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g Livin Fullness of Love in the

by Kenneth Copeland

Anyone Can Prosper by Kenneth Copeland Get on the

HighWay

good to

Health by Gloria Copeland


by Kenneth Copeland

Living Fullness of Love in the

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onsider for a moment what your life would be like

if you were filled with the love of God. What would it be like to be overflowing with the presence of Jesus Christ Himself every day when you stepped out your f ront door? What would it be like to live in the fullness of His power, His wisdom and His strength? life would be awesome!

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% No doubt, your

That kind of life, however, exceeds anything most Christians

could ever ask or think. In fact many would argue that living such a life is not possible. They wouldn’t think anyone this side of heaven could ever reach such spiritual heights.

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according to the New Testament—they would be mistaken. Written there, we find that’s exactly the kind of life believers are called to live. It’s the kind of life the Apostle Paul had in mind when, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he penned the prayer recorded in Ephesians 3:14-21:

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (New King James Version). Clearly Paul believed it was possible for born-again children of God to be filled with His fullness. He had confidence in God’s ability to do (by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit who works within us) more than our little, peanut brains could even imagine. Paul knew by divine revelation that God is truly able to glorify Himself through us! | “Well I just don’t see how that could ever happen,” you might say. “I don’t see how God’s fullness could ever be revealed through me.” Then look again at that passage in Ephesians. It tells us exactly how to get filled with the fullness of God. We do it by becoming rooted and grounded in His love. We do it by developing such an intimate knowledge and experience of God’s love that we begin to comprehend the full extent of it. Since He is love, when we comprehend and live completely in love we actually reveal God in His fullness. The full comprehension of God’s love doesn’t just It Starts With a Seed

fall on us, however, like an apple falling out of a tree. It must grow up within us. And like anything that grows, it must start with a seed. That seed is the simple New Testament command of love found in Matthew 22, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ” (verses 37, 39). When we first read that commandment of love as new believers, we know very little about it. But as we begin to meditate on it, confess it and align our lives with it, that command begins to root itself in our minds and hearts. If we stick with it, eventually we will become so grounded in the commandment of love that we’ll judge our whole lives by it. When that happens, if somebody says something ugly to us, for example, instead of lashing out at them, we start searching for a way to keep the commandment and respond to them in love. The more we practice yielding to love, the stronger our revelation of God’s love grows. Our comprehension of it increases and as a result, our lives are increasingly filled with the fullness of God. | It’s actually a very simple process. So simple in fact, that you might wonder why we seem to have such a difficult time with it. Why, you might think, do we so quickly and so often lose sight of this allimportant commandment of love? The devil gets involved, that’s why. He is always working to sabotage our love walk. If you want to know how he does it, read the parable of the sower recorded in Mark 4. There, Jesus says: Enter: the Devil

The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which

God never stops talking to us.

He’s never an absentee Father. He is always speaking. He’s always encouraging us.

But when we’re in strife we become too spiritually dense to know it.


are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended (verses 14-17).

A Lifestyle of

new!

Love = Freedom “Love one another,” isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command from Jesus. So when somebody says or does something that offends you, what do you do? Do you strike back? Get even?…Or do you forgive? The truth is, forgiving an offense is much easier said than done. But in this NEW series by Kenneth Copeland you’ll learn the keys to being able to do just that! Reacting in strife, anger and offense will become a thing of the past as you plant God’s love commandment deep into your heart and mind. In fact, living A Lifestyle of Love will not only help you be set free from strife and offense—it will revolutionize every aspect of your life! Why? Because Love never fails! Order today!

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Those verses reveal the devil’s method of operation. They show us that as soon as the seed of God’s Word is planted in our hearts, he starts working to get rid of it. He starts trying to dig it up before it has a chance to take root. What tool does he use to achieve this? The tool of offense. He sends a person along to say something mean to us that will hurt our feelings. He gets someone to irritate and provoke us until we step over into strife. The very word translated devil in the Greek carries the idea of a constant irritating, poking, pressing or pecking away at something in order to penetrate and get entrance into it. That’s the way Satan functions. He cannot change his pattern. He goes after the seed of the Word in your heart by poking at you through someone’s unkind words or actions. He harasses you with the thoughtless or irritating behavior of others. He pecks at you any way he can. He tries to provoke you into reacting so you’ll violate the commandment of love because when you do that, he gains entrance into your life. It enables him to pierce your soul like a thorn would pierce your finger. Then he keeps on working from that place to infect you more and more with his poison. | No wonder Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil.” Giving the devil a place in our lives through offense and strife opens the door for him to steal the Word from us—and it’s the Word that heals us. It’s the Word that prospers us. It’s the Word that delivers us from the curse and transfers us into a life of blessing. And most importantly, it’s the Word that roots us and grounds us in God’s love. If we truly understood what an evil thing strife is, most of us would avoid it like a rattlesnake. We’d refuse to have anything to do with it. But most believers have never taken a serious look at what the Bible says about strife. They haven’t given much thought to verses like: Avoid Strife Like You Would a Rattlesnake

Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love stick together and support him. In fact why don’t you covereth all sins.” and I just pray for him right now.” Proverbs 15:18, “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: That kind of response stops strife cold and sets the but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” love of God into motion. Proverbs 16:27-28, “An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froCan the Devil Take You Captive? ward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth “Yeah, but Brother Copeland,” you might say, “I can’t chief friends.” help getting offended when somebody is mean to Proverbs 17:14, “The beginning of strife is like me. God understands that. And anyway, those warnreleasing water; therefore stop contention before a ings you cited about strife are in the Old Testament. quarrel starts” (New King James Version). As Christians we’re under the New Covenant. We’re The word translated strife in those verses denotes under grace. Things are different now.” discord, lack of agreement or disharmony. It implies Yes, thank God they are different. We have the a struggling for superiority, pushing to get position. blood of Jesus now to cleanse us from sin and unrightStrife arises from the fear that somebody is going to eousness. We’ve been born again and made partakers take advantage of you. Strife says, I have to f ight to get of God’s own nature. We’re no longer in bondage to what’s mine. the devil. Most believers who have any spiritWe’ve changed—but sin hasn’t. Salvation Prayer ual maturity at all know better than Sin is just as sinful as it ever was. If you do not know to consciously engage in that kind of Strife is just as dangerous today as it thinking. They know better than to was when the book of Proverbs was as your jump into an open quarrel the first written. If you doubt it, take a look time somebody says something that at Romans 13:13. It clearly instructs & , irritates them. They’re too spirituus to “walk properly, as in the day, simply pray the following prayer in ally grown up to get into a fistfight not in revelry and drunkenness, not faith, and Jesus will be your Lord! with the pastor in the foyer of the in lewdness and lust, not in strife and Heavenly Father, I come to You church—no matter how much they envy” (New King James Version). in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of might disagree with him. Not only does that verse warn the Lord shall be saved” and “If thou So the devil sneaks up on them. us as New Testament believers to shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord He sends in some pious-looking deasteer clear of strife, it puts it in Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart con who will sidle up next to them some very bad company. It ranks that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Acts 2:21; Romans and say, “What do you think about strife right alongside drunkenness 10:9). You said my salvation would be that decision the pastor made about and lust. First Corinthians 3:1-3 the result of Your Holy Spirit giving me the small groups program? Do you confirms that perspective. There new birth by coming to live in me (John really think he did the right thing?” the Apostle Paul tells the believers 3:5-6, 15-16; Romans 8:9-11) and that The truly wise believer cuts off at Corinth that strife has kept them if I would ask, You would fill me with Your Spirit and give me the ability to that conversation right there. He immature and carnal (or worldly). speak with other tongues (Luke 11:13; refuses to start arguing (even in his He writes: “And I, brethren, could Acts 2:4). own mind) about what the pastor not speak unto you as unto spiritI take You at Your Word. I condecided. He recognizes the devil is ual, but as unto carnal, even as unto fess that Jesus is Lord. And I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the trying to punch a hole in the harbabes in Christ. I have fed you with dead. Thank You for coming into my mony of the church so that strife milk, and not with meat: for hitherto heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as can leak in. So he puts a stop to that ye were not able to bear it, neiYou have promised, and for being Lord contention right then and there. ther yet now are ye able. For ye are over my life. Amen. He says, “Listen brother, I’m comyet carnal: for whereas there is If you have just prayed this prayer, please contact us and let us mitted to my pastor, to this church among you envying, and strife, and know of your decision. We have a and to the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t divisions, are ye not carnal, and free Salvation Package we would like know why pastor made the decision walk as men?” to send you to help you begin your he did, but he’s made it so let’s just Imagine that! The Apostle Paul new life in Jesus! Simply write and ask

Jesus Savior Lord

for offer #50801, check the circle on the response form in the center of this magazine or call (877) 480-3388.

