Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 344
January 11, 2017
Where does Jesus want you to go?
The bittersweet experience that you are in will move you into that new level the Lord has set for you. Know that Jesus will take you places you never wanted to go, and He will always be with you when you are in that place.
THE BITTERSWEET
Remember that tasting the goodness of God is a personal experience? The Word, the heart of God or how we know Jesus always starts off sweet, but brings us to a bitter place. What the heck is that all about?
It’s the Lord leading us and directing us into places we would never otherwise dare to venture. He doesn’t tell us everything up front, but once we step out into that territory, we become committed to something we would have never committed to otherwise.
Example: God leading me to fix an old woman’s roof. This led to me finding out she had no food. When I bought her food, her boyfriend said he needed food and so did some of his friends. This led to a weekly grocery outreach which has now become the OpenDoor Food Bank. May wife and I have embraced it as our life’s work.
I’m no Noah. God said, “Build an ark.” Without even knowing what it was for or really what an Ark was, Noah did. Had God said, “Troy, build a food bank,” I don’t think I would have listened. Instead, Jehovah Sneaky let me take a step into the waters of the unknown, then wade in through the shallow end before immersing me neck deep in serving the poor.
The sweet part to feeding and taking care of the poor is that I get to see miracles, salvations and I experience great favor with God.
Now, here’s the bitter part. Feeding the poor cost my family dearly. Oftentimes, we gave away food when we didn’t have any ourselves. We went home to a house with no glass in the windows and no electricity. There’s no money in feeding the poor. For years, debt and doubt hounded me.
So now you understand why I say OpenDoor Food Bank is bittersweet for me. It is something wonderful that I had to pay a great big price for. Jesus perfectly explained this process to Peter like this:
“Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”– John 21:18
This is the bitter part of experiencing Jesus. It’s the part where we go where we never would have gone without Him.
WHERE DOES JESUS WANT YOU TO GO? TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO STEP INTO THE SHALLOW END OF SWEET SERVICE AND SEE HOW FAR OUT THE LORD TAKES YOU.From my book: GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL
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January 10, 2017
Are you on the side of right?
It is time for the big exchange…to exchange the lie for the truth. Take those things that the world calls “good” and find the truth in God’s Word for the lie of the world. The Holy Spirit is on your side and will guide you into all truth.
TRADING TRUTH FOR A LIE
Reality TV is anything but real. In this generation that is exchanging truth for a lie and good for evil, drama is also being swapped for reality and being labeled as “good.”
A good example is Bruce Jenner, an Olympic decathlon hero, exchanging his male body for breasts and a feminized face. With it, he exchanged the name Bruce for “Caitlyn,” a name that means “purity.”
Why? Jenner told Vanity Fair magazine, a prophetic “circus of worthlessness,” that as Bruce, he was always telling lies, but as Caitlyn, he doesn’t have any lies. Mind you, he says this while trying to keep his male genitalia from spilling out of his form-fitting satin corset and nobody questions it! Nobody points out how ridiculous the whole notion is because selfish drama is celebrated as “courageous” and “authentic” in American pop culture.
What’s wrong with this? The truth is, there are no lies with what he says if you simply reverse the meaning of the word “truth” and the meaning of the word “lie.” The book of Romans tells us about people who do this, and apparently, Paul was talking about us.
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.
– Romans 1:25
Today, anything dramatic that makes you feel good through selfish ambition is called “good” and will be celebrated even if it is destructive. However, it is not celebrated in heaven.
Now, I am not bothered by Jenner’s lifestyle or his decisions about his own body. He will stand before God and answer for that on his own. It’s really none of my business. I feel no need to protest him, to be mean or anything other than respectful if I ever meet him.
I do, however, object to the evil of the mandate that comes from society and the media that demands I call his lifestyle pure. God demands I do the opposite. I would much rather be on God’s side than on the side of Hollywood. Are you on the side of right?
…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
– Romans 1:32
From my book: GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL
January 9, 2017
Ready to change your life?
Position yourself to hear from God. He has a word for you that will rock your world if you will take the time to be still.
WHAT CHANGED MY LIFE?
I had only been saved a few months, when I found myself in the back row of a tent meeting in Grand Prairie, Texas. The long-haired preacher was wearing a white suit and fancy watch. He ranted revelation, preached and prophesied for three hours straight, an organ playing behind him and the crowd drenched in sweat on a hot August night.
About to bolt, the power of God rocked my 19-year-old world.
That preacher made his way back to my seat and said, “God showed me you’re involved in a court case.”
I was. He had my full attention. He went on to say he would give me a word on Friday that would totally change my life, but I had to come every night and sit in the presence of God because God was going to change me. It took some doing, but I made it there every night. I thank God that I did.
That preacher and prophet told me that I didn’t know it, but I was a preacher God was going to send all over the world. He told me to humble myself and love the people I was in court with because one day, they would be family.
