Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 288
August 27, 2018
GROW UP!
I sent manna to provide for you. I will also equip you to deal with upgrade. Grow in our relationship, teach others how to seek me. Remember, upgrade is not always easy, but it’s always better.
GROW UP
There came a time when the manna ceased for the Israelite people. A scary place to be, yet quite the opportunity! Such a powerful place. I know that place. I’ve been there. I would encourage you in the name of Jesus to press forward as soon as that manna ceases.
As soon as you upgrade in covenant, it’s time to move away from being a baby who has to be taken care of. That’s what the ceasing of the manna is about.
The next thing that happens is God will highlight a walled city – a fortress within your life that seems unmovable. It’s like a malignant tumor within your life and it’s something you need to pull down.
God Almighty will say, “I want you now to march around that thing because you own it. I want you to shout like the warrior you are! He will tell you I’m going to cause the walls to fall down and I’m going to get rid of that place and that place will never exist again, except for how you rebuild it and how you own it.”
There’s so much victory in that!
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. – Hebrews 12-13
I can almost hear the author of Hebrews yelling, “Grow up!” Let’s stop nursing on the milk and get some meat in our lives. Amen.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES EXODUS
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Grow Up!
I sent manna to provide for you. I will also equip you to deal with upgrade. Grow in our relationship, teach others how to seek me. Remember, upgrade is not always easy, but it’s always better.
GROW UP
There came a time when the manna ceased for the Israelite people. A scary place to be, yet quite the opportunity! Such a powerful place. I know that place. I’ve been there. I would encourage you in the name of Jesus to press forward as soon as that manna ceases.
As soon as you upgrade in covenant, it’s time to move away from being a baby who has to be taken care of. That’s what the ceasing of the manna is about.
The next thing that happens is God will highlight a walled city – a fortress within your life that seems unmovable. It’s like a malignant tumor within your life and it’s something you need to pull down.
God Almighty will say, “I want you now to march around that thing because you own it. I want you to shout like the warrior you are! He will tell you I’m going to cause the walls to fall down and I’m going to get rid of that place and that place will never exist again, except for how you rebuild it and how you own it.”
There’s so much victory in that!
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. – Hebrews 12-13
I can almost hear the author of Hebrews yelling, “Grow up!” Let’s stop nursing on the milk and get some meat in our lives. Amen.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES EXODUS
The post Grow Up! appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.
August 26, 2018
YOU ARE THE CHURCH
I get so excited with every upgrade you go after. Each step forward is a step closer to the great big destiny I designed for you. I made you to transform and to encourage others to go after their destiny and identity in Me.
YOU ARE THE CHURCH
Church is a strange animal and it’s not for everyone, though Jesus is for everyone, Amen. Truth be told, in the 23 years I’ve never felt like I should be the pastor of a church – never. I’ve dealt with this constant feeling you’re all going to find out what a knucklehead I really am.
I don’t like hanging out with other pastors. I never feel like I belong with them. I just never do. The first five or six years I led this church, I wouldn’t even let anyone call me “Pastor Troy.” By business card even said “OpenDoor Church, Troy Brewer, Co-Pastor.”
I had no idea who the other pastor was, but I was sure somebody legit was going to show up and take over. I’ve had to battle some big insecurity over my hillbilly accent and the fact I have zero education whatsoever. I’ve also had to overcome my past because I grew up where I preach and those people know what a rotten kid I was.
How would you like to pastor a church where you raised nine kinds of hell every single day of your life until you got saved? All that’s behind me since May of 1986. Amen.
With that said, I know many of you feel the same way. You may not be the pastor, but coming to church is hard. Getting saved is so great, but getting plugged into a church can be downright painful – especially if people there know you – the old you.
The religious devils among us do not buy into transformation. They will never forget the old you and make a point of reminding you of your history. They don’t want to see you change and will hold you back. That’s not God. God never reminds you of your history. He’s all about destiny.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
God, who is love, keeps no record of wrongs and my friend, we need to be just like Jesus. We need to let people change and, as drop-dead, sold-out Jesus freaks, we need to help them progress and transform.
