Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 351
November 2, 2016
Life is not fair, make the most of it
God sees you as an extravagant giver. You have a heart for blessing others even when things are not going your way, and God loves it! He is storing up His blessings to rain down on you as you keep the blessings to others flowing.
LIFE IS NOT FAIR, MAKE THE MOST OF IT
Why has God blessed you when so many others around the world are hurting? That’s a good question. So are these:
• Why do you have what you have, when people smarter than you have lost everything?
• Why have you’ve never experienced imprisonment, torture or starvation when 500 million people around the world live that life right now?
• Why do you sit in a cushioned pew free from harassment, arrest, torture and death when three billion people around the world have to worship God in secret?
• Why do you have food in your refrigerator, clothes in your closet, a bed to sleep on and money in your pocket, when more than 75 percent of this world has none of these things?
These questions actually keep many people from having a relationship with Jesus! They see that life isn’t fair, so they think, “Somebody has more than me, while others have nothing. God isn’t fair, so he has to be bad. I don’t want anything to do with him!”
So what does God say about life being fair? This is what He told His good friend Moses when Moses asked the same question:
“He said to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’”
– Romans 9:15
In other words, “Life is not fair!” We live in a fallen world. We asked God to step aside while we run the show. Because we do such a poor job, He steps in. He extends mercy and compassion to different people in different measures and ways. Therefore, the people of God should not look at the blessings or victories of others and be jealous. They should celebrate!
“Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind, one toward another.”
– Romans 12:15-16
Envy and strife go hand in hand.
“For where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work.”
– James 3:16
If you want your head to be constantly distracted with strife, trouble and conflict, all you have to do is want what other people have – that includes both natural and spiritual things. Remember, there is a flip side to you being blessed. Millions of others don’t have what you have.
We live in a fallen world of our own choosing. So choose well. Choose to use your blessings to extend God’s mercy. Choose to rejoice with those more victorious than you and extend compassion to those who have less.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO REJOICE WITH THE BLESSED, MOURN WITH THE HURTING AND FIND WAYS TO BLESS THEM BOTH BECAUSE OF GOD’S MERCY AND COMPASSION TOWARD YOU! WHEN LIFE ISN’T FAIR, INVITE JESUS INTO THE FIGHT!
From my book: SOUL INVASION
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November 1, 2016
What ministry has God given you?
God sees you. He knew you before the foundations of the world, and He made a good plan for your life. He is invested in you and is helping you to reach your next level.
A GOOD WORD
Are you ready for a true gem of wisdom? Here it is: the ministry you respect, is the one that changes your life. It’s the one you will model yourself and your ministry after.
If someone asked me what kind of ministry I have at OpenDoor Church, the answer would be a prophetic ministry.
There is a lot of confusion surrounding prophesy and the prophetic. Many people believe those two words mean predicting the future. However, the Bible tells us what prophesy is and how it manifests.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not love, I am nothing.
– 1 Corinthians 13:2
“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort… the one who prophesies edifies the church.”
– 1 Corinthians 14:3
Wow! Did you see all the cool stuff that comes along with prophecy? Fathoming mysteries and knowledge, having effective faith and speaking life and truth into people to lift them and the church up. Now, that’s something I want a double portion of!
Come to think of it, I already do! Why? Because the ministry that I respect, the powerfully prophetic Gates of Glory Church and Pastor Howard Richardson, is the ministry that changed my life. It truly shaped me.
When I was just a mixed-up 19-year-old kid at a tent meeting in Grand Prairie, Texas, Pastor Richardson pointed me out in the crowd and prophesied that I would preach the Gospel all over the world. I didn’t know what to think about that word, but I do know this – it felt right. I knew that when he said that, it was a prediction that would come true.
You see, his prophecy over me was positive reinforcement that God saw me and had a real plan for me. While prediction can be a part of prophecy, the main thing about prophecy is giving people wings to move forward. Looking back, I can honestly say Pastor Richardson’s word over me that night strengthened, encouraged and comforted me.
