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Real Help Topic: Learn

If you are a business owner, you know there are times when expanding your business seems like the best move. It could mean offering new services, buying new equipment or enlarging your space. As a Christian, it’s a decision that should involve the Lord. Doing so will make the process less stressful and more successful. If you are asking the Lord about expanding your business, here are four keys to remember.

1. God Will Speak to You through the Holy Spirit Regarding Expanding Your Business 

John 16:13-15 says, “He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'” Be assured, the Holy Spirit is talking to all the time, and Jesus promised He would guide you into all truth and teach you all things. That includes the expansion of your business.

2. Believe What the Holy Spirit is Saying about Your Business 

In Mark 4:24, Jesus said, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given–and you will receive even more.” Once you’ve heard a “Yes!” from the Lord regarding expanding your business, trust Him to help you accomplish what He told you to do. If He told you to buy a new truck or other piece of equipment, stand in faith that He’ll help you do it. Resist the urge to complain or say things like, “Well, I don’t know how I’m going to do that.” Instead, say, “Yes, Sir, I’ll do it!” 

3. Give as You Trust God to Help You Expand Your Business

Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” As you expect God to fulfill His promise to you and help you accomplish what He has told you to do, give toward that end. Give an offering with the expectation of reaping a harvest, namely the success of your business.

4. Study God’s Word as You Contemplate Expanding Your Business

In times like this, it’s especially important to spend time meditating on the Word and praying. Don’t rely on someone else’s study notes or revelation. Dig into it yourself. Faith and spiritual strength come while you’re gathering the scriptures God is revealing to you. As you see with your own eyes what’s written in the Bible and hear for yourself what the Holy Spirit is saying to you through it, you get to the place of receiving a revelation. You gain the assurance in your own heart that you’re praying according to 1 John 5:14-15, which says: “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

Nothing in your life is beyond God’s concern. He wants to be part of every decision you make–including whether or not you expand your business. Remember these four keys and trust Him to show you exactly what to do!

God wants you to financially prosper and to live a blessed life. Do you believe that? Or do you find yourself living in a constant battle to make ends meet? If so, there’s good news. In Deuteronomy 8, God shares three truths that will change the way you understand obtaining wealth. Knowing and claiming these are sure to impact your life for the better.

This Is for You!

Before you read any further, take a moment and read Deuteronomy 8. Notice that God was talking to the people of Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, they were about to receive the long-awaited promise–a home of their own. God warned them to not forget where they came from and to whom they belonged. What a powerful moment! The children of Israel were on the cusp of having all their needs met above what they had ever experienced before.

You might wonder what this chapter has to do with you. How could it possibly impact the way you view wealth today? To answer that question, you must look at Galatians 3:29, which makes it clear that all believers may receive the blessings of Abraham. “Now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.”

As an heir, you have every right to grab hold of the truths in Deuteronomy 8 and walk them out in your life.

Learn These Truths

Now, turn your attention back to Deuteronomy 8:17-18: “And beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. But you shall [earnestly] 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” (AMPC). This passage reveals three important truths about God’s financial system for providing for His people:

Truth #1: God has given covenant believers the power to get wealth.

Stop a moment and consider this. God has given you–a covenant believer–the ability to get wealth. If that never seemed like an option for you before, then begin praising the Lord for the new ways He is going to allow you to get wealth–new ideas, new promotions, new business opportunities, new clients, etc.

Truth #2: Prosperity, including wealth, is necessary to establish the covenant.

Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (AMPC) again. God “gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant.” Wealth is necessary to establish God’s covenant. The two–the power to get wealth and His covenant–are connected.

Truth #3: This is as true today as it was then.

In order for God to fulfill what He promised Abraham, He must be allowed to prosper Abraham’s descendants as at this day, which mean as though today were the day He made the promise. This isn’t some long-lost promise from a couple of millennia ago. No, this is a promise for God’s people today!

God’s covenant is a covenant of prosperity. His covenant causes prosperity to appear in the world–in your world. Psalm 35:27 tells us that God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people. He cannot establish His covenant in your life without prospering you.

Take Hold of These Truths

Right now, pray this prayer, and begin thanking God for your new understanding of His covenant in your life.

Lord, I thank You that my eyes are open to Your Word and Your promises. I am one of Your children, and according to Galatians 3:29, I am a child of Abraham. I ask You to work in and through me so that I may have the ability to receive all You have for me: the ability to get wealth so that I may be a blessing to Your people and reach the lost with the good news of Jesus. I pray that You will establish Your covenant in my life, in every way possible, starting right now. I give You the praise and the glory for everything You provide because I know it is only by Your faithfulness, Your goodness and the blood of Your Son that this covenant is possible. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

God bless you as you walk in all that God has for you, so that you can win the battle to not only make ends meet, but to also be a blessing to others. Hallelujah!

Have you ever loved someone so much that you had the thought, I would give my life for him (or her)? A spouse? A child? A country? It is the greatest expression of love–to die so that someone else can live (John 15:13). That’s what Jesus did for you and every other human being. He took the blame for every sin–each wrong decision, each hateful thought, each horrific act. Jesus became our substitution. He became your substitution. Just look at what that means for you:

HIS SUBSTITUTION                                                        YOUR IDENTIFICATION

Jesus died…                                                                     to make you alive.

He was made sin with your sinfulness…                           to make you righteous with His righteousness.

He became weak…                                                           to make you strong.

He suffered shame…                                                        to give you glory.

He went to hell…                                                               in order to take you to heaven.

He was condemned…                                                       in order to justify you and set you free.

He was made sick with your sickness…                            in order that you may be healed and live in divine health.

He was cast out of the presence of God…                        in order to make you welcome there.

Think about these truths right now. Begin meditating on what Jesus’ sacrifice means to your life. Take time to thank Him for all that He has done. You can pray this prayer:

Jesus, I thank You that You are my Lord and Savior. I thank You that You died, so I could live. I thank You that You were made sin so I could be made righteous. I recognize that You became weak, suffered shame and were condemned, so I could live strong, justified, free and healed. I understand that You went to hell, so I could enjoy the presence of God. I’m so thankful, Jesus, for all You have done for me. I know I could never earn any of it, and so I give You the glory for all that You’ve done, for all that I have, and for all that I am. I love and praise You.

As you meditate on and study all that Jesus means to you, we at Kenneth Copeland Ministries pray that God, in His faithfulness, will reveal what it means to have Jesus as your substitution. May you embrace the fullness of His mercy, His grace, His faithfulness and His love. God bless you!

Have you heard about the importance of praying in faith? Have you wondered what that means and how to do it but don’t know where to begin? You may be a new Christian, or you may be a Christian who is desiring a deeper, Spirit-led life in the Lord. Regardless of where you are in your spiritual life, the prayer of faith is an important part of your journey. If you want to have your prayers answered, then you need to learn about the prayer of faith–what it is and how to do it.

Take a look at this passage where Jesus explains the prayer of faith and gives insight into how to do it:

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.” -Mark 11:22-25

Why Is the Prayer of Faith Important?

The prayer of faith is important because it is the key to having your prayers answered. You can’t effect Spirit-led change in your life and in the lives of those around you without faith. On the other hand, with faith, Jesus says, “you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” Faith finds out what the Word has to say, prays in accordance with that Word and believes regardless of outside circumstances. This kind of prayer depends on and trusts in the Word of God alone. It requires no other confirmation or affirmation.

How to Pray the Prayer of Faith

If you want to practice the prayer of faith, you must do these four things:

  1. Say It

Notice in the above passage, Jesus says that if you “say to this mountain.” The prayer of faith requires that you speak and proclaim what you want.

  1. Believe It

It’s not enough to say what you want, if you really don’t believe it’s going to happen. If you believe that you are (fill in the blank), then you must believe it. This is true for healing, wholeness, prosperity or anything else. If you need help building your faith so that you can believe, begin studying God’s Word and listening to ministers (like Kenneth and Gloria Copeland) who will build you up and teach you about the principles of faith.

  1. Receive It

It doesn’t matter whether or not your prayer is answered right away or if you must stand for it. By faith, see yourself receiving it. If you are standing in faith for your healing, then see (in your mind and heart) that you are whole and healed. If you are standing in faith for a godly spouse, then see (in your mind and heart) that you are married to a godly spouse. This is not some New Age exercise; this is trusting God’s Word and His truth, and becoming convinced of His Word and truth even before your answer comes. It is saying, “God’s Word says it; therefore, I believe it. And that settles it.”

  1. Act on It

James 2:17 tells us that we must act on our faith: “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to act on your faith regarding what you are praying for. Perhaps He’ll lead you to give a special offering, which may be your money, your time, one of your talents or even an existing possession. The point is to be obedient in whatever the Lord directs you to do.

