Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 332
April 30, 2017
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Take time to open Jesus’ gift of peace that surpasses understanding. Peace brings a refreshing rest to your soul. What soul couldn’t use the rest that Jesus provides?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Jesus-driven thinking helps and heals. This is what the Bible has to say on the subject:
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
– Romans 8:6
The Cherokee nation knew it too. Check out this spot-on tribal tale:
An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life. He told the boy, “A terrible fight is going on inside me. It is a fight between two wolves. One wolf is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and self-doubt.”
The old man continued: “The other wolf is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
He then told the boy, “This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute, then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The wise old chief replied, “The one you feed.”
What wolf have you been feeding? Just know the wolf of evil thoughts will eventually devour you, and likely others as well. Thoughts become actions and there is always collateral damage.
That’s not you! You can control your thought life and ensure the evil wolf starves to death.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO FEED THE GOOD WOLF INSIDE YOU! THINK ABOUT WHATEVER IS TRUE, NOBLE, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, OF GOOD REPORT, VIRTUOUS OR PRAISEWORTHY. IF YOU DO, THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU!
From my book: Soul Invasion
April 29, 2017
PREPARE FOR DROUGHT
Prepare yourself for a new day. Leaving the mistakes and disappointments behind, bringing your all to the feet of Jesus. With your heart full of repentance, you will be able to receive the latter rains in your life.
PREPARE FOR DROUGHT
God hates it when we call evil “good.” When goodness is not celebrated, when vanity is worshipped, drought and judgment are the result.
“…You have polluted the land with your harlotries and your wickedness. Therefore, the showers have been withheld, and there was been no latter rain. You have had a harlot’s forehead; You refuse to be ashamed.”
– Jeremiah 3:2-3
I think it’s amazing that just one month after America celebrated the lie of Bruce Jenner becoming a woman whose new name, Caitlyn, means “pure,” it was announced by Scientific American magazine that California was suffering from the greatest drought in recorded history.
In the article, writer Dan Baum said the “drought is transforming California in almost every conceivable way: meteorologically, geologically, biologically, agriculturally, socially, economically and politically.”
Yes, when you pollute the land with harlotries and refuse to be ashamed, it brings a game-changing drought that even science magazines will report. It’s a rehash of 1 Kings 17-18 and the sins of King Ahab and his idol worshipping queen, Jezebel, a name that means “not exalted.”
God cursed Israel with a devastating drought when Ahab and his evil queen led the nation into full fledged worship of Baal and Asherah. A false god and goddess made in the image of men’s evil hearts, Baal and Asherah demanded the sacrifice of children, sexual immorality and the rape of women.
The prophet Elijah warned the king of God’s displeasure. When Ahab, weakened by his dark queen, refused to be ashamed and turn from his wicked ways, God sent judgment.
Drought and famine hit like a hammer. Three years and many lives later, Elijah, proving once and for all that Baal was a false god by calling down fire from heaven, brought the disaster to an end. When the people saw this and repented, a rain cloud appeared. It grew and drenched the land.
Are you prepared for a drought of goodness in America? It’s already happening. Goodness is seen as evil and Christians are quickly becoming the enemy. Fear not! Do good anyway!
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your ways.
– Psalm 119:37
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO PREPARE FOR BATTLE! PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD AND STAND AGAINST EVIL. REPENT AND PRAY FOR AMERICA.
From my book: Good Overcomes Evil
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Displace the lies of the enemy with God’s truth and advance the Kingdom in your own thought life! God knows who you are in Christ. Do you?
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
When it comes to boxing, most would agree that Cassius Clay, aka Muhammad Ali, is the greatest heavyweight boxer ever.
The Muhammad Ali of the 1960s was certainly the fastest heavyweight ever. In the May 5, 1969 edition of Sports Illustrated, his jab was measured with an omegascope. Ali could smash a balsa board 16.5 inches away in 4/100 of a second, which is also the blink of an eye!
“I am the greatest!” he told his opponents and the world. “I am the greatest and you’re going down! Can’t stop it. You can’t stop it. Here it comes,” he would say just before sticking a lighting fast jab, then landing an unstoppable hook.