Needless to say, I have great respect for his ministry. It gave me a plan and changed my life. That might be why my ministry is grounded in the prophetic! I hope my words strengthen, encourage, comfort and edify you.
How about you? What ministry do you respect? How has it changed your life?
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE MINISTRY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, TAKE A LOOK A THE MINISTRY YOU RESPECT AND CONSIDER THE IMPACT IS HAS HAD ON YOUR LIFE. THAT IS THE START OF YOUR PLAN!
From my book: MIRACLES WITH A MESSAGE
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October 31, 2016
Why sit we here until we die?
God is altering your perspective on “change.” Change makes life exciting, and God is in the process of making changes in your life. Be open to how God works all things for your good, even when it means, “change!”
CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT
I hope the old saying isn’t true: the more things change, the more they stay the same.
You see, I don’t want to stay the same and neither should you. Anyone who gets close to God should catch a holy fever for moving forward, increase…upgrade. I’ve got it. I’ve got it bad!
I have been in constant transition since the day I got saved in May of 1986. The church I’ve pastored since 1995 has never looked the same from one year to the next. I have learned something extraordinary over time — the messiness of transition and the joy of discovery are normal for people who choose not to live a powerless life.
Is this you? I sure do hope so! If it is, be warned: going after an upgrade for more of the Holy Spirit doesn’t sit well with all of us. It really doesn’t sit well with religious or “churchy” folks. You will recognize them right off the bat: they have a need for security and fear for survival. They stay on their couch or their pew, the frozen chosen never warming up to the idea of upgrade. They criticize you and try to talk you out of your next big step up.
“Aren’t you afraid to go on a mission trip? Isn’t it dangerous?” “What about your kids, won’t they resent you if you adopt an orphan?” “Those homeless people under the bridge are there for a reason. They don’t know how to behave in society and you want to feed them?” “Foster kids? I know a woman who took in a foster child and he tried to burn the house down!”
They like to tell you to stay put so they won’t feel alone. You see, misery truly does love company.
“Why sit we here until we die?”
-2 Kings 7:3
Trouble is, you are called to not only live, but love what the Lord loves and hate what He hates. He loves unreached people, orphans, the homeless and forgotten, and He hates the thought of you not reaching your God-given potential. You should too.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO THROW OFF THE ANCHOR OF FEAR.MOVE FORWARD. FIGHT FOR GREATNESS.
CATCH THE FEVER OF UPGRADE AND BE CONTAGIOUS FOR JESUS.
From my book: LIVING LIFE / FORWARD
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October 30, 2016
Where does Jesus operate in you?
You are no longer a slave to the natural beast within. You have been set free through the blood of Jesus Christ. You will not listen to the lies of the natural carnal spirit that makes you a soul man.
DON’T BE A SOUL MAN
I remember the late John Belushi of The Blues Brothers standing on the edge of a stage in a white-hot spotlight singing, “I’m a soul man!”
As much as I love that song, I don’t sing it anymore and I’ll tell you why: it’s a bad testimony.
You see, you and I are not supposed to be soul men and women. We are supposed to be “Spirit of God” men and women.
And so it is written, the first man, Adam, was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
– 1 Corinthians 15:44-45
The last Adam was, of course, Jesus.
People say the difference between an animal and a person is that an animal doesn’t have a soul. This is wrong. Animals have souls just like we do. According to the Bible, the soul is the psyche — or our mind. The soul is the thinking realm, and get this – it is animalistic in nature, but let’s just call it what it is – the beast within.
A beast has a mind, a will and emotions. It goes after what it wants and runs away from what it’s scared of. It meets its impulses by whatever opportunity comes its way – a brute beast.
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
– Jude 10
What makes someone like an animal? What they do and don’t know naturally. Look at what Peter says on the subject:
But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption.
– 2 Peter 2:12
The bottom line is this: the soul is your thought life, your emotions and we know they are liars. According to these verses, beasts are meant to be caught in the snare – to be put into bondage, often by their own corruption. Most people, even believers, don’t understand this.
