Following God’s Purposes - Pt1

I want to speak about being diligent concerning God’s purpose. In 2 Peter 1:10, from the Amplified Bible, we are told, “Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling and choosing you.”

There is something about that word diligent that makes us realize how important this is to God. This is not about laboring in vain, trying to get God to move on my behalf. It is about paying attention every day to what the Holy Spirit is doing in me. I need to pay attention to the Holy Spirit on the inside of me—the Teacher, the Comforter, the Guide, the One who is developing in us the very nature and purpose of God.

It is the Holy Spirit who is going to make the purposes of God real in our lives and make the call of God on our lives work. That is why we are told to “be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling and choosing you.”

The Amplified goes on to say, “Be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God.” There is a difference between simply knowing what the Word says and actually walking in relationship with the Lord. A person can have a legalistic approach to God, know what the Word says, and even quote it. But when we are truly walking with God, our lives should begin to reflect His very nature.

I have talked about this many times: the fruit of the Spirit is the nature of God. That is who He is. The fruit of the Spirit is developed in us through the Holy Spirit. The more we yield to Him, the more the fruit of the Spirit begins to manifest in our lives.

That is why we need to give diligent attention to God’s calling and choosing and make sure our behavior reflects and confirms our relationship with Him. When the world looks at us, there ought to be something different that they can recognize. We carry with us peace, joy, and life.

The world needs to experience the love, life, peace, and joy of the Lord, and they can experience those things when you and I carry them. We become evidence of what a relationship with God looks like.

Second Peter tells us that by actively developing these virtues, we will not stumble in our spiritual growth, and we will live lives that lead others away from sin. What a wonderful ministry that is. It is the ministry of reconciliation—bringing other people into harmony with Christ.

But it is difficult to bring other people into harmony with Christ when I am not walking in harmony with Him myself. How can I bring other people into fellowship with the Lord unless I am in fellowship with Him?

That means I have to pay diligent attention to my own relationship with God. Throughout every day, I need to give God attention. I need to give Him room to move in me and allow Him to change me on the inside. Give Him room to move every day.

To understand what Peter is talking about, we can go back to 2 Peter 1:5. We are told to apply our diligence to the divine promises and “make every effort in exercising your faith to develop moral excellence and in moral excellence, knowledge, insight, and understanding.”

These are things that come by the Spirit of God. Without that work of the Spirit, what we can end up with is man-made righteousness. The Bible says our good works are like filthy rags in the sight of God. Man-made righteousness can become filled with pride and self-importance.

But when godly character comes through a relationship with God, He develops that character within us. We are to apply diligence to the divine promises and make every effort in exercising our faith. I need to use my faith every day to receive more of what God is trying to do in me and through me.

If I find myself lacking, I need to make sure my relationship with Him is good. I need to be attentive to what the Spirit of God is saying. I need to let Him deal with my heart and let Him deal with my issues.

I want Him to do that. When I step out of line, when I do something that is not good, or when I say something that is not Christlike or that is not anointed or appointed by God, I want the Spirit of God to deal with my heart. That is important because this is how moral excellence is developed within us. It is heavenly morality, not earthly morality. When God develops it within us, it is not man-made.

Then 2 Peter continues with knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and Christian love. Christian love means learning “to unselfishly seek the best for others” and doing things for their benefit.

Think about what could happen if the Church lived according to these principles. The body of Christ would become a powerhouse. We would see things happening in this world that would be totally astounding. We would see God move in such a supernatural way that it would be amazing.

God is telling us to pay attention to these things.

Second Peter 1:8 says, “For these qualities are yours and are increasing in you as you grow towards spiritual maturity.” I do not have to worry about the level where I am. I can let God determine that. My responsibility is to walk with the Spirit, let Him develop these things within me, and pay attention to them.

These qualities will keep us from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not something that is interpreted merely through earthly or fleshly means.

I love the Scripture where Paul says, “when I came unto you, I came not with excellency of speech with human philosophy and words of man’s wisdom, but I came in the demonstration of the spirit and of power, a proof by the spirit stirring in the minds of the hearers the most holy emotions.”

That is the response the Church should have to the world. We should come in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, with these qualities being perfected in our lives so that we show the world something different.

We show the world that there is life to be found in Jesus. We show the world that there is hope to be found in the presence and the glory of God.

Source: Pt 1 "Following God's Purposes" Ten Minute Messages #53 — Channel name not identified in the provided transcript

https://www.youtube.com/live/sOZlq3t5EPU?si=4OhrA-DbAafEn8aj

The Blessed Hope of Jesus Returning.

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”  Titus 2:12–13 KJV

Paul calls the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ “that blessed hope.” What a wonderful description. Our hope is not based on what is happening in the world around us. It is not based on the economy, politics, circumstances, or even how we feel today. Our hope rests in what God has said in His Word, and God’s Word is His will. Jesus Christ is coming again!