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could not teach the Corinthians the meat of the Word because of strife. It had reduced the whole congregation to such a low spiritual state that they were operating like unsaved men and women! Strife will do the same thing to us today. It will deaden our spiritual senses. It will keep us from hearing f rom God. When we get into strife or we get offended with somebody, if we don’t repent and get our hearts right, we’ll find ourselves saying things like, “God doesn’t ever speak to me.” Remember this: God never stops talking to us. He’s never an absentee Father. He is always speaking. He’s always counseling. He’s always encouraging us and building us up. But when we’re in strife we become too spiritually dense to know it. That alone ought to be enough to convince us to avoid strife at any cost. But that ’s not all the New Testament has to say about it. In 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Paul tells us, “The servant of the Lord must not strive;

that anymore than I do. And we can keep that from happening. How? By putting the commandment of love first place in our lives. By thinking about how much God loves us and how much Jesus did for us on the cross instead of thinking about how somebody wronged us. We keep strife out of our hearts by acting on our love for the Lord. If someone irritates you, say, “I can’t fuss with that person—no matter what they did. I’d be disobeying the Commander in Chief Himself. I’d be dishonoring the God I love.” Once you’ve said that, if you’re still tempted to say something ugly, just shut your mouth! Don’t voice the words of strife and anger that rise up within you. James 3:6 says those words are like kindling wood that hell itself uses to set your whole nature on fire. So don’t say them. Don’t start the fire! Instead step out by faith and begin to act in love. Do and say what love does and says: “Love suffers long

Strife arises

from the fear that somebody is going to take advantage of you. Strife says, I have to f ight to get what’s mine. but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” Look again at the last part of that verse. It says that those who are in strife and opposition to others are in captivit y to the devil. They become the devil’s puppet! That ’s a serious thing and we need to realize it can happen to any of us. If we get into strife, if we start jockeying for power and control or take offense because somebody doesn’t treat us the way we want them to, we’ll end up in bondage to the devil. He’ll be able to take us captive. He’ll be able to put us to work for him by pulling our quarreling string. When he does that, we’ll fly off the handle about something and without even knowing it, we will end up serving the devil himself. Love Never Fails

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I’m sure you don’t desire to do

and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, New King James Version). The more you practice obeying the commandment of love, the more rooted and grounded in love you’ll become. Before long, walking in love won’t even seem like a commandment anymore. It will become a privilege, an honor and a joy. You won’t desire to live any other way. The seed of love will be growing up within you. You’ll become rooted and grounded in it. You’ll begin to truly comprehend the love of God…and the God of love. If you’ll keep on walking in love, every day as you step out your front door, you will be overflowing a little more with the presence of the Lord. Every day you’ll be living more of the life you are called and divinely designed to live—a life that is filled with all the fullness of God! V ICTOR Y

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Faith to Faith Worship

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GoodNEWS Circle of Blessing On May 4, 2004, when our city was destroyed by a tornado, we were getting ready for Sunday night service in a 110-year-old, one-room church. My husband, the pastor, came in and said, “We need to pray—a storm is coming.” We formed a circle of prayer with the children in the middle. As we sang and praised God in the candlelight, a peace came in. I opened my eyes and saw a greenish, blue-black scene outside the windows and heard a low roar overhead. The babies were singing and one was sleeping. It wasn’t until we started for home later that we began to realize the tornado had destroyed homes in front and behind us. The next day Brother Copeland sent an email telling us KCM had prayed for us when they heard about the storm coming our way. God indeed intervened and saved all 30 of us!

“I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace,

which is able to build you up,

From Drug Pusher to Gospel Pusher I was sentenced to prison three years ago. I was involved in drugs to the point that even the world could not help me. My life and family were in ruins. My wife was leaving me because she too thought there was nothing that could change me. I was desperate but didn’t know if anything was strong enough to change me. But then I met Jesus. I began to experience what I had searched so long for—the void on the inside was filled. I had tried to fill it with so many other things. I became a Partner with this ministry. Under the teaching of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, I began to excel in the things of God. I was filled with the Holy Ghost in my cell after reading a letter from Brother Copeland. God’s favor has been surrounding me everywhere I go. God did for me what I could never do for myself, and it came through KCM! I am now in Bible college. God is using me to share His hope. My family is restored. I’m free! God is on the move and I’m right in the middle of it. He took me from drug pusher to gospel pusher! I praise the Name of Jesus! Richard Schlotter | Ottumwa, Iowa

Never Say Never! After the Prayer Mountain meeting in Branson, Mo. in October 2004, Gloria Copeland prayed for people to be healed. I had been diagnosed with endometriosis and other problems and had been told I would never be able to conceive a child again. But my husband and I really wanted another baby. After being prayed for, I am happy to say I am completely healed and conceived a child two days after the meeting. Steven and Lori Hudson | Arkadelphia, Ark.

Raised Up!

Merl Admire | Pittsburg, Mo.

Last year at this time I had no vacation time left and was close to losing my job. I was being evicted f rom my apartment. My girlf riend and I were so far into drinking, drugs and gambling we hated everything. We were about to split up. Six months ago we asked Jesus to take us in and help us. Because of your teaching and God’s grace we are now married and I am up for a raise! I never knew life could be this peaceful and so full of joy. We both believe this is just the start. Thank you, Brother Copeland. We praise God for your ministry.

lifepeaceful. this

I never knew could be

R.L. | Nevada


SGazette and to give you an inheritance….”

(Acts 20:32)

Partner Sows—Blessings Overflow I have served as the office manager in a local medical practice for 20 years. My bosses—husband-and-wife doctors— surprised me with a dinner to honor my service to the office. I was awarded a watch valued at approximately $6,000. At the end of the very wonderful dinner, I was blessed with a check for $25,000! We believe with all our hearts that this is a direct result of God’s precious favor and what we have learned from KCM about being abundant sowers. We have been so blessed by your teaching regarding this principle. I am excited to see what God will be doing in this year of overflow. We love you and appreciate you so much. J. & R.S. | Oklahoma

Cancer Dies, Son Lives The doctors said my son was dying of cancer and to start making funeral arrangements. Well, the cancer died and my son lived! I thank God for the teachings of Wisdom Is the Principal Thing, Seven Steps to Prayer That Bring Results and so many others. Praise the Lord. Only He is worthy! C.M. | Virginia

Blessed Beyond Measure Last year I was a sophomore in a public school. My best friend in the whole world had to move and I was devastated. I have been raised in church all my life but my junior year I drifted far away from God. I started skipping school, letting my grades go and quit softball and started smoking and drinking. So my mom had this idea to home school me. I agreed. One day I was in a store with my mother, who has a ton of your books. I saw your book Blessed Beyond Measure. I picked it up even though I was not planning to read it. But when I read the first page, I couldn’t put it down. When I got done with that book I was totally changed. I just want to thank God for you guys. That book helped me come back to God and find out how good He is! J.J. | Illinois

International News

KCM Opens Door in Israel In Jesus’ Name, I thank you and all the staff of KCM. You are a blessing to me. You woke me up. Thank God that there are true servants who are faithful to His Word to share. You opened my heart and my mind and helped fill my spiritual hunger. KCM, you are a big help to those who need our God Almighty. You open the door for those who want to be saved, free from sickness, free from fear. That is me. As Gloria says, sickness can no longer exert dominion over a person unless he allows it. Thank God! E.D. | Israel

BVOV Changes Life in Africa Since 2003 I have been receiving BVOV. They have really changed my life. I had not known Jesus as my Savior. But now I know Him as my Savior. There is success and prosperity in every area of my life—mental, financial, spiritual, academic, physical and social and also protection from fear. Thank you, Kenneth, Gloria and all KCM staff for what you are doing! N.M. | Africa

Poverty Brushed Aside I am an artist and it had been three years since I’d sold any paintings. Since August I began tithing from what little I could save from my household money. I have now sold 12 paintings! Praise the Lord and thank you for your prayer support. J.D. | Canada


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“HE WHO DWELLS IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL REMAIN STABLE AND FIXED UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY [WHOSE POWER NO FOE CAN WITHSTAND]” (PSALM 91:1, THE A MPLIF IED BIBLE).