Right now, commit to begin praying the prayer of faith. And if you need even more help understanding how to pray effectively and in accordance with the Word, then check out How to Get Your Prayers Answered: Your 10-Day Spiritual Action Plan. This dynamic package will teach you more about the importance of faith and the prayer of faith, and as well, other types of Spirit-led prayers. Let this be the beginning of a fulfilling prayer life, one that will affect you, your family and quite possibly the world!

“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” -Deuteronomy 7:9

The end of the year is an ideal time to reflect on God’s faithfulness–throughout the Bible and in your own life. Doing so will strengthen and stir your faith as you prepare for the coming year. As the above verse states, God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. Below are six examples of God’s faithfulness as recorded in the Bible (three in the Old Testament and three in the New Testament) along with a series of questions to help you study the passages. Feel free to study them on your own or in a group.

In the Old Testament:

  • Noah

God saved Noah’s family members from destruction and preserved humanity through them (Genesis 6:9-9:17).
 

What did God promise to Noah? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did God fulfill that promise? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did Noah show his love and obedience to God? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

How long did it take for that promise to be fulfilled? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

How was faith involved in the fulfillment of that promise? ________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  • Joseph

God fulfilled the dream He had given to Joseph about Joseph’s future as a leader (Genesis 37, 39-45).
 

How and what did God promise to Joseph? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

What occurred in Joseph’s life between receiving the promise and receiving its fulfillment? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did Joseph show his love and obedience to God? ____________________________________________________________________________________________

How long did it take for that promise to be fulfilled? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

How was faith involved in the fulfillment of Joseph’s promise? _____________________________________________________________________________________

 

  • Children of Israel

After years of slavery, God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 5-7:13, 12:1-50).
 

What did God promise to the children of Israel? _________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did the children of Israel show their love and obedience to God? ________________________________________________________________________________

How long did it take for that promise to be fulfilled? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

How was faith involved in the fulfillment of this promise? _________________________________________________________________________________________

 

In the New Testament:

  • Jesus’ Birth

Jesus fulfilled God’s promise of a savior (Genesis 3:14-15, 49:10; Psalm 110; Isaiah 7:44, 9:6-7, 53:4-6).
 

What did God promise to His people? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How long had God’s people waited for the Messiah? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

How did God’s people show their love and obedience to God? (Consider several examples throughout Scripture.)  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How long did it take for that promise to be fulfilled? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

How was faith involved in the fulfillment of this promise? _________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  • Jesus’ Resurrection

God promised that Jesus would die and then live again (Isaiah 53:11; Psalm 16:10).
 

What did the prophet Isaiah say about Jesus’ death? ______________________________________________________________________________________________

What did David say about Jesus’ death? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

How was faith involved in the fulfillment of this promise? _________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  • Redemption to the Gentiles

God promised that salvation would be available to all people, not only the Israelites (Isaiah 11:10, 42:1, 49:6).
 

According to these scriptures, to whom did the prophet Isaiah say salvation would be available? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Since Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus, how was faith involved in the fulfillment of this promise? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

You serve a faithful God who always keeps His Word. Neither time nor man’s interference can prevent what God has ordained. And just as God was faithful to those whose histories are recorded in His Word, He will be faithful to you! 

Are you ready for your healing? Are you ready to experience wholeness head to toe? If so, there are a few things you should know. If you have been around Christian circles for any length of time, you’ve surely heard some false teaching, messages and traditions that would limit your faith and prevent you from accepting the work Jesus has already completed on your behalf.

Those who profess these traditions aren’t bad people. They are merely misguided. In Matthew 15, Jesus dealt with religious people who were putting their traditions above the truth when He said, “you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition” (verse 6).

Traditions for Christmas, New Year’s, Resurrection Sunday and the like can be beautiful things. But when you’re talking about the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, there is no place for mindless, spirit-crushing tradition.

Jesus agreed when He said, “For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes–so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them” (Matthew 13:15).

So if you’re ready to break away from religious traditions and accept the love, truth and healing that Jesus provided for you, remember these six things:

1. God Is Glorified When You Are Healed, Whole and Ready for Service

Jesus said in John 15:8, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”

Nowhere in the New Testament will you find an example of God receiving glory because of someone’s illness. However, you do see God receiving glory when Jesus healed the multitudes. Just look at this passage in Matthew 15:30-31:

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. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel.

Healing, not sickness, glorifies God.

2. God Never Uses Sickness to Teach Lessons

Again, nowhere in the Bible does God say that we learn or mature as Christians by suffering sickness, disease or turmoil. Not once in the New Testament does it say that sickness is the teacher of the Church.

Instead, the Bible says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Word of God, not illness, is designed to teach you.

3. Sickness Is Never a Blessing

If sickness were truly a blessing, we wouldn’t be working so hard to rid our bodies of it. Instead, we would welcome it.

Deuteronomy 28 details the curse that came on people who broke the Old Testament law. Verse 61 says, “The Lord will afflict you with every sickness and plague there is, even those not mentioned in this Book of Instruction, until you are destroyed.”

Illness is not a blessing. It is a curse meant for those who rebel against God.

4. God Still Heals

While some people might try to tell you that healing has passed away, don’t believe it. Healing is still available. God is still in the healing business.

God said, “I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). He didn’t say, I was the Lord who healed you, or I will be the Lord who heals you in heaven someday. He said, I am your Healer–right now, today! “I am the Lord, and I do not change” (Malachi 3:6).

5. Healing Is Always God’s Will

God always desires that you be healed, but He won’t force that healing on you. If you want to be healed, you must cooperate with Him. You must believe His Word and act on it.

At the same time, you must resist the enemy, Satan, who seeks to steal, kill and destroy you (John 10:10). He’s the one who wants to see you sick, in pain and unable to do all God has called you to do. That’s why you must resist Him so that he will flee (James 4:7). How do you do that? With the Word. When thoughts come to your mind that are contrary to the Word of God, speak the Word aloud. Read about Jesus’ temptation in the desert to better understand how to combat the devil and win (Matthew 4).

6. God Wants You to Live a Long Life

Proverbs 3:1-2 says: “My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you” (AMPC). Those verses paint a picture of what God wants for all of us. He wants our lives to just get better and better. He wants us to enjoy the fulfillment of the promise in Psalm 91:16: “I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

Long life is God’s plan for you!

Right now, let these truths from the Word of God begin preparing your heart for all that God has for you, including healing, health and wellness. If you need help knowing how to stand in faith for your healing, check out Healing and Wellness: Your 10-Day Spiritual Action Plan. Let it be the beginning of your journey to God-ordained wholeness!

Your thoughts have power. Sound surprising? It’s true. Your thoughts play a large role in the way you relate to your family, co-workers, fellow Christians, neighbors and even yourself. If you are consumed with thoughts of guilt, regret, anger, self-loathing, embarrassment or fear, you will eventually act on those thoughts. Whereas, if your thoughts are filled with peace, kindness, gentleness, love and acceptance, then you will act on those thoughts.

Romans 8:5-6 puts it this way: “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

Right now, commit to control your mind so you can lead a life that is filled with peace and exhibits the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The end result not only blesses you, it also blesses those around you and allows the love of God to shine through you. Here are five steps you can take to have a healthier thought life.

1.Recognize the Source of Your Thought Life

Look at what Ephesians 6:12 says: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” The enemy would love to keep you enslaved to negativity, sadness and hate. He is working overtime to keep you from accessing the freedom that is available to you.

2.Recognize That Jesus Has Defeated the Enemy

Jesus paid the price for any sin that you committed, and also for any sin that was committed against you. All of the sadness and anger that you have experienced in your life has been covered by the blood of Jesus. First John 1:7 explains that “if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” Jesus has already paid the price to set you free from whatever is the source of your negative thoughts.

3.Take Charge of Your Thoughts

Negative thoughts are like a rabbit trail. You can either choose to follow the trail, or you can stop yourself at the beginning. Second Corinthians 10:5 encourages you to handle negative thoughts like this: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (KJV). Commit right now to arrest any negative thoughts. Don’t go down that rabbit trail! Instead, take a stand by saying, “I cast this thought down. By the blood of Jesus, my thoughts will no longer control me. They will, instead, be obedient to Jesus!”

4.Open Your Bible

Begin studying God’s Word to find out what it has to say about your situation. If your thoughts often run toward anger and unforgiveness, then find out what God’s Word has to say about those subjects. If lust tries to trap you, then discover what God’s Word has to say about that. If self-doubt plagues you, then study about the love of God. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” Let His Word begin to prepare and equip you!

5.Focus on the Good

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV). Surround yourself with good influences that bless God. Make sure that the music you listen to, the media you watch, the social media you visit and the friends you talk with build you up. Avoid people and situations that are going to draw you back into negative thought patterns and keep you from the freedom that is yours. Improving your thought life is a process, so begin today.

