Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 237
December 24, 2019
MARKED FOR LIFE!
God has placed you here for a reason. He has marked His identity on your heart and the hearts of your children as well. No matter how far you or your child may be from the Lord, He will not relent making sure you know you are His child and have great purpose.
MARKED FOR LIFE
About 2,600 years ago, there lived an inconspicuous young man. He was the son of Israel’s high priest – a preacher’s kid, and like most PKs, his plan for his life didn’t include the ministry.
God showed up and changed that plan in a very big way.
While young Jeremiah’s daddy was famous in his generation, Jeremiah would be one of the most famous preachers who ever lived. His ministry was so powerful, we are still reading his words today.
The reason I bring him up is that, at the beginning of the book of Jeremiah, he records something you just have to read:
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
– Jeremiah 1:4-5
Here is God introducing Himself to this young man and making him an offer he can’t refuse. He essentially says, “Don’t you try to tell me who you are not. Let me tell you who you are! You are mine and I’ll prove it!” God then points out two pieces of evidence.
1. Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. That means that before there was ever a plan on earth for the making of Jeremiah, there was a plan in heaven for what he would do and an identity for who he would be. God took the formation of Jeremiah very personally, just as he does your child. Know this: God knows your child this same way.
2. Before you were born I sanctified you. To sanctify something means to mark it. God put something on him, that all the days of Jeremiah’s life, he would be set apart from the rest of the world – holiness. Holiness literally means to be set apart for God. Jeremiah wouldn’t be able to interpret it at first, but any time he wandered from God, he would feel it. He would yearn for God.
Moses did. He woke up one day after 40 years of living with the devil himself and realized he was on the wrong team. He knew his identity was not with Egypt, but with the Hebrew slaves.
The same thing happened to you, didn’t it? While you were in the world getting drunk, high, prideful or defeated, there was something inside you that said, “I was not marked for this.”
You can trust God that while your child was being formed, He marked your baby so that, sooner or later, one way or another, Jesus was going to win that precious life. Count on it. Prepare and pray for it.
“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”
– Deuteronomy 7:9
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO CLAIM YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE LORD. ASK HIM TO SET THEM APART AND TO HEAR THE CALL OF JESUS ON THEIR LIVES.
FROM MY BOOK SOUL INVASION
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December 23, 2019
YOU’RE JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER!
God’s loving-kindness is greater than any and all of your troubles. When you focus on evil, His ability to operate through you is reduced to your own resources. Focus on what He wants to do through you, then watch His goodness multiply through you.
YOU’RE JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER!
As people who are supposed to reflect the face of God, we are to love what is good. We are to do good and celebrate anything that is selfless, kind or uplifting.
Do you have a high value for the betterment of other people? Do you have the Kingdom perspective of selfless giving? If you don’t, you should. It will bring heaven to earth.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
– Romans 12:9-13
If you live as a redeemed resident of heaven on earth in the midst of this ungodly generation, you will learn to love what God loves and hate what God hates. He really loves goodness. He really loves seeing His kids go out of their way to be kind, and reach out to those in need.
However, He is ecstatic when He gets the glory for your goodness. To Him, it’s like hearing someone say, “She’s got her Father’s eyes!” or “He’s generous just like his Daddy!” It makes Him so proud when you point to Him and let people know your goodness runs in the spiritual family.
When was the last time you pointed to Him? If it’s been a while, find a reason today to practice goodness and brag on your Father in heaven. To God be the glory!
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
– Matthew 5:16
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO LOVE WHAT GOD LOVES AND HATE WHAT HE HATES. BRING HEAVEN TO EARTH BY DOING SOMETHING GOOD TODAY.
FROM MY BOOK GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL
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December 22, 2019
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Today is a great day to renew your covenant with God. Remind Him why you chose Him in the first place—because it’s all for His glory!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
In the 19th century, there was a renown symphonic composer named Anton Bruckner. Bruckner signed every masterpiece he ever wrote with the words “To the glory of God.”
