Dear Partner,
What is faith? Faith is a spiritual unseen force. Let’s look and see what THE Book says in Hebrews 11:1 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition: “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of 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 [five physical] senses].”
Faith is always now. Hope is future. Far too many Christian people do not know the difference between hope, or expectancy, and just wishing. For example: “Will you receive your healing when I lay my hands on you?”
“Well, Brother Copeland, I sure do hope (I wish) so.”
Contrast that with, “Brother Copeland, I know I will!”
How do you know?
“Because my Covenant with the Healer Himself says in 1 Peter 2:24 that He, Jesus, bore my sins in His own body on the tree, that I being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, and by His stripes I was healed!”
Look at that verse in the AMPC: “He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” That’s the first witness.
First John 4:4, AMPC, is the second witness: “Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.”
Witness No. 3 is found in Chapter 5:4-5, AMPC: “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?”
Witness No. 4 is found in 3 John 2, AMPC: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.”
That, my dear Partner, is real Bible hope. Real Bible hope is the “blueprint” for faith. A building contractor must have an accurate blueprint, or plan, with which to “see” the entire structure that the architect has provided. In this case, the architect is the Holy Spirit, and the blueprint is the red print in your Bible! The plan is the First and Second Covenants in, first, the blood of animals (Genesis 15), and then in the blood of Abram, who later became AbraHam in Genesis 17:1-5, 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.
Now look at verses 10-11 in the AMPC: “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your posterity after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a token or sign of the covenant (the promise or pledge) between Me and you.”
THE BLOOD OF A MAN! AN EVERLASTING COVENANT! Now let’s back all of this up. The Book says in Deuteronomy 30:17-20, AMPC:
- But if your [mind and] heart turn away and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish, and you shall not live long in the land which you pass over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the BLESSINGS and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live and may love The LORD your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which The LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Now from the Second Covenant. In Galatians 3:13-15, AMPC:
- Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified) [Deuteronomy 21:23]: to the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, THE BLESSING [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit. To speak in terms of human relations, brethren, [if] even a man makes a last will and testament (a merely human covenant), no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed (ratified, confirmed).
Continue reading Galatians 3:25-29, AMPC:
- But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer (the guardian of our childhood). For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.
What does it mean to you and me to be Abraham’s seed? Genesis 13:1-2, AMPC, says: “So Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South [country of Judah, the Negeb]. Now Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold.”
There you have it—“and in silver and in gold”! Verse 6, in the AMPC, says: “Now the land was not able to nourish and support them so they could dwell together, for their possessions were too great for them to live together.” We have now answered the question: “What is faith?” We have “seen” what it will produce. How, then, does one go about obtaining this mighty force with which Elohim created the universe? (Elohim: EL = GOD; OHIM— plural = Father, Son and Spirit). Romans 10:6-17, AMPC, says:
- But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down;
- Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved by our own efforts].
- But what does it say? The WORD (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, The WORD (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach,
- Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is LORD and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
- For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
- The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
- [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same LORD is LORD over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith].
- For everyone who calls upon the name of The LORD [invoking Him as LORD] will be saved.
- But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?
- And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!]
- But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, LORD, who as believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?
- So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).
The final question for this letter is: “How is it released?” I know you already know the answer to this question. But The LORD impressed me that we should do a faith review, as much for me as for you! Read Romans 4:13, 16-25. Now read Mark 11:13, and then verses 20-25 in the AMPC. BELIEVE it is granted to you! Believe it in your heart and say it with your mouth. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 12:35-37, AMPC: “The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.”
So then, as you sow your BLESSING seed this month, speak over it in faith and set yourself in holy agreement with us, according to Matthew 18:18-20, AMPC. We are believing for 1 million Partners, here in the USA, by the end of 2024, according to Ephesians 4:16. But that’s another letter—maybe next month!
This letter—a faith review—is dedicated to a powerful man of faith from whom I learned so many wonderful things like: “If the devil can’t steal your joy, he can’t keep your goods!” We preached together for over 50 years without a cross word—ever. That powerful man of faith is Jerry Savelle.
Until next time, remember, God Loves you, we Love you, and Jesus is LORD!
Love,