A happier, healthier life is within your grasp. In fact, it’s right between your ears. Your thoughts play a powerful role on your quality of life, so begin implementing these five steps and start enjoying a healthier thought life today!

by Gloria Copeland

You’ve read about the glory of God in the Bible. Moses saw it. The psalmist sang about it. Isaiah wrote about it. But what does it mean for today’s Christian? Does God’s glory ever appear anymore? Thankfully, the answer is yes. I know because I’ve witness it many times over the years, especially in Healing School services.

Do you know what happens when the glory of God manifests? Sickness and disease leave people’s bodies. Crippled people jump out of wheelchairs. Demons that have been oppressing people have to flee. Miracles, signs and wonders take place that make it possible for people to actually see God’s power and glory with their eyes. It’s a wonderful thing!

If you’ve never experienced it, then you might be wondering: If God wants to manifest His glory that way through the Church, why isn’t it happening more?

Because what we believe for is what happens among us!

When we believe for healing, healings take place. When we believe for people to be filled with the Holy Spirit, they get filled. When we believe to see the same kind of miracles in our midst that Jesus saw during His ministry, they start to happen.

Jesus told us Himself in John 14:12-13 that’s the way it would be. He said: “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

The devil will always try to convince us those verses are talking about some other generation of believers besides us–about the apostles in Acts, or a future group of supersaints. He’ll always try to make people uncomfortable when someone starts claiming we can believe to do the works of Jesus right now.

But, of course, he did the same thing 2,000 years ago with people in Jesus’ hometown. He stirred them up like a bunch of hornets when Jesus stood up in front of them in the synagogue and read from Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).

Everyone in the synagogue that day would have been fine with those words if Jesus had said they would come to pass someday, at another time, in another place. But He didn’t. Instead, He announced, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (verse 21).

The people in Nazareth didn’t like that at all! It offended them. “Keep that kind of thing in the past,” they said. “Let it happen in the future. But let’s not have any such stuff in our day.”

In the not-too-distant past, such an attitude was common even among born-again believers when the subject of miracles, signs and wonders came up. But these days that’s changing. More and more of us know the Word and we believe God is watching over it to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12)–not someday, but right now.

Personally, I’m ready for it! When it comes to expecting God’s glory to be manifested in the Church, I’m a right-now believer. Aren’t you?

Do you want to strengthen your spiritual life? Do you want to get God’s perspective on the issues you face? If so, then you want to understand thanksgiving and praise in a much deeper way.

Thanksgiving and praise involves more than just speaking lovely words to God.

Thanksgiving and praise means honoring God with your words and allowing those words to agree with what His Word says about Him. It’s means promoting the Lord’s mercy and compassion to those around you by telling them about the great things He has done in your life. And when you do that, it builds you and others up as it blesses the Lord.

Psalm 8:1-2 says, “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.”

Then in Matthew 21:16 Jesus quoted that psalm when He said, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise” (KJV). Notice, He equated praise with strength.

From these scriptures, you can learn how thanksgiving and praise can affect your life.

1.Thanksgiving and Praise Brings God on the Scene

Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of His people. When you enter into thanksgiving and praise, you invite God’s glory, His presence, to fill your life and your situation. At times of high praise, the Shekinah glory of God will fill the whole place with His sweet presence.

2.Thanksgiving and Praise Puts Challenges in Perspective

As Psalm 8:1 reminds you: “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.” Thanksgiving and praise reminds you just how powerful your God is. He is the creator of all the world and the universe. Nothing is beneath His notice. If He is in your corner, how can you lose?!

3.Thanksgiving and Praise Focuses Your Mind on the Right Subject

When challenges arise, it’s easy to allow them to play on a loop inside your head. But thanksgiving and praise breaks that loop. It helps you to refocus your attention on the One who is greater than every challenge. Just read through King David’s psalms. Time and again he wrote of his troubles and of God’s glorious power. He was refocusing his attention on the One who had all the answers to his troubles.

4.Thanksgiving and Praise Strengthens Your Faith

Romans 4:20 says, Abraham “grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God” (AMPC). As you praise God and speak of His marvelous works, you are reminded of all that God has done, and your faith in God and His plan for you increases.

5.Thanksgiving and Praise Is a Weapon Against the Enemy’s Maneuvers

Psalm 9 says: “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right” (verses 1-4, KJV). When you praise God, your enemies have to turn back. (Read 2 Chronicles 20 for an example of this.)

Look at these elements again. Consider how they can empower and affect your spiritual and physical life if you act on them. Thanksgiving and praise brings God on the scene, puts challenges in perspective, focuses your mind on God, strengthens your faith in Him and allows you to combat negative spiritual forces that come against you. It prepares you to handle the situations in your life with His perspective–remembering that He is in control and that you are prepared to handle whatever comes your way!

Parents desire to protect their children–spirit, mind and body. As Christian parents, we take it as a divine mandate to raise our children “with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4b). In this technological age, that mandate has become even more challenging. No longer are dangers and traps just outside of our homes; now, they are as close as a keystroke. However, with diligence, we can protect our children online.

Here are seven tips to protect your children from digital danger:

1. Protect Your Home
Install a service such as OpenDNS for your home computer network. OpenDNS protects your home at the router by limiting access to questionable websites.

2. Update Your Children’s Cellphone Protection
Most carriers have a children’s level of protection that excludes sites that deal with violence, guns, terrorism, gambling, sexuality or anything deemed inappropriate for kids.

3. Limit Calls and Texts
Cellphone carriers allow you to control who can call or text your children. You can, therefore, see and approve who your children are in contact with at any moment.

4. Set Parental Controls on Video Games
In addition to choosing age-appropriate games for your children, parents can also set controls to limit blood, gore and language within the games. You can review any games your children want at www.CommonSenseMedia.org, which is an excellent site. Parents can also turn off chat features so children can play online games without direct communication with unknown players.

5. Read Movie Reviews Beforehand
The movie rating system gives general guidelines for how appropriate movies are for children, but for reviews and a detailed parents’ guide, visit www.imbd.com.

6. Limit the Lyrics
Music services, such as iTunes, also provide parental controls so children can’t listen to explicit lyrics.

7. Remain Involved and Attentive
Nothing protects children more than an involved, attentive parent. Take time, maybe over family dinners, to talk about the things your kids are seeing and listening to.

Here are a few more ideas:

  • Sit down and watch them play their favorite video game while they explain the strategy to you
  • Schedule family video game nights
  • Ask which musical artists they are listening to, then download the lyrics and listen to/discuss the music together
  • Regularly review the browser history on their computer, tablet and smartphone
  • Meet and interact with their friends
  • Host game nights and holiday parties for them and their friends at your home
  • View movies together, then discuss them afterward over dinner or dessert
  • Review their phone texts.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 instructs us to “commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”

As we commit to teach our children about God’s Word and His ways, let’s not forget to teach them how to apply that Word to their digital lives. Let’s teach them to “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9, NLT), and to be faithful to overcome temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). It’s the best way to protect our children online.

It’s time to celebrate your new life in Christ! Think about it: By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you joined God’s family. You became one of His kids, and that adoption afforded you many privileges. Just look at what the Word has to say about your new life in Christ!

1. You enjoy freedom, not condemnation!

Romans 8:1-2:”So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

2. You have been made right with God.

2 Corinthians 5:21: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

3. Resurrection power is yours!

Ephesians 1:19-23: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else–not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”

4. The Holy Spirit lives in you!

“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.”

5. God has good plans for your life!

Jeremiah 29:11: “‘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.'”

6. God honors you!

1 Samuel 2:30: “I will honor those who honor me.”

7. God lifts you out of every kind of lack!

Psalm 113:6-8: “He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!”

8. You are united with Jesus!

Ephesians 2:6: “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

Begin standing in faith on these scriptures. Read them. Memorize them. Ask the Lord to reveal their truth to you. Then thank Him for all the good things you now have access to as a result of your new life in Christ!

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (KJV). It is, quite simply, trusting God and His Word more than anything you can see in the natural. Regardless of what we see, hear, feel, touch or taste, faith says, “I trust God and His Word more.” It’s a powerful force that has changed the world. Below are three examples of the supernatural force of faith at work in the New Testament.

  1. Jairus

“Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, pleading fervently with him. ‘My little daughter is dying,’ he said. ‘Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.'” -Mark 5:22-23

Jairus sought Jesus because he knew Jesus held the key to his daughter’s survival. This took tremendous faith because the religious leaders did not support Jesus. Jairus had to turn his back on the traditional wisdom and religious practices of that day and step out in faith. The result? Complete healing for his daughter and salvation for him.

  1. The Woman With the Issue of Blood

“A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, ‘If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.'” -Mark 5:25-29

After 12 years and countless doctors, this woman was at a loss. She had lost all she had in pursuit of health, and yet, she had still come up short. Then she heard about Jesus, the Messiah, who could heal her. She shouldn’t have even been in the city since she would have been considered unclean, but her faith pushed her on. She believed so strongly in Jesus’ ability to heal her that she believed she didn’t even need to speak to Him or touch Him. She knew that just touching His garment was enough, and it was. Healing was hers!

