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Let God Do the

Impossible in Your

What do you do when you’re facing the impossible?

How do you respond when you encounter a problem so enormous, an obstacle so overwhelming that it essentially becomes the biggest thing in your life?

It’s the first thing on your mind when you wake up in the morning…the last thing you think about before you go to sleep at night. And the fear of it torments you countless times throughout the day.

It might be a financial problem or a physical problem. It might be marriage trouble or difficulties with your children. But whatever form it takes, it presents a problem so perplexing that you can’t imagine how it could ever be solved.

What do you do at times like that? How do you even begin to gather up enough faith to believe for victory?

Psalm 46:10 gives us the answer. There the Lord says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” “Be still? Surely you must be kidding!” you might say. “I don’t have time to be still. My schedule is packed and my mind is racing all day long. I don’t have time to sit around just thinking about God.”

It’s all right to pray on the run because

you ought to be praying continually,

but if that’s all you do, you’ll miss about 90 percent of what God wants to tell you.

Yes, you do. You have the same 24 hours a day everybody else has. And if you’re facing the impossible, you’d better use a portion of that time to be still and know that God is God. You’d better stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off, sit down, get quiet and fix your mind on the Almighty One, the Creator of heaven and earth, the God to whom all things are possible.

Like a Dog With a Bone

Granted, when you’re under pressure do. Initially your mind will try to jump all over the place. By force of habit it will go back to the problem itself again and again. When it does just grab hold of it and say, “Mind, you’re going to think about what I tell you to think about and right now you’re going to think about God.” Then begin to concentrate your thinking inward. Begin to look into your innermost being and listen for the voice of your spirit. Make your mind shut up for a while. Don’t let it just run loose and do what it wants to do. Start “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” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

It takes effort and determination.

But if you want to see the power of God blast those impossible problems out of your life, if you want to receive all the blessings Jesus died to provide, that’s what you’ll have to do. You can’t just sit around passively waiting for God’s blessings to drop out of heaven into your lap. You have to follow Jesus’ instructions in Mark 11:24 and “believe that ye receive.”

The word receive used there is an active—not a passive—word. It means “to take hold of something with an aggressive attitude.”

A true scriptural receiver has the

attitude of a dog that snatches a bone off somebody’s plate and runs away with it. If anybody tries to take that bone away from that dog, he’ll let them know they can’t have it. He’ll growl and bite if necessary to keep that bone from being stolen.

That’s the way we should be about the blessings Jesus provided for us on the cross. We need to be willing to fight for them because the devil will do everything he can to steal them from us. He’ll wage war against our minds that’s not easy to and emotions to get us so discouraged and overwhelmed that we let go of our faith and give in to failure.

Salvation Prayer But by God’s grace we can overIf you do not know come him. We can say, “Look here, Mr. Devil. I’m not willing to do without anything Jesus suffered for as your me to have. I don’t care what you or & anybody else thinks about it. Jesus is simply pray the following prayer in my Lord. He bought these blessings faith, and Jesus will be your Lord! for me with His own blood and I Heavenly Father, I come to You in intend to walk in them!” the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, When you take that kind of atti“Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” and “If thou tude, you’re going to find a smile on shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord your heavenly Father’s face because Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that’s the attitude of faith—and faith that God hath raised him from the pleases God! dead, thou shalt be saved” (Acts 2:21;

Jesus

Savior Lord,

Romans 10:9). You said my salvation would be the result of Your Holy Spirit giving me new birth by coming to live in me (John 3:5-6, 15-16; Romans 8:9-11) and that if I would ask, You would fill me with Your Spirit and give me the ability to speak with other tongues (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4).

I take You at Your Word. I confess that Jesus is Lord. And I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.

Thank You for coming into my heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You have promised, and for being Lord over my life. Amen.

If you have just prayed this prayer, please contact us and let us know of your decision. We have a free Salvation Package we would like to send you to help you begin your new life in Jesus!

Simply call 1-877-480-3388 and ask for offer #50801.

Overcoming Thoughts With Words

I’m not just talking spiritual theory here, I’m speaking from real experience. This past year, I had to exercise that kind of faith in a major way because I was facing a seemingly impossible situation.

I had injured my back and was suffering outrageous pain. I spent night after night without sleep because lying on the bed hurt too much.

After a while, the pain began to wear on me mentally. Thoughts of discouragement began to torment me and pressure me into giving up my faith in God’s healing promises.

I knew I needed to quiet my mind and fix my thoughts on the power

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and faithfulness of God. But to do that effectively, I had to do more than just try to think differently, I had to open my mouth and speak the Word of God. Over the years the Lord has taught me that you can’t overcome negative thoughts simply by thinking positive thoughts because all thoughts are on the same plane. You can’t f ight thoughts with thoughts. To win the battle of the mind, you have to fight unbelieving, fear-inspired thoughts with the spoken word—specifically the Word of God. That’s often very difficult to do in a situation like this because the devil is putting such pressure on your flesh that the last thing you want to do is speak the Word. He exerts that kind of pressure for one simple reason—he knows if you start speaking the Word he is whipped.

He won’t be able to maintain his hold on your mind any longer.

Why is that? It ’s because your spiritual system is divinely designed so that the moment you open your mouth, your mind must stop thinking and listen to what

hurt. I thanked Him that my arms and fingers worked fine and didn’t hurt. I told Him how grateful I was for my house and my porch and my pajamas.

“Lord, I’m grateful that Your hand is on my back right now and Your healing power is working in me,” I said. “I’m so thankful that Jesus went to the cross and that I get to spend eternity in heaven with You. I’m grateful that my future is bright and full of Your blessings…”

From then on, I spent time each day fixing my mind on God and speaking out my love and gratitude to Him. As I kept doing that over a period of weeks, I got a little better every day.

One day my Spirit-filled chiropractor came over and instead of just working on me physically, he laid hands on me and read the prayer of agreement he and his family had prayed over me. The instant he did, I knew in my spirit the battle had been won. The word of the Lord dropped into my heart and I heard Him say, This thing is over. The end of it has come.

To win the battle of the mind,

you have to fight unbelieving , fear - inspired thoughts with the spoken word — specifically the

your mouth has to say. You’re created that way by God, and nobody—the devil included—can change that.

One Word From God Changes Everything

After I’d been up several nights with that ferocious pain, I decided to put that principle to work for me. I had already settled things from the Word of God. I had specific scriptures I was believing and Gloria and I had prayed the prayer of agreement.

But the pain was still so bad that I had one heating pad tied around my thigh and another one around the calf of my leg with the temperature turned up so high it was almost burning me. I’d been sitting on the back porch most of the night and I’d finally nodded off for about 45 minutes. Just as the sun came up I woke up again with so much pain I could hardly think.

“Lord,” I said, “I’m determined to keep my mind fixed by faith on You; and I know that faith works by love, so I’m just going to express my love and gratitude to You this morning.”

Then I started thanking God out loud for everything I could think of. I thanked Him that my other leg didn’t

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W ord

of

G od .

It was so clear to me that I fully expected the pain to disappear in an hour or two, but it didn’t. I had to stand on that word for a while before I saw the full manifestation of it. Then I had to continue my stand daily to get my strength back. I am still standing, exercising my faith, exercising my body and exercising my mind.

That’s OK though, because once a word f rom God drops into your spirit like that it changes everything. The whole world looks different from then on. You know that you know that you have the victory.

See It, Say It and Receive It

That kind of word from God solves impossible problems and overcomes overwhelming obstacles. That kind of word causes such faith to rise up within you that you can speak to the mountainous situation in your life and see it removed by the mighty hand of God. But you won’t hear that kind of word if you do all your praying on the run. It’s all right to pray on the run because you ought to be praying continually, but if that’s all you do, you’ll miss about 90 percent of what God

wants to tell you. There are some things He just won’t power. Speak His Word and praise Him out loud. be able to get across to you and some things He won’t be Visualize His promises coming to pass in your life. able to show you until you take time to be still and focus Be still and focus on the fact that He is God, until your on the fact that He is God. mind is quiet and you can hear His voice.

So take the time to do that. Take the time to open your It won’t necessarily be easy. It will take time and effort.

Bible and meditate on what it says about that impossible But if you’ll make a quality decision to do it the Father situation you’re facing. If you’re dealing with sickness, for Himself will back you up. He’ll strengthen you, speak to example, turn to 1 Peter 2:24 and remind yourself that you and lead you into victory.

Jesus bore your sicknesses and carried your pains. Talk to He’ll rise up in His almighty, creative, overcoming yourself out loud and say, “Thank God, by Jesus’ stripes I power and do the impossible in your life. V ictor y was healed. I choose to believe that!”

You might be able to quote that verse from memory, but don’t rely on your memory. Get your Bible and read it again.

Then stop and think about it. Ask yourself, “How does this Word change my situation? How should I see myself in the light of what God says?” as seen That ’s what I did when I on TV was fighting that battle against pain in my body. I meditated on the fact that I was healed by the stripes of Jesus and purposely changed my inner image of myself to reflect that truth. Instead of seeing myself wrapped up in heating pads, I envisioned myself getting up and taking those heating pads off. I began to see myself ministering to others, preaching and doing what God has called me to do—without any pain in my body.

“Why, Brother Copeland, you were just imagining things!”

God wants to do the impossible in your Yes, I was. And I make no life…and now’s the time! This package apologies for it. The imagiwill help you stir your faith and keep Grow Your Faith Package nation is a holy and powerful you strong as you stand on His Word.

