Kenneth Copeland - Ask God and Find Out His Plan
— Hello, everybody. I'm Kenneth Copeland. This is the Believer's Voice of Victory broadcast. And Professor Greg. And all last week we studied the Ten Commandments and read between the lines. That God was taking a people here that He had to give them laws to go by so He could bless them. That's His job. To bless. And it began in Genesis. So it's pretty important, really.
— It's very important.
— It goes all the way through both covenants.
— It's all the way through. All the teachings hang on it. He had to get their attention. And that's what He did. He got their attention.
— So, and, oh, my, Greg. I'm eager, you know. Yes, amen. And something crossed my mind. I was like, glory to God, yes. And I'd walk out there and say, "I'll tell you what we're going to do". And we're going to do this and we're going to do that. And boy, howdy, oh, wow. And I don't have any idea when or what. And this is one of the things that wore me out. And so, and I'm praying about all these things. And the Lord said, "You have mistaken my anointing for strength and energy. And you never inquired of me, of my plan". Now He said, "You picked up on my plan, but then you publicly announced it. So now you're obligated to it. And you have no idea what it was supposed to do". He said, "If you will seek me and get the plan, take the time to inquire of me". Now, that's what David did. "Take the time to inquire of me. And together, we'll work this out. Now, that means a lot of time in prayer and praying in the Spirit. And then listen". And, okay, and then He said, "And then if you'll announce it when I say announce it, by that time, I will have had time to show you what the plan is and how it works". And that was just about along the time when the Lord said, "Don't seek ways to get the money in. Seek the ways to get my Word out. And I'll see to it that the money comes in to finance it". Changed my whole life and existence. And at least I got a little rest for a while. And I always pushed myself way too hard in this, because I love it so. But find out what His plan is. And that's right here. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say through the grace given to me, every man among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man among you the measure of faith. Having given, oh, what are we going to do here? Oh, glory to God. We're about to learn the nine manifestations of the Spirit of God, the gifts of the Spirit. I'm so glad I didn't stop reading up here. The gifts of healings, working of miracles, and so forth and so on. And 14, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Glory to God. So you let it. Spend enough time, class, and to the radio and television audience, and to the KCBC students. Take the time that it takes and find out what the plan is. My spiritual father said it like this, "Kenneth. People will tell you you can't do it. Find out the will of God. Confer no longer with flesh and blood. Get your job done at any cost". Well, there's a way you find out the will of God.
— That's absolutely right. By presenting your body, your mind, the totality of all of you.
— I'm putting myself in His hands. So then I had to learn that I didn't get this from anyone. It just developed over a period of time. It is so important. One of the ways that I came about it, World War II, Monterey, California. Total immersion in the languages. Six weeks. You're fluent. By the end of the year, you're an interpreter. Because they didn't trust other people. Total immersion. Well, I wanted to go total immersion in the Word of God. That's where the Victory Channel came from. But... See, there's no marker there that were any change of paragraph like in the King James. And you just keep on going and going and going. This is the Book of Liberty. Amen.
— Paul lays out a case in the Book of Romans. And thank you, I get to teach this class at Kenneth Copeland Bible College. We do Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews word by word. So we get it all in context of what he's saying.
— Oh, that's so real.
— Well, it's total immersion. And it's based on one thing, the just shall live by faith. Four times that phrase in Habakkuk, the first covenant. And then three times in our new covenant, in the epistles. It's written to us. And so when you read it in the original Hebrew, it doesn't say the just shall live by faith. It says the just by faith shall live. Changes everything. And so I looked it up in Greek in my Blue Letter Bible. I even asked Renner when he was here, I said, "Alright Renner, this is what it says, is this right"? And in Greek it says the same thing, the just by faith. I was trying to live by faith. I was trying to, the just shall live by faith. So I was trying to live by, I was working hard, my faith, Brother Copeland. No, no, my faith is what justified me. Now I live. I can live after I've been justified. But I was still trying to be justified. Because my denomination taught me that. When you look at this book of Romans, chapters one through eight are all the doctrine of justification. That all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And it's the Jew with a covenant still needed to be justified, still need a redeemer. The Gentile with no covenant, we're both in the same boat. We need a redeemer. And the laws who produced that redeemer pointed us to him. It was Jesus, that seed of Abraham. But if you look, he inserts chapters nine, 10, and 11 to the Jews in there. But chapter eight, and I'm not saying we remove that. But if you take the end of chapter eight about the Spirit, There is therefore now no condemnation of those who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. And I go straight over to 12. This is why I present my bodies. Because I'm walking after the Spirit. They continue with one another. You look at the end of eight. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I skip right over. I beseech you therefore, brother, by the mercies of God, you present your bodies a living sacrifice. All I did was skip those three chapters. But now I understand why I present my body.