  1. The Leper

“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. “Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” -Mark 1:40-45

This man was an outcast in society. He was slowly losing his life to a disease that had no cure. He had quite possibly lived for years with this disease. Being a leper, he wouldn’t have been able to live with his loved ones or earn a living. He could have been hopeless, but instead, his faith assured him that Jesus was the answer to his problem. He humbled himself and proclaimed the truth: “You can heal me.” Jesus healed him, and Jesus is still healing today!
 

Each of these people exhibited great faith, and their reward was great healing. Jesus was moved with compassion to heal them or their loved ones. We can learn so much from these examples. No matter what society tells us, no matter what doctors tell us, no matter what religious tradition tells us, faith in Jesus matters. In fact, it can make the difference between life and death!

Feeling a little melancholy about seeing another birthday come and go? Don’t be. While the world may emphasize remaining young, the Bible makes it clear that wisdom and respect come with age.

You have so much to offer the Body of Christ. If you have served the Lord for many years, then you are a wonderful example of what it looks like to love the Lord over a lifetime, and if you didn’t come to the Lord until later in life, then you can share just how thankful you are for the difference He has made in your life. 

Need more reasons to be thankful for getting older? Take a look at what the Word has to say about this season of life:

  • “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.” -Proverbs 20:29 (KJV)
  • “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.” -Psalm 92:12-14 (KJV)
  • “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.” -Proverbs 16:31
  • “Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.” -Titus 2:2-5
  • “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.” -Job 12:12 (KJV)

If you need a fresh perspective on the unique role you can play in the Body of Christ, then read the article, “Getting Older? 6 Reasons the Body of Christ Desperately Needs You.” You have so much to offer, and the Church has so much learn from you!

Spirit-led prayer is an important part of the believer’s life. It offers every Christian the opportunity to enter into the presence of God, talk to God, and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit inside of him. While prayer can–and should–happen anytime and anywhere–it can be especially effective when it occurs in a designated time and place. When attention is given to the atmosphere, prayer becomes that much more intentional. Here are six steps to create an atmosphere of prayer that will help you focus more keenly on your conversation with the Lord.

1. Remove Distractions

Find a quiet location, and inform your family that you are unavailable. Give yourself permission to have a quiet conversation with the Lord.

2. Get Comfortable

It’s hard to focus on the Lord when you’re uncomfortable either because of your clothing or position. Make sure you are relaxed, so you can focus on the Lord and what the Holy Spirit is revealing to you.

3. Begin With the Word

God’s Word is a great way to begin your prayer time. Reading the Word reminds you of God’s promises and all that He has done and spoken to His people over the ages.

4. Prepare Your Heart With Praise and Worship

Begin your prayer time with praise and worship. It’s an excellent way to get your mind off what is going on around you and help you focus on your time with Lord.

5. Listen to the Holy Spirit

What has the Holy Spirit spoken to you since your last time together? What is He speaking to you now? Allow yourself to be quiet so you can hear what He is speaking to your spirit.

6. Pray in the Spirit

Before you begin asking the Lord for what you want or bringing issues to His attention, spend time praying in the spirit. Give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to speak through you as you use your prayer language.

Matthew 6:6 says, “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Setting aside a designated prayer time is a mighty discipline in the life of a believer. As you commit to do it, prepare the atmosphere with these six steps. Let this time be fulfilling, affirming and life-changing for you!

One of the ways the Holy Spirit will lead you to follow Him is in a specific area of prayer known as intercession. Intercession is the act of praying on behalf of someone else. It’s a practice that takes devotion and a heartfelt desire to see someone else’s life change for the better, and all believers are called to participate in it. The Apostle Paul put it like this: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them” (1 Timothy 2:1). Believing for a loved one’s salvation, standing for a friend’s healing, praying for the leaders of your nation, or desiring a financial breakthrough all often come about because of intercession. If you feel the Spirit leading you to intercede on behalf of someone else, then prepare your heart by doing three things.

1. Prepare Your Heart for Intercession by Forgiving Others

“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.” -Mark 11:25

Forgiveness is an important part of any kind of prayer. The Word of God makes it clear that without forgiveness, your prayers won’t be answered. So as you begin any time of intercession, start by forgiving others so that your prayers may be heard.

2. Prepare Your Heart for Intercession by Thanking God

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” -Philippians 4:6

Before you begin interceding for God to intervene in someone else’s life, thank Him for all He has done in yours. Thank Him for saving you, delivering you and changing your life for the better. In addition to being a wonderful time of worship, thanking God can also stir up your faith so that you can pray with confidence.

3. Prepare Your Heart for Intercession by Praising God

“Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.” -Psalm 95:1-2

As you thank God for all He has done for you, also praise Him for who He is. You have access to Elohim (the Creator of the Universe), and He is interested in you. Praise Him for being Jehovah Jirah (Your Provider), Jehovah Rapha (Your Healer) and Jehovah Shalom (Your Peacemaker). Praise is an excellent way to express that you know who God is and you acknowledge His presence and work in your life.

Intercession is an important, behind-the-scenes ministry in the Body of Christ. If you are one of those who regularly practice it, thank you. While those you pray for may not know the role you play in improving their lives, you are definitely part in their success. As you practice these three things–forgiveness, praise and thanksgiving–you’re sure to have a more rewarding, more Spirit-led time of intercession.

by Kenneth Copeland

When you hear God’s voice, when you receive His promptings in your spirit, be willing to trust Him and act on what He says. Yes, you might make a mistake, but

He can deal with that. What He can’t work with is you doing nothing. The biggest mistake you can make is to fail to act on what He says.

There is no problem too big for the believer who believes “the Spirit…will guide you into all truth.” There will be no situation without answer to the believer who believes “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

God needs you to abound in Him. There are people out there suffering who don’t know what you know. He needs you to be able to give seed to the sower. He needs you to teach them how to sow it. He needs you to help people.

God needs the world to see the devourer rebuked. Malachi 3:11 says, “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Do you know what will happen when those crying out for deliverance see you walking free from Satan’s bondage? “And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts” (verse 12).

How? Through prayer, faith and the love of God. We put the Blessing back by being the ones through whom God can pour out a blessing there will not be room enough to receive! Don’t make the mistake of not listening to the Lord when He speaks. No, listen for His call and answer it!

Everyone experiences uncertainty at times, moments when you don’t know what will happen. And while you may not be able to control the situation, you can control your reaction to it. As a child of God, you are not subject to fear, worry or anxiety. Jesus made this clear when He said, “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” (Matthew 6:31-32).  

To overcome the temptation to worry, put these steps into practice:

1. Trust in God’s Word

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Seeking the kingdom of God begins with the Word of God. Begin digging into the Word for yourself. Don’t base your spiritual growth only on what your pastor says on Sunday morning or even what you hear from a Spirit-led minister. While those are excellent ways to learn, your primary source for growth needs to come from your personal time of study and reflection (Romans 10:17).

2. Resist the Enemy

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  Your spiritual enemy, Satan, would like nothing more than to keep you plagued by worry and fear. As you seek the kingdom of God, commit to resist the thoughts that contradict what the Lord has spoken to you (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

3. Be a Giver

Giving is one of the best ways to get your eyes off of your own situation. It is also a tangible expression of worship that says, “Lord, I trust in You to meet my needs even as I meet the needs of others.” Luke 6:38 shows just how important giving is when it says, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

4. Live a Life of Love

In 1 John 3:23, God gave us an important command: “We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.” God desires that we live a selfless life of love and reflect His goodness and grace wherever we go.

You can resist the temptation to worry or fear no matter what situation you face. Begin putting these steps into practice today and enjoy a more peaceful and fulfilling life!

by Kenneth Copeland

The fight is on–at every level. Strife is separating nation from nation, brother from sister and husband from wife. The conflict comes in varying degrees, from minor disagreements at the office to bomb-dropping border disputes between nations. But one thing is certain, if you live in this world, you’re going to have to deal with strife!

It isn’t something you can treat casually. Strife is a deadly enemy. Just look at what the Word says about it. James 3:16 says where strife is there is confusion and every evil work. Allowing strife to go unchecked or entering into it opens the door to every evil work.

As a born-again child of God, you are not only expected to avoid strife, you are expected to be a “peacemaker” (Matthew 5:9). But is it really possible to live in a world that’s so full of strife without being drawn into the conflict yourself?

That’s a question I used to ask myself a lot. My life used to be full of turmoil and conflict. As a boy, I fought over everything. Even as an adult, I’d look for opportunities to fight.

Even after I was born again, I could be pretty ornery. But then I fought with my tongue instead of my fist. I said cutting things that packed a more powerful punch than my fist ever had. Instead of slugging a man in the face, I hit him in the heart, which was much more devastating. A black eye will heal in just a few days, but a wounded spirit will fester and fester until someone reaches in with the love of God to heal it.

