When you experience a symptom or issue in any part of your body and you decide to check in with your doctor or run by the neighborhood clinic, you can usually count on being diagnosed, treated and on the road to recovery fairly quickly. Of course, there may be prescriptions, a treatment plan and follow-up involved, but if you take your medicine and follow the doctor’s orders, you typically expect to get better.
God may lead you to go to a doctor, and many doctors are anointed by God to do their job to facilitate health and healing in your body. In addition to following the leading of the Lord to a physical doctor, what if you turned to God’s Word just as you would to the medicine prescribed by your health care provider? When Solomon, in all his wisdom, wrote Proverbs, he said that God’s Words “bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body,” or as another translation says, they are medicine to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:22, Jubilee Bible). That includes every body part!
God’s Word is life-giving–as it was at Creation when He spoke all things into existence (Genesis 1)–and it is also life-sustaining. God’s Word can heal you of all sickness, disease, injury and harm that might come against you. Even better, you don’t have to wait for symptoms or injuries to happen–you can take God’s Word as a preventative too! You can take God’s medicine for healing of every body part by reading, meditating and speaking the following scriptures:
Healing for your eyes: “Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever” (Deuteronomy 34:7).
Healing for your ears: “Ears to hear and eyes to see–both are gifts from the LORD” (Proverbs 20:12).
Healing for your lungs: “God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth” (Isaiah 42:5).
Healing for your back: “A woman…. was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!’ Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight” (Luke 13:11-13).
Healing for your hands: “Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands” (Job 4:3, AMPC).
Healing for your skin: “For they [God’s Words] are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22, NKJV).
Healing for your heart: “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Healing for your knees: “Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees” (Job 4:4, NKJV).
Healing for your legs: “And I will strengthen [Israel] in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down and glory in His name, says the Lord” (Zechariah 10:12, AMPC).
Healing for your reproductive system: “He will love you and bless you, and he will give you many children. He will give fertility to your land and your animals…. None of your men or women will be childless, and all your livestock will bear young” (Deuteronomy 7:13-14).
Watch Kenneth and Gloria Copeland tell us 101 things God says about healing here:
What if you have an illness that isn’t mentioned above? God has provided for you too! Deuteronomy 28 lists many sicknesses and diseases and calls them curses; you may find your particular ailment listed in Deuteronomy 28. If you can’t find the specific illness you are experiencing, you can read verse 61, which says, “every sickness and plague there is, even those not mentioned in this Book of Instruction.” That includes every sickness and disease that exists! Then Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)” (NKJV). Because of Jesus, you have been redeemed from every sickness and disease!
Today can be your receiving day, the day you receive Jesus as your primary health care provider, the day you learn How To Take God’s Medicine for Healing and turn your health and well-being around!
The 2024 United States presidential election is not just about you; it is about future generations. What kind of nation will you leave to your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Proverbs 13:22 (AMPC) says, “A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children….” In order to leave an inheritance of moral stability and goodness to your children, you must prepare them to vote. The following four steps will ensure that future generations understand the importance of voting and that our nation continues to be “one nation under God.”
1. Teach Your Children About the Importance of Voting
It is never too early to start teaching them about the importance of voting. When Jeremy Pearsons, son of Pastors George and Terri Pearsons, was a kid, he said to his parents, “If I could vote, I would.” Then he added, “When I can, I will.” His desire to vote came from his parents, who intentionally instilled that into him.
2. Teach Your Children About God’s Criteria for Leadership
God explains in Exodus 18:21-22 who qualifies for leadership within government: “But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.”
3. Teach Your Children To Vote for Those Who Represent Biblical Values
Spend time with your children comparing the party platforms to the Bible. What does the party platform say? How does that compare with what the Bible says? In addition, compare the politicians’ actions to the Bible. What did the politicians do during their term? What kind of decisions did they make? How do those decisions compare to the Bible? The Word of God is always your standard for voting. (Confused about where to find this information? We have an election resource page with all the info you need, from national races to local. Govictory.com/vote)
4. Teach Your Children About Covenants Made With God Concerning This Nation
In the 1620 Mayflower Covenant, the pilgrims left England for religious freedom. Upon arrival at Cape Cod Bay, they wrote, “In the Name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God…having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith…do covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body.” Other covenants include the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the ending of the Revolutionary War.
Why Is This Important?
By preparing your children to vote, you are teaching them to vote for leaders who will best represent the standards of God’s Word. You are investing in future generations and leaving a legacy that ensures that Jesus is Lord over the United States of America.
Be sure you are informed about this pivotal election by going to our election resources page America Stands. And download a Prayer & Confession card for you to take into the voting booth here!
The darkness of night surrounded the airplane as it taxied the tarmac, slowly making its way to the gate. Anticipation in the air, 51 passengers waited. In a matter of minutes, they would be filing out of the large vessel, stepping foot onto their homeland…
What makes this different from any other flight? These people were Jews, and they were making aliyah to the land of Israel–the land that had called them home.
The Backbone of the Jewish State
Each year, thousands of Jews make Israel their new home. This process is known as aliyah, which is the Hebrew word used to describe immigration to Israel – bringing Jews from the four corners of the earth to their biblical homeland. The very backbone of the Jewish state, it is the return of Jews to the land of Israel from the diaspora. The literal meaning of aliyah is “to ascend” or “to go up.”
Recently, Israel and Jewish Liaison of Kenneth Copeland Ministries and Eagle Mountain International Church Julie Sironi; and Regional Director of Keren Hayesod Shmulik Fried, welcomed this group of 51 Jews making aliyah into Israel from Russia. What makes this moment so significant is that it is literal biblical prophecy coming to pass.
“For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land…. And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:24, 28, New Living Translation).
Scattered and Returned
By definition, a diaspora is the scattering or migration of a people from their original homeland. Aliyah is the return of those people to the homeland of their forefathers–which, as we see in the book of Ezekiel, is God’s ultimate plan for His people.
As a Partner with Kenneth Copeland Ministries, you are helping bring this biblical prophecy to pass. With every dollar given to KCM, 10% of that is given to other ministries and organizations. One such organization is Keren Hayesod.
Founded over 100 years ago, Keren Hayesod is the world’s leading fundraising organization for the people of Israel. It enables those who want to support Israel as the Jewish homeland, working to enhance the lives of the people of Israel and strengthening the connection between Jewish communities around the world.
Just the Beginning
Stepping foot on the homeland of their forefathers is not the end of the aliyah journey for Jewish immigrants. Rather, it is just the beginning. Starting a new life may seem daunting; however, Keren Hayesod is there to help families and individuals with the acclimation process during the transition.
Many immigrants begin their new lives in absorption centers, where they enjoy support services that help ease their transition and promote their full participation in Israeli society. New immigrants benefit from intensive Hebrew language courses, Jewish and Israeli holiday celebrations, career guidance, and access to information about educational opportunities.
In sponsoring Keren Hayesod’s efforts, seen in this group of immigrants coming from Russia, KCM and its Partners are playing a vital role in ensuring there is support for them in making this monumental life transition. These Jews are taking on a challenge: a new language; a new government; a new system; a new way of life. But Keren Hayesod is there to help, and so is Kenneth Copeland Ministries.
A Nation at War
Israel is a nation at war on seven fronts. One would think that fewer Jews would be making aliyah during such a tumultuous time. However, the numbers keep increasing. Keren Hayesod Regional Director Shmulik Fried has asked several people why they are choosing to make aliyah in a time of war. Their response? This is exactly the reason they want to make aliyah: because they want to be in Israel and support Israel at this time.
So, Fried stood at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv alongside Julie Sironi, to welcome this latest group as they made their way home.
As the individuals departed the airplane, Fried and Sironi were there with warm smiles and Israeli flags for everyone. As a Partner with KCM, you were there too.
Said Shmulik: “Thousands of Jews [have come] to Israel thanks to Kenneth Copeland Ministries and Eagle Mountain International Church. Thank you for your friendship, for your love, for standing with Israel and [for] taking a significant role in fulfilling Bible prophecy.”
Thank you, Partner, for playing a role in helping these beautiful people find their way home.
When you’re expecting something to happen or someone to visit, what do you do? You make plans. You prepare. You get ready. In other words, you take action!
Having faith in God–or the faith of God–is similar. When you pray, release your faith for something to happen. Believe you receive the answer. And then, add to your prayer of faith what the Word calls “corresponding action.”
In the Weymouth New Testament, which is available from KCM, the Word says, “What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes to have faith, and yet his actions do not correspond? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother and a sister are poorly clad or lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Fare you well; keep yourselves warm and well fed,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs; what is the use of that? So also faith, if it is unaccompanied by obedience, is dead in itself. Nay, some one will say, ‘You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions” (James 2:14-18).
Here’s the point: When you pray in faith, believing you receive the promise of God in His Word and being expectant for Him to answer your prayer, move forward with corresponding action: Prepare to receive God’s promise that you prayed! Faith prepares ahead of time for what it believes will happen.
Faith Prepares Ahead of Time
When Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee with His disciples, it was evening. He had been preaching and teaching all day long to people who were eager to listen to Him. When they arrived at the other side, as soon as He stepped out of the boat, Mark 5:2 says, “A man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him…. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones” (Mark 5:2, 5). After Jesus cast the demon out of the man, he got back into the boat and crossed the Sea of Galilee once again.
This time, when he stepped out of the boat, a man named Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come and heal his daughter, who was dying. On the way to heal the little girl, a woman who had suffered with an issue of blood many years, interrupted his journey. The woman said, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed” (Mark 5:28). In the account, the woman did touch the hem of his robe, and she was healed! By the time Jesus finished speaking with her, Jairus was told by a messenger from his home that it’s too late, his daughter was dead. But Jesus said, “The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep” (Mark 5:39).
If you’ve ever read this series of miracles, then you know how the story of Jairus’ daughter ends. Jesus went to Jairus’ house, and when He saw the girl, He took her by the hand and said, “Little girl, get up!” She “immediately stood up and walked around!” (Mark 5:41-42).
How did Jesus do all this in a matter of a day? How did He have it in Him to preach all day, and then perform not one, not two, but three miracles–and one that involved raising the dead?
The answer is because He depended on His Father, and He prepared ahead of time! That’s what faith does. Jesus said two things that show us He depended on His Father and prepared in advance to do the work God sent Him to do:
First: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished” (John 5:19-20).
Second: “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say” (John 12:49-50).
Jesus prepared ahead of time by spending time with His heavenly Father. He prepared ahead of time for what He knew would happen.
This is what we’re to do. We’re to spend time with God, in His Word, and in prayer, to build our faith to prepare to receive what it is we’re believing for, because Faith Prepares To Receive the Promise.
Faith Prepares for What It Believes
Everything in the Bible was done and received by faith. Every person Jesus healed, delivered and set free was healed, delivered and set free by faith. By faith, the demon-possessed man was freed. By faith, the woman with the issue of blood was healed. By faith, Jairus’ daughter was healed.
Faith depends on the Word of God alone to work–and it prepares ahead of time for what it believes will happen. What is it that God has for you? What has He put in your heart to receive?
This week’s BVOV broadcast is an outstanding opportunity to encourage your faith. Pastors George and Terri Pearsons will be showing segments of messages from the 2024 Southwest Believers’ Convention that was held in Fort Worth, July 29-Aug. 3. You can tune in at kcm.org/watchevent to view these sessions. But before you do, take some time to prepare your faith to receive from God. Spend time in the Word–reading, studying, meditating on it and listening to it preached. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Stir up the faith inside you, because Faith Prepares To Receive the Promise.
Faith Prepares for What It Expects
The Oxford Dictionary tells us that hope is the “feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Hope is the blueprint of faith. It paints a picture inside us of what we need or want, and what we’re to be expecting. With that hope before us, we feed our faith and use it like a tool to receive what we’re believing for. Then, we release our faith by speaking God’s Word that promises us what we’re believing for. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
What are you believing God for? Make a list before you start watching the BVOV broadcasts. Make a list of your financial, physical, emotional, health, relational or spiritual needs, and whatever else you’ve been praying and believing for God to answer.
As you make your list and prepare your spirit and soul to receive, remember this: James tells us that faith without works–or corresponding action–is dead (James 2:20). So, find one or more covenant words and promises from God’s Word that apply to your situation and write them next to your need. For example, if you’re believing for healing and, specifically, if you are believing God to have a child, you could write Exodus 23:25-26: “You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness.There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives.”
The more specific you are in your faith–your believing–the more specifically God can answer your prayers.
If you’re believing for financial breakthrough, release your faith to live debt free. You can use the following verse to write a confession: “Owe nothing to anyone–except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:8). Your confession could easily be: “Lord, thank You that I owe nothing to anyone but love. Thank You that because you so greatly love me, I can love everyone I meet today with Your love.”
If you’re believing for a relationship to be restored–with your spouse, child, a relative, friend or colleague–find a verse or verses to write, pray and confess the promise of God so you can release your faith…because Faith Prepares To Receive the Promise.
Faith Prepares for the Victory
Part of receiving by faith is thanking God for the answer before you see it in this natural realm. It’s praising God that what you’ve prayed, hoped and believed Him for is coming to pass. It’s worshipping Him for the answer–for your healing, your provision that’s coming, the breakthrough that will happen, for the child who will be set free or the lost who will be saved–before you see it. Faith counts it already done.
Mark 11:22-25 is a foundational passage of Scripture and a fundamental of faith: “Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.'”
When you have your prayer list and God’s promises to stand on for each prayer request, then pray using the promises of God. Release your faith by speaking what He promised–because faith depends on the Word to work. Then start praising God that the victory is yours, that what you’ve declared by faith is already done. God is faithful, and He will do what He has promised. He will respond to your faith. He will always respond to His Word. He will honor your keeping “the switch of faith” turned on, because faith pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6). He will honor you when your Faith Prepares To Receive the Promise.
To watch all of the 2024 Southwest Believers’ Convention sessions, go to kcm.org/watch/event
When Moses died and Joshua was faced with the responsibility of leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land, he was dealing with fear. In response, the Lord told him to be strong and courageous…three times…for reasons that still work in our lives today. It’s one of the most powerful Scriptures That Prove the Word Changes Things. The Lord said:
The time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: “Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you…. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:2-9).
We know from the rest of the story that Joshua did indeed lead the children into the Promised Land. The Word worked. It changed things in Joshua. He overcome the fear coming against him by studying God’s Word, by meditating on it day and night, by activating the principle of total immersion–a principle whereby we saturate ourselves with concentrated times in the Word of God. Kenneth Copeland has taught this principle for years and you can read more about how to Activate the Principle of Total Immersionhere. It’s a process that helps us renew our minds quickly to the Word of God–a process you want to apply in your life–so the Word can go to work and change what needs to be changed in your life (Romans 12:2).
This is what Joshua did–and he went from being afraid of the assignment God had for him, to successfully leading a powerful nation of millions of people!
What Is It That You Need To Change?
Are you afraid like Joshua? Do you need healing in your body? Are you desperate for increase financially? Then immerse yourself in the Word, and watch it change you and your world. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). It’s when we hear the Word over and over that faith comes. Faith develops. Faith grows. Faith is activated. That’s how the Word changes whatever we need changing in our lives.
Another one of the most powerful Scriptures That Prove the Word Changes Things is found in Acts 14:1-10. A man immersed himself in Paul’s teaching sessions–and hearing the Word caused faith to rise up in him rapidly. He had been lame from birth, so he had never walked, and yet, by listening to Paul preach and teach the Word of God, faith came.
Verse 3, describing Paul and the disciples, says, “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (NKJV).
Then they moved on to Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region, where they continued “preaching the gospel there” (verses 6-7, NKJV).
And verses 8-10 show us the results the man received from activating the principle of immersion in his life. He experienced change! “And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, ‘Stand up straight on your feet!’ And he leaped and walked” (NKJV).
This man heard Paul speaking, and faith developed in him quickly–to the point Paul saw that the man had the faith to be healed–after having never walked! Can you imagine the ligaments, joints, tendons and muscles that had to be changed for that man to walk? They had to be brought to life and rejuvenated. They had to support him the moment he stood for the first time. The Word did all that! Quickly!
What Is It That You’re Believing For?
If you want your faith to increase, if you want your capacity for faith to increase, then immerse yourself in the Word of God. The Southwest Believers’ Convention is in Fort Worth, July 29-Aug. 3. Make a list of what you’re believing for. Then attend in person or online and watch your faith grow rapidly. Watch it bring the results you need and want.
This meeting was created decades ago because Kenneth Copeland learned firsthand the power of the Word to change things in his life when he was a student at ORU in 1967. Through his own experience testing the principle of total immersion in the Word, spending days in his garage with the Word, he began weeklong meetings to help other believers encourage their faith and receive what God had for them–and at a rate that was faster because of it.
The Word changes things. Make time to allow it to change things in your life today.
Register for the Southwest Believers’ Convention here: kcm.org/swbc
God is Love, He loves you, and He is always for you (1 John 4:16; Romans 5:8, 8:31). He’s good and He’s always working to get more of His goodness to you (Psalms 100:5; Romans 8:28). What’s more, the way we receive all that He has for us is by faith–by the faith He’s given to us (Romans 12:3). “I tell you,” Jesus said, “You can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).
And yet, all too often, we forget all this and lean into our own strength–into our own willpower. We stop having faith in Love and begin to mentally believe–which is tapping into the power of our souls. God wants us to tap into His power. He wants us to accept His will and put our will in subjection to His. That’s when we’ll walk in the fulness of His strength and not our own.
If you’ve been praying and asking God to know His will, consider these scriptures that showcase God’s Loving Will for You…because knowing His will is not something God wants to keep a secret from us. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11).
It’s God’s will that you love God with all your being. “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind'” (Matthew 22:37).
It’s God’s will that you love others. “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).
It’s God’s will that you be well. “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed” (1 Peter 2:24)
It’s God’s will that you prosper–spirt, soul and body. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2, NKJV).
It’s God’s will that everything you put your hand to prospers. “…Obey the LORD and keep all his commands that I am giving you today. The LORD your God will then make you successful in everything you do” (Deuteronomy 30:8-9).
It’s God’s will that you lack no good thing. “Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing” (Psalms 34:9-10).
It’s God’s will that you walk in love. “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
It’s God’s will that you flourish in the fruit of the spirit. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
It’s God’s will that you be tenderhearted. “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
It’s God’s will that you walk in unity. “Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future” (Ephesians 4:1-4).
It’s God’s will that you walk free from sin. “Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living” (Romans 6:18).
It’s God’s will that you freely forgive. “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13).
It’s God’s will that you gather with other believers. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).
It’s God’s will that you have all the wisdom, knowledge and understanding you need. “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).
It’s God’s will that you continue growing and mature in Christ. “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God” (Hebrews 6:1).
It’s God’s will that you be baptized in His Spirit. “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11).
It’s God’s will that you live a long full life. “I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation” (Psalm 91:16).
It’s God’s will that you be strengthened spiritually. “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The LORD gives his people strength. He is a safe fortress for his anointed king” (Psalms 28:7-8).
It’s God’s will that you walk in His truth. “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth” (3 John 1:4).
It’s God’s will that you trust in His love. “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” (1 John 4:16).
When God created the Garden of Eden, the Word says, “And the Lord God took the man [Adam] and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it” (Genesis 2:15, AMPC). In the King James Version, the word tend is written as dress, and both words come from the Hebrew root that means “to cultivate.”
Just as God wanted Adam to cultivate the Garden of Eden, we are to cultivate the garden of our hearts–of our spirits, of our inner man. When we do, we increase our capacity to believe and to receive by faith. We grow in our ability to walk in all that THE BLESSING provides for us–including the healing miracles we want and have so earnestly prayed for.
If you are believing God for a miracle, then keep cultivating your miracle. Keep walking in all the spiritual practices that grow your faith. For example…
When we read the Word of God, we cultivate our miracle (Proverbs 4:20-22). When we listen to the preached Word, we cultivate our miracle (Romans 10:17). When we pray in faith, we cultivate our miracle (John 14:14). When we speak the Word only, we cultivate our miracle (Matthew 8:8). When we declare the Word of God, we cultivate our miracle (2 Timothy 4:2). When we invite others to pray for us, we cultivate our miracle (James 5:14-16). When we worship, we cultivate our miracle (Deuteronomy 10:21). When we attend gatherings where the Anointing, the power and the presence of God are, we cultivate our miracle (Isaiah 10:27; Hebrews 10:25).
If you are believing God for a miracle, begin today focusing your faith to receive it. Begin today intentionally cultivating your miracle, and then, make plans to attend Miracles on the Mountain at EMIC, where Pastor Billy Burke will be ministering the Word of God for healing miracles. By cultivating your miracle ahead of time, you are increasing your capacity to receive. To help you, consider these 10 Scriptures for Cultivating Your Miracle. Meditate them daily, speak the confessions that follow, and make plans to join your faith with thousands of others at Miracles on the Mountain.
1. “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
By the stripes of Jesus I have been made whole. From the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, I am the healed. Thank You, Jesus!
2. “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed–and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes” (Acts 3:16).
I have faith in Jesus, and I am the healed in Jesus’ Name.
3. “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
I listen to the voice of the Lord; I do what is right in His sight, obeying all His commands. He is the Lord who heals me.
4. “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
Nothing is too hard for my God. Not cancer, not diabetes, not heart disease, not terminal illness of any kind! No matter what comes against me, I am the healed in Jesus’ Name.
5. “He [Jesus] replied, ‘What is impossible for people is possible with God'” (Luke 18:27).
The miracle I need is not impossible. It may be with man, but not with God. With God, my healing is possible.
6. ‘”What do you mean, “If I can”?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes'” (Mark 9:23).
I am a believing believer. Believing is what I do. I believe that I receive my healing, in Jesus’ Name!
7. “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible'” (Matthew 19:26).
What may seem impossible in this natural realm, including my healing, is possible with God, because everything is possible with Him. I am the healed, in Jesus’ Name.
8. “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled” (Acts 19:11-12).
Thank You, God, for an unusual miracle in my life. I put my faith in You and Your healing power. I am the healed.
9. “And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17-18, AMPC).
Thank You, Jesus, for the laying on of hands. I receive Your healing power. I receive Your Anointing that breaks the yoke of sickness, disease and affliction in my life. In Your Name, I am healed.
10. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Glory to You, Lord, for doing exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever ask or think in my body. Thank You for healing me. Thank You for my miracle! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Did you know that you can live a life without fear even in this day and age? There is no question that we are living in a time where everything in this world is growing darker; where things seem more dangerous, more uncertain, more chaotic. And it’s no surprise because we are living in the end times. But no matter how threatening life in this world becomes, for the believer, there is light, there is hope, there is safety and security.
We have a covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We walk in the THE BLESSING, and we have all that it encompasses.
We have the Word of God.
We have the Name of Jesus.
We have the protection of Almighty God in Psalm 91.
We have authority over evil and every work of the devil in this earthly realm (Ephesians 6:12). And, most importantly, we have authority over the spirit of fear, because we have authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Therefore, no matter how terrifying this world becomes, we don’t have to live in fear. We don’t have to live a minute of our lives feeling afraid of anything.
Granted, there will always be occasions where we will be tempted with the feelings of fear; when the enemy will attempt to paralyze us with his fear–through tragedy, trauma, shocks, diagnoses and things we never saw coming. He will use fear to make us sick, to prevent us from thinking straight, or to move us into a state of confusion. The enemy will do all he can to ensure we live a life filled with pressure, anxiety, stress, anger and worry–all things based in fear. But because we have the God of the universe living on the inside of us, we don’t ever have to receive his fear or walk in it. Yes, it may come against us, but it doesn’t have to stay!
Understandably, particularly because of situations in our lives or what we’ve personally been through in the past, this can feel easier said than done. But the truth is that it can be done. No matter how much fear has gripped you thus far in life, you can start living free from fear today! You can be free for the rest of your life. And probably one of the best ways to start overcoming fear and eradicating it from your life is to start growing in your understanding of love.
