Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 245

GOOD OVERCOMES RELIGION

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

God has a blessing waiting for you as you bless those less fortunate than yourself. He will fill your heart to overflowing as you give in the area of your greatest need.

GOOD OVERCOMES RELIGION

God called me to give away food to the needy when I was just 19-years-old. 

At first, it was to the homeless in Dallas’ Shanty Town, then on Lancaster Street in Fort Worth. We still do that outreach today.

Then old Jehovah Sneaky gave me a bunch of elderly folks in a remote neighborhood who needed food. That turned into the OpenDoor Food Bank, which blesses thousands of people in Johnson County and beyond each year.

Though there is no money or glory in giving away food, there is the blessing of God’s favor. The Bible tells us God loves a cheerful giver. Leanna and I have been cheerfully giving to people all over the world for three decades and I can honestly say, we walk in the crazy favor of God.

The kids were little when our food outreach really started to grow. I was getting more food than I had clientele for, so I went to one of the largest denominational churches in my hometown and made them an offer I was sure they couldn’t refuse. 

Let’s call this church First Big. First Big had a beautiful building with a congregation every pastor dreams of. Respectable, influential people who faithfully attended. I admired their reputation so I attended a board meeting and made my pitch: me, Leanna and the kids would bring food to the church twice a month and do a free outreach to the poor. We would wear our First Big hats or T-shirts and represent them well – no muss, no fuss and glory to God!

The pastor looked me in the eye and told me no. WHAT?? 

He turned and pointed to the fine fellows behind him, the First Big board of directors, and said, “Young man, you see these men here? They are never going to allow that to happen because when you give away food to the poor, they want to attend your church. They don’t tithe and generally want and need more. Pretty soon, all the people who do support the ministry and tithe well are gone.”

My jaw hit the floor. I left ashamed, not of me, but of them. God must have been too, because a few years later, He spoke a revelation into my head. I went back to that church. The pastor and board were still there, but the people were not. First Big was not so big anymore.

I walked in and told them, “I’m going to buy this building from you for $200,000 and you’ll need to be out of here by the start of the month so OpenDoor Church can start meeting here.”

It was a major lowball price. The board was outraged, but the pastor put up his hand to quiet them. 

“I remember the first time this man came to us. He offered us an outreach to the poor and we turned him down,” he said. “I can mark, to the day, when this church began to decline, that God took His hand of favor away, and it was the day we turned this boy down. Give him what he’s asking for.”

WOW! This act of God’s goodness speaks for itself. 

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO BECOME A CHEERFUL, CRAZY GIVER. GOD LOVES THE POOR AND THOSE WHO BLESS THEM – SO BLESS THEM IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

FROM MY BOOK GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL

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DO YOU WANT A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD?

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

God is working out areas of shame and failure for your good. He has made you more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who loves you! 

A VALUE FOR LIVING

Do you want a closer walk with God and a clear path to your Kingdom purpose? Know this: your value for self preservation is actually the enemy of your upgrade.

What?!? You heard me. Your need to survive is in direct contrast to your need to live. And no, living and surviving are not the same thing!

If you have a huge focus on survival, you will never move forward. Your fear of failure and love of comfort and the status quo, will hold you back. How do you deal with a fear of failure?

You must have a higher value for living your life than for protecting it. Jesus said it this way:

Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on…” – Luke 12:22

He is not saying don’t make a plan or don’t take responsibility for your life. What Jesus is saying is don’t live your life as a survivor! 

You see, we have to have a higher value for overcoming than we have for surviving. You are not called “more than a survivor,” or “joint survivors with Jesus.” Your heavenly Father calls you a warrior and an overcomer.

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER’S VOICE. HE CALLS YOU AN OVERCOMER. LET GO OF YOUR FEAR AND FOCUS ON LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL. DON’T BE A SURVIVOR. 

FROM MY BOOK LIVING LIFE FORWARD

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FASCINATED BY BAD?

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

When we put our attention on the ways of Jesus and walk in His truth, our thought process changes and we become overwhelmed by evil, or thoughts from the enemy that are contrary to the Word of God. James 4:7 says to submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. What a promise!

FASCINATED BY BAD

My life as a pastor has taken me to some amazing places — the Great Pyramid in Egypt, the Trevi Fountain in Rome. I’ve cried out to Jesus at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, seen Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal, the Amazon and, yes, Graceland!

