July, 2018 | Rodney Howard Browne God Encounters

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Don’t Forget the Full-time Minister
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 18 verses 1–8

The Levitical priests and all the tribe of Levi shall have no part or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings made by fire to the Lord, and His rightful dues. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He promised them. 3 And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first or best of the fleece of your sheep you shall give the priest. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name [and presence] of the Lord, him and his sons forever. 6 And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel where he is a temporary resident, he may come whenever he desires to [the sanctuary] the place the Lord will choose; 7 Then he may minister in the name [and presence of] the Lord his God like all his brethren the Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord. 8 They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what may come of the sale of his patrimony.
Deuteronomy 18:1-8 AMP

1. This sharing of God’s provision was not man’s idea but God’s idea

Verse 1 says the priests should share in His bounty—they were to partake of the offerings brought to the Lord—His rightful dues
Ministering before the Lord, on behalf of the people, was the priests’ full-time job
If the people did not support them there was nothing else and no one else to sustain them
Verse 3 says this would be the priests’ due from the people—it was the people’s duty to support the ministers

2. The priests were entitled to be blessed from the first fruits of the people

The people brought their best stuff to the Lord and to the priests—the choicest parts of their animals, the first fruits of their grain, the new wine, the oil, the first and best of the fleece of their sheep
This provision was not only for the priest, but for his sons and his family forever
All priests were treated equally and provision was made for all—today, that would be the whole five-fold ministry—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
When the Lord divided up the Promised Land, He gave each tribe and each family a portion of it. However, He did not include the Levitical priesthood or their families. They were set apart unto the Lord’s work and would not have time to waste working the land, therefore, there was no way for them to be fed and kept unless the people brought the fruit of their labor to the house of God. God made it the responsibility of all those who were given land, to meet the needs of the priests. Each side supported and served the other.

It is still the same today. It is the minister’s responsibility to handle the Word of God honestly, and every other believer’s job to generously support those men and women of God who serve them in full-time ministry. Even Paul made tents for a season, but ministers—or their wives—should not need to work another job all the time, just to put food on the table, because the Church is disobedient. God’s order is for the minister’s needs to be met by those believers who work in the marketplace. If we all fulfill our purpose, submit to the Word of God, and joyfully do what God tells us to do, we will see the will of God manifested on the earth!

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
It’s interesting that, in the day and age that we are living, that people in the full-time ministry always seem to come under more scrutiny and criticism for their income, than other people. It is as if the religious world has this idea: Lord, You keep them humble and we’ll keep them poor! I am not saying for one moment that there are not abuses that have not taken place on both sides: there is the minister, who is without integrity, but also the believer who will not obey God and give. Even though people do not always do as they should—still we must remember—that it was God who instituted this mutual dependence. It was not instituted by man as a way to extract money from people—it was instituted by God, in order that the needs of the ministry—and God’s servants—could be met.

We discussed an Old Testament passage above, but the New Covenant declares that those ministers who perform the duties of their office well, be considered doubly worthy of honor and of adequate financial support, especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17 AMP). Although I was not raised in a preacher’s home, we were around ministers all the time and we were taught, as children, to look after them, to take care of them, and to bless them. Still today, even though I am in the ministry myself, I have a love for full-time men and women of God, and a desire to bless them.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, Your word declares that if we receive and welcome and accept a prophet, because he is a prophet, we shall receive a prophet’s reward, and if we receive and welcome and accept a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, we shall receive a righteous man’s reward. You also said that if we give to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water, because he is Jesus’ disciple, that You would surely reward us (Matthew 10:41-42). Father, I thank You that my heart is right with You for I purpose to bless those who minister; I purpose to bless Your servants.

Foundation scriptures:

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Psalms 2:8 KJV

1. Prayer Power made available to the Church.

a. Keys to the Kingdom.

b. Matthew 16:19 KJV – “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

c. The Name of Jesus.

d. Philippians 2:9 KJV – “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”

e. John 16:23-24 KJV – “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

f. Authority has been given to us.

g. Matthew 28:18-20 KJV – “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

h. Elijah was a man of like passions.

i. James 5:16-18 KJV – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

j. Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV – “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

2. A Church that doesn’t pray is a weak and defeated Church.

a. Psalm 2:8: Ask of me – God says – and I will give you the nations as your inheritance

b. Ultimately – the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ.

c. Revelation 11:15 KJV – “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

e. Standing in the gap and crying out – prayer and intercession – for a nation.

f. Isaiah 59:16 AMP – “And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness [having the Spirit without measure] sustained Him.”

g. America.

3. This is why we have the 24-hour prayer center – for people to press in in prayer.

a. We pray for God to intervene in our nation, to have mercy on America one more time just like He has each century.

b. For the enemy to be setback.

c. For total confusion to be wreaked in the camp of the wicked.

d. For the wheels to be pulled off of Pharaoh’s chariots.

e. Whatever is being planned in secret let it be exposed publicly.

f. Wake up the Church for the harvest.

g. May we have another great spiritual awakening!

4. Will you stand in the Gap and ask God for America?

a. One more hour of daylight – the sun is fast setting on the horizon of time.

b. Pray.