Dwelling

Secret Place in the

As a believer, God’s Word promises that divine proIt doesn’t come from simply reading a scripture once, tection belongs to you. However there are some condishouting hallelujah twice and going on. tions you must keep in order to activate that protection No. Truth comes alive in you when you think about it, meditate on it and apply it to your life. So at in your life. The Word of God makes these conditions the moment of danger, the Word of God is your very clear. You can find the first one at the beginning of Psalm 91, first thought. Abiding under the shadow of the Almighty is the “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High result of spending so much time in the Word of God shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” If you are to enjoy God’s protection, you’re going and in His presence that His truth governs your to have to abide in Him. To abide means “to dwell in.” actions without even a conscious thought. If you want to be an abider, you can’t afford to simply get into the It is a word that implies not a temporary situation but a permanent dwelling place—the place where Word for a while and then quit. You need to be consistent. Spend time in the Word day you make your home. It doesn’t indicate a coming in and going after day after day. Read Psalm 91 out but a continual dwelling under daily until it becomes engrafted in your heart. God’s shadow. What does it take to become an Remember this: It’s the Word you abider? Putting God’s Word in your act on today that will get you delivered. It’s not what you heard last heart, for one thing. In John 15:7, Jesus said, “If you live in Me [abide year. It isn’t even what you know. is the result of vitally united to Me] and My words It’s what you do. Keep yourself full of God’s Word. remain in you and continue to live spending so much in your hearts, ask whatever you will If that sounds like a tall order time in the Word of God and it shall be done for you” ( The to you, let me promise you someand in His presence that thing: Every minute you invest in Amplif ied Bible). His truth governs your The truth that is alive in your heart the Word of God will yield a hunactions without even is the truth you act on every day. dredfold return in health, faith

Abiding under the shadow of the Almighty

a conscious thought.

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www.getimmersed.org

17-19

It’s not too late…Get Into the Overflow

and deliverance. You’ll never regret a second of it.

November

Disobedience Is Dangerous

Another definition of abiding is simply obeying. First John 3:6 says, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” The reverse of that is also true—whoever sins (or is disobedient) does not abide in Him. If you’ll look at Proverbs 1, you’ll see just how dangerous disobedience can be. You will see why, when most people need supernatural protection, it isn’t there for them. Beginning in verse 23, God says:

Washington, D.C. V ICTORY C AMPAIGN

If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it, and you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic.... Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord.... But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil (verses 23-33, The Amplif ied Bible). Thank God, we’re living in the day of grace and mercy and it’s never too late to call upon the Lord! But I am going to tell you this: If you haven’t been abiding in the Word (God’s wisdom revealed to us), it’s going to be difficult for you to call on Him in faith when calamity comes. If you’ve been living every day by the world’s standards, at the moment of crisis it will be hard for you to depend on Him. But the good news is—you can start abiding in the Word of God today! You can draw close to the Lord and the Bible promises: “Whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil” (Proverbs 1:33, The Amplif ied Bible). That’s the kind of supernatural protection promised to those who abide in Him. That’s the kind of supernatural protection promised to you! V ICTOR Y

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

Hylton Memorial Chapel Praise and worship led by the KCM Band. No young adult, children or nursery services provided. Admission is FREE! We need you—to help us make this meeting a success: Come to the volunteer meeting, Tuesday, November 15, 7 p.m. Hylton Memorial Chapel | 14640 Potomac Mills Road Woodbridge, VA 22192 | (703) 590-0076

Or join Kenneth and Gloria at one of these meetings… October 2 | Grace Fellowship P.O. Box 55236 | Tulsa, OK 74155 (918) 252-1611 | www.precepts.com

October 26-31 | Prayer Mountain in the Ozarks Billye Brim Ministries | P.O. Box 40 Branson, MO 65615 | (417) 336-4877 www.billyebrim.org

November 6-7 | Living Word Bible Church 3520 E. Brown Road | Mesa, AZ 85213 (480) 964-4463 | www.living-word.com

For updated meeting and hotel information, please log on to www.getimmersed.org or contact the KCM office nearest you. Meetings are subject to change without notice. Partners and Friends within the United States call (800) 600-7395. Partners and Friends within Canada call (877) 480-3388.


A N Y O N E Can P R O S P E R

by Kenneth Copeland

How do we prosper? | Many people are seeking the answer to this question. And 3 John 2 gives us crucial understanding of the subject. It says, “Beloved, I [pray] above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Notice when John said “I pray above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health” he added the very telling phrase, “even as thy soul prospereth.” In other words, you will never be healthier or more prosperous than your soul. Man is a spirit, he has a soul—which is the mind, the will and the emotions—and he lives in a body. Thus, you should be prospering in all three areas: spiritually, mentally and physically. To prosper spiritually, you must be born again. When you accept Jesus as your Savior and make Him the Lord of your life, your spirit is reborn and

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brought into fellowship with the Father. This puts you in a position to receive from Him all the things promised in His Word. To prosper in your soul, you must be able to control your mind, your will and your emotions. Prosperity of the mind comes when you use accumulated knowledge—controlling your mind instead of your mind controlling you. Second Corinthians 10:5 says you are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (or against the Word of God), bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. You cannot control your mind completely without the Word of God being alive and operating inside you. You must control your will in the same way. God doesn’t want a broken will that He can dominate. He wants your will whole and in submission to His will so that the two of you can work together in unity. In Deuteronomy 30:19 God said, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore


choose life….” What a privilege! The choice is yours! The Word of God. When a man’s soul is prosperous, his will is in line The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12 that the Word with God’s will. How can you get in line with God’s is alive, powerful and sharper than a two-edged will? You can’t until you know what His Word says. sword. It divides the soul and the spirit, the joints His Word and His will are the same! If you are in and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts line with the Word of God, you are in line with the will and intents of the heart. When you are walking in the of God. Word of God, you will prosper and be in health. An e m o t i on a l l y p ro s p e ro u s p e r s on c a n c onGod’s will is for us to be made whole—spirit, soul trol his emotion s . J e s u s h ad c om p l e t e c on t ro l and body—and to stay that way until the return of o v e r H i s e m o t i o n s , ye t H e w e p t a t t h e t o m b our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23). As o f L a z a r u s ! H i s we e p i n g d i d n’t c a u s e H i m t o you walk in the light of God’s Word, you will become join the grief-stricken throng. He continued to prosperous in every area of your life. V ICTOR Y move in the Spirit. He put His p r i o r i t i e s w h e re t h e y b e l on ge d and raised Lazarus f rom the dead. He showed emotions, but He was not moved or controlled by them. The world’s definition of physical prosperity (prosperity of the senses) i n c l u d e s go l d , s i l ve r, fi n a n c i a l favor or power, political favor or power and social favor or power. The world’s definition of mental prosperity (prosperity of the soul) is “knowing it all.” Put these two ideas together and you have a person who can use his mind to get financial and political power. This is the world’s total concept of prosperity. Wealth and power cannot answer every problem. Money makes a lousy god! It can’t buy good Living Debt-Free Isn’t Just a “Pie in the Sky” Dream health or prevent sickness and dis…it can become a reality for you! ease f rom taking over the human In this special two-book package, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland share revelations body. Yes, it can go toward buying from the Word about how to live in prosperity. The principles and scriptures they talk it, but the world’s system of healing about are what helped them become debt-free in just 11 months! just isn’t good enough. This package contains: In the mental realm, a person can • The Laws of Prosperity—Kenneth Copeland shows how to immediately break the have all the facts in his head and not devil’s stranglehold on your finances and enjoy the blessings of God. He also shares practical insights into getting free from debt, paying taxes and tithing the tithe. have the ability to use that knowl• God’s Will Is Prosperity—Gloria Copeland examines the keys to receiving your edge to obtain the money or the heart’s desires. Scripture proves it’s God’s will for you to prosper in every area of health he needs. life, not just finances…and you can begin today! You can be born again, even filled If you find yourself drowning in debt, don’t wait any longer to take steps toward with the Holy Spirit, and still not making your debt-free dream a reality…with the Prosperity Package! be prosperous in your soul. What Prosperity Package | CDN$12 #B051013 produces spiritual, mental and physiThe Laws of Prosperity | 5¼” x 8¼” | paperback | 128 pages cal prosperity? What brings all these God’s Will Is Prosperity | 5⅜” x 8¼” | paperback | 184 pages areas together? To order in Canada call toll free (877) 480-3388 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. PT Monday-Friday. Charge card orders only please. All major charge cards accepted.