But notice that before Paul tells us to look for the blessed hope, he tells us how to live while we are waiting. We are to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” God is not just interested in getting us ready for heaven. He wants to change the way we live right here and right now. The presence and power of God working within us will bring a change in our desires, our direction, our attitudes, and our obedience to His purpose.

Grace Does More Than Forgive

The grace of God is amazing. Grace brought salvation to us through Jesus Christ, but grace does not leave us where it found us. Grace teaches us. When we open our hearts to God and allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, something begins to change. Our desires change and our focus changes from us to Him. God and His presence become our focus, and His plan and purpose become our desire. This is not simply an outward religious exercise. God works from the inside out.

I have seen people profoundly touched by the power and presence of God, but the touch itself was never the final purpose. God touches us to CHANGE us. The evidence of a true encounter with God is a new level of obedience to His will and purpose.  

It is about God getting hold of the heart of man and man yielding to what God wants to do. That is why we must allow the Holy Spirit to correct us. When He puts His finger on something in our lives, we have a choice. We can resist Him, analyze what He is doing, or yield to Him. I have learned that yielding is always the better choice!

Grace for This Present World

Paul makes it very clear that we are to live godly “in this present world.” We do not have to wait for circumstances to become perfect before we can walk with God. We live in a world filled with fear, anxiety, unbelief, compromise, and uncertainty. But the believer does not have to be controlled by any of those things. God has given us something the world cannot give us, His presence living on the inside.

Paul prayed that we would be “strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). That speaks of God making strong that which is weak. We are not expected to walk through this present world in our own strength. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Teacher, and Guide. He lives within us to strengthen us and lead us.

God wants us filled throughout our being, body, soul, and spirit, so that every part of our life is affected by His presence. This is why a relationship with the Holy Spirit is so important. The Christian life was never intended to be lived by human effort alone. When we yield to the Holy Spirit, He changes us from within and gives us the strength to walk in obedience to God.

Keep Your Focus on Jesus

Paul says we are to be “Looking for that blessed hope.” There is something about our focus that determines the direction of our lives. If our attention is continually on the darkness, we will become overwhelmed by the darkness. If our attention is continually on what is wrong with the world, fear and anxiety will try to take over.

Our focus must be on the awesomeness of God, His presence, His power, His Word, and His plan and purpose for our lives. I have often said, if you want more light, do not hang around in the darkness.

Jesus is coming again. Until He comes, we have something to do. We have a Gospel to preach. We need to reach the people who need Jesus. We have captives who need to be set free. We have a generation that needs to experience the reality of Almighty God.

The disciples in the upper room were not filled with the Holy Spirit so they could stay in the upper room and enjoy the experience. They came out filled with the power of God and began fulfilling the Great Commission. The touch of God gave ordinary people boldness to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom. The same is true today.

Live Filled, Live Ready

Paul prayed:

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV

That Scripture connects our daily walk directly to “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God wants our whole being, spirit, soul, and body, to be affected by His presence. His purpose is not for us to have an occasional spiritual experience and then return to life as normal. He wants us to walk in relationship with Him every day.

We do not prepare for the coming of Jesus by living in fear. Paul did not call His coming the “terrifying expectation.” He called it the BLESSED HOPE! So live ready, but live joyfully. Stay hungry for God. Stay thirsty for His presence. Stay in His Word. Worship Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you, correct you, strengthen you, and lead you.

If there is something that needs to change, let Him change it. If there is something you need to lay down, lay it down. If God is telling you to move forward, then move forward. The touch of God always brings change in attitude, direction, and a new level of obedience to His will and purpose.

 We Have a Blessed Hope

There is enough happening in this world to make people fearful, anxious, and hopeless. But the child of God should never be without hope. If we know Jesus and we know His Word and daily recognize the Holy Spirit living within us, we will not fail, and we have His promise that Jesus is coming again.

Until that glorious day, we have a responsibility to allow God to work in us and through us. We must be willing to go where He wants us to go, to do what He wants us to do. We must be ready to speak what He wants us to say, and to be what He wants us to be.  

Do not allow the circumstances of this present world to rob you of your expectation of what God has promised. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit. Keep yourself filled with His presence. Keep sharing the Gospel. Keep allowing God to use you to touch somebody else's life.

One day the trumpet will sound, and our blessed hope will become glorious reality. Until then, let us live “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” looking expectantly for “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

God bless you all richly,

By Evangelist Gil Howard-Browne

[www.revivaltimes.com](http://www.revivaltimes.com)

End Time Predictions helping or hurting?

For decades, Christians have been confronted with predictions about the end times. Dates have been suggested for the return of Jesus, political leaders identified as possible candidates for the Antichrist, and new technologies connected with the mark of the beast. 

Wars, planetary alignments, computer systems, blood moons, digital currencies, artificial intelligence, and countless other developments have been presented as evidence that prophetic events are about to take place. Many predictions have come and gone, yet the words of Jesus have not changed: “So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

I have watched this pattern personally for almost six decades of ministry. When I was eighteen years old in 1967, my pastor taught that the Antichrist would be revealed in 1975 and that the rapture would occur three and a half years later, followed by the Great Tribulation. I believed it. 