— The Romans didn't realize that they'd just been through Bible school. The whole thing is in the book of Romans.
— Absolutely. I would submit the other one that amplifies this, version 2.0, is Hebrews. The book of Hebrews.
— You put those two together. And of course the apostle Paul wrote them both.
— I believe that.
— Well, Brother Hagin asked Him.
— That's Jesus, yeah.
— Well, and he talks about Timothy his friend. Come on. And, well, I don't care who wrote it. It's in the book.
— Some of the earliest church fathers had the book of Galatians followed by the book of Hebrews. And if you look closely, they're almost one letter. First part written to the Gentile. The second part, Hebrews, written to the Jew. And he says, "See what such a long letter I wrote in my own hand"? Well, if you put the two together, that's the longest of Paul's writings. And I kind of think that's what it was. I think they got split. They both quote the just shall live by faith. And they're laying out the case of what you were talking about a while ago. Using your own trust and your own flesh. It'll get you over into worry. It'll get you over into striving to do things. Announcing things. See, you're a visionary.
— Well, and most people don't realize that the first chapter of the book of Hebrews... Now, listen to this class. The first chapter of the book of Hebrews are the words God used to raise Jesus from the dead.
— That's absolutely right.
— Bringing the angel. To which of the angels sit on my right hand until the enemy be made your footstool. Are they not all ministering spirits set forth to minister for the heirs of salvation? It's all there.
— Hebrews teaches first that Jesus is better than angels. He's better than Moses. He's better than the law. He's better than the earthly priest. The whole book is pointing to Jesus is better than all these things. I call the book of Hebrews, I just joke around. Let's call it new and improved. Or no additives. 100% pure organic. I mean, he's better. If you like that chicken from Kentucky, he's extra crispy. I mean, it's better. The entire book is pointing to something better. This is why we can be joyful. And have a peace that passes all understanding. And not be affected by the cares of this world because he's mine and I'm his. Now I can trust him. See, it's a matter of trust. Most believers don't trust him. They're not in faith when they don't trust him.
— And it's wrapped up in one verse. We have known and believed. Known. Intimate relation. Intimate relation. We've had an intimate relation with the love. And believed it.
— Experienced it, handled it.
— Do you believe that God loves you? Absolutely. You really believe that? Oh, I really do. And you believe that's one of the commandments? Oh, yes. I do. And you've had some financial difficulties? You wouldn't believe it. You wouldn't believe what kind of financial problems. Well, sometimes I just don't think God cares. You don't believe the law?
— That's it.
— You know what James called a double-minded person. Oh, Lord cares now not that we perish? So, and I'm not criticizing Peter. I'm just making a point here. Lord, I'm going with you on this water if I have to walk. Well, don't criticize him. There wasn't anybody else jumped out of the boat. And he got so close, he saw the wind boisterous and said, "Lord, help me". He was right there. He walked on it.
— I believe the power of God was present for all 12 of them to walk on water. And it was in the word "come". If it be you, Lord, bid me come.
— Now, Peter knew who he was because he said, Jesus told him, "Flesh and blood didn't reveal this to you, but my Father which is heaven". He knew who he was.
— That's the reason his name is Peter. Simon Bar-Jonah is his name. Anyway, go ahead.
— Let me show you something that Peter said. And I think this is where a lot of believers struggle today. This is over in 2 Peter 1, verse 12. Well, let me go to verse 11. For so an interest shall be ministered unto you abundantly in the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in this present truth. Our present truth. What's our present truth? That Jesus came and he gave Himself for me. He fulfilled. I was in 2 Peter 1, verse 12. Verse 12. This present truth. Now, that's my covenant, Brother Copeland.
