Isaiah 61:1-3  (NKJ)
1 ”The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor;  he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to  those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of  praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that  He may be glorified.”This passage quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19, says that Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to comfort those who mourn, to give them beauty where there once were only ashes, the oil of joy to replace mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness. Because of what Jesus did for us in His death and resurrection, we have a reason to rejoice! How good our God is to us!

1 Peter 1:8-9  (NIV)
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and  are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.We cannot see God with our natural eye, but we have felt His presence and experienced His work in our heart. We love Him and are filled with joy unspeakable  joy that cannot be adequately expressed - as He continues to touch us and change us and as we renew our minds and continue to grow in Him. Not only does He give us a new spirit - He restores our souls (mind, will and emotions) and our bodies. If we do not allow His Spirit to work in us, we will not have or experience His joy.

Romans 14:17  (NIV)
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy  Spirit,There are so many things that try to distract us from the things that really matter. People get caught up in the “do’s” and the “don’ts” instead of focusing on the important things  God’s grace and His mercy and what HE has done for us. If we keep our eyes on the Holy Spirit, we will enjoy His righteousness, peace, and joy.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that the fivefold ministry is instituted and ordained by God.  You cannot raise this ministry up in a Bible school or seminary setting.  These gifts are given by God Almighty.  They come from heaven above and not by the hands of man. However, every believer is anointed when they get born again.  God comes and makes His home on the inside of us.  The scripture says,  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
(II Corinthians 5:17-18 NKJ)

Rodney Howard Browne shows us that you are set apart.  The Holy Spirit comes to live on the inside of you and the anointing of the Holy Ghost becomes available to you.  You have the ministry of reconciliation – to tell others about Jesus.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.   (I John 2:20 & 27  NKJ)

Under the Old Covenant, God anointed three groups of people.  He anointed the prophets, the priests, and the kings.  He would cause His Spirit to rest upon them.  Then came the New Covenant.  When Jesus cried, “It is finished,” the veil of the temple was supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom.  The Holy Spirit came out of an earthly tabernacle made with the hands of man, never again to live therein.  Now He lives in your heart and my heart.  We have become the temple of the living God according to 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16.

Rodney Howard Browne describes the fivefold ministry as a greater manifestation of the nine gifts of the Spirit – with a greater anointing than the laity.  But any one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit found in 1 Corinthians 12, can operate through any believer, as the Holy Spirit leads.  God did not say that it was just for the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  As the scripture says in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”  The gifts of the Spirit are given to believers to profit and bless everybody.

The Well and the River

In John 4:14, Jesus said, “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”  I want you to notice it says a well. The scripture says, “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).  We could call this first anointing a “well” anointing.

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and  drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;  for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.  (John 7:37-39  NKJ)

Rodney Howard Browne shows us in this scripture that we see not only a well, but we see something that is bigger than a well.  We see a river.  You receive a “well” anointing when you get born again.  You receive a “river” anointing when you get the baptism in the Holy Ghost.

Jesus told the disciples to tarry at Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit.  He said in Acts 1:8, “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.”

Power to Be a Witness

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that we can actually have power to be a witness.  The word witness in this scripture means martyr.  In other words, witnesses are a people who are prepared to die for what they believe.  A witness is someone who is radical in his faith and the communication of it.  We see this portrayed in the life of Peter, the one who had three times denied the Lord.  On the day of Pentecost, after receiving the Holy Ghost, he boldly preached and proclaimed the gospel.

What a change had taken place, what a transformation! It was all because of the anointing – because of the touch of God.

7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

I John 4:19-21  (KJV)
19We love him, because he first loved us. 20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Everybody that knows God has God living on the inside. God is love and when He lives in you, His love lives in you. If His love lives in you, it will be manifested to everyone. They will see God’s love in you and they will see it flow through you towards others. When you are born of God and you know Him, you will love Him and you will love others. The more you know him, the more you will walk in, and manifest, love.

If you say that you are a child of God and that you love God, but you do not show love towards others, then the Bible calls you a liar! We have a commandment to love. The entire law is fulfilled in two commandments – love God, love your neighbor. Love enables you to keep the Ten Commandments.

Matthew 22:37-40  (KJV)
37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Think about that – you will not break one of God’s commandments if you love Him and you love others! If you love God, you will not do anything, which will affect the fellowship that you have with Him and if you love people, you will do nothing to hurt them because love is incapable of hurting in any way.

Matthew 7:16-23  (KJV)
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Love is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22&23). If you know God, you will produce the fruit of love. People will see God’s love in you - they will feel God’s love through you. You can do all kinds of wonderful works, prophesy and cast out devils, but the love manifest in you and through you is the true fruit of whether you are a godly person or not. Some people seem to think that as long as the power of God is manifest in their lives, they don’t need to walk in love, but they are mistaken. How terrible to waste your life, doing all the right actions, with all the wrong motives - and in the end be rejected by God.  The only true way that everyone will know that we are Christians – followers of Christ – is by the love we show to others.