I married in 1970, but because I thought we had only about five years of freedom remaining, I did not want to have a family or buy a house. Why prepare for a future that, according to what I had been taught, was about to disappear? Thankfully, within about a year, the Holy Spirit began correcting my thinking, and I eventually began publicly opposing this kind of teaching.

Over the following decades, I watched the pattern repeat itself. There were warnings about the 1982 alignment of the planets, then 1984 - Big Brother - Computers taking over the world, followed by 1988 and 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. When 1988 passed, another prediction followed for 1989. Then came Y2K, when fear caused some believers to store food and supplies and make major financial and lifestyle decisions. In the mid 2000's, blood moon rapture predictions and other supposed signs, and today we still hear new rapture predictions and attempts to connect current events and technology with Revelation.

The dates change, the technology changes, and the predictions change, but the pattern remains remarkably familiar. Jesus warned about deception, but our protection against deception was never supposed to be our ability to become better predictors of tomorrow. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit. He said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things.” John 14:26. He also said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13.

Notice who Jesus identifies as our guide. Not a prophecy expert, bestselling author, television preacher, theologian with an elaborate end-times chart, or someone claiming to understand the latest world event. The Holy Spirit. 

This does not mean teachers have no place in the Body of Christ. God has given teachers to His Church. But no teacher replaces the indwelling Holy Spirit, and believers should never surrender spiritual discernment simply because someone is educated, respected, sincere, famous, or persuasive. A teacher can be sincere and still be wrong. A scholar can be brilliant and still be wrong. Millions of people can believe something and still be wrong.

Recently, I listened to a Professor discussing Revelation and the end of history. I respect his sincerity and intellect, and I agree strongly with something he said about Revelation: “The book is about Jesus Christ. It's a revelation of him. That is if we understand it correctly when we finished reading it, we should know more about him than we did at the start.” That is an excellent standard by which to judge our study of Revelation.

The Prophessor also said, “We are now in an age where AI is making us capable of the greatest and most subtle kind of deception the world has ever seen.” 

I see AI very differently.  While that is certainly a possibility,   I believe artificial intelligence represents one of the greatest opportunities the Church has ever been given. At 77 years old, I am now able to accomplish things in ministry that I simply could not have accomplished before. Since I began using ChatGPT in January 2023, after sensing a strong urging from the Holy Spirit to explore it, I have been able to accomplish in minutes, for $20 per month, work that previously would have required thousands of dollars and weeks or months of effort.

Can AI be used deceptively? Of course. So can television, radio, books, pulpits, and human beings. Christians were being seriously deceived long before generative AI existed. Deception does not require artificial intelligence. It requires people who fail to exercise spiritual discernment and allow someone else's interpretation to replace their own dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

This is why Hebrews 12:2 AMPC is so important: “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus.” 

• What if some of our obsession with end-times prophecy has itself become a distraction? 
• What happens when Christians spend more time looking for the Antichrist than looking to Christ? 
• What happens when believers know the latest theory about 666 but are filled with anxiety about tomorrow? 
• What happens when every new technology becomes another possible fulfillment of Revelation? 
• Yesterday it was barcodes, computer databases and microchips. 
• Today it is artificial intelligence. What will it be tomorrow?

This does not mean we ignore Revelation. It means we return Revelation to its rightful center: Jesus Christ. When after studying Revelation, we become frightened of AI, world government, the Mark of the Beast, the Antichrist, economic systems, and what might happen tomorrow, but we have not come to know Jesus more deeply, something has gone wrong with our study. The Professor himself gives us the test: “If we understand it correctly when we finished reading it, we should know more about Jesus than we did at the start.” He also said, 

So perhaps we should ask different questions about end-times teaching. After listening to it, do I know Jesus better? Has my faith increased? Do I have greater peace? Am I more conscious of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me? Am I more effective in sharing the Gospel and serving people? Or have I become anxious about tomorrow, constantly watching world events and depending upon prophecy teachers to explain what supposedly happens next?

For nearly sixty years, I have watched end-times predictions come and go. Dates have passed, supposedly prophetic interpretations have become obsolete, and yesterday's terrifying new technology has become today's ordinary technology. But Jesus has remained the same. The Holy Spirit has remained faithful. The Gospel has not changed, and our calling has not changed.

I am seventy-seven years old now. I have no desire to spend whatever years remain to me trying to calculate when Jesus will return or identifying every possible fulfillment of Revelation. I want to live today, listen to the Holy Spirit today, serve people today, and use every legitimate tool God places within my reach, including artificial intelligence, to communicate the Gospel and build up the Body of Christ. Above everything else, I want to keep looking to Jesus.

The world will always give us something new to fear, and predictions will continue to be made. But Jesus already told us what to do about tomorrow: do not be anxious about it. Scripture tells us where to look today: “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus.”