So where does Jesus operate in you? The Bible tells us it’s in your Spirit, not your soul. Know the difference and don’t listen to your head or your heart. Call on the Spirit of Truth within you.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM TO RECOGNIZE THE BRUTE BEAST IN YOU SO YOU CAN SET IT FREE WITH THE TRUTH OF JESUS’ LOVE.From my book: SOUL INVASION
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October 29, 2016
Do you want to make a difference in someone's life?
The Lord will provide you an eye to see and an ear to hear those around you, and will help you to have a word for them in a time of struggle. Get ready to be a blessing and be blessed yourself.
SOMETIMES, FEELING GOD IS FEELING PAIN
There is only one way to make a difference in someone’s life: to have compassion on them. (Jude 1:22) The only way to have compassion on someone is to get involved in their world and to see them the way Father God sees them.
Many times, it takes pain for us to have compassion. Take for instance the witch I met on my first mission trip to Costa Rica. I was with two local boys who had been saved and baptized the night before we trekked into the jungle in search of this notorious spiritualist.
Roseanne was the real deal. For a fee, she would read your fortune, give you a message from beyond the grave or pronounce a curse on your enemy.
As we got closer to her hut, my spirit bowed up. I knew there was going to be a showdown. One of the boys with me called out to announce our arrival, but Roseanne yelled through the jungle that she didn’t know him and he had to leave.
“She’s known me all my life,” he said, confused. I told him she didn’t recognize him anymore because the Holy Spirit now lived in him.
When we finally met face-to-face, Roseanne was a pitiful creature. She never called the devil by his name. Instead, she referred to him as “my lover” and said that on a full moon, he would visit her bedroom with “distorted music.”
It turns out, she was tormented and bound in a way I couldn’t imagine. I saw a woman so lonely and self-hating, she’d voluntarily taken up company with a demonic spirit! She had no hope, but inside, I began to see her as the Lord sees her. He wanted to help her. I was filled with compassion. Suddenly, I felt her pain.
I told her God loved her and wanted to help her, but she said it was not true. She said, “He has never seen me.”
Then out of my Spirit, I said, “That’s not true. He saw you when you were a little girl and your father molested you. Jesus cried when you cried.” I began to tell her the Lord didn’t accuse her – that she was blameless. I told her God had always been there, but the devil had tricked her into thinking God didn’t love her.
“
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
– James 4:8-10
She said she knew the devil was a liar, but feared he would kill her if she humbled herself to Jesus. We told her the truth – the devil is a defeated wimp – and before long, she was on her knees alongside us, lifting her hands to the Lord as she received Jesus.
What touched her heart? The fact that Jesus knew her pain. Sometimes, feeling what God feels means feeling something very painful. Sometimes, it means getting acquainted with grief. Roseanne’s pain was tremendous, but her joy at salvation was tremendous as well.
SOMETIMES, IT’S GOOD TO LET GOD TAKE US TO PLACES THAT DON’T NECESSARILY FEEL GOOD.
From my book: SOUL INVASION
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October 28, 2016
Don't let the devil in
When the enemy comes against you through temptation, thoughts of lust, fear and doubt, remember Jesus fought the devil in every area and defeated him in your behalf. You can overcome by remembering who you are in Christ. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
THE DEVIL AT YOUR DOOR
I’m not kidding when I say Satan is a cosmic punk. He only has the power we give him, so don’t give him any!
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
– 1 Peter 5:8
This powerless pretender is “like” a roaring lion and he needs our permission to attack!
Many believe this enemy to be a brilliant strategist. This is not true. He may be one of God’s most beautiful creations, but his hatred and pride have taken his power and morphed him into something pitiful and ugly – a relentless opportunist – a schoolyard bully, if you will.