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How Do I Do That? b y Te r r i C o p e l a n d P e a r s o n s

I

belong to a somewhat unique club that only a small group of people qualify for. | The members of this club never gather, but we can find each other in the midst of thousands. | We rarely h av e th e opp or tunity to talk, tell stories or compare notes. But even so, once we meet there is an instant common bond due to the magnitude of our common ground.

Age has nothing to do with it. Nor does race, background or financial status. Gender doesn’t either, really, except that the majority of my club does happen to be women.

What is this club? I call it the “Many M’s Club.” I am in it because I am the granddaughter of a minister, the daughter of a minister, the sister of ministers, the wife of a minister and the mother of ministers. Oh, did I mention that I am also a minister?

All who qualify for membership can honestly say they live in church. In fact, church goes with us wherever we go. If we aren’t talking about a message preached, listening to one on CD, or reading one, we are probably preparing to preach one!

We can hear the same stories over and over without repeating them along with the preacher. We can laugh at the same ol’ jokes, and even find the humor in them at least one more time. And even though there is no part of our childhood, married life or parenting experience that is safe from public exposure, we learn to look good in red (faces) and smile anyway. It’s just part of the club membership.

But I wouldn’t trade my membership in the Many M’s for anything. To be among the people of God, in the presence of God, hearing the Word of God as often as we do, for the whole of our lives, is quite a thrill—as

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well as an honor. Besides that, you start out young with on-the-job training!

I Can Almost Hear You Being part of the Many M’s Club develops a skill similar to a mother’s ability to see what children are doing even when they are in another room.

Sometimes, I can hear what the whole congregation is thinking when a scripture is read.

Take for example, Ephesians 4:1 (The Amplified Bible), “I [Paul]…beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called

[with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service.” Read that aloud and I can almost feel the crowd bursting with the question, How do I do that?

After all these years, I can sense you had that same thought too, didn’t you?

Another thing I have learned from the Many M’s Club is that you should do your best to answer questions you stir up. So I am glad you asked!

First Things First How do you do that?

First things always come first. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom.” That doesn’t mean it’s at the top of your to-do list. It means that everything else must come in line with the kingdom. It rules over all. Nothing we do in our lives should ever conflict with life in the kingdom. Remember, “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).

well of Him to others and never do anything to bring shame or dishonor to His Name.

We should love others the same way. When we love others, we love God. But here’s the part most people struggle with. We are to love others as we love ourselves. That means we are to value ourselves and what God has done in us. We cannot dishonor ourselves or what He has called us to, because that would dishonor Him. We must recognize and appreciate the talents He has given us by using them for others. We must not speak badly of ourselves because we are the handiwork of the Creator. To love God, to love others, we must love ourselves.

If you are like most people, you see so many flaws in yourself that you may be asking, of course, How can I do that?

First John 4:16 has the answer: “And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put

Love God by giving all you have and all you are to honor Him. Find value in Him and His ways.

Speak well of Him to others and never do anything to bring shame or dishonor to His Name.

So, to seek the kingdom is to seek to live in righteousness, peace and joy!

I can hear you again! How do I do that?

Well, you abide, or live, in Him. John 15:5 ( The Amplif ied Bible) says, “whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit.” What is that fruit?

Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace…. Sound familiar? The kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy—same as the fruit. So, to seek or to see kingdom results, we must live in Him. I know. How do I do that?

First John 4:8 says God is love. To live in God is to live in love. John 15:10 backs that up. Jesus had just told His disciples, “Abide in me.” Then He said, “Abide in my love.”

OK, Terri, that makes sense. But how do I do that?

Living in love is broken down for us into three parts.

Matthew 22:37-39 says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself ” (The Amplif ied Bible).

Love God by giving all you have and all you are to honor Him. Find value in Him and His ways. Speak

faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us” (The Amplif ied Bible). Believe the love.

I know it can be challenging sometimes to believe that love could be for you at the same time you are aware of your shortcomings. So you will just have to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Walk by faith? Can you tell me how do I do that?

Some people assume they know what it means to walk by faith until it comes to actually doing it. Then they have a spiritual panic attack. Really walking by faith is simple.

In Psalm 119:105, David tells us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (The Amplified Bible).

Learning how and where to walk by faith is illuminated to your spirit and mind through the Word of God. It’s not just a generic path. It’s your path—the one God has chosen for you. You may wonder, How can this be? But Hebrews 4:12 declares that the Word of God is alive and full of power. Verse 13 says that no creature is concealed from His sight and that all things are naked before Him. That’s some light! He knows just how to shine it—just for your path.

Then, Romans 10:17 says the faith we need to walk that path comes by hearing the Word of God. This means to not only hear the Word with our ears, but

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to hear it in our hearts—as God speaking to us. That’s what brings faith.

I still hear you. Now you want to know, How do I do that? How do I hear the Word?

The answer lies in one of my favorite passages, John 16:13-14:

The Lord Wor ks in...

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But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will… take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you (The Amplif ied Bible).

It is the job of the Holy Spirit to get the truth of the Word over to you, and He is well able to do His job!

He will reveal it to you. If declaring it doesn’t get it done, He will directly transmit it to your spirit. Isaiah 50:4 says: “He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple…”

(The Amplif ied Bible). He knows how and He will do it! All you have to do is listen for His voice.

Yes, but I am a bit weak in spiritual things. How do I do that?

“The [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance” (Romans 8:26, The Amplif ied Bible).

There is nothing like praying in tongues to build your spiritual capacity. Jude 20 backs that up: “Beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit” (The Amplified Bible). We know from 1 Corinthians 14:2 that praying in tongues is praying in the spirit. And verse 4 says that he who prays in an unknown tongue edifies or builds himself up.

My goodness, Pastor Terri, I can hear you say, that’s an awful lot. How do I do all that?

This may be my best answer yet. “Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself ] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, The Amplified Bible).

Sure, you have to do your part and yield to Him. It is He and His faithfulness empowering you and doing the real work. All you have to do is let Him. Perhaps you should direct your next question to Him and ask, How do You do that? V ictor y Terri Copeland Pearsons is the eldest daughter of Kenneth Copeland.

She and her husband, George, pastor Eagle Mountain International Church located on the grounds of Kenneth Copeland Ministries. For information or ministry materials write to Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001.

the Strength of the

Partnership Connection every God Every dayday God gives women the trust, courage and strength to accomplish the special missions He has prepared just for them. Consider some of the stories in this issue of BVOV, for example.

Rosa Parks’ mission initiated a move-

ment that changed the face of a nation.

Rhonda Rosier helps every person who

walks through the door of her business find God’s plan for their lives.

Marty Copeland holds fast to the Word

of God with bulldog faith for the birth of your children.

Susan (see Good News Gazette story)

loved so much she found help for a friend grieving over her mother’s death.

e

I learned from the Bible to trust in God and not be afraid. God provided me with the strength I needed at the precise time when conditions were ripe for change…He gave me the strength not to move. —Rosa Parks

Ever y woman’s mission is to influence the lives of the people she loves. And, just like these women, the Lord connects them with par tners in their own lives—a church, a husband, an entire family, or a ministry like Kenneth Copeland Ministries—to encourage and strengthen them.

The power to accomplish every mission is found in the strength of partnership.

every woman’s mission Kenneth Copeland Ministries is honored to be connected with women and men, young and old, around the world to teach them, pray for them, and provide them with tools to help complete their special assignments from the Lord. And we would be honored to connect with you, too!

Make The Partnership Connection with Kenneth Copeland Ministries today and receive the Par tnership Package with complete information about partnership, complimentary gifts and more. Or, if you’d like more information about getting connected just let us know.

To become a Partner or learn more about partnership: visit our website at www.kcmcanada.ca or call 877-480-3388. We look forard to hearing from you!

I t ’s t i m e f o r y o u r b r e a k t h r o u g h !

B or n to B e Fre e

Rosa Parks “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” ( John 8:36)

America’s fight for freedom didn’t end in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For a large segment of our population, it hadn’t even begun. By the close of the Civil War, civil rights laws were passed and slavery had been officially abolished— at least on paper. But many people still lived like slaves.

It was almost 100 years before a people would dig their heels in and declare, “The law says I’m free, and I’m not putting up with this anymore.” It happened Dec. 1, 1955.

Riding home from a hard day of work as a seamstress, a tired Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus

in Montgomery, Ala., to a white passenger.

In her own defiant way, the 42-year-old Parks was demanding the freedom that was already hers to claim.

Quiet Resistance

Rosa Parks wasn’t the first African American to defy discrimination and be arrested. But it would be this incident that would eventually get major attention and subsequently make history.

Segregation had stifled the f reedoms of blacks in America. Everyday life was littered with signs of division.

Everything from restaurants to elevators, from restrooms to drinking fountains, was separate—labeled “Whites Only” or “Colored.”

Blacks sat in the “Colored” section at the rear of the bus in the public transportation system. And if the “White” section up front was full, they had to give up their seats and stand.

A few defiant souls walked miles to avoid such humilia- tion. Parks often passed up segregated drinking fountains—even though she was hot and thirsty.

But one December day in 1955, this determined lady had had enough. It was the last time she would hear a bus driver demand, “Let me have those seats.” This time she wasn’t moving. Although others had been lynched or beaten for less, Rosa Parks was unafraid: “God did away with all my fear,” she would later recall. “I felt the presence of God on the bus and heard His quiet voice as I sat there waiting for the police to take me to the station. The voice of God told me that He was at my side.”

