Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 345
January 1, 2017
Be a hero!
Where ever you look and see chaos, chances are there is a prisoner of war there. As you move in like a hero to fight, you will see the victory that Jesus died to give you!
WHERE TO RUN
Few people have the compulsion to run into a burning building. Those who do, we call heroes.
God is looking for heroes, because, let’s face it, this earth is a burning building and people are going to hell every day. Meanwhile, we cower in the shadows (what if I get hurt?), ignore the screams (I just don’t know any non-Christians) or pass the buck (there are missionaries for that) on the mess that is this world and the fallen people in it.
But God isn’t afraid of this mess we’ve made for ourselves. Specifically, He’s not afraid of YOUR mess. He has already scaled the flames and saved you from chaos, destruction and death. Determine right now to run to Jesus with your messes instead of running away from Him in shame or fear.
When you no longer run from the Lord, but to Him with your mess, you eventually learn to not run from evil and the messes of this world. That’s where good overcomes evil and the church starts to take on hell with a water pistol!
Running into the messes of this world also means running into the messes of people. One of the church’s biggest mistakes has been to vilify the unsaved as wanton sinners who love darkness and hate light. This is not the truth! The Bible says God doesn’t want anyone to perish!
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9
God sees the unsaved for what they are – prisoners of war. They are POWs in the cosmic battle of Good vs. Evil, Jesus vs. Satan, Heaven vs. hell. We don’t leave POWs to die in chains. We plan and execute a search and rescue mission to free them!
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO SET ASIDE FEAR AND EXCUSES. BE A HERO! SEARCH OUT A POW AND BEGIN YOUR PLAN TO FREE THEM FROM THE DEVIL’S CHAINS.From my book: GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL
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December 31, 2016
Start the process and never look back
God is making a way for you to move into His specific plan. Be prepared to walk in unknown paths.
GUTS FOR HIS GLORY
Again, God is a God of process. If you can stomach the process, there is a monster payoff most people only dream about.
I am talking about the realization of God’s specific plan, purpose and yes, promises for your life. There is something much better for you and the Word clearly shows you how to get it.
Nobody just wakes up and finds themselves in the midst of God’s promises for their lives. If you see someone’s glory, don’t forget to check out their story. There has never been, and there never will be, a great man or woman of God without great affliction. Process is never easy, though it is rewarding.
Remember the three stages? They are Egypt, the Wilderness and the Promised Land. The reason for these three stages is not because God changes from stage to stage, but because we change! We catch the vision for our upgrade. We get a vision of a future with something better. We mature.
Within those three stages, there are lots of things which need accomplished within us before we can move on to the next level.
Take for instance money. If you’ve always been a slave to your finances and are drowning in a sea of debt, that mess is your Egypt. If you want out, ask God for deliverance, then WALK IN IT by making a plan for your money and bringing spending under control. Now, you’ve stepped into the Wilderness.
In the Wilderness, you continue to keep expenses under control and follow your financial plan (budget). You learn to trust God and you begin to tithe. You acknowledge the source of your money by giving it back to God to be used for His purposes. When you see the way you are blessed through tithing, you decide to give sacrificially over and above that 10 percent. Now, you’re stepping into the Promised Land.
In the financial Promised Land, your debt begins to melt away as your generosity to the poor and needy increases. You continue with your plan and keep your spending in check because the money you are giving away is actually being used to keep people across the world alive! In the Promised Land, you fight for them and God gives you even more financial freedom so you can give even more away!
Are you getting the picture? Want out of debt? Make a plan, stick to it and be a crazy giver. Process!
From my book: LIVING LIFE /FORWARD
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December 30, 2016
why should you go to church?
King David was a Rock Star in the Bible and he faced all kinds of problems. But the one thing David loved was to be in the presence of God. We gain strength to face the trials during the week and peace to keep calm to make good decisions. One word from God can change your life. Psalms 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said to me ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’"
REASONS YOU SHOULD GO TO CHURCH
If the question is, “Can a Christian miss church without missing Heaven,” the answer is absolutely yes. But this answer is deceiving because other questions need to be asked.
I would be the first in line to say that you don’t have to go to church to be saved. I would also be the first in line to say these things as well. A Christian…
1. cannot be effective without being connected and submitted to other believers.
