Rodney Howard Browne Louisville

MY INDIVIDUAL PURPOSE by Rodney Howard Browne

My Mission

Foundation Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-2 and John 15:1-16

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  John 15:1-16 NKJV

1. Desire—how to find out what God has called you to do.

Psalms 37:4 NKJV—Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Mark 11:22-24 NKJV—So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that the power of desire is born out of faith—out of your heart when you:

• Abide in Him and His words abide in you. (John  15:7)
• 1 Peter 4:11 NKJV—If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
• Speak God’s desire out of your mouth—God’s mouthpiece.
• John 15:8 AMP—When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
• Glorify God by bearing much fruit.
• Remember that the tongue is the rudder of your ship.
• James 3:4 AMP—Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
• Have a pure heart. Pure desires spring from a pure heart.

d. John 15:7 NKJV—If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

2. What is your desire?

Rodney Howard Browne explains that your desire is that feeling within that is intense; deep; a yearning; your soul crying out; it stirs you; it’s a fire; a passion; coming out of a pure heart.
Pure heart for God—pure desire from God.
Stir up the gift of God—the gracious inner fire.
2 Timothy 1:5-7 NKJV …when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

3. Pastor Rodney Howard Browne teaches how to find your passion.

Habakkuk 2:2-3—write it down; write the vision; it is for an appointed time.
Out of it, will come the plan of God.
Speak it out—set your course through faith and patience.
Stay focused and don’t allow any distractions from your assigned and chosen course.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BECOME OF ME? by Rodney Howard Browne

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!   Psalms 27:13 AMP

What would have become of me had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living?

What would have become of me had I not believed?  I would have lost heart (NKJV); I would have despaired (NASU); I had fainted (KJV), unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  God is good and He has promised us that if we trust Him and obey Him, that He will show us His goodness. Because I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord, at this time and in this place, I encourage myself in the Lord – I will not lose heart, despair or faint.

God has promised us that He would bless us and take care of us in the land of the living – here in this lifetime. I believe that I will see His goodness – here and now – because I believe the promises in His Word. I believe (RSV); I am still confident of this (NIV); I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again (TLB), so that once again I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! I will see God’s goodness because I believe in Him and His word! His word is true, but it is only true to me if I will believe it.

I cannot afford to give up, to look at the dark side of life, to be depressed, or to be discouraged. I must keep my hopes up, keep the faith, trust in His word, and keep my eyes on Jesus! My believing brings the promise to me that He has already promised. If I refuse to believe the promise, then I will give up hope and I will be lost – I will never see His goodness. 

King David knew the promises of God and He trusted His word. That is why he was successful when all the odds were against him. That is why he lived a long, prosperous life – because he believed that God would take care of him. He also knew that if he doubted God’s word that he would have been lost. He knew that God was his source and supply and he leaned totally over on God allowing God to be God in his life.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!  Psalms 27:1-14 NKJV

When your life hangs in the balance – will you believe in God’s goodness and allow Him to be strong on your behalf – or will you doubt Him and lose what little you have? You know what the right answer is! Be strong and of good courage, wait on the Lord and expect Him to keep His word.