Police arrested Parks and took her to jail. But even there God was with her. “I felt as if the world had forgotten me. But I felt His presence with me in the jail cell.”

Though she was convicted of violating segregation laws, Parks sparked an outcry heard across the nation.

People were finally fed up.

Unified Power

Finally a people stood up en masse and took action.

Rosa Parks’ case became a test against segregation. A group lead by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. boycotted the city’s bus system for 381 days. On Nov. 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses unconstitutional. The official written order from the Supreme Court arrived in Montgomery Dec. 20. The next day, Rosa Parks rode on an integrated bus for the first time—seated on the front row.

Born to Be Free…and Educated

Resistance to unfair treatment was almost “passed down” in her family’s genes, Parks once said. Her grandfather, who was beaten, starved and denied shoes as a child while living on a slave plantation, had taught his children and grandchildren never to accept bad treatment.

Parks’ mother, who had earned a teaching certificate, taught her daughter to value education—something Parks embraced. Sadly, her schooling was cut short when she had to quit to take care of her mother and grandmother who both had fallen ill. Parks later returned to school and earned a high school diploma.

Let My People Go

Raised in a family of strong Christians, Rosa’s mother taught her the importance of reading the Bible and drawing strength and guidance from it. Faith was part of their everyday life.

Having grown up in church, Rosa was familiar with the story in the Bible of the oppression of God’s people. Rosa

“I learned from the Bible to trust in God and not be afraid,” she once said. also knew that the African Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was a part, had played a major role in helping slaves escape to freedom.

The bedrock of the black community, church was the only place blacks could meet legally. There they found strength in God and each other. There they united. Rosa would later say, “Finally, as a group we demanded, ‘Let My people go.’”

Rosa credited God for giving her strength when she needed it that day on the bus in 1955.

“I learned from the Bible to trust in God and not be afraid,” she once said. “God provided me with the strength I needed at the precise time when conditions were ripe for change…He gave me the strength not to move.”

Mother of the Civil Rights Movement

Through standing for her rights, Rosa Parks became a model for freedom fighters everywhere. She became known as “mother of the civil rights movement.”

After her husband’s death, Parks co-founded The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development in 1987. She worked to educate and encourage youth to “reach their highest potential,” and continued to be a voice in the civil rights movement.

Following her death in 2005, President George W. Bush signed a bill to place a statue of Rosa Parks in the U.S. Capitol. He honored her with these words: Rosa Parks called America back to its founding promise of equality and justice for everyone…. Our Declaration of Independence makes clear that the human right to dignity and equality is not a grant of government—it is a gift from the Author of Life. And by holding our nation true to the words of its founding document, Rosa Parks helped her fellow AfricanAmericans claim their God-given freedoms and made America a better place.

Rosa Parks caught sight of a world where love dispels darkness and division, and every person can walk in the freedom that comes from God alone. For Parks this was not just a dream.

As we continue to pray and look to God for strength and guidance, each of us has a part to play. Like Rosa, we were all born to be free. V ictor y

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R e f o c u s Yo u r Fa i t h a n d

Get Ready for Your Miracle!

by Mar ty Copeland

A

As I sat next to my husband, John, at the 1991 West Coast Believers’ Convention, my hear t was heavy. After many, many months of believing for a child, I still hadn’t conceived. I had been standing for my healing in this area, but the manifestation had not yet come. There I was in the middle of this faith-filled arena, praising God for this child I was believing for and yet overcome with this longing in my hear t.

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“God, I so want a baby!”

Just then, Kenneth Copeland turned to speak to me—not as my father-in-law, but as a prophet of God. “Because of your faith, the Word has taken root in you and it won’t be much longer,” he said. I was so excited by that word because it confirmed that my faith was working.

Not long after that, John’s grandmother, Mary Neece, called and said, “Marty, I was just thinking about you today as I was reading about Hannah.” She felt there was a word for me in the story of Hannah giving birth to Samuel, and she was right. Of course, I had read Hannah’s story before, but this time there was revelation in those scriptures for me.

From Precedent to Manifestation

That day as I studied Hannah’s story and prayed her prayer, the Word of God spoke to my heart. I found a new precedent in the Word of God. I saw how much God loved Hannah and how He had opened her womb so she could conceive and give birth to Samuel.

The revelation that God is no respecter of persons grew strong on the inside of me, and I repeatedly said aloud, “If God did that for Hannah, He’ll do the same for me.”

I had already been standing on many healing scriptures, but this new revelation of “God is no respecter of persons” helped me to refocus my faith. I no longer focused entirely on healing for my body, but on the reality that God truly is no respecter of persons. More than ever before, I could believe God for a child—the

same miracle He had given Hannah. That was exciting to me! It should be exciting to you, too, because this principle works for everything that is promised to you in the Word.

Now I had my biblical precedent in Hannah and I had the Word of God that said, “God is no respecter of persons.” That was all I needed to put me on the road to covenant children. The doctor I was seeing performed two laparoscopic surgeries on me to remove scar tissue from my ovaries. It was God’s promise to Hannah that empowered me both to take action and to stay in faith.

The Word tells us that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). I had been in need of that substance, and that day as I studied Hannah’s story I found it. The precedent of Hannah becoming pregnant and giving birth to a healthy child, joined with the revelation that God is no respecter of persons, had become substance to me. Then in the difficult times—the times when doubt filled my mind and there was a bad report—I had substance to hold on to.

It was this substance that carried me through the next 12 months, until I finally became pregnant with our first child, Courtney.

Bulldog Faith

have to grab hold of whatever God has promised you and never let it go. You have to hold on to the revelation you’ve received and never turn it loose!

A bulldog knows that bone is his, and he’s taking it.

You have to approach whatever you’re believing God for in the same manner. You can take it by force, knowing you’re a child of the Most High God and He’s promised it to you. Healing? It’s yours. Prosperity? It’s yours.

Peace? It’s yours. Children? They’re yours. If you can find it in the Word of God, it’s yours! Grab hold of it!

But you say, “Marty, I’ve had bulldog faith for nine years and nothing has changed.” Well, let me ask you this—is your bulldog faith holding on to “a bone” that’s promised in the Word of God? Have you tried refocusing your faith? Maybe there is a course of action that God has prompted you to take but you haven’t? Or maybe it’s the condition of your heart.

If you believe for something that is promised in

If you’re believing for something that is promised in the Word, but your motivation for that manifestation is wrong, your prayers may be hindered.

Alexandria, Courtney and Jonathan Copeland

I love the story of Hannah. Even now, after having Courtney, enduring several miscarriages and having two more beautiful children, I identify with Hannah more than just about anyone else in the Bible. I know what it’s like to be discouraged, and I know what it’s like to want a child so much it totally consumes your life. And like Hannah, I also know what it’s like to stand in faith until the promise comes.

Hannah had unshakable faith. She had what Kenneth calls, “bulldog faith.” She believed God would give her a child and she wasn’t about to let go of that belief.

Even when her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, taunted her because she had no children, Hannah didn’t let go of the promise she’d someday give birth to a son.

Even when their family made the trek to the temple at Shiloh year after year and Hannah still hadn’t conceived, she didn’t let go of her dream. Why? Because she had bulldog faith.

Bulldog faith, according to Brother Copeland, is never letting go of what belongs to you. A bulldog will take a bone in his mouth and won’t let go of it—no matter what. That is what you must do with God’s Word. You

the Word, but your motivation for that manifestation is wrong, your prayers can be hindered. Only after Hannah changed her heart’s motivation did she experience manifestation with the birth of Samuel and eventually overflow with additional children. Her heart’s cry went from “I want a son, Lord,” to “I want a son, God, so that I can give him to You.” (See 1 Samuel 1:10-12.)

It’s Not About You!

What was the change that took place in Hannah’s heart? She realized that the fulfillment of her dream wasn’t just about her. It was about God and His plan.

I don’t know who came up with the saying, “It’s not about you,” but I like it, and I think it fits well with this teaching. Because when you are believing so intensely for something, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture.

Think about it. The story of Hannah took place in about 1150 B.C. At that time Israel was divided politically and experiencing moral decline and decay. People were asking, “Where are the great leaders God promised?” But not Hannah. She was in the midst of this troubled time, yet she was totally focused on her heart’s

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desire for a son. She wasn’t concerned with the lack of godly leadership. She just wanted a baby.

Sure God had placed that desire within her, but not just to fulfill her dream—God had a divine purpose.

He needed to get a great leader to His chosen people.

God did give Hannah the desire of her heart, but it was in order to get Samuel into the earth—the person who would eventually anoint King David—the lineage of

Jesus! While Hannah thought she was believing for a son simply because she was unfulfilled, God’s plan was much bigger. Hannah’s faith impacted her own life, her family, Israel and the world!

Think about the purpose of what you’re believing God to do in your life. If it’s a desire from God, it has a divine purpose. It’s not just about you. Yes, God loves you and He wants to bless you, but He has divine purpose in everything He does.

Do you think if Hannah had known God’s divine purpose for her life and her child she would have wept so much? If I had only known what God had planned for John and me—would I have wept so much? I believed God for one child, and we not only had our daughter Courtney in 1993, but also Jonathan in April 2000 and Alexandria in February 2002.

That’s overflow!

As I look at our children now, my heart is so full because I was like Hannah. I was that woman on my face before God, crying out for a child.

