Kenneth Copeland - Like God, Believe By Faith
The title of my message tonight is "Like God". Like God. And it begins in the fourth chapter of the book of Romans. "What shall we say then of Abraham our father as pertaining to the flesh hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward, not reckoned of grace, but of debt. For to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also described the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without work, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered".
That's the 32nd Psalm. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin to impute it". That's an accounting term. Won't count it against him. "Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned for Abraham for righteousness. How then was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in uncircumcision, but in uncircumcision. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith, of the faith which he had being yet uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of circumcision also, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise," here we are, "for the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, but the promise made of non-effect. Because the law works wrath where there no law is, there is no transgression".
Now, that's what with Cain. There was no law against murder. So right then, there had to be the law and the prophets. And the law was the 10 commandments. I have those written out, one through 10. And right there on my mirror where I shave, I can see those commandments. The rich young ruler that came to him and Jesus put on... and he said, defraud not. When was that a commandment? What number is defraud not? Professor Stephens in the 10 Commandments, no. It isn't there. It means don't cheat. What does fraud mean? And I dare say that most Christians didn't catch that, including this one. Amen.
Anyway. Now, see, that's important. So then you have Christians going all the way, you know, did you know defraud not's one of the 10 commandments? Jesus said so. What number is it? One through 10. This young man could not stand the light of number one. You will have no other gods before me. And he had great wealth, and he turned around and left in the 10th chapter of the book of Mark. That's important, right? That takes you back to here. So now here we are. Verse 14, "For they which are of law be heirs, faith is made void, but the promise made in none effect, because the law worketh wrath. Where there's no law is, there's no transgression. Therefore, it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end. To the end, the promise might be sure to all the seed, not that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who's the father of us all. As it is written, 'I have made thee a father of many nations.'"
There's a number one there before. Or like unto him. Like him. Like God. I have made thee the father of many nations. Like God, whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calls those things that be not as though they were. 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. Being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a 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, being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Therefore, it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised for our justification.
Verse 15, "For the law results in divine wrath, but where there is no law there's no transgression of it either. Therefore, inheriting the promise," keep talking about promise, the covenant, we'll go there in a moment. "For the law results in divine wrath, where there is no law there's no transgression of it either. 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 in adherence of the law, but also to those who are of faith with Abraham, thus is 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 non-existent things that he has foretold and promised, as if they already existed".
Now, after 57 years of ministry, I learned it from Brother Hagin, Brother Roberts, and I found it to be true. For Christian people, that's the hardest part right there. Well, let's see how hard it is. Go to the 17th chapter of Genesis. There is no record in the entire Bible that Abraham was ever sick. We know from the Bible that he had two qualifications. One, he would teach his children, and he would live by faith. He was quick to believe, and quick to act. "When Abraham was 90 years old and nine, the Lord appeared to the Lord". Who is the Lord? Jehovah. "The Lord appeared to Abraham and said, I am Almighty God. So the Lord Jehovah said, I am El Shaddai, the God who's more than enough. Walk before me and be thou perfect". Praise God. That perfect is actually blameless.
"When Abraham was 90 years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to him and said, I am El Shaddai. Walk and live habitually before me. Be perfect or blameless, wholehearted and complete. I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. Abraham fell on his face, and God said to him, as for me, behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations. Nor shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, father of multitude, for I have made you the father of many nations". The H, Hashem, Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, the name of God. So he entered covenant with him and when he did, he changed his name. In one place, he's called the friend of God. Covenant friend. There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. And I will make you exceeding fruitful.
"I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and to your posterity after you. And God said to Abraham, 'As for you, you shall therefore keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 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 a sign of the covenant, the promise or the pledge between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male throughout your generations, neither born in your house or bought with your money, for any foreigner of your offspring. He that is born in your house, he shall be bought with your money, must be circumcised, and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the male who is not circumcised, his soul shall be cut off from his people. He's broken my covenant.' And God said to Abraham, 'as for Sarai, your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah, princess shall be, her name shall be.'"
So her name was changed. "And I will bless her and give you a son by her. I will bless her. She shall be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples shall come from her. Abraham fell on his faith and laughed and said in his heart, shall a child be born to a man who's a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is 90 years old, bear a son? And he said to God, oh, that Ishmael might live before you. But God said, Sarah, your wife shall bear you a son indeed. And you shall call his name Isaac, or laughter. I will establish my covenant or some will pledge with him for an everlasting covenant and his posterity. As for Ishmael, I've heard and heeded you. I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly. He will be the father of 12 princes and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant, my promise pledge I'll make with Isaac". That's the oldest family feud in history. Hagar was an Egyptian maid. She saw to it that Ishmael had an Egyptian wife. And out of that came another religion. God stopped talking with him and went up from Abraham.
"Abraham took Ishmael, his son, and all who were born in his house. All that were bought with money and every male among those, Abraham's house and circumcised them. The very same day as God had said to him. Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised. Ishmael, his son, was 13. And on the very day Abraham was circumcised, Ishmael, his son, as well, and all the men of his house". Like God. I'm going to read it again. Let me get back over here. Because this is where we're going to live this year. "Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but also the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all".
There's a very interesting thing here in that fourth chapter of Romans. "If it is the adherents of the law who shall be heirs, then faith is made futile and empty of all meaning, and the promise of God is made void and annulled. It has no power. For the law results in divine wrath. But where there is no law, there's no transgression of it either. Therefore inheriting the promise is the outcome of faith. It depends entirely on faith in order that it might be given as an act of grace in unmerited favor to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all the descendants, not only the descendants and inherits of the law, but also to those who share faith, the faith of Abraham who thus is the father of us all. I have made you the father of many nations". Like God, I am. I am. El Shaddai, the Lord Jehovah God, Almighty God. El Shaddai, more than enough. I am Jehovah Rapha, your healer. I am your shepherd in the 23rd Psalm, and you shall want nothing. I am Jehovah Jireh. I am the provider. Jehovah Tsidkenu, our righteousness. Jehovah Shalom, our peace, nothing missing, nothing broken. Jehovah Nissi, the Lord is my flag, my banner.