Bruckner understood his purpose in life.
Glorifying God means being occupied with and committed to His ways rather than your own. Trouble is, the only way you can do that all the time is if you understand there is nothing in it for you.
In other words, your actions are based on covenant, not on need.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Going to church or serving because you think God will reward you is wrong thinking. If you find yourself being kind or generous because you think you’ll get heavenly payback, you are wrong.
To receive God’s favor, you need a covenant mentality. Covenant means that your body and your life don’t belong to you. They belong to God. He created you and purchased you back from sin and death.
Once you realize your life belongs to God, you will want to do everything in your power to bring Him glory. You see, covenant is giving God glory in everything and taking none of the credit for yourself.
In your public life or private affairs, God gets the glory. In your relationships, home, work, school, hobbies, words, finances – God is glorified – not you!
If a person I love leaves or stays, if I have money or not, if my plans succeed or fail, God gets the glory – not the blame – just the fame!
Can the same be said of you? Do you have a covenant mentality that says “I must decrease so God can increase?” Do you consider your life and your body belong to God, not you?
When people are all about the glory of God, their personal agenda takes a back seat. So where is your personal agenda? If it’s driving the car, put it where it belongs! Purpose your mind to glorify God in all things.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO INCREASE GOD’S GLORY. DEDICATE YOUR MIND TO A COVENANT MENTALITY THAT SAYS, “I BELONG TO JESUS. I WANT MY ACTIONS TO MAKE HIM FAMOUS – NOT ME!”
From my book: Soul Invasion
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December 21, 2019
HOLY HACKED OFF
God has given you permission to have a holy hatred of evil. When evil arises, it is time for you to speak out!
HOLY HACKED OFF!
There’s a stigma among cultural Christianity that the Brewer heartily maintains if false. It is the doctrine of “nice.” It is the belief that being righteous, and being Christ-like, is being nice all the time.
Yes, this morning’s sip from the Master’s cup has a little more punch to it.
Because of the doctrine of “nice,” Christians tend to fall in step with the crazy politically correct bologna that is being fed to us these days by, among others, the American media.
Where is the media when Christians are butchered by Islamic extremists or a Christian pastor is imprisoned in Iran for his faith?
A few years back, 23 Christians from Korea were taken prisoner in Afghanistan while they were on a mission trip trying to bring comfort to the people there. Several were killed and many nearly starved to death. It was barely mentioned on the news, and the media left their faith completely out of the story.
News reports said “foreigners” or “Koreans” are being murdered by “terrorists.” It was never mentioned that these people were Christians being butchered by Islamic extremists, aka radical Muslims.
The doctrine of “nice” does not want to hurt the imagined feelings of “them,” whoever “they” are, by speaking truth. If we speak up, we’re not nice and, they say, Jesus was always nice so you’re not very Christ-like.
Thus many Christians tend to back down believing this lie. Let me tell you something you’ll never hear at a traditional church service. God has not called you to be nice. He commanded you to be full of life and full of the love of God.
We are called to be salt and light to a world in need. Sometimes, salt stings and light gives us a headache. We are still supposed to overcome darkness for those around us.
“Don’t think that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace.” – Matthew 10:34 Contemporary English Version
It’s OK to get hacked off in holy hatred of evil. Jesus didn’t back down when the chief priests and Pharisees turned the temple from a house of prayer into the Walmart from hell. He upset the religious “nice” and chased out the crooks and moneychangers.
Don’t play nice. Be real. Be salt, light and love to a dying world.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO SPEAK TRUTH AND STAND UP FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. HAVE A HOLY HATRED FOR THE LIES OF THE ENEMY!
FROM MY BOOK BEST OF THE BREWER
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December 20, 2019
YOUR COVENANT & YOUR KIDS
God tells us in Isaiah 59:21 that His covenant is with you and your children. It also says His words will never leave your children’s mouths. His words will ever be on your lips, the lips of your children and your children’s children! You can rest in this truth.