God Is Love–the Opposite of Fear
Fear is a spiritual force that came into this world when Adam’s faith fell. God made Adam, and because there is no fear in God, until Adam sinned, there was no fear in him. Adam’s act of high treason opened the door for Satan and all his evil work–including fear–so as soon as Adam sinned, he experienced fear for the first time. “Then the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He [Adam] replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid'” (Genesis 3:9-10).
Because of the work of Jesus on the cross–his death, burial, resurrection and being seated at the right hand of God–we are no longer subject to the fear Adam experienced. When we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, God, who is Love, comes to reside in us. Since there is no fear in Him, there is no fear in love. “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” (1 John 4:16).
What’s more, 1 John 4 goes on to say, “And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect…. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love” (verses 17-18).
Have you experienced His perfect love? This is where you start growing in your understanding of love–you experience it for yourself. “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love–not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (verses 9-10).
Fear Is a Spiritual Force–And So Is Faith
When Adam sinned, what used to be faith was now fear. Because of this, fear is twisted faith. It’s faith that’s going in the wrong direction. It’s the reciprocal of faith, and to be the reciprocal of something means it’s the exact opposite, but in the same class. For example, both fear and faith function in the spirit realm and according to the same laws, but one leads to life, and one leads to death.
In fact, the fear of death is the foundation of all fears. All fear is fundamentally based on the fear of death. When fear comes against us, it overpowers logic. Therefore, we can’t deal with fear based on logic. We have to deal with it in the name of Love, who lives on the inside of us, in faith, because faith works by love (Galatians 5:6).
The Language of Fear and Unbelief
One of the quickest ways to identify fear in our lives is to listen to how often we say, “But what if…?”
What if everything goes wrong?
What if I don’t get well?
What if I die?
What if the money doesn’t come through?
What if? What if? What if?
“What if?” is the language of unbelief–and all unbelief is based in fear. Unbelief is afraid. However, it is not afraid that God can’t. Rather it is afraid that God won’t. It’s being afraid we can’t, and that God won’t do it for us personally. The truth, that we MUST believe, is that all He wants to do is love us, save us, transform us, heal us, prosper us, answer us, comfort us, provide for us and protect us. He wants us to receive and walk in everything that is THE BLESSING. And there’s certainly no fear in that!
We Are Not Orphans–And Only Orphans Have Fear
Speaking to His disciples, telling them about the Holy Spirit who was to come, Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.No, I will not abandon you as orphans–I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).
In the Hebrew, an orphan is someone who has no ancestors, no heritage, no background. And according to the Scripture, an orphan is someone without hope. Paul wrote to the Ephesians saying, “In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope” (Ephesians 2:12).
Before Christ we were all living as spiritual aliens and strangers to His promise. We had no hope. We were orphans. But now we are believers in whom God dwells, love dwells and the Holy Spirit dwells–the One who leads, guides and teaches us, much like a parent does.
Romans 5:5 promises us, “This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
What’s more, fear is created in an atmosphere of no knowledge and requires walking in areas of the unknown. Only orphans have no one to guide them, teach them, love them and parent them. Therefore, only orphans should have fear. We, as believers, are not orphans, because the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
We are sons and daughters of the Most High (Psalm 82:6). We have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). We are not fatherless. We are children of God (1 John 3:2). We are heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). Therefore, we don’t have to ever give place to fear.
We Have Been Given God’s Spirit–Not a Spirit of Fear
Fear has torment; it is the tormentor. Therefore, none of the torment we face in this earth is ever from God, for there is nothing in Him but love. The Scripture assures us saying, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Love lives in us! Therefore, fear can’t live inside us. All it can do is pressure us from the outside. It’s so much easier to resist, to attack, to cast out and to command it to go when we remember that Love Himself dwells in us!
To get this further into our hearts and minds, we could read John 1 as follows, replacing the word God or any reference to Him with the word LOVE in each mention:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with LOVE, and the Word was LOVE. The same was in the beginning with LOVE. All things were made by LOVE; and without LOVE was not any thing made that was made. In LOVE was life; and the life was the light of men….
“LOVE was in the world, and the world was made by LOVE, and the world knew LOVE not. LOVE came unto Love’s own, and LOVE’s own received LOVE not. But as many as received LOVE, to them gave LOVE power to become the sons of LOVE, even to them that believe on LOVE’S name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but [the will] of LOVE. And the Word [of LOVE] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld LOVE’S glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father [of LOVE],) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-4, 10-14, KJV).
It’s Time To Live Our Lives Without Fear
Romans 8:37 should be our declaration daily: “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (NKJV). It’s time to live our lives without fear–regardless of what goes on throughout the world, in our communities and in our homes.
God’s protection supersedes the dangers of this world (Psalm 91).
God’s economy is not subject to this world’s (Philippians 4:19).
God’s healing is not bound by any diagnosis in this world (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
God’s love supersedes all the fear in this world (1 John 4:18).
God’s love supersedes any fear that comes against us. We were made to live on love. We were made to hear love, walk in love, and think love thoughts. It’s our DNA.
God, who is Love, is Love in us. We can trust Love. And live a life without fear.
Are you in covenant with God? Of course you are, if you have made Jesus the Lord of your life! But did you know there are 3 Steps To Being In Covenant With God that you need to understand and walk in? When you do, it will simplify your understanding of all that God wants you to know about His covenant with you. Furthermore, it will help all the elements of the covenant process, seen throughout the Bible, make sense.
As Kenneth Copeland and Greg Stephens write in their new book, God, the Covenant, and the Contradiction, the process of entering into a covenant always involves three steps. To God, three is a significant number. Throughout Scripture, He often works with groupings of three, a number that conveys completeness. The Bible tells us for example:
There are three members of the Godhead–God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit–which makes the Trinity.
There are three facets of God’s existence throughout time–God who was, who is, and who is to come (Revelation 1:4).
God created us to be triune beings made up of spirit, soul and body.
This pattern of threes emerges repeatedly in all God-initiated covenants because it’s a reflection of His divine nature. It also signifies the fact that all three Persons of the Godhead are actively involved in His covenants. Each member of the Trinity plays a unique part in the process of fulfilling the Father’s plan to redeem mankind and restore us back to Himself. So, here are 3 Steps To Being In Covenant With God.
Step 1: The Calling
The first step in the covenant process is the calling to covenant. God, the Father, takes this step by graciously inviting us to join ourselves to Him. Then He, in turn, can join Himself to us, bringing all of who He is and all of what He has into our lives.
Nehemiah 9 tells us it was God who chose Abraham. It wasn’t Abraham who initiated their covenant relationship. God approached him first. He brought Abraham up from his homeland and gave him a new identity. God even promised to give Abraham all the land as far as his eyes could see (Genesis 13:15), an offer seemingly too good to be true.
God has essentially done the same for us, as believers, today. He has called us, just as He called Abraham, and made us an astounding offer. He’s offered us the opportunity to enter into a relationship with Him for all eternity. He’s promised to BLESS us and assured us, as Romans 8:28 says, that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (KJV).
Do you see it? As believers we are “the called!” That means God has already taken the first step in the process of establishing covenant with us. He has extended to us a personal invitation to join ourselves to Him.
Step 2: Entering Covenant
The second step in establishing a covenant is the actual entering into the covenant. This is where the terms of the covenant are agreed upon by both parties, and the agreement is executed or acted upon. In Hebrews 11:8-9, we see Abraham taking this step. We see that “by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise” (KJV).
Imagine how much trust it took for Abraham to say yes to God’s call without knowing where that call would take him. Imagine how much faith it took for him to leave everything behind without having any idea of exactly what lay ahead. When Abraham acted on God’s promise in Faith, he entered into covenant. He accepted God’s invitation and joined himself to God.
Hundreds of years later, when God gave the people of Israel the opportunity to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, He added to this second step. He required the Israelites to agree verbally with His covenant conditions. He had them declare out loud together all the BLESSINGS and the curses of the Law. Like the reading and signing of a contractual agreement, this formalized their agreement to enter covenant with Him (Deuteronomy 27-30:19).
Today, because of the new Covenant we have through Jesus, God doesn’t ask us to declare out loud all the requirements of the Old Covenant Law. We take the second step of entering into covenant with God by believing on God’s Son, Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, and receiving Him by faith as our Savior and LORD.
As Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6, KJV). In other words, He told us, “The only way you can enter into Covenant with the Father is through Me. Yes, He has called and invited you, but I’m your way in!”
Jesus did for us what we couldn’t. He did what mankind had tried and failed to do for thousands of years. By living a sinless life and perfectly keeping God’s Law, He fulfilled all God’s covenant requirements. Then He became the ultimate covenant sacrifice, paid the price for the sin of all mankind forever, and shed His blood to ratify a second covenant, a new Covenant.
The new Covenant cannot be broken. It is between the eternal, Almighty God, and the resurrected, glorified man, Jesus Christ–and we get access to it by faith in Him. One of the articles of this precious covenant is recorded in 1 John 1:9. It says that when we sin, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (KJV).
That means we can’t mess up this Covenant! As The BOOK says, “Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages)” (Hebrews 13:8, AMPC). Because Jesus is always the same, so is His covenant with God, and therefore ours is, too.
Step 3: Keeping Covenant
The third and final step of the covenant process is keeping or maintaining the agreement. A covenant relationship, like any relationship–whether it’s a marriage, parenting, business or simply a friendship–requires maintenance. Relationships need nurturing. For them to remain healthy and vital, you can’t just forget about them. You must remember and attend to them.
Jesus spoke about this to His disciples just before He left them to go to the cross. During their last Passover meal together, He took the bread, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me'” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25, NKJV).
When Jesus instructed His disciples to do this “in remembrance of Me,” He was pointing back to what their Hebrew forefathers had done for thousands of years. When they ate the Passover meal, they remembered how God had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 13:3; Deuteronomy 4:9). This remembering kept their minds focused on their covenant with Him.
This is why Jesus established under the new Covenant what we today call “Communion.” By telling us to eat and drink the Covenant meal, He provided us with a simple action step we can take to remind us that we’re in Covenant with God through Him. He gave us a powerful way to release our faith in that Covenant. This helps us nurture our connection with Him and keep it intact–healthy, active, strong and thriving.
Right after that last covenant meal Jesus shared with His disciples, He also told them another way He was going to help them remember and maintain their connection with Him. He was going to send them the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, to help with this third covenant step. He said:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you…. he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:15-17, 26, KJV).
Notice a major role of the Holy Spirit is to help us remember our Covenant and keep our relationship with our heavenly Father strong and vibrant. He also helps us by empowering us to be faithful to the conditions of the Covenant agreement and to obtain its benefits. But, under the new Covenant, this doesn’t involve following an overwhelming list of rules and regulations, as was required under the first Covenant.
No, as born-again believers, our focus is on the One who went before us and fulfilled for us the terms of the Covenant. We take step three by giving attention to Jesus: to His Love for us and to our place in Him. And we do that with the ever-present help–and continual prompting–of the Holy Spirit.
Have You Stepped Into Your Covenant With God?
If you haven’t yet stepped into Covenant with God, pray this prayer today, making Jesus the Lord of your life. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pray for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. There’s nothing more powerful than receiving both your salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit in you!
Prayer of Faith
Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” I do that now. I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.
I am now reborn! I am a Christian–a child of Almighty God! I am saved!
You also said in Your Word, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). I’m also asking You to fill me with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise God. I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance (Acts 2:4). In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Proverbs 4:20-23 tells us, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (King James Version). God’s Word is life to us, and He tells us to incline our ear to His Word. The word incline means “feel willing or favorably disposed toward (an action, belief, or attitude),” according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Next, He tells us to not let His Word depart from our eyes. This will keep His Word in our hearts and coming out our mouths…and it helps us to see ourselves healed and made whole. This is how we picture ourselves the way God sees us. Using your imagination, see yourself healed. See yourself standing, walking and moving about without any health issues. See yourself raising your arms, bending over, picking something up off the floor. See yourself doing what you haven’t been able to do before!
Faith always begins where the will of God is known. Therefore, for you to receive the healing God has for you by faith, it’s critical that you know, that you know, that you know that it is God’s plan for you to be well. And the best way to build your faith to believe and receive–so that you know, that you know, that you know–is to saturate yourself with the truth of God’s Word.
Take time now to Build Your Faith With These Healing Scriptures, and then watch it go to work in your body.
“If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26, New King James Version).
“So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (Exodus 23:25).
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29).
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
“For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!” (Psalm 34:20).
“No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:10, NKJV).
“Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases” (Psalm 103:2-3).
“He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death” (Psalm 107:20).
“The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous” (Psalm 146:8, NKJV).
“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body” (Proverbs 14:30).
“The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?” (Proverbs 18:14, NKJV).
“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture” (Malachi 4:2).
“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses'” (Matthew 8:16-17, NKJV).
“A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all” (Matthew 15:30).
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18, NKJV).
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” (Romans 8:11).
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NKJV).
“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15, NKJV).
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).
This year is the year of more! Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God wants to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us. Glory to God! And, according to the Word of the Lord shared through Kenneth Copeland for 2024, God wants us to see and receive more finances, more healing, more miracles, more outpourings, and more and more and more and more.
When Jesus walked the earth, He performed signs and wonders and miracles. There are 37 recorded for us in the New Testament. There is nothing too hard for him. Not your financial need. Not your need for healing. Or your need for a miracle. Jesus gave authority to the disciples to perform signs and wonders and miracles–and He gave us authority in the name of Jesus to do the same. That’s right, we have the power to pray, to lay hands on the sick and to see them recover. We have the power and privilege to petition God for our whatever we need and receive a positive heavenly response (John 16:23, AMPC).
What is it that you want more of in 2024? Write it down. Then pray (petition) God for it based on the promises in His Word, asking for it in the name of Jesus and then receiving it by faith. Start by saying, “I believe I receive.” Then continue to praise God as you wait for of your petition to manifest.
To help us receive all that God wants for us, we need to be continually building our faith. That enables us to receive by faith, which we do by hearing God’s Word continually (Romans 10:17). Consider the following 10 Scriptures to Help Build Your Faith in the Supernatural. Read them, meditate on them and allow the Holy Spirit to increase your capacity to see the supernatural to happen in your life in greater measure this year.
“News about him [Jesus] spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed–he healed them all” (Matthew 4:24).
“He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:27).
“Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness” (Matthew 10:1).
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18, NKJV).
“And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs” (Mark 16:20).
“A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick” (John 6:2).
“And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose” (Acts 2:4).
“A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders” (Acts 2:43).
“Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30).
“But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders” (Acts 14:3).
In Exodus 15, God shares a crucial truth about your health and healing. “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you” (verse 26, New King James Version). As this makes clear, it is God’s will to heal us!
More scriptures agree with this truth: Deuteronomy 28:61; Galatians 3:13; and 1 Peter 2:22-24, as well as in many other verses. And yet, based on what Exodus 15:26 says, God’s healing for us is conditional. Moses wrote, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes…” then….
If we do what God has asked of us, then He will do what He promised. Proverbs 4 shows us these conditions as well: “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (verses 20-23).
To give attention to God’s Words is to put them first. To put them first place in your life. To put them first place in the morning, in the middle of the day and the last thing at night. You must read them, pray them, confess them and declare them.
When we give our attention to God’s words, they become health and healing to our flesh, or medicine as one translation says. Just like we take natural medicine for sickness, so we are to take our spiritual medicine, which is the Word of God.
To help you begin taking God’s supernatural medicine, consider these 10 Scriptures To Build Your Faith for Healing.
For I am the Lord who heals you. (Exodus 15:26)
You shall serve the Lord your God; He shall bless your bread and water, and I will take sickness from your midst. (Exodus 23:25-26)
And the Lord will take away from you all sickness. (Deuteronomy 7:15)
The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. (Psalm 41:3)
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
But he [Jesus] was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
“I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)
Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness. (Matthew 4:23)
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
Think of it–the Lord is ready to heal me! I will sing His praises with instruments every day of my life. (Isaiah 38:20)
When we give our attention to God’s Word, He attends to us. Psalm 107:20, NKJV is a promise we can count on: “He sent His Word and healed them.”
God is Love and He loves us! His Word tells us so: “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7).
God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus, and when we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, we enter into a covenant of love with God Himself. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
What better month than February to celebrate this Covenant of love we have with God! He has made us part of His family, something that is precious to Him. Long before the beginning of time, He loved the thought of being surrounded by sons and daughters made in His own likeness. His heart yearned for a family of people He could love and BLESS.
All the magnificent splendor of creation we see around us today came out of that divine desire. God made it all for one purpose only–to BLESS His family. He created the earth and everything in it for us! We were in His heart and mind long before we ever showed up on the planet. His dream before the foundation of the world was to prosper you and me and all the rest of His family in every way imaginable as we spend eternity building our lives and world together with Him.
If you know the story of Creation, then you know that God’s dream first sprang to life with Adam and Eve, the great-great-grandparents of us all. You also know that things didn’t go well for them, nor for God pretty much from the beginning. In the Garden of Eden, Adam committed high treason. He bowed his knee to the devil, a spiritual outlaw and thief who at one time had been an archangel created by God. When Adam surrendered his authority to the devil, he became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). As a result, from then on, many times throughout the course of history, God would be faced with situations that threatened to destroy His dream forever.
So, in His endless wisdom and foresight, God put into motion the truth and power of blood-backed agreement–or Covenant! You could say that Covenant became God’s way of holding on to His family for dear life. What love!
Develop a Covenant Mindset
The word covenant comes from the Latin phrase that means “a coming together.” In a general sense, it’s simply an agreement between two or more people or parties. It brings those parties into relationship through a formal commitment made binding by arrangement, a testament or will, or a legal contract.
In the Bible, whenever a covenant is made between God and man, it’s always God who initiates it. In each case, He sets the conditions and standards of the agreement. He determines how the people with whom He is making covenant gain access to the benefits of the arrangement. God has done and is doing everything He possibly can to squeeze every one of us as tightly as He can into a place of BLESSING–once and for all. It’s the reason He wants you in Covenant with Him.
His motive has always been relationship. He desires more than anything to be in constant fellowship with you and shower you with His goodness. When you enter into Covenant agreement with Him, you are obligating yourself by faith to a relationship with Him. You’re binding yourself to Almighty God. Once you make that connection and commitment, He can release His purpose and desire for you, your life, and all creation, through the promises and BLESSINGS of the Covenant.
Imagine what this can do for your life, your marriage, and all the other relationships in your life. How important, then, it is to renew our minds to the value and significance of covenant, and that we learn to read the Scripture with a covenant mindset and listen to the preached Word with covenant ears.
To help renew your mind to think about covenant the way God does, consider the following 3 Step Process of Covenant–God’s Language of Love.
1. The first step in the covenant process is the calling to covenant.
God, the Father, takes this step by graciously inviting us to join ourselves to Him. Then He, in turn, can join Himself to us, bringing all of who He is and all of what He has into our lives. Nehemiah 9 tells us it was God who chose Abraham. It wasn’t Abraham who initiated their covenant relationship. God approached him first. He brought Abraham up from his homeland, and gave him a new identity. He even promised to give him all the land as far as his eyes could see (verses 7-8), an offer seemingly too good to be true.
God has essentially done the same for us as believers today. He has called us just as He called Abraham and made us an astounding offer. He’s offered us the opportunity to enter into a relationship with Him for all eternity. He’s promised to BLESS us and assured us, as Romans 8:28 NKJV says, that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Do you see it? As believers we are “the called”! That means God has already taken the first step in the process of establishing Covenant with us. He has extended to us a personal invitation to join ourselves to Him.
2. The second step in establishing a covenant is the actual entering into the covenant.
This is where the terms of the covenant are agreed upon by both parties, and the agreement is executed or acted upon. In Hebrews 11:8-9, we see Abraham taking this step. We see that, “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith–for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.”
Imagine how much trust it took for Abraham to say yes to God’s call without knowing where that call would take him. Imagine how much faith it took for him to leave everything behind without having any idea of exactly what lay ahead. When he acted on God’s promise in Faith, he entered into covenant. He accepted God’s invitation and joined himself to Him.
Hundreds of years later, when God gave the people of Israel the opportunity to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, He added to this a second step. He required the Israelites to agree verbally with His covenant conditions. He had them declare out loud together all the BLESSINGS and the curses of the Law. Like the reading and signing of a contractual agreement, this formalized their agreement to enter covenant with Him (Deuteronomy 27-30:19).
We take this step today by believing on God’s Son, Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, and receiving Him by faith as our Savior and LORD!
3. The third and final step of the covenant process is keeping or maintaining the agreement.
A covenant relationship, like any relationship–whether it’s in a marriage, in parenting, business or simply a friendship–requires maintenance. Relationships need nurturing. For them to remain healthy and vital, you can’t just forget about them. You must remember and attend to them.
Jesus spoke about this to His disciples just before He left them to go to the cross. During their last Passover meal together, He took the bread, “Then he broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people–an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.'” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
When Jesus instructed His disciples to do this “in remembrance of me,” He was pointing back to what their Hebrew forefathers had done for thousands of years. When they ate the Passover meal, they remembered how God had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 13:3; Deuteronomy 4:9). This remembering kept their minds focused on their Covenant with Him.
This is why Jesus established under the New Covenant what we today call “Communion.” By telling us to eat and drink the Covenant meal, He provided us with a simple action step we can take to remind us that we’re in Covenant with God through Him. He gave us a powerful way to release our Faith in that Covenant. A way to nurture our connection with Him and keep it not only intact but healthy, active, strong, thriving–alive!
How Weddings Mirror God’s Covenant of Love
Most marriage ceremonies contain three major covenant elements and are revealed in the Bible. Each one, in its own way, reflects a major aspect of our ultimate union with Jesus Christ.
First, most traditional wedding vows exchanged at the altar begin with the words: “I promise.” God-initiated covenants begin the same way. Each of the biblical covenants start with a promise. The promise is made by God the Father when He initially lays out the conditions, standards, and BLESSINGS of the agreement.
Second, there is the cutting of the covenant. In weddings, this cutting is signified by the bride and groom proceeding down the center aisle with her family sitting on one side and his on the other. This symbolizes the fact that two families are being joined here. Two families are coming together in covenant and becoming one (Genesis 2:23).
When God cut Covenant with us, the same thing happened. Two became one. Only in the cutting of God’s Covenant, Covenant Blood was shed. Jesus stepped in as the living sacrifice on our behalf and joined us to God.
Third, there is the seal of the covenant. In weddings, the marriage covenant is sealed first with the exchanging of rings and then a kiss at the altar near the end of the ceremony. Our Covenant with God is sealed by the Holy Spirit. His presence in us is the seal or guarantee of our Covenant with Him.
No doubt in some way, you will celebrate love this month. Whether it be with roses and chocolate, or cards and a special dinner, why not celebrate God’s Love first? Why not celebrate Covenant–God’s language of love.
Adapted from Kenneth Copeland’s newest book written with Greg Stephens, God, the Covenant and the Contradiction, available at KCM.org.
If you want your faith to work, you must apply the fundamentals of faith. Go through this checklist to see if you’re truly ready to pray the prayer of FAITH: 1. When you say your petition with your mouth, do you believe God will do it? 2. Have you forgiven yourself and others? 3. Are you using the faith of Abraham or the doubt of Thomas? 4. Are you calling things you don’t yet see as if they’ve already been done? 5. Are you using corresponding action?
Back to the Basics of the Fundamentals of Faith
January 8-12, 2024 Put your faith into action! This week, on Believer’s Voice of Victory, join Kenneth Copeland as he helps you get back to the basics of the fundamentals of faith. Discover the law and consistency of faith, along with how to apply the five fundamentals. Remember, as believers, we walk by faith and NOT by sight!
The Law of Faith
January 8, 2024 – Monday Have faith in God’s WORD! Join Kenneth Copeland on Believer’s Voice of Victory as he teaches the law of faith. Find out how faith operates, what controls it and how vital The WORD is to building your own faith.