Let’s you and I be different. Let’s bring the Kingdom of heaven to earth and speak life, identity and destiny over each other, especially those new to the faith. And don’t do it because you’re at church. Do it because you are the church.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES MILK AND HONEY
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August 25, 2018
IT ALL ADDS UP
I Am an all-knowing God. Don’t be frightened when you don’t understand what’s going on. Walk in My ways, partnering daily with the Holy Spirit and I’ll reveal mysteries to you.
IT ALL ADDS UP
The word “Kingdom” is in the Bible 28 times and, thanks to the book of Ecclesiastes, we know that 28 represents times and seasons. So, what does that mean? It means that the Kingdom is available to you no matter what season you’re going through. You can have dominion.
Just like that, the word “cross” is in the Bible 28 times. That means Jesus Christ has already guaranteed you victory no matter what transition you are coming out of or going into. You don’t need to be scared of any time or season.
A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. The Gospels record 46 such stories told by Jesus. He would point to something clearly understood, like a mama teaching her baby to walk, and say, “The Kingdom of heaven is just like that!” The Gospels record 46 such stories.
Now, 46 is associated with uniting things together. It’s a number associated with taking one thing and joining it to another. The number 46 is illustrated throughout the Bible. Let me show you something cool.
The Bible is written was written using Hebrew and Greek. There are 22 letters in Hebrew and 24 letters in Greek. Add them together and you get 46. A human being has 46 chromosomes. When the 23 chromosomes of a man’s DNA double helix is joined with the 23 chromosomes of the woman, it creates a human being. Like I said, 46 is about two things being united together.
The name “Levi” has a numerical value of 46. Levi literally means “to join together.” The 46th book in the Bible, 1 Corinthians, it says this:
“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” – 1 Corinthians 6:17
His word, nature, prophetic revelation, numbers – He’s talking to you through everything around you. He’s literally pointing and saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is just like that!” If you’re going after His voice, you’ll start to recognize when and how He is speaking to you.
God did not give us a spirit of fear. Walk in His ways and you won’t be disappointed whatever season you find yourself in and whatever voice He uses to speak to you in that season – even numbers.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES LORD OF THE HARVEST
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August 24, 2018
PITCH A TENT, NOT A FIT
There will be a day when you and I will see each other face to face. Until then, be encouraged and empowered that you are made in My image. You look like Me in the way to love others and selflessly serve. I see you and am proud of the resemblance.
PITCH A TENT, NOT A FIT
You and I need to be camped around His Presence. We need to be so aware of His Presence in our lives that folks know exactly where to find us – camped around Jesus.
As drop-dead, sold-out Jesus freaks, we should be the kind of people who know how to seek God and find Him – not just in having visitations from the Lord, which is cool, but to actually live with the Lord.
There’s a big upgrade from visitation to habitation. This has to do with your answer to this question: “Can you put God first?”
God Almighty is happy to move you out of the wilderness into the Promised Land if you will put Him first and be so aware of His Presence within your life. The first thing He said when the children of Israel crossed the Jordan and went over into the Promised Land in Joshua chapter 1 was, “Have courage.” Why? Because “I’m with you.”
When you have the One True God on your side, you don’t live in fear. You live a life of courageous deeds. You live a life of power where you take on hell with a water pistol. You cast down strongholds and slay giants. You know you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
That’s what being camped out in His presence will do for you. It’s like some supernatural Red Bull – His presence gives you wings. Presence doesn’t happen without pursuit and you know what I always say: God blesses pursuit!
‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13
That’s why you need to seek Him out. When you find Him, pitch a tent, not a fit.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES FIRST THINGS
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August 22, 2018
JUST GO!
Follow Me this day and discover the glory of My presence in you. With Me, all things are possible to those who believe. There if none like Me, able to do more than you could ever ask or dream.
JUST GO!
When you start hanging around Jesus, something happens. You start believing you can take on hell with a water pistol. You start saying, “You know what, I’m not nearly as big of a failure as I thought I was.” This is because the Lord is speaking new identity into my life.
“So, Pastor Troy, are you saying that you think you’re supposed to be great?” Absolutely, you and I are supposed to be great. All of the disciples got into these constant knock-down, drag-outs over this one thing: “Which one of us is the greatest?” Jesus never did answer that question.
Instead, He said something amazing. “You guys will all do things greater than I’ve done.”
