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

“And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.”
Leviticus 16:5-10 KJV

“And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.”
Leviticus 16:20-22 KJV

The Lord instituted the Day of Atonement, and commanded Aaron and every High Priest after him to follow specific rituals for the cleansing of sin for him and his household and for all of Israel and anyone else that chose to participate. It was a day when Israel was to humble themselves before the Lord and to put all their faith and trust in Him for their sins to be atoned for by blood. As part of the proceedngs, the High Priest was to take two live goats and cast lots over them. One of them would be sacrificed and the one would be released into the wilderness. The first goat was sacrificed for a sin offering, typifying the death of Christ, who became sin for us though He knew no sin. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV) After fully reconciling the most holy place, the holy place, and the brazen altar with the blood of the sacrificed animal, the High Priest brought in the live goat and laid both his hands on its head, confessed over it all the sins of himself, his house, and all Israel, and handed it over to a man, who was chosen and ready for this, who would carry it away and chase it out into the wilderness.

The scapegoat was the one who bore away the blame on the behalf of the people; he was not killed, but released into the wilderness. He did not die to atone for sins; he completed the atonement in that he bore sins away and was cut off; separated from human habitation; typifying the removal of them by the
resurrection of Christ. The two goats represented one atonement for sin – blood was shed and sins and transgressions washed away and removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12). This is certainly what Jesus did for us. He took all our sin and shame, bore all the punishment we deserved; died and carried it away. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4 KJV)

The two goats represented the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25 KJV) His atoning work was not in vain, for it was the resurrection that made it effective! He rose in victory – forever establishing our freedom from sin and righteousness before God. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 KJV)

What Jesus did for us was more than monumental! It is the difference between death and hell – being
eternally cut off from the presence of God – and eternal life, forever in the very presence of God! This was no light and easy thing Jesus did. It was a huge feat and He did it out of His intense love for us. It was not just three days of hell that He went through for you and me, but it was His life lived yielded to the Father, in complete obedience. In 33 years, He never once committed sin, for no sin was found in Him. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
(Hebrews 4:15 KJV)

Because He was sinless, death could not hold Him. Yes, He carried our sins upon Him to the grave and buried it there, but death could not keep him there. He rose in victory to bestow this same resurrection life upon all those who will call upon His wonderful Name. We gave Him our sin and unrighteousness and He gave us His life and His righteousness. What an honor that our sin should have been laid on Him, that His blood should have been shed for us and that His resurrection power should resurrect us from the dead and give us a brand new heart and life!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1:3 KJV

 

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

We know we know the Lord because:

18. We have faith in Him

“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
1 John 2:23 NKJV

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” 1 John 5:1 NKJV

“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.” 1 John 5:10 NKJV

We know God because we believe in Him and we believe His word. We know Him because we acknowledge that He is who He says He is. We know Him because we have made Him Lord of our lives, personally. We acknowledge Him before men and angels. We also know that we know Him because we receive His word in its entirety. We do not pick and choose which scriptures to take and leave. We are submitted to every word that proceeds from His mouth!

19. We confess Christ

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:14-15 NKJV

“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” 1 John 4:2-3a NKJV

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23 NKJV

“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10 NKJV

If we know God, we will say so – we will confess that He is the Christ; we will confess that He is Lord, God and Savior. Anyone who will not confess Him as the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Christ, and the Savior of the world, is not His and does not know Him. Some people say that they believe in God, and yet, they cannot or will not acknowledge Jesus Christ. These people do not know God.

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:22-23 NKJV

20. We have received Christ

“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:10-13 NKJV

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 NKJV

Many people know about God, they know about Jesus, they know about the Holy Spirit, but they do not actually KNOW any of them; they are not personally acquainted with them. When we believe in Jesus and we receive Him as our personal Lord and Savior, we truly come to know Him.

21. He answers our prayers

“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:21-22 NKJV

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
1 John 5:14-15 NKJV

God does not answer prayers arbitrarily. He is not capricious. He does not toy with us. His word never returns void and if He has made promises, He always keeps them. There is an area where prayers are answered. If we are inside that area, our prayers are answered; if we are outside that area they are not. We cannot sit where we are (outside the Word and will of God), doing what we do, and expect God to bend and come to where we are and do what we want Him to do. He is not our servant; we are His. God is where He is and we are the ones who must bend and change and move to suit Him. If we want answered prayer, we must keep His commandments, and continue to keep them, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. If we want answered prayer, we must ask according to His will. The fact that our prayers are answered is proof that we do know Him and that He knows us!

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

For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].  Isaiah 57:15 AMP

The Lord is high and lifted up—there is none like Him in the heavens and in the earth. He is the Creator—the mighty one —no one can stand before Him. He inhabits eternity—He has no beginning and no end—He is the great I AM. He is Holy and righteous. But one thing He is not—He is not proud or arrogant. Psalms 113:5-6 AMP says, “Who is like the Lord our God, Who has His seat on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!” Even though He is so powerful, He chooses to humble Himself to reach down and see us, reach out to us and care for us. It is because of His great love­—God IS Love (1 John 4:8+16)!