Put Your Faith Into Action
January 9, 2024 – Tuesday Believe with your heart; SAY it with your mouth! Watch Kenneth Copeland on Believer’s Voice of Victory as he shows you how to put your faith into action. Learn to confess and call on The LORD, so you can kick your faith into gear!
How To Apply the Fundamentals of Faith
January 10, 2024 – Wednesday Be prepared! Join Kenneth Copeland on Believer’s Voice of Victory as he shares how to apply the fundamentals of faith to your life. Discover how to prepare for what is ahead, so the spiritual force of faith can begin working for you!
Walk by Faith and Not by Sight
January 11, 2024 – Thursday You have assurance! Watch Believer’s Voice of Victory as Kenneth Copeland encourages you to walk by faith and not by sight. Stand confidently before you see the breakthrough, as you learn to trust God and live by faith!
Receive God’s Promises by Faith
January 12, 2024 – Friday Are you disciplined? Watch Believer’s Voice of Victory as Kenneth Copeland explains the key to consistency and how to receive God’s promises by faith. Begin practicing the fundamentals of faith daily so you can unleash the power of consistency in your life!
“Happy New Year!” Isn’t that what we say to one another when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, each and every year? Of course we do, and what a positive way to kick off a new year full of new possibilities! But what would be even better is if we kicked off the beginning of each year by standing on the promises of God in faith for our financial future. After all, God’s Word is full of promises we can read, memorize, personalize, pray and declare over our lives in faith.
Consider these 20 Scriptures for Financial Prosperity In the New Year.
It’s God’s will to prosper you in 2024.
1. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” -3 John 2 (NKJV).
2. “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant” -Psalm 35:27 (KJV).
3. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day”-Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV).
4. “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” -Philippians 4:19 (AMPC).
5. “They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land” -Psalm 25:13.
It’s God’s will that you are BLESSED in 2024.
6. “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]” -Genesis 12:2-3 (AMPC).
7. “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” -Proverbs 10:22 (KJV).
8. “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
9. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” -Deuteronomy 28:6, 8 (NKJV).
10. “For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence.”-Psalm 21:6 (AMPC).
It’s God’s will that you access a supernatural transfer of wealth in 2024.
11. “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” -Proverbs 13:22 (KJV).
12. “Evil people may have piles of money and may store away mounds of clothing. But the righteous will wear that clothing, and the innocent will divide that money…. The wicked go to bed rich but wake to find that all their wealth is gone” (Job 27:16-17, 19).
13. “If a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him” -Ecclesiastes 2:26.
14. “Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor” -Proverbs 28:8.
15. “The LORD your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant” -Deuteronomy 6:10-11.
It’s God’s will that you reap a bountiful harvest in 2024.
16. “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!” -Psalm 65:11-13.
17. “Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings” -Genesis 26:12 (AMPC).
18. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt [that is, everything heretofore barren and unfruitful shall overflow with spiritual blessing]” -Amos 9:13 (AMPC).
19. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” -Galatians 6:9 (KJV).
20. “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it)” -Ephesians 3:20-21 (AMPC).
God is the God of increase! Kenneth Copeland has said that 2024 will be a powerful year. So, let’s take these scriptures and put them to work in our lives, ensuring that 2024 is a happy new year all year long!
by Gloria Copeland
“You don’t owe anything. Your bill has already been paid.”
Sometimes Ken and I hear those words in a restaurant when we start to pay for our meal. Usually it’s because one of our Partners was there and decided to bless us. That’s such a nice feeling–it always touches our hearts.
When I think about what Jesus did for us when He gave His life on the cross, I’m reminded of those times and I realize God has said those same wonderful words to us: You don’t owe anything. Your bill has already been paid.
Without our asking Him to do it…while we were still living in sin and rebellion…Jesus paid the price for our forgiveness. With His own blood, He paid the debt we owed to God for every sinful thing we have ever done…or will ever do. He set us free from sin, sickness and pain. He paid the bill so we can be whole–spirit, soul and body.
Isaiah 53:4-5 says it this way:
Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God…But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole (The Amplified Bible).
The last phrase of that verse means a great deal to me. I love the fact that it says “we are healed and made whole!” It doesn’t say that one day we will be healed and made whole. It doesn’t say that possibly, if it’s the will of the Lord, we might be healed and made whole. It says we already are!
#1 – Don’t Argue With God
If you have sickness in your body today, you might be tempted to argue with me about that. You might say, “Hey, I’m hurting right now. I’ve been to the doctor and he says I’m sick. I even have x-rays to prove it. How can you say I am healed?”
I’m not the one saying it. God is the One Who said it in His Word–I’m just quoting Him. He’s given us the good news that the price for sickness (which entered the world through sin) has been paid! So if you’ve given your heart to Jesus, you don’t have to pay the price of sickness anymore. Your healing has already been provided. You can simply receive it by faith and go!
If you’re wondering how to do that, think about what Ken and I did when we learned that somebody had paid for our meal. We didn’t sit around waiting until we felt like the bill was paid. We didn’t argue with the cashier and say, “Well, I’m just not sure about this. After all, I didn’t actually see anybody pay it so how can I be absolutely certain it really happened? It just seems too good to be true.”
No, we didn’t say any of those things! We just took the cashier’s word for it and accepted the fact that our bill was paid. “Thank you very much!” we said. Then we acted on our faith by walking happily out the door.
As simple as that may sound, we receive healing from God in just the same way. We take Him at His Word. We believe we are healed, not because we feel healed or look healed at this moment but because God said we are. By faith, we start talking like we’re healed. We start acting like we’re healed. Before long, our bodies line up with God’s Word and it becomes apparent to everyone that we truly are healed!
#2 – Receive It by Faith
Some people are reluctant to receive their healing by faith. They think it’s too hard to do. So they just go to the doctor or wait around hoping someone will lay hands on them and zap them with the power of God in spite of their unbelief. Now please understand that I’m in favor of laying hands on the sick and I love it when the gifts of healing operate. And I think doctors are wonderful and a great blessing to mankind. But too often people just rely on medical doctors to help them.
The truth is even if someone lays hands on you, or the doctor gives you medicine and you get healed this time, one of these days you’ll still have to grow up spiritually and learn to operate by faith if you want to live a victorious Christian life.
Why? Because the Bible says very clearly in three separate verses, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). We are born again by faith. We fulfill the will of God in our lives by faith. If we’re sick, we receive healing by faith. If we are broke, we get financial increase by faith. If our kids are in trouble, we get them back into the fold of God by faith. We receive anything and everything that we need from God…by faith!
Faith is simply believing what God says in His Word. It is trusting what He says more than we trust our natural senses or what other people say. Faith is believing God enough to talk and act as if His Word is true even when circumstances around us would seem to indicate that it’s not.
How do we get that kind of faith? Romans 10:17 tells us “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” So if you want to get stronger faith, spend more time in the Word of God.
That’s exactly what Ken and I did 35 years ago when we were just finding out about these things. We didn’t have time for television or newspapers. We read our Bibles instead. We listened to preaching tapes day in and day out–whenever we could. When Brother Hagin would have a 10-day meeting, we’d be there every single night. It didn’t matter to us whether we had to go in rain, ice or snow…we went because we wanted to have faith and we knew that faith came from hearing the Word.
Actually, we’re little different today. We still keep a steady stream of God’s Word flowing into our hearts. We keep ourselves spiritually fed. Although we go regularly to meetings where we hear the Word preached, I’ve found that’s not enough for me to live on. Just like I need to eat physical food every day (several times a day!) to keep going, I need to eat spiritual food every day too. I can’t wait until somebody comes and spoon-feeds me the Word and neither can you.
If I’m going to live every day by faith, I need to be strong in the Word every day. If I don’t, my faith will dwindle and I can’t afford that. I can’t afford to be a lazy Christian because the devil is out there waiting to get a shot at me. He’s looking for an opportunity to steal away the blessings Jesus bought for me and I don’t want to give it to him.
#3 – Resist the Devil
Actually, if it weren’t for the devil, living by faith would be a cakewalk. There would be hardly any effort to it at all. God’s Word about everything He’s done for us through Christ Jesus is so wonderful that it’s easy to agree with. The first time we hear it, we’re usually so happy about it that we want to shout all the way home from church. But after a few days have passed and the devil starts pressuring us with symptoms, circumstances and discouraging lies, we find that some effort is required to continue to believe God.
That’s why it’s so vital for us to keep our hearts full of God’s Word. By keeping it before our eyes and going in our ears, it will be in our hearts in abundance and come out of our mouths in faith. Because when pressure comes, what comes out of us will be what is in us in greatest abundance. As Jesus said, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45, New International Version).
If God’s Word about healing is abundantly stored in your heart, then when symptoms of sickness come, you’ll begin resisting those symptoms and speaking faith. Almost without thinking about it, you’ll say, “Oh, no you don’t devil. You’re not putting that sickness on me. I’m the healed of the Lord. Jesus paid the price for me to be well and I intend to be well so you just take your symptoms and get out of here!”
However if you’ve spent more time thinking about natural things than you have the Word, it will be a different story. You’ll probably just lie down and take it when the devil uses sickness to put the squeeze on you. You’ll say, “Oh, dear. I feel terrible. I believe I’m getting sick. I’d better go to bed.”
Like it or not, that kind of pressure comes to every Christian because–for the time being–the devil is still operating in the earth. He is a thief and a liar who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He wants to rob us of the abundant life that Jesus has provided for us and he does it by challenging our faith.
How should we respond to that challenge?
By holding fast to the Word of God and absolutely, positively, refusing to give up until we see His promises manifested in our lives.
#4 – Know Within Yourself
There are no two ways about it, sometimes that can be pretty tough. Not because the devil is so strong and powerful–He’s not. The Bible says he’s already been disarmed. He has been brought to nothing! Even so, he is still a very good liar. He can really paint a bleak picture. He can whisper negative thoughts in your ear and make your situation look so bad that you may find yourself wanting to quit.
When that happens, we must follow the instructions given to the early church when they were facing great persecution for their faith. Unbelievers were literally plundering their houses and stealing their possessions in an attempt to get them to renounce Jesus. Yet the writer of Hebrews says to them:
Ye…took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:34-39).
According to these verses, in order to receive what God has promised us–whether that be healing or any other scriptural blessing–we must know within ourselves what we have been given in Jesus. That means we must know it not just with our head but with our heart. We must have His Word rooted so deeply and firmly within us that when we hear lies to the contrary, we don’t buy them. We must be so fully persuaded of what God says that we act as if it’s true even when natural circumstances look like it’s not.
We can’t quit when the going gets tough. If we quit, it’s over. If we lay down our faith and give up, the devil can keep us in permanent defeat. On the other hand, we will win if we don’t quit. It’s absolutely guaranteed.
I like the way verse 36 reads in The Amplified Bible–it makes that very clear. It says “For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.”
Notice it doesn’t say you might possibly receive what God promised. It says that if you don’t cast away your confidence you will receive and enjoy it to the full!
#5 – Forget About the Past
I’ll warn you right now, one way the devil will try to steal your confidence is by tempting you to look at the past. He’ll draw your attention off God’s Word by reminding you of yesterday’s failures, pains and disappointments.
“Before you get so carried away with this faith stuff,” he’ll say, “just remember that the pastor laid hands on you two days ago and you didn’t feel a bit better afterward. And don’t forget Sister Saint. She said she was believing God for healing last year and she died. What’s more, you’ve been talking this healing business for two weeks now and you still have most of the same symptoms you had when you started. You felt bad yesterday. You feel bad today and you’re going to feel the same way tomorrow.”
When the devil starts telling you things like that, remember this: Faith always looks forward. It doesn’t dwell on the past. It faces the future full of expectancy with faith in God.
Looking back is not the way to get ahead in the kingdom of God.
“But Gloria,” you may say, “I’ve made some bad mistakes. I’ve done some terrible things. I think I’ll just have to accept this sickness and pay the price for what I’ve done.”
No, you don’t! Jesus paid the price, remember? If you’ve made a mistake or done something wrong, repent and let it go because God has forgiven you. First John 1:9 says He is faithful and just to forgive your sin and cleanse you of all unrighteousness. As far as heaven is concerned the past record of your sins has been wiped out. It’s gone. It’s under the blood of Jesus. So don’t let the devil talk you into looking back!
Don’t listen to him when he comes to you with his dark cloud, telling you lies. Don’t let him take your past and project it into your future. Cast him out! Get rid of him!
#6 – Look Ahead to the Future
One way to defeat the devil is by getting out your Bible and telling him just what God says about your future. He says you’re the healed–so enjoying a healthy body is in your future. He says you’re more than a conqueror–so victory in every area of life is in your future. You have a good and glorious life ahead of you right here on this earth. And what’s even better is the life that’s waiting for you after that!
Remember this earthly life we’re living is not a permanent thing. This is just a temporary situation. If we live to be 100 years old, that’s just a moment in eternity. We are on our way to heaven! I think we ought to live healthy, blessed and prosperous lives while we’re here because that’s the will of God. But even so, we need to remember we’re just passing through.
We always need to be aware that during this lifetime we’re on temporary assignment for God. We’re here to work for Him and build His kingdom on the earth. Right now we’re laying up rewards for heaven. We won’t be able to earn the same kinds of rewards once we get there because there won’t be any pressure to resist up there. There won’t be a devil trying to knock our heads off, make us sick and steal our resources.
Right now we have a fleeting opportunity to give glory to God by standing strong on His Word right in the face of all the pressure and lies the devil can bring. We have the opportunity to say, “Go ahead devil, give it your best shot. When you’re finished, I’ll still be standing here believing God’s Word. I’ll still be praising Him and saying, ‘By His stripes I am healed!’ Because I’m not one of those who draw back. I’m one of those who believe and by faith I receive the promise!”
If we’ll start thinking like that we’ll be able to stand more successfully against the pressures the devil brings against us. When he tries to block our blessings by reminding us of the debts and defeats in our past, we’ll just keep looking forward in faith. We’ll confidently put the devil under our feet where he belongs, knowing that in Jesus “our bill has been paid.” And we’ll step boldly into a future full of the promises and provisions of God!
“She is not dead.”
These were Jesus’ words in Luke 8:52 when a group of people had gathered to mourn Jairus’ daughter, who had been pronounced dead that day. He then entered the home, took her by the hand and brought her back to life.
She was dead. But Jesus said, “She is not dead.”
Was Jesus lying?
Of course not. He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). So, what was He doing when He called a dead girl not dead?
Or consider when the Lord instructs the weak to say, “I am strong” (Joel 3:10). Is He instructing us to lie? Of course not. What is He doing?
In both cases, He is calling the end from the beginning.
Calling things that be not as though they were is a spiritual principle woven throughout the Bible that most are afraid to touch. They fear looking foolish or feeling disappointed more than they desire to obtain what belongs to them. What a tragedy!
God said, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing…choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19, KJV). How do we choose life? Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) tells us: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”
That means it’s our choice, and we make that choice with our words.
Whether you’ve been given two weeks to live or haven’t even had so much as a cold in years, it’s time to find out why you should call yourself well every day.
1. Calling Yourself Well Is an Act of Faith
“[Call] those things which be not as though they were.” -Romans 4:17 (KJV)
Calling yourself well when you have symptoms, a pile of prescriptions and a doctor telling you everything that’s wrong with you is an act of faith.
Faith in what? Faith in God. Faith in His Word. Faith that when He said, “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, MEV), He wasn’t lying. Faith that when He said, “I am the LORD that healeth thee,” He wasn’t just being nice in the moment. Faith that when He said, “I will put none of these diseases upon thee” (Exodus 15:26, KJV) He was talking to YOU.
You’ve got to have that kind of faith, or you’ll receive what James 1:6-7 says of those who don’t–nothing.
If we pray anything according to God’s will, we know He hears us, and we have what we’ve asked (1 John 5:15). We know it. There’s no room for doubt in that. If you know, you know. If you know the sun is real, are you going to let anyone talk you out of it? Are you going to let a dark night cause you to doubt it? How about an eclipse?
It’s time to close the door on any unbelief in your life–any shred of doubt that healing belongs to you. It’s time to start calling yourself well every day because that is God’s will for you.
The only thing that can stop healing in your life is unbelief. That’s it. Not a doctor’s report, not how long you’ve been battling your condition, not how severe it is. None of that. Only unbelief.
We see this in Mark 6:5, which is the only time Jesus is said to be unable to do any miracles. The reason? Unbelief.
Exodus 15:26 says if you will do what is right in God’s sight, He won’t put any disease on you. What is right in His sight? Faith.
2. Calling Yourself Well Changes Your Situation
“Let the weak say, I am strong.” -Joel 3:10 (KJV)
You’ve probably heard the term “going from zero to hero.” Well, none of us are zeros to begin with, but the idea behind that saying is going from one extreme to another–experiencing a dramatic turnaround in your circumstances. That’s what calling yourself well will do for your physical body. It will take you from weak to strong, blind to 20/20 vision, barren to a houseful of children, ailing to running a marathon.
There is no limit to the healing power of God.
When you declare God’s Word and His will over your life, the devil is in big, fat trouble. He’s the one who showed up with the curse in the first place. But it has about as much power as Goliath did against David. It yells, threatens and looks intimidating. But one stone in the sling of a righteous, bold and faith-filled believer, and that Goliath will drop dead right in front of you. Your stone? Your words.
Calling yourself well changes your situation. Try it and see how empowered you feel.
“I call my body well.”
“I call my cholesterol low.”
“I call my bones and muscles healed and strong.”
“I call my heart restored!”
“I call every part of my body healthy and strong.”
“I call my memory restored, my eyesight and hearing perfect, my back pain free!”
And don’t wait until something is wrong to do this! Call it into existence every day. It’s a foolproof health maintenance plan. Don’t even let anything creep in. Don’t receive age-related decline. That doesn’t belong to you in Jesus’ Name!
Jesus spoke to things, and they obeyed. He spoke to a fever, and it left. He spoke to wind and waves, and they stopped. He spoke to Lazarus who had been dead for days, and he rose up.
This power and authority was never meant to be exclusive to Jesus. He said we would do even greater works (John 14:12). Imagine it! Calling your body well is the minimum you should be reaching for.
Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches you more about why you should call yourself well.
3. Calling Yourself Well Establishes Your End Results
“You will declare a thing and it will be established for you.” -Job 22:28 (NKJV)
Imagine feeling powerless over your circumstances, your body, your health. It must be a terrifying feeling for those who don’t know the Lord. But, praise God, we as believers never have to feel that way. We already know God’s intention for our lives–His will. In other words, we know the end results Jesus died to give us.
To set those end results in motion, however, we must believe, speak, act and thank God in advance. That’s what faith looks like. And faith gets it done.
Of course, we can’t talk about calling things into being without making mention of the father of many nations, who also happened to be the father of believing against hope. That means there was no hope–in the natural. There was no sign, no possibility, no chance of his getting what God promised–which included “descendants as numerous as the stars” (Genesis 26:4).
Yet, he spoke it again and again. He called himself the father of many nations long before it manifested. And the Bible said it was this act of faith that caused it to come to pass.
Calling yourself well is faith. And since “the promise comes by faith,” (Romans 4:16), you can be assured of receiving it when you do this.
Psalm 107:2 (KJV) says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD says so.” He has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). So, say so! Say so! Say so!
Put some pressure on the devil.
Unbelief comes from fear. That’s the pressure Satan puts on people. But Paul said, “I press” (Philippians 3:14). In other words, “I’m the one who’s going to be putting the pressure on.” You can press against fear and unbelief when you call yourself well.
Faith puts pressure on the devil. Joy puts pressure on the devil. Put pressure on him in the Name of Jesus! He has to flee when you do. And make sure to tell him he can take his sickness with him.
When you call yourself well every day, you’re not just taking healing for anything amiss in your body, you’re taking divine health–as in, staying well all the time. Let it become a habit in your life rather than an event. Declare it when you’re getting ready in the morning, in the shower, in the car, in the kitchen, in the garage. So simple, yet so powerful. Do it right now! “I call myself well in Jesus’ Name!”
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you why you must speak what you want to come to pass.
Learn to rule your finances in 2019! Get God’s plan to prosper and bless you, so you can take financial dominion once and for all!
You have control. It may not seem that way at times, but that’s how God designed it. From the beginning, dominion was His plan for you–over the earth and everything in it (Genesis 1:28). Though Satan once stole this position, God returned to us our position through Jesus’ victory, ensuring our dominion and authority over sickness, disease, strife, poverty, lack and anything else under the curse.
When it comes to money, do you feel like you have financial dominion and authority over your finances? Or do bills, debt and work-related troubles seem to rule you instead? The world, the media and everyone around you seem to be under the weight of constant financial pressure. Even worse, they make you feel like you should be, too.
Consider this question: Have you accepted financial pressure, lack, debt and even poverty as a normal part of life?
Maybe you have a history of poverty or lack in your family, a long streak of lost opportunities, or debt that seems insurmountable. These are all areas of attack the enemy uses to dethrone God’s people from a position of dominion. If you’ve been there long enough, it may have become a way of life for you–something you can’t seem to push past in your expectation.
We have good news! No matter what your situation–you can have all God desires for you in the area of finances, and you can take financial dominion. You can be debt free, live in an overflow, give extravagantly, and rise to new levels in your career. He gives you power to get wealth because He made a covenant with you to do so (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Are you ready to take back the financial dominion that belongs to you? When you understand the covenant, walk in obedience to God’s Word concerning finances, and resist any attempt to knock you out of position, you will know how to take financial dominion once and for all.
Here are five requirements for walking in Kingdom financial dominion:
1. Take Financial Dominion by Understanding the Covenant
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” -Psalm 89:34, KJV
There’s no way around it–to take financial dominion, you first must understand the covenant that provides for it. Sure, you’ve heard of God’s covenant with His children, but do you accept it and receive it? Or does it seem far off in Old Testament times, and not relevant for you here and now? This is what so many Christians get hung up on in the area of finances, which is exactly what Satan wants them to do because it keeps them from receiving!
So, what is the covenant between God and you?
The covenant you have with God is much more than a promise–it is a sealed and irrevocable agreement. God first established it with a man called Abram (later called Abraham). He promised to make Abram the father of many nations, give him a great deal of land as an inheritance, and much more (Deuteronomy 28). To make sure Abram knew this was absolute and unbreakable, God made a covenant with him, which was considered very serious in his day.
You may be thinking, I know the covenant was meant for Abram, but how do I know it was meant for me, too?
In Galatians 3:13-14, we read that Christ died to redeem us from the curse, “that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise…” (KJV, emphasis added). God sealed His covenant with you through the blood of His Son. That agreement is binding and forever.
Bishop David Oyedepo explains it this way: A covenant is “a deal enacted by God, based on well-defined terms and sealed with an oath.” When we read the Bible, we see that it is a book of covenants that allows us to access everything we need, including prosperity and financial dominion.
How reliable is this covenant?
God’s Word is true and infallible, and it tells us as long that as we have day and night and the sun rises and sets, all of God’s covenants remain in force, including the covenant of financial prosperity (Genesis 8:22).
You can count on one thing: Every covenant of Scripture is reliable, dependable, guaranteed and binding on God for delivery. However, He is only obligated to deliver if you complete your end of the agreement by loving Him, which means you love Him with all your heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37) and by keeping His commandments (1 John 5:3).
2. Take Financial Dominion by Honoring the Tithe
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” -Proverbs 3:9-10, NKJV
The book of Proverbs gives us a very basic principle of success. It is this: If you want God to honor you and bless you in any area of your life, you’re going to have to honor Him in that particular area.
If you want God to bless you financially, you first need to honor Him with your money, or as this verse puts it, “with the firstfruits of all your increase.” In other words, you need to tithe. The word tithe means “tenth,” which means to give 10 percent of your gross income to the Lord.
God considers the tithe crucial to your financial success (Malachi 3:10-11). That’s why the devil has fed the Body of Christ so many lies regarding the tithe. He doesn’t want us to ever have what rightfully belongs to us–which is THE BLESSING. You may say, I just can’t afford to tithe right now. But the truth is, you can’t afford not to! If you don’t start honoring God with your money, you’ll be in the same financial position next year that you’re in today. “Any believer who is not a tither will remain a financial struggler” (Bishop Oyedepo).
