goes over the top to bless and reward faith and obedience.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I thank You for Your Word that is true. Today I realize that if I have something in my hand, and it is not enough to meet my need, then it must be seed. Help me not to eat my seed, but sow it and believe You for a miracle of supernatural provision. If you can do it for Isaac, then you can do it for me because You are no respecter of persons. Thank You, Lord, for blessing me as I honor You with my faith and obedience.

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

Foundation Scriptures: Psalms 119:89-90, Luke 1:37

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.”

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.

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.

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 Scriptures: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].  Isaiah 7:14 AMP

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  Matthew 1:20-23 NKJV

I.  Emmanuel means “God with us”

• Jesus came as one of us; to live with us; to die for us; so He could dwell and abide in us; so we could live eternally in His presence!
• Hebrews 8:10-12 NKJV – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.  12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
• The Father sent Jesus to die for us and pay the price for our sins so that each one of us could personally, intimately know the Father.
• Emmanuel—God IN us—not just a God far out in the heavens.
• Jesus came to show us the Father’s heart and to introduce us to Him.
• We can have our own relationship and fellowship with the Father through Jesus—we don’t need to go through another human.

II.  Jesus came to save “whosoever”

• John 3:16-18 NKJV – 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.
• Jesus came to save the world—not to reject, to condemn, or to pass sentence on the world (John 3:17 AMP).
• Romans 10:11-13 NKJV – For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.
• Galatians 3:8-9 NKJV – And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”  9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
• Jesus died for every person in every nation. There is no one, who comes to God in faith, whom He would ever reject.
• The Lord is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

III.  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and set the captives free

• 1 John 3:7-9 NKJV – Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
• For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Jesus came to destroy sin and everything that is a fruit of sin.
• Acts 10:38 NKJV – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
• Sin, sickness, disease and death are a product of sin. Jesus came to “do good” and to save us and to completely deliver us from the devil and all his evil works.
• Luke 4:18-19 KJV – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
• Jesus came to preach good news and to do good works.
• Luke 19:10 AMP – For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.
• The Greek word for “save” is sozo (sode’-zo), which means to save; to deliver; to protect; to heal; to preserve, to do well, to make or be made whole.
• Luke 9:56a KJV – For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.

IV.  Jesus came to give us abundant life

• John 10:10 NKJV – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• The Amplified Bible says: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).









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

Foundation Scriptures:

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Luke 5:33-35 KJV

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Acts 10:19-33 KJV

1. Jesus Said “When” You Fast, Not “If”

a. Fasting does not move God, it moves you.

b. It subdues the flesh.

c. It breaks strongholds and delivers from bondage.

d. Set yourself aside for prayer, fasting, and reading the Word.

2. Supernatural Things Happen When You Fast and Pray

a. Acts 10:1-8 and Acts 10:9-23

b. Acts 10:24-33

c. Acts 10:30

Cornelius was fasting and supernatural things started happening.

3. Relationship, Not Ritual

a. It is imperative that you do not do this out of a ritual, but out of a relationship with Jesus.

b. Do it to press into Him.

c. James 4:8: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

d. Be hungry for Him.

e. Do not look for manifestations, visitations, or angels, etc. The devil can also manifest as an angel of light to deceive.

f. Lay your heart out before Him; allow Him to do a work on the inside of you.

g. The work He does in you will be an eternal work and it can never be taken away from you.

4. The Supernatural Will Be Natural in Your Life When You Live a Life Set Apart

a. Not in bed with the world.

b. Not dirty and soiled.

c. With clean hands and a pure heart.

5. Living a Fasted Life

a. Be led by the Holy Spirit.

b. Cornelius fasted 4 days. You can fast one, three, seven, twenty one, or forty days.

c. Let God lead you.

d. Skip a meal.

e. Press in – praying, studying, fellowshipping with the Lord.

f. Lay aside hobbies, television, games – anything that distracts you, and consumes your time.

6. We are Going to Press in this Wednesday – as a Church – and Fast and Pray

a. We did three days last week.

b. Let’s do one day this week.

c. I believe that great breakthroughs are taking place:

i. In people’s hearts.

ii. In people’s bodies.

iii. In people’s families.

iv. In people’s marriages.

I have the Holy Spirit, and in Him is everything that will ever be needed. When I need guidance He guides me. When I need a scripture He brings it to my remembrance. When I need directions or insight on a certain situation He gives it to me. I will strive day by day to operate from my spirit. It is now the only way to go for me!!!

The internship is such a great opportunity to really be instructed by God and learn how to trust Him fully no matter what the situation is. I know that as I continue with my internship the Lord, He will continue to show me the power of His word and how to walk in faith. I’m excited about how I will grow in the Lord through this experience.