We’re Here for You!

Partners and Friends,

I’m so glad you’re part of everything we’re doing at Kenneth Copeland Ministries! As we reach people all around the world,

you’re right there with us. Because of your prayers and support, my dad and mom, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, are preaching “Jesus Is Lord!” on every available voice. Thank you for helping make this possible. On these pages, you can read about some of the powerful ways that message is being broadcast globally. I hope these “voices” or media, bless not only those around the world, but you also! —John Copeland, CEO Kenneth Copeland Ministries

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United States

Faith-Filled Magazines | More than 550,000 faithfilled, Word-based Believer’s Voice of Victory magazines are mailed each month. A constant source of encouragement to our Partners and Friends, we publish, print and mail FREE magazines to 135 countries on five continents. SHOUT! The Voice of Victory for Kids magazine is sent to more than 150,000 children. This magazine is designed to help train up Superkids who know their covenant rights and will make a difference in the kingdom of God and the world! If your family isn’t receiving these magazines and you would like to, contact the KCM office nearest you to receive your FREE subscription!

| Reaching you—right where you are! The KCM Internet outreach has progressively grown! By incorporating the latest technology, we’re better able to meet your needs. Our daily and Sunday Internet

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www.kcm.org Believer’s Voice of Victory broadAustralia www.kcm.org.au casts, MP3 audio teaching files, live “Internet Radio,” Canada www.kcmcanada.ca a 24/7 Bible study center and on-demand capabilities Europe www.kcm.org.uk are all available on our Web site. There are also ministry South Africa www.kcm.org.za updates, meeting information, articles, prophecies and more. And by visiting our Web site’s e-connection area, you can send us your prayer requests and choose to receive ministry updates by email. You can even ask to have the From Faith to Faith devotional delivered to your inbox daily. Check it out! NEW

| The Believer’s Voice of Victor y television broadcast is meeting the needs of people and changing lives as it airs daily and Sundays for 2,412 hours each week worldwide, reaching a potential audience of more than 633 million people! Worldwide Television Broadcast

Focused on ministering to our Partners and Friends KCM International Offices Are Reaching Out!

KCM AUSTRALIA ministers not only in Australia, but also in Asia and the Pacific Rim. In China we are helping to supply more of the Word to hungry Christians in the underground church by printing and distributing books in the Chinese language. You can call us toll f ree on 1300 730 433 f rom within Australia, on +61 7 3343 7777 from outside Australia or on 0800 903 100 f rom New Zealand.


Mission Statement

To fax us from inside Australia use (07) 3343 8777 and from outside Australia use +61 7 3343 8777. Or you may write to us at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Locked Bag 2600, Mansfield DC Qld 4122, Australia. KCM CANADA is growing in every area. Construction is complete on our new ministry center, which includes warehouse and office space to better serve our Partners and Friends in Canada. You can call us toll free at (877) 480-3388 or write us at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, P.O. Box 3111 STN LCD #1, Langley, BC V3A 4R3. KCM EUROPE with more than 5,000 Partners and 13,000 Friends is committed to taking the uncompromised Word of God throughout England and into neighboring nations. The BVOV magazine is currently mailed to Partners and Friends in more than 50 European countries. And approximately 600 German-speaking people across Europe are receiving a special bimonthly edition of the BVOV magazine in the German language! You can write to us at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, P.O. Box 15, Bath BA1 3XN, United Kingdom; phone us at 01225 448374 (inside U.K.) or +44 1225 448374 (from outside U.K.) or email us at partners@kcm.org.uk. KCM SOUTH AFRICA is ministering throughout the continent of Africa. The light of Jesus is brightly shining into what has been called “ The Dark Continent”—even in the most remote places, people are responding! You can contact us by phone within SA on 0860 10 33 56 or fax (011) 792 6390, and outside SA call (+2711) 699 7700 or fax (+2711) 792 6390 or email us at partners@kcmza.org. KCM UKRAINE has been translating books written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland into the Russian language. More than half a million books in Russian were given to churches and sent out through the mail. People are open to the Word of God in the Ukraine and many have been saved through the BVOV broadcast. We’re excited about all God is doing through our KCM international offices! You can contact the office nearest you for additional information! Kenneth Copeland Ministries is not only proclaiming the good news through media, but we’re also building and sustaining relationships with Partners around the world. We’re helping them grow from “the milk to the meat” of God’s Word.

The mission of Kenneth Copeland Ministries is to teach Christians worldwide who they are in Christ Jesus and how to live a victorious life in their covenant rights and privileges. The fulfillment of that mission takes place when those believers become rooted and grounded enough in God’s Word to reach out and teach others these same principles. We are called to:

people, primarily born-again believers, to the place where they operate proficiently in the biblical principles of faith, love, healing, prosperity, redemption and righteousness, and where they can share these principles with others. Lead

believers in becoming rooted, grounded and established in the Word of God by teaching them to give God’s Word first place in their lives (Colossians 1:23; Psalm 112). Assist

the mysteries, the victorious revelations of God’s Word, that have been hidden from the ages (Colossians 1:25-28). Reveal

an army of mature believers, bringing them from milk to meat and from religion to reality. We are called to train them to become skillful in the word of righteousness and to stand firm in spiritual warfare against the kingdom of darkness (Hebrews 5:12-14; Ephesians 6:10-18). Build

that “Jesus Is Lord” from the top of the world to the bottom and all the way around. Proclaim

The vision is being accomplished through the ministry efforts of Kenneth Copeland Ministries and team members on a worldwide scale through the local church and the use of television, Internet, campaigns, conventions, books, magazines, tapes, recordings and personal correspondence, and is multiplied by providing financial support to other ministries of like purpose. O C T O B E R

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YOU HAVE REACHED AROUND THE WORLD… | KCM meetings are truly Holy Ghost get-togethers filled with ministry, miracles and more! Thousands of people around the world gather for times of refreshing, fellowship and revelation. People are set free from torment as they learn to walk in love and focus on God’s promises, rather than the world’s chaos. They are saturated in the Word and refreshed by the presence of God during the meetings. Many testify of healing in their bodies, miracles in their finances and restoration of relationships! Check our Web site for the most current meeting information and make plans to attend a KCM meeting today! Worldwide Holy Ghost Meetings

and given these children a life worth

| Although Kenneth and Gloria Copeland preach to hundreds of thousands of people, their message and love for their Partners and Friends remains personal. The KCM Relationship Team is here to build better, stronger relationships with our Partners and Friends. So we’re here for you when you need prayer, to rejoice with you about the victories in your life, to answer questions you may have, to receive product requests and to correspond with you by mail. The relationship team is working together with a single purpose in mind—to minister to you in a personal way! Building Relationships

Acres of Love provides care, love and hope for abandoned and HIV positive babies and children in South Africa. While many of the children are healed and adopted, Acres of Love Forever Homes are especially designed to give those who remain HIV positive and are not adopted, the opportunity to reach their full potential. In these “forever homes” children receive a loving, stable home environment, long-term care and an education. Read the story on page 18 to find out more about how your partnership with Because of your Kenneth Copeland Ministries is making partnership— a difference for a lifetime! your prayers and support—with Kenneth Copeland Ministries, the lives of these little ones are being transformed. No longer are they merely surviving—they are now actively thriving as they are being touched by God’s boundless, miracle-working love! Thank you, Partner, for making a difference…for giving these children a living hope, a loving home—a life in God. As we stand together in faith and prayer, isn’t it exciting to know that through our partnership, we’re changing the world…one child at a time?

with Kenneth Copeland Ministries, or want to find out more about partnership, just check the box on the response If you’re not yet a Partner

form in the center of this magazine, call 877-480-3388 or kcmcanada.ca. God has great things in store for you!

| When you need someone to agree with you in prayer, our prayer ministers stand ready to pray for you according to the Word. And not only are we here when you call us, we also call you—to keep in touch and to pray for you! The prayer calls we answer and the calls we place at KCM have a common purpose—to minPartners! Send us your ister to you, our Partners testimonies—we want to and Friends. Praying for Partners

hear the great things God

Touching Lives Through Products and Mail

is doing in your lives and rejoice with you!

