Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 231
February 20, 2020
Episode 29 An Interview with Pastor Leanna Part 1
Pastors Troy and Leanna discuss the perils of going to Uganda the first few of times, where SPARK Worldwide was born, and leaving the young kids at home.
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HANG ‘EM HIGH!
You are blessed and highly favored of the Lord. Because you are blessed, be a blessing. Because you are favored, give favor to others. Give and it will be given to you.
HANG ‘EM HIGH!
I’m from a small town in Texas. From the age of six, I lived on a farm. If you know anything about farmers, you know they have a holy hatred of coyotes.
I will never forget 1972. It was the summer the local farmers went to war with these vermin and shot what seemed to me to be about 100 coyotes in one grand hunt. According to the myth that it would scare off other coyotes, all those dead carcasses were nailed to fence posts.
I will never forget this display of trophies. I tried to count them every time we drove down the road. I know the number was over 80 rotting corpses of fur and teeth attracting a sky full of buzzards in the punishing heat.
It was a terrible sight and left quite an impression on me. Now, I’m not six anymore, and 44 years later, I’m convinced God let that one event make a verdict in me that I can’t ignore. I call it my Varmint Verdict.
While disgusting, it was also fascinating. While a symbol of hatred, it was also a symbol of triumph nailed to a piece of wood hung up for all to see.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)… – Galatians 3:15
Jesus became a curse hanging on a tree for us. A gruesome trophy for the unbelieving Romans and the blinded Pharisees, but a sight of pure love and beauty to us whom He’s saved.
In other words, at the cross, Jesus, because of the curse was nailed down then hung up so that we could be blessed. Yes, there is a mystery in how this works, but the picture of it is so striking to me. Something that was perfect became sinful and what was blessed became cursed so that a knucklehead named Troy could stand in a place called perfect and blessed.
The cross is both horrible and fascinating. A wooden wonder you and I need to say “thank you” for.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO EXAMINE THE CROSS. SEE THE BLESSING IN THE CURSE AND KNOW THAT JESUS CALLS YOU HOLY AND HIS!
From my book: BEST OF THE BREWER
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February 19, 2020
ALL MY EXES…
Today is the day to put away things that have been holding you back. Open your grip and move forward with open hands. God can’t fill hands holding on to something else.
ALL MY EXES…
If you are going to have an exodus, you will have exes within your life and that’s not always easy. I’m talking about things that used to be a huge part of your life that no longer are. If you don’t have any of these, I’m worried about you!
I used to cuss, smoke dope and ride bulls. Those things are no longer a part of my life because I grew up. Those things are no longer profitable – not that they ever were – and if I were still into them, they would hold me back and most likely kill my testimony.
You see, I’ve had a transformation. Jesus saved me. I follow Him and answer to Him. There is a huge contrast between my before and my after.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. – 1 Corinthians 13:11-12
How about you? Have you seen a huge transformation because of Jesus? If you have, there will be people you used to connect with that you no longer do. There will be ways of thinking you no longer think and things that owned you that you are now free from. There are places you used to go that you no longer want to darken the doorway.
I call these things “trophies of grace.” If you don’t have a few of these babies mounted on your wall, you’ve not truly had an Exodus. Jesus changes things. He just does. If nothing’s changed, you are still in bondage. Break the chains. Ask Jesus to save you.
When Jesus saves you, He changes you. Embrace that. Go after that! That’s the start of progression and progress always leads to good and better things!
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MOVE FORWARD. TAKE STOCK OF YOUR EXES. IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY, ASK JESUS TO SAVE YOU AND TAKE YOU OUT OF BONDAGE TO SIN AND DEATH THROUGH SATAN!
From my sermon series: EXODUS
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February 18, 2020
HATED FOR JESUS
Stop pleasing man and start pleasing God! God is looking for those who have a heart toward Him. God’s thoughts toward you are good and they are all that matter.
HATED FOR JESUS
There’s no more blatant example of Matthew 10:22-24 than Tim Tebow.
Heisman Trophy winner, tremendous leader, athlete, and drop-dead, sold out Jesus freak, Tebow has earned legions of haters inside and outside of the arena of sports. Why? Because he openly celebrates and honors Jesus.
This really breaks my heart. I know he’s not a Dallas Cowboy, but as a bad motor scooter for Jesus, we should be glad men like Tebow are on our side. I’ve had the great privilege of meeting his family. They are some of the finest people among us. Yet they, like me, are bad guys because we come in the name of Jesus.
I can tell you, being a pastor or being in the spotlight today in the name of Jesus is a lot like a disciple running for office. Look out!
However, if I’m being honest, a big reason I’ve had a hard time dealing with my haters is because I have an incredible burden to represent the heart of Jesus well. You and I have the potential of being a church that misrepresents the heart of Jesus.
Not on my watch.