Now, I had no notions of ministry and had only left the great state of Texas a few times in my life, but the Lord did His work through the Holy Spirit. And yes, the family I was in court with has been a big part of my life and ministry. My youngest daughter now shares their last name.
Twenty-five years have come and gone and all that preacher prophesied has come to pass. Though the prophecy was powerful, it wasn’t what changed me.
And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14
It was the presence of the Lord that truly changed my life that week. I fell in love with Jesus. He pounded a word into my life about advancement and progression. Now I’m pounding it into you.
From my book Living Life /Forward
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January 8, 2017
What's your character?
God sees that you have persevered and is building your character with a Joseph anointing. Continue to choose to serve God and He will prosper you in ways you could never have dreamed!
THE GIFT OF CHARACTER
If you are looking for God to prosper you, you not only need wisdom and favor, but character He can bless.
It does no good to know how to get your dream job, and to have favor with your boss, if you don’t have the character to get up in the morning and go to work when you don’t feel like it. Character is the God-given ability to make the right choice when most people don’t.
Character is working harder than you ever have for your goals, even when you don’t see an immediate payoff. It is doing the job when others shut down and pressing forward when others give up. If you have character, you constantly make things happen.
Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
– Proverbs 10:4
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
–Proverbs 13:11
Joseph is the best example in the Bible of how God wants to ultimately bless all of us.
When a miracle was required, he believed God and got that miracle. However, the main way he prospered was by being an awesome servant.
Joseph knew a secret a lot of folks don’t. When he was serving Potiphar, he saw it as serving the Lord. In prison and in Pharaoh’s courts, the work he did was for the Lord. You see, his attitude was that he would serve the Lord in every task, so he was successful in everything he did! Nearly 2,000 years later, even Paul recognized this.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
– Colossians 3:22-24
Tired of relying on miracles to get you through life, especially in your finances? Have an attitude that nobody can keep you from serving God. Whether you’re flipping burgers, changing diapers, writing a ticket on the side of the highway, digging a ditch or running a major company, do it to serve the Lord.
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO ASK THE LORD TO INCREASE YOUR VISION, TO ENLARGE YOUR TERRITORY AND GIVE YOU A SERVANT’S HEART, WISDOM AND FAVOR.From my book: MIRACLES WITH A MESSAGE
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January 7, 2017
He is worth the chase
It's time to stop walking backwards and to move forward into your upgrade. When you go backwards you are going against the flow. God is opening up streams of living water to quickly move you into that place He has prepared for you as you go after Him.
CREATED FOR UPGRADE
From little bitty babies, we were created to grow — to increase in knowledge, strength and wisdom. When Jesus the Creator breathed life into us, He breathed the yearning for more — to go deeper, higher and further — for upgrade.
“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself.”
- Isaiah 44:24
You see, God prewired the entire universe to continue to create and expand. He is still stretching it out and with it, He is stretching you and I as well. Yes, your universe is still expanding! You are not a finished product. God is still working in you and revealing His wonderful heart towards you and me.
This is why we are all creatures of hope. We want to pursue and dream. He made us to long for upgrade — but what kind of upgrade? Upgrade in RELATIONSHIP and KNOWLEDGE of Him. So what does that look like?
It looks like a whole lot of fun! Chasing after His presence by digging into scripture. Hacking time out of a crazy schedule to battle for our families in prayer. Seizing the opportunity to praise and thank the King of Kings and creator of all things. Devouring this TBM daily Word for the Day and other devotionals aimed at connecting us to the very heart of Jesus.
Yes, church and Bible study are also cornerstones of your walk, but Upgrade also belongs to you if you will pursue it.
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO CLAIM YOUR UPGRADE! DON’T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. JESUS LONGS FOR YOU TO CHASE AFTER HIM AND FIGHT FOR THAT NEXT LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIP. HE IS WORTH IT!From my book: LIVING LIFE /FORWARD
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January 6, 2017
It's time to look at your life
God has already given you the victory, so walk in it! As you walk it out you will take more territory for the Kingdom.
THREE STAGES OF PROCESS
The yellow brick road to God’s greater things is not a product of random circumstance. What I’m about to tell you goes against the grain of our fast food get-it-now generation.
Are you ready for it? God is a God of process. Strategic, specific progression.
Yes, there is a process He takes us through. We have to submit to it if we want Him to perfectly complete the process in our life. Those three stages are:
1. Egypt
2. The Wilderness
3. The Promised Land
The book of Exodus is a great starting place for you to understand this progression.
In Egypt, the Hebrews were slaves. What are you enslaved by? Finances, a loveless marriage, anger, addiction, poor health, a past you can’t shake, lies that continue to follow you, a job that robs your soul? When you’re in Egypt, you’re digging a great big hole for yourself. God is still with you and wants to deliver you, but you have to put the shovel down!