Also notice that this verse warns us to be “sober” and “vigilant.” Beware so you don’t open the door for the devil. He’ll clean your clock every time! Just as Cain. God gave him the same warning thousands of years ago.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
– Genesis 4:6-7
The devil crouches in the shadows just outside the door of your mind, waiting for your guard to be down. When you are not vigilant in trusting God, you open the door for doubt — the devil’s weapon of mass destruction.
It’s been that way for 6,000 years. There is a devil of doubt at the door for every one of us, and if we don’t trust in Jesus’ love and provision, guess who’s coming to dinner?
TRUST AND OBEY, THEN TRUST SOME MORE! YOU KNOW NO WEAPON FASHIONED AGAINST YOU WILL PROSPER IF YOU MASTER DOUBT!
From my book: MIRACLES WITH A MESSAGE
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October 27, 2016
Are you grabbing hold of God things?
If you look inside yourself you will see that there are some good things that need to go in order to do the “best” things. Choose what is better and sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary, the sister of Lazarus, soaking in His presence. When you do, you will know those things that are just “good” and those things that are “best” for His Kingdom!
GREATNESS NINJA
Let’s talk about things worth fighting for. While there are plenty of good things in this life, not everything is of God. People confuse the two and Satan loves that. If he can keep you busy doing good things, you lose focus of what God wants you to do for the Kingdom.
That is, fight for knowing Him better and finding His perfect purpose for your life.
Is it good to help with the PTA at your child’s school or coach their soccer team? Yes, but if God’s not in it, limit your time there. Is it good to put in extra hours at the office, work out, hang out with friends, keep an immaculate house, cook gourmet meals or watch hours of Fox News then debate issues on Facebook and Twitter? Yes, but unless it’s helping you with your walk, it’s not the BEST.
Here’s what’s real, a lot of the things many churches do are good, but they have little to do with God, so why are we doing them?
Mary, sister of Lazarus, knew what was best. She was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to Him teach while her sister, Mary, got caught up in cleaning, cooking and setting up for the meal. While Martha was pouring drinks, Mary was drinking the King of Kings in.
“She (Martha) came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’
‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”
-Luke 10:40-42
I love Mary. She’s a greatness ninja!
Anyone who hangs out with Jesus, no matter what kind of history they have, begins to contemplate their own untapped ninja-ness. After a while in His presence, you become willing to fight for it just like Mary and the disciples did. The Bible says there was much “strife among them” arguing over who was His favorite. They all wanted to sit at His right hand side in Heaven.
I’m sure Mary will be there. What about you? Are you Jesus’ favorite? Know this — you are!
A sure-fire way to grieve God and bring His wrath down upon you, is to refuse to be held responsible for what and how you think. It just doesn’t fly.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO THANK JESUS THAT NO ONE IS LIKE YOU — NO ONE!BE BOLD AND REACH FOR THE GREATNESS HE IS CALLING YOU TOWARD.
FIGHT FOR IT! GIVE IT YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION BY LETTING GO OF “GOOD THINGS” AND GRABBING HOLD OF GOD THINGS.
From my book: LIVING LIFE / FORWARD
get started today
October 26, 2016
are you ready for your new assignment?
You are a kingdom rock star; you have fought the good fight. The Lord is bringing you into a new assignment where your victory has been predetermined. Go into this new place with supernatural confidence, victory is yours!
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
Here is a concept I need you to understand: In the Kingdom of God, you do not fight for victory. You fight from victory.
You see, you are already positioned in victory and for victory. Jesus is just waiting for you to step out and be the warrior He created you to be!
From faith to faith
– Romans 1:17
You leap to the next level of faith from the victory of your current breakthrough in faith. When God heals you of a cold, it is from that place you begin to reach for faith in healing a major disease. When you see someone healed of a major disease, momentum carries you to reach for faith to raise the dead.
This momentum comes from encounter and personal experience only.
From glory to glory
– 2 Corinthians 3:18
Glory is when your right relationship with God becomes manifest. Moses so wanted to see the glory of God and to see Him face to face. When you go from glory to glory, you move from deep to deeper places of relationship.