What I couldn’t understand was why I spoke more harshly to my family than to anyone else. It seemed no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t speak a kind word to them. I didn’t want to be so insensitive, but I couldn’t seem to help it. One day I realized that I could hardly remember the last time I had said something kind to my children. That was when I decided that I had to change some things. But how?

I asked the Lord, “How do I change a pattern of behavior that’s been part of me for so long?” I knew that Ephesians 4:29 said: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (KJV). Harsh words and criticism are certainly not edifying and gracious. I was willing to change, but I needed something more powerful that would overcome the words of strife and criticism.

I found that alternative in Ephesians 5:3-4: “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (KJV). The alternative to speaking ugly things is thanksgiving.

I realized I couldn’t speak harshly and thank God at the same time. I couldn’t criticize those around me if I had a thankful attitude about them.

I immediately decided to put this principle to work. While rushing into my son’s room one day, ready to lambaste him about something he had done, I recognized my old behavior pattern. I just stopped and said to myself, The Word says this kind of behavior is out of place, so I am going to stop and thank God. I wasn’t nearly as angry after I spent a few minutes praising and thanking the Lord for him.

This approach will work in any situation where there is a temptation to tear into someone with cruel and unkind words. When someone crosses you on the job, at school, or wherever, instead of letting your mouth be filled with verbal abuse, fill it with praise to God. He is worthy of your praise! If you are thinking about how good God is, you can’t be talking about how bad others are! You’ll be so full of God’s love, there won’t be any room for strife. That’s the key to living without strife.

by Kenneth Copeland

People wonder why it’s so important to watch your focus, to protect what you watch, what you read and to whom you listen. I figured this out by experience years ago: I have a habit of following my eyes. Wherever I’m looking, that’s where I go. Before I found the explanation in the Bible, I used to think something was wrong with me. Riding down the highway on my motorcycle, I’d start looking at something lying in the road and drive right smack over the top of it.

Kenneth, what’s wrong with you? I’d think, you were supposed to avoid that thing not hit it!

Now, of course, I know what happened. Like everyone else on this planet, I’ve been created by God to move toward what I focus on. Not just when I’m riding a motorcycle but all the time, in every area of my life.

It’s a spiritual truth that governs us all–spirit, soul and body. Whatever we look at determines our course and becomes our source. Wherever we set our gaze, that’s where our faith and trust will go.

That’s why so many born-again believers miss out on the world-overcoming victory that’s theirs in Christ Jesus. That’s why they keep finding themselves “under” the circumstances instead of “on top.”

Colossians 3:2 tells us to “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” If you want to experience God’s blessings and live a successful Christian life, then watch your focus. Protect your mind from negative news reports, destructive gossip and entertainment that glorifies sin or proclaims messages that are contrary to the Word of God. The Lord has so many good things for you. By “thinking about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8), you will be in a much better position to receive all that He has for you!

by Gloria Copeland

Many Christians have fallen into the trap of following after perfectionism. They have somehow come to believe that they must be perfect in every way, that they must clean up their act before Jesus will love them. And yes, while Jesus desires that we love Him, He does not require perfection. He knows that’s impossible.

Even while He was on earth, Jesus was always willing to express His heart of love without any expectation of perfection. Whatever those who came to Him for help needed, He supplied. And nothing has changed. He is just as full of compassion today as ever. He is easily entreated, and receiving from Him is always easy.

Man-made religious tradition would have us believe God is not willing to heal all who come to Him, but that He demands near perfection from us before He is willing to give us anything.

Jesus demonstrated that God loves everyone and desires to meet the needs of all who come to Him in faith. Certainly among the multitudes who reached out to Him in these scriptural accounts were those who were just like some today–imperfect people who fail and make mistakes. People who, by their own natural merits, do not deserve to receive anything from God. Yet Jesus healed every one of them.

Jesus showed us at the wedding feast in Cana that when He is asked, He will step in to meet what some would consider even the most insignificant needs. The hosts of the wedding had run out of wine–an embarrassing situation to be sure, but hardly of great significance. Yet when Jesus’ mother called on Him for help, He abundantly met the need by turning the water, not into ordinary wine, but into such wonderful wine that “the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now” (John 2:9-10).

That was so characteristic of Jesus! He never failed to give the best to those who came to Him in faith for help. According to His own words in John 14:9, when you see Him, you have seen His Heavenly Father–you have seen a perfect picture of the compassion and goodness of God.

No, Jesus never demanded perfection–not while He was on earth and not while He sits at the Father’s right hand. He loves us. Period. He loves us so much that He gave His life so that we could be reunited with our heavenly Father. That’s an eternal, extravagant love, and it’s yours!

by Kenneth Copeland

A lot of Christians think they understand what faith is. They think that if they’ve read their Bibles a few times, understand the message of salvation and believe that God can heal them (or deliver them or save them), then they are living by faith. They’ve made a decision that God loves them and so they believe they are in faith. They fail to understand that faith is more than that. It is a definite, purposeful act of the heart. It is not a mental exercise. If you want to learn how faith works in your life, then you need to know exactly what faith is and how to develop it.

Understand, accepting something as fact, like God’s ability to heal, for example, is not faith. That’s merely giving mental assent or reasoning with your mind. You can mentally acknowledge that something is true and still never really believe it in your heart.

Real Bible faith is a matter of the heart, and it carries with it God-given responsibilities. Let me give you an example. A man once went to Jesus for some help with his son.

“Teacher,” he called out to Jesus, “I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” (Mark 9:17-18).

Then he challenged Jesus with this statement: “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can” (verse 22).

When the father pleaded for compassion, Jesus threw the responsibility back on him, saying, “Anything is possible if a person believes” (verse 23).

The boy’s father was trying to get Jesus to do his believing for him. But Jesus cannot do that.

Finally the man broke down in tears and cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (verse 24). He was believing in his heart, yet he was having trouble with it in his head. His heart was saying, I believe, I believe, I believe! But his mind was resisting.

Had this man known Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding,” there would have been no problem with his head. He could have trusted more in his heart and less in his head.

In the end, when the father cried out in faith, “Lord, I believe,” he enabled Jesus to cast the deaf and dumb spirit out of his son and the boy was healed.

Jesus will do the work for you, but He cannot do the believing for you. You have to do that.

But remember, heart faith grows out of God’s Word.

If you want to condition your heart to be in the habit of believing, then you must give God’s Word first place in your life. You must feed it into your heart constantly. And you have to realize that the Word is actually God speaking to you…personally. It’s not just a lot of information for your head to carry around.

Then, you must make the quality decision that your body and all its physical senses will never override the Word of God in any given situation.

If your body screams, I’m sick! I’m sick! I’m sick!…don’t allow that natural, physical evidence to be the final authority about what you believe. Go to the Word as your final authority. And the Word says, “By [Jesus’] wounds you are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).

So abide in the Word and let the Word abide in you (John 15:7). As you do, your faith will strengthen. You will know how faith works and experience the benefits of living the faith-filled life!

You’ve heard the news: Jesus heals. But can it really be that simple? Can Jesus really heal your illnesses? And while maybe He can take care of a runny nose, can He really heal those big diseases–heart disease, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and the Big “C”–cancer?

To answer those questions, you have to return to God’s Book, the Bible. It’s the only place that holds God’s letters to mankind. Take a look at these powerful verses throughout the Gospels of Matthew and Mark:

  • “News about him 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).
  • “That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, ‘He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.'” (Matthew 8:16-17).
  • “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 the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them” (Matthew 21:14).
  • “As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.” (Luke 4:40).
  • “He saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 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. How she praised God!” (Luke 13:11-13).
  • “There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen…Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.” (Luke 14:2-4).

These are only a few of the examples of Jesus’ healing power. Throughout His ministry, Jesus healed many different people with many different illnesses. In fact, there was only one time when the Bible said Jesus couldn’t heal the sick.

Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth, and the Bible explains Jesus’ inability to heal everyone this way: “And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.” (Mark 6:5-6).

Notice this passage doesn’t say Jesus refused to do miracles. No, it says He was unable to do miracles. In fact, despite their unbelief, He still tried.

When it comes to the question of whether or not Jesus will heal you, the Bible makes it clear: The choice is yours. Will you let your doubt and unbelief keep you from complete healing and wholeness, or will you be like the people who followed Jesus, pressed into Him and sought Him out wherever He went?

Hopefully, you’ll choose the latter and press into Him and His Word for a bountiful and healthy life!

by Gloria Copeland
 

Have you heard a minister say that you should “speak words of faith?” Have you wondered what in the world he was talking about? What exactly does it mean to “speak words of faith?” And why does it matter?

Some people get uncomfortable with this topic because they don’t want to be identified with the “name it and claim it bunch.” But, like it or not, speaking words of faith is a vital part of taking what God has given you.

Jesus made that crystal clear in Mark 11. He not only told us to speak words of faith over the natural situations in our lives, He set the example for us. In Mark 11:14, He spoke to the fruitless fig tree and said, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” Sure enough, what He said happened: The fig tree withered and died.