But a major player on my geographic bucket list was Mount St. Helens in Washington State. The wonder of my childhood, it’s most notorious for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980. 

I was 13-years old when it erupted and it was a game-changer for me. That was the year I really started reading because I couldn’t get enough information about what had happened. The eruption was amazing, but that wasn’t the big deal for me. It was the landslide — the largest in recorded history where a mountain moved 17 miles and took 57 people with it. 

Yes, I was attracted to the devastation and the death toll.

Our flesh is naturally attracted to “bad” and is fascinated by evil. There is something about us that is impressed with it. I’m no psychologist, but I suspect it has something to do with our survival instincts and how we want to understand the things we fear. 

Whatever it is, it causes traffic in the northbound lane to slow down when there’s a wreck in the southbound lane. It causes ratings to skyrocket during disasters and scandals, and the tabloid racks to empty when a celebrity gets divorced or when a grandfather decides to become a female sex object.

What’s more amazing is that when we can’t get enough impressive bad things to look at, we invent new forms of evil to entertain us. We throw in a little sensuality and turn these monsters into romantic attractions. Face it — we love bad and it’s not a good thing.

“And do not be conformed to this world… Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” – Romans 12:2, 9

It’s important to learn to no longer love what the world loves. We have to hold tight to goodness instead of evil. Knowing Jesus and following Him is simply this: love what God loves and hate what He hates. 

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO RESIST GIVING EVIL A FOOTHOLD. WHAT FASCINATION WITH BAD CAN YOU GIVE TO THE LORD SO YOU CAN FIGHT EVIL WITH GOODNESS TODAY?

FROM MY BOOK GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL

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BLESSED ARE THE FLEXIBLE

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

The Lord sees your diligence in pursuing Him. Things that try to stand in the way of your pursuit are temporary and will pass. Be flexible. Focus on Him and His eternal love for you to overcome anything thrown your way. 

MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY

Some years ago, a friend of mine organized a big pastor’s conference in Costa Rica. Just a few feet south of Nicaragua, it was an excellent place for pastors to gather.

Usually, when this friend puts together a crusade or conference, thousands of people come, but not this time. Only 30 or so people showed up. I could tell he was very disappointed when the people he worked with did not do what they said they would in getting the word out.

Before we went in to bless the socks off of the small crowd, he said something that changed my life. “Blessed are the flexible.”

We preached for two days like there were 1,000 pastors present, and as the Holy Spirit would have it, that conference was a game changer for some of those pastors. It was for me as well because those four words kept echoing in my mind.

Was I a flexible person? Would I have handled that situation differently? Gulp! I was a “my way or the highway” type of guy. In how many situations was I not a blessing or had missed my own blessing because of my infamous inflexibility? 

I needed a serious soul invasion. What about you? Is your rigidity with your family, job or belief system so ingrained that you’re missing blessings and maybe even throwing curses at others? You don’t have to think hard about that – just look back to the last few Sundays.

What kind of hell broke loose on Saturday night or Sunday morning to keep you from praising God with your tribe at church? At my house, cars don’t start, kids bicker and fight, important items are lost, and all manner of chaos and miscommunication goes down right as we’re trying to hit the road. 

Now, that’s just a small example. Here’s a bigger one. 

I once saw a woman healed of blindness at a conference. She had prayed for healing at hundreds of times. Can you imagine what the devil must have thrown her way to keep her from going to church that night? My hunch is, she was flexible. Whatever problems arose, she let them fall away and went into the Lord’s presence. Because of it, she was forever changed.

You see, God is looking for people who can truly roll with the punches, because life throws a lot of them, especially when you’re trying to do His will. The devil is looking for an opportunity to sucker punch you away from bringing heaven to earth, so he messes with your plans.

Don’t let him! Learn to be flexible and keep your eyes on Jesus Christ. He will make sure the blessings flow.

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. – Proverbs 13:10

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT. ASK GOD TO UNVEIL THE PLANS OF THE ENEMY SO YOU CAN DODGE THE PUNCH AND FOCUS ON LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM! BLESSED ARE THE FLEXIBLE.

FROM MY BOOK SOUL INVASION

The post BLESSED ARE THE FLEXIBLE appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.