Perhaps one of the greatest protections against end-times deception is much simpler than we have made it. Stop looking for everything that might happen tomorrow. Listen to the Holy Spirit who lives within you. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

God bless you all'

Gil Howard-Browne  www.revivaltimes.com

Beauty and Delightfulness of Jesus

The Beauty and Delightfulness of Jesus

I want to speak about the beauty and delightfulness of the Lord. The more I fellowship with Him, the more I come to enjoy who He is and what He does. There is something beautiful about spending time with someone whose company you truly enjoy. Hours can pass without anyone wanting to leave because the fellowship itself is delightful. That is how I have come to see fellowship with the Lord. He is full of beauty and delightfulness.

Psalm 90:16–17 speaks of the work of God's power being revealed to His servants and His glorious majesty being shown to their children. It goes on to say, "And let the beauty and delightfulness and the favor of the Lord our God be upon us." I believe God wants His beauty, His delightfulness, and His favor to rest upon us. His glorious majesty includes everything Jesus paid for on the cross. God wants the signs of His power to be revealed in our lives, and He wants that work to extend to our families and our children.

I may not be able to tell you exactly how God is going to work in your circumstances or when the answer will come. What I can say is that when I wait upon the Lord, trust Him, refuse to lean upon my own understanding, and look to His Word and His promises, something good comes from it. There have been times when I have felt weary and helpless. There have been times when circumstances seemed overwhelming. Yet I have learned that those are the very times when I need to recognize and receive the beauty and delightfulness of the Lord.

I have seen this in revival meetings over many years. When we give the Holy Spirit room to move, He knows exactly what every person needs. It does not matter what church or denomination we are in, what ethnic group is represented, or whether there are language barriers. The Holy Spirit knows the heart. I have watched people enter meetings burdened and miserable and leave completely different. When people experience the presence of God, there is something transforming about it. "You cannot ever be the same when you've had a taste and a touch from the glory of God. You can never be the same again."

The favor of God is not something I can earn. It is undeserved and unmerited. God does not give it to me because there is something special about me. He gives it because there is something special about what Jesus accomplished on the cross and because of the power of the Holy Spirit whom He sent to dwell within us. Psalm 90 says that His beauty, delightfulness, and favor can "confirm and establish the work of our hands." Without the help of heaven, the work becomes hard. Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, people become weary and burn out. I need Him to establish what I do so that my hands can become the hands of Jesus extended to others.

I have never been to Bible school. What I share is what the Lord has taught me through many years of walking with Him and in ministry. I have met brilliant people with tremendous knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, theology, and Scripture. Knowledge has value, but knowledge alone is not enough. I desperately need to hear from the Spirit of the Lord. I need Him to establish the truth of His Word inside me rather than allowing myself to become confused by fragments of different doctrines.

Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that we would receive power after the Holy Ghost came upon us. I understand that power as God's ability, God's efficiency, and God's might. This relationship with the Holy Spirit is not something I reserve for a special meeting once a month. I want every meeting and every day of my life to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to move.

Ephesians 1:18 speaks about "having the eyes of your heart flooded with light." I want the light of God to flood my innermost being because when His light fills the inside, there will eventually be evidence on the outside. I have watched that happen in people's lives. I have watched sadness turn to joy and resistance turn into surrender when people gave God room to move.

There is also a difference between knowing something and understanding it. I can know many things without truly understanding them. A person can know Bible promises, quote them, and pray them while that knowledge remains primarily in the mind. But when the Holy Spirit gives understanding, revelation comes on the inside. That is what I want. I want Him to change my knowledge of God into an understanding of God and give me a deeper revelation of His plan and purpose for my life.

That is why I believe daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit matters so much. I can simply say, "Holy Spirit, speak to me today. I want to hear what you have to say to me." He may show me something that day, or He may simply make the love of God more real to me. Sometimes what I need most is not another word or even a prophetic word. What I need is a baptism of the love of God.

The answer I am waiting for may not come today. It may not come tomorrow. It may not even come next month. I have learned that I do not have to become frustrated because I cannot see everything God is doing. My focus can remain upon Him. I can get up each day, fellowship with Him, and trust Him.

Ephesians 1:19 speaks of "the immeasurable, unlimited and surpassing greatness of his power in and for us who believe." Those words are important to me: immeasurable, unlimited, and surpassing greatness. Too often I can be tempted to measure God's ability according to my circumstances or my own shortcomings. I can look at a situation and wonder how there could possibly be a way out. I have been there.

There were things in my own life that once seemed insurmountable. I experienced the loss of my business and the loss of everything I had. At the time, it seemed like the worst thing that could happen. Yet God was faithful. Some answers took six months or even a year before I saw the result of what I had been believing Him for. When the answer finally came, I could look back and say, "Lord, it came at the right moment. It came at the right time."

That experience taught me not to let my present circumstances dictate what God can or cannot do. I do not want my physical condition, financial circumstances, lack of knowledge, or any other limitation to become the measurement I use for God's power. His power is immeasurable.