Brother Copeland prays for his Partners every day. And each month he seeks the Lord about what to share in the Partner Letter he personally writes. These Partner Letters are dear to Brother Copeland’s heart because his Partners are dear to his heart! And responding to letters, product orders and emails is the call and anointing of our mail processing, production and distribution center teams. You, our Partner, are the reason for every product produced, every letter written…everything we do!


O C TO B E R BELIEVER’S

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You can also enjoy the BVOV broadcast whenever and wherever you want by logging on to www.kcm.org/media/webcasts. It’s faith-building teaching at your convenience! Kenneth Copeland

Gloria Copeland

David Barton

Keith Butler

SUNDAY BROADCAST 2

DAILY BROADCAST 3 Mon

Kenneth Copeland Obstacles to Knowing God Self-deception will keep you from getting to know God better. Learn how to identify areas where you may be deceived, and open the avenue to relationship with Him.

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To Know Him

Gloria Copeland shares the uncompromised, overcoming Word this week! Tune in

and see what God says about your life. 17

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The Power of Knowing

This week, Gloria Copeland continues to show God’s great plan for your life…don’t miss out!

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Kenneth Copeland Commit to the Command of Love Committing to love is the key to a powerful life. Find out how you can make the ultimate commitment.

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in politics. You’ll discover that God has given each believer the ability and responsibility to get involved and make a difference!

Kenneth Copeland The Structure of Love Tune in today and learn how God has structured this whole world around His love. 30

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Kenneth Copeland, David Barton and Keith Butler talk about the Christian’s role

Kenneth Copeland Trust the Love Discover how to develop an unwavering trust in God’s unconditional love. 23

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The Anointing to Make a Difference

Kenneth Copeland Knowing God Find out what it means to really know God.

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Walking in Love

Join Kenneth Copeland and discover the true power of walking in love.

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Love—Walk in It Continually

Kenneth Copeland is here to let you know you really can walk in love like

Jesus did—and experience the same power!

Watch the BVOV broadcast again and again! Order your audio or video copies of the BVOV broadcast now by using the form in the center of this magazine. tape or CD Daily broadcast (one week) CDN$10 Sunday broadcast CDN$5

video or DVD Daily broadcast (one week) CDN$21 Sunday broadcast CDN$15

BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY VOLUME 33 NUMBER 10 October 2005 BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY is published monthly by Eagle Mountain International Church Inc./Kenneth Copeland Ministries Inc., a

nonprofit corporation, Fort Worth, Texas. © 2005 Kenneth Copeland Ministries Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY and the logo on the back page are registered trademarks of Eagle Mountain International Church Inc./Kenneth Copeland Ministries Inc., in the United States and international countries where BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY circulates. Printing and distribution costs are paid for by donations from KCM Partners and Friends. Printed in the United States of America. For a free subscription write to Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001 or sign up online at www.kcm.org. Because all BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY issues are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. Partner Development Manager/Kelly Weekly Publishing Manager/Glenda Bunkofske Managing Editor/Kim Culp Editors/Deborah Ide Barbara Morley Writers/Karen Adlong Darlene Breed Rick Bunkofske Gina Lynnes Christopher Maselli Editorial Assistants/Eileen Hooley Melissa Johnson Proofreaders/John Caccomo Jean De Long Michelle Harris Melissa Trammell Senior Designer/Michael Augustat Advertising Coordinator/Joy Hoekstra Production Coordinator/Lynette Lundy Type Coordinator/Joyce Glasgow


Acres ofLove

by Melanie Hemry

he children in Ryan and Gerda T Audagnotti’s extended family aren’t

delivered in the normal fashion. They are delivered to their doorstep by police and social workers. These children are found locked in corrugated iron outhouses. They are discovered living with dogs. They wander alone in parks. They are abandoned in hospitals. They are thrown at birth down long-drop toilets. They are often found beside their mothers’ dead bodies. Their own families refuse to help them. They are starved and beaten. They are no more than 5 years old… They are AIDS orphans in Africa. 18 |

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W ith the AIDS epidemic escalating and an estimated 13 million orphans in Africa, there seems to be no solution to the overwhelming crisis. The children are victims of more than just a deadly plague; they are victims of prejudice, ignorance and cruelty—all of which stem from fear. A Hope and a Future

This stench of death and the stigma of AIDS were far from Ryan and Gerda Audagnotti’s affluent home in South Africa where they were busy raising their own four children. As Christians, however, the Audagnottis could not sit idly by and do nothing. So they applied to become licensed as an orphanage, and turned an investment property they owned into “Acres of Love,” a home for AIDS orphans. Children from ages birth to 5 years are taken in and raised as their own.


“Our mandate from God was not to just provide a bowl of food and a blanket for these children,” Gerda says, “our mandate was to provide each child with a hope and a future. We were to do for them exactly what we would do for our own children.” That meant naming the children, applying for birth certificates, providing AIDS testing, medical treatment, an education and a stable home environment. It also meant Ryan and Gerda would anoint the children with oil and pray for them to be healed. Founded in 1998, Acres of Love now has eight homes, with a vision to establish 1,000. Although almost every child brought to them is HIV-positive, in the first five years of operation, only six of them—already in critical condition when they arrived—have died. “There is such a stigma associated with HIV/AIDS that even newborns are outcasts in society,” Gerda Audagnotti explains. “People are afraid they will contract the disease if an infected child lives in their home. They are afraid of the child’s saliva, their cough and their wet or dirty diapers. Many people are even afraid to hold or touch a child with AIDS. But the disease cannot be contracted by any of those means. AIDS is contagious only through contact with semen or blood.”

Love Forever Homes,” which are designed to provide a loving, permanent, stable home forever. While many of the children with AIDS are put on Hyper Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), not all of them require it. Sarah, one of the first children to be admitted to Acres of Love in 1998, was HIV-positive. Seven years later, she has never been sick nor has she needed treatment. Recently Acres of Love admitted a 6-year-old girl who was found carrying a 1-year-old boy on her back. Beaten by her grandmother and driven away f rom their family, the little girl had become caregiver for the younger child. “Our task is not just to provide for the children’s physical needs,” Gerda says. “We want them emotionally and spiritually whole as well. So we provide counseling and prayer to help them through the trauma they’ve experienced. And we help them learn to forgive.” The Audagnottis see God’s loving, healing power at work in the lives of these little ones every day. They had no idea they personally would need to see that same power at work for them only six months after starting Acres of Love. Faith for a Miracle

It was a lovely day in South Africa when Ryan and There is difficulty in finding homes for these chilGerda accepted an invitation to go horseback riding in dren due to the misunderstanding of how the disease Ryan and Gerda’s faith and is transmitted, and also due obedience are changing the world—one child at a time. to the fact that these children are sometimes misdiagnosed. “The South Af rican government tests for HIV by using an Enzyme-Linked the mountains. Ryan, mounted on an Arabian stallion, Immunosorbent Assay,” Gerda says. “This test works lost control when the horse spooked and bolted. By the well for adults, but children who still have their mothers’ time Gerda reached his broken body, he was barely alive. antibodies can result in a false positive test. We provide In the intensive care unit, Ryan clung to life as a the children with a polymerase chain reaction test in ventilator forced air into his punctured lungs and colorder to differentiate between the mother’s antibodies lapsed diaphragm. Gerda paid careful attention as and the child’s true status. Out of 450 children brought doctors explained that due to the critical nature of his to the doors of Acres of Love, more than 300 actually injuries, Ryan could not survive. proved to be HIV-negative. The majority of them have Sitting by his bed, Gerda listened to the whir of been adopted by Christian families in South Africa the respirator. She had never lacked faith for AIDS and Europe.” orphans. Now death was stalking her house, and Ryan’s What of the children who proved to be HIV-positive? only hope was a miracle. A few have been adopted into Christian homes. But Opening her New King James Version Bible, she read the majority of them are growing up in “Acres of Psalm 41:1-3, “Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Truth Makes Them Free

And Partners, you are part of the work they are doing!