Though it’s obvious Ali was not a Christ follower, he reminds me of something about the kingdom of God. You see, anyone who starts hanging out with Jesus, no matter their history, begins to contemplate their own greatness. After a while in His presence, they become willing to fight for it. The disciples did, and often!
Today, I hereby inform you that it is my humble opinion that I am God’s favorite and can do anything. I am also here to tell you that the bug for better is contagious. Catch it, even if you have to catch it from me! Once you start hanging around Jesus and His sold-out followers, you can argue with me over who is the coolest cat alive. Jesus has a funny way of empowering each of us to believe that we are the greatest.
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
– Luke 9:46
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO START LISTENING TO WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT YOU. QUIT LISTENING TO THE LIES OF THE DEVIL AND KNOW WHAT YOUR CREATOR THINKS YOU ARE A BAD MOTOR SCOOTER!
From my book: Best of the Brewer
April 27, 2017
THE MINEFIELD OF THE MIND
Thoughts are like streetcars, buses, and cabs; there is always one around the corner. Resist the vehicle that wants to take you where you do not want to go. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. He doesn’t have a driver’s license anyway!
THE MINEFIELD OF THE MIND
Are you actively serving the Lord in your mind? Do you have honest and realistic mental boundaries concerning what you will and won’t think about? Do you set aside times for mediation on God’s Word?
If you want God to do great things in and with your mind, the answers to those questions should be a resounding, “Yes.” If you answered, “No,” to any of them, you’re opening yourself to attack from the enemy.
Known as the “father of lies” and the “prince of the power of the air,” the devil wants to control the atmosphere of your mind. One of the ways he does this is to deceive you into believing your thoughts are harmless – that you can control them.
Remember, your brain has teeth. Your thoughts do come back to bite you because they become your attitude. Your thoughts affect your daily outlook and disposition. That’s why the Word tells us to think on things such as this…
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
– Philippians 4:8
I’ve also shown you where the Bible calls your brain “the loins of your mind.” This means your mind is a reproductive organ. The thoughts you think become your words and actions. If your thoughts are dark, you reproduce enemies who want to destroy you! A good example is pornography. Porn always leads to ugly words and actions. Why do you think there is such a prevalence of child molestation and forced prostitution? Thoughts become actions.
I want God to do great things in my mind. Just like I want to see God do great things on my next mission trip to the jungles of Africa, the Amazon or the wilds of India, I want to see God move in the deep places of my thinking and the dark places in my accepted wisdom. My mind is just as great a missionary journey, and just as harsh and ruthless an environment.
How about you? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to personally deal with you concerning your mind? Have you asked the Lord to show you problem areas, and potential snares in your thinking? You need to. You need to have a scripture for each trap the enemy sets so you can quote it back to him and send him and his lies straight back to the pit he crawled out of.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
– Philippians 4:8
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CONVICT YOU IN YOUR THINKING. IF THERE ARE AREAS OF YOUR THOUGHT LIFE THAT ARE OFF LIMITS TO GOD, INVITE HIM IN TO CLEAN UP THE MESS AND GIVE YOU THE MIND OF CHRIST!
From my book: Soul Invasion
April 26, 2017
A PRAYER FOR PROBLEMS AND PROMISES
The Lord wants a personal relationship with you. He wants to go deeper than you have ever gone before. God has called you to this place with Him and He is waiting for you to press into Him.
A PRAYER FOR PROBLEMS AND PROMISES
Today, I want to do something different. I want to do something radical that we should do every day, but often just get caught up into other things.
Wherever you are, I encourage you to take a moment to worship King Jesus. Pray with me…
Jesus, I want to be alone with you. God, You are my life and there is no life apart from You. I am in desperate need of You, right now, right this moment. You are my God and there is no other.
I love how supernatural and unlimited You are. I love how You speak to me, command me, encourage me, protect me, lead me, feed me, provide for me and love me.
I am not a self-made person. All I have comes from You. All I am comes from You. All I put my hand to comes from You. I don’t want to do anything apart from You.
I don’t want to give my heart to anyone else. I belong to You and You to me. I know it is You who has saved me.
You taught me these things in the wilderness, where I learned to love and trust You. You were so good to me in my terrible wilderness, and I love You for that.
I will not forget you in my abundance. I will not say I’m too busy when You call me to my blessed place.