The woman with the issue of blood is a powerful picture of this. She had spent everything she had and had been treated by many physicians, yet instead of improving she became worse. Then she heard about Jesus. She said, "If I could just touch the hem of his garment, that's all I need to do." She pressed through the crowd, reached out, touched His garment, and was made whole. Her circumstances said there was no answer, but she put her faith in Jesus.

I believe I need to become involved with the Holy Spirit and let the Holy Spirit become involved in my problems, my issues, and my life. As I do that, the things that once seemed overwhelming can lose their power over me. God can heal the hurts of the past and transform what once appeared impossible.

Ephesians 3:20 is one of my favorite scriptures because it declares that God "is able to carry out his purpose and to do super abundantly more than all that we dare ask or even think." His purpose for my life may be completely different from His purpose for someone else's life, but whatever that purpose is, God is able to carry it out.

I have given God plenty of excuses. I have thought about my shortcomings, what I did not have, the money I lacked, and the knowledge I did not possess. None of those things changed His attitude toward me. He waited for the moment when I would allow Him to fill me with His glory and simply say yes to Him.

His ability goes "infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams." When I look back over my life, I can see stages where the Lord changed my attitudes, blessed me, and confirmed His Word inside me. I can look back at where I once was and recognize how much He has done. But I have not arrived. If His promise is infinitely beyond my greatest prayers, hopes, and dreams, then there is still much more that God has for me.

And it all comes back to His power working within us. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us. God wants me to focus my attention upon Him because He wants to reveal His beauty, His delightfulness, and His favor.

I want to see the beauty of Jesus. I want to experience the delightfulness of Jesus. I want to recognize the favor of God surrounding me like a shield. I did not earn that favor, but I can receive it. Wherever I go, I can trust that God's favor goes before me, surrounds me, and remains with me.

So my prayer is simple: Lord, I want to be different. I want to change. I do not want to remain the same. Come and change me. Come and mold me. Come and make me into the vessel that You want me to be.

God bless you richly

Gil Howard-Browne  www.revivaltimes.com 

View this broadcast on YouTube.  

Thurs. 04-16-2026 "Beauty And Delightfulness Of Jesus" BC #1251

Joyful and Confident Hope Pt2.

 

Joyful and Confident Hope

Learning to Trust God in Every Circumstance

There comes a place in our walk with God where we begin to look at the circumstances of life very differently. Things that may have got you down, overcome you, or overwhelmed you two or three years ago suddenly don't affect you in the same way anymore. It is not necessarily because the circumstances have become easier. It is because something has become established in your heart and you have become strengthened within. You have learned to trust God. You have seen Him move, answer prayer, and do things for you that nobody else could do, and your confidence in Him has become stronger.

Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my impenetrable shield. My heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.”

I want you to see yourself surrounded by that impenetrable shield. It is around you like a cloak. Wherever you go, God is with you. He is not only with you, but by the Holy Spirit He lives on the inside of you.

Now, that does not mean difficult things will never happen. We receive news we did not want to receive. We face circumstances we do not understand. Things happen that can hurt us emotionally and put tremendous pressure on us. But that does not make God's Word untrue. God's Word is constant. It is yea and amen. It is the truth, and it will never falter.

As you walk with God and learn to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit, you begin to see Him move in your life. Your faith grows and your confidence grows. Eventually, you begin facing life from an inward knowledge of an outward outcome. It's almost like you have inside information concerning the situation you are facing. You may not know exactly how or when God is going to do it, but you know He is faithful.

Second Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.”

That changes the way you look at things. Instead of seeing everything only through your natural circumstances, you begin seeing things the way God sees them.

This is also why rejoicing cannot be something we do only when everything is going well. Psalm 28:7 says, “Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.” That has to become a lifestyle. We have to learn to worship God in every circumstance, and particularly during difficult times.

Paul and Silas demonstrated this in prison. They had been beaten, imprisoned, and fastened in stocks. They had every reason in the natural to complain, but instead they prayed and sang praises to God.

Acts 16:25–26 says that while they were praying and singing hymns of praise, “suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.”

They worshiped until the prison shook.

There are times when we have to make the same decision. Instead of allowing doubt and unbelief to determine our response, we choose to trust God and praise Him.

Get up in the morning and say, “Lord, I thank You for that impenetrable shield that is surrounding me. I don't know what's going to take place today, but I'm expecting good things because I'm covered with the shield of God's favor. My heart trusts in You. I rely upon You. I'm confidently leaning upon You, and You are helping me.”

That is how we learn to live from a position of trust instead of fear.

There will also be times when worry or anxiety tries to overwhelm you. My wife Loraine experienced that when something began weighing on her mind. Suddenly she heard her spirit singing, “And I will run to You.” Instead of running from God, we run to Him. She continued singing and rejoicing in her heart, and the burden lifted.

That is the Holy Spirit working on the inside. We need to become aware of what He is saying to us and how He is directing us to respond.

Psalm 28:8 says, “The Lord is their unyielding strength; He is the stronghold of salvation to His anointed.”