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The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive… The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.” “Lord,” she prayed, “I come to You on behalf of my husband. I would remind You that Ryan has considered the poor. He has not turned away f rom orphans. Because he loves You, he has become a father to the fatherless. Now I ask that You deliver him in his time of need and trouble. I ask You to protect him and keep him alive. Refresh him and strengthen him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.” There in the intensive care unit, a creative miracle occurred. Ryan Audagnottti’s lungs were knit back together. His diaphragm was made whole. The Lord delivered him in his time of trouble. The Lord protected him and kept him alive. The Lord refreshed and strengthened him. The Lord restored him from his bed of illness. The Lord healed him! The Lord is also healing and restoring the lives of orphans of AIDS. If the AIDS pandemic continues at the current rate, LoveLife, an AIDS educational organization, predicts that more than half of all South Africans

under the age of 15 will contract the disease. Those statistics only strengthen the Audagnottis’ determination to establish 1,000 of these loving homes. Acres of Love has not changed the world. But Ryan and Gerda’s faith and obedience are changing the world—one child at a time. And Partners, you are part of the work they are doing! KCM South Africa has financially supported this ministry since its beginning. Not only that, KCM has supplied books, tapes and videos for the children, and VCRs so the children can watch them. The children love to sing along with the worship songs and are encouraged by watching the videos. They are being taught how to walk in faith and receive the healing power of God. “Our longtime partnership with KCM has had a profound effect on us individually and on Acres of Love as well,” Gerda says. “Jesus said that when we give to the least of these, we have given to Him. The poorest of the orphans are literally on our doorstep, and we are so grateful to KCM and their Partners for helping us give to the least of them.” Partners, you are touching the lives of orphans and you are giving to Him! V ICTOR Y

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Prayer Mountain Ozarks in the

October 26-31

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland join host Billye Brim and others for a powerful time of prayer and intercession. If you want to know more about prayer…if you want insightful teaching…come to Prayer Mountain where the Body of Christ gathers each year for dynamic Spirit-led prayer.

ADMISSION IS FREE! For updated meeting and hotel information, please log on to www.kcm.org or contact the KCM office nearest you. Meetings are subject to change without notice. Partners and Friends within the United States call (800) 600-7395. Partners and Friends within Canada call (877) 480-3388. Billye Brim Ministries | Chateau on the Lake | P.O. Box 40, Branson, MO 65615 | (417) 336-4877 | www.billyebrim.org


Eagle Mountain International Church

Welcome home! What is EMIC? We are a congregation of people from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and around the world who are hungry for more of God in our lives. We are a people called to go deeper—to go beyond religion and discover the reality of the loving, merciful God we serve. Together we are learning to live victorious lives based on the promises in God’s Word. And we are sharing the life-changing message of Christ Jesus, as well as the love of God, with our local communities, our country and our world.

No matter where you live, we’d love to have you join us…because each and every member of our family makes a difference. EMIC…a place where love is king!

Live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area? Visiting? We’d love to have you join us! Located just north of Fort Worth, you can find exact driving directions at www.emic.org/contact.

Our Leadership Includes… Pastor George Pearsons Leading and guiding EMIC, Pastor George’s heart is to help men, women and children know who they are in Christ Jesus. His humor keeps the congregation smiling as he delivers lifechanging truths and teaches how to daily apply God’s Word in every situation.

Pastor Jeremy Pearsons As the son of Pastors George and Terri, Jeremy has been part of EMIC for almost as long as he can remember. He leads the 14forty youth services, giving young people a place where they can learn, be accepted, and grow into the men and women God has created them to be.

Pastor Terri Pearsons Pastor Terri is Kenneth Copeland’s eldest daughter. Her rich heritage of faith comes through as she directs and leads the prayer life at EMIC. Above all else, Terri loves teaching biblical principles that will help people improve their lives, families and world.

“Commander” Kellie Copeland More than anything, Kellie wants to help the next generation discover the power of living for Jesus. In our Superkid Academy children’s ser vices, she makes sure kids experience how fun—and exciting—it is to have daily adventures in faith!

THIS JUST IN

Service Times Sunday Services | 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Including services for children, birth-grade 5

Pastors George and Terri Pearsons will soon visit South Africa!

Please pray for great breakthroughs during this trip from Nov. 11-21. We believe God is going to do GREAT things! (And if you live in South Africa, we hope to see you there!) Wednesday Services | 7:15 p.m. Including services for children, birth-grade 5, and youth, grades 6-8 and 9-12

We also have Singles services and more—see our Web site at www.emic.org for details. | If you can’t make the service… you can join us for live Internet services no matter where you are! Simply log on to www.emic.org/listen.php. O C T O B E R

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Marty Copeland Responds to

C O M M O N LY A S K E D

FitnessQuestions As a certified personal trainer, nutritional guidance counselor, author and teacher, Marty Copeland often encounters people struggling with extra weight and poor fitness habits. Marty not only understands their challenges, but she can honestly say, “I’ve been there.” Her passion for health and fitness was birthed out of her own personal struggle to lose weight and keep it off. It wasn’t until she finally discovered the keys to transforming her lifestyle through the power of God that Marty was able to win the weight battle once and for all.

> Marty and daughter Courtney

Here, Marty answers several commonly asked health and fitness questions.

Some popular forms of aerobic exercise include I know it is important to exercise but I’m having a hard time getting started. What kind walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, stair climbing and rollerblading. Aerobic exercise provides invaluo exercise do you recommend? How often and how able health benefits such as increased energy level, long should I be working out, and what benefits reduced risk of heart disease, stronger immune syscan I expect? tem, decreased blood pressure and cholesterol, and Answer: First of all, I want to encourage you to know that God desires to help you reach your fitness decreased appetite. Find something you like to do and stick with it! The goals. He has a plan that will work for you! The f requency and duration of benefits you will receive from exercise will far outweigh the challenge. your workouts really depend on your age, health and fitness level. Most Question #2: I would like to lose experts agree a good place to start some weight quickly but can’t get is three to five aerobic sessions per Find something week for at least 20 minutes per sesmotivated to exercise. Can I lose sion. If you are overweight or out of weight quic kl y without hitting you like to do shape, start with 10 to 20 minutes the gym? and stick with it! each session and gradually increase Answer: You can lose weight just by dieting, but the problem with a your time. The benefits you For moderate health benefits, your quick weight-loss diet is that part workouts should be no less than three of your weight loss will be muswill receive from cle. If you regain the weight, you a sessions and two weight train i sessions per week. And depending will regain fat—not muscle. So the exercise will far potential effect of a quick weighton your fitness level, the duration of workouts should be between 30 and loss diet without exercise is a fatter outweigh the body and a slower metabolism. 60 minutes per session. Question #1:

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If your goal is to lose weight, keep it off and be fit, it is important to include an aerobic and weight-training program with a healthy diet.

new!

What is a realistic weight-loss goal? Answer: A realistic weight-loss goal is one to two pounds of fat per week. Question #3:

Why is it important to drink water and how much should I be drinking? Answer: It is important to drink water because our bodies are made up primarily of water and we can easily become dehydrated. Drinking water is also very beneficial because water cleanses your body, metabolizes stored fat, naturally suppresses the appetite, lubricates and cushions the joints, maintains blood volume and proper muscle tone, relieves constipation and prevents fluid retention. To know how much water to drink, many experts recommend dividing your weight in half and drinking that many ounces of water a day. If you are in the sun, exercising and sweating, you should drink more. Question #4:

As a woman, how important is a weighttraining program? Answer: Weight training is an integral part of my fitness routine because I know the benefits of building muscle. Studies show that between the ages of 20 and 30 we begin to lose muscle if we don’t do some form of weight-resistant exercise. As we lose muscle, our metabolism slows down. Every pound of muscle burns 35 to 40 calories a day, while one pound of fat burns only two calories. So as we age it is easy to gain weight and get fatter if we don’t exercise. Weight training was the key to speeding up my metabolism. I recommend training with weights at least two times a week. And don’t worry about looking like the Incredible Hulk. You won’t. You’ll just look fit because you’ll be fit! Once you get into an exercise routine, you won’t want to give it up. You’ll feel too good! Exercise and proper diet will help you achieve a higher fitness level and live a higher quality of life and that’s what God desires for you. His Word says, “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” (3 John 2, The Amplif ied Bible). V ICTOR Y

Question #5:

Certif ied by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, Texas, Marty Copeland is a personal trainer, nutritional counselor and minister of the gospel.

Check with your health care professional before beginning any fitness or nutritional program.

What makes a woman perfect?