The church and its people certainly haven’t gotten everything right, but I want folks to know God is the good guy. And if God is going to be known as the good guy, the people of God need to represent God’s goodness. It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance.
Tebow is a missionary kid. He’s served in the field and continues to feed, clothe, house and bring Jesus into some of the darkest places on the planet. For this, he is despised. Jesus told us that in these last days, people will call good “evil” and evil “good.”
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. – Isaiah 5:20
When you are attacked for His name, be just like Tebow, do good anyway! Feed and clothe people anyway. Do it in the name of Jesus because you and I are not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God to salvation.
No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, God’s Word says it and I believe it. While Tebow may be hated for a short time by small minded people here, he is loved eternally by a good God and celebrated in heaven as an overcomer. Are you?
“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” – Matthew 10:22-24
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO CELEBRATE BEING HATED FOR SERVING JESUS. PLEASING GOD HAS ETERNAL REWARDS SO GET AFTER IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
From my sermon series I LOVE MY TRIBE
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February 16, 2020
TEN COMMANDMENTS
Before beginning a trip, be sure to take along everything you need, starting with the God of everything.
TEN COMMANDMENTS
“Hello, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” – Exodus 20:2 Pastor Troy Version
That’s a great way to introduce yourself to somebody. Saying, “I’ve gotten you out of a mess and I’m not going to let you get back into it.”
Then God says, “This is how you’re not going to get back into the house of bondage”:
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image…
3. You shall not bow down to idols nor serve them…
4. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…
5. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it, you shall do no work…
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
Seems simple, right? But God knew we couldn’t keep them. We would bend and break them. So why did He give us the 10 Commandments? Was it so He could condemn us? No way!
See, people are whack. Although we say we hate rules and find new and more creative ways to break them, we secretly desire structure. Why do you think the children of Israel asked God for judges and Kings? Because they craved rules!
Although we need boundaries, they cannot become the thing we worship – doggedly keeping the rules but forgetting the heart of the one who gave them to us for our protection – yes, protection! Boundaries are how good parents show their love. It’s how we, like Father God, protect our children from harm and heartache.
Want to stay out of bondage? Learn to live within the boundaries God has set for your life. Break a rule or go off the reservation? Repent and run to Abba. It’s that simple. Remember, Jesus simplified this list of 10 down to two “Great Commands”:
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37-40
When all else fails – LOVE! Remember 1 Corinthians chapter 13 says “love hopes all things, endures all things, believes all things. Love never fails.”
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO RUN TO DADDY WHEN YOU MESS UP. DON’T HIDE OR WAIT. HE’S READY TO RESTORE YOU BECAUSE HE IS LOVE AND LOVE NEVER FAILS!
From my sermon series JESUS UNVEILED
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February 15, 2020
VAIN IMAGINATIONS
You have the mind of Christ. As you cast down evil imaginations, you make your Father in heaven proud. He is filling your head and your heart with eternal things, so have ears to hear His voice and His voice only.
VAIN IMAGINATIONS
While it’s good to learn from your past and prepare for your future, today is the only day you can control. Today is where you fight for greatness and go after blessing. Unfortunately, if you’re like me – and you are – you’ve found focusing on today is hard. Especially when you consider the conversations you have in your head.
Admit it. Thoughts of past hurts, offenses and slights pop into your head on a daily basis. Sometimes on an hourly basis. You obsess saying, “I should have said this,” “I should have done that,” or “What if…” You start to construct conversations in your head that transport you back to the anger and hurt.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. – Psalms 73:7
Then there are the imaginations of the future. You know, preparing for battle by practicing for fights that may never come. But they do, and mostly because you were locked and loaded from a false conversation or an imagined slight.
All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations – Isaiah 65:2
Like Adam and Eve in the garden, you are talking to snakes! These conversations in your head are deadly fruit the serpent uses to keep you wrapped up in your past or undermining your future. You’ll never move forward so you will never be a threat to his dark work.
If the devil can keep you fighting imaginary battles over imagined offenses with real opponents, he can push you into a costly war on a battlefield you have no grace to win. Yes, he’s out to kill your testimony and bring your upgrade to a screeching halt.
Wake up! When you find yourself reliving conversations from the past or preparing for a future skirmish, cast out that thought and the serpent with it. Call on the name of Jesus. Declare you have the mind of Christ, because you do.
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO CONFRONT THOSE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD. CAST OUT THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY. PUT ON THE MIND OF CHRIST AND HEAR HIS VOICE CALLING YOU TO DEEPER THINGS.
From my book Living Life /Forward
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February 14, 2020
I DON’T WANNA!
You are an overcomer! Don’t let the roadblocks the enemy sets in your way keep you from My work. Together we will find a way around the roadblock into your destiny!
I DON’T WANNA!