— Oh, yes, absolutely.
— I have to be established in the present truth.
— Glory to God.
— I can't try to live under somebody else's anointing, somebody else's covenant. I have to walk in my anointing and where I've been graced. Then that takes you over to 1 John. You get over to 1 John chapter 5, what you were talking about a moment ago. Whosoever believeth that Jesus Christ is born of God, everyone that loveth him, that beget love in him, also we are begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments. This is my present truth, that the covenant of love, his love for me, that he left heaven, took on an earthly body, so that I can be identified with him again. And not be separated from him any longer. Nothing can separate me from the love of God.
— And we're talking about the renewed mind.
— That's it. And I have to renew my mind to the present truth.
— And not worry.
— Yes.
— Okay, we're right here, 1 Peter chapter 5. And Spence, how long do I have left? Oh, good, we have plenty of time. Chapter 5. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, willingly, not... I mean, it's not for sale, neither as being lords over God's heritage, being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away. Did you hear that, class? A crown of glory. Yeehaw. Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder, yea. All of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility. For God resists the proud, giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care on him, for he cares for you. Casting. It's that same word. I mean, I'm a fisherman. You cast it. Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. Be sober. Be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour, whom resists steadfastly in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions accomplished in you, brethren, that are in the world, that God of all grace, who hath called you unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, that you've suffered a while, make you perfect. Now, let's get it. Here. And this. Now. Three. Five. Clothe apron yourselves, all of you, with humility as a garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you with freedom of arrogance toward one another. For God sets himself against the proud, the insolent, overbearing, disdainful, and presumptuous, and boastful. Come on, Lord. Frustrate. Therefore, humble yourselves, demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation unto the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you, casting the whole of your care, anxieties, worries, and concerns once and for all. Once and for all. Get rid of that. Cast it off of your mind. Once and for all. In other words, walk in it.
— So, if you look at this, and you think, keep in the mind context of the people of Israel, the chosen people at Mount Sinai, look at this. Partakers of the glory. Eternal glory. Establish strength and settle on you. They were afraid of the glory. We're not afraid of the glory. Jesus will say in those final instructions, therefore am I glorified in them. You're a carrier of his glory. This is why I renew my mind. This is why I present my body. See, it's all part of those 10 commandments, but we're now reading between the lines here. This is carried over in the new covenant, and I have the ability to do this in Christ.
— Well, they had reason to be afraid of that glory.
— Absolutely.
— Because Moses came down there, his face was shining. I mean, they looked at that and said, "What is this all about"? He was glowing. He was glowing.
— He had put a veil over his face. So now, think about that for a second. When Jesus gave up the Ghost, they didn't kill him.
— That's right. When he gave up the Ghost, submitting himself, not my will but yours be done. Father, I commit my Spirit in your hands. What happened? The veil was ripped.
— Yes.
— Moses had to put a veil. Jesus said it is finished.
— That's what I was thinking.
— And the veil was ripped. What veil? The veil that separates me now from the glory.
— The veil of the temple.
— Yes, sir.
— Four inches thick, and something like 40 feet tall. And it was ripped from the top to the bottom.
— You realize in Jesus' ministry on the earth, he never went into the Holy of Holies because he couldn't. He wasn't a Levite.
— I never thought of it that way.
— He couldn't even go into the holy place.
— No, he's from Judah.
— He's from the tribe of Judah. He's not allowed in there. The creator, the presence himself, can't go in there. And that's why he said it is finished. That thing was ripped, and he got out of the box, if you will, or the Ark of the Covenant. And he is present with us. He's in you. The glory's in you right now. This is why you have to renew your mind.
— Spence, how much time we have?
— One minute. 90 seconds.
— Okay. And I want to take this up on tomorrow's broadcast, and we'll read the 22nd Psalm from the Amplified. Because it's all in there.
— Well, you'll see exactly what happened.
— Yeah, exactly.
— ...on the cross.
— Praise God. But he fulfilled all of this. When he said it is finished, it wasn't just dramatic. It was real. We'll be right back in just a moment.