Skillful and Godly Wisdom! The Proverbs 31 woman is the Bible’s picture of the perfect woman. But as a woman, is that the way you see yourself? Do you want to be like the woman described in this scripture, and… Is that even possible in today’s world? Now Terri Copeland Pearsons, Kellie Copeland, Marty Copeland and three other gifted women from Eagle Mountain International Church tackle these questions and more in this fun, friendly and fabulously female series! You’ll love their easy-to-understand perspective on the industrious yet humble Proverbs 31 woman. Messages include: • The Grace of a Godly Woman by Terri Copeland Pearsons • The Strength of a Godly Woman by Marty Copeland • Parenting and the Godly Woman by Kellie Copeland • And more! Order Skillful and Godly Wisdom for Today’s Woman—now! Gain a better understanding of the Proverbs 31 woman—and at the same time, discover more about yourself and the person God created you to be!

Skillful and Godly Wisdom for Today’s Woman 7-message series on 11 CDs

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Have you heard about

Shout! magazine?

It’s the Voice of Victory for Kids!

Give your kids a faith-filled, Word-packed, totally fun, really cool magazine written and designed just for them! Nowhere else will they find:

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Full-color adventure comics Shout! is a magazine like no other! Your children will love the faith-filled adventures set during the time of the Old West, and the adventures situated in the exciting future. Characters like Wichita Slim and Commander Kellie and the Superkids are featured as role models who are strong in faith and morals. You can rest assured that every issue of Shout! will give your kids inspiring teaching and encouragement in the important areas of life!

Your child’s FREE quarterly subscription will start right away!

SM

Thought-provoking and challenging activities Learning biblical principles can be fun! That’s why Shout! is packed with the things kids like to do: mazes, crosswords, word searches, dot-to-dots, scripture verses, jokes, testimony letters from kids and much, much more.

Visit www.kcm.org and click on Media, then Magazines, OR Call (800) 600-7395 (U.S. only)

Short stories and solve-it-yourself mysteries Reading is a great way to make the most of your children’s time—and it’s even better when they get to participate in a “whodunit.” So whether they read it themselves or with you, the stories in Shout! will help build their faith, make them think, and increase their desire for reading. A magazine parents can trust Our sole purpose in publishing Shout! is to encourage this generation in the biblical principles of faith. Parents can trust Shout! because our standards of quality and excellence in ministry include policies such as never selling or giving away our mailing list, and never asking for donations. You can rest assured we keep all children’s names and subscriptions in the strictest confidence.


Teaching Gear for Parents

The Vision Behind Shout! Kenneth Copeland has proclaimed, “There is no price too big, no effort too great, no job too hard for our God to reach our children. Whatever we must do, we are going to reach our kids.” His daughter Kellie Copeland has taken that declaration to heart. “It is the Holy Spirit ’s instruction to put the full weight of Kenneth Copeland Ministries behind children’s ministry,” she says. “God has great things for this generation to do, but it takes time, effort, resources and finances to outweigh the barrage of worldly input kids are faced with every day. KCM is committed to this cause, and I know KCM Partners are too.” In addition to spearheading KCM’s children’s ministry, Kellie is also the children’s pastor at Eagle Mountain International Church in Fort Worth, Texas. “I’ve been involved in children’s ministry for several years,” she says, “primarily through the outreach of Commander Kellie and the Superkids . Our children’s products—movies, music, Shout! magazine and books—are designed to help them understand who they are in Christ. “The issues our children and teenagers face are very real and difficult,” she adds. “And yet the godly answers to those issues are equally real and inf initely more powerful! You know, Jesus had a heart for children. And He calls us as believers to have the heart of a child. We are a people who are called to go deeper—to go beyond religion and discover the reality of the loving, merciful God we serve. By arming young people with the Word and helping to strengthen their spirits, we are equipping them to make the right decisions and live anointed lives.” SM

In addition to Shout!, KCM has many other great materials for helping you teach God’s Word to your children… Commander Kellie and the Superkids action movies (Now on DVD!) SM

The Faith Adventures of Wichita Slim movies (Now on DVD!) The Superkid Adventures 11-book series (Four are now in CD format too!) Load Up teen devotional Peaceful Praise for Children music CD Shout! Super-Activity Book And much, much more! These materials are available at by calling (877) 480-3388

(Canada only).

“I enjoy reading Shout! and playing the games. It is fun for me and my brother, Jay.” —Tin-Tin, age 8, Philippines “My 5-year-old and 3-year-old are both reading Shout! When it arrives in the mail, it’s looked at over and over again. They both find it difficult to wait for the next issue! It can’t come soon enough. Thanks for an excellent magazine.” —Tracy and Josiah’s mom, Canada

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by David Barton

Was the American Revolution a

BIBLICALLY JUSTIFIED ACT?

S

ome today contend that the American Revolution was a violation of biblical principles and embodied a spirit of anarchy. They argue from Romans 13 that since government is of God, all government decrees are to be obeyed as proceeding from God. This is one of two interpretations of Romans 13 that American Christians have debated for centuries. Verses 1-2 say: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

One side believes when government speaks, God requires us to obey. This position resulted in the “Divine Right of Kings” philosophy which reasoned that since the king was divinely chosen by God, God expected all citizens to obey absolutely. Anything less was rebellion against God. “A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants” | The other inter-

pretation of Romans 13 was set out forcefully in a work printed in 1579 by Frenchman Philippe du Plessis Mornay: “A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants.” It took the position that government being ordained of God was referring to the general institution of government rather than to each distinct government. Founding Father James Otis argued that “The power of God Almighty is the only power that can properly and strictly be called supreme and absolute. In the order of nature immediately under Him comes the power of a simple democracy, or the power of the whole over the whole….” An Appeal to God | The Framers of the Constitution believed their action was an act of resistance to a government which violated the biblical purposes for God-ordained civil government. They were so mindful that they would account to God for their action that the flag of the Massachusetts Army proclaimed “An Appeal to God.” The Framers also believed their actions were justified because they did not initiate the conflict. After 11 years of pursuing peaceful reconciliation with Great Britain, their peaceful entreaties were met with armed attacks.

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The Framers cited full biblical justification in defending their homes, families and possessions. Some people still object because the American Revolution resulted in loss of life, which they believe unjustifiable in the eyes of God. The Sixth Commandment | God allows man justifiably to take human life for three causes. The first cause is for civil justice (see Numbers 35:16-27; Deuteronomy 19:11-13; 2 Samuel 4:11). The second justifiable cause is general military conflict (see Numbers 32:27; 1 Samuel 4:1; 2 Chronicles 32:8). The third cause is in defense of one’s life, family or property (see 2 Samuel 10:12; Nehemiah 4:13-14, 20-21; Zechariah 9:8). The fact that t h e Am e r i c a n Re volution was a def ensive act made al l the dif f e re n c e i n t h e Framers considering it a righteous war. Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence (church choir leader, musician, and literary figure), in 1777 wrote in “A Political Catechism”:

God has given man wit to contrive, power to execute, and freedom of will to direct his conduct. It cannot be but that some…will abuse these privileges and exert these powers to the injury of others: and the oppressed would have no safety nor redress but by exerting the same powers in their defense: and it is our duty to set a proper value upon and defend to the utmost our just rights and the blessings of life: otherwise a few miscreants [unprincipled individuals] would tyrannize over the rest of mankind, and make the passive multitude the slaves of their power. Thus it is that defensive is not only justifiable, but an indispensable duty. Clearly the Framers believed they w engaged in a defensive war. They

did not view the American Revolution as an act of anarchy or rebellion against God or the Bible. Under their view of Romans 13, the American Revolution was a biblically justifiable act. V ICTOR Y David Barton, nationally known author and public speaker, is the founder and president of WallBuilders, a pro-family organization which seeks to educate grass-roots society to rebuild America’s constitutional, moral and religious foundations. For more information go to www.wallbuilders.com, call (817) 441-6044 or write to WallBuilders, P.O. Box 397, Aledo, TX 76008-0397.

God desires for you to experience heaven on earth—no matter where you live. As a Christian, you have the ability to change your life, influence your nation, and make a big difference in the world. How? Through the power of prayer! The Godly Nation Package offers tips and directions about how to pray effectively and how to become a positive influence. Three powerful books are included:

America: To Pray? or Not to Pray? by David Barton

Order today and make a difference in your family, your nation and the world! The Godly Nation Package CDN$20 #B051005

5¼” x 8¼” | paperback | 163 pages

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When the Righteous Are in Authority by Keith Butler

7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. PT MondayFriday. Charge card orders only please. All major charge cards accepted.

