Articles

Kenneth Copeland

And these signs shall follow them that believe...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mark 16:17-18

I used to get upset over people I'd lay hands on who wouldn't get well. I was praying one day and seeking God about it when He spoke to my spirit and said, Healing always comes.

I remember I said, "What do You mean, Healing always comes? Not everyone gets healed."

I didn't say they all received it, He answered. Then He spoke very sternly to me. I do My part. And I said they would recover!

Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. He said they would recover. He never lies. So if He said they would recover, then that means healing always comes. It's not God who's holding back. It's the receivers who aren't receiving.

Since then, I've never had any trouble laying hands on people and believing for them to be healed. Whether they walk away well or not, I just keep standing in faith for them. In fact, I know if that fellow who went away still sick ever lines his faith up with God and me—I don't care if it's five years from now—he'll be healed.

If you've laid hands on someone who didn't receive his healing, don't cut off the flow of God's power by withdrawing your faith. Stand fast. Keep believing that healing always comes and somewhere down the line that poor sick fellow may just decide to stand up and agree with you!

Scripture Reading:
Mark 10:46-52

“But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Perhaps you have marveled at God’s instantaneous healing miracles. Perhaps you believed that He would do the same for you. But now, when you see your own healing taking so long to manifest, you are tempted to give up.

My friend, when the manifestation does not come instantaneously, we are not to be discouraged because Jesus let us in on a secret when He shared the parable of the sower. (Mark 4:3–20)

The parable of the sower teaches us that once we receive God’s Word into our hearts regarding our situation, God’s blessings will manifest in progression. When we receive our thirtyfold manifestation, it means that 70 percent of that condition is still there. But some of us give up at thirtyfold because we still feel more pain than relief.

We need to realize that we are thirtyfold better than before, and our sixtyfold is coming! Once we receive our sixtyfold manifestation, there is still 40 percent that is not well. But we are more healed than sick now, and we only need to get ready for the hundredfold manifestation!

For years, I had a skin condition. Medication did not help and, finally, after I had done everything I knew to do, I decided to take the Holy Communion and pray about it. I said, “Father, I have an infirmity. I don’t know what is hindering the physical manifestation of this healing. Holy Spirit, I am trusting You to make perfect intercession regarding the manifestation of my healing.”

That was how I prayed for my skin condition. Did I look into the mirror to see if it had left? Of course I did! I am like anyone else. But did I stop praying? No, I kept on praying until one day, I heard a voice within me say, “Look at your body.” When I looked into the mirror, the skin condition was completely gone! I was totally healed, but the manifestation of the healing was gradual.

Today, if you have seen only a thirtyfold increase in your situation, don’t give up. The sixtyfold, then hundredfold increases are on their way to you!

Kenneth Copeland

And be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5

Most believers don't know anything about true humility. If you tell them they're the righteousness of God, they'll fight to keep from believing it. You can give them scripture references to prove it, and they'll still argue.

"Oh no," they'll say, "I'm not righteous. I'm just an old sinner saved by grace." They're making a sincere attempt to be humble. But they're sincerely wrong. They're so afraid of being exalted by pride that they've let Satan trick them into falling right into it.

Let me show you what I mean. According to 1 Peter 5:5-6, to be truly humble is to submit to God. That means when God says something, you believe it no matter how foreign to your "religious" thinking it may be. When He says you've been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, you say that too. In fact, you wouldn't dare say anything else because to do so would be to dare to disagree with God. And, when you get right down to it, that's the ultimate form of pride, isn't it?

Don't let Satan keep you groveling in the dust of false humility. Agree with God. Find out what His Word says about you, then be bold enough to say it yourself. Banish pride by submitting to His truth. Clothe yourself in true humility. It's sure to look good on you.

Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 5:5-11

Kenneth Copeland

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews 1:14

Most of us heard about our guardian angel when we were just children. And, in those days, it was a comforting thought. With monsters lurking behind the closet door and creepy things crawling beneath the bed, it was good to know that someone was there to protect us when the light was out.

But, as the years passed, we outgrew our childhood fears. The imaginary creatures that had once seemed so real disappeared from our minds—and sadly enough, for most of us, the angels did too.

But angels are not just kid stuff. They're powerful spirits sent forth to minister for us who are heirs of salvation.

The word salvation in Hebrews 1:14 is from the Greek word soteria meaning "deliverance, preservation...material, and temporal deliverance." Just think about that! God has created vast numbers of gloriously powerful spiritual beings for the express purpose of protecting us and delivering us from the evils of this world.

And remember, according to Psalm 103:20, the Word of God is what puts those angels in action. So when you're in trouble, don't cower and cry about how awful things are. Speak the Word! Give your angels something to respond to. Then be patient and let them have time to work. They'll get their job done.

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 103:17-22

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV).

Do you need God to show Himself strong on your behalf today? He has made a promise that He will deliver you if your heart is fully committed to Him.

The first commandment is to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (see Mark 12:30). God wants all of you, not just a part of you. He wants you to be fully committed to Him, not just 99% committed. Something significant happens in the spiritual realm when you give 100% to God, with no reservation.

Mark 4 talks about the desire for other things that can grow up around us and choke us. What is filling your mind today? Are you meditating on God and His Word, or are your thoughts on other things? When you make a decision regarding how to spend your time or your money, what influences the outcome? Is it what the Holy Spirit tells you or is it other things?

God is a good God and His plans for you are to give you a hope and a future (see Jeremiah 29:11). He will never withhold any good thing from you (see Psalm 84:11). The best decision you can ever make is to fully commit your heart to God and His plan for your life.

When you love God and your heart is fully committed, you will be able to yield completely to Him. When your heart is fully committed to Him, He is bound by His Word to show Himself strong on your behalf. He has promised to deliver you, and He will do it.

Confession: Lord, I fully commit my heart to you now. I will go anywhere You want me to go and do anything You want me to do. I give you permission to change me according to Your plan and purpose for my life. I am yours; do in me whatever You want to do.

Page 134 of 142

Menu