Rodney Howard Browne points us to Hebrews 11:6 (NKJ)But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Matthew 7:7-11 (NKJ)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Earthly parents take good care of their children. They give good gifts to their children. Pastor Rodney Howard Browne explains that the law of the land punishes parents who are cruel to their children. If we, as earthly, imperfect parents, would not dream of causing harm and distress to our children, then why do we even imagine that God would want to harm us in any way? We discipline and correct our own children, but we do not injure or kill them. God is so much more perfect than we are – what would He accomplish by hurting us? God chastises and corrects us by His word and His Spirit not by sickness, injury or poverty.

People choose to blame God for misfortune, sickness and disease in their lives because they don’t want to take the responsibility for their own sin. It is a pride thing – they put all the responsibility on God so that they can play the martyr. They would rather bear the “punishment” than repent for their sin and disobedience. Rodney Howard Browne teaches that we need to face up to our own responsibility, humble our hearts and receive God’s forgiveness. The same pride that stops you from repenting will stop you from humbling your heart to receive God’s forgiveness. God wants our obedience not our sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:2-3 (NIV)

All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

You can be stubborn and rebellious and God will leave you to do your own thing until you end up in the pigpen. The moment you come home to Him in repentance, He will forgive you. The fact is that your own children are safe while they remain in your home, but if they venture out to live on the streets and in the alleyways they become a prime target for injury or death. You can only protect them if they stay in your house! If you want to experience life and blessing, you must stay in God’s “house”. Rodney Howard Browne teaches that if you remain in God’s house then the devil has no access to us, but if you wander into the “streets” and the devil’s turf, then you will be a target for the devil.

John 10:10 (NKJ)

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus is the good shepherd sent to love and save us. The devil is the thief who comes to try to kill us, steal from us and destroy us. As a thief he may try to break into your house with sickness and calamity, but you can remind him that he is there illegally and you can throw him out!

John 14:9-10 (NKJ)

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

Jesus spoke and acted according to what He saw and heard from the Father. He was not acting alone. As He went about doing good and destroying the works of the devil, He acted on direct authority given to Him by the Father (Acts 10:38). Sickness and sin are from the devil and God and the devil are not pals! They are not working together to destroy us. The devil is in the destruction business, but God is in the construction business! The Father desires to bless us and He will bless us if we will obey and serve Him.

Psalm 30:4-5 (NIV)

Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.