There is a strength that flows from within that is far greater than anything coming against you from the outside. I am not necessarily talking about something demonic. I'm talking about life. Ordinary circumstances can emotionally drain and strain us, but there is an inner strength that God is teaching us how to lean upon.

First John 2:27 says, “The anointing that you have received of Him abides in you.”

God wants His Word to become real in our hearts, not merely something we quote. A Scripture may be completely true, but we have to believe it personally and walk in its truth. The answer may not manifest immediately, but that does not change what God has said.

Whatever life produces, God is equal to it and greater than it. Whatever bad news you receive in the natural, God is greater than that news.

Ephesians 3:20 says that He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

That is the God we serve. He is great, awesome, omnipotent, and almighty. But we have to learn simple trust. We do not have to understand everything before we believe God. Sometimes we try to reason everything out and ask, “How is God going to do this?” But faith says, “God said it. I believe it. I receive it.”

Isaiah 60:1 gives us a powerful picture of this: “Arise from the depression and frustration in which circumstances have kept you. Rise to new life. Shine. Be radiant with the glory of the Lord. For your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”

God is telling us to arise.

You may have experienced a painful loss, a financial setback, or difficult news. Those circumstances are real, and dealing with them can be difficult. But God is telling us that we do not have to remain under the depression and frustration those circumstances have tried to put upon us.

The danger comes when the circumstance becomes our final focus. One negative thought produces another, and before long our minds begin imagining the worst possible outcome. Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us to cast down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

This is especially important when everything becomes quiet and your mind begins working overtime. We are surrounded by negative information, and if we continually feed on it we can begin feeling as though everything is hopeless.

But God is able.

Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. Your mind may be imagining the worst possible scenario, but God sees something you cannot see.

That is why He says, “Rise to new life.”

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,” and Ephesians 6:10 tells us, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

You are a new creation. God has placed His life within you. So recognize that new life and learn to live from what God has placed on the inside rather than allowing circumstances on the outside to determine your inward condition.

Then Isaiah says, “Shine.”

You may not have a reason in the natural to shine, but you have every reason in the spirit. The circumstances may still look difficult. The news may still look bad. But God has not changed. His Word has not changed. His promises have not changed.

So when tomorrow comes, don't fear it. Don't believe the voice of doubt.

The Lord is your strength. The Lord is your impenetrable shield. Trust in Him. Rely upon Him. Confidently lean upon Him.

Whatever you are facing today, God is greater.  Arise. Rise to new life. Shine. And live every day with joyful and confident hope.

Scriptures and Key Thoughts

• Psalm 28:7 — “The Lord is my strength and my impenetrable shield.” God is our strength and protection. As we trust, rely upon, and confidently lean upon Him, He helps us and our response becomes rejoicing and praise.

• 2 Corinthians 2:14 — “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” We can face circumstances with an inward confidence because God has promised that He always causes us to triumph in Christ.

• Acts 16:25–26 — Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises while they were imprisoned, and suddenly the prison was shaken, the doors opened, and their shackles were released. Their circumstances did not determine their worship; they praised God in the middle of the difficulty.

• Psalm 28:8 — “The Lord is their unyielding strength; He is the stronghold of salvation to His anointed.” God's strength within us is greater than the pressures and circumstances that come against us from the outside.

• 1 John 2:27 — “The anointing that you have received of Him abides in you.” The anointing of God is not something distant from the believer. It abides within us, and we can learn to depend upon that inward working of the Holy Spirit.

• Ephesians 3:20 — He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Whatever circumstance we face, God's ability is greater than what we can see, ask, think, or imagine.

• Isaiah 60:1 — “Arise from the depression and frustration in which circumstances have kept you. Rise to new life. Shine.” God does not tell us to deny difficult circumstances; He tells us that we do not have to remain under their emotional weight. We can arise and live from the new life He has placed within us.

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 — “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” Negative thoughts and imaginations must not be allowed to become greater in our thinking than what God has said.

• Isaiah 55:8–9 — “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Our minds may imagine the worst possible outcome, but God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” We are new creations in Christ. Our identity is not determined by outward circumstances but by the new life God has placed within us.

• Ephesians 6:10 — “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Our strength is not found merely in our own ability to cope. We learn to draw our strength from the Lord and from the power of His might.

Whatever the circumstance looks like, God is able. Let His Word become more real to you than the circumstance, and continue to live with joyful and confident hope.

Taken from : Pt 2 “Joyful And Confident Hope” #27 TMM  (YouTube)

View the teaching on YouTube  

God bless you richly,

Gil Howard-Browne

www.revivaltimes.com

Your Sure Foundation - The River of Life

Watch the full teaching on YouTube 

Have you ever found yourself trying harder to receive something that God has already given you? Perhaps you've spent extra time praying, fasting, or waiting for God to move, hoping that one more act of faith would finally unlock His blessing. Yet Scripture presents a different picture. God extends a simple invitation: "Come."     

Isaiah records God's invitation:

"Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters..." (Isaiah 55:1).

