Dear Partner,
At the time of this writing, the Southwest Believers’ Convention is only six days away. This one is SWBC No. 45. The first one was in 1981, and Gloria and I preached faith in all 45 of them! So, what is faith? Let’s turn in our Bibles to Hebrews 11:1 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition:
- 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].
Real Bible hope is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Natural hope answers the question, “Will you be healed in the service tonight?” with:
“Well, Brother Copeland, I sure do hope so.”
They might as well have said, “I sure wish I could, but I probably won’t.”
Now let’s look at the word hope in Noah Webster’s 1828 edition of the American Dictionary of the English Language: “A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief [faith] that it is obtainable.” There it is! It goes on to say, “Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired…. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.”
Let’s look now at what the Bible says about anxiety in Philippians 4:6-9, AMPC:
- Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
- And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
- For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
- Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
Romans 4:16-18, 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.
- [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be.
Did you notice that Abraham hoped in faith? Let’s go back to the genesis of our country. On April 30, 1789, at 9 a.m., the bells rang throughout our then-capital, New York City. That day, George Washington made his official oath of office. He laid his hand upon the Bible opened to Genesis 17:1. After Washington’s oath and covenant unto The LORD, he sealed it with, “So help me, God!,” then bowed his knee to the ground in reverence and kissed his Bible. Afterward, he called the senators and newly elected officials to join him as they walked arm-in-arm down the streets of New York City to St. Paul’s Chapel. There, they bowed together, prayed together and dedicated this land, our beloved America, to God! That was the day that covenant was invoked.
Some people have said to me, “Brother Copeland, aren’t you worried that the USA, with all of its stealing, killing and destroying will fall?”
NO! I AM NOT! First of all, worrying is fear-based sin, and I can prove it by The WORD of God! All anyone has to do is go back to Page 1 of God’s covenant with Abram. God appeared to Abram and changed his name to Abraham.
Look at Genesis 17:1-5 in the AMPC:
- When Abram was ninety-nine years old, The LORD appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).
- And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge) between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.
- Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him,
- As for Me, behold, My covenant (solemn pledge) is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations.
- Nor shall your name any longer be Abram [high, exalted father]; but your name shall be Abraham [father of a multitude], for I have made you the father of many nations.
These are the same scriptures to which our first president, George Washington, turned, and so did Ronald Reagan. George Washington designed our flag of 13 stars for the 13 colonies on a field of blue, with red and white stripes. Seamstress Betsy Ross sewed it together by hand! That was the flag in the “Star-Spangled Banner” that begins, “O say can you see…?” Take a look at John 13:34-35 in the AMPC:
- I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.
- By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
Then, John 14:1-2, also in the AMPC, says:
- Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.
- In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.
Then Jesus said in John 8:28-32:
- Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
- And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
- As he spake these words, many believed on him.
- Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
- And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Now let’s close with Ephesians 4:14-16:
- That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
- But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
- From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
“Compacted by that which every joint supplieth.” Now look at verse 16 in the AMPC:
- For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
That, dear Partner, is the reason The LORD dropped it in my heart to ask for and release my faith for a million “joints of supply” (Partners) here in the USA and another million outside of this country! Why? Because of our vision of KCBC becoming KCU!
As you sow your BLESSING seed this month, make a quality decision to walk in real Bible hope by teaching your children the 91st psalm, releasing faith for their protection. Read it with them every night and every morning—starting when they are so young they can’t read yet!
Remember, I pray for you at every meal—spirit, soul and body, financially and socially. God Loves you, we Love you, and Jesus is LORD!