In fact, you will find that all testimonies of financial blessing in the Body of Christ begin with consistent tithing. Watch this video with Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis as they explain how tithing puts you on the increase.
3. Take Financial Dominion by Becoming a Giver
“May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.” -Psalm 20:3
Weren’t we just talking about giving? No–we were talking about tithing. So, how are tithing and giving different?
Giving is bringing an offering that is beyond the tithe, not instead of the tithe. It is a freewill gift to a person or organization. It can be in the form of money, clothing, food or almost anything else God prompts you to give.
In God’s system, this is how you increase. It is sowing seed for a harvest. The covenant we have with God is one of financial prosperity or financial dominion. It is God’s instrument to keep us from financial struggles, and it overrides any economic circumstance.
Our giving is the gateway to financial dominion and all-around favor. The greater our giving, the greater our access to financial increase.
What are the different types of giving?
Kingdom-promotion giving is an offering directly given to a preacher, teacher or ministry to further the kingdom of God. This type of seed is not a financial donation to ‘help’ God, the church or the ministry. “It is a spiritual transaction that provokes the release of finances” (Bishop Oyedepo).
Worship offerings are another type of giving. The scriptures tell us to never go into God’s presence empty-handed (Deuteronomy 16:16). Why? Because God takes notice of every offering we bring when we are in worship. It is a form of honoring Him and giving Him complete trust with our provision and prosperity.
Giving to the poor is just that–offering your own substance to help those in need around you. It can be someone you know or an organization that offers help and support to those who are struggling (Proverbs 19:17).
Each type of giving is considered sowing seed for a harvest. When you plant a seed in good soil, it will always reap a return!
4. Take Financial Dominion by Defeating Satan’s Attacks
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” -James 4:7, KJV
We talk often about resisting the devil, but it isn’t enough to simply know that he is a defeated foe, we must learn how to act on that truth. An important part of walking in financial dominion is knowing how to defeat Satan’s attacks. He has no intention of allowing you to prosper and advance the Kingdom. So, when you start walking toward financial dominion, you’ll have a fight on your hands. The good news? Because of Jesus–you win. All you have to do is believe it.
How do you resist the devil? You resist him with the words of your mouth. Keep in mind, you also submit to him with your words, so watch what you say! Refuse to give thought to anything the devil throws your way. Have bulldog faith, and keep the Word of God in your eyes, ears and mouth no matter what.
Finally, count it all joy when Satan tries to attack (James 1:2-4). That seems a bit outside our natural ability, doesn’t it? That’s OK, because we have supernatural help to do so. When you trust in God’s covenant to provide whatever you need–you will be blessed.
5. Take Financial Dominion by Standing in Faith
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” -Ephesians 6:13, NKJV
You might be reading these points and thinking, I’ve done all of this. I do believe in the covenant. I tithe, I give and I speak words of faith. Why am I still struggling in my finances?
If that’s where you are, there is one thing left to do. Stand. How long do you stand? As long as it takes! Don’t attempt to go after financial dominion without first making the quality decision to keep applying your faith until you see the desired result.
Hebrews 10:39 (KJV) says that we can’t be someone who draws back. We have to stand firm in our faith–we can’t move in fear one day and back to faith another. That isn’t steady–it’s double-minded–and it won’t win the battle. We need the full armor of God to stand against the strategies of Satan. Additionally, don’t underestimate the power of agreement in finances–so be sure to surround yourself with people who know how to stand in faith.
Then, don’t neglect to use the power of patience. You need patience to receive the promise of financial dominion (Hebrews 10:36)!
What can patience do?
W.E. Vine says, “Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial: it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope.” In other words, patience will strengthen and hold up your faith until your results manifest.
Remember, patience isn’t trying–it’s committing.
In conclusion, when you get a revelation of the covenant God has made with you, honor God with your tithing and giving, resist the devil, and take your stand, you will take the financial dominion that has always belonged to you. As you walk out the covenant of provision you have with Almighty God, expect an encounter with your covenant. The covenant has never failed, and it won’t fail for you. As you do your part by engaging the covenant in your life, every financial stress will be terminated in Jesus’ Name.
Questions about divine healing? We’ve got you covered with these Top 10 Questions About Healing.
You asked questions about healing…
…and we heard you!
Healing belongs to you. It was included in your SALVATION package. Still, building faith to receive isn’t always simple, although it’s not meant to be hard. Faith for healing takes desire, effort and most of all, PERSISTENCE. In your journey toward becoming a person who fully enjoys the covenant promise of healing, questions will inevitably arise.
Thankfully, God isn’t hiding anything from you! He wants you to stand confidently about receiving your healing by faith—God’s divine delivery system.
We’re answering your top 10 questions about healing to help you develop your faith for healing according to the promises of God’s Word.
Here we go!
1. If I Keep Getting Healed, How Will I Ever Die?
“Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” -Deuteronomy 34:7 (NIV)
The world has a lot of people convinced that they cannot die without slipping into some sort of physical decline and enduring sickness or disease.
But that isn’t God’s best!
Here’s the truth:
God didn’t put any expiration date on His healing promises, so you do not have to die sick.
So, if you don’t die sick, then how will you die?
Gloria Copeland puts it simply, saying, “You’ll just leave. You’ll finish your course, and the Lord will just take your spirit up with Him.”
Consider Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. The Bible doesn’t mention anything about those men dying of disease or sickness. They had simply finished their course. There are many testimonies today of people simply leaving while sleeping or sitting comfortably in a chair. They weren’t suffering from any disease.
You can live long and strong until the very end of your life! Isn’t that good news? When you’ve finished your course, you’ll just leave your body. You’ll move into heaven by divine departure, satisfied and full of days!
2. I Thought I Prayed in Faith for Healing, So Why Haven’t I Seen Results?
“Fight the good fight of faith.” -1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV)
As Gloria Copeland says, “When you do what’s right, get ready for a fight!”
Faith for healing is only the beginning. It’s the stand of faith, or your patience, that takes you to the finish line. What you’re in the midst of is possessing the “land” called healing, and the devil has no intention of letting you walk into it without a fight.
If you are a believer, healing already belongs to you. Jesus has already paid the price for it. But for you to receive it, you have to put your foot on it. You have to go in and possess the land!
The manifestation of healing doesn’t always come instantly. We want it instantly–and many times it comes that fast–but other times, it takes longer.
Once you’ve claimed your healing, don’t ever say anything contrary to it. Don’t be moved by time, symptoms or anything else. Just stay with it. Refuse to give up. Keep on taking the land, and your healing will come to pass. Keep the faith switch for healing turned on!
3. Why Am I Having Trouble Receiving Healing?
“So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments…then I will lengthen your days.” -1 Kings 3:14 (NKJV)
If you’re standing in faith for healing but sense a blockage to your receiving, there are several hindrances to receiving healing to prayerfully consider.
Your love walk. Faith works by love, so if you are out of alignment (even just a little) in your love walk, your faith won’t work as well. Review 1 Corinthians 13 and be sure you’re showing patience, kindness and selflessness to those around you. Check your heart and be sure you haven’t been gossiping or judging others.
Unforgiveness. This is also tied to love, but it is so common and such a big blessing-blocker, it deserves a point of its own. If there is anyone–anyone at all–whom you haven’t forgiven fully, now is the time. Don’t let a grudge keep you from receiving what’s yours–HEALING!
Doubt or Fear. If you’re believing for healing, but still have doubt or fear, you’re what the Bible calls a double-minded man. And Scripture says a double-minded man receives nothing from God. If this is your blocker, persistently resist fear and doubt. Speak against it. Feed your faith, and starve your fears to death.
If none of these appear to be the reason you’re having trouble receiving your healing, remember to ask the Holy Spirit. He promises to guide you into all truth (John 14:17).
Find out more about The Ifs Between You and Your Promise HERE.
4. I Prayed for Someone to Receive Healing, but the Manifestation Did Not Come. Why?
“Therefore the promise comes by faith….” -Romans 4:16 (NIV)
When a person is prayed for, the healing may occur instantaneously, or it may happen over a long period of time. Often the healing has started, even though the physical evidence is slow in coming.
In any case, the person should be speaking faith-filled words–God’s Word, and not his own. By standing on that Word and holding onto faith, God’s Word is accomplished. It doesn’t matter that the physical change isn’t seen. That is not the determining factor. Rather, it is how much of His Word we know and how we are applying it to our lives that counts.
How long should we speak those faith-filled words and believe that a healing is taking place? We speak those words until the healing is complete and God’s Word is accomplished (1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 6:13-17; Romans 4:17). Then, those words should be spoken daily in order to stay well.
On why some are healed and others aren’t, Andrew Wommack says, “I have prayed for thousands of people in my meetings across the country, and I have yet to see every person healed. It might be a problem in the heart of the one receiving prayer, or it might be something I don’t understand in regards to that particular person. But one thing I know for sure–it’s not God.”
It is important to remember that our job is to minister and pray for healing, regardless if a manifestation occurs immediately. Once we’ve done our part, the rest is up to God and the other person to receive it.
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. -Romans 10:17
Gloria Copeland knows that the key to getting well and staying well is all in the proper feeding of your spirit with the Word of God. She and Kenneth have walked in divine healing and health for more than 50 years, and they have no plans of stopping now!
They do this by regularly reading healing scriptures and confessing the Word of God over their minds and bodies. You can find a list of Gloria’s favorite healing scriptures HERE, as well as the healing scriptures used by Dodie Osteen to receive healing from terminal cancer HERE.
6. If I Believe I’m Healed, Should I Stop Taking Medicine and Other Treatments?
“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” –Galatians 5:25
It’s important to know that there is nothing spiritually wrong with taking medicine. It is perfectly acceptable to attack sickness on both a natural and spiritual level.
Not taking medicine is not what will get you healed. Faith in God and His Word that says, “By His stripes you were healed,” is what brings healing. His Word makes it clear that in His great love, God wants all His people well. In many cases, a person’s faith may not be developed enough to receive healing without taking medicine.
Not taking medicine is not an act of faith if you were not instructed to do so by God. When it comes to whether or not to continue taking medicine or undergoing treatments, you need to hear counsel from God. Until you do, keep taking your medicine in faith, and be sure to pray over it as you do!
Working through a difficult situation? Find A Psalm for Every Situation HERE.
7. Does Going to the Doctor Show a Lack of Faith?
“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” -Colossians 3:15
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland are not against doctors or medicine. In fact, they thank God for them. They see their doctor for regular check-ups and have hosted several different doctors on the Believer’s Voice of Victory broadcasts over the years.
Going to the doctor is not a hindrance to faith, nor is going without doctors or medicine necessarily an act of faith. God will meet each person at his or her level of faith. If a person’s faith is through doctors and medicine, then God will help the doctor to do his best and cause the person’s body to recover quickly.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit may direct you to see a doctor, and if that’s the case, you should obey. If the Lord has directed you to go to the doctor, do it confidently in faith that Jesus is the Healer, and pray for your doctor to have wisdom.
8. Do the Words I Speak Really Affect My Healing?
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” -Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
Some people say it’s a lie to speak that you’re healed when you don’t feel healed, but that’s operating only by your five senses. To receive the supernatural promises of God, you have to be more spiritually minded than carnally minded. One of the fundamental keys of activating faith is to call things that be not as though they were.
Abraham received a change in his body when called things that be not as though they were. If we want to see God’s promises born in our lives, we must do the same thing.
We call ourselves healed–even when we still look and feel sick. We call ourselves strong–even when, in the natural, we seem weak. We call our youth renewed–even when we see evidence to the contrary.
No matter how bad our natural circumstances may seem to be, we must train our mouths to say not what we have, but what we desire to have in our lives. Our words put action to our faith, and faith is what ushers in the promises.
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you why you should keep speaking healing no matter what.
9. Is Sickness the Result of Sin in One’s Life?
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” -Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)
Sickness and disease are under the curse, which ultimately came into the earth as a result of Adam’s sin. However, through Jesus, we have been redeemed from the curse (Galatians 3:13)!
So, why do Christians still get sick?
If we violate natural laws (maintaining a poor diet, neglecting to exercise our bodies, allowing stress to dominate, smoking cigarettes, etc.), we’re opening the door to the devil’s work and the curse.
Likewise, if we violate spiritual laws (refusing to forgive, entertaining angry or negative thoughts, living a sinful lifestyle), we open the door to Satan in this way, as well.
And sometimes, it’s simply the curse in operation for which there is no natural explanation, through which the devil is trying to steal, kill and destroy.
Regardless, Jesus came to give you life more abundantly, and sickness does not have the right to remain on you! If the Lord brings to mind a sin in your life (worry, strife, unhealthy habits or anything else), repent (make a change in a new direction), ask for His forgiveness and pursue your covenant healing rights with all your might.
Healing belongs to you!
10. Does Healing Include All Ailments?
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” -Psalm 103:2-3 (NKJV)
People often think of major diseases when they think of healing. But the healing covenant includes EVERYTHING. Allergies, achy joints, disrupted sleep, menopausal symptoms or anything else that prevents you from feeling your absolute best. You don’t have to tolerate any of it!
If you think something is “normal,” you’ll put your guard down. You won’t fight against it. What should you do? Fight! You have the victory over sickness and disease or any physical discomfort–no matter how small or how widely accepted it is. More importantly, you can win!
As long as you think you can live with something–you will. Start activating your healing covenant, no matter how small you think your ailment is.
We hope these answers to the top 10 questions about healing have helped you build even greater confidence in our healing promises from God’s Word. God is a good God. The blood of Jesus is the greatest sacrifice, with the most amazing benefits, the world has ever known. You are His blessed child and an heir to it all!
Learn how God is speaking healing to you right now in this teaching from Kenneth Copeland.
It’s been said that the key to the gospel is in the prepositions. If you don’t recall what prepositions are, they’re words in the English language that precede nouns and pronouns and tell us something in relation to the noun or pronoun and the rest of the sentence. These words include for, with, in, through and by. They may not seem to communicate much on their own, but their placement in Scripture is key to understanding it.
For example, notice the prepositions in Hebrews 9:12 (KJV): “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Did you see the power of the prepositions? What Jesus did for us, He did by His own blood; it’s the way by which He saved us.
Galatians 3:13 (KJV) tells us that “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.”
Are you catching on? Christ redeemed us from the curse. He was made a curse for us. Without the prepositions in this translation, we would miss the revelation God wants us to have about our identity in Christ.
In fact, one of the best ways to discover and study our identity in Christ is to read through Paul’s letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians and Colossians. Every time you see the two-word prepositional phrases such as…
in Christ, of Christ or with Christ
in Him, of Him, with Him or from Him
in whom, through whom, from whom or by whom
in Me, by Me
in the beloved or in My love
…highlight, circle or underline those phrases. Those two-word phrases describe who you are and what you have as a born-again believer. There are more than 130 such occurrences, and they describe what God has already done for you and in you. If you’ll do this, then you will discover who you are in Him. To help you learn how to do this on your own, consider the following 15 Verses for Finding Your Identity In Christ. Notice the phrases highlighted for you. There are also many more through the entire New Testament!
1. Romans 8:1 (KJV) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
2. Romans 8:2 (KJV) “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
3. Romans 8:16-17 (NASB) “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ , if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
4. Romans 12:5 (KJV) “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
5. 1 Corinthians 1:2 (AMPC) “To the church (assembly) of God which is in Corinth, to those consecrated and purified and made holy in Christ Jesus, [who are] selected and called to be saints (God’s people), together with all those who in any place call upon and give honor to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”
6. 1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV) “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
7. 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV) “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
8. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (AMPC) “But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.”
9. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
10. Galatians 3:26 (NKJV) “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
11. Galatians 3:28 (NKJV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
12. Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
13. Ephesians 1:3-4 (NKJV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”
14. Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
15. Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV) “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
“But the time is coming–indeed it’s here now–when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.” -John 4:23
As believers, we’re called to worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). But you may wonder, “How can I worship God daily? How can I worship God at home? How can I worship God wherever I am?” The good news is, you can–and worship is a powerful spiritual exercise in any believer’s life. It played a vital role in the Israelites’ winning their first battle after entering the Promise Land (Joshua 6). It was instrumental in Paul and Silas’ release from prison (Acts 16:24-26). It reflected the thanksgiving and heartfelt praise of God’s people throughout all 150 psalms, repeatedly allowing them to express their nagging fears, their miraculous feats and their enduring faith in the Him. These examples and more show just what can happen when God’s people worship Him “in spirit and in truth.”
What Does Worshiping ‘in Truth’ Mean?
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8, NKJV). The first step in understanding how to worship is recognizing whom to worship. We worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). When we worship in truth, we don’t worship empty philosophies that come from the world’s way of thinking (Colossians 2:8). Instead, we focus on the message and the truth of Jesus Christ. “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Colossians 3:16).
Man’s way of thinking is not God’s way of thinking (Isaiah 55:8). In order to worship in truth, we must know the truth, which is found in the Bible. We must continually renew our minds to the Word of God by spending time studying every day (Romans 12:2). When our minds are renewed to what He says is truth (and not the world), we will be able to come to Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Why Preparing for Worship Is Important
“Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
The beauty of worship occurs in community with other like-minded believers. There is a depth and strength that comes when believers join together in worship, much like the Israelites did around Jericho and like Paul and Silas did in prison. In 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul explains aspects of orderly worship. While orderly worship is not the immediate topic here, this scripture shows the importance of preparing for worship. The one singing needs to select the song, practice and prepare his or her heart before the service begins. Likewise, the one teaching needs to prepare to receive and deliver the message before the service.
The responsibility to prepare for worship doesn’t just fall to the worship team and the pastor. We should all come to the house of worship prepared–whether you are singing, teaching, preaching, speaking, prophesying, serving or receiving. Sunday worship is not a time to be entertained and expecting to be served, but it’s a time when God’s children gather to give Him honor and praise and to be strengthened.
So, how do you prepare for worship on Sunday? You prepare by getting your heart ready. Use the night before or early morning before the service to seek the Lord by practicing private worship, reading the Bible and praying. Fix your thoughts on the truth of Jesus and all He has done for you. Pray for the service and ask the Lord to help you receive from Him. You may even want to set aside a special time in your schedule to prepare for weekly worship.
7 Ways to Express Worship
For some, expressing themselves in worship can be uncomfortable, especially if they are new Christians. You go to some churches, and the congregation never stands up. They don’t sing, but they just sit and listen to the worship music. Others may sing but they don’t play instruments. Still others will be waving their hands, shouting and running around as the band plays every kind of instrument. Which way to worship is correct?
Well, the Bible outlines seven different types of worship, and they are all appropriate, with each having its place. Let’s examine them:
1. Barak-To kneel, to bless God, to bow down
“He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them…. Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him, may the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.” -Psalm 72:12-15
Barak means to bow down to, or kneel before, the Lord. It communicates that the Lord holds a place of importance and helps us remember just how great He is. Barak is not done out of a begging attitude but rather an expectant attitude, because the Lord is more than willing and able to move on our behalf.
2. Halal-To be clear, to shine, to boast, to show, to rave, to celebrate, to be clamorously foolish
“David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord–to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.” -1 Chronicles 16:4
Halal appears more than 110 times in the Old Testament. It translates as to shine, boast, rave about, celebrate or even to be clamorously foolish. Can you imagine a more wondrous noise raving about about all the Lord is and all He has done?
3. Shabach-To shout loudly, to command
“Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!” -Psalm 47:1
Shabach means to shout loudly or command. Of course, it isn’t simply about being loud. Its focus is to worship the Lord with one’s whole being.
4. Tehillah-To sing praises, singing out of the spirit spontaneously
“But you are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].” -Psalm 22:3, AMPC
Tehillah means to sing unrehearsed, unplanned praises to the Lord. It can include adding words to an existing song or even singing in the spirit to the Lord.
5. Towdah-Extending hands, acting out of thanksgiving for what has or will be done
“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” -Psalm 50:23
Towdah is a type of worship that includes extending your hands or raising them in thanksgiving for something that has been done or will be done.
6. Yadah- Extending the hands vigorously
“After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!'” -2 Chronicles 20:21
Yadah means to extend your hands vigorously as in complete surrender.
7. Zamar – To touch the strings, to make music with instruments, mostly rejoicing
“Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” -Psalm 150:3-6
Zamar means to touch the strings. It involves rejoicing and making music to the Lord.
Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the seven ways to worship in spirit and in truth. How can you incorporate them into your personal and corporate worship? Remember, praising God is to be on our lips, or spoken (Isaiah 57:19), and we are to do it continually as a sacrifice (Hebrews 13:15). God promises that when we praise and worship Him, He inhabits those praises (Psalm 22:3), and it gives us strength to defeat our enemy (Psalm 8:2).
For an even deeper study into how you can worship God in spirit and in truth, check out the 7 Types of Worship Bible Study. Enjoy a deeper experience as you discover how to worship God daily, at home and everywhere you go, in spirit and in truth!
When Brother Copeland first began to live by faith, and eventually preach faith, he knew nothing about it. He started where we all start–at the beginning. Brother Copeland learned the fundamentals of faith and how to use them the same way he learned to fly: First he studied the basic principles on the ground and then put them into practice in the air.
For example, the first time Brother Copeland flew solo, he had spent months learning the fundamentals of flying, and although he’d flown with an instructor, he’d never actually flown alone. He’d never put everything he’d learned into practice all at once, all by himself, thousands of feet in the air.
The day he did, he succeeded, but not without the help of the air traffic controller. Although Brother Copeland managed a number of touch-and-goes successfully, he had to be coached and educated even more to get back down on the ground and stay there–and to not intersect with another plane. In much the same way, God has called us to live a life of resilient faith, but to do that, we need to first understand the fundamentals of faith from His Word, and then learn how to put them into practice in our everyday lives. To get started, study these 7 Principles for Living a Life of Resilient Faith.
1. Faith is a force, and the law of faith governs this force.
“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” (Romans 3:26-27, KJV)
There are laws of physics that have developed over the years, and the reason they’re called laws is because they’re dependable. But before we knew we could trust them, pioneers and inventors tested their theories over and over. Once they experienced breakthrough after breakthrough after breakthrough, what they discovered became a law–a mathematical equation that could be trusted and adopted.
The law of faith is much the same; it governs the force of faith; and understanding it is the foundation of our living a life of resilient faith. God wants us to believe this law exists; he wants us to understand that it works by love (Galatians 5:6), and that we’re to work with it in our lives.
2. We are to live by faith.
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:38-39, KJV)
When Brother Copeland first got hold of understanding that we are to live by faith, he searched throughout the entire Bible for evidence of faith–and he found it from the beginning, in Genesis, to the ending, in Revelation. Over and over again, he read accounts where God released faith and manifestations happened–and he read where people in the Bible did the same. They were ordinary people who lived lives of resilient faith!
3. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:1-3, KJV)
Faith is not mental; it’s a force God has given us to use. What’s more, did you catch those first three words of Hebrews 11? Do you realize they are the three words that follow Hebrews 10:38-39?
Now. Faith. Is. For every area of our lives. Faith is now, and hope is for our future–and they work together. Brother Copeland has often referred to hope as the blueprint of faith. You need hope to have faith. And you need faith and hope working together in your life to bring into this earthly existence what’s waiting for us in the heavenly realm–provision, answers, solutions, ideas, resources and change.
The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition reads Hebrews 11:1 this way: “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].”
When God created the heavens and the earth, He didn’t create them out of nothing; He created them out of something we can’t see, which is the force of faith. What’s more, we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28); therefore, we can create with the force of faith, too.
4. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:4-6, KJV)
When we live by faith, we please God, though oftentimes we’re tempted to try pleasing God by our work–but works alone don’t please God (James 2:26).
5. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:1-2, KJV) Faith comes by hearing…and hearing…and hearing…the Word of God (Romans 10:17). To walk in resilient faith, we have to read it, study it and listen to it–consistently. We need it coming into us through our eyes and our ears–continually. We live in a day and age of Christian TV programs, podcasts, websites, social media sites and limitless access to online Bible translations. No matter where we are on the planet, we can access the Word of God 24/7, including on VICTORY Channel® and the KCM website. Take advantage of the time in which God has placed you. Position yourself to hear the Word of God, so you can get it into your heart and say with your mouth.
6. The Word of faith is in your mouth–so release it by speaking it.
“…God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17, KJV)
We release faith by speaking it, by calling things that be not as though they were; but to do so, we have to first have an intimate relationship with the Word. For example, once Brother Copeland was preparing to fly overseas for more than 30 hours, and his doctor was concerned his body couldn’t stand up to not only the flying but also the hours of preaching ahead of him, particularly since Brother Copeland was having trouble with his left leg.
Not one to back down from a faith challenge, and not one to cancel a meeting, Brother Copeland tied two heating pads around his left leg, and turned the heat on high. Then he went out to sit in a chair in his backyard and began to do two things. In addition to releasing his faith by speaking specifically to his leg, he also began to give God glory in the face of all the pain. He spoke the truth–based on the Word–though it was not yet evident in his body. Isaiah 53:5 was the truth: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
As he did, the pain would ease up. But if Brother Copeland eased up, the intensity of the pain would return. So Brother Copeland matched the intensity of his pain with giving God glory and thanking Him for all the BLESSINGS around him, including his healing. When you know how to live by faith, you come to a place where you have intimate relationship with the truth of the Word, and you believe it. Brother Copeland knew the Word–by Jesus’ stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5)–and he believed it and spoke it. What he added to that was God’s wisdom of giving God glory at the same time.
James 3:17 tells us, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (NKJV). It’s not hypocrisy to have an intimate knowledge of the Word and then to speak it before there’s a manifestation of it. That’s walking in resilient faith, something God has called each one of us to do.
7. Use your faith like a mechanic uses a tool.
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'” (Matthew 17:20, NKJV)
When Brother Copeland first began learning about faith, God gave him a revelation that he teaches to this day: “Use your faith on purpose like a mechanic uses a tool.”
According to Brother Copeland, when he was a young boy, he delighted in taking everything apart that he could so he could figure out how to put it back together.
This is how he approached learning about faith. He went to the Word, took it all apart, piece by piece, verse by verse. He underlined it. He memorized it. He meditated on it. He released it by speaking it. He declared it on behalf of his family, his children, the ministry, his Partners, his own physical health, the health of others–literally in every situation and circumstance of his life.
As we employ these 7 Principles of Living a Life of Resilient Faith into our lives, our circumstances will begin to change and line up with the Word of God. Because faith is a tool, it’s a force we can use. It’s a power we can release. It’s a life we can walk in. We can live a life of resilient faith!
“Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground].” –Ephesians 6:13-14a (AMPC)
We are living in the last of days, and as the darkness grows darker, we see the light of God getting brighter. All around us, we’re seeing great moves of God happening throughout the world–in colleges, on the streets and even in grocery stores. The Great Awakening is here, and it’s for all ages. Even so, the enemy continues to target the weakest among us, our children. One of the ways we see the enemy attacking our children is through violence in the schools.
Pray for Those Affected
On March 27, 2023, a deadly mass-shooting occurred at Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., resulting in seven casualties, including the shooter. Our response to this is one of compassion and love. We are sincerely praying for the families affected by this tragedy.
We invite you to pray in agreement with us:
Heavenly Father, we boldly approach Your throne of grace today in the Name of Jesus to obtain mercy and grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We stand together and boldly declare that we desperately need You in our nation, in our lives, and in the lives of our children and grandchildren. We thank You, Lord, that You go before us, You’re with us, and You never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). You’re always ready to help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). We petition you today on behalf of the Covenant School victims’ families, loved ones, first responders and everyone impacted in the school and community;, and we ask for Your help. May everyone involved feel Your comforting presence. We pray for Your unfailing love to surround and fill them (Psalm 33:22). Please strengthen, help and uphold them (Isaiah 41:10). May they find their strength in You, and be strong in You and in Your mighty power during this difficult time. We put a hedge of protection around their thoughts, and pray for them to turn toward You and not away from You. As they call on You in truth, we thank You, Lord, that You will be near to them, and they will hear Your answer (Psalm 145:18, Jeremiah 33:3). Thank You for supplying all their needs during this time from Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
You can also spend time praying in the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit Himself intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26).
We Must TakeOur Stand
Thank you for adding your supply of faith! While prayer makes tremendous power available to us, we must do more than pray. As faith-filled, blood-bought believers with a covenant with God, we have to resist the enemy to take a stand for our children. We have to push back and say, “No more!” We have to change the atmosphere of strife, criticism, fear and confusion created by this event, with our faith.
How do we do that? By taking our authority that’s found in the Name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus and the Word of God.
Are you ready to take a stand for our children at school? Here are four things you can do right now:
1. Refuse To Fear, and Stand on Psalm 91 Promises of Protection
You don’t have to live in fear! We want to bless you with two FREE resources that will help you “fear not”–no matter what’s happening around you. Click HERE to download No Fear Here by Pastor George Pearsons and Your Promise of Protection: The Power of the 91st Psalm by Gloria Copeland. Please remember to share the link to these minibooks with your family and friends who need to hear this message of faith over fear!
There’s power in the blood of Jesus and in the Name of Jesus! Taking your authority for protection should be done daily. It doesn’t take long–speak a word of protection as you drive, speak Psalm 91 over your family as you head to work or run errands, plead the blood of Jesus over your children first thing in the morning when you wake. As you make it part of your daily routine, it will become second nature to you.
You can take your authority every day by saying something like:
You listen to me, kingdom of darkness: It is written that I am seated at the Father’s right hand far above you (Ephesians 1:18-23), and that I overcome you by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11). So here is the word of my testimony, and here is whom you can’t go near today. I draw the blood around (name your family members), and I plead the blood over myself, too. You stay away from us! Satan, you stay away from the good works I should walk in. You stay away from my children’s school, my ministry, my church, my neighborhood, my home, and every vehicle and building we go into. I draw a bloodline around them. I plead the blood of Jesus and the Name of Jesus over my family!
3. Invoke THE BLESSING on Your Children
In the video above, watch Pastors George and Terri Pearsons at Eagle Mountain International Church, as we invoke THE BLESSING on our children. This service will bless you as you endeavor to lead your children in the ways of the Lord. Participate with your family by following along, laying hands on your children, and praying over them as the pastors lead.
4. Constantly Feed Your Faith
At KCM, we believe, especially in today’s world, you need to know how to stay in faith and apply the Word of God to your life every day. It’s one thing to know what to do, but it’s another thing to know how and when to do it. We invite you to dig deep into the treasures of God’s Word with us, so you can put on the full armor of God, resist the devil, and after having done all…STAND.
Watch or attend a KCM event. Kenneth Copeland will be ministering the uncompromised Word of Faith. See a list of upcoming events HERE.
Watch VICTORY Channel®, our 24/7 Christian television network. You will find faith-building programs from the world’s most trusted ministers, as well as VICTORY News twice daily, and FlashPoint twice weekly for prophetic commentary about current events–all in a spirit of faith.
Visit kcm.org for helpful books and audio teachings from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and more, as well as videos, articles, devotions and more.
When it comes to taking our stand for our children, we are not helpless or defenseless. It’s not gun control, but demon control! And demon control comes when you exercise your faith in the Word of God and its authority alone.
If you would like someone to stand in agreement with you in prayer, we’re here for you! Call us at 817-852-6000 or clickHERE.
Have you ever met someone truly skilled at something? It could be a trade, hobby or craft. They are so adept at what they do that its impressive to watch. Maybe you know someone like that. Well, did you know that just as one can develop being highly skilled at a trade, you can develop being highly skilled with your faith? You can!
God has given each of us faith that we can develop (Romans 12:3, New King James Version). You can grow your own skilled faith and put it to work not only in your life, but you can also use it to help others. You can become someone who knows how to stand on the Word, declare and release their faith, and see their prayers working.
As you read these 3 Keys To Developing Skilled Faith, receive what Christ has paid for and refuse to accept anything contrary to what the Word says. Grab hold of these truths and begin to walk in more victory in every area of life!
1) Be Moved Only by the Word of God.
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17, NKJV It’s easy to be moved by what we see, what we feel, and what we experience. It’s a discipline to only be moved by the Word of God. But learning to be moved by the Word is not only possible, it’s valuable when it comes to developing skilled faith.
Study the Word by reading it and meditating it. Listen to messages, and as you do, your faith will develop. You’ll find yourself having more faith in the Word than what you’re experiencing. The Word will begin to take precedence over what you see in the natural realm. As you grow and continue these practices, no matter the size of any challenge that comes your way, you’ll be able to remain steadfast in the Word. Because you will have renewed your mind to what the Word says (Romans 12:1-2), the Word is what you will think and what you will say when challenges come.
Granted, it’s easier said than done, but our goal is to remain unmoved in the face of adversity. Let’s face it, in such times, our emotions can get the best of us, but if we have hidden the Word in our hearts, the Word is what will come to mind and that is what we’ll speak. We’ll speak faith!
When David faced Goliath, the giant looked troubling before hundreds of cowering, fearful soldiers. He appeared so big and strong that not even the king or any of his generals stepped out to face Goliath. The Israeli Army just kept repeating what they saw: a giant who was taunting them night and day, intimidating them. With an entire Israeli Army befuddled in fear, a young boy, David, stepped forward. Full of faith and adept with a sling, he fearlessly faced and defeated Goliath. You see, David wasn’t moved by what he physically saw in Goliath’s size. David was only moved by his spiritual promises in the living God. Instead of speaking confusion, disappointment and fear at a bad report (Goliath), David spoke the promises of God, thus releasing his faith, and he defeated the giant easily (1 Samuel 17).
2) Develop a Spirit of Excellence.
“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” – Proverbs 4:20-22
God has called each one of us to develop a spirit of excellence and to operate in it in everything we do. It’s something that should be part of our character. We develop a spirit of excellence by first hiding the Word in our hearts, abiding in it, and then applying it in every area of our lives. It’s not only a standard of living, but also a description of how we live, work, conduct our affairs, and manage our relationships. It’s going the extra mile and doing the right thing at all costs. It’s living a life of integrity at all times.
Now developing and acting upon a spirit of excellence doesn’t mean we have to be perfect. But it does mean that we have a desire to live a godly life and do things the right way as defined by the Word. It means being Christ-like in all our affairs.
After all, the ministry of Jesus was one of excellence, and one that laid the foundation for success. This is why people who operate in excellence do their job unto the Lord and let Him do the promoting (1 Corinthians 7:17; Psalm 75:6-7). No matter what position God has called you into, He fully intends to lead you into excellence, success, and a life beyond what you could ever imagine on your own, equipping you every step of the way. Your responsibility is to develop a spirit of excellence and walk in it.
3) Do Not Waver.
“But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” – James 1:6-7
When we waver between listening to God and standing on His promises, versus entertaining all the thoughts running through our minds that are contrary to the Word, our loyalty becomes divided. As much as we want to stand on God’s Word and cling to His promises, we’re lending our ear to the devil and what the world is throwing at us. When we speak what we’re hearing that’s contrary to the Word, we give it authority in our lives. And just like it says in the verse above, our choice is simple: We can waver, or we can receive.
God makes it clear that we cannot waver and receive at the same time. Knowing this, Satan has one tactic in mind–to get us to doubt. If he can get us to doubt who we are in Christ Jesus, and how effective we are with the Word, then he can deceive us out of our BLESSINGS. In fact, that’s the only power he has. All other power he has over humanity was stripped by the Son of God. The only way he can steal, kill or destroy is through telling us idle threats and lies.
So, the next time Satan tries to lie to you, start laughing, “Ha, ha, ha! You have no power over me, Satan! It is written that I live by the faith of the Son of God who died for me (Galatians 2:20)!” When you do this, you’re not taunting Satan, you are refusing to believe what he is telling you and answering his lies, out loud, with the Word of God–the ultimate truth. Jesus answered Satan’s threats with the Word when He was confronted in the wilderness, and that’s what we’re to do, too (Matthew 4:1-11).
The next time Satan tries to encircle you with lies, submit your thoughts to the Word, and resist the devil by answering with the Word, speaking it out loud (James 4:7; Romans 12:2). As Kenneth Copeland says, “Your faith is how you access those BLESSINGS and promises. Don’t let the devil steal your faith–what you believe. When it looks like things are going the opposite way, Hold fast. When it looks like you’re going under. Hold fast.”
There’s a story Gloria Copeland tells that illustrates this so well. At a time when helium balloons were used to transport product, one of the large helium balloons became unhinged and started to fly away. Several men jumped up and held onto the rope to try to hold the balloon down, but it still shot up, and most of the men let go. However, there was one man that astonishingly kept holding on, no matter how high the balloon flew up. It was a very long time before they could get the balloon down. Once they got this man back on the ground, they noticed he wasn’t exhausted, shaking or unconscious, he was absolutely fine.
The medical team asked him, “How did you do that?”
And he said, “Well, when I saw what happened, I just took the rope that I was holding on to, and I tied it around myself. And instead of me holding the rope, the rope held onto me.”
This is an illustration of how we hold fast and conquer with the Word of God–by wrapping our minds, our hearts, and our mouths with the Word and allowing it to hold us up through any trouble. If we intently apply the Word like this, then we will overcome wavering between thinking what’s contrary to the Word and believing God’s promises.
Grab hold of these 3 Keys To Develop a Skilled Faith, and you’ll learn how to be moved only by God’s Word no matter what situation you’re facing. As you develop a spirit of excellence and refuse to waver, you’ll walk in total victory and help others along the way!
How to pass every test with God’s open Book.
by Gloria Copeland
There’s a problem–a health concern, financial troubles, a relationship struggle, a work issue. You can’t help but ask, “Lord, is this a test?” The fact is, every person alive will face challenges of some sort in his or her lifetime. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” But He didn’t stop there. He added, “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV).
Jesus said He has overcome the world, and guess what? You can say that, too. Jesus has given you the same world-overcoming faith He has! Every born-again Christian is born of God, and our victory over every trial and tribulation is in our faith in God and His Word (1 John 5:4).
So, what do you do when you face one of the many challenges life holds for all of us? How do you make it through times of trial? How do you tap into that world-overcoming victory, and pass the tests?
God has every answer for every test we face, in His Word. All we have to do is go to the Holy Bible, open it up, find the answer and take a few simple steps to solve every problem.
Step No. 1 to Passing a Test: Choose Life
Since the beginning, God has intended our lives to be lived simply. Every decision we have to make boils down to a basic yes or no answer. The main question is whether we choose life or death, blessing or cursing. Deuteronomy 30:19 says: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
Think about it. From every morsel of food we put into our mouths, to how we obtain the things we need, to how we treat the people in our lives–basically it’s up to us whether our choices result in life and blessing, or death and cursing.
When we made the most important decision in our lives to say yes to Jesus, we truly opened up the door to everything good God has in store for us. We said, “Yes, I believe Jesus is the Son of God. Yes, I call on His Name. Yes, I receive Him as my Lord and Savior.”
At that moment, the Spirit of God moved into your life, and you were empowered to begin to make the right choices. You were miraculously given the ability to hear directly from God in your heart and to understand the Bible clearly and what it has to say about you and the issues in your life. The Spirit of God moved inside your spirit to teach you God’s wisdom concerning everything you need to know for a victorious life.
The choice is still up to you whether you take advantage of the answers and solutions the Holy Spirit desires to reveal in the Bible and in your spirit, or you can just sit there complaining and letting life get you down.
Step No. 2 to Passing a Test: Examine Yourself
To examine yourself, let’s start with a couple of simple questions.
What do you do when you wake up one morning with a runny nose? Do you think: Well, here it is…my annual head cold! I had better get ready to be laid up in my pajamas for a few days. I hate these colds!
How about a little harder question? What do you do when you get a diagnosis of a serious disease from your doctor? Is your first thought: Oh, I hoped this day would never come. My mother had this. My grandma had it. Now I’ve got it. Oh, me, I know what I’ve got to look forward to now.
Think about these examples in terms of financial or relationship tests. Do you immediately give in? Is your first response one of worry? If so, you have already declared, whether the situation is simple or hard, “The test wins…I lose!” But you don’t have to respond this way. Whether you pass any test depends totally on what you declare about it. What comes out of your mouth, both when the test first arises and throughout the duration of it, will determine the outcome!
The words we speak reflect what we have in our hearts and in our minds–what we really think about things. And we develop our thoughts from what we continually hear and see. If we get our information from past experiences, family history or the evening news, and let those sources determine how we think about our lives, we will find ourselves in trouble. We will judge our trials and tests based on that information and it will determine the outcome.
But if we get our information from God’s Word, and from people who have experienced success through His Word, we will find ourselves overcoming the challenges we face.
Our most important decision is to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. After that, we must decide where we get the truth about living our life–life as He intends us to live it. The world and our enemy, Satan, have a plan and constantly feed us information to take us down. Our heavenly Father, Jesus our Lord and the Holy Spirit have a plan to take us over the top. What we have to do is decide to turn to God’s Word to discover the truth and live from that source of information.
Life in abundance–that’s a life that lives by the scriptures in the Bible! Your life may have a test every single day, but if you know God’s Word on the subject, the answers are all right there in front of you!
God’s Word speaks to every major issue in life. We deal with the same issues Adam and Eve dealt with…health and long life, provision and relationships. All mankind’s tests started right there with them. So, whether on a personal or worldwide level, these are the major issues of life on which we are tested.
And, the choice to pass or fail is still the same. Who are you going to listen to? Who are you going to obey?
God has never taken away our ability to choose how we handle tests. Even with all the power of the Holy Spirit we have received to tap into His wisdom, knowledge and understanding, the questions come down to this one: “Will I spend the time today to hear from God, to get my information from the Word, and to receive His truth that will give me abundant life?”
When you say yes to that question, you’ll have your answers right before your eyes and ears, which means they will be in your heart and mind. They will be the first thing out of your mouth when the test comes. No matter how simple or hard the test, you will have your answers!
This is not rocket science. But I will tell you this, approaching your life from this simple perspective with the open Book as your source will determine how far and how fast you go in life. It’s God’s plan for you to succeed and be living proof that anyone can live the abundant life Jesus came to give us!
Step No. 4 to Passing a Test: Listen to the Lord
Yes, God has a great plan for each of us. He’s laid it out in His Word. Our most important role in the plan is to pay attention to what He says.
He intends for each day of our lives to be fruitful and blessed, with each day leading us right along the path of His plan. Remember what He said through the prophet Jeremiah to the children of Israel: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'” (Jeremiah 29:11). That is His dream for all His children.
“Plans for good and not for disaster,” He said. God’s big picture is that nothing in your life is a disaster and that nothing cuts off His plan for your good, hope-filled future! Tests will come, yes. But He has given you exactly what you need to pass every one and stay on the road to your bright future.
So, pay attention to Him so the Holy Spirit who lives in you and guides you will have something to work with.
This is how God has directed me for more than 50 years of facing and passing the tests in my life. I give God the first part of my day. I read His Word, I pray in the spirit, I listen to Him…I pay attention.
Sometimes He directs me to just go about my daily business and be ready for whatever He brings my way. Sometimes He directs me to step out and go someplace special or call someone about something. My point is, every day I give Him my attention and every day He gives me direction.
We may have something in our lives that needs adjusting or some outright change that needs to take place. Maybe an attitude needs to be changed. Maybe some activity needs to be reconsidered. Maybe some perspective needs to be tweaked. When you approach the open Book every day, do it with an attitude that says, “God, I’m open to adjustment. Show me where I need to be tuned up and brought into alignment with the Word.”
I’ve had some major tests in my life. But, praise God, because of my daily pattern of paying attention and spending time with Him in the Word, I’ve been prepared and I’ve passed the tests. Some of the tests have come and gone in a day. Some have just called for a small adjustment, and some have required a major overhaul. Some have taken weeks, months or years to be resolved. But the solutions always come.
Today you can start using a new method of passing tests. You can face your trials and challenges with new confidence and assurance of successful results. James 1:25 (NKJV) says, “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty (the Word) and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” So, open the Book, stay in the Word, hear it, do it and be blessed!
Living a victorious life begins with every one of our daily activities. Such an idea might seem small, but it’s really not. The actions we perform daily are what our lives ultimately become. Think of it this way: If we sow to our flesh every day, the results will never be what we desire. But if we sow into the spirit, it strengthens our faith to obtain all the victories God has for us (Galatians 6:8). Just as we train in the gym to reap the physical benefits of a healthier body, so we can train spiritually to receive the glorious spiritual benefits we desire–abundance, health and continuously living a victorious life in Christ.
To help you train, establish these 3 Habits of Spiritually Fit Christians in your life. When you do, you will create habits to keep you strong, protect you from the enemy, and catapult you to victory every time!
1. Focus on Your Faith
“Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” -Hebrews 11:1 (AMPC)
Spiritually fit Christians don’t become that way overnight. They consistently work to strengthen their faith.
Faith is a spiritual force that, when fully developed, gives God’s people the ability to obtain His promises–spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and relationally. On the other hand, faith will not benefit us if we don’t learn how to use it and apply it (Hebrews 11:33-34; Matthew 8:1-10; Mark 2:4-5, 5:34).
There are three fundamental ways you can focus on your faith:
• Faith comes by consistently hearing the Word. Listen to sermons and speak scriptures aloud to generate and build up your faith on a daily basis (Hebrews 1:1, Hebrews 12:2; Romans 10:17).
• Faith is fed by reading and studying the Word and praying in tongues. As you wouldn’t run a race without feeding your body the proper nutrients, you can’t run the marathon of life without feeding your spirit (Jude 20).
Faith is released through our words. We have the God-given power to deliver words of hope and faith into our own lives, and into the lives of others. Doing so has the power to alter the course of any circumstance (Mark 11:22-24).
2. Reside in Faith
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” -2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
Walking by faith is a privilege. It’s a gift from God that keeps us in a place of peace, confidence and security–no matter what’s going on around us or in our world. When situations arise, learning to reside in that place of faith is key to walking in peace and coming out victoriously.
The way we keep ourselves residing in faith, and not opening the door of our heart and life to fear and doubt, is by spending time in the Word every day. Being in the Word–reading it, studying it, praying it and thinking about it–gives us confidence. It helps us know with absolute certainty what God says about our situations and that He is moving on our behalf–all the time. And because of that, when life’s challenges come our way, we don’t move out of that place of peace.
For example, if gas prices soar, we remain consistent in our faith by rejoicing and thanking Him that we have more than enough to pay for gas and other staples according to (Philippians 4:19). No matter what we see around us, or what the devil tries to throw at us, we can remain unmoved and stay exclusively in faith (Romans 12:2). Spiritually fit Christians walk by faith and not by sight!
3. Respond in Faith
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” -2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
God never promised us that we wouldn’t have trouble. However, the Word says that when trouble comes, we can rely on the Lord and His strength. Spiritually fit Christians know that God has given us everything we need to overcome. We can rely on speaking His Name, pleading His blood, and declaring His Word. Our words literally set the stage for either victory or defeat.
Brother Copeland encourages us to respond to any challenges with our words. For instance, if you have received a diagnosis, you can respond by declaring God’s Word, “Lord, Your Word formed this earth and is settled in heaven. And Your Word says that I am healed, whole and prosperous. I declare that by Jesus’ stripes I am healed, and I take my healing now in Jesus’ Name” (1 Peter 2:24).
If you’re facing any kind of trouble, don’t give in and don’t give up. Keep speaking God’s promises over yourself and your life. As you do, you will be giving final authority to the Word, and you will see victory. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind–and with these three working in us, we can respond in faith.
As you establish these 3 Habits of Spiritually Fit Christians in your life, they will keep you strong and protected from the enemy and catapult you to victory every time. If something tries to come against you or your family, you can respond in the triumphant fullness of your faith and defeat the enemy every time.