Well, in the midst serving – in planting and watering the plot of ground Jesus has given you – be prepared to deal with the “I don’t wanna’s.”
It’s a spirit of laziness where we say, “I’m not willing. I’m not concerned. I’m not going to get caught up in that. My schedule and needs come first.” Face it – laziness appeals to us.
If you’re so lazy your idea of a two-income family is your wife has two jobs, that is a major malfunction. You need to have a swinging vision. If you can’t get off the couch because Game of Thrones is on or you have a mani-pedi scheduled at 3 p.m. and your polish won’t be dry in time to serve, you’re a loser. Yes, you heard me – a loser!
God expects a harvest out of you. When you don’t have any passion or ability to overcome, you’re being rebellious. When you have no vision, no motivation, no calm, and all you need to know is comfort, you’re thumbing your nose at the Creator of the universe saying, “You can’t make me!”
Oh, He can make you. He loves you enough to let you choose because the consequences for not bringing a return on His investment in you are steep. He calls the lazy servant “wicked.”
‘For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ – Matthew 25:29-30
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO HOE A ROW IN YOUR FIELD. IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE, YOU’RE NOT WORKING. BRING IN A HARVEST!
FROM MY SERMON SERIES LORD OF THE HARVEST
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Episode 28 An Interview with Cindy McGill
Pastor Troy and Cindy McGill Discuss dreams and dream interpretation
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February 13, 2020
OUT OF EGYPT
Stay close to me. I am a well-spring of provision. I am the answer to every need. Don’t look to yourself for provision. Stop looking to others to supply answers. When you learn to follow me, you have true freedom.
OUT OF EGYPT
The wilderness is the place where you learn to live with God, day in and day out. It’s an ugly place because you and I try to take control there. The whole point of the wilderness is to learn to give up control.
When God shows up in your wilderness, amazing things happen. He says, “You don’t need to do anything because I’m going to do everything for you.”
You have only one responsibility in the wilderness: stay close to His side. Why is it so hard? Why do you want to run off and do things your way?
You and I love Egypt. It’s all you’ve ever known. Yes, you were a slave there, but it was familiar, so you long for the way it was. You run back to Egypt in your finances, marriage, relationships, work or ministry. The cycle never stops and you soon realize that light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.
Stop! You have a heavenly Father who wants to supply all – and that means ALL – of your needs. He is rich beyond measure and merciful without end. Learn to let Jesus supply all you need.
You see, where you were once a slave, you are now part of God’s family. The family is welcome at the table where you no longer eat scraps, but the best the King can offer. You are free to follow Him or go your own way. Just a tip, you’re way isn’t the best way.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. –2 Corinthians 9:8
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO LET GO. LET GOD PROVIDE YOUR IDEAS, NEEDS AND RELATIONSHIPS. HE KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING.
From my sermon series MILK AND HONEY
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February 12, 2020
HOLD YOUR NOSE!
When we have trouble seeing things in a way that brings His peace, perhaps it’s time to reframe the event that has us stifled. Invite the Lord to give you His eyes and heart: watch, pray and release His peace.
HOLD YOUR NOSE!
Your nose is truly remarkable. It detects up to 2,000 scents, good and not so good.
You might know the name King James because of the English translation of the Bible he commissioned, but you might not know this odd monarch didn’t try to live by the words he made available to others.
Though a promiscuous homosexual, he married Anne of Denmark and had seven children who survived beyond birth. This is amazing to me considering King James suffered from aquaphobia – the fear of water. It is said that he never took one single bath in his entire life!
When King James entered a room, everyone knew it.
There is nothing worse than someone who reeks of a major personal hygiene malfunction. Well, that’s not true. It’s worse to reek of a condition I call “stinkin’ thinkin.”
Negative thoughts turn into negative words. They bring darkness and despair. Doubt does the same thing, as does anger and jealousy. Coveting things that don’t belong to you also brings dark thoughts because it means you’re unhappy with what God has given to you.
Then there are wild imaginations. You know, the arguments you have in your head where you’re giving people a piece of your mind or getting revenge. These most likely will lead to actions. Or imagining you know what others think of you when you really have no idea.
You see, our thoughts become our words. Our words become actions and actions have natural consequences. One of those very real, very steep consequences is that you begin to stink.
Yes, your words and your actions will drive people from you like a rotting fish in the sun. You can’t feed the hungry, serve the poor, heal the lame or rescue the lost if they are forced to run from you because of the stench.
The Bible tells us we are to be a fragrant aroma to God. Like incense, our words, actions and, yes, our very lives should smell a lot more like heaven than hell.
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. – 2 Corinthians 2:15
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO LET GO OF EVIL IMAGINATIONS. TURN YOUR THOUGHTS TOWARD ALL THAT IS GOOD, INCLUDING JESUS.
From my book: BEST OF THE BREWER
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