2. cannot be successful long-term without being connected and submitted to other believers.
3. will not grow the way he is meant to grow without being connected, committed and submitted to the church.
4. will miss out on a lot of what God is speaking to him if he is not under the teaching of a Spirit-led pastor.
5. will not be able to use his God-given gifts without being a part of a fellowship of believers.
6. will miss out on great life changing moves of God because he won’t be present.
7. will miss out on blessings because he is not connected or serving.
Do you have to attend church to make it into Heaven? No. But it’s like showing up to a party where you don’t know anyone and you forgot to bring a gift.
That’s not you.
From my book: SOUL INVASION
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December 28, 2016
Hold on to God's promises
Life is not fair! We have an enemy, the devil, that seeks to steal, kill and destroy. This ought to be enough to make you want to fight. But Jesus came to give us an abundant life. So put your confidence in His promises and experience a flourishing life.
THE BATTLE FOR BETTER
Do you have promises you hold on to when the devil bombards you with lies about your life? If you don’t, I would encourage you to make an “inventory of hope” or a God-given list of promises He has given you.
Remember, the next time you begin to believe that things will never get better, ask yourself, “Who told me that?” It wasn’t Jesus! There is always hope in Jesus and the book of Hebrews says He is the God of better things. Jeremiah agrees.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
This is one of the most beloved promises of God, but there are conditions. Keep reading through verse 14.
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will lead you out of captivity.”
You have a responsibility to seek Him, pray and come to Him. God wants to lead you out of the captivity of thinking “things will never get better” but you have to let Him lead you!
If you are following Jesus, He is leading you into better places – green pastures and still waters. But don’t discount the “valley of the shadow of death” which everyone passes through in life. It is here that you fear no evil because He is with you! You see, better does not mean easy. Better things are always harder.
Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
– 1 Peter 1:13
And while you battle the mindset that “things will never get better” deploy the weapon of the truth: God’s promises for your life and the confident expectation – hope – that sustains you.
CHASE AFTER JESUS. TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO STAND ON THE PROMISES OF GOD. HANG ON TO THEM, PROFESS THEM AND STAND ON THEM BECAUSE THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.From my book: SOUL INVASION
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December 27, 2016
New discovery awaits
You are heading down the trail into a new discovery that God is so pleased to show you. Take the time to follow the Holy Spirit as He shows you His treasure.
HIS HEART IN THE HEADLINES
In 2005, a giant waterfall was discovered in California. The 400-foot hidden wonder was found just 15 miles from a national park headquarters in Shasta County. It had been there for centuries and nobody knew it.
Now, 400 feet of raging whitewater sounds like it would be hard to miss, but miss it they did. I believe it is a prophetic voice for you and I.
Something so magnificent waiting to be discovered could only be seen from above. Nobody trekked in and discovered it. It was found through satellite images.
Sometimes you can’t see the proverbial forest for the trees and sometimes you can’t see the 400-foot raging waterfall because it is off the trail everybody traditionally walks on. This waterfall was there all the time, but it was off the map.
I hear the heartbeat of the Father in this event. God knew it was there all the time. He was just waiting for someone to discover it. When they did, I’m sure it was a great day for the Lord.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
- Proverbs 3:5-6
The Father is waiting for you to move forward for upgrade. He wants you to discover new facets of Him and to explore new opportunities to share Him with others.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO ASK GOD FOR A NEW DISCOVERY OF HIM AND HIS MASTER PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED BY WHAT YOU FIND.From my book: LIVING LIFE /FORWARD
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December 26, 2016
what's your story?
God has a plan for you. Conform your life to that plan. Your destiny is greater than your history.
THE STORY AND THE GLORY
In order to get God’s glory, you have to have a story.
You see, nobody gets an upgrade without going through a fiery furnace or two. The action of attempting to move forward and gain momentum means hard work, challenges and setbacks.
From the time she was little bitty, my daughter Maegan wanted to be a nurse. She told my wife when she was four that “I want to wear a white suit.”
Her grandmother and several of her aunts are nurses and, sure enough, today Maegan is an RN. She serves the Lord and the people He loves by living out her dream. People see her glory.