So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
- Exodus 1:13-14
In the Wilderness, the Hebrews were free, but they had to learn how to trust in God for their provision and build a relationship with Him. They failed miserably. They feared they would starve to death, so God provided manna every morning. They grumbled. They complained. They feared the unknown. Are you like the children of Israel? Do you long to go back to Egypt because it is familiar? Do you see the miracles God works in your life, but still doubt His power? Getting out of the Wilderness and into the Promised Land takes faith and action. You have to step forward into God’s promises.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
- Exodus 13:21-22
In the Promised Land, the Hebrews trusted God and took the land He had set aside for them. They learned that when you advance into new territory, you don’t fight for victory, you fight from victory. They no longer needed manna because they were ready to step into God’s promises and bear fruit of their own. Are you bearing fruit? Are you walking in God’s promises?
So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey...
- Exodus 3:8
From my book: LIVING LIFE /FORWARD
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January 5, 2017
Ask God for wisdom
God is granting you a spirit of wisdom and revelation by flooding the eyes of your heart with light. He is enlarging your vision for His plan. Watch for it and see where He moves you.
THE GIFT OF FAVOR
While miracles are wonderful, they are not God’s first choice to prosper you. He would rather you work hard so He can reward you and others around you through your success and generosity.
His best is the principle of “Seed, Time and Harvest,” also known as “work and reward.” If you are on board with God’s best and are looking to succeed this way, you need to be dependent of God for three things: wisdom, favor and character.
Let’s look at wisdom.
Wisdom is the God-given ability to see and know things that are not obvious to others. It is the ability to think beyond your circumstances and even your training. Wisdom is vision for something greater and the understanding of how to make it happen. The Bible says wisdom is a free download from God.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
– James 1:5
Wisdom is knowing when and how to move. It is being led by the Lord to apply for a better job at a specific time, even though that job is way out of your league. Wisdom can be a Spirit-led investment at a critical time.
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a picture of the original Microsoft team. They looked like a bunch of gypsies and hippies rather than the richest, most powerful people on the planet. Had you invested in them back then, it would have been wisdom and you would not need a financial miracle now.
Look around you. There are all kinds of trains steaming into better places. You just need the wisdom to know which one to climb on board.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO READ JAMES 1:5 AGAIN. SEE IF IT’S GOD’S WILL FOR YOU TO HAVE WISDOM TO PROSPER AND REACH FOR BETTER THINGS.From my book: MIRACLES WITH A MESSAGE
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January 4, 2017
Be a light in the midst of darkness
God is in you here and now. It’s time to go out into your sphere of influence and take Jesus to those you come into contact with. As you go, remember that God’s goodness is within you to touch their hearts.
JOIN THE FIGHT
I love being the good guy. I really do. I like taking the Gospel to prison to people everyone wants to forget. I like freeing little girls from the horrors of sex trafficking and letting them know nobody is ever going to hurt them again.
No trash dump, slum or ghetto is too disgusting or ugly for me. Why? Because I carry the weapon of God’s goodness wherever I go, and I know that good overcomes evil.
We are not afraid of darkness because it is inferior to the light within us. At first, the work of light and goodness is always in the midst of a huge mess. But here’s the good news. That means Christ is in the midst of us!
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
– Matthew 18:20
And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none other; and my people shall never be ashamed.
– Joel 2:27
For I, says the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
– Zechariah 2:5
So there Jesus is, in the midst of the mess called you and I. And there we go as His people into the ditches of this world with the mandate and the mission to change things.
From my book: GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL
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January 3, 2017
Follow God beyond the map
God is breaking the chains in your life where you have been bound, and giving you a Spirit of Understanding in the knowledge of Him. Watch as He floods your eyes with light!
OFF OF THE PAGES
There is an arrogant, cerebral bunch among us who actually believe God is confined to their understanding of scripture. I appreciate the fact they have 10 pound heads, but it’s really not very attractive.
Not only is God not limited to our understanding of the scriptures, He is not limited to scripture at all!
The scriptures even say that Jesus did all kinds of thing that are not even recorded in the Bible. The very last verse of, arguably the greatest Gospel, John, says this:
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen
– John 21:25
In other words, God reserves the right to do tons of things not written down, recorded or mapped out! The Bible declares that there are some things God speaks which He doesn’t allow to be written, as they are for the hearer only.
And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”
– Revelation 10:4
I would never advocate any form of departure from the Bible, so if I am pegging your cringe-meter, dial it down. I’m just saying that you have permission to experience God in a personal, powerful way that is way beyond our limited understanding of scripture.
When the woman with the issue of blood crawled to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, or when the knuckleheads tore apart a roof to lower their paralyzed friend down to for healing, they were not acting within the confines of what was written. Their actions, and their faith, were off the map!
They discovered a part of God’s heart no one had before.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO GO AFTER A REVELATION OF GOD’S HEART. SEEK HIM IN NEW AND PERSONAL WAYS AND HE WILL BE FOUND. HE EVEN PROMISES TO LEAD YOU OUT OF CAPTIVITY OF LIMITED THINKING, SO GO AFTER HIM!From my book: LIVING LIFE /FORWARD
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January 2, 2017
Are you fascinated by Evil?
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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