So I encourage you to never give up. Whether you’re believing God for a happy marriage, a healthy body or an increase in your finances—don’t give up. It is in you to desire good…and God has great things in store for them! Stand firm for your children ness, and it is in God to manitoday and don’t let go. In the Believing God for Your Children Package, fest that goodness toward you. you’ll find three books with life-giving Truth for your family. Included are: Give God something to work Family Promises—Plant God’s Word in your heart concerning your children with—bulldog faith that is conwith chapter after chapter of family-focused scriptures to stand on. nected to a promise in the Word One Word From God Can Change Your Family—Be encouraged and blessed of God! Remember that God is with life-changing teachings by trusted ministers. no respecter of persons. Have the Raising Children Without Fear—Discover how to teach your children to be attitude that you aren’t letting separate from the world and break the cycle of fear in their lives. go until you get what is yours Take hold of this powerful package today as you stand Believing God for in God’s Word, and get ready Your Children! for your miracle! What God has Believing God for Your Children Package done for others, He will surely CDN$10 Family Promises by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland | 9” x 5” | paperback | 114 pages do for you! V ictor y #B060504

Your Children Are the Future

One Word From God Can Change Your Family by Kenneth Copeland Publications 6” x 4” | paperback | 160 pages

Raising Children Without Fear by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland 5½” x 3½” | paperback | 48 pages

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Certif ied by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, Texas, Marty Copeland is a personal trainer, nutritional counselor, author and minister of the gospel.

Believer’s

Kenneth Copeland

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Voice

Gloria Copeland

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Billye Brim

B roa d c a s t

V i c to ry

Terri Copeland Pearsons

C a l e n da r

Kellie Copeland

Marty Copeland

Keith Moore

Daily Broadcast 1 Mon

2 Tue

3 Wed

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5 Fri

Walking in Love Manifests God’s Glory

Billye Brim joins Gloria Copeland all this week. Tune in to discover the heavenly

benefits of choosing to always walk in love.

Sunday Broadcast 7

Kenneth Copeland Heaven Is in You Believing is the way you connect to the power of heaven on the inside of you. Tune in to find out how to keep that power growing, moving and producing as you release it to the world.

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Gloria Copeland, Terri Copeland Pearsons, Kellie Copeland and Marty Copeland The Copeland Girls’ Mother’s Day Special Join these four special women on this one special day as we honor mothers.

Kenneth Copeland Understanding God’s Purpose and Plan If you’ve ever thought God’s ways were a mystery, then tune in and learn how to understand His purpose and plan.

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Kenneth Copeland Where Faith Begins You have the same faith as Jesus. Find out how to work with it and make it grow for you.

Tune in to the BVOV broadcast Monday through Friday and on Sunday each week at www.kcm.org.

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The Copeland Girls

Gloria Copeland, Terri Copeland Pearsons, Kellie Copeland and Marty Copeland

come together and share about their faith in God and His love.

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The Girls Are Back!

Gloria Copeland, Terri Copeland Pearsons, Kellie Copeland and Marty Copeland

are back for a second week. Sit back, pour yourself a cup of tea and join them for more insights from their hearts of faith.

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Moore Wisdom

Join guest host Keith Moore for the first of two weeks, as he shares practical wisdom for everyday living.

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Even Moore Wisdom

Don’t miss this second week with Keith Moore . He specializes in God’s wisdom for living.

Watch the BVOV broadcast again and again!

Order your audio or video copies of the BVOV broadcast now by using the form in the center of this magazine. tape or CD video or DVD Daily broadcast (one week) CDN$10 Daily broadcast (one week) CDN$15 Sunday broadcast CDN$5 Sunday broadcast CDN$10

BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY VOLUME 34 NUMBER 5 May 2006 BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY is published monthly by Eagle Mountain International Church Inc./Kenneth Copeland Ministries Inc., a nonprofit corporation, Fort Worth, Texas. © 2006 Kenneth Copeland Ministries Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY and the logo on the back page are registered trademarks of Eagle Mountain International Church Inc./Kenneth Copeland Ministries Inc., in the United States and international countries where BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY circulates. Printing and distribution costs are paid for by donations from KCM Partners and Friends. Printed in the United States of America. For a free subscription write to Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001 or sign up online at www.kcm.org. Because all BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY issues are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. Partner Development Strategy Manager/Kelly Weekly Publishing Manager/Glenda Bunkofske Partner Development Operations Assistant Manager/Julie King Managing Editor/Ronald C. Jordan Editor/Deborah Ide Writers/Michelle Medlock Adams Karen Adlong Darlene Breed Rick Bunkofske Gina Lynnes Christopher Maselli Proofreaders/ John Caccomo Jean De Long Michelle Harris Eileen Hooley Senior Designer/Michael Augustat Project Manager/Lynette Lundy Type Coordinator/Joyce Glasgow

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She Saved My Life

T h a n k yo u very much for being there to pray with me, and to stand in agreement with me when times were so difficult I didn’t know what to pray for. Thank you for the day I was contemplating suicide and a young lady from your ministr y rang my phone and saved my life. She didn’t know it, but she saved my life and the lives of my children.

I recently picked up Gloria’s book Blessed Beyond Measure. I read it before, and it had been on my mind for weeks, as I have been going through the ups and downs of standing strong in faith and refusing to let fear plant itself.

My faith has been strengthened by the book and all its biblical references. It has helped me speak my heart’s desires, repent from some stuff that I had forgotten about, and to forgive. Then I received my BVOV magazine yesterday and was overwhelmed by the articles. They were just what I needed. Thank you!

woul d come gives us or not they whet her ness . And He choo se land good will to ia Cope of His y. – Glor them free to parta ke ce toda He gave of Life of choi to the Treesame freed om the

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P.H. | Texas

GoodNewsG And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 28:2, T he A mplif ied B ible

Body Healed…by God I’m writing this letter in thanks for the miracles and blessings I’ve received since I started reading BVOV. Your insight is definitely godly and it has contributed greatly to my total submission to God through my Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. I pray that one day soon I can join you on the outside in the good fight, but for now I’ll keep being about His business in here.

I’ve got to tell you about the miracle of divine healing that I have been blessed with. I had a tumor in my right calf muscle that used to swell up every night and cause me great pain and discomfort. One day I was reading BVOV and after reading about healing, I stood in faith and behold, I’m healed. Thank You, Jesus, and thanks, Mrs. Copeland, for your guidance in healing. Pray for me and I will always pray for you all.

C.W. | Mississippi

Bad Credit Sown Up March 2004, my wife and I were attempting to buy a home, but I had made a mess of my credit and did not qualify for a loan. When I prayed, the Lord showed me a brand new, two-story, custom-built home with a basement and two-car garage. I knew it was mine—it was the first one my wife and I agreed on. Since God has forgiven me, I did not accept that debt would reign over me. I was not neglecting the debt—I just couldn’t do anything about it and take care of my family at the same time. I had a plan to pay off some of my current bills with my bonus check, but had no means to pay off past debts that were affecting my credit. I watched your broadcast and I volunteered at the 2003 Greensboro Victory Campaign which is where I heard about the Citation X team. I told God that I wanted to sow into that and I asked Him for $1,000 to give. I didn’t have a tenth of it at the time.

When I received my bonus I had the money, but I was also Thank You for believing God for additional Being There for Me money to pay some bills. I had Thank you for always being there for to decide—pay off a debt or sow. me on your prayer line, TV and the Paying off the debt seemed more Internet. When I’ve had no one to pray logical, but I knew my money was with I would call, and while I was on better in the kingdom of God than hold I would hear Gloria or Kenneth in the world’s system. To make a quote scriptures or I’d hear songs that long story short, in less than three ministered to me and I would be OK. months I had 26 items taken off my Thanks for all the ministers you have credit report all at once. My debts to pray with us in times of upset. I were all canceled. I walked into my pray for you and your ministry every credit union three days later and day. I have followed, learned about the got a mortgage to buy my house. power of His Name and realized there Hallelujah! The Word is TRUE! was more than just going to church.

Kelvin Muldrow | Kernersville, N.C. Through this ministry, I learned faith.

Thanks.

B.W. | Kentucky

Gazette

Stretch for the Double

Winning Over Grief and Sorrow Several months ago I called to request prayer for a good friend whose mother had recently died. The devil had her in a deep depression of grief and sorrow. All of our mutual friends and I had prayed for and with her to no avail. I asked the minister on the phone if you had any tapes that dealt with grief. He said he’d send the tape Winning Over Grief and Sorrow, and the Sorrow Not! minibook. When I gave them to her, she began listening to the tape of Brother Ken several times a day, day after day, and she read the minibook. In about 10 days she was completely set free from those demon spirits and came completely out of her depression. She is back to normal and now rejoices that her mother is with Jesus—she has no more grief or sorrow about her passing. We cannot thank you enough for that tape and for your ministry. You have been such a blessing. We have been using that tape to help other people—in our church and at work—who have lost loved ones. We’re planting more and more seeds from the one you sowed. Thank you and God bless you.

Susan Russell | Black Mountain, N.C.

Roadside Bomb Explodes, God Protects

God protected him and the whole crew

| Alabama

D. and J.B. | Canada

Born-Again Blessing Thank you, Brother and Sister Copeland, the prayer department and all the KCM staff, for praying for me and my wife. I don’t know how to explain my happiness and joy to you. I was born again by your prayers, your magazine, the CD you sent me and also by seeing and hearing your teaching on TV. I dug a hole in my heart and received Jesus by faith as my Lord and Savior—I was born again. And Nov. 17, 2005, at 1:30 p.m., Jesus blessed me and my wife with a baby girl!