That’s the green light to go for it. That’s the difference in the wilderness journey and the Promised Land. It’s in following that we learn the goodness of God. In the wilderness, you don’t move unless you see God move. In the Promised Land, He’s like, “Get ‘em, and I’ll just back up whatever you do! Whatever you put your foot on, I will give you. Just go, go, go!”
King David tapped into that kind of grace a thousand years before Jesus showed up, and what did he say? “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” See man, in this new covenant with the Lord, you go and Jesus follows you.
Jesus in the book of Matthew sums up what He means by “go”:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:17-20
Go! Go, in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, accepted, loved and forgiven – knowing you are never alone. Do those greater things God has planned for you.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES UPGRADE
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August 21, 2018
WHO’S YOUR MAMA?
It was from My heart that family was formed. It is to mirror My family and you are a great big part of that. Family is about unity. It’s not about agreeing on everything but agreeing We love each other. You are My beloved child in whom I Am so pleased!
WHO’S YOUR MAMA?
God loves to include women in His promises. Have you noticed our culture today dismisses the notion that motherhood is a big deal, despite the fact God has been saying motherhood is a big deal for nearly 4,000 years?
When we think of family and kid-friendly, we usually think of Disney, right? Well, consider this: Name me a Disney Princess outside of Princess Aurora (who was raised by fairies) and Rapunzel (raised by an evil kidnapper) who has a mama.
Pinocchio has Geppetto. Ariel has Triton. Nemo has Marlin. Snow White, Peter Pan, Pocahontas, Mowgli, Lelo, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Jane from Tarzan, the sisters in Frozen, Boo from Monsters, Inc. – they usually have a really cool dad or they’re straight up orphans. Mom is nowhere to be seen.
One story after another says, “This is what it’s like to be family,” and there’s never a mama in the picture. If there is, she’s an evil step-mama. My friends, it’s a sly way to reprogram our society so that family is whatever messed up design they tell us it is – and this morphs and changes constantly.
Let me tell you this: Hollywood does this on purpose. You can be mad at me if you want, but I will stick to my guns that women are left out by design and it’s demonic.
Think of how Christians are portrayed. If there’s a Christian character in a crime drama, they are the murderer – always. TV portrays most Christians as Catholics or plain crazy individuals. It’s the same thing in Stephen King’s books. The Christian is always the bad guy in anything Stephen King related – always.
Here’s what’s real: there’s actually an agenda and it’s anti-Jesus. The kingdom never, ever, leaves the mama out. The word talks about honoring your father and mother. Proverbs 31 is all about the importance of women in the family. What would Adam be without a helper? I can tell you this – it wouldn’t be good.
Mamas are supernaturally anointed to a make a powerful impact on the lives of their children. Don’t let the world tell you women aren’t important to God – that their kids don’t or won’t listen to them. Hogwash!
Know this: God listens to mamas. He loves and answers their prayers. Many of us were saved because of a praying mama, so pray on brave mamas and know that you are important to the Kingdom no matter what the world says!
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” – Proverbs 1:8-9
FROM MY SERMON SERIES NEXT OF KIN
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REDRAWING YOUR MAP
I have given you an expected end – a destination. It is more than just living in My Kingdom. It is an assignment on this earth to prepare you for an assignment in heaven. You are up to the task, so go. Be fruitful and multiply the blessing I bring you.
REDRAWING YOUR MAP
One thing you need to know about your territory in Jesus is this: the map is always changing. What I’m about to say might surprise you.
Religion has told you you’re never going to have ups and downs and that’s a lie. It has told you God wants you to be happy and that if you’re good, you’ll always be blessed. Religion has told you that you’ll always win and never lose if you have faith. That is baloney.
God Almighty has not called you to win all things or be happy all the time. God Almighty has called you to be fruitful in all things and have joy even in mourning. You are not going to win every battle.
And the reason why the map always changes is because sometimes you lose.
Sometimes you have bad weeks. Sometimes your mama dies or the doctor gives you a bad report. Sometimes you don’t know how to think about things. Sometimes you get attacked, sometimes there are devils from hell coming after you through gossip, lies or slander.
Sometimes the Muslims or the liberal socialists are losing their minds and they draw you into a Twitter war. There are days you don’t know what to do about your finances or your job. Sometimes you stand up to the plate, take a swing and get your hat handed to you.
Do you know what God does on those days? He cheers you even in your loss. He says, “Did you see My kiddo get up there and swing for the fences? They missed, but they learned from this experience and they’ll get ‘em next time.”