When the disciples asked Him about it, He told them they should operate the same way. In fact, He said that whosoever (in other words, anyone and everyone, including you and me) will speak believing his words come to pass will have whatever he says.

How does that apply to you?

It means that when you ask God for something, you take it, believing that you have it from the moment you ask. That is receiving! Then start thanking Him for it. If you’ve been praying for a new car, rather than continuing to beg and plead for God to give you one, you should take it by saying, “Thank You, Lord, for my new car. I believe I receive it. It’s mine. I have it now, in Jesus’ Name.”

Does that mean your new car will instantly show up in your driveway? Not necessarily. But that doesn’t matter. In the realm of the spirit, you’ve taken it. From the point of your prayer, it’s yours and if you keep saying so, and don’t waver, you’ll be driving it.

The same is true if you’re dealing with sickness. When you pray, you can say, “Thank You, Lord, for my healing. I take it by faith so it’s mine. I believe I have it. Thank You that every symptom is gone from my body.” Although your physical feelings may not come in line right away, don’t get discouraged. Just keep seeing yourself well and use the Word of God and your words to receive the healing you’ve already taken by faith–and your healing will surely manifest.

It sounds simple, and it is. But it’s not necessarily easy, especially at first, and here’s why. To truly believe that what we say is going to happen, we must have confidence in the power of God’s Word and our words, not just when we’re praying or making faith confessions, but all the time. We must realize and believe that what we say in life–in general, every day–comes to pass.

When the Lord revealed this to Ken and me back in the early days of our faith life, we understood right away that we had to get our words in order. We couldn’t talk sickness, poverty and defeat even in casual conversation anymore. We had to train ourselves to talk, morning and night, according to the Word of God.

While everyone else talks about economic recession and lack, we practice saying, “I’m blessed! The Lord is my shepherd, I don’t lack!” When the newscasters are prophesying danger and doom, we say something like, “I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. No evil shall come nigh my dwelling!”

In the beginning it was difficult. But before long, speaking words of faith became a way of life. Now it comes naturally to us–and it will for you too. Because we believe we have what we say, we say what we want not just when we pray but 24 hours a day.

by Gloria Copeland
 

Have you ever wondered what faith and love have to do with one another? How are they connected? Let’s examine this connection.

Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

Faith works by love. It is energized by love. Faith is put into motion by love. Why is that?

Well, most of us are probably familiar with the Apostle Paul’s teaching on love in 1 Corinthians 13. But as we read verses 1-3 in The Amplified Bible, I want us to focus on the faith-love connection.

If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love…I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers…and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned…but have not love…I gain nothing.

In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam just one “do not.” It was, Don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God only gave one command, but it certainly covered a lot of territory.

Today, if you think about it, you and I still only have one “do not”–Don’t get out of love. That’s our one commandment. We are to walk in love, which covers a lot of ground. In fact, we see in this passage that our love walk is connected to everything we do in life as believers, including our faith. Paul makes it quite clear that faith–without love–is going nowhere.

Again, we have to ask ourselves, How is it that our faith is so tied into love? Let’s read a little further into 1 Corinthians 13 and we’ll find out.

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes…its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]…” (verses 7-8, AMP).

God wants us to walk in love because love never fails. He wants the best for us, and since the best is found in love, you and I must walk in love in order to receive God’s best. This includes honoring Him, forgiving and walking in the fruit of the Spirit.

You and I cannot pick and choose what we want to believe from God’s Word and disregard the rest. It’s all connected, and it all centers around love. Faith and love are intricately connected. Don’t think that you can walk in true, God-designed love without walking in faith, neither can you walk in faith without walking in love. Begin studying God’s Word for  yourself to find out about this connection and how to live it. When you bring love and faith together, your entire outlook will begin to shift, and you’ll begin to view the world through God’s eyes!

If you could be promised success in life–in your family, in your relationships, in your work, in your school, in your church–by doing one simple thing, would you do it? Of course you would. You would choose success over failure without even really thinking about it.

The good news is that you have that promise right now. There is one simple thing you can do to ensure your success: Read your Bible. And not just read it, but think about what you read, memorize the passages, apply what you learn to your life. Here are three promises from the Bible for why it is so important to your life:

1. Reading the Bible Brings Jesus on the Scene

In John 14:21, Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” When He talked about keeping His commandments, He was talking about reading, respecting, reflecting on and living what the Word says. Reading your Bible and applying what it says to your life invites Jesus to work in your life.

2. Reading the Bible Prepares You when Difficulties Strike

Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (New King James Version). When you focus on God and His Word, troubles won’t leave you scrambling. Fear can’t get a hold on you because you are confident in God’s provision.

3. Reading the Bible Brings Certainty and Clarity to Your Life

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (New Living Translation). When you read the Bible, you’ll find clear direction and leading from the Lord through it. He leads you through the Word and by His Holy Spirit.

Of course, all these promises rely on your active participation. You can’t simply run through a Bible passage without really reflecting on it and letting it affect you. Instead, meditate on it, study it, pray about it and apply it to your daily life. When you do, it will improve your life for the better. Don’t wait another day to start reading your Bible and experience the profound change that it brings!

Are you experiencing a life of joy and peace? Or do you simply get by? Do you say to yourself, well life would be better if this was different or if that were better or if that had never happened? Well, today is a new day! Put these principles into practice and enjoy a happier life.

Reject Condemnation

Romans 8:1-2 says: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” No matter what you have or have not done, there is forgiveness. And once you receive forgiveness, condemnation no longer has a place in your life. Embrace the truth that Jesus paid for every sin, think about the truth in Romans 8:1-2 and receive forgiveness.

Honor God in Everything

In First Samuel 2:30, God said, “I will honor those who honor me.” He wants to bless His people with favor and blessings, but He wants them to acknowledge and realize that the blessings in their lives come from Him. He doesn’t want them to strive for promotion and the world’s benefits in their own strength.

Recognize the Work of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:11 says, “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.” This verse is talking about more than simply the resurrection of your physical body. It is also talking about the power that’s available to you while you’re still on earth. Right now, you can live in the power of the resurrection!

Change Your Words

The words you speak matter. In fact, Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” If you dwell on what you think is wrong with your life, your life will be sadder and less fulfilling. Instead, concentrate on all God has done for you and let that thankfulness permeate your conversations.

Remember Whose You Are

Jesus paid the ultimate price for your freedom. By His blood, you have direct access to your Heavenly Father, you have been adopted into the kingdom and all the blessings of God belong to you (Read Deuteronomy 28). Don’t spend another day settling for less. Let the truth of whose you are so envelope you that it changes your outlook.

Begin implementing these principles and enjoy a happier life today!

Each December, images of Santa Claus are everywhere. We see visions of a large man in a red suit with a long white beard and rosy cheeks. But the real Santa Claus, or St. Nicholas as he is known, was not some marketing invention. He was a godly man whose giving spirit became an example of Christ’s love.

From what is known about St. Nicholas, he lived during the third century in Turkey. He was from a loving Christian family who taught him the importance of loving God and honoring the Lord with his giving spirit. At 19, he joined the priesthood. His uncle, a bishop, prophesied that Nicholas would lead and encourage people. He also prophesied that Nicholas would become a bishop and lead a spiritually fulfilling and devout life. In fact, Nicholas did help the poor, became a bishop and lived with a desire to honor God in everything he did.

He was known to spend entire nights tirelessly studying God’s Word just so he could bring fresh insight and revelation to the people in his congregation. He was known for reaching out to those in need, praying, fasting and relying on God’s Word completely.

The true story of St. Nicholas is a beautiful picture of the giving that Christmas is all about. The greatest gift that anyone can ever receive is the gift of Jesus Christ. He was given 2,000 years ago to all mankind by our Heavenly Father so that we could have a relationship with God. Jesus is our hope, redemption and victory. He’s the reason we can experience the Blessing in our lives. He is our advocate with the Father, our blood-covenant friend who will never leave us nor forsake us and continually works to bring to pass the New Covenant. In Him we have the joy of living a heavenly life on earth.

St. Nicholas, the real Santa Claus, exemplified the real meaning of Christmas. Christ mass means “anointing celebration.” It’s the celebration of “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” It’s the celebration of how the anointed Jesus “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). It’s the story of our triumphant Savior, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of lords and King of kings! Merry Christmas!

It’s Christmastime again, and you’re looking for ways to celebrate the real meaning of the season. With an onslaught of marketing emails hitting your inbox, a surplus of commercials invading your television set and a whirlwind of activities filling your calendar, it can be hard to keep your celebration fixed on Jesus’ birth. But with a little determination, you can let faith and love guide your season.

1. Stir up Your Faith this Christmas

As you remember God’s faithfulness to you, you are better able to stand in faith for others. So continue build yourself up by reading the Word (Romans 10:17) and listening to ministers you trust. Get excited about the good things God has done for you so that you are ready to pass His love on to others.