The last 15 years I was away from the Lord and had many obstacles in my way and no Jesus to help me. But after receiving your prayers, magazine and CD, I started receiving signs, and in the last three years Jesus has done wonderful works in me. Praise the Name of Jesus!

G.P.

Our oldest son, who turned 26 in December, is ser ving his second tour in Iraq and is a crewmember driver on a Brad ley Fighting Vehicle, part of the 3rd Infantry Division, 57th Cavalry.

I got a call one evening that a roadside bomb IED (Improvised Explosive Device) had detonated directly under the driver’s compartment. It blew a 6-foot crater in the road, blew off a track and dislodged the transmission. He said there were cracks in the armored plating that you could see through. But God protected him and the whole crew! He received three stitches, another crew member got a couple stitches and another had a slight concussion, but was quickly released from the hospital. Our son left last night en route to Kuwait to return home in February. The first time he went over and the war started, God told me my fear and worry wouldn’t do any good, but my prayers could move mountains. I turned him over to God, and for the second time He is bringing him safely home. Praise God! And thank you, KCM, for your support.

R.P.

When Ken said it was time for the double we started giving twice as much—from $20 to $40—which was a stretch. I have just received a 40 percent pay increase. Praise God!

Prayer of Agreement = Baby on the Way!

You are so a gift of God for us. My wife and I thank God for the inspiring messages of faith you send us each day. The Lord uses them to speak directly to us and to build up our faith so that we can get into all He has for us. We love you so much and pray the Lord to reward you for your faithfulness. We would also like to thank God for the prayer of agreement about us having a child. My wife is five months pregnant. Glory to God! God bless you. Happy, glorious year of total fulfillment.

H.A. | France

Employment Regained

by Prayer and Meditation Thank you for praying for me. Just after reading Sister Gloria’s message on The Goodness of God, I was thinking on it when the phone rang and I was given a start date to work…after almost six months unemployment. Thank you.

N.B. | United Kingdom

God’s Wisdom–

Your Priority!

by Kenneth Copeland

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very one of us has been faced with a crisis or a decision that baffles us. The situation may be simple or it may be complex. It may be relevant for a moment, a day or a lifetime. | Regardless of the situation, the solution is always located about 18 inches below our heads. It’s tucked deep within our inner man, in our born-again spirit. All we need to do is get it from our hearts to our heads. | How do we do that? Ask the Lord for wisdom.

The First Step

I know that sounds simple, but when crises come, it’s surprising how many believers forget to ask for wisdom as the first priority to solve a problem. Most of the time they get excited and start analyzing the situation, trying to figure out what steps to take to solve it. Then after using up lots of time and energy, they finally wear themselves out and get around to asking God for His solution.

Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.” As born-again believers, Christ has connected us forever to the wisdom of God. As Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

We need to learn to just slow down in those situations and turn to Him first, expecting the wisdom of God on the inside of us to rise to meet our challenge and keep us in peace.

Start praising God and say: “Lord, I praise You and thank You for the covenant of peace. I refuse to let the devil take that peace from me in this situation. Lord, I know Your Word says that You are with me in trouble and You deliver me. Christ Jesus is my wisdom. So I’m asking You now to reveal Your wisdom in this matter. Please reveal to me how to pray and skillfully use my faith.”

Then finish that prayer off with some time praying in the spirit and listening for the wisdom.

Regardless of how confusing your problem may seem—you can pray that prayer in confidence knowing God will answer it because James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The Most Valuable Thing

I remember one time in particular when the Lord demonstrated that in my life. At the time, Gloria and I were facing a situation that was very serious.

We didn’t have the slightest idea what had caused it.

To be honest, at first I simply reacted. I started saying every scripture and praying every way I could think. But God interrupted me and said, Kenneth, it’s good to confess scriptures. It’s good to pray. But the principal thing you need is wisdom. So just settle your heart down knowing that everything will be all right. You don’t have to get all disturbed. Pray in the Holy Ghost so you can pray the perfect will of God. Then listen for My direction.

So that’s what I did. Several days went by and I just went about my business trusting God to reveal His wisdom to me. Then one morning I woke up knowing exactly what we were facing and exactly how to respond with the Word. I knew what to do and what to pray. As a result, Gloria and I walked out of that situation together in victory.

God’s wisdom is the most valuable thing you can ever receive f rom Him. W hatever your situation, no matter how impossible it may seem in your eyes, or in the eyes of your family and f riends, the Lord has the plan to deliver you. If you’ ll make your priority praying the situation through and receiving God’s wisdom about it, not only will you come through that trouble, but you’ ll also learn how to keep f rom getting into it again.

Turn the Tables on the Devil

God will show you how to turn the tables on the devil, taking the situation he devised for your destruction and turning it into a tool of blessing.

What’s more, God will show you how to turn the tables on the devil, taking the situation he devised for your destruction and turning it into a tool of blessing—not just in your life, but in others’ lives as well.

One of my favorite examples of that kind of turnaround came for a church I know. Several years ago someone broke into their building and stole their sound system. Instead of moaning and crying about it, that congregation used wisdom.

They got together and started praising God. Then they skillfully used the word of righteousness and commanded Satan to bring their stuff back in the Name of Jesus.

As it turned out, the man who stole the equipment was already in jail. He had been arrested for another crime. The police didn’t even know he had stolen the church’s stuff. But he started hollering from his jail cell, begging someone to go to his house, get the church equipment he’d stolen and return it.

As a result the police called the pastor of the church and the pastor went down to the jail, shared the gospel with that young man and he became born again! Now that’s what I call turning the tables on the devil!

We need to learn to just slow down in those situations and turn to Him first, expecting the wisdom of God on the inside of us to rise to meet our challenge and keep us in peace.

You can do the same thing in any situation you may face. Simply ask God for wisdom f irst. Then listen and obey. After all is said and done, you’ll not only come out in victory, but the devil will be sorry he ever messed with you. And you will most likely help the Lord change someone else’s life along the way! V ICTOR Y

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Something Missing

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omething was missing. | Rhonda Waterhouse sensed it as she drove past the familiar sites that marked her way home. Looking out the car window, she saw Mount Hood standing like a majestic sentinel overlooking Portland, Oregon. The verdant foliage, ripe from recent rains, swayed in a gentle breeze. The Willamette River swelled in its banks as it snaked its way through the Pacific Northwest. | The countryside was peaceful and beautiful—a scenic postcard. Yet Rhonda felt a growing unease. | Had she forgotten something? Her purse sat on the seat beside her. Her briefcase rocked along on the front floorboard. Still…something was missing. | At home, Rhonda unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Everything was just as she left it. Even so, the uneasy feeling dogged her as she pulled on a pair of comfortable jeans and then searched the refrigeraI’ve got to do something tor for the makings of a meal. | Rhonda’s life was good. Having grown up in a warm and I’ve never done, Rhonda loving family, she had gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from Portland State thought. I’ve got to University. She enjoyed a good job where she was an area sales manager. She lived in a comtotally surrender to God, fortable, orderly home in a lovely part of the country.

holding nothing back.

What could possibly be missing? who helped me, I knew it was a divine setup by God. Curling up on the sofa after dinner, Rhonda quieted her “The man, Rick Rosier, was so kind that I thought he mind and stilled her heart. She determined she wasn’t going must be a Christian. They didn’t have the car I wanted on to brush the feeling away. Rather, she allowed it to rise to the lot, so I stayed in contact with Rick until it arrived. the surface where she could examine it more closely.

Eventually he asked me out, and I discovered that he was All the introspection was a bit unnerving. It reminded her not only a Christian, but on fire for the Lord.” of when she was 5 years old and afraid of the dark. One Soon after, Rhonda introduced Rick to Kenneth Copeland night her dad had said to her, “If you’ll ask God to lighten Ministries, which she had partnered with since the early 1980s. your room, He will.”

“We began speaking the Word over our lives faithfully. In That night Rhonda’s 5-year-old voice trembled when she agreement with Ken and Gloria, we prayed Psalm 23, 91 prayed. “God, would You come in and lighten my room?” and 103; Isaiah 54; and Ephesians 1 and 3, and I also began Her fears fled in the face of the warmth that wrapped itself praying for insight, ideas and concepts. Almost immediately around her. She had turned over with a smile on her lips and things began to change. I was overwhelmed with favor and slept. From that day forward, Rhonda never doubted the honor in my new job.” existence of God. Now, she needed Him to shine His light on her life. She needed Him to show her what was missing.

Moving on Up | On one occasion Rhonda did a reference Currently, there were no promising men in her life—cercheck in person on a new employee at a well-established tainly no husband material. And although she had a great business. That one contact landed her a huge account. In job, she spent most of her time on the road. She had already addition, she met the company’s head tech manager. Together received every promotion the company had to offer. The they developed a free, onsite training program to further plan for her career path had been accomplished. There was develop employees’ skills. At the time few, if any, temporary nowhere else to go. services offered onsite training.

What was her next step?

While her professional career soared, her personal life did That’s it! so as well.

Suddenly, Rhonda knew what was missing. It was as clear After dating three years, Rhonda and Rick were married to her as she knew the sun would rise in the morning.

God’s plan.

As their She had been so busy living out her own plan, she had reputation grew, not stopped to find out what He might want her to do.

Staff Finders I’ve got to do something I’ve never done, Rhonda thought. began staffing I’ve got to totally surrender to God, holding nothing back. entire companies.