SEEK GREATNESS

There are some truly great writers in the world. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.

Sure, I can spin a yarn. I love to tell stories and, after the dust settles, most of what I write is actually worth reading. Why? Because passion moves things into greatness before talent does. 

Yes, it’s my passion for the pen and addiction to ink that makes my stuff worth reading. God loves to use passion for greatness. Because of this, you don’t have to be great to really be great.

Is Willie Nelson a great singer? No, and if you don’t believe me, listen to what a train wreck he sounds like next to Julio Iglesias in “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” Despite the gravel in his voice, to millions of people, it doesn’t matter if he’s a great singer, he’s just great.

Do you aspire to greatness? Find your passion. Discover how it can be used to bring people to Christ.  

Passionate about music? Write songs about Jesus and sing them to people without hope. Love motorcycles? Jump on your Harley and go to rallies where non-believers congregate. Passionate about fishing? Invite the unsaved to go out on your boat, then tell them about how God not only loved to fish, but has a real soft spot for fishermen.

You, who have shown me great and severe troubles,Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side. – Psalms 71:20-21

Your passions are yours and yours alone. Only when you find them, will you be able to tap into your greatness. If I put my writings side by side with Truman Capote, Harper Lee or Larry McMurtry, I might look like a train wreck too. But, like Willie, I’m not trying to be any of these people. On most days, it feels good to be me. It is all I have to work with, so I’m determined to be happy about it.

Are you? If you’re not happy with who you are, find your passion and turn it into greatness for the Kingdom!

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO FIND YOUR PASSION. TURN WHAT YOU LOVE INTO A WAY TO SERVE GOD AND BRING PEOPLE INTO THE LIGHT. I DARE YOU TO BE GREAT!

FROM MY BOOK BEST OF THE BREWER

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THE PRICE OF PROGRESSION

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

The Lord has the progression for your upgrade all mapped out. Step out in faith by taking a step forward and walk in your destiny.

THE PRICE OF PROGRESSION

Yes, my friends, there is a price to pay for moving forward and progressing. If the price is right, you could get the deal of the century. Thomas Jefferson did.

The largest land deal in history doubled the size of the United States at the stroke of a pen and the raising of a flag. The Louisiana Purchase was made in 1803 by Thomas Jefferson. He paid $15 million for 800,000 square miles of land.

To Jefferson, Louisiana meant the next step in expansion. The rally cry for America’s “manifest destiny” to span from “sea to shining sea” was his motivation. If he didn’t take the next step, the North American continent would eventually become Western Europe. 

This deal with arguably the greatest achievement of Jefferson’s presidency for many different reasons, but there is one I especially want to point out: the price of discovery.

Progress has a price. The Louisiana Purchase was made before anyone even knew what it was. The land had never been explored or surveyed. Everything west of Missouri was a mystery, but Jefferson gambled $15 million in borrowed money that it was going to be worth it.

Can you do that? Can you pay the price for something that has not been mapped out yet? Can you sell out for something simply because you do not have the option to stay where you are?

If you can, I promise that you will get your upgrade. Heaven applauds when you go after bigger and better. Go after your own manifest destiny in Jesus. It’s worth the price of progress!

And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. – Deuteronomy 28:11

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO PAY THE PRICE OF PROGRESS. STEP OUT IN FAITH BY GOING AFTER UPGRADE.

FROM MY BOOK LIVING LIFE FORWARD

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Episode 14 – An interview with Darren Stott of Seattle Revival Center (part 1)

listen to this phone conversation between Pastor Troy and Pastor Darren Stott ,of Seattle Revival Center in Newcastle Washington, as they discuss kingdom (church) government.

The post Episode 14 – An interview with Darren Stott of Seattle Revival Center (part 1) appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.

Episode 14 – An interview with Darren Stott of Seattle Revival Center

listen to this phone conversation between Pastor Troy and Pastor Darren Stott ,of Seattle Revival Center in Newcastle Washington, as they discuss kingdom (church) government.

The post Episode 14 – An interview with Darren Stott of Seattle Revival Center appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.

ARE YOU FAVORED?

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

The favor you have in your life will not be a “start and stop” action. Your continual movement will result in a higher level of blessing and create new opportunities to be God’s servant. God is pleased with your commitment. 