Sometimes, it seems as if we’re facing mountainous problems. We’re doing everything right–tithing, giving, praying and confessing our scriptures–and yet trouble keeps coming. We can tend to ask ourselves, Where did I miss it? What went wrong?
We call our friends and family, telling them the bad news. We repeat this bad news over and over again, while we ask for prayer and support. Little do we know, by repeating that bad news, we’re actually asking for more bad news to be heaped upon us (Matthew 12:37).
Whether we like it or not, we live by every single word we speak. Just as God spoke to create the universe, so we speak to create our lives. We live in a word-created, word-activated, word-dominated system where we get exactly what we say. So, if we keep repeating bad news, we’ll keep living in bad news. If we keep repeating the Word of God, we’ll live in His good news (Genesis 1:1-4; Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 12:37).
Since God’s good news and promises are full of blessings, there is no better way to live our lives than by His Word. With His Word there’s peace, prosperity, freedom, power, healing and more.
If you’re ready to line your words up with God’s words, study up on these 4 Habits To Create a Victorious Life.
Habit # 1 Align With God’s Word
“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” –Psalm 107:20 (NKJV)
If you were building a house, would you want the boards to line up with one another? Of course you would! If the boards didn’t align, your new house could collapse any minute, rain would fall right through the rooftop, and your neighbors would see through the cracks in your walls. Just as this scenario doesn’t sound ideal, neither does building your spiritual house without a solid alignment with the Word of God.
One of the fastest ways to see change in your life is to focus on His Word first thing every morning. As you press into the Lord and focus on the Word, you’ll automatically align your thoughts with His thoughts. You can build your faith with Him in prayer and listen to His direction for your life. As you do this, your faith will skyrocket, and what you say will change. You will go from talking about symptoms or problem to declaring only victory (Jeremiah 29:11).
What we speak is important because our words are our spiritual containers. They are capsules carrying fear or faith, death or life, love or hate, healing or disease. Our God is so loving that He gives us a choice as to which words we speak and which containers we carry. If we carry words of fear (“fear containers”), then we will become weighed down and hopeless, and speak with fear and negativity. If we carry words of faith (“faith containers”), then we will become lighter and hopeful, and our speech will align with the limitless abundance of God.
As it says in the scripture above, God’s Word contains life, healing and deliverance. As believers, we can claim anything the Word says. Since His Word is the ultimate power and authority over our lives, we can speak words directly from or directly influenced by the Word, and the devil has to flee. Once the devil flees, our circumstances will change quickly (Proverbs 13:3).
Make a promise to yourself right now to only speak what is in the Word of God. If bad news comes, don’t wail and moan. Have emergency scriptures handy and speak the Word first. Instead of running to a friend, run to the Lord and see what He is saying about your situation. Even in your darkest moments, He wants to bless you and bring you out on top. He is your God, the God of blessings, and He will lead you to victory every time.
Habit # 2 Understand the Word Is God’s Power
“The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” -Genesis 1:2-3
God’s Word formed this universe and holds life-giving, dynamic power. As you are looking to create a victorious life, using His Word can alter any circumstance in your favor.
Consider this illustration: If you were carrying a valuable bag of diamonds, would you toss it aside like an old rag doll? Of course not. Diamonds are valuable, and just as those diamonds are valuable, so the Word is valuable and powerful. That’s why Satan comes immediately to steal God’s Word. And just as you wouldn’t let a thief easily steal your bag of diamonds, you can’t let Satan steal the Word from you or draw you away from the Word. The more you focus and believe on the Word, the more fruit you will bear, and the more God’s promises will bloom in your life. God’s Word will do its part so long as we refuse to turn away (Mark 4:13-20).
Habit #3 Speak Faith-Filled Words
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” -Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)
Once you declared Jesus as your Savior, the power of the Almighty came to live inside you. And since He formed this world by His words, so you form your world by the words you speak. That is the power you’ve been given by Jesus Christ, and for better or worse, you create your own life (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:17; James 3:8-10; Proverbs 10:19-21).
For example, Kenneth Copeland and his family spoke faith-filled words when he was diagnosed with a malignant spot on his skin. Brother Copeland didn’t panic from the diagnosis. Instead, he gathered his faithful family around, and they spoke James 5:14-15 over him. Brother Copeland could feel the anointing on the words and declared, “That did it!” When Brother Copeland went back to the doctor, they couldn’t find any cancer. That cancer had died by those faith-filled words.
Just like Brother Copeland, you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and you can obtain anything in this life. If you can find it in the Word, God will supply it for you. Don’t let other people or the devil tell you that God isn’t capable; He is more than capable. So, speak the Word only in faith, and keep speaking those faith-filled words until you see the manifestation of what you’re speaking.
Habit #4 Be Specific
“That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” –Romans 4:17
Would you ever ask for an apple if you wanted an orange? Of course not. You would be specific and ask for what you want. However, many Christians say that the Lord gives them what He sees fit. No, no, no. He gives to us generously based on the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4; Ephesians 3:20).
Just as you would be specific about what you want in the natural, be specific about the things you want in the spirit. As Gloria Copeland says, “You have to take it!” As long as what you ask for aligns with His Word, you can have it.
Abraham became the father of many nations by being specific with his faith. As Abraham entered into covenant with God, he believed what God told him. As a result of listening to God, believing what He said, and calling forth what he didn’t see yet, he became the father of our faith (Galatians 3:6-9).
Gloria Copeland got specific when she wanted her home. She had no evidence of being able to afford a beautiful home when she and Brother Copeland first started out in their life together. But she did know that the Lord delights in supplying the desires of our hearts, so she spoke with the Lord about her new home. As she talked with Him, she got an idea of what she wanted the home to look like. She started to cut out pictures from magazines in order to keep the vision before her. Just a few years later, she received the custom-built house she’d been dreaming of, debt free and fully furnished.
Sister Gloria called forth what she couldn’t see yet; and you can, too. Dream big and get specific. If you’re believing for a house, don’t settle and call in a studio apartment. If you’re living in a studio apartment right now, thank God for it. Thank Him for what you do have, and once you’ve gotten specific on what you want, declare it and keep thanking Him for it. The same goes for your healing, the salvation of your family, protection over your children, and everything else you desire.
Here are a few scriptures to help you start building your own scripture list:
Healing: • Jeremiah 30:17: ‘”I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,’ says the LORD. ‘For you are called an outcast–“Jerusalem for whom no one cares.”‘” • 1 Peter 2:24: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” • 3 John 2: “Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.”
Finances: • Philippians 4:19: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” • 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” • Romans 13:8: “Owe nothing to anyone–except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.”
Peace: • Philippians 4:7: “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” • Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.” • 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV): “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
You will create a victorious life as you begin practicing these 4 Habits To Create a Victorious Life. No matter what you’re facing today, God’s Word and His power can overcome it. Speak faith-filled words to strike down any attack, and expect His goodness to overflow in your life!
As new creations we have been put in a position of power and authority– a position delegated to us by God through Jesus Christ. Along with that authority come certain responsibilities. I want us to examine God’s Word concerning that position and the authority we have in Him.
When you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, Colossians 1:13 says you were delivered from the power of darkness. The word power is literally translated authority. You have been delivered from the power, or authority, of darkness and placed into God’s kingdom. Jesus said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore…(Matt. 28:18,19). That power was given to you as part of your inheritance in Christ Jesus. You have entered into this position of authority because you are in Him.
The Word says that righteousness has come upon all men (Rom. 5:18). You may ask, “Then why don’t all become righteous?” Because in order to receive it, you have to act on righteousness from the point of authority.
On November 2, 1962, I used my authority as a human being and made a choice. I made the decision to receive Jesus as Lord of my life. At that moment, the righteousness that had been upon me came inside me. I was made the righteousness of God in Christ. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
#1 – JESUS SECURED OUR POWER AND AUTHORITY
Jesus succeeded in securing all power by going to the cross, dying a horrible death, suffering the penalty for sin, and defeating Satan in the pit of hell. He came to earth as a man for one reason: to re-capture the authority that Satan had stolen through Adam’s disobedience in the garden. Jesus was called the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). After securing that power and authority, He freely gave it over into the hands of those who would believe on Him–you and me.
It is not enough for us to simply accept Jesus’ work at Calvary. We are held responsible for much more. Jesus’ words in the 16th chapter of Mark were not intended for the early church alone. His words are just as vital and real today as when they were first spoken.
Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection from the dead. His words to them form the basic foundation for the work of the New Testament church. It was at that time that He delegated the authority to carry out that work. Beginning in verse 15, Jesus said:
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
#2 – WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Every born-again believer has the authority and responsibility to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this earth. If you can’t go, then you can send someone in your place.
And these signs shall follow them that believe….I want you to notice who is to do all these things: them that believe. The signs will follow the believers who act in faith and boldly speak in Jesus’ name. THEY shall cast out devils; THEY shall speak with new tongues; THEY shall lay hands on the sick, etc. The believer is the one with the power and authority to do these things.
Verse 20 says, They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. God will confirm His Word, but first it has to be put forth. That is where you and I come in. God does not preach; He has given us the authority to do the preaching. God will not lay hands on the sick. He will bring the healing, but you and I as believers must lay hands on the sick by faith, believing that God will perform His Word.
#3 – WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO STAND AGAINST SATAN
One of the most vital areas of the believer’s authority is his power to successfully stand against Satan. Ephesians 4:27 says, Neither give place to the devil. In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul describes the armor that we as believers are to wear in combat against Satan. He explains each piece of that armor. It is the armor of God. But not once does he say that God will put the armor on you or that God will fight the devil for you. YOU is the understood subject of these verses. He says, “YOU be strong in the Lord. YOU put on the whole armor of God that YOU will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. YOU take the whole armor of God that YOU may be able to withstand in the evil day; and having done all, YOU stand.” God has given you the power and the authority to stand against Satan and his destructive works. He has provided the armor, but it is your responsibility as a believer to put on that armor and stand against the devil. James 4:7 says, YOU resist the devil, and he will flee from YOU. The armor and the weapons are at your disposal. God is there with you to back His Word; but all is worthless unless you take your position of authority and assume the responsibility to use what He has provided. You have the power and the authority to take the Word of God, the name of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit and run Satan out of your affairs. Don’t pray and ask God to fight Satan for you. You are the one in authority. Take your responsibility and speak directly to Satan yourself and stand your ground firmly. He will flee!
#4 – WE ARE SEATED WITH HIM IN HIGH AUTHORITY
In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul prayed a prayer for the body of believers in Ephesus. One part of that prayer was that they know the exceeding greatness of his power to those who believe (Eph. 1:19). That exceeding great power is the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies. Ephesians 1:21 tells us that Jesus is seated far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named.
The work God did in Jesus was supreme. He raised Jesus from the dead and set Him far above all other authority–not only in this world, but also in the heavenly world. Then verse 22 says that God has put ALL things under His feet and made Him head over the church which is His body. Where are the feet? They are in the body. As believers, we are part of His body and we are seated with Him in that highly exalted place of authority. Praise God! Look at Ephesians, chapter two:
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…Even when we were dead in sins, (God) hath quickened us together with Christ…And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:1,5,6).
We are seated together with Him. Where? Far above all principality and power and might and dominion. As a believer, you have accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary. Therefore, you are a part of His body and are seated with Him in that heavenly place, equipped with the same power, the same authority that He has.
The great power that God worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead is the same creative power of God that worked in you to make you alive when you were dead in your trespasses and sins. The moment you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, that same power was exercised on your dead, unregenerate spirit, causing it to be reborn in the likeness of God Himself. Any man who is in Christ Jesus is a new creation: old things have passed away, all things are new, and all things are of God (2 Cor. 5:17).
“As believers, we are part of His body and we are seated with Him in that highly exalted place of authority.”
#5 – WE HAVE THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD TO EXERCISE OUR AUTHORITY
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, Why are you so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:35-40).
Jesus spoke the words, Let us pass over unto the other side, and there was enough power and authority in those words to accomplish the job. One thing I want you to notice is that Jesus did not take command of the ship to see that His words were carried out. He walked to the back of the boat and went to sleep. Jesus delegated the authority to His disciples and they accepted it. But when the storm came, they were filled with fear that the boat would sink. Jesus had to carry out the responsibility of authority that he had delegated to them by rebuking the wind and the sea.
“You have the power and the authority to take the Word of God, the name of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit and run Satan out of your affairs.”
I want you to see the parallel here. You are the captain of your ship. You have control over your own life–your spirit, your soul, and your body. Jesus has delegated power, or authority over Satan to you as a believer. You are to give him no place in your life. You are born of the Spirit of God. You are filled with the Spirit of God. You have been given the Word of God. Those three elements are enough for you to carry out your spiritual authority here in the earth. You don’t need any more power. You have all the power necessary. You simply have to exercise your authority. Jesus has already done everything necessary to secure the authority and power over sin, sickness, demons, and fear. You have to employ the faith action to receive that authority and join forces with Him in this earth. You are the one to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
#6 – WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO ACT AS NEW CREATIONS
Hebrews 2:14 says, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. Jesus partook of flesh and blood, so that you could partake of spirit and life. For you to partake of that spirit and life, you must take the responsibility of standing in the place of authority as the new creation in Christ Jesus that you are. You are born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God (1 Pet. 1:23). It was the Word of Almighty God that was injected into your spirit man to bring about the new birth in your life. When the church was first beginning, Acts 12:24 described it as the Word growing and multiplying. The Word is in you, but you are the one who must be willing to allow it to work in you.
Ephesians 4:21-24 says, If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
You are the one in authority. It is your responsibility to put off the old man–the unregenerate man that you were before you accepted Jesus. The Holy Spirit does the actual work in you, but you must make the decision to allow Him to do it. God has never forced His will on any person. YOU put off the old man. YOU use the Word of God to renew your mind. YOU put on the new man, which is created in righteousness and true holiness.
#7 – WE CAN MINISTER AND WALK FROM A POINT OF AUTHORITY
God’s power is in His Word. He is upholding all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3). You need to learn to minister and walk from a point of authority. In His earthly ministry, Jesus said such things as “Be thou made whole.” “Take up your bed and walk.” Then to a lame man Peter said in Acts 3:6, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” He too ministered and spoke from a point of authority.
“He came to earth as a man for one reason: to re-capture the authority that Satan had stolen through Adam’s disobedience in the garden.”
It’s time for you as a believer to begin to act that way. You have obtained an inheritance, and in that inheritance you have been given all authority. The God of the universe lives inside you! He lives and walks in you. Become God-inside-minded and you will begin to walk in this point of authority.
Keep right on building yourself up in your inheritance. You live in a world that is full of evil influences. Satan wants to see to it that you forget the reality of being born again. He wants to see to it that you never realize your place of authority in Christ Jesus, because if you do, that power you walk in makes you absolutely dangerous to him. He has no defense against you when you walk in the power of God’s Word.
When you see in the Word that you are in Christ Jesus, that you are in Him, then confess it with all of your heart. Then you will be strong, standing in a point of authority and operating in your inheritance in Him. As you do this, the power of God will always be available to work in your behalf. Praise God!
“Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground]….” Ephesians 6:13-14a (AMPC)
By now, you’ve likely heard about the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, earlier this week. In the video below, Kenneth Copeland shares a special message of encouragement from God’s Word for families, teachers, students, first responders and all who have been impacted.
As the Church of Jesus Christ, we have both a RESPONSE and a RESPONSIBILITY to take our stand for our children. Our first response is one of compassion and love. We are earnestly praying for the families affected by this act. But we must do more than that.
As faith-filled, blood-bought believers with a covenant with God Almighty, we have to resist the enemy and take our stand. We have to say, “No more!” We have to change the atmosphere of strife, criticism, fear and confusion created by this event with our faith.
How do we do that? By taking our authority that’s found in the Name and the blood of Jesus and the Word of God.
Watch as Pastor Terri Copeland Pearsons, KCM chief visionary officer, shares more about our response as Christians and how to take your stand for our children.
We, as the Church, have a responsibility to take our authority over the devil, resist him and stand on our covenant for our children. Are you ready to take your stand?
Here are four things you can do right now to take your stand for our children:
1. Refuse To Fear and Stand on Psalm 91 Promises of Protection
You don’t have to live in fear! We want to sow two FREE resources that will help you “fear not”–no matter what’s happening around you. Click HERE to download No Fear Here by Pastor George Pearsons and Your Promise of Protection: The Power of the 91st Psalm by Gloria Copeland. Please remember to share the link to these minibooks with your family and friends who need to hear this message of faith over fear!
2. Use Your Authority for Physical Protection
There’s power in the blood of Jesus and in the Name of Jesus! Taking your authority for protection should be done daily. It doesn’t take long–speak a word of protection as you drive, speak Psalm 91 over your family as you head to work or run errands, plead the blood of Jesus over your children first thing in the morning when you wake. As you make it part of your daily routine, it will become second nature to you.
You can take your authority every day by saying something like:
You listen to me, kingdom of darkness: It is written that I am seated at the Father’s right hand far above you (Ephesians 1:18-23), and that I overcome you by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11). So here is the word of my testimony, and here is who you can’t go near today. I draw the blood around (name your family members), and I plead the blood over myself, too. You stay away from us! Satan, you stay away from the good works I should walk in. You stay away from my children’s school, my ministry, my church, my neighborhood, my home, and every vehicle and building we go into. I draw a bloodline around them. I plead the blood of Jesus and the Name of Jesus over my family!
3. Invoke THE BLESSING on Your Children
In the video above, watch Pastors George and Terri Pearsons at Eagle Mountain International Church from Sunday, May 29, 2022, as we invoked THE BLESSING on our children. Participate with your family by following along, laying hands on your children, and praying over them as the pastors lead.
4. Constantly Feed Your Faith
At KCM, we believe, especially in today’s world, you need to know how to stay in faith and apply the Word of God to your life every day. It’s one thing to know what to do, but it’s another thing to know how and when to do it. We invite you to dig deep into the treasures of God’s Word with us, so you can put on the full armor of God, resist the devil, and after having done all…STAND.
Watch or attend the Fargo Victory Campaign June 9-11, 2022. Kenneth Copeland and Jerry Savelle will be ministering the uncompromised Word of Faith. It’s FREE to attend or watch LIVE on VICTORY Channel.
Watch VICTORY Channel, our 24/7 Christian television network. You will find faith-building programs from the world’s most trusted ministers, as well as VICTORY News twice daily, and FlashPointtwice weeklyfor prophetic commentary about current events–all in a spirit of faith.
Visit kcm.org for helpful books and audio teachings from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and more, as well as videos, articles, devotions and more.
When it comes to taking our stand for our children, we are not helpless or defenseless. It’s not gun control, but demon control! And demon control comes when you exercise your faith in the Word of God and its authority alone.
Inflation. Cost of living. Child care. Health insurance. Student loans. Medical bills. Housing prices. The cost of living can all be pretty intimidating when it affects your financial security.
If supply chain issues seem to be choking your household budget, you’re not alone.
Actually, you’re in good company!
Not long before King David took the throne, he found himself desperate and on the run, fearing for his life and the future of Israel. Though he had just won a great victory in battle, suddenly circumstances took a turn for the worse:
“David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard about it, they went down there to him. Then everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him” (1 Samuel 22:1-2, NASB).
Distressed, in debt and discontented–Israel’s soon-to-be king hid out in a cave.
How many times have you faced a situation that left you scratching your head and wondering…
How did I ever end up here? (This isn’t where I’m supposed to be!)
When Kenneth and Gloria Copeland look back on their early years of marriage, they laugh but are brutally honest about how broke they were–“We were so broke, we couldn’t pay attention,” they often say…”let alone pay bills, pay taxes or buy groceries.”
For Brother Copeland, it was more of a personal struggle with debt. He had never been able to shake it or get free of it. That is, until he got born again and started coming across radical concepts in the Bible that helped turn his thinking–and finances–around.
Here are 13 Radical Ideas To Ponder When You’re Backed Into a Financial Corner:
1. “The LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty [El Shaddai/The All-Sufficient One]'” (Genesis 17:1, NASB).
2. “Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide [Jehovah-Jireh]” (Genesis 22:14, NASB).
3. “And you shall remember that you were a slave [to debt] in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 5:15, NASB).
4. “‘There will be no poor among you, since the LORD will certainly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess'” (Deuteronomy 15:4, NASB).
5. “The LORD will open for you His good storehouse…to bless every work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will only be above, and not be underneath…” (Deuteronomy 28:12-13, NASB).
6. “…She went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts‘” (2 Kings 4:1-7, NIV).
7. God’s Anointing is described as burden-removing, yoke-destroying power (Isaiah 58:6, KJV).
8. “Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:11-12, NIV).
9. “Take my yoke upon you…. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30, NIV).
10. “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me…to preach the good news to the poor…to proclaim the free favors of God profusely abound [Jubilee]”–(Luke 4:18-19, AMPC)
11. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another” (Romans 13:8, NIV).
12. “[God], having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14, NASB).
13. “Faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for” (Hebrews 11:1, AMPC).
Brother Copeland remembers one particular Sunday morning, back when he and Gloria were facing a mountain of debt in those early days of their newfound relationship with God. As they were discussing their finances, Gloria said, “Well, whatever the Book [Bible] says, that’s what we’re going to do!”
And they have, ever since.
Today, according to the Hebrew calendar, we are in the middle of what Jews call a shemitah year–a sabbath year of rest AND “release” from financial debt (Exodus 23:10-12; Deuteronomy 15:1-2).
With God as your All-Sufficient Provider and Jesus as your Jubilee, may this be a reminder and an encouragement that God’s desire and plan for ALL His people is that we never be backed into a corner and bound by any “supply chain issues” of this world. Rather, that we live in the reality of…
“[His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” (Ephesians 3:20, AMPC).
Insider information–it can get you into a lot of trouble; it can also get you ahead in life.
You’ve probably heard stories how insider information made people rich but got them thrown in jail. They learned information about someone or something–maybe something about the stock market, government contracts or a corporate merger–then wrongly used that knowledge to their advantage.
The same can happen in our personal lives. Finding out the latest scoop on a neighbor, co-worker or church member–then spreading it around–can get you into a mess.
But how about those times when it’s good, even helpful and appropriate, to know the “goods” on a person or situation. Like…
“Which day care can I trust?”
“Where should we go for lunch?”
“What time should I leave for the airport?”
It’s that kind of valuable information that can give you an edge in life.
And what better source to go to for anything you need to know than God.
Did you know God’s sitting on a world of information right now, just waiting to pass it along to you, so you can have every advantage in life? (It’s true!)
You’ll often hear Kenneth Copeland say that God’s not trying to keep things from us. He’s trying to get things to us–like information and knowledge.
Genesis 6–God warned Noah of a flood.
Genesis 41–God prepared Joseph for abundance and famine.
Luke 5; Matthew 17; John 21–Jesus told His disciples where to fish.
But even more amazing is one of the time-tested, sure ways God has of downloading what’s in His head to yours.
Amos 3:7 (AMPC) says, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Once when Israel was about to be attacked by three enemies at the same time, the king called a national day of prayer to get help from God (2 Chronicles 20). As a great gathering of people stood outside the Temple in Jerusalem praying and worshipping God, the Spirit came upon a man, and he began to prophesy, basically giving Israel a battle strategy. It sounded crazy–but it worked!
God often uses prophets to get valuable information into the hands of His people. And hopefully by now, you’ve come across the following prophecy God spoke to Brother Copeland concerning 2022:
2022 is the year of correction, direction, protection and perfection–in spirit, soul and body, in finances, churches and government.
In 2022, you WILL know what to do!
In 2022, it ALL belongs to you!
As encouraging as these words are, how can you be sure they will actually happen?
Check out these 5 action steps that will give you an advantage in life God’s way:
1. Expect God to speak.
Jesus was praying out loud in public one day, and God responded in an audible voice (John 12:28-30). Some of the people around Jesus heard it; others thought it was thunder.
Don’t get caught snoozing and miss out on what God’s saying. Expect to hear from Him.