With a deep sigh, she prayed: “Father, I believe You Ninety-nine percent have a plan for my life. What is it You want for me? I of the employees release myself to You and trust You. Whatever Your plan they placed in jobs is, I want to fulfill it.” were eventually hired by the God Makes a Move | A few months after she prayed companies. a prayer of surrender to God’s plan for her life, Rhonda went to work for a staffing service in Portland. “The owner was a wonderful Jewish man who sincerely loved people and enjoyed reaching out to them,” Rhonda said. He made an immediate impression on her.

“A slump in the economy had forced a lot of mothers out of the home and into the workplace,” Rhonda remembers.

“Many came to us looking for work and feeling insecure. I decided that for the time I would be with the company, my focus would be on loving the people.

“Since my previous job had provided a company car, I did not own one. My first step was to buy myself one,” she said. “After seeing an ad in the newspaper, I showed up at a local dealership. Within minutes of meeting the salesman

in 1985. The following year, Rhonda gave birth to their daughter, Ashley. As the years passed, Rick and Rhonda attended one of KCM’s conventions yearly and taped nearly all the ministry’s television broadcasts. In January 1990, Rhonda gave birth to their second daughter, Christa.

For 10 straight years, the Portland office ranked first in the nation among all the company’s offices. During that same period, Rhonda was the No. 1 account representative.

The company offered her elaborate trips to exotic islands each year, in recognition of her success. Each year, Rhonda would decline the offer, choosing instead to stay at home with her family.

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She also used that time to stay connected to the Word of God by listening to teachings by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. “Every morning, I would go to the gym with a portable CD player and listen to one of Kenneth’s teachings,” Rhonda explains. “I would listen to the same CD for a month and learn something new every day. When Kenneth and Gloria began teaching on the power of the blood of Jesus, we began praying the protective power of Jesus’ blood, along with Psalm 91, over each member of our family every day.

Divine Destiny | In 1995 the owner of the company died, and the atmosphere at Rhonda’s job changed almost overnight. The next year, after 13 years with the company, Rhonda left that season of her life behind.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” Rhonda admits, “but I had an idea for a business unlike any that I’d known.

“I had signed a non-compete clause that would be in effect for six months, which I honored. I didn’t know for sure what I was going to do, but I made a firm decision to trust the Lord and not to get into fear. I had learned through Kenneth and Gloria that fear may try to cover you like a blanket, but if your heart rejects it, the fear won’t connect with you. I rejected all fear of the future.”

Rhonda had also learned about tithing through the Copelands’ ministry. And even though she no longer had a regular salary, Rhonda never stopped giving. “I count that teaching as one of the greatest bondage breakers known to man,” she said.

Eventually, Rhonda met with a banker and outlined her idea for a business.

“I’m going to get you a small-business loan,” the woman offered.

In 1997, Rhonda’s dream business became a reality when Staff Finders Technical of Oregon opened its doors. Her dream team included her husband, Rick, who became the training manager; her sister, as operations manager; and a friend who came out of retirement to help out.

They leased a 1500-square-foot space with a training room and customer service area that was laid out to accommodate growth. In the lobby they hung a sign that read, God loves you today and every day. Now that Rhonda had seen the power of personal surrender, she and the others prayed over the business saying, “Lord, it’s Yours.” Almost immediately, people—including gang members—made their way to Staff Finders looking for work. Being careful to acknowledge the Human Resource laws, Rick would often pray for them when led by the Holy Spirit to do so.

Wisdom Is

the Principal Thing | The business found its niche in electronics manufacturing. Working as

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“Having so many of the companies we worked with move out of the country should have had a devastating effect on us. Thankfully we’d been praying the Word of God over the business and asking for insight, ideas and concepts.

a partner to the companies that came to them for help, Staff Finders provided employees on temporary assignment as well as filled permanent positions. They placed engineers, technicians, assemblers, customer service agents and administrators, as well as provided onsite training and onsite management. As their reputation grew, Staff Finders began staffing entire companies. Ninety-nine percent of the employees they placed in jobs were eventually hired by the companies.

By 1999, their office staff had grown to a dozen people.

“Oregon was primarily in the business of electronics manufacturing,” Rhonda says, “and we were hit hard by 9/11.

Many of the manufacturing companies were owned by foreign businesses that pulled their plants out of the U.S. following 9/11. Most of them moved to other countries where they could get the same work done for less.

“Having so many of the companies we worked with move out of the country should have had a devastating effect on us. Thankfully we’d been praying the Word of God over the business and asking for insight, ideas and concepts. God delivered each of those and showed us how to shift with the shifting economy. We grew to 200 employees assigned to different companies.”

In the spring of 2005, Rhonda marked her calendar for the upcoming annual luncheon sponsored by the Oregon Business magazine. Each year the magazine conducts employee surveys to determine the 100 best companies to work for. Divided into two parts—for large and small businesses—225 companies vie for a spot on the list.

The banquet hall was filled with 900 people as the crowd hushed for the announcements they’d all been waiting to hear.

“And now, the best small business to work for is…

Staff Finders Technical of Oregon!”

Rhonda Rosier stood amid wild applause and walked to the podium to accept the honor. She thought back to the time when it seemed that something was missing in her life.

Nothing was missing now. She had a wonderful husband who was a godly father to their two daughters, now 19 and 16. And if that was not enough, God had given her the idea for her dream career, and made that dream come true. He had crowned her with favor and honor.

God had a plan for Rhonda Rosier, for Rick, Ashley, Christa, and the whole team at Staff Finders. He has a plan for every person who steps through the door looking for a job.

He has a plan for you. Victory

(

D i v i n e ly D i f f e r e n t,

Empowered for God

I

by Kellie Copeland

recently saw a movie where an American teenager desperately wants to find the father she’s only known through pictures and stories. When she discovers her father is a wealthy British politician, she travels to Europe to meet him. Realizing she does not mesh with his upper-class world, she asks a friend to help her fit in. While practicing a deep curtsy, she falls headfirst into the nearby water. Her friend consoles her, then asks, “ Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were so obviously born to stand out?”

That’s the same message our heavenly Father wants our young women to grasp today. God made them to be different—to stand out from the crowd. He created them to be Proverbs 31 girls. But that doesn’t mean the devil won’t try to lead them down a different path. We’ve had our share of discussions on this very topic at my house.

As many of you know, I’m the mother of three Proverbs 31 daughters. They’re all over 18 now, and they’re all beautiful young women who live their lives in a set-apart, pure way. They are successful and happy, and most importantly they know they are special to their heavenly Father.

Growing up, they didn’t need to wear skimpy clothes or have lots of boyfriends to feel good about themselves.

In fact, they were too focused on the things of God to give place to those things. They were busy pursuing the Lord and what He had for them. They found out that being different from the world wasn’t a negative thing—it was a divine thing. They discovered they were born to stand out.

Divinely Different

Not all girls are taught that divine difference. As a result many of today’s girls feel pressured to become like the pop stars and actresses who wear skimpy clothing and present themselves in an ungodly way. And why wouldn’t they feel pressured? Everywhere you look, girls are wearing skimpy tops and short skirts. So our girls want to know, “Why shouldn’t we?”

Maybe you’re having this battle in your own home right now. Maybe your 12-year-old daughter desires to go down the pop-star path instead of the Proverbs 31 path. Well, don’t despair. Even the daughters of Zion struggled with this issue.

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They found out that being different from the world wasn’t a negative thing—it was a divine thing.

They discovered they were born to stand out.

In Isaiah 3, we read where the daughters of Zion saw how the women in surrounding cultures dressed and acted. They were intrigued by the heavy makeup, elaborate jewelry and alluring clothes. After being around these women who had no covenant with God, the daughters of Zion wanted this same image instead of being the godly daughters the Lord had created them to be.

This displeased the Lord, who described them as being haughty, walking with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. (See Isaiah 3:16.) In other words, they were flirting and acting seductive, swinging their hips from side to side.

The Lord wasn’t upset that the daughters of Zion wore jewelry or makeup. He was displeased that they desired to be like the women who did not know Him— that they had conformed. They were no longer set apart.

Consequences to Compromise

The same situation is playing out all over the world.

Our “daughters of Zion” are going around with their tummies showing because it’s in fashion. The devil is misleading our girls, whispering to them, “If you don’t wear belly-baring shirts, you won’t fit in.”

Why try to fit in when you were born to stand out?

Besides, there are consequences to compromise. There certainly were consequences for the daughters of Zion.

The Lord didn’t like what He saw. And because of their actions, their men lost when they went out to battle. (See Isaiah 3:16-25.)

Isn’t that interesting? Because these supposedly godly women decided to conform to the worldly way of dress, the Israelite men couldn’t win their battles. That tells me we girls are pretty special. How we present ourselves matters.

There came a time when the daughters of Zion got tired of living and looking like the other women, because the favor of God had been totally removed from their lives. They repented, came back to God and started acting and dressing like godly girls should.

That’s all it took. Once again they had divine protection and divine glory—all because they decided to do the right thing—to look and act like girls who belonged to God. That ’s who we are—God’s girls. That ’s who our daughters, stepdaughters, granddaughters and nieces are, and that is why the devil is trying to deceive them.

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God Made Girls Special

As women of the Word, it ’s our job to stop that deception in its tracks. But before we can stop the deception in the lives of our girls, we had better find out if we’re also being deceived.