Learning, growing, progressing – that’s fruit. That’ll change your borders. So go after more territory. Redraw those borders until your Father says you’ve arrived at your destination. It’s your destiny.
You have increased the nation, O LORD, You have increased the nation, You are glorified; You have extended all the borders of the land. – Isaiah 26:15
FROM MY SERMON SERIES I LOVE MY TRIBE
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August 19, 2018
THEIR PEACE IS OUR PEACE
Oh, how I long to gather you into My arms when I see you struggle. Will you let Me? I have such peace to offer you. I will fight your battles, defeat your enemies and rule as your King. Will you invite me?
THEIR PEACE IS OUR PEACE
Jesus rules through peace. That’s why He’s called the Prince of Peace. And the majesty part of the Lord Jesus Christ is peace. A lot of times I don’t know anything but what I have peace about and I know that’s Jesus.
Now, my friends, peace is not the absence of chaos, trouble or war. Peace is when Jesus rules and reigns over something. It’s when He gets to have dominion over a situation, person or place. When that happens, all is right in that universe!
Here’s a real good indication of the heart of Jesus: Ask yourself, “What do I have peace about?” and see what comes to mind. It’s so important for us to be tuned into peace and to not be distracted by the things that disturb us. That’s an intentional kingdom skill set you and I need to develop.
Now, I promise you, the devil isn’t able to give you peace. He’s able to medicate you, sedate you, distract you and placate you, but he’s not capable of giving you peace. In fact, he’s called the “prince of the power of the air” – he uses the atmosphere to poison your heart and mind through what you see and hear every day on the radio, TV and social media.
If you’ve got anxiety, depression or fear in your life, you haven’t asked the Prince of Peace onto your battlefield. He’ll jump into the fight for your peace of mind, but you gotta go after that. If you don’t, the consequences are costly.
About 2,000 years ago, the Hebrew people refused to give Jesus dominion over their hearts and minds. After praising them as King, they turned on him. They missed their chosen messiah and it cost them dearly. Jesus says it best:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” – Matthew 23:37
He wanted them to recognize Him as King – to be their Prince of Peace. He wanted dominion over that holy city and the people in it, but they refused to accept Him. They’ve been battling for their survival ever since.
But that’s not you. You know where the devil has brought strife into your life. Give it to Jesus. Ask the Prince of Peace to fight your enemy. And while you’re at it, pray for the peace of Jerusalem – that Jesus would rule, reign and have dominion over His beloved people. Their peace is our peace.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES JESUS UNVEILED
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August 18, 2018
PUT THE MATCHES DOWN
I have made an investment in you and the fields we plow together. Be steadfast and patient. I have a plan and it’s a good one. Partner with the Holy Spirit and together we will have a wonderful harvest.
PUT THE MATCHES DOWN
Every time you burn a field, there’s terrible collateral damage. Burning a field is a broken relationship or a divorce. You don’t walk away from a divorce and just resume life. It takes years to recover from a divorce.
A lot of times, people never recover from a divorce. It changes the family dynamic so much, it’s never the same. Instead of caring for the field or fighting to pull the thorns and thistles out, they decide, “Well, there are too many weeds in this field. I’ll torch it and I’ll just deal with the damage later.”
Later is usually a few decades away. A huge majority of the salvations we see in church is from people 40 and older.
People make such terrible decisions in their 20s. It takes the entire decade of their 30s for them to get past the decisions they made in their 20s. Then, they don’t even begin to have a right mind until their 40s. Meanwhile, they raised kids in their 20s and 30s and now they’re all kinds of messed up.
The collateral damage from all the fields we burn causes us to fight a lot of battles we don’t need to fight. How much easier life is when you’re committed to a harvest through selflessness.
When Peter denied that he even knew Jesus in Matthew 26:69-74, Jesus could have just burned that field, but He didn’t. In Mark 16:7, He tells the women to tell the disciples and Peter that He would meet them in Galilee. Jesus knew that God would bring a harvest out of that field and He did.
Not everything worth having is going to be easy. Sometimes a field needs burned so it can grow back healthy. Sometimes a bit of patience and a little forgiveness can save the field and bring in a crop for the Lord of the Harvest.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES LORD OF THE HARVEST
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