2. Expect God to Use You this Christmas

Prepare to be a vessel for God this season. Remain steadfast in prayer and available to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Keep your schedule free enough so that you are available to hear His voice.

3. Let “Love Your Neighbor” Take on New Meaning

Take time to notice the people around you–members of your family, families in your church and the needy in your city. Ask God to reveal needs around you so that you can be a conduit of His love to the world (Luke 6:31).

This Christmas can be more–more Word, more faith, more love. Instead of “busy-ness,” you can experience a season of faith and love as an ambassador of Jesus to the world. Merry Christmas!

by Kenneth Copeland

Most people don’t realize it, but this nation was born in answer to prayer. God established it because people all over the world started crying out to Him for a place where they could freely worship God. As you celebrate Thanksgiving Day this year, remember God’s provision and the miracle He brought about all because people around the world were united in prayer.

Prayer and Thanksgiving Day

And it wasn’t only people outside of the Americas who were praying for a place of freedom to worship. Tribal peoples here were crying out to Him, too. Even though they didn’t know His Name or His WORD, many of them were standing under the night sky, gazing up at the stars, talking to Him and saying, “We know You are there. But we don’t know anything about You. Who are You, Great Spirit?”

God answered those prayers by sending that first band of believers (people who knew His Name and carried His Book) aboard a little ship called the Mayflower. On board that vessel those believers entered into a covenant with Almighty God in the Name and in the blood of Jesus. Then the first thing they did when their feet hit the shore was to pray.

It’s a good thing they did, too, because the devil hated what they were doing. He hated the idea of giving people freedom to worship God. If he could, he would have destroyed this nation before its birth; but he couldn’t do it then and he can’t do it now. He was stopped by the prayers of God’s people.

Certainly the devil has done his best to mess things up along the way. There’s no question about that. As a result, this nation has been through some very dark times. But even in those times, the hand of God has prevailed–this nation has been preserved, and His purposes have been accomplished.

God’s Provision and Thanksgiving Day

In the late 1600s, for example, when hostilities arose between the European settlers and the tribal peoples, some cruel and terrible things were done. Take the case of the Squanto who was captured, taken to Europe and displayed in a cage as a “Savage from America.” Certainly the devil meant that for evil, but God caused things to happen that the devil hadn’t figured on.

The little boy escaped from his captors and found refuge in a monastery. While there, he became fluent in English. He began reading the Bible, got saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit.

When he finally had the opportunity to return to his homeland in the eastern part of the U.S., he found the colonists were having trouble learning how to raise crops in their new climate. Some of them were on the verge of starvation. What’s more, the Indians were attacking them, and they were on the verge of an all-out war.

Do you know who stopped it?

That young Indian man who had been taken captive years before.

He stepped out on the battlefield and began speaking to both sides in their own languages. He let them know he was a believer in Jesus Christ, and he instructed them to put down their weapons. Sure enough, they held their fire.

Before long, that young man was preaching the gospel to both groups. Under his influence, the Indians began to teach the colonists how to work the land in the northeastern climate, and the colonists began to teach the Indians some of what they knew. For 75 years, those people lived together in peace sharing their lives and their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Their harvest celebrations together became known as Thanksgiving Day.
 

As you celebrate this Thanksgiving Day, remember to thank the Lord for His provision and to remember the important role prayer played in our country’s formation and success. As believers we’re called to continue to pray, to “humble [ourselves], and pray” so the Lord will continue to “heal our land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). It’s a promise He’s kept for over 200 years, and one He’ll continue to keep. Happy Thanksgiving!

If you are new to the Christian life or new to a Spirit-led life, you may be wondering how the Holy Spirit affects your life. Can having Him in your life really make a difference?

The good news is: Yes, it does! Romans 8:26 explains the Holy Spirit’s role when it says: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” And John 15:26, in The Amplified Bible, refers to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, the Counselor, the Helper, the Advocate, Intercessor and Strengthener.

These two scriptures tell you that the Holy Spirit affects your life in these ways:

  1. The Holy Spirit helps you by comforting and strengthening you in the midst of difficulties.
  2. The Holy Spirit shows you how to pray about your concerns and guides you in what to do.
  3. The Holy Spirit helps you overcome your weaknesses by showing you what those weaknesses are, giving you the wisdom to overcome them and interceding on your behalf to the Father about them.

Discover what else the Word has to say about the role of the Holy Spirit in your life by studying these verses:

  • John 14:26
  • John 16:7-15
  • Book of Acts
  • Romans 15:13
  • Galatians 5:22-23
  • Jude 20

Embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and enjoy the powerful affect that He will have!

by Gloria Copeland

Why should I read my Bible? Perhaps you’ve asked yourself that question. Perhaps you’ve read the Bible in the past without seeing much benefit. If you haven’t made Bible study a constant part of your quiet time with the Lord, I encourage you to do it.  

You see, the Bible is truly a supernatural book. No matter what is happening in your life at any given time, you can open the Bible every day and the Spirit of God will quicken to you the words you need to empower and sustain you. He will direct you to the scriptures that will move you toward the fulfillment of your dreams.

Yet, as vital as the Bible is to your success, God won’t make you read it. He will let you choose your own level of faith. He’ll let you go as far with His Word as you choose. It depends on how much or how little attention you give it–how much you keep it in front of your eyes and in your ears–and whether you receive it, believe it and act on it. You can either have faith that’s strong enough to make your biggest dreams a reality, or you can limp along on just enough faith to get you into heaven.

As God said in Deuteronomy 30:14-16: “The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it. See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil. [If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which] I command you today, to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you” (The Amplified Bible).

One thing about God is He doesn’t stutter. He just tells it like it is, and this is how it is: You have a choice. God has given His people His Word and through it He has set before them life and good, blessing and cursing. Now it’s up to us to decide what we’re going to do about it. What do you choose?

Do you want a successful, faith-filled Christian life that is bigger and better than anything you could come up with on your own? Then you need to read your Bible. Study it. Memorize it. Put it in your heart and mind every day. Make your quiet time with the Lord the most treasured time in your day. Why should you read your Bible? Because it is the foundation for the life God fashioned just for you!

by Kenneth Copeland

Have you ever wondered what Jesus is doing right now–today?

Most believers haven’t. They know what He did in the past. They can tell you without hesitation about His ministry on earth, His death, resurrection and ascension. And they can testify about how those things have changed their lives. But if you ask them what Jesus is doing right now, at this very moment, they’re likely to look confused.

“Well…” they might say, “I suppose He’s in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father.”

Yes, He is. But what’s He doing there? Is He on vacation? Is He just sitting around in heaven with no particular purpose?

This is an important question if you want to see Jesus working on your behalf in an ongoing, ever-increasing way–and I’m sure you do. That’s something all believers want. Speaking for myself, I can certainly say there’s nothing in the world I desire more than a manifestation of Jesus in my life.

That’s why I’m so thrilled about what He said in John 14:21: “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Over the years as I’ve studied and meditated on that promise, two things in particular have dawned on me: First, I’ve realized that keeping Jesus’ commands includes more than obeying the Ten Commandments. It means seeking out and following all the instructions He gives us both in His Word and by His Spirit.

Second, I’ve realized that for us to see Jesus in manifestation we need to know what we’re looking for–which means we need to know what He is doing today.

How do we find that out?

The same way we find out about His commandments–by reading the Bible. The New Testament book of Hebrews, especially, provides wonderful revelation about Jesus’ present day ministry. In the very first chapter, it says:

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (verses 1-3, King James Version, emphasis mine).

Now, in the light of those verses, let me ask you the same question I asked earlier. What is Jesus doing while He’s seated at the right hand of God?

He is upholding all things by the Word of His power!

He’s upholding the Blessing of Abraham. He’s upholding all of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises. He’s upholding the victory, authority, healing, prosperity and abundant life that have been guaranteed to every believer through the New Covenant.

That’s what the resurrected, glorified Jesus has been appointed by God to do! It’s His divine calling. As Hebrews 5:10 says, He is “called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”

Most people these days think of a priest as little more than a religious figurehead. But the word actually means much more than that. By definition, a priest is “a minister or administrator; a person who stewards and operates in authority over something; a person who’s been given the power to implement certain policies and bring them to pass.”

That’s the capacity in which Jesus operates today as head of the Body of Christ; that’s what Jesus is doing right now. He administrates, implements and brings to pass the New Covenant. He brings all things into line with it. He upholds its authority by the Word of His power.

If you’ve ever wondered what Jesus is doing right now and how His daily activities affect your life, then let this scripture solidify it in your mind. Jesus is bringing the New Covenant–THE BLESSING–to pass in your life and in the life of every other believer. Praise God!

This is the time of year when many people are making New Year’s resolutions. And no doubt, a number of those resolutions center around losing weight.

That was me a few years ago, before God taught me how to get rid of excess weight. I would resolve to lose weight and keep it off, only to lose it and gain it back again. It became a real struggle.