How is your self-esteem? Do you know how special you are in the eyes of God? How long has it been since you climbed up in your heavenly Father’s lap and let Him love on you and tell you how special you are? If it’s been a while, get in the Word today and find out just how precious you are to God. Read Proverbs 31, and discover who you are and what you mean to Him. He says you are more valuable than rubies! Then, share that news with your girls!

Our daughters need to know that trendy, provocative clothing and a seductive walk will not define them. Only Jesus makes us who we are. He makes us beautiful. The transformation comes from the inside out.

They need to know that having a boy friend won’t make them more complete or more desirable.

Jesus already desires them. He loves spending time with them.

The devil will tell you and your daughters that you are nobody unless you have somebody. But we do have Somebody—Jesus! And He adores us. That’s why God made us so special. Think back to the Garden of Eden.

The Word says that God fashioned Eve differently than Adam. That should speak volumes to you. He made us different on purpose.

Not only are we to be different from the women of the world, but we’re also to be different from men.

W hen the women’s liberation movement began, women started standing up for their rights. And the devil took full advantage of this situation. He started whispering in their ears, saying things like: “You’re just as good as men. You’re just as smart as men. You ought to be treated just like men!”

The devil has used this line of thinking to deceive women far too long, convincing us that we need to fight for power. The truth is, we’ve had power since the beginning of time. Think about the stor y of Adam and Eve and the Fall of Man. Eve easily swayed Adam’s thinking and before he knew it, Adam was eating the forbidden fruit. Girls, we have great power and we set the tone.

Born to Stand Out

What tone are you setting? What tone are your daughters setting?

If our girls don’t know how special they are, they won’t act like they’re special. When they hear boys using bad language they will join right in. Before long, those boys won’t respect our girls because they won’t see them as special.

Girls set the higher standard and we need to teach them that truth. When a little boy starts saying inappropriate things around one of our girls, she can boldly say, “No, I don’t say things like that. And I’m not going

Southwest

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Believers’ Convention

Calling all kids! ages 6-12

to let you say ugly things like that in my presence because I am too special for that kind of talk.”

Grab hold of the fact that as women, we are special.

Teach your daughters that God sees them as special and that He has set them apart from the world. Talk to them about the wonderful plan that God has for their lives ( Jeremiah 29:11), and encourage them to become the young women He has called them to be.

It’s time we realize just how special God has made us.

Remember, as daughters of God we weren’t made to fit in—we were born to stand out! V ictor y

July 31-August 5

theG lo ry ishe for Your Kids, too! grades 7-12

Commander Kellie

Dana and Linda Johnson

Join us for Superkid Academy with Dana and Linda Johnson and special appearances by Commander Kellie! It’s like a full week of Superkid Camp for FREE! And don’t miss Saturday… where you can be part of our very own Healing School. See you there, cadets!

Young Adults

You’ve asked for it and here it is!

Kenneth Copeland Ministries is launching 14forty Student Ministries, its new young adult outreach program. Under the leadership of Jeremy Pearsons, eldest grandson of Kenneth Copeland, 14forty will go into full swing at the 2006 Southwest Believers’ Convention. With guest speakers and worship leaders from around the country, 14forty Southwest could very well be one of the greatest weeks your teenager will ever experience.

Thousands of dollars worth of giveaways Friday night concert (Tickets will be available closer to event.)

Visit 14forty.com for updates and more information.

Admission is FREE.

Fort Worth Convention Center | 1201 Houston St., Fort Worth, TX 76102 | (817) 570-2222 Meetings are subject to change without notice. For updated information, please log on to getimmersed.org or call the KCM office nearest you.

Partners and Friends within the United States call (800) 600-7395. | Partners and Friends within Canada call (877) 480-3388.

Get Totally Immersed at Kenneth Copeland Ministries

the

2006 Meetings

is here!

It’s Your Year of Total Fulfillment! ”I believe one of the most important things God has called us to do i s to m eet tog ether. As you join in the corporate anointing

at

these

meetings,

Kenneth Copeland

Gloria Copeland

Jerry Savelle

Jesse Duplantis

the

i n t e n s e e x p o s u r e t o t h e Wo r d o f God will r enew your mind so you will become prosperous-minded, healed and well.“ —Kenneth Copeland

Terri Copeland Pearsons will be in Australia May 22-June 5 (hosted by KCM Australia)

Creflo A. Dollar

Keith Moore (West Coast)

Bill Winston (Great Lakes)

Admission is FREE. Meetings are subject to change without notice. For updated information, please log on to getimmersed.org or call the KCM office nearest you.

Partners and Friends within the United States call (800) 600-7395. Partners and Friends within Canada call (877) 480-3388.

One Word From God Can Change Your Life Forever!

Be a voice of victory...Bring a friend!

Join Kenneth and Gloria at these meetings:

West Coast

Believers’ Convention

|

April 21-22 The Copeland Girls Ladies’ Conference

July 3-8

Eagle Mountain International Church Kenneth Copeland Ministries Headquarters 14355 Morris-Dido Road, Newark, TX 76071 (not a mailing address) (800) 600-7395 | www.kcm.org

Anaheim Convention Center | 800 W. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA 92802

Southwest

| Believers’ Convention

July 31-August 5

April 25-29 Azusa Street Centennial Los Angeles, Calif. | www.azusastreet100.net

Fort Worth Convention Center | 1201 Houston St. Fort Worth, TX 76102

Great Lakes

Believers’ Convention

April 27 Azusa Street Centennial Native American Committee

|

Los Angeles Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 www.forthistime.com

August 21-26

U.S. Cellular Arena | 400 W. Kilbourn Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53203

May 7 Cathedral of Praise

Gold Coast

I-30 at N. Fielder Road, Arlington, TX 76012 (817) 265-3333

Victory Campaign

|

October 5-7

June 16 Annual Word of Faith International Christian Center Conference

Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach

Word of Faith International Christian Center 20000 W. Nine Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075-5597 (248) 353-3476 www.wordoffaith-icc.org

Queensland, Australia

Perth

| October 10-11 Victory Campaign

September 1-3 Thunder Over Texas

Victory Life Centre | 1 Neil St. Osborne Park, WA 6917 Australia

Washington, D.C. Victory Campaign |

Join Gloria Copeland for Healing School Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

November 9-11

Hylton Memorial Chapel | 14640 Potomac Mills Road

Jerry Savelle Ministries International Historic Granbury Town Square 100 E. Pearl St., Granbury, TX 76048 (817) 297-3155 www.thunderovertexas.com

September 10 2006 Annual Word of Faith Conference

Woodbridge, VA 22192

Unable to attend? Join us via a live video or audio broadcast at getimmersed.org!

Living Word Christian Center 7306 W. Madison, Forest Park, IL 60130 (708) 697-5000 | www.livingwd.org

September 17-22 Days of Refreshing Eagle Mountain International Church Kenneth Copeland Ministries Headquarters 14355 Morris-Dido Road, Newark, TX 76071 (not a mailing address) | (800) 600-7395

Believers' Conventions will feature: Superkid Academy | Calling all kids, ages 6-12!

Join us for Superkid Academy with Dana and Linda Johnson and special appearances by Commander Kellie! It’s like a full week of Superkid Camp for FREE! And don’t miss Saturday…where you can

Commander Kellie

be a part of our very own Healing School. See you there, cadets!

Billye Brim Ministries P.O. Box 40, Branson, MO 65615 (417) 336-4877 | www.billyebrim.org

Young Adults in grades 7-12—join Jeremy Pearsons for 14forty services (at Southwest only).

Praise and worship led by Len Mink and the KCM band.

Victory Campaigns will feature: Speakers: Kenneth and Gloria Copeland Praise and worship by the KCM band

October 25-30 Prayer Mountain in the Ozarks

Dana and Linda Johnson

November 3-5 Living Word Christian Center 9301 75th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 (763) 315-7003 | www.lwcc.org

Without Spot or Wr inkle—

the

church E

by Gloria Copeland

very generation has had its role in God’s ultimate plan for all the earth to be filled with the glory of the Lord (Numbers 14:21).

During the time of Moses, God manifest His power on behalf of the children of Israel in such spectacular ways that they commanded the respect of the Egyptians. When Moses led the Israelites out of bondage, they were truly regarded as God’s people because of the unquestionable demonstration of His supernatural power.

In the same way, the day has come for God to raise up the Body of Christ—the glorious Church— without spot or wrinkle. This Church will command the respect of the world because it has the miraculous power of God in manifestation with signs and wonders! The Church will show forth the glory of God.

But first, God’s people must become faithful and available to God—like Moses did. God needed Moses’ obedience because Moses’ job was to stretch out his hand in the earth and command the will of God to be done. God had to have someone who would dare to act on His Word. When Moses stretched out his hand, God extended His hand and performed miracles, signs and wonders!

God was able to use Moses because Moses knew His ways (Psalm 103:7). If Moses had not been faithful to know God’s ways, the children of Israel would never have seen His acts.

Today the Spirit of God is dealing with us much in the same way as He dealt with Moses. We have experienced a move in the Body of Christ in which God has taught us His ways. We have learned to live according to the Word. We have been taught to walk by faith and not by sight because God needs people with a solid foundation in His Word.

God needs faithful, obedient people in this hour because He is going to once again show Himself strong in the earth.

He needs those who have made His Word the final authority in their lives. Those who know how to depend on God’s Word will be the backbone of this move of the Spirit.

You see, God has determined to reveal and manifest Himself in the earth in the Body of Christ.

We have been born again to live and operate in the spirit.