Likewise, Revelation declares:

"And let him who is thirsty come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17).

Notice that the invitation is to receive freely. There is no price because Jesus has already paid it all. The book of Revelation gives us a beautiful picture of the source of that life:

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life... and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:1-2).

Listen to the Song on YouTube

Everything mankind needs flows from that river. Healing flows from it. Peace flows from it. Joy flows from it. Life itself flows from it.

The wonderful truth is that this river is not distant or unreachable. Through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, that same life now flows within every believer.

Jesus made this promise Himself:

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38).

The river that begins at the throne of God now flows into your life through the indwelling Holy Spirit. That means God's life is already available to you. His peace is available. His strength is available. His healing is available. His joy is available.

Not only does that river minister to you, but it is meant to overflow into the lives of those around you. Imagine believers becoming so full of God's life that everywhere they go His love, peace, and hope naturally touch those they meet.

The world is desperately looking for help and hope. As believers, we carry that hope because Christ lives within us.

There are times when we face sickness or physical weakness. Sometimes healing comes immediately, while at other times we continue trusting God as we walk through the process. During those moments we are encouraged to keep drawing from the life that already dwells within us.

Romans 8:11 reminds us:

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

The Amplified Bible expands this by saying He will "quicken and bring to life your short-lived and perishable body."

That means God's life is continually working within you.

Think about the electrical system in your home. The power is already there. The wiring has already been installed. When you need electricity, you simply plug into the outlet and flip the switch.

God's life works much the same way. The Holy Spirit already lives within you. His power is already present. Every day you can draw upon the river of life through faith, thanksgiving, and dependence upon Him.

Instead of beginning your day focused on your weakness, begin by thanking God that His life is flowing through you. Thank Him that His Spirit is strengthening you. Thank Him that His life is bringing healing, restoration, peace, and joy.

Revelation 22:17 gives another beautiful invitation:

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

The Holy Spirit is still extending that invitation today. As believers, we are also called to invite others to come and experience the life only Christ can give.

Throughout Scripture, God continually calls those who are thirsty to Himself.

Isaiah prophesied:

"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground." (Isaiah 44:3).

If your life feels like dry ground today, God has promised to bring refreshing. If your circumstances resemble a desert, He has promised to provide a river where there appears to be none.

The Amplified Bible describes those who are thirsty as those who are "painfully conscious of [their] need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported and strengthened."

God knows exactly what your soul needs, and He has already made provision for it through the water of life.

Notice that Revelation repeatedly says the water is given "without cost."

Why? Because Jesus has already paid the price.

Galatians 3:13-14 declares:

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, every believer has become a son or daughter of God and an heir of His promises.

Even Abraham, though called and anointed by God, never experienced what believers experience today. He did not have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit because Jesus had not yet gone to the cross. Today, however, every born-again believer has the Spirit of God living within them.

Each day, you have a choice. You can ignore the river that is flowing within you, or you can intentionally draw from it. You can recognize God's presence, thank Him for His life, and receive from Him continually.

Life will still bring challenges, but those difficult days become even greater opportunities to rely upon the river of life flowing within you. As you continue to come to Him, drink freely, and trust the Holy Spirit, His life will continually refresh your soul, strengthen your spirit, and bring His peace into every area of your life.

Watch the full video on YouTube

Pt2 Sure Foundation-TMM #57 — Revival Times Ministries.

God bless you richly 

Gil Howard-Browne

www.revivaltimes.com  

No Condemnation in Christ

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.  Romans 8:1-6 (Amplified Bible)

Galatians 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

3 For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh  subdued, overcame,  deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],

4 So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

5 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and  seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.

6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.

Sadly in the Church today, there is a lot of control from leadership over people.  Part of that I understand as there are many people who would run amok over leadership if given half the chance.  The control is built in to make sure that the process of running the church is controllable.  

The danger here is that people become subservient to leadership who become their teacher and guide.  I heard from a friend who said she and her husband had to sign a covenant with the church in order to become a member.   When she explained what the covenant was, I pointed out that the covenant had nothing to do with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the anointing, loving Jesus, serving God, winning the lost etc. It had to do with "CONTROL" It is their way of saying, "if you step out of line, we will wave the covenant at you" It is truly sad that the Church has come to this.

It's a far cry from what the disciples were like when they stepped out of the upper room, filled with the Holy Spirit, and the fire of God. They went from house to house, breaking bread including the Lord's supper.

They broke bread, that meant they fellow-shipped, laughed, ate and shared with each other which is something that people like to do. But this was in the bond of the Spirit. A covenant that was signed in their hearts by the Holy Ghost.  They had a love for God, and a love for His people. Fellowship flowed unrestricted and unguided by a set of laws that man put into place. But governed by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

When we as leadership follow the Word of God, and the leading of the Holy Ghost, 

Gil Howard-Browne

www.revivaltimes.com

Great an Precious Promises

The apostle Peter reminds us of a profound and liberating truth: “For His divine power has bestowed on us absolutely everything necessary for a dynamic spiritual life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3, AMP). This is not a promise for the future; it is a present reality. Through a true and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, God has already supplied everything required to live a life that honors Him. Nothing is lacking. Nothing is missing.

