Dear Partner,
Here it is the beginning of spring. We here in Northeast Texas have four distinct seasons. The month of March brings new life. The days are beginning to be warmer, and the trees are budding out. Change is happening. Do you remember the old saying: “Things are looking up”? Well, that’s what early spring is to me. However, when you think about it, looking up will always change things for the better, especially when we realize that calling things that be not as though they were is a way of life. Let’s go to Hebrews and see what “looking up” actually means. Remember now, chapter 11 is the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” Let’s begin reading at 11:39, and read through 12:3:
- And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
What are we seeing? I’ll show you. First, we’ll look at JESUS. Now let’s read 2 Peter 1:1: “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Look at Hebrews 11:39 once more: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise.” First of all, our faith is precious! Why? Because it’s GOD’s faith. Continue reading 2 Peter 1:3-4: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Exceeding great and precious COVENANT promises!
What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition is the answer: “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” Glory to GOD! Now read verse 3: “By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by The WORD of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.”
If that doesn’t set you on fire, your wood’s wet! That invisible force is living on the inside of your spirit being. Read the entire 11th and 12th chapters in the AMPC, keeping in mind your BLOOD COVENANT WITH THE ALMIGHTY GOD in the precious BLOOD OF JESUS. Let’s read verse 6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” That one verse contains an exceeding great and precious promise. Look at that verse again: HE IS THE REWARDER!
Now then, let’s go to our main topic of this letter which is calling things that be not as though they were. How? By faith. When I was praying about this month’s letter, I asked The LORD this question: “If You were writing a letter to my Partners this month, what would You say?” He immediately said: Tell them that calling things that be not as though they were is a way of life, not just something to lean on in times of trouble. The Apostle Paul brought faith into everything he wrote. For example, he wrote in Romans 10:6-8: “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The WORD is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, The WORD of faith, which we preach.”
See that? “THE WORD of faith which we preach.” Romans 4:13 says: “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” There’s that covenant word again—promise! To what is all of this referring? Genesis 17:1-2 says: “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, The LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.” Now look at verses 4-5: “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Notice the words: “HAVE I MADE THEE.” That was the first blood covenant ever recorded in the blood of a man. Chapter 15:18 says: “In the same day The LORD made a covenant with Abram.” That covenant was based on the blood of animals. Notice that covenant name change did not happen until Abram’s blood was shed. The letter “H” was placed in the middle of his name. The “H” is one of the Hebrew names of GOD—Hashem, or “THE NAME.” Now Abram and God are joined together forever. Let’s read Romans 4:16-17 from the AMPC:
- Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants—not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all. As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.
Now look at verses 18-21: “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
How then, could Abraham be fully persuaded that what God had promised He was also able to perform? IT WAS A BLOOD-BACKED COVENANT! Now read verses 22-24, and SHOUT!: “That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). But [the words], It was credited to him, were written not for his sake alone, but [they were written] for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our LORD from the dead” (AMPC).
Wait a minute. Read verse 25. Praise GOD forever! Our accounts have been balanced. For how long? Remember now, the book written to the Hebrews by the Apostle Paul is about the two covenants. He closed his letter with these marvelous covenant words in chapter 13:8, AMPC: “Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).” Now, pay special attention to verses 15-16: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Go to verses 11-12 (AMPC): “For when the blood of animals is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin, the victims’ bodies are burned outside the limits of the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood and set them apart as holy [for God].” Now look at verse 20: “Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our LORD Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament).” The King James Version says: “Through THE BLOOD of THE EVERLASTING COVENANT”!
Well, Brother Copeland, what do I do now?”
Find the covenant promise or promises that cover your situation. Personally, I like what Jesus promised in Matthew 6-7. For example, in chapter 6:31-33, Jesus said: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Then, chapter 7:7-8 covers almost everything. Finally, read John 13-16, that took place during the covenant meal that changed everything forever in both heaven and earth. Talk about precious promises! Now look at chapter 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The NEW COMMANDMENT of LOVE. Romans 5:5 says THE LOVE of GOD is in our hearts now, if we have made Jesus Christ our LORD. God is Love so He, God Himself, is in you NOW. Here is the bottom line: John 16:23 says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father IN MY NAME, he WILL give it you.” Now look at verse 24: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” That your joy may be full! Joy is the second fruit of your born-again spirit, and the joy of The LORD is your strength. That joy will flood your entire being—spirit, soul and body through the sacrifice of praise. Mix those words with your faith.
As you sow your BLESSING seed this month, name your seed your “New Beginning for 2022.” CALL IT! NAME IT! The angel said to Mary: Call His Name “God with us.” How? By faith!
Well, that’s enough for now. I remind you again, dear Covenant Partner, you are prayed for at every meal in the Copeland house. We call you BLESSED BEYOND
GOD loves you! We love you, and Jesus is LORD!
Love,
P.S. SOW IT FORWARD! Be a blessing. Pass this letter on to a family member or friend.