CONSISTENTLY FAVORED

If you want to see a great move of God and favor in your life, ministry, family or job, there is something you need to understand. It’s not enough to want those things, or to work at them when you have the time or resources. You cannot move to the next level or truly bless others until you are consistent.

That means you show up every day. You bring the right attitude. You do what needs to be done and strategically plan for more of whatever it is you’re after.

Over 21 years ago, I started taking groceries to a group of about 35 isolated elderly folks. I could have done that once, patted myself on the back and moved on. I didn’t. Every Saturday, rain or shine, crying babies, lack of sleep, lack of money – the list of excuses I would give to stop helping these people was never-ending. But I didn’t.

Because I was consistent with a little, God blessed me with more and more until I have a lot – the OpenDoor Food Bank that feeds thousands of people each year. 

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. – Galatians 2:10

In 1986, I was newly saved and wanted to jump off the deep end of whatever Jesus had for me. Back then, few people were interested in the homeless, so I started taking my band to play Christian rock on Lancaster Street in Fort Worth. The homeless would come for the entertainment and we’d feed them and give them clothes.

That was 30 years ago and I still lead a team that goes to that same parking lot every month. We feed, clothe, bless and pray with thousands of homeless people there every year, and guess what? Other churches have started doing the same thing at that same spot on weeks we’re not there! Wow!

Again, I was consistent. People were counting on me and sometimes, it was life and death. What would have happened if I decided to sleep in or say, “Someone else can do it for awhile,” because I was tired, discouraged or just changed my plan?

Now, you know that I have crazy favor in my life. God shows me favor in everything I do. He even brings me opportunities I’m not looking for, like meeting with kings, celebrities, hosting television shows and stomping around the globe. Why does God favor me?

Because I’m consistent. I don’t fall out or lose focus. I am strategic about the kingdom and I keep going even when others fade away. 

What about you? Are you favored? If not, look at where you are not being consistent and make a strategic plan to take that territory for the Lord. He will bless your socks off!

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHERE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN CONSISTENT. MAKE A STRATEGIC PLAN TO BE COMPLETELY COMMITTED. WRITE IT DOWN, GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER AND GO AFTER CONSISTENT SERVICE! BLESS OTHERS AND BECOME HIGHLY FAVORED OF THE LORD!

FROM MY BOOK GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL

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ARE YOU DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY?

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

The Lord is always there to pick you up when things don’t go as planned and you need a hand. He sees your value even in the middle of your mess. His goodness, grace and mercy allows you to learn from your messes and become more mature in your walk with Him. 

THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS

I can’t stand it when things aren’t done right, especially in the body of Christ. Like most leaders, movers and shakers, I get a God-given vision and I want to see it through – the right way.

The Lord made one thing crystal clear to me about the work you and I do for him: Just as there is a right way to do all things, there is a right way to handle those things which are not done right.

Yes, there is a correct way to handle yourself in situations that are far less than perfect or when you have to deal with shoddy work done by folks you trusted. First, you plan and plan, work and work, and do all that you can do. If the results still seem like a dud, go with what you have and make the greatest example of Jesus you possibly can.

Make whatever situation you have been handed glorify the Lord. Remember my mantra: blessed are the flexible. Retain your witness and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you through what sometimes feels like failure – painful failure.

Know this: there will be a time for corrections after the situation is over. However, at that critical point, Jesus is trusting you to make the most of a mess – and the most of His name!

If you worked at a large corporation where the boss was on the top floor and you never saw him, but you worked with his daughter, and she was always angry, blaming others, firing people and letting everyone know what a bad job they were doing, what would you think of her father, the boss man?

You would think he is just like his angry, messed up daughter!

Remember, we bear the family name of Jesus Christ. When we lose it, pass the buck or attack other Christians when things don’t go as we planned, we’re putting a black mark on our heavenly Father’s reputation. This is also called “taking His name in vain,” and it’s one of the Ten Commandments.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. – Exodus 20:7

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO REMEMBER YOUR FATHER’S GOOD NAME. YOUR ACTIONS ARE A WITNESS TO HIS GOODNESS AND MERCY, SO SHOW GOODNESS AND MERCY ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING AS PLANNED!

FROM MY BOOK SOUL INVASION

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