John 13:34-35  (KJV)
34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Foundation Scripture:  John 3: 14 – 21   (Amp)

14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of man be lifted up [on the cross],

15 In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world, that He even gave up his only begotten (unique) Son, that who ever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

18 He who believes on Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgement; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation – he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] 

19 The basis of the judgement (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil.

20 For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved.

21 But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are – wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence upon Him].

Dr. Rodney Howard Browne points out that the Gospel is a simple message, but it is way too simple for some people. People try to make it complicated. They labor under the mistaken belief that it cannot possibly be so easy. So they try to make it harder, they try to create rules and regulations for people to keep in order to earn God’s favor.

Dr. Rodney Howard Browne shows us the bottom line of the Gospel is this – the world is under a sentence of judgement already and Jesus came to lift that sentence. The devil would like us to believe that God loves sending people to hell and that He has made it very hard to get to Heaven. The lie is that God is not a fun ‘guy’, but the devil is a fun guy. People declare that they would rather go to hell and party with the devil, than be in boring, restrictive heaven. Or they believe that there is no hell and no judgement, that we all go to heaven because of our good works and that any religion is right because it is the same God that we all worship.

Dr. Rodney Howard Browne shows us this important point.. Well, there is only one true God - “I AM THAT I AM”. He has testified through the ages to His own existence and His plan for man. If we do not serve or worship Him the way He tells us to – not the way mere men tell us to – then we are not worshipping Him at all. The truth is that this earth was once filled with His presence and it was a paradise. The liar, the devil, deceived man and caused him to sin and to lose the presence of God and without God’s divine intervention, we were all doomed to eternal hell. Jesus came to save us from the destiny we were headed for. He came to change our destiny, to give us the opportunity to come back into the presence of God for all eternity.

Rodney Howard Browne wants all believers to know that Jesus did not come to judge us - because we were already judged. He came to remove the sentence of judgement and allow us to live as free men. If men die and go to hell it is because they have chosen their own sentence, not because God has willed it for them. God’s will for us is that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

I invite you to visit the following website links for more information on Rodney Howard Brown’s ministry:

Rodney Howard Browne main website: www.revival.com

Rodney Howard Browne video’s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwMJMKE71iE

Rodney Howard Browne A season of thanksgiving: www.seeingjesus.com

Rodney Howard Browne Making a vow: www.shakingtheplanet.com/

Rodney Howard Browne Run with the vision: www.rodneyhoward-browne.com/

Rodney Howard Browne remembers a song that was very popular in the 60’s and 70’s, called “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”  We can know that He has us in the palm of His hand.  He is with us, he will never leave us nor forsake us . He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  The bible says that in the last days, men’s hearts will fail them for fear of the things that are coming.  Aren’t you excited, that you and I can have peace, knowing that God felt that you had what it takes to live in this day and this hour because He allowed you to be in the kingdom for such a time as this.  You’ve been made out of the right kind of stuff.  You are just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  Even though you go through the fire it will not burn you.  Even though the circumstances look bleak, if you trust Him, He will bring you through. 

Rodney Howard Browne teaches, as the Body of Christ we need to know that we don’t consult psychics (a.k.a. the devil) for our future.  We have God’s Word and His Holy Spirit to lead us and to guide us.  He will show us the things to come.                                                                                                                   I predict that this year, known from heaven, as a year of blessing and a year of grace - when each of His children will see His face, clearer than they have ever seen it before. So clear that they cry out for more.  

More of  Jesus, less of me.  No longer in my ability, but in the power of the Holy Ghost.  I and my loved ones in the Lord will boast. A year of gladness, a year of singing, a year that the heavenly joy bell keeps ringing.  A year that prepares us even more for our glorious homecoming on that Golden Shore. 

Rejoicing we go, knowing that His goodness and mercy He’ll show.  In all of our lives and circumstances we’ll be blessed and protected from the enemy’s advances. Rodney Howard Browne wants you to rise up in this hour and see the salvation of the Lord with a great demonstration of power.  We commit to do His plan and to do His will.  No matter where He leads, we will be still, knowing that His Glory, knowing that His grace will definitely shine upon us as we finish the Race.

Rhonda G.

For more information, please visit http://www.revival.com/www/r.aspx?p=26 ]]> http://www.gnny.com/2008/05/good-news-new-york-1999-with-dr-rodney-howard-browne/feed/ http://www.gnny.com/2008/05/apr-8-2008-great-awakening-tour-city-25-gainesville-fl-with-pastor-rodney-howard-browne/ http://www.gnny.com/2008/05/apr-8-2008-great-awakening-tour-city-25-gainesville-fl-with-pastor-rodney-howard-browne/#comments Fri, 09 May 2008 10:18:04 +0000 rickvan http://www.gnny.com/2008/05/apr-8-2008-great-awakening-tour-city-25-gainesville-fl-with-pastor-rodney-howard-browne/ I went to a lady in the hospital-told her I was from church and I asked her if anyone had ever told her that God loves her, she said no that no one had even visited her. I went through script, she received Jesus then afterwards she said that she was thankful I stopped by. It was awesome because she had been in a church and was backslidden. Theresa B.