What they don’t see is her story. What did it cost her to be a nurse? In order for Meagan to realize her God-given dream, she had to go through an incredibly difficult process.
She never loved school, so she had to conform herself to being a good student. She didn’t know anything about financial aid or grants, so she had to wrap her head around those difficult things to pay for school. Driving in Dallas was a nightmare, as was working full-time while being a full-time student. She had financial, social and spiritual dilemmas as she was learning how to navigate the world of medicine.
It wasn’t easy, but she made it seem that way. People see her glory, but not her story.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
- Jeremiah 29:11
Are you ready for that? If you go after your God-given dream, His plan for your life, are you willing to put your nose to the grindstone and push through the challenges? It is never easy to go after upgrade and God’s best for your life. It is, however, worth it as you will usher others into the Kingdom.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO BEGIN WRITING YOUR STORY. STEP INTO UPGRADE BY EMBRACING GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. KNOW IT WILL BE HARD, BUT ETERNALLY REWARDING!From my book: LIVING LIFE /FORWARD
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December 25, 2016
Are you hungry for God?
They that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). The good part about hunger for the soul is that you can never get full. The more you eat of the Word, the more you want. Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). Hunger for God’s love makes us overcomers. Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. He that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst (John 6:35).
HUNGRY FOR GOD
I was stomping around Rome with my wife on a trip to Europe when I saw this long line of people.
Tourists from every corner of the globe – fat ones, skinny ones, tall and short. Americans with loud colored shirts, Asians with big cameras and selfie sticks and Europeans with skinny sunglasses and tight fitting black clothes. All tourists and all in line.
“What the heck is that,” I asked out loud after the fourth city block of this single file mass of humanity.
“It is the line for the Sistine Chapel,” said our taxi driver.
Thanks to the worldwide web, I found out from TripAdvisor that waiting in line without a guided tour can take an entire day before you are herded through for a break-neck glance at what they were all waiting to see – the painting that changed history.
“The Creation of Adam” painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, started a revival across Europe that crushed the Catholic domination of the church because it gave people a new revelation of God.
Before that, people thought of God as the cosmic punisher. They believed He was just waiting to hammer them with disease, disaster, darkness and despair if they messed up in any way. God, they thought after the death and destruction of the Crusades, cannot possibly be good.
Then came this beautiful, inspired painting of a benevolent God gladly imparting life – not death or punishment – to the lifeless Adam. The truth was revealed and it blew people away. They had not dared to think of God as good. Could He be?
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
- John 6:35
The answer is yes. He is good. He is a life-giver. It’s a truth we need to be shouting from the rooftops even today. People in the 21st century are hungry for the goodness of God. Many just don’t know that He brings life, not death. See the line of people at the Sistine Chapel? They wait all day for a glimpse of goodness. Show them there is more! He is more!
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO SHINE THE SPOTLIGHT ON GOD'S GOODNESS. TELL SOMEOME TODAY THAT GOD IS NOT MAD AT THEM. IT WILL BLOW THEM AWAY AND OPEN A CONVERSATION WHICH COULD HAVE AN INTERNAL IMPACT!
From my book: GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL
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December 24, 2016
Ready for your progression?
Declare that you will gain more knowledge of God and move from the outer courts to the Holy of Holies.
READY FOR YOUR PROGRESSION?
Can you see the steps in the three stages of progression – Egypt, the Wilderness and the Promised Land? I hope they are becoming clearer.
I want to ask you, are you a 30-fold Christian like what Jesus talked about in Matthew 13? Or do you fall into the rare category of 60-fold? Do you want to be a part of the endangered species of 100-fold Christians? If you do, you have to get to the Holy of Holies.
Even the Jewish temple was a picture of progression. God is always speaking if you have an ear to hear.
The outer courts were where the masses gathered. They prayed, brought their sacrifices and waited for the priests who read from the scriptures. Only the priests were allowed in the inner sanctuary. This is where they performed the sacrifices for the people and prayed for the forgiveness of sins.
The very center of the temple, the Holy of Holies, is where the Ark of the Covenant and the judgement seat of God was located. It is where God Himself was present and a thick wool curtain separated it from the inner sanctuary. Once each year, a single priest was allowed in to perform sacrifices for the nation, atoning for its sins.