That’s why the Bible says in Psalms 42:7 that “Deep calls unto deep…” God takes us into what is extraordinary and makes it a common way of life.
From everlasting to everlasting
– Psalms 41:13
Eternity invades the temporary and heaven invades earth through the momentum of the last way you experienced eternity move into time.
Momentum is so powerful, just think how much time the enemy must spend trying to put the brakes on your momentum! He doesn’t want you to be an unstoppable freight train of God’s goodness, generosity or power. He wants you to take a step, then freeze up for a while, or forget to move forward at all. But that’s not you!
LET IT MOTIVATE YOU TO FIGHT FOR FORWARD AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO MOVE ALL THE MORE!
From my book: LIVING LIFE / FORWARD
GET Started today
October 25, 2016
Turn Away From the Spirit of Religion
You are a representative of the Most High God. God is love and love not only represents God but “reflects Him.” He is all about freedom and not about control. You carry His presence in a way that makes the world want what you have.
A TROLL UNDER THE BRIDGE
In the late 1980s, I spent a lot of time under the I-45 bridge in downtown Dallas. It was a huge gathering spot for the homeless known as “Shanty Town.”
I sang and played guitar for a Christian rock band called Destiny. We rocked the area and handed out thousands of pounds of free food to people without jobs or hope. It was fun, powerful and unpredictable. Jesus loves to bless the rejected and the messed up.
So I was not surprised when several messed up people unplugged my speakers in mid-song and actually proceeded to push over the eight-foot tall wooden cross we had put up.
I was, however, surprised to see that the messed up people trying to stop us, and the message of Christ, were not the homeless. They were members of the church several blocks away!
These men believed they were doing the right thing in stopping us because they thought the devil was in control of our music. Why? People in the Old Testament and throughout the “good old days” didn’t have screaming guitars, tricked-out drum kits or amplifiers. Why, they just knew Jesus would be offended.
“We’re Methodists and we don’t do this,” said a man in a nice suit. “This is America and we don’t need missionaries. We also don’t need you encouraging people to stay, and feeding people who are not welcome in this part of town.”
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
– 1 John 4:20
Now, I’m not bashing this church or any one denomination. The problem is not the church. The problem is when we partner with a spirit that isn’t the Holy Spirit – the spirit of Religion.
Religion is always stuck in the past. Religious people just can’t imagine Jesus going to Shanty Town to save the lost because they are certain He’s always in their stained glass church patting them on the back and complimenting them on their expensive suits.
Do you recognize the Spirit of Religion in your past or in your current way of thinking? Turn away from it.
HE WAS ABOUT LOVING GOD AND LOVING PEOPLE! MAKE THAT YOUR BATTLE CRY TODAY!
From my book: LIVING LIFE / FORWARD
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October 24, 2016
Your Joy Is Coming
Your endurance is based on the strength of the Cross! Be prepared to receive a fresh anointing from the Holy Spirit for endurance and discernment to battle whatever is hindering you.
YOUR PAIN IS ONLY TEMPORARY
While it is true that God will lead you through some painful places in your walk with Him, it is also true that He has an end for your pain.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
– Psalms 30:5
Know this: Sometimes, you are just called to endure some things. You are called to tough some things out, but for every midnight experience, Jesus has a morning waiting. As sure as the sun will rise, your joy is coming.
The book of Romans says “where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.” In other words, for every negative or evil thing the devil has prepared to you, Jesus has that much more power for you. You are fully equipped to deal with the situation you face, so don’t run from it.
You see, God is trusting you and counting on you to face it like the person He’s called you to be.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
– Revelation 21:4
See, it is not that God doesn’t want you to feel pain. It’s that He doesn’t want you to feel pain forever. Hell is just that – forever. That would be tragic.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO KNOW YOUR JOY IS COMING!YOU WILL NOT SUFFER FOREVER, BUT BUILD ENDURANCE TO WITNESS OF JESUS’ SACRIFICE.
From my book: SOUL INVASION
Get started today
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