But through prayer and the Word, God taught me some things. He showed me that He didn’t call me to be skinny and that my goals would have to line up with His Word before He could get involved in my weight loss. Until I got in agreement with His Word, I would continue to fight this war on weight in the arena of the flesh.

The Bible says in James 4:7 that we are to “submit [ourselves] therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from [us].” I was trying to resist the devil, and it wasn’t working because I had not submitted to God’s Word. God wanted to help me, but He couldn’t because I wasn’t playing by His rules–the rules that ensure victory.

I was relying on the strength of my flesh. No wonder I was failing!

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

In Galatians 6:8, the Scripture says, “he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” That word corruption means “a worsened state.” Every time I ate food to meet what was really a spiritual need, I was sowing to the flesh. And every time I sowed to the flesh, food was getting a stronger hold on my life. After years of dieting and sporadic cycles of overeating and fasting, followed by continual feelings of guilt and shame, I began to lose hope that I would ever be free. I had tried just about every diet known to man and either exercised excessively, or not at all.

Finally, as I continued in God’s Word, I began to know the truth about how good God is and how much He loved me. God wouldn’t create man to live in and fellowship with, give him an amazing body, provide food for nourishment, and not equip him to have self-control. Self-control is a fruit of the spirit.

God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Well, what is that image? It’s the same as the image of God.

Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). In Galatians 5, God is described by nine characteristics: Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, meekness, self-control, patience and faithfulness. So, a part of Jesus is self-control–which includes the ability to eat right and control how much you eat, the ability to exercise and, through faithfulness and endurance, be consistent.

I realized when you try to change something through natural means–like diet and exercise–and it doesn’t work, it’s not a natural problem. It’s a spiritual problem, and it requires a spiritual solution. If you’ve got a yoke or a burden, only God’s anointing will remove or destroy it.

I quit desiring to be thin and started desiring to be like Jesus. I began confessing that what God calls me to do, He anoints me to do. If He called me to be conformed to the image of His Son, then there is an anointing available to help me do that. When I got born again, the Holy Spirit produced the fruit of the spirit in me. These characteristics of God were born into my spirit at the new birth. I realized that God Himself lives in me, and that it wasn’t my job to produce self-control. He does that! It was my job to develop it. Just as we exercise our bodies to make them stronger, when we exercise our faith in God, His presence becomes stronger in us.

Instead of sowing to the flesh by eating food when I wasn’t really hungry, I began sowing to the spirit by exercising my faith in God’s ability to help me eat right and be faithful to exercise. I was no longer hopeless–putting faith in my own ability. My weapons were no longer carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

When thoughts of food would come when I wasn’t hungry, I would take those thoughts captive and cast them down with the Word. I’d say, “Self-control is in me and I have dominion over food. In the Name of Jesus, I sow to the spirit by yielding to self-control. I consider myself dead to the urge to overeat. I am not a slave to food, but God gave me dominion over food. I’m called to be like Jesus and what He calls me to do, He anoints me to do. I can do all things through Christ, the Anointed One and His Anointing, which strengthens me.”

Glory to God, today I am totally, 100 percent free and experiencing the joy that comes from total freedom. As a certified personal trainer, nutritional guidance counselor and minister of the gospel, God has given me the opportunity to see many others set free by the power of His Word. The same truths that freed me from the bondage of weight and from the weight of bondage are still operating in my life today.

As you start this new year, I encourage you to resolve to make it the most victorious year you’ve ever experienced. Allow God the opportunity to show Himself strong on your behalf by implementing the following steps into your daily life:

1. Make Jesus Lord over everything (John 5:1-14)

From your prayer time to your food choices, this will be the best decision you’ve ever made. It’s also a necessary decision in order to involve God’s Anointing–His burden-removing, yoke-destroying power–in achieving your goals.

2. Identify the problem

Too many times we put our faith in carnal weapons–diets, pills, certain kinds of exercise–believing those things are going to solve our problems. As we fail to achieve our goals, our faith weakens and we begin to lose hope. We’ve simply been deceived into fighting spiritual warfare in the arena of the flesh instead of trusting God’s Word. Put your hope and faith in God because He is the way to lasting victory.

3. Spend time in the Word

Often, we allow our mind, will, and emotions to talk us out of God’s best for our lives. The power of God’s Word is vital in empowering your spirit to dominate your flesh. When faced with temptation, a renewed mind will side with your spirit. Transformation comes only through renewing your mind to God’s Word.

4. Walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16)

Even before you see a change with your natural eyes, continue sowing to the spirit. It’s seedtime and harvest–the more fruit of the spirit that you sow, the more you’ll reap. As you continue to walk in the spirit, you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

5. Stand fast (Galatians 5:1)

It was God’s responsibility to break the power of sin and death off our lives once and for all. It’s our responsibility to maintain that freedom. Make a quality decision not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, stand fast in the liberty that the anointing attained for you, and rejoice in your new found freedom.

One of the biggest questions people ask is “How do I hear the Holy Spirit?” They think there must be a magic formula involved–and while there isn’t a 1-2-3 magic formula, there are disciplines that you can implement to put yourself in the place of hearing the Holy Spirit more clearly. Remember, He’s always speaking; it’s just a matter of opening your spiritual ears to hear Him. Let’s look at three ways that you can improve your ability to hear the Holy Spirit.

#1 Hear the Holy Spirit when you Focus on the Word

One of the most effective ways to improve your ability to hear the Holy Spirit is by focusing on God’s Word. In John 15:7, Jesus said, “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

How do you know when you have been focusing enough on the Word? The Holy Spirit talks to you through it! He directs your thoughts as you go about your day. He brings it to your mind when challenges arise, and helps you know what to do.

You focus on the Word by spending time in it. You can’t just read it casually every now and then. You have to be diligent to read your Bible and reflect on it every day and obey it. Treat it like the priceless treasure it is.

#2 Hear the Holy Spirit when you Listen to God’s People

The Holy Spirit isn’t only speaking to you; He’s speaking to all of God’s people. Sometimes those people have received a message from the Lord for the church, like when the Lord spoke through the Apostles or when the Lord gives Kenneth Copeland a prophecy. Other times, the Holy Spirit uses those people to share a special message specifically for you. By listening to trusted faith ministers and even Spirit-led friends and family members, you can hear the Holy Spirit’s direction.

Now, that doesn’t mean you should listen to every person, or even every Christian, who believes that God wants them to tell you something. Make sure those people are Spirit-filled, Spirit-led and full of faith. Watch the Believer’s Voice of Victory broadcast, read the Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine, attend a faith-filled church, build friendships with believers in those churches, and join KCM’s faith-filled online community and build relationships there.

#3 Hear the Holy Spirit when you Listen in Prayer

Do you find yourself doing all the talking in your prayer time with the Lord? If you never get quiet enough to listen, how will you ever hear what the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart?

When you pray, spend some time praising God for His goodness and thanking Him for all He has done for you (Psalm 100:4). Then ask Him for what you need (Philippians 4:13). After that, get quiet. Prayer is not a one-way conversation. Make sure that you give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak. He may bring a scripture or song to your mind. He may bring a person to mind that needs prayer. Or He may give you direction for your day or even an answer for a prayer request.

Keeping a prayer journal is another great way to identify the Holy Spirit’s voice. Write down what you’ve asked the Lord for and the different ways He has answered those prayers. Write the thoughts He brings to your mind. As you put this into practice, you’ll begin to understand how the Holy Spirit works in and through you. You’ll begin to hear (and read) His answers.

The Holy Spirit is talking. It’s up to you to hear Him clearly. By putting these three keys into practice, you’ll improve your ability to hear the Holy Spirit, and you’ll have the joy of living a Spirit-led life!

Do you wonder about what God wants you to do? What is your calling? You have the responsibility to feed people the Word of Life. Watch as Brother Copeland teaches you about your ministry in Jesus Christ. First, you must be fruitful; then, you can go on to multiply to others.

Psalm 91 provides healing and protection promises that were written for our benefit. Follow Gloria Copeland as she encourages you to speak the Word of God and believe His love to heal and protect you.

Gloria Copeland discusses Psalm 145 in relation to healing. God is looking for a heart that will receive all the good He wants to give.  It can be YOU!

If you’re a born-again child of God, the Word of God says that Jesus has already provided everything you need to be healed in your physical body. In this video, Gloria Copeland teaches you how to take the healing that belongs to you!

Gloria Copeland gives direction as to how to live the prosperous life using God’s Word and personal experiences. You’ll enjoy watching her share these principles, and as you put them into your life you’ll see victory.

This world is filled with uncertainty, but knowing God and His plan makes you bold and gives you the courage you need to be strong.  David was a mere boy, yet his knowledge of God gave him the confidence to face and defeat a giant on behalf of a nation. You can have this same courage and strength to face uncertainty and come out a winner!

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