YOUR COVENANT AND YOUR KIDS
Your blessing lasts long past your life. Really, it does.
Some of you reading this should be dead or in prison, or at the very least dying of some addiction or disease.
You should be miserable, without hope, without peace and without rest. But you somehow knew you were meant for something more – something better – something holy. You heard the voice of God and followed.
You read the words of Christ and knew they were for you. How? Because you had a mama, a daddy or a great, great, great somebody who loved the Lord and that blessing has been passed down to you! That’s why the Holy Spirit is leaping with joy inside you right now.
You are saved. Because of a faithful family member, you were set apart for mercy. And because you are saved, your kids and their kids, and their kids are also set apart for the Lord’s purposes. You might not know how to reach them for Jesus, but God does. Your covenant is extended to your kids!
Oh, my goodness, there is hope in that!
If you have been fearing that your kids will never get saved, have a right mind. Your kids are coming home. If God can save you, He can save anybody!
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:38-39
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO THANK THE LORD FOR CALLING YOU INTO HIS FAMILY. DECLARE YOUR COVENANT WITH HIM AND CLAIM YOUR CHILDREN FOR HIS KINGDOM WITHOUT FEAR.
From my book: Soul Invasion
The post YOUR COVENANT & YOUR KIDS appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.
December 19, 2019
Episode 24 – An Interview with Ft. Hood Survivor Cpt. John Arroyo
Cpt. John Arroyo and Pastor Troy discuss the 2014 shooting at Ft. Hood and why he lived.
The post Episode 24 – An Interview with Ft. Hood Survivor Cpt. John Arroyo appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.
THE BOURNE LEGACY
TODAY’S PROPHETIC WORD
While your journey with Jesus is personal, it’s also very public. He made you to share His love and His Word with others. He calls you a “living epistle” or story. Testify to Him!
THE BOURNE LEGACY
You were born not just to make it, but to make a way for others to make it.
All of this forward living is not just about you. Promised Land living is a constant awareness of destiny, legacy and leaving a heritage of forward momentum for others to build on. Yes, like Jesus, we are to be builders and carpenters.
There is an old adage that says, “It is easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.” One day, your life is going to require you to live up to what you’ve fought so hard for.
Life is fighting, pushing, running, overcoming, building, achieving, declaring and pursuing after God. Someday, not too very long from this moment, you will finish your race.
Now don’t start freaking out! You need to know how this works. For you to walk in the power of God, you have to live in the paradox of complete awareness of both your eternity and your short time here.
When you get ready for your big finish, I hope you can be like Paul – able to look back at your fight for forward and say, “Man, I fought a good fight.”
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Take a good look at this passage. Notice how Paul was not only thinking about himself at the end of his life but “for all who long for the appearing of Jesus.”
Know this: Paul fought the good fight, and the good fight is one that you win! Yes, you win! So, like Paul, finish the course. Jesus is the prize.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO KNOW THAT GOD HAS AN EXPECTED END FOR YOU. HE EXPECTS TO SEE YOU IN HIS HOUSE IN HEAVEN AND FOR YOU TO BRING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITH YOU!
From my book LIVING LIFE FORWARD
The post THE BOURNE LEGACY appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.
December 18, 2019
Need a Soul Invasion?
The Lord is ready to do amazing things in your thought life today. Receive His peace that surpasses understanding and the battles in your mind will flee!
NEED A SOUL INVASION?
The greatest of all commandments was made clear on a bright sunny day some 2,000 years ago.
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. – Matthew 22:37-3
Jesus said it then, and He is saying it now: your No. 1 priority is to love God. Not just in your physical actions, but in your mental and emotional lives.
After knowing the mess that has been in my head, it’s hard for me to imagine Jesus would want anything to do with my mind and emotions. However, He does!
He is willing to step into your thoughts and, piece by piece, item by item, remove the clutter and straighten out the disorder. And there is plenty of disorder in your mind, isn’t there?