You see, God’s presence was not experienced by the masses. When Jesus died on the cross, the Bible records that the curtain, or veil, that separated the Holy of Holies from the inner sanctuary was physically ripped from top to bottom. This was to signify that access was granted to the heart of God Himself to anyone who wanted to enter.
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
- Exodus 33:14
The trouble is, most are happy to stay in the outer courts with the masses. They happily attend church, maybe a Bible study here and there, and sport a fish symbol on the back of their modest car while wearing their “What Would Jesus Do” T-shirt. Is that you? Do you think you’ve arrived because you’re saved and growing in knowledge of God?
Dare to want more! Knowledge of God is great, but relationship and walking in His presence – that’s the ultimate goal. You and I should be running into the Holy of Holies where few even think to enter!
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO TAKE A STEP TOWARD THE HEART OF GOD. PROGRESS TOWARD THE HOLY OF HOLIES WHERE YOU WILL LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.From my book: LIVING LIFE /FORWARD
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December 23, 2016
It's time to overshadow evil
When we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh we have the strength and power of God. There should be no fear! Galatians 5:22-26 tells us how to get the proper perspective to show God’s love to people around us. Be humble and continue to do good for others for the glory of God.
EVIL OVERSHADOWED
When we see goodness in the acts of Christians, evil vanishes. Poof! Good truly overcomes evil. It is diminished and downgraded the moment good shows up.
Even as believers, if we don’t see the goodness of God, we faint — we fall out. We live our lives with pastor issues, theological problems never get solved and we don’t see righteousness or love in the church.
If we don’t see the goodness of God, we miss out on His face, His heart and His glory. You see, our belief that God is good and that He will do good on our behalf is the supernatural seatbelt that keeps us from falling out or twisting off! Faith and trust are key, especially when we don’t see a lot of goodness firsthand.
If we fail to see goodness, we start to fall into unbelief. We have trouble believing God is good after all and that is what sin actually is!
“But he who doubts is condemned…for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
-Romans 14:23
When we sin by failing to believe God is love and that He is good, we fall short of His glory.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
-Romans 3:23
The problem is not that we don’t have enough Bibles, churches or preachers. What we need is more goodness. We need open displays of God’s selfless, giving heart in business, our families, schools, entertainment, politics and in every arena of life here and abroad.
Like David, I am a hope fanatic who believes God is good and that God does good.
“You are good, and do good…”
-Psalms 119:68
From my book: GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL
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December 22, 2016
why should you fear?
Things take on new light when we put our circumstances in the proper perspective. No matter how hard Satan tries to harass you, he doesn't have the power to un-save you. So if you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life there is nothing to fear. 2 Corinthians 5:8 tells it like this, “We live by faith not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
NEWS FLASH!
This whole “death is after me,” “something bad is going to happen” mentality can be hammered down if you know the Word.
For one thing, when I feel like something bad is going to happen, I can tell the devil “news flash! I have the mind of Christ, so you don’t scare me. You are not the author or the finisher of my faith!”
Why can I do that? Because I know something bad is always going to happen. It’s the fallen world we live in. I don’t cower from it. I expect it.
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
– Job 5:7
David declared his enemies were always after him. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6 that an evil day is coming and we’d need to put on the full armor of God to be able to stand against it, because it’s going to eventually get to us.
Yes, bad things happen, even to good people. But that’s no reason to be fearful. Stonewall Jackson wasn’t.
Asked how he could stand still at the battle of Bull Run (or First Manassas for you southerners), he replied, “The day I will die was chosen for me before I was born. Why should I fear it? Until that day and on that day, I will trust in the Lord.”
I say to hell with the devil who is out to get me because I’m out to get him! Through Jesus, I’ve made it my life’s mission to steal as many souls from hell as possible. I have a 26-year track record of bringing trouble to that cosmic punk and overcoming all he has thrown at me.
Why should I fear? Why do you?
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO GIVE THE DEVIL A NEWS FLASH. YOU’RE NOT GOING TO FEAR DEATH. YOU’RE GOING TO SNATCH PRISONERS FROM HELL AND GIVE THEM LIFE!From my book: SOUL INVASION
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