2. Get used to God’s style.
We all have our way of saying things.
God likes speaking the end from the beginning, letting us know what’s coming down the road (Isaiah 46:10). It’s His way of letting us know He’s God.
Get used to God speaking to you from the future.
3. Know who’s really doing the talking.
Jesus once asked His disciples a question to see if they were on the same page, and they all had pretty good answers–but Peter’s was the best, to which Jesus replied:
“This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:17, NIV).
Recognize the real Source behind the words.
4. Get a second (or third) opinion.
“Two or three prophets should speak and the others should weigh carefully what is said” (1 Corinthians 14:29, NIV).
This comes from a principle and practice established by God: “On the [word] of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed” (Deuteronomy 19:15, NASB).
5. Keep it in your face.
Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (NKJV).
We all have those things we highlight, #tag, bookmark, stick on the fridge; those habits that help motivate, prompt and focus us in the right direction. Do what it takes to keep God’s fresh word to you in your face–and thereby, you’ll be building your faith.
God’s all in when it comes to giving you every advantage possible. So, when He gives a word, heads-up or valuable piece of insider information–jump on it, act on it. Practice these 5 Steps To Gaining the Advantage God’s Way–and dare to trust Him to bring His Word to pass!
Not one place to gain access, but the entry point. You can try to reach a destination without going through it, but you’ll end up bumping up against a wall.
For Christians, Jesus created the gateway and then told us how to get through it to success in every area of our lives–financially, physically, spiritually, relationally and otherwise. From His Word, we know:
Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Prayer won’t work without faith (James 1:7-8).
Faith won’t work without love (Galatians 5:6).
Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).
In other words, if you have a problem, love is the answer. If you’ve been stuck in the same place or believing for the same thing for what seems like forever, love is the answer. The good news is that your love walk is completely in your hands. That means YOU have the power to change your situation!
Here, we’re sharing why love is The Gateway to Success in every area of your life and how to get there.
1. Love Brings Success to Your Prayers
“And whenever you stand praying… forgive.” -Mark 11:25 (NKJV)
When you’re interacting with people each day, you likely aren’t thinking about how it will affect your prayers. But the Bible tell us it does–significantly, in fact.
Prayers prayed in faith are those that yield results. Since Galatians 5:6 tells us that faith works by love, we know faith cannot be in operation when something in our love walk is out of balance.
Perhaps you’re outwardly a very pleasant and polite person. But walking in love goes far beyond being nice. It’s what resides deep beneath the surface. It’s what comes out when something goes wrong or someone upsets you. It includes your thoughts and intentions. It’s a matter of the heart. And it’s so important because your love walk will make or break your prayer life, as Jesus told us in Mark 11:25.
Love is so important because the Bible says love is a greater power than even faith and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13). So, no matter how much faith and hope you think you have, if your love is off balance, your faith won’t work.
If you’ve been praying a prayer that doesn’t seem to be receiving an answer, it’s time to ask (and answer) the question that changes everything and moves you through the gateway to success: How is your love walk? Let’s take a look.
Love is patient–with your spouse, at the grocery store, in traffic, with your children.
Love is kind–to your neighbor, to your restaurant server, in your thoughts, in your deeds and especially in a disagreement.
Love doesn’t envy–it isn’t jealous of someone else’s life, appearance, giftings or opportunities.
Love doesn’t boast–it doesn’t focus on itself but turns attention outward toward others.
Love is not proud–it does not see itself as greater than it should. It knows where it needs to improve and is not above correction. It doesn’t worry, but instead fully trusts God.
Love is not rude–It doesn’t cut people off in traffic, and it doesn’t push to the front of the line. It doesn’t talk loudly in public or disturb others during a church service. It is not late for work, church or appointments. And it doesn’t speak harshly.
Love keeps no record of wrongs–it doesn’t remind your spouse of what they said or did five years ago or even last week. It doesn’t keep a running tally of what your mother-in-law has said or done.
If the Lord tapped you on the shoulder about one or more of these in particular–make a change! Ask God to help you, so you can walk through the gateway to success!
“Love your neighbor as yourself” fulfills every commandment. If you’ve been unkind to someone this week, you’ve stepped out of love, so get it right with that person without delay. Go to them and apologize. Repent to them and to the Lord. Clear the pathway to answered prayer!
2. Love Brings Healing to Your Body
“Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you” -Ephesians 4:31-32 (AMPC)
If healing is something you’ve been believing for, but it seems slow in coming, love is the answer.
Medical science has proven that diseases such as arthritis, cancer, ulcers, anxiety, high blood pressure and heart disease are connected to stress, fear and bitterness. Unforgiveness or harboring hurts from the past is downright dangerous–both physically and spiritually.
Unforgiveness will pull the plug on your faith so completely that you won’t have enough power to move the molehills in your life–much less the mountains. Jesus concluded one of His most powerful teachings on faith with these words, “And when you stand praying, forgive” (Mark 11:25, MEV). Jesus didn’t say when you stand praying try to forgive if you can. He simply said to forgive. Period.
Jesus did not suggest that we forgive. He made forgiveness a command. And it would be unjust for Him to command us to do something we could not do. Therefore, we know it is within our ability to obey His command to forgive–no matter what the circumstances are. Most people don’t realize it, but unforgiveness is actually a form of fear. Quite often we don’t forgive because we’re afraid of getting hurt again. We’re afraid we will never recover from the damage someone has done to our lives.
Beyond forgiving others, walking in love in every area of life will keep you healthy and strong. Anger, grumbling and criticism are bad for your health!
Proverbs 29:11 (RSV) says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger.” Angry outbursts are not only sinful and harmful to you, but they damage your relationships as well. While we all have moments when we get upset, lashing out in anger toward anyone under any circumstance is not only unacceptable and disobedient to God’s Word, it will block your healing. That’s why Brother Kenneth E. Hagin said, “If you want to walk in health, you’re going have to walk in love and keep your tongue!”
Grumbling and criticism are in the same category. Complaining is the opposite of a grateful, faith-filled heart, and criticizing others is stepping out of love. Love disciplines, corrects and holds people accountable. Love doesn’t just allow people to act however they wish or affirm behaviors that are contrary to the Word of God. But it is also not condemning or judgmental.
So, hold your tongue, guard your heart, and get healed! You can change your habits to change your life. Jesus is ready and waiting to be invited to heal the hurting and broken places in your life that cause you to be angry, criticize or complain. He wants to help you. All you have to do is ask, be willing and obedient; and you will eat the good of the land. Love is your gateway to success!
3. Love Will Bring Success to Your Finances
“The LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as aninheritance–only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments.” -Deuteronomy 15:4-5 (NKJV)
This connection is difficult for some people to make. How is your love walk tied to your finances? As we’re learning, your love walk is tied to everything!
When it comes to finances, there are multiple areas where we can block our own blessing without knowing it. Worry is probably the greatest offender in a believer’s life when it comes to provision.
Worry means “divided into parts.” Worry means “to be double-minded,” and we know from James 1:6 that a double-minded man cannot expect anything from the Lord.
Love means living without fear (1 John 4:18)–fear that what you want will never come to pass, fear of being rejected, fear of being overlooked, fear of not having enough money, fear of losing your job, fear of getting sick, etc.
The Hebrew translation of the word love includes the root word for giving, which means you cannot separate love from giving! If a believer is withholding the tithe or is not generous in giving to the Kingdom or to others, love is not in full operation.
Beyond that, we block financial blessings when we mistreat others because disobedience to the Lord is a blessing blocker. It doesn’t have to be a big and noticeable offense, either.
Here are some areas where we as believers can miss it and walk out of love:
Grumbling about drivers on the road
Underpaying people who work for you
Cheating on your taxes
Tipping small at restaurants
Pointing out the faults of your neighbor’s yard or house
Giving the silent treatment to someone who upset you
Criticizing your daughter-in-law
Failing to respect your husband or wife
Neglecting to compliment or show appreciation to your employees
Failing to encourage your children
Being cranky
Talking about the failures of others
Criticizing your pastor
Angry outbursts.
It doesn’t take much to fall off the love line and right into the devil’s ditch. But when we make a conscious effort in these areas and turn our prayers and attention toward them, with God’s help, we will walk straight into the gateway to success in our finances!
Need help improving your love walk? (Hint: We all do!) See Kenneth Copeland’s Tips for Walking in Love and how he works on his love walk HERE.
4. Love Will Give You Whole-Life Success
“Love never fails.” -1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV)
What does whole-life success look like to you?
For many it means success in health, finances, relationships, business, ministry, promotions and dreams realized.
Brother Copeland says, “Love is fear-free and failure-free.” Since we know love never fails, if we’re experiencing failure–or a lack of success–in any area of our lives, we know love is the answer.
If you desire to be married, to receive a promotion at work, an increase in your finances, to start a ministry, to walk in divine health, to heal a broken relationship, or to bring a prodigal child home–love is the answer. Sow seeds, speak confessions and stay in the Word–those are all part of seeing a harvest–but don’t expect to see results until you dig deep, press in and make the changes you need to make to fully walk in love.
Love will push you forward toward the gateway to success. Anything that moves you out of love puts on the brakes and stalls out your progress. Don’t put on the brakes. Let love propel you to success in every area of your life!
God is talking to you, but are you hearing from Him?
He is speaking all the time. Yet, it’s up to believers to spend time with the Lord, read His Word and hear from Him. Why? He has some things to share with you that will change your life.
If you haven’t been hearing from God, it’s time to figure out why. There are several practical ways to understand what is blocking you from recognizing the voice of God. From the prayers you pray to the verses you read, have faith that when you turn up the volume on God’s voice, you also increase your ability to hear Him.
It is time to renew your mind and believe the Lord wants to talk to you every day. If we entertain too many different influences, thoughts and opinions, it can lead to confusion. In the midst of it all, you may feel uncertain that you’re hearing the one voice you long to hear most–the voice of God.
He talks to His children every day. By faith, we can listen to God and learn to hear His voice. We don’t have to go through life blindly making decisions or relying on our own abilities. We can listen to God clearly and consistently, and receive the power that comes with hearing from Him.
Pray About Hearing From God
Before reading and making note of these powerful scriptures, prepare your heart and welcome the Holy Spirit. Hearing from God takes an open heart and a ready spirit, so begin with a prayer for hearing God’s voice, praying in faith.
Lord, Your Word says that when we draw near to You, You will draw near to us. So, I draw near to You today. I seek Your face, Your truth and Your word for my life. I want to know You more, hear You more and obey You more.
Your Word says Your sheep know Your voice and we will not follow the voice of a stranger. Help me to understand Your voice and not be deceived by any other voice. Guard my heart from the influences of this world and the people around me. Help me not to be fooled by the devil and his lies, but to view all thoughts and decisions through the lens of truth.
As I seek to hear You today for instruction, correction and guidance, help me to confirm Your voice through Your Word. You said if I ask for wisdom, You will give it to me liberally. So, I am asking for wisdom in the Name of Jesus to hear You clearly and consistently today and every day.
Help me to be confident in knowing that I hear Your voice. I praise You and thank You for it, in Jesus’ Name.Amen.
Proclaim the Word to Hear From God
Now that your heart is open to hearing from God, speak the Word and make it real in your life.
1. Isaiah 30:21 “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
2. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
3. Psalm 29:3 “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters.”
4. Psalm 85:8 “Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.”
5. Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
6. Mark 4:24 “And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.'”
7. John 8:47 “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
8. John 5:30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
9. John 10:16 “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
10. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
11. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
12. John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
13. Romans 8:14 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
14. Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
15. Hebrews 3:15 “As it is said, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'”
16. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
17. James 1:19 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
18. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
When you renew your mind to the truth that God is talking to you all the time and wants to guide you in every part of your life, you will begin to expect to hear His still, small voice every day. Lean in. He’s talking to you right now!
When you renew your mind to the truth that God is talking to you all the time and wants to guide you in every part of your life, you will begin to expect to hear His still, small voice every day. Lean in. He’s talking to you right now!
If you’re looking to build your faith for healing, you’ve come to the right place! Jesus is the Healer. Healing is for today, and healing is for YOU. But just knowing that isn’t enough. Faith is an interactive process. Jesus is offering healing, but you’ve got to build your faith to receive.
To get you on your way to your healing, we’ve put together a list of KCM’s Top 10 Healing Resources that are sure to build your faith to new levels. Choose one, or if you’re really ready to dive in, work your way through all of them!
1. God Wants You Well Healing School on VICTORY Channel® Gloria Copeland has been teaching healing for more than 40 years. Each week, we broadcast a different timeless teaching that will not only build your faith for healing, but so much more!
2.Healing and Wellness LifeLine Kit This kit is comprehensive and includes daily readings from both Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, confessions, powerful healing testimonies, a daily DVD teaching and a worship CD all designed to bring you into the kind of faith that receives.
3.Gloria Copeland’s Healing Scriptures These powerful scriptures have helped Kenneth and Gloria Copeland get healed and stay healed, again and again. Read them continually to keep your faith for healing high. Most of them originated from a list made by Dodie Osteen, who was healed of terminal liver cancer many years ago. She took them daily like medicine until every symptom was gone, and she still takes them every day to maintain divine health.
4. Our Top Healing Blog Posts We always write with you in mind. These popular blog posts are jam-packed with faith teaching from our ministry straight to you, so you can live a victorious life!
5.Live Long, Finish Strongbook by Gloria Copeland In this book, Gloria Copeland reveals the secret to finding the “Bible-based fountain of youth.” Through faith in, and focus on, the Word of God, you can be energized and renewed regardless of your chronological age.
6. YouTube® KCM Partner Healing Testimonies One of the best ways to build your faith to receive your healing is to hear the testimonies of people just like you who have received their healing. The more you watch, the more your faith will grow!
7.Kenneth Copeland’s Faith to Be Made WholeDVD Series or MP3 Series Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He gave keys to receiving by faith the healed and whole life God has in His heart for His people. In this series, Kenneth Copeland takes you on a journey to experience Jesus in action and discover those life-altering keys of faith!
8.Kenneth Copeland’s Healing Scriptures CD Defeat your doubts and receive your healing by allowing the healing power of God’s Word to flow through you. Listen as Kenneth Copeland reads anointed healing scriptures, shares wisdom from Jesus’ healing ministry, and gives you the healing promises you need to hang on to.
9. Healing–It Is Always God’s Will CD Series by Kenneth Copeland In this series, you’ll learn how to make the Word of God your final authority and act upon it, as well as how to accept the Word of God as evidence of healing and not what is perceived by the five senses.
10. Healing Confessions by Gloria Copeland We’ve put together tools that will help you discover the promises of God’s Word that guarantee your healing.
We hope these top 10 healing resources will be a blessing to you. It is our heart’s desire here at KCM to stand alongside you as you pursue faith and victory every day for every part of your life. As always, if we can stand with you in prayer for anything at all–including your healing– please give us a call at 817-852-6000. We’re here for you!
Watch a KCM Partner Healing Testimony here!
We have been given a life-changing gift–the gift of praying in tongues.
In Mark 16:17, Jesus tells us about this gift. He lays it out–authority in the unseen spirit realm, authority to operate over demons, and authority to have open access to the realm of the Holy Spirit–to speak with new tongues.
Tongues is the Master Key to operating in the Kingdom in a higher dimension and accessing the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Everything the Spirit does and every way He does it can be touched through tongues. In other words, whatever you need, tongues will take you there.
That’s why Kenneth Copeland says, “The most important thing a man or woman of God can do in prayer is to pray in other tongues.”
Believers should be sign-producing machines, and it all begins with access to the supernatural. Whether you’ve never experienced this type of prayer or do so regularly, you need to know these 12 Power-Packed Reasons To Pray in Tongues.
1. Tongues Is Evidence of the Infilling of the Holy Spirit
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” -Acts 2:4 (NKJV)
Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the New Testament, we see this illustrated time and again. See Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:1-6.
There is so much power in the infilling of the Holy Spirit–power that is meant to flow out of every believer to bring the realities of Jesus to others. It’s reason enough to want to pray in tongues!
If you’re a believer, and you haven’t been baptized in Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, today’s your day! Pray this prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I ask You according to Acts 19:6, to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I have been born again, and now I want this precious gift You offer. In Jesus’ Name, I receive the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Amen.”
Now speak! The Holy Spirit will give you a new language. For help, call 817-852-6000 to talk to one of our trained prayer ministers.
2. Tongues Is Direct Contact With God
“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” -1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV)
When you pray in tongues, you are in direct contact with God. It’s your own private language with Him that no one else understands. It is a sharing of intimacy between just you and Him. God has given the Church a divine, supernatural means of communication with Him that is so power-packed, we would be missing out if we prayed in our own language alone.
Now, it is important to remember that praying in tongues is NOT meant to replace praying in your known language, but to add to it. We’ve all experienced times when we’ve come to the end of what we can accomplish through natural prayer. That’s when we move over into tongues.
On this powerful way of communicating with God, Kenneth Copeland says, “Praying in the spirit is a divine secret between God and me. It is my future. It is my heritage. It is my destination. It is the vision of my life being prayed out and given root to before it is ever made known to this natural world.”
3. Tongues Reminds Us of the Indwelling Presence
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” -John 14:16-17 (KJV)
Another power-packed reason to pray in tongues is that it reminds us that the Holy Spirit is dwelling inside us every minute of every day. When challenges arise, that reminder will shut down all the outside voices and build our strength to see ourselves as He does–victorious.
4. Tongues Is for Spiritual Edification
“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.” -1 Corinthians 14:4 (NKJV)
Spiritual recharge? Yes, please! That’s one of the power-packed reasons to pray in tongues. When you pray in the spirit, you experience a spiritual boost the way a battery does when it is plugged in. When you’re feeling low on faith, pray in tongues and get a power-packed recharge!
5. Tongues Helps With Our Weaknesses
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercessionfor us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” -Romans 8:26 (NKJV)
Do you have any weaknesses?
There is help! That’s just one of the power-packed reasons to pray in tongues. The Holy Spirit will help you gain strength in any area where you are weak. You are strong in the Lord and the power of His might! So, whenever you’re feeling weak, insufficient or defeated, pray in tongues. The Holy Spirit is inside you to meet that need.
“The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” -Romans 8:27 (NIV)
Have you ever come before the throne of grace, but felt like you didn’t even know where to start?
Praise God, the Spirit always knows. A time of uncertain prayer can become a power-packed one when we move into praying in tongues. When we do, we’re doing the talking, but He gives the utterance (Acts 2:4). In this way, we can be certain that we are praying God’s perfect will and we eliminate the possibility of selfishness entering into our prayers.
7. Tongues Enables Us To Pray Out Mysteries
“For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].” -1 Corinthians 14:2 (AMPC)
You are meant to have inside information! And you can. Praying in tongues is how God gets it to you. It is the way we can pray out mysteries, which we also refer to as divine revelation. When you don’t know what to do, God will tell you through praying in tongues. Tongues is a mystery master and a problem solver. What kinds of things will He reveal?
The bottomless things of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-10):
The Word
Redemption
Spirit beings.
The Mysteries of the World:
Nature
Finance
Art
Music
Politics
Sports
Military strategy.
The Mystery of the Future:
“He will show you things to come.” (John 16:13, KJV)
God’s plan for your destiny.
You’re never alone. Whenever you need help, the answer is only a prayer away. That’s why Gloria Copeland says, “Praying in the spirit makes you smarter than yourself.” And that is a power-packed reason to get praying in tongues!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland shares how praying in tongues brings answers from the inside out.
8. We Can Interpret Our Tongues
“Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.” -1 Corinthians 14:13 (KJV)
As if praying in tongues was not power-packed enough, we have also been given the ability to interpret our own tongues. When we speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit in our spirit is speaking through us to God. When we interpret the tongue, it is God speaking back to us through the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is ask God to help you with the interpretation. It may not come immediately, but it will come. And it will always be in line with God’s Word.
9. Tongues Gives Us Spiritual Refreshing
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctifyyou completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” -1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV)
We all need rest! Physically, emotionally and spiritually, we need a time of rest and refreshing to be effective. That’s why doctors will often recommend a rest cure for various ailments. Overworking and stress can take a toll, and a time without continual spiritual refreshing will do the same. One power-packed way to bring a spiritual refreshing is praying in tongues. It will take the pressure off when you need an answer. Be refreshed! Pray in the spirit and receive what you need from the Holy Spirit.
10. Tongues Stimulates Our Faith
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” -Jude 20, NKJV
We need to continually stir up and stimulate our faith. Along with reading the Word of God, praying in our known language, and listening to faith-filled teachings, praying in tongues is another way to stimulate our faith and stay strong and fresh for battle.
11. Tongues Gives Thanks Well
“I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding…. For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.” -1 Corinthians 14:15,17 (NKJV)
A grateful heart is not only honoring to God–and He is worthy–but it will accelerate your promotion and increase. Praying in tongues gives thanks well. It helps you to locate your love and gratitude toward God. Complaining is a sign of ungratefulness, and inevitably, if you continue on that road, you will eventually turn your complaints against God. Tongues helps express love and worship when words in your known language fall short. Tongues is not a substitute for praise in your known language, but when you need to stir up praise and worship in your heart, it will always help you set your sails in the right direction.
12. Tongues Magnifies God
“For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.” -Acts 10:46 (KJV)
Perhaps of all the power-packed reasons to pray in tongues we’ve covered today, the most important very well may be that tongues magnifies God. When God becomes bigger–in your eyes, in your mind, in your ministry, in everything in your life–every doubt and fear will disappear, and your faith will abound beyond anything you could have ever imagined. He is worthy to be magnified above all else. He is worthy to be praised.
Let these 12 power-packed reasons to pray in tongues ignite a fire within you to stir up the dynamite power of the Holy Ghost inside you. When you discipline yourself to a life of praying in tongues, doors to the realm of the spirit will open to you, and you will never again imagine your life without your holy prayer language. Enjoy this precious gift of salvation!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches you about the powerful results of praying in tongues.
When you establish the 7 habits of strong Christians in your life, it will keep you strong, protect you from the enemy, and catapult you to VICTORY.
The secret to your future is hidden. It’s not hidden from you, though–it’s hidden for you. You see, your future is up to you. Whatever you have and whatever happens in your life isn’t an accident, or necessarily always God’s will–it is in your hands more than you may know.
Where can you find this hidden secret? In your daily routine.
What you do on a daily basis will determine what you have in this life. If you’re sowing to your flesh, the results will never be what you want. But if you sow to the spirit, you will become stronger and stronger (Galatians 6:8). You will get to a place where you confidently stand your ground, resist the enemy, and receive more from God–no matter what comes your way.
You have a decision to make. Is victory important to you?
Proverbs 8:34-35 says, “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching DAILY at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord” (NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, an anointed daily routine produces glorious results. If you want to put an end to being defeated or discouraged, or going around the same mountain over and over–it’s time to take your faith to a higher level. When you establish the 7 habits of strong Christians in your life, it will keep you strong, protect you from the enemy, and catapult you to VICTORY.
Habit No. 1: Strong Christians Feed Their Spirit
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” -Matthew 4:4, NKJV.
This verse says we cannot live on just food for our body–we need food for our spirit, too. A strong Christian knows the reality and severity of the works of the devil and understands the importance of developing a strong spirit to resist him.
How do you feed your spirit?
By reading God’s Word. Every. Day.
Strong Christians know one snack each week (church on Sunday) isn’t enough to sustain us through the trials Jesus told us would come our way (John 16:33). We need daily hot meals to stand on top of every trial in a victory stance.
Gloria Copeland has always emphasized the importance of spending time in the Word on a daily basis. She says, you must “arrange your schedule around the Word instead of trying to make the Word fit into your busy life.” That means the Word of God has to become a priority in your life–not something you do in your spare time.
Another way to look at it is the way Rick Renner does, which is, “No Word, no breakfast.” Pastor Rick doesn’t eat breakfast until he feeds his spirit with the Word of God every morning.