For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly [bringing them into fellowship with Him]; but the proud and haughty He knows and recognizes [only] at a distance.  
Psalms 138:6 AMP

The Lord says that it is only those who are thoroughly humble and penitent who will be permitted to dwell with Him in eternity. The Lord cannot forgive anyone—as much as He would like to—unless they repent. Repentance is an acknowledgement of God’s supreme authority over your life. Without acknowledging God’s authority—you will not receive His grace—because you are self-sufficient and don’t think you need Him, keeping yourself at a distance. True repentance is when you are broken with sorrow over your sin. Without it you cannot appreciate nor receive the grace, forgiveness and restoration of the Father. Then He will revive and strengthen the heart of the humble—those submitted to Him and to His Word.

Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] 6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, 7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. 8 And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!  Philippians 2:5-8 AMP

Jesus did not go to the cross for His own benefit—He went for yours and mine! He humbled Himself and lowered Himself to be born in the body of a man, to suffer, to die and to give His whole life for us all. He is our example in humility. Just as Jesus humbled Himself to die for us, so we must humble ourselves to repent and accept the free gift of God poured out in His blood.

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Matthew 5:3 AMP

The Kingdom of heaven will be filled with the humble-hearted. The proud will make their own way and be lost for all eternity. In Matthew 7:13-14 NIV Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  How sad that so many people are too proud to consider or acknowledge what great things God has done and provided for them. There are no difficult or impossible things that God asks of us in return for eternity with Him in glory and peace and joy. All He asks is that we hear Him and humble ourselves to do it His way.

And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. 4 Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.  
Matthew 18:3-5 AMP

Some people are so busy being a “grown-up”, they have become closed and hardened. They have allowed the devil —the god of this world to blinded their minds, preventing them from seeing and receiving the truth of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). We must not be so stuck up—we must become as humble and teachable as children so that we can receive all the great blessings that the Father has for us through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11 AMP

Because Jesus willingly stooped so low—He became highly exalted. Now every creature in heaven, on earth and even under the earth must bow their knee to Him and confess Him as Lord! If we will humble ourselves, God will exalt us into His very family and His very presence—forever! How wonderful is that? What a blessing and a privilege!

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).  James 4:6 AMP

So go ahead and humble yourself so that you will be able to receive all of God’s undeserved grace and mercy!

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

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

Ministry in the home:

The mission of the Church – generally and locally – extends into the home and the family. God instituted marriage and family when He created Adam and Eve and told them to have children. This is His plan for man. When He spoke the blessing over Abraham, He said that all the families of the earth would be blessed through Jesus, the Seed of Abraham. The devil has tried to destroy people, marriages and families. Only God has the answer for a successful marriage and family and the Church has a big part to play in ministering the truth in this area, so that people may live free and blessed lives.

Jesus loved and was concerned for the well-being of children:

Mark 10:13-16 NKJV – Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

In his epistles, Paul gave special instructions to Christians concerning marriage and family:   

Ephesians 5:33 NKJV – Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 6:1-4 NKJV – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Colossians 3:18-21 AMP – Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]

The promise of the Holy Spirit was to believers and their children:    

Acts 2:39 AMP – For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself.
Joel 2:28 AMP – And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

In the Book of Acts whole families and even whole households received salvation and were baptized in water and the Holy Spirit at the same time:

In Acts 16:15, Lydia and all her household were baptized.
In Acts 16:34, the keeper of the prison received salvation together with his whole household.
In Acts 18:8, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, with his entire household; and so did many of the Corinthians, who heard, believed, and were baptized.

Church leaders were required to have well regulated families:

1 Timothy 3:4-5 NKJV – One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?).
1 Timothy 3:12 AMP – Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let them manage [their] children and their own households well.
Titus 1:6 AMP – [These elders should be] men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable, the husband of [but] one wife, whose children are [well trained and are] believers, not open to the accusation of being loose in morals and conduct or unruly and disorderly.

The Early Church met mostly in homes, where the Gospel would have influenced the whole family:

Colossians 4:15 AMP – Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the assembly (the church) which meets in her house.
Romans 16:5 AMP – [Remember me] also to the church [that meets] in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was a firstfruit (first convert) to Christ in Asia.
1 Corinthians 16:19 AMP – The churches of Asia send greetings and best wishes. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church [that meets] in their house, send you their hearty greetings in the Lord.
Acts 21:4-5 AMP – And having looked up the disciples there, we remained with them for seven days. Prompted by the [Holy] Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 But when our time there was ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them with their wives and children accompanied us on our way till we were outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed.
Acts 21:8-9 AMP – On the morrow we left there and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven [first deacons], and stayed with him. 9 And he had four maiden daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

 

I am here for to plunder hell and populate heaven “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”.

I am learning more and more how to slow down, smile, make time for people, and actually listen when they talk.

When I heard about The Great Awakening, it was an answered prayer.  I learned how to successfully lead people to the Lord. I finally felt a sense of fulfillment that I had never experienced before. When the opportunity arose for me to come to River Bible Institute, I was ecstatic!