It’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, Jesus removes all the shame from your actions, thoughts and emotions. He’s just awesome that way!
He is faithful in serving you, so you should be faithful in serving Him. When you serve Him with your love for His glory and not your own, He can invade your soul.
Do you want it? Do you want Jesus to invade your soul, change your thinking and shower you with the love of God? He will if you let Him.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:16
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO LET JESUS INVADE YOUR MIND AND CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING. LOVE GOD AND GIVE YOUR WHOLE SOUL TO THE SAVIOR AND BE TRANSFORMED!
From my book: Soul Invasion
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December 17, 2019
PROPHETIC PARTNERSHIP
If you stumble, get back up and begin moving forward again. Those who fail only do so because they choose not to get back up and fight. You are being strengthened in your inner man because Christ is in you and He will never leave you.
PROPHETIC PARTNERSHIP
I love the end of the book of John because we get to listen in on this very personal conversation between the resurrected hero of the universe and one of the recently restored heroes of the fledgling church.
Jesus asks Peter the same question three times. “Peter do you love me?” Peter begins to wonder what he should know that only the Lord Himself knows.
… and Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things. You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
– John 21:17
Now everybody preaches on the beauty of that message, and they forget what comes next. All of a sudden, Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Let me tell you something else I know…”
Where this conversation goes is outright glorious. Let’s listen in.
Most assuredly I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow me.”
– John 21:18-19
Did you catch it? Basically, Jesus turns to Peter and says, I bet it was with a smile, “You are going to finish really well.”
Famous for denying Christ three times, Peter had a history of cussing like the sailor he was and being unpredictable when overwhelmed. Knowing this, Jesus personally encouraged him by letting him know how his big finish would go.
“…Peter, you are going to go places you never would have gone before. I know how you are going to finish and it’s all going to glorify me.” Pastor Troy Version
I bet if you listen closely, you will hear Jesus tell you the same. I bet if you would walk close to Jesus, separate from the crowds, letting Him deal with you however He really wants to, you would hear something like, “Oh, listen. I’ve seen how you finish and it’s just plain glorious!”
Want a glorious finish? It’s up to you. Choose this day whom you will serve and determine not to twist off.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO SET YOUR FACE LIKE FLINT TOWARD JESUS! DETERMINE TO FINISH WELL BY LOVING GREATLY AND LEADING THE LOST TO YOUR SAVIOR.
FROM MY BOOK LIVING LIFE FORWARD
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December 16, 2019
THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
God is ready and waiting to answer you. As He reveals Himself to you He will confirm His word by two or three witnesses. Stay alert!
THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
“Why” is never a good question to ask God. When you ask why, it is connected to your pain or grief from a personal hurt. He’s not going to answer that. He didn’t for Job.
In Acts chapter 2, we have the true account of the supernatural power of God’s Holy Spirit descending on believers on the day of Pentecost. There, within the text, are at least two of the right questions we should be asking.
The first is “What does this mean?” The second is “What should I do?”
Now, “What does this mean?” is a question for big-picture thinkers. It’s attached to God’s purpose for your life.
Likewise, “What should I do?” is attached to humility and adds legs to your faith. These are valid questions for people looking for true answers to life’s questions.
In your short lifespan, there’s no time for the why’s of life. They just paralyze you and get you stuck because you and I cannot process the answer. Knowing the why’s of life is for later when we “know as we are known.” That’s in Heaven.
Until then, you are offered the person of Jesus Christ as the very answer to all of life’s riddles and questions. It’s an offer only a fool would refuse.
There’s nothing wrong with asking questions as long as you do not use questions to oppose God in your thinking. This is the reason “why” never works.
Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace.
– Romans 14:19
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING. DON’T ASK WHY. INSTEAD, ASK “WHAT CAN I DO?” THE ANSWER WILL AMAZE YOU!
FROM MY BOOK BEST OF BREWER
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