I am Yours and You are mine. You taught me that in the wilderness. Now, let it be true of my Promised Land. AMEN!
If we said those words every day – if we meant those words every moment – our lives would be transformed. Do you love Jesus as much in good times as in bad? Do you talk to Him and depend on His as much in plenty as you do in want?
I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
– Psalms 34:1-2
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER. YOU CAN TRUST HIM AS MUCH IN YOUR NEED AS IN YOUR PLENTY, AND WORSHIP HIM JUST AS MUCH IN YOUR PROMISED LAND AS YOU DID IN YOUR WILDERNESS!
From my book Living Life /Forward
April 25, 2017
HERE COMES THE JUDGE
Crush the lies the enemy throws at you by praising God and worshipping Jesus. When you replace wrong thoughts with praise and worship you will always overcome!
HERE COMES THE JUDGE!
This is what’s real: you have the God-given ability to arrest every thought at every stage of development. You can also advance those thoughts to the next level. Just because you are aware of a subject, does not mean you have to entertain thoughts about it into the advanced stages – that’s where trouble becomes manifest.
Remember what Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
– 1 Corinthians 11:31
For example, you can be aware of the fact you don’t have the money to pay your bills without having a mental breakdown. If you entertain that thought and let your mind revolve around it, it will absolutely advance into thoughts more painful. You will begin to panic at the endless “I should have,” “what if” and “what about” scenarios that will crowd your mind.
I should never have bought that new phone! What if they repossess my car? What about my credit? What if they turn off my electricity? These are the thoughts that will fill your head with strife and your body with tension. It will inevitably show up in some nasty behavior or malicious outburst and the downward spiral has begun.
First off, when you ask “what if,” the mental picture you are conjuring up is in the future and doesn’t include Jesus. If He’s the same yesterday, today and forever, He is there in your future so “what if” thoughts need to be cast down!
“Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established.”
– Proverbs 16:3
How do you stop yourself before your thoughts become worries, and those worries become actions? Be aware of the thought’s potential and JUDGE IT accordingly. At the moment you become aware that a thought wants dominion over your thinking, discern whether it’s from God. If it’s not, verbally commit your thinking to Jesus. Praise and thank Him for the answers yet to come.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO JUDGE YOUR THOUGHTS! ARREST THE ONES THAT WANT TO ROB YOU OF YOUR JOY AND TAKE YOU INTO DESPAIR. CAST THEM DOWN AND THINK ON BETTER THINGS!
From my book: Soul Invasion
April 24, 2017
CONSISTENTLY FAVORED
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
April 23, 2017
TAKE THIS CUP
Put your trust in the Lord and He will use you, not only to improve your life, but to improve the lives of others. Have an open heart. Allow the Lord to work through you and let the Lord be magnified.
TAKE THIS CUP
When things don’t go as we planned, or when others in ministry don’t do things the same way we do, we need to know that grumbling and showing our displeasure at the results is not only wrong, but a poor witness.
Rather than throwing a galactic fit and pointing the finger at others involved, remember this: Jesus didn’t demand His way while He was on earth. He was all about the Father’s will.
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
– Mark 14:36
If we are to be like Jesus, we have to set our will aside and ask that the Father’s will be done.
In January of 1850, there was a huge snow storm in England on a Sunday morning. An elder of a prominent church looked outside and decided to go back to bed. Surely, nobody would come to church on such an inclement day. However, he realized he was acting on his will, not the Father’s.
So the elder waded through the snow to the church, where he sat alone. As he was about to leave, a young man, 15, walked through the door. The elder decided he would do his best to come up with a sermon.
Fumbling with the words, he managed what he felt was a weak attempt at the Gospel message and was surprised when the boy accepted the message of salvation. That boy was Charles Spurgeon – the “Prince of Preachers” whose sermons, commentaries and devotionals paved the way for revival in the 20th century.
What if that elder had decided to stay in bed, or worse yet, leave because one person was not important enough for all the effort he’d put into getting there? What if he had badmouthed the pastor and other elders for not showing up? He could have skipped the sermon, after all, he wasn’t the preacher. Instead, he bowed to God’s will. He knew his attempts were feeble and the audience small, but God used this elder’s weakness to prove His greatness.
The next time you are tempted to grumble when your efforts don’t seem to be successful, remember the results are not up to you, so represent your God well.
…fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
– Philippians 2:2-3
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO LET GOD’S WILL SUPERSEDE YOURS. DO NOT GRUMBLE WHEN THINGS DON’T GO AS YOU PLANNED. INSTEAD, GIVE IT TO GOD AND WATCH BEAUTY COME FROM ASHES.
From my book: Soul Invasion
April 22, 2017
THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED, REVISITED
Overcome past hurts by asking Jesus to redeem your past. Jesus has already brought victory into your life by His blood, so apply it to the wounds of your past and see Him work in new ways in your life!
THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED, REVISITED
On Oct. 7, 1995, Waylon Jennings returned to Clear Lake, Iowa, the same way he left 36 years earlier – by bus. More than 2,000 fans packed the Surf Ballroom to see a world famous performer retrace some painful steps taken years ago.
You see, Waylon was made famous by not being on the plane that crashed Feb. 3, 1959, killing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. As you might have guessed, the last place Waylon wanted to revisit was the Surf Ballroom. Why? Because one of the seats on that airplane was actually his.
The Big Bopper was scheduled to be on the bus. Having the flu, he asked Waylon to switch with him. Being low man on the totem pole, Waylon agreed. Buddy Holly teased him, saying, “I hope your old bus freezes up. It’s 40-below out there and you’re gonna get awful cold.”
Waylon turned to him and said the last words he would ever say to his close friend – words he would regret for years to come. “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes.”
The next day, Waylon found out the same way the rest of the world did that three American music greats were dead. He spent several days sitting in a little diner at rock bottom wondering about his place in the world.
So, three decades later, Waylon returned to the Surf Ballroom. Gone was the clean cut look. As he walked onto the stage in his old age with his long hair and unshaven face, the music was different and so was he.
“This is kind of a special night for me,” he told the crowd. “I lost some great friends that night. You should have known Buddy, Ritchie and the Big Bopper. They were great. That’s all I’m going to say about that.” He then broke into “Me and Bobby McGee.”
That concert was more than a performance by a musician. It was about a man coming back to face the most tragic event of his life. You see, Waylon was an overcomer. When he left Clear Lake the first time, he was a struggling bass player in Buddy’s band whose future was in serious doubt. When he returned, he was a country music legend.
He went back to that place, but not as the same person he used to be. I don’t know if Waylon knows Jesus, but I know this: God will eventually lead you back to those places where you were once defeated and have you stand there as the bad motor scooter He made you to be.
“For thy sake, we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
– Romans 8:36-37
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO RISE ABOVE YOUR PAST. THE THINGS THAT HAUNT YOU HAVE BEEN DEFEATED BECAUSE YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!
From my book: Best of the Brewer
April 21, 2017
THE FACE WITH THE NAME
The Lord will set up a way for you to present Jesus to people in a way they never expected. Be prepared to show His goodness.
THE FACE WITH THE NAME
It’s not enough to just teach Jesus. You and I need to teach the goodness of Jesus through selfless acts of service and demonstrations of what Heaven values.
You see, the world doesn’t believe that God is good. Life is hard. Loved ones get sick or addicted. People die. There are more mouths to feed than money. Jobs are lost and disasters seem to strike from all sides.
Though God doesn’t cause these things to happen – we live in the fallen world as the consequence of sin – people believe that when bad invades their life, God is getting revenge for something they did wrong.
So what do you tell the lost, hurting and downright angry? Simple. Tell them God is not mad at them. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been reconciled to the Father. That means there is no animosity between us. God’s not mad at anyone!
That’s good news to a dying world that has fashioned God in the image of man – vengeful, spiteful and filled with anger. You and I need to paint a different picture of who God is with our actions.
We need to paint Him as good, because He is. How people are treated in Heaven should be how people are treated on earth by those who bear the name of Christ. Let’s paint a new face – the true face – of God for all the world to see.
A face that loves His creation. A face that is good.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
– 1 Corinthians 2:4
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO PAINT A PICTURE OF GOD THROUGH YOUR GOOD DEEDS. GIVE HIM THE GLORY AND LET PEOPLE SEE JESUS FOR WHO HE REALLY IS – GOOD.
From my book: Good Overcomes Evil
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