Habit No. 2: Strong Christians Build Their Faith
“David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” -1 Samuel 30:6, AMPC
Faith is your responsibility. It isn’t God’s, it isn’t your pastor’s, and it isn’t your spouse’s. The only one who can guarantee that you enjoy a strong faith is YOU. God has given you the tools you need to develop a strong faith–the kind of faith that moves mountains, shuts the mouths of lions, quenches the flames of fire, turns weakness to strength, and puts whole armies to flight (Hebrews 11:33-34).
How do you build that kind of faith? By hearing the Word of God again and again (Romans 10:17). Feeding your faith is the seed; hearing it again and again is how you water the seed and build faith. Just as with natural muscles, repetition is the key to building strong faith. To build your faith, try implementing some of these ideas into your daily routine:
As you drive to and from work, stream a BVOV broadcast or other faith teaching in your car.
Keep your MP3 player loaded with Bible-based podcasts. Then, when you work out, go on a walk, or take your lunch break, put in earbuds and feed your spirit.
Turn on the VICTORY™ network [formerly Believers’ Voice of Victory Network (BVOVN)] in your home as you go about your daily chores. Click here for ways to access VICTORY.
As you feed your spirit, remember that faith comes by hearing, but so does doubt. So, what are you listening to? What is the news telling you? What are your friends telling you? Guard the precious Word you’ve sown into your heart by refusing to consume anything contrary.
When you build your faith by hearing the Word on a daily basis, truth will come, faith will come and then–VICTORY will come.
Habit No. 3: Strong Christians Speak the Word
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” -Proverbs 18:21, NKJV
You’ve heard the saying, You are what you eat. But the Bible says, in essence, You are what you speak (Mark 11:23).
Strong Christians speak the Word and only the Word over their lives and the lives of those around them. They know it is often a matter of life and death. And, they don’t intend to waste the power and authority Jesus provided for them.
To get to a place where you speak the Word over every situation, work on mastering the first two habits. By putting God’s Word in your heart on a daily basis, speaking His Word will become your knee-jerk reaction to any situation, which means you will react with an automatic, predictable response–FAITH.
When a trial comes your way, don’t become the proverbial bump on a log and let the devil have the final word–talk back! When the devil tempted Jesus, He answered back (Matthew 4:1-11). How did He answer? With the Word and the Word only. When He came across a fig tree that didn’t produce, He didn’t just accept it–He talked to it (Mark 11:12-14). God uses words to “call those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17, NKJV), and we need to do the same.
No matter what you’re faced with, speak healing, speak blessing, speak abundance, speak forgiveness, speak peace. Speak the Word again and again and again and again. Fire off Scripture like a machine gun. Confess God’s Word in faith–it will change your life.
Habit No. 4: Strong Christians Control Their Thought Life
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” -Joshua 1:8, NKJV
Is your thought life healthy or toxic? The mind, spirit and body are interconnected– your thoughts affect your words, which affect your health, prosperity, joy, peace and every other area of your life. So, it’s worth taking the time to perfect!
To bring every thought into captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5), begin focusing on what you’re thinking about. When your thoughts wander off to things like, you’re not going to get healed; you’re going to die; you’ll never get promoted; how do you capture thoughts like these and cast them down? You resist them. You answer them. Never let your thoughts go unanswered. Instead, say, “I’m not taking that thought.”
You can become a master at thought domination by meditating on the Word of God. To meditate means you don’t just hear it–you focus on it, contemplate it and give it serious attention. That’s how you enlarge your capacity for faith, and that’s why the most spiritual people you will ever meet are those who spend time meditating on the Word of God.
Habit No. 5: Strong Christians Anchor Their Heart Through Praise
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” -Psalm 34:1, NKJV
Did you know praise is a language? It’s a language of faith and a language of receiving. A strong Christian is fluent in praise. That’s why we’re called to bless the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1) because no matter what is happening in our lives, we have countless reasons to thank Him for what He has done, what He is doing, and what we know He will do.
If praise is continually in your mouth, does that mean only when it’s good? No. That’s easy. Praise is an act of faith. If you believe you receive what you’ve asked–you’ll thank God for it–even if it hasn’t manifested. Praise says, “I know it’s coming.”
Strong Christians know there is a connection between praise and strength. They know a spirit of praise puts you in position and produces spiritual strength.
Habit No. 6: Strong Christians Pray in the Spirit
“[Build] yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”–Jude 20, NKJV
A strong Christian knows the importance of keeping his spiritual battery charged. That’s where praying in other tongues comes in. When you pray in the spirit, you edify yourself, which means to improve or uplift. It strengthens your spirit and builds you up in your faith.
The powerful part of praying in other tongues is that it allows you to pray above what you know in the natural. It takes you into the spiritual realm and opens the door to revelation, wisdom, instruction and encouragement.
Habit No. 7: Strong Christians Get Rid of Baggage
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” -Hebrews 12:1
Streamlining. It’s a pretty important concept in aerodynamics. To streamline is to reduce resistance, creating a faster and smoother journey. It is studied by NASA engineers, airline pilots, shipbuilders and even athletes. The idea is to remove anything that would slow a craft, or person, down. The ultimate goal in streamlining is optimum performance and a victorious outcome.
That’s what we are called to do in our spiritual lives, too. When God told us to “strip off every weight that slows us down,” He was telling us to streamline our lives so we can enjoy optimum victory.
Imagine watching an Olympic runner trying to round the track and run a race wearing a suit of armor. You’d likely coach him through the TV, saying, “Throw off the armor! It’s slowing you down!”
That’s what God is saying to us.
What kind of baggage are you carrying today? Worry, anxiety, stress or fear? Maybe it’s a habit of sin you haven’t removed or unforgiveness that’s been festering for years. Whatever it is, make the decision to get rid of it today! It’s slowing you down. Take off anything that is hindering you, and run your race to victory!
When you put these 7 habits of strong Christians into practice on a daily basis, you will develop the kind of spirit that will cripple the enemy and ensure the kind of victory you’ve always dreamed of. This is the life Jesus died to give you. This is the life you were meant to live.
Discipleship is God’s method of growing His Church and growing leaders. It is believers modeling and teaching God’s Word and His precepts to other believers, to help them grow and strengthen in their walk of faith. Every believer needs to be discipled, and every believer needs to disciple others. When we do, nothing will be able to stop us from walking in victory!
If feelings of inadequacy or a feeling of not knowing where to start have kept you from stepping into your rightful place of discipleship, we’ve put together a checklist for discipling another believer for your reference to help you get on your way.
1. First, Be Discipled. To be good at discipling and leading others, you must first be good at being discipled. Before you begin discipling others, find a mature believer who you can trust to lead you into a stronger relationship with the Lord. Reach out and ask someone to disciple you, then be willing to do what they ask in accordance with the Word of God. Meeting or talking weekly or monthly is all it takes to be challenged to grow in the Lord. One of the ways you disciple others is through example. When you model godly living, you are communicating much more than you ever could with words.
2.Make a Connection. There’s a saying in the parenting world that hits the nail on the head when it comes to all relationships. Rules without relationship equals rebellion. In other words, healthy relationships of any kind must be built on love and trust before any type of correction will be effective. The same is true when discipling another. You must first work to develop a relationship of love, respect and trust with someone before discipleship will be effective.
3.Be Willing To Correct in Love. A discipleship relationship is one that should bring spiritual growth. That is only possible in an atmosphere of correction and exhortation. Some people find it difficult to directly point out an area in another that needs correction, but it is the mark of true discipleship. Of course, this should always be done in love and with the purpose of helping, not criticizing. But remember, your pointing something out could lead someone to a breakthrough far faster than they would have experienced otherwise, if at all!
4. Be an Encourager. Equally important to correction is encouragement. Every believer needs encouragement. The more the better! Take the time to point out the strengths in the person you’re discipling, and remind them that all of us have areas that need work–it’s just part of the process.
5.Be Available. Discipleship takes time. So be prepared to be available. But keep in mind that the goal of discipleship is to help others turn to the Word on their own, rather than relying on you to give them all the answers. Your job is to point them to Jesus and cause them to tune in to the Holy Spirit more and more. Some discipleship relationships are short term, others are long term. If it is to be short term, be sure to put a timeline on the time of discipleship. And be sure that the relationship does not begin to infringe on your own personal or family time.
6. Pray for Those You Disciple. As you disciple another believer, part of hearing from the Lord and possessing the wisdom to pour into another is praying for those you disciple. Seek the Lord ahead of your meetings and ask Him to direct your conversations. Pray that what He is wanting to say will be revealed.
7.Challenge Those You Disciple to Come to a Higher Level. When you disciple another, don’t try to get them to come to the exact place where you are. Each person has his or her own journey, and it is important to meet people where they are and help them grow to their next level. Crawl, walk, run. Pushing too hard too fast will not end well. Don’t ever water down the Word of God, but explain it in a way they are likely to understand and receive.
When you use this checklist for discipling another believer, you’ll build your confidence to do what you’ve been called to do! You may not feel equipped, but God will anoint you to encourage others. Your wisdom is needed, so let’s start discipling!
“I never did drink much. I stayed married to my wife. And I gave all my money away to people in need.”
Those were the words of a 95-year-old man to his Christian granddaughter after she shared the gospel with him one last time in hopes of leading him to salvation. He died shortly after, expecting his good works to be enough.
It’s easy for non-Christians and Christians alike to get caught up in external acts and think it somehow equates to holiness. While Jesus did say, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16), He was not speaking of outward actions alone, but those pouring forth from the spiritually mature heart–the fruit of the spirit, which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
While Christians can sometimes pride themselves in checking “holiness” boxes, Jesus made it clear that external works are not indicators of right living. In fact, He often rebuked the Pharisees for believing so.
First Corinthians 13:2 says, “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 have love, I am nothing” (NIV).
Certainly, we should desire to live a life that is pleasing before the Lord, but the greatest sign of spiritual maturity isn’t tithing, “being nice,” attending church or reciting scriptures. The greatest sign of spiritual maturity is LOVE.
Of the fruit of love, Gloria Copeland says, “Love is the single most important key to growing up in God. If we don’t grow up in love, we don’t grow up at all.”
Love is the greatest manifestation of spirituality there is! It heads the list of all the fruit of the spirit.
In fact, love holds the other fruit together and causes them to all function together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:14, NIV). That’s why Ephesians 4:15 (AMPC) calls us to “grow up in every way and in all things into Him.” We do this by perfecting the following areas of the greatest sign of spiritual maturity.
1. Love Is Evident in the Way You Talk
“Earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all–love].” -1 Corinthians 12:31 (AMPC)
Some people think love is so basic, it’s something only spiritual beginners must study. They might consider things like the gifts of the Spirit–prophecy, healings and miracles, for example–as more relevant to the mature believer. But the Corinthian church proved the gifts are not marks of spiritual maturity at all. They abounded in spiritual gifts, yet Paul referred to them as “mere infants…in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1, AMPC).
Thank God, we don’t have to be like that! We don’t have to be stuck in spiritual infancy. We can measure our progress by looking at the way we love one another. One way to assess your spiritual maturity is to evaluate the way you talk.
Are you patient and kind when you talk to your spouse, children or employees?
Are you boastful or proud about your accomplishments or abilities either out loud or to yourself?
Do you speak rudely or curtly to anyone? (Be real. Thinking someone “deserves” it does not justify it in God’s eyes.)
Do you bring up the past failings of others during a conflict?
(Find out 9 Ways to Tell if God’s Love Is Shining Through You HERE.)
Some people just naturally have a sharp tongue and an abrupt personality. They’re often harsh with others and hurt their feelings. “I can’t help it,” they’ll say. “That’s how I am. I don’t sugarcoat things. I tell it like it is. If people get offended, that’s their problem.”
That kind of thinking isn’t acceptable. God expects us, as His children, to walk in love. He expects us to be kind because He is kind. If this requires a personality change–that’s OK. God is up to the job. His Spirit within you can get it done. That is how you will bring forth the fruit of the spirit in your life and enjoy the marvelous rewards of doing so.
Your spiritual maturity is found in the way you talk. If your talk isn’t loving, get with the Lord and ask Him to help you in this area. The fruit is there–it just needs cultivating and harvesting!
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you the importance of perfecting your love walk.
2. Love Is Evident in the Way You Think
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” -1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
Everything with God comes down to the heart. You can speak so sweetly and politely to others and still have a wrong heart or spirit about you.
That’s why the fruit of love is evident not just in the way you speak, but in the way you think. Consider the beliefs covered in 1 Corinthians 13:
Love does not envy. It is not resentful of what others have.
Love does not dishonor others–even in your heart.
Love always trusts (ever ready to believe the best in others).
Love always hopes. (Hope is our belief in Christ and what He has done.)
Love always perseveres–it doesn’t quit–this action begins in your believing!
Love rejoices with the truth (anything that justifies sin is not love).
This may seem like a tall order. And no one is perfect. But mature believers aspire to these things, don’t make excuses for the lack of them, and never cease working on them. To grow in spiritual maturity, every time you are facing a situation (no matter how big or small), line up your thinking and believing with the Bible’s description of love.
Then, hold yourself accountable! Repent when needed and ask the Lord to help you grow in the fruit of His love.
3. Love Is Evident in the Way You Act
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” -1 John 4:8 NIV)
Whoever does not show love to others does not know God. Straight from 1 John 4, there’s no way around it. The Bible is clear that love comes from being in fellowship with God. It is the fruit of the spirit living and dwelling within you. But fruit must be cultivated–it doesn’t just appear on its own. It takes effort! And effort comes from desire.
Making changes is a continual part of walking in love for us all. Due to the influence of the world and the devil, we all have unloving habits and attitudes to overcome.
As you renew your mind to the ways of love by spending time in the Word, you start noticing where you’re out of line in your love walk, and you’re able to change.
What actions prove love is living in us? Consider the following evidence of love through action.
How love doesn’t act:
Love doesn’t judge.
Love doesn’t think of itself more highly than it ought to.
Love doesn’t criticize (this includes social media).
Love doesn’t gossip.
Love doesn’t get angry easily.
Love doesn’t tear others down.
Love doesn’t act like it is better than others.
Love doesn’t grumble and complain.
Love isn’t cynical and negative.
Instead:
Love is humble and kind.
Love shows compassion to others.
Love is generous.
Love encourages.
Love is positive and optimistic–hopeful.
Love is thankful.
Love is patient with difficult people and in trying times.
Love desires to help others.
Love FORGIVES everyone for every offense.
Of this kind of love, Gloria Copeland says, “Divine love is not self-seeking. It is self-giving.”
Walking in love means we lay down our own rights and look out for the other person’s rights instead. When we’re tired or under pressure, we lay down the right to let people know about it by snapping at them and telling them what a hard day we’ve had. We set aside our own feelings and behave kindly and gently to those around us.
In whatever ways you’ve missed the mark in the area of love, put the past behind you and make a new choice. Declare 1 Corinthians 13 every day. Tape it on your mirror or your refrigerator and keep a 3-by-5 card in your Bible. That way you’ll see it a lot! As you do, love will begin to be a habit. It will take over your life and you’ll want to reach higher every day!
Watch Kenneth and Gloria Copeland share how you can’t fail when you walk in love.
When money problems come–and they come to many people–there are only two responses–the world’s way or God’s way.
Many believers have trouble believing–really believing–they’ll ever be financially prosperous. They look at their mountain of bills, their dead-end jobs and the faltering economy, and they just can’t see how God could prosper them. When money problems come–and they come to many people–there are only two responses–the world’s way or God’s way. Sometimes you may even need to get past what your parents taught you about money, whether by words or example. No matter what your challenges are, there’s only one way out of the money troubles you’re facing–God’s way.
God’s Will Is Prosperity
Let’s get one thing settled right here–God’s plan is to prosper you. Sure, your bank account may disagree right now, but it’s still true. So, when you have money problems, what should you do?
First, we must remember that the Bible reminds us that we will face trials here on Earth, but that He has overcome the world. How do you tap into that? Here are six biblical ways to tackle money problems:
1. Ask God
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” -Matthew 6:8, AMPC
Start with the basics. If you see a need in your life, talk to God about it. Ask Him for what you need. Make sure, though, that you ask in faith, with full confidence that God will provide. To ask in faith is to leave worry out of the equation, trusting that His Word is true (Matthew 6:25-34).
So many times, we sabotage ourselves by asking for things without fully believing that they are ours the moment we ask. Mark 11:24 clearly states, “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”
2. Sow Generously
“Give, and you will receive…. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” -Luke 6:38
When you have a need–God says seed! When we go to God with a need, He immediately begins talking to us about something we can sow, or that we have sown, that will meet that need. Oftentimes, however, that’s the last thing we want to hear.
For example, there was a young rich man who ran up to Jesus and asked, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17, KJV).
“Go…sell whatsoever thou hast,” Jesus told him, “and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (verse 21, KJV).
With that, the man got up from his knees and walked away downcast. Verse 22 tells us why. “For he was holding great possessions” (AMPC).
In his natural way of thinking, he thought Jesus meant he was just supposed to give away everything he had. But that wasn’t the case at all. Jesus was simply trying to help him change from the world’s way of doing things to God’s way, by sowing a seed.
When financial trouble comes, the first move many believers make is to stop tithing. That’s a big mistake! The tithe is our first and best seed. We tithe as an act of worship to God, showing our gratitude for His provision in every area of our lives. That is what Abram was doing in the first example we find of tithing in the Bible (Genesis 14:20).
That is exactly what we do today. We tithe because we love God and are grateful for His provision. And according to the Word, the more we honor God, the more He empowers us to prosper (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
God’s plan is not only to meet our needs but for us to have plenty left over to sow to every good work. If you’re struggling in your finances, check your giving. It can be tempting to pull back, but that’s the devil trying to instill fear in you to prevent you from receiving your harvest.
Watch Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis share how tithing puts you on the increase.
3. Resist Discouragement
“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9
Are you in a place, financially, that seems so low it seems there is no possible way out? You may even be fighting the battle against falling into discouragement.
To properly fight discouragement, it’s important to first pinpoint where it comes from–fear and unbelief. It comes when you listen to the devil’s lies about what God is notgoing to do for you.
Courage comes from believing what God says regardless of what the circumstances look like. Courage comes from faith!
As the people of God, we have to stop looking at our own abilities, failures and limitations and start looking to God. We must rise up in the Name of Jesus and the power of His Spirit and establish the kingdom of heaven upon earth.
If you’ve been discouraged lately, refuse to listen to Satan’s lies. Instead, start talking back. Whenever someone tells you God is not going to deliver you, you just tell them, “He’s already delivered me in the Name of Jesus.” Whatever the evil report, answer back with the Word of God that matches your situation.
Remember, God didn’t suggest that you be strong and courageous. That is His command!
4. Saturate Yourself in the Word
“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” -Matthew 12:34
If you’re facing financial difficulty and you can’t seem to stop speaking negatively about the situation, there is only one solution–time in the Word. The more of God’s Word that you put into your heart and mind, the easier it will be to access the truth in your heart when you’re speaking about your situation.
Words have power. They can hurt and they can bless. Our words have supernatural power–power that changes circumstances and shapes destinies.
Words reveal what we truly believe. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34, 37, NKJV). That is why it is so important to say what God has said. When you do, your mind will begin to believe and agree with God’s Word instead of agreeing with the symptoms in your body, situations in your life and what you hear from others around you.
5. Increase Your Intake
“Meditate on it day and night…. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”–Joshua 1:8, NIV
What do you do if your situation still doesn’t improve? You increase your Word consumption. In Proverbs 4:20-21, we’re reminded, “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart.”
If you’ve ever planted a garden, you know that a heat wave can cause considerable damage to the crop. The scorching sun saps the moisture all the way down to the roots and plants droop to the ground. To revive them back to a state of life, they need more than a sprinkling of water–they need to be saturated–lots of water for a long period of time. This allows the nourishing, refreshing, life-giving water to get back down to the roots.
If your situation has been dragging on, you may feel your faith drooping to the ground. You need more than a sprinkling of the Word–you need to be saturated!
Read your Bible morning and night, listen to worship as you drive, speak confessions as you work, tune in to the VICTORY™ network (formerly BVOVN) each day. Whatever you do–stay in the Word!
6. Stand for Victory
“After you have done everything…stand.” -Ephesians 6:13, NIV
To stand is a state of being firmly planted in one place. It does not involve movement or shakiness. That may not seem courageous on its own, but what if the circumstances were that of a battle? When most people would think of running, standing still and firmly in one place would seem very courageous!
When we’re in a battle, even in our finances, we are called to stand firmly on the Word of God without turning to the right or to the left. We are called to take up the shield of faith in the midst of a full-on assault.
First John 5:4 tells us “we achieve…victory through our faith.” Victory will come. You may not see the manifestation immediately, but that does not mean that God’s Word isn’t true or that it isn’t meant for you–because it is.
When you continue to repeat the first five steps we’ve talked about again and again without doubting, without wavering, without questioning–that’s what it means to STAND.
You can tackle money problems. The victory has already been won on your behalf. Money is not meant to be a burden, but a blessing! It’s time to take a stand for what God has in store for you and resist the enemy with everything in you. He will flee, and you will overcome.
Do you seem to have more month than money? Wondering how you’ll save for retirement or get out of debt?
Don’t allow your current circumstances to call the shots. It’s time to take back your power with these 5 Simple Habits to Increase Your Finances.
Habit 1: Review Your Current Budget
How long has it been since you looked into lower rates on your car insurance, homeowner’s insurance or other monthly bills? You can potentially save hundreds of dollars each month by shopping around for the best rates on your cellphone coverage, internet or any other monthly service.
Review your current budget, and find out where you can make minor changes that won’t change your lifestyle but will save you money. Then, consider what you can cut out altogether. (Think about all those automatic withdrawals dipping into your account every month.)
Finally, for those expenses that don’t seem to have an available lower rate–ask! Sometimes all it takes is asking for a discount to receive one.
Habit 2: Believe for a Big Raise
Have you been stuck in the belief that what you currently earn is your limit?
The world’s limitations are never God’s limitations. With His help, you can:
Leap over any wall–Psalm 18:29 (anything natural standing in your way).
See rivers in the desert–Isaiah 43:19 (a way where seems to be no way).
Remember: God is THE ONE who gives you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). That means a “no” from man is never the final answer.
If you’re going to believe for something–believe big! God isn’t the God of the possible, He is the God of the impossible. It is His will to increase His people.
In the meantime, become an exceptional employee. Go above what is expected, and increase your knowledge and skill set on your own time to become of greater value. Here is the most important thing you can do: Praise and thank God every day for your job and your income. He isn’t in the habit of promoting complainers! Praise paves the way to promotion.
Habit 3: Tithe
Every effort to increase your finances will only go as far as your obedience to God’s Word. God wants to bless you ENORMOUSLY, but tithing is the gateway. There is no shortcut. To honor the Giver of wealth, you must not withhold what is His. Don’t fight it! When you give God 10%, the other 90% will be blessed beyond anything you could ever imagine.
Habit 4: Start Saving
If you’re waiting for perfect circumstances to start saving–you’ll be waiting a long time. What is one of the habits of the rich? They pay themselves first. In other words, after you tithe, the first thing you do (before paying any bills) is to put a percentage into your savings account. Then, you work with what you have. If you need to start small–do so. From there you can work your way up.
You can spend what you make or instantly increase your net worth if you start saving. God will multiply your efforts, but you must give Him something to work with!
Habit 5: Speak the Change
Think of your words like the GPS of your life–you don’t set it to where you’ve been, you set it to where you want to go! Don’t keep the focus of your words on debt, an income that’s lower than you’d like, or mounting bills.
Instead, focus on where you want to go–debt freedom, a raise and abundance–then speak those words. Say, “I am debt free in Jesus’ Name. I am living in the overflow. I thank You, Lord, for increase. I praise You for my raise.” Speak the change you want to see in your life. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it will come!
Building wealth isn’t as daunting as it may seem. You have a BIG God on your side. When you put these five simple habits to increase your finances to work, God will meet your effort with His supernatural touch. Make this your year for financial increase!
Watch this powerful testimony of a KCM Partner’s journey to financial prosperity.