God has not only called us, but He has equipped us. By His own glory and excellence, He has given us precious and magnificent promises, promises of inexpressible value. These promises are not merely words to admire; they are divine instruments through which we escape the corruption and moral decay of this world. As we lay hold of them, we become sharers of the divine nature. Our lives begin to reflect His character, His strength, and His holiness in practical, everyday ways.

Because of this, Peter urges us to respond with diligence. Faith is not passive. It is exercised. As we actively trust God, moral excellence is developed, and with moral excellence comes knowledge, spiritual insight and understanding. Growth is intentional, and it flows from believing what God has already done within us.

You are blessed of the Lord. The Holy Spirit dwells in you, not as a distant influence, but as your present help. He is your peace and your strength. The love of God has been shed abroad in your heart, and that love casts out all fear. Fear has no authority where God’s love reigns. When your mind, your thoughts and emotions, is stayed on Him, He keeps you in perfect peace. Peace and anxiety cannot coexist, and because of this truth, you are free from fear and anxiety.

You also carry power within you. Acts 1:8 declares that you have received power, the very ability, efficiency, and might of God, through the Holy Spirit. This is why you can confidently say, “I can do all things through Christ.” You are not striving in your own strength; you are living from a divine supply already resident within you.

Your life is changing, even now. The old things have passed away, and all things have become new. You are blessed beyond measure, and you are not settling for less than what God has provided. What He began in you, He is faithful to complete.

Be blessed today, tomorrow, and in the weeks, months, and years to come. God’s divine power is at work in you, and His promises will not fail.

Gil Howard-Browne

www.srttn.com 

Streaming Revival To The Nations

The Goodness, Grace and Mercy of God

Many believers live under unnecessary guilt, thinking every mistake angers God. But the Gospel reveals something far greater: His mercy, grace, and goodness overflowing toward us every day.

Ephesians 2:4 says God is “rich in mercy.” His mercy is abundant, extended to people who fall short, who struggle, and who know they need Him. He chooses mercy not because we earned it, but because of His great love.

Grace builds on that mercy. It’s not passive, it’s power. Through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, we were made alive and brought into union with Him. The Holy Spirit now lives in us and quickens our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11), giving strength and transformation from the inside out.

Yes, the Bible speaks of judgment, but it also declares:   “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”, Romans 5:20

Throughout history, when darkness increased, God responded with revival. Lives changed not because people were good, but because God is good. His kindness leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4).

This is not a hopeless hour. We are standing on the edge of another outpouring. God will use unexpected people, including those who feel unqualified, to carry His message.

Don’t count yourself out. The Holy Spirit is your Helper, Guide, and Strength. He empowers you to bring change wherever you go.

If you’ve wondered whether God can still use you, the answer is yes. You were made alive with Christ to be a carrier of His glory.

Believe again. Hope again. Expect again.

God bless you richly,

Gil Howard-Browne

You can view the full broadcast on YouTube - Click Here

Living Examples

 Living Examples: Reflecting God's Presence in Our Lives

As believers, we are called to be living examples of God’s love, grace, and truth. Our daily actions, decisions, and attitudes reflect who we are in Christ, and the Bible urges us to ensure our lives align with His calling. In 2 Peter 1:10, we find this instruction: "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble." Here, Peter encourages believers to live intentionally, demonstrating virtues that reveal our relationship with God.

One of the most powerful ways we can reflect God is through the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists these attributes, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as evidence of the Holy Spirit at work within us. When we develop these virtues, our lives become a testimony to others, showing them the transformative power of God’s presence. Each interaction becomes an opportunity to share the peace and hope we have in Christ, helping others see His character through us.

Our relationship with God is built on trusting His promises. Abraham’s faith serves as a prime example of this trust. Romans 4:20-21 states, "He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." Abraham’s unwavering confidence in God’s word, despite his circumstances, reminds us that trust is foundational to our walk with God. When we rely on His promises rather than focusing on our problems, we live a life of faith that speaks louder than words.

A practical takeaway for believers is to "pray the promises, not the problems." Instead of focusing on the difficulties we face, we should find a promise of God that speaks to our situation. Jeremiah 1:12 assures us of God’s attentiveness: "For I am watching over my word to perform it." This promise gives us confidence, knowing that God is actively working in our lives and will fulfill what He has promised. We are invited to approach life with peace and assurance, even in difficult times, knowing that God is both our guide and our sustainer.

Living as an example isn’t about perfection, it’s about faithfulness. When others see our lives, they should witness an authentic relationship with God, characterized by trust, love, and resilience. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." This call to live for God’s glory in everything we do is the heartbeat of what it means to be a living example.

May we each strive to embody these virtues and faithfully reflect His love and truth to the world around us.

God Bless you richly,

Gil Howard-Browne

Visit www.revivaltimes.online