We have the Holy Spirit—God Himself—abiding on the inside of us!

The Body of Christ is made up of spiritual beings, living in bodies of flesh, who are capable of manifesting the glory of God. Ephesians 4:24 says these beings are created after God in righteousness and true holiness. But God has not been able to reveal Himself to the degree that He desires because we have been dominated by the flesh.

That is why, by His Spirit, God is revealing how we can walk in the spirit and not be controlled by the flesh. As we fine-tune our lives to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, God will have available the vessels necessary to manifest Himself in the earth. The key element is this: God is not looking for ability. He is looking for availability.

God’s plan is for this generation to sweep the souls of this earth into the kingdom of God. But to do this, supernatural power will be required just as it was required to deliver the children of Israel! The Spirit of God through the Body of Christ will deliver the children of men from the power of darkness by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do you see why, when God called Moses, He chose a man who would be obedient? Moses had what it took to accomplish the great feat of delivering Israel: He was faithful. Faithfulness results in action. That is called obedience!

If God is to use us as He used Moses, we must be Vessels of God

|

faithful too. We have learned to practice faith. But God wants us to learn to practice faithfulness to fulfill all that He has planned. | Far too often men and women have heard the word of faith and have tried to walk in the integrity of God’s Word without putting their heart into it.

They want the good things—health, prosperity, victory and blessings—without giving themselves to God and serving Him with their whole heart.

Jesus said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8). In other words, we can confess the Word of God from now until Jesus comes, but if our heart is not right, it will not come to pass.

Until we get our priorities right, the things of this world will continue to steal time and energy from us that we should be giving to the things of the Spirit. We will be so caught up in using our faith for the affairs of this world that our desire will be for the things of the world instead of for God. Too many have tried to have the best of both worlds— prospering financially but not dedicating to the ways of God (which in reality is the way to prosper). They may experience some outward success that way, but they will not experience the blessings and power of God to the degree He desires for them. Money without peace will only increase the problem.

God requires more of us because we have revelation knowledge of His Word. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48).

We are a generation to whom much has been given. God has not trained us in His Word so we could consume it on our own lusts. He has revealed His Word to us so we would walk in the spirit while we live in a natural, physical world.

We must walk in the spirit to fulfill God’s plan for this hour. We must let go of our allegiance to this natural world and put God first place in our lives. Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35).

We have a job to do. God needs us to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel. We are the carriers of His Word.

We are the Word made flesh, just as Jesus was. We have the same opportunity Jesus had to do the will of the Father. He laid down His life in glory to come to the earth and make a way for us to be born again.

Jesus came to set up His kingdom, and He did. We enter into that kingdom by grace through faith. We are messengers of God’s grace, telling the world they can be born again by faith in Jesus Christ.

God Wants Your Heart!

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| We have learned to walk by faith. Now we must be faithful with what we know and do whatever is necessary to harvest the souls on the earth. As we become more faithful to God than we are to ourselves, we will experience the power of God that we have sought.

Jesus frequently spoke about faithfulness. He said, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” (Matthew 24:44-45). Commit yourself to be a wise and faithful servant. Say from your heart, “God, You can count on me.”

According to the parable in Matthew 24, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (verse 46). Doing what? Doing what he is told to do: being faithful to his Lord. Jesus did not say just any servant would be blessed. The faithful and wise servant was blessed of his lord.

In Matthew 25, Jesus told the parable about the wise and foolish virgins. He was making the same point: Those who were diligent and prepared were blessed.

Then Jesus continued to teach the disciples about faithfulness: The Faithful Are Blessed

and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury [interest].

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath (Matthew 25:24-29).

The wicked and slothful servant did not know his master very well. He did not trust his master, so he was afraid. The slothful servant had no faith in his master because he did not know him.

You must become faithful and diligent to spend the time it takes to get to know God. When you know Him, you will trust Him. You will know that He rewards you for being faithful!

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave us His Name, His authority and His power. He said to preach For the kingdom of heaven is as a man the gospel to every creature, cast out devils and travelling into a far country, who called his The higher life— lay hands on the sick. He gave us our assignthe life that is own servants, and delivered unto them his ments and sent the Holy Spirit to endue us lived in the goods. And unto one he gave five talents, with the power necessary to fulfill those to another two, and to another one; to assignments (Mark 16:15-20; Matthew spirit—is where every man according to his several ability; 28:19-20; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4). the joy is! But and straightway took his journey (verses In Matthew 28, Jesus told the disonly the faithful 14-15). ciples to teach the converts to “observe will find it. all things whatsoever I have commanded The one who was given five talents made you” (verse 20). The Body of Christ is to five more talents. The one who was given two talents carry on exactly as Jesus did. gained two more. They were faithful with what was given You can look at Church history and see the talents to them. “But he that had received one went and digged the Master has given each generation. He has brought in the earth, and hid his lord’s money” (Matthew 25:18). one revival after another, waiting for the Church to When the master returned, they all reported what they do what He commanded. Now we are entering into had done with their talents. To the two who had invested the revival of the glory of God and of the Spirit being and increased theirs, he said, “Well done, thou good and manifest to all flesh. Jesus is giving this generation the faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, responsibility of walking in the spirit so the glory of I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into God will be revealed in us. the joy of thy lord” (verse 21).

Whether you received five talents or two, God expects Then the last servant reported to him and said: you to be faithful now. He wants you to grow right where you are and become faithful over what He has Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reapassigned you to do. Prove yourself faithful over little, and ing where thou hast not sown, and gathering where God will make you ruler over much. thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went Did you notice Matthew 25:21 says the faithful servant

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entered into the joy of his Lord? The higher life—the life that is lived in the spirit—is where the joy is! But only the faithful will find it. God is urging believers to walk in this higher realm, where they can absolutely dominate the things of this earth! It is the blessing and joy of the Lord that we receive when we become faithful.

We need to tell God every day, “Lord, You can count on me. I love You, and I am here to serve You. I deny my own interests. I lay aside the pleasures of this life, and I make myself available to You today. What do You want me to do?”

As we come to that place spiritually, we will begin to walk in an area with God we thought would be possible only in heaven!

How will we be able to walk in the spirit even though we are clothed with this flesh? By spending more time pursuing the things of the Spirit than we spend pursuing the things of the flesh.

We will have to become dedicated to prayer and fellowship with God. We must be dedicated to the Word of God and be willing to pull aside from this busy life around us to get alone with God so He can guide us, teach us and communicate with us.

Our natural ability does not determine our usefulness.

All we have to be are those who live in the presence of God. He has the ability!

We make ourselves available to Him by praying in the spirit, worshiping and fellowshiping with Him. Then He can manifest His character, His nature, His glory and His Spirit in us. That is what He wants to do. He came to live inside us so He could radiate from the inside out! That’s what happened with Jesus.

When Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God within Him radiated outward and He was transfigured. “His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matthew 17:2).

And since God is the same yesterday, today and forever, it will happen the same way in our day.

God has never changed His ways. The glory of God will come f rom the inside of us—f rom our inner man—as we give ourselves totally to Him and walk in the spirit.

We were predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29-30). God has reproduced Himself through believers—the Church—so He can show Himself to the world.

Now it’s time for the glorious Church to shine! V ictor y Are You Available?

|

Adapted from Gloria Copeland’s book Hearing From Heaven, formerly published as Walk in the Spirit.

Know Him Like Never Before Living contact with God is not only possible…it’s something He desires! Get To Know Him like never before with this compelling book by Gloria Copeland. You’ll learn how to guard your heart, how the Holy Spirit will help your spiritual growth, how to allow God to teach you His ways, and much more.

To Know Him

5½” x 8½” | hardback | 208 pages | CDN$18 | #B060517

Stay Pure Before God Purity and holiness are keys that can lead you to abundant living…but do they seem unattainable? They’re not! In this series, Gloria Copeland shares how you can live holy before the Lord, separate yourself from the world and enter into the “final frontier” of all God has for you.

Holiness: The Final Frontier Part 2—Staying Pure Before God 3-CD series | CDN$10 | #B060505

To order in Canada call toll free (877) 480-3388 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday PT. Charge card orders only please. All major charge cards accepted.

West Coast Kenneth Copeland

Gloria Copeland

Jerry Savelle

Jesse Duplantis

Creflo A. Dollar

Keith Moore

Get Totally Immersed at Kenneth Copeland Ministries

The Glory Is Here!

July 3-8

Believers’ Convention

Join Gloria Copeland for Healing School Saturday, July 8, at 9:30 a.m.

Unable to attend?

Then join us via a live broadcast through Internet BVOV TV and Internet Radio at www.kcm.org.

Calling all kids

Admission is FREE. | Be sure to register—it’s free and you could win a FREE prize!

Meetings are subject to change without notice. For updated information, please log on to getimmersed.org or call the KCM office nearest you. | Partners and Friends within the United States call (800) 600-7395. Partners and Friends within Canada call (877) 480-3388.

Anaheim Convention Center | 800 West Katella Ave. | Anaheim, CA 92802

, ages 6-12!

Join us for Superkid Academy with Dana and Linda Johnson and special appearances

by Commander Kellie! It’s like a full week of Superkid Camp for FREE! And don’t miss Saturday…where you can be a part of our very own Healing School. See you there, cadets!

It’s Your Year of Total Fulfillment!

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Kenneth Copeland Ministries PO Box 3111 STN LCD 1 Langley BC V3A 4R3

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Commander Kellie

Dana and Linda Johnson