3⁷/₁₆” x 5⅞” |

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One Word From God Can Change Your Nation by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and others 4” x 6” | paperback | 192 pages

(877) 480-3388


Q&A

Question: I’ve heard people talk about “the prayer of faith” but I’m not sure I understand how to pray the prayer of faith. Would you please explain it to me? by Kenneth Copeland

Answer: To understand how to pray the

God’s Word and it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not prayer of faith we need first of all to underseen. When you pray the prayer of faith you stand what faith is, and Hebrews 11:1 gives start with the answer, the Word, instead of us the answer: “Now faith is the substance of the problem. God’s Word holds the answer to things hoped for, the evidence of things not your situation. So if you’re sick, find healing seen.” The Amplif ied Bible says, “[faith perscriptures; if you have a financial ceiving as real fact what is not need, find promises in the Word revealed to the senses].” Many times about provision. We also need to know how Then when you pray, say what when I pray, I to develop faith if we are going the Word says about your situato pray in faith. Romans 10:17 actually take my tion. Believe it, declare it and tells us: “So then faith cometh foot and draw a continue to confess God’s Word by hearing, and hearing by the line across the over that situation. Call those word of God.” things that be not as though Fr o m t h e s e s c r i p t u r e s w e floor and say, they were. Before you see any understand the prayer of faith, “That’s the line evidence of change, believe that then, is a prayer that is based on

of faith.”

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it’s done according to the Word of God. See yourself with the answer. See it on the inside, act like you already have it and praise God for the answer! It’s also important to realize that the prayer of faith changes things, not God. You’re not tr ying to convince God to do something for you…He’s already given you the victory. So renew your mind to what the Word says, then let that be the final authority. That problem may represent the facts, but if you will stay on the Word, the Truth will change the facts! Faith requires no outside evidence or support. God’s Word is faith’s final answer. Faith praises God for the answer before it is manifest to the five physical senses. The prayer of faith will work if you’ll stand on the Word of the living God instead of believing the circumstances. Contrary evidence of the senses is no reason for doubting. The evidences on which our faith rests are far more reliable—they are eternal. God’s Word never fails.

new!

Make a point of reminding yourself and reminding the devil that you are not going to believe God but you have already believed God. Many times when I pray, I actually take my foot and draw a line across the floor and say, “That ’s the line of faith. As I step over it I believe I receive the promise. Now Father, I have prayed the prayer of faith in the Name of Jesus. I believe that I have the petition that I desire of You. I’ve stepped over this line of faith and I’m never going back. As far as I’m concerned, it’s done. Amen, so be it.” Now when there is a contrary symptom or negative words spoken by others to try and make me believe something other than what I’ve prayed, I refer to that moment when I crossed the line of faith. It helps me stay focused in my mind. It helps me take a stand against fear. It reminds me that I have believed God and now I’m walking in faith, expecting the desired result. V ictor y is inevitable—for you and for me—if we’ll stay in faith and not quit. V ICTOR Y

When You Pray the Prayer of Faith,

You Can Expect Results! If you’re not experiencing the kind of results you desire when you pray, this instructional teaching on how to pray the prayer of faith can help. In it Kenneth Copeland explains the spiritual laws that govern prayer. You’ll learn: • Prayer doesn’t make faith work—faith causes prayer to work • The importance of praying to God the Father in the Name of Jesus • How to effectively pray the prayer of faith Get this valuable teaching and begin praying faithfilled prayers that bring results. You don’t need more faith. You just need to know how to apply your faith every time. Discover The Prayer of Faith today!

Prayer Series #7: The Prayer of Faith

15 #B051007

single DVD CDN $

To order in Canada call toll free (877) 480-3388. To place an order by mail, please use the address on the last page. Order online at www.kcmcanada.ca.


eason

S

BY

ME

LA NI E

HEM

RY

a Time for Every Kenesaw, Neb., 6:30 a.m.

The morning sun crept over the horizon onto Nebraska cornfields with a kiss, and a promise of sizz

temperatures later. Life on a farm always started early, and today was no exception. Laura Holl

looked out the window toward the rising sun. This morning her husband, Loren, had driven into

town to attend a Full Gospel Business Men’s breakfast. She, however, struggled to come fully awake and begin her routine. | Life on a farm hadn’t always been easy, but it had always been good.

Their family had thrived, rooted deeply in the rich Nebraska soil and in the Word of God. She had a lot to be grateful for…the crops they would harvest…their two sons, Joshua and Benjamin, who at 24 and 22 were making their way in the world…and good health. | Laura listened to the familiar sounds of a distant train whistle, and lifted her face to the Lord in thanksgiving.

Loren and Laura Holl and Joshua.


Outside Lincoln, Neb., 7 a.m. Josh Holl climbed a ladder onto the metal roof of a building, looked at the scalding sun and wiped his brow. A student at the University of Nebraska, Josh appreciated the construction job that allowed him to save money for the following semester. Having grown up on a farm, he was no stranger to work and it showed in the way Josh moved lithely across the roof. He watched for the swinging sheet metal that would be hoisted high. His job was to position it in place. As Josh took a step forward, the damaged roof gave way. A silent scream lodged in his throat as he plunged 25 feet before landing forehead-first onto the cement floor. Outside the sheet metal gleamed in the sun as it swung above the roof. Looking up, Josh’s friends shielded their eyes against the morning sun, wondering why he hadn’t grabbed the metal and maneuvered it into position. Minutes went by and Josh didn’t appear. The ground crew feared the worst. Running to the door of the building, they found it locked. The men threw themselves against the door, battering it in a desperate attempt to get inside.

Construction site outside Lincoln, Neb., shortly after 7 a.m. The construction workers finally beat down the door of the building and rushed inside. They gasped at the sight that greeted them. Blood poured f rom Josh’s eyes, ears and nose. His forehead was crushed, leaving his face and head misshapen. They estimated it would take at least 20 minutes for an ambulance to reach the site. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that Josh Holl probably wouldn’t live that long. The crew felt helpless. Moments later, a siren split the silence as an ambulance screamed into the parking lot. Rushing inside, one of the medics explained, “We had gotten a call out here earlier. We were only five minutes away.” Racing a time, the ambulance raced to the largest trauma center in Nebraska. “Loren and I prayed as we drove to Lincoln,” Laura remembered. “Marc contacted our son Ben and we made calls to our family and friends, who initiated prayer teams. When we arrived, a chaplain from the hospital let us know that Real Pain, Real Problems

|

cling to God ’s promises

Kenesaw, Neb., just after 7 a.m. We simply had to Laura answered the telephone and refuse to walk by sight—because things looked bad. with a smile as she greeted Josh’s friend Marc. “There’s been an accid at work,” Marc explained. “Josh has fallen through Josh had been rushed into surgery. After surgery the the roof. We’ve called an ambulance and we’re trying doctor told us that they’d done all they could do—and to knock down the door to get inside.” we’d just have to wait. It was midafternoon before we Laura hung up the phone in a daze. Josh is hurt? were finally allowed to visit him in intensive care. I Numbly she called Loren at the business men’s breakwas not prepared for what I saw. fast. “I’ll get everyone here to pray,” he said, “then I’ll pick “His head and face were swollen and each eye was you up, and we’ll leave for Lincoln.” Within minutes the black and the size of my fist. He was on a respiramen at the breakfast were in prayer for Josh Holl. tor and his wrist was broken. Apparently he slammed Laura scanned the living room and grabbed the into a metal beam during the fall, which ruptured his nearest Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine. Dialing spleen. Surgeons had removed it and were trying to the first 800 number she found, within moments replace his blood as fast as he lost it. They’d also tried a prayer minister was on the line with her. Laura to piece together his forehead. explained the situation and the minister prayed with “We wanted to hold him and anoint him with oil great authority. while we prayed, but we were asked not to touch him Peace wrapped itself around Laura and permeated because the doctor didn’t want any brain stimulaher heart as she calmly hung up the phone. tion. We pulled back the sheet and anointed his big It rang immediately. On his cell phone as he sped toe with oil and prayed for him, speaking life into his h Loren said, “Call Kenneth Copeland Ministries!” body. We prayed scriptures over him and declared that “I already did,” Laura responded. She grabbed her ‘no weapon formed against him would prosper.’ We Bible, a bottle of anointing oil and her cell phone commanded the devil to take his hands off our son!” before rushing out the door. Loren and Laura sat exhausted in the waiting room.

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They’d rushed out the door for the two-hour drive without even packing a bag. The hospital graciously furnished them with blankets and pillows. During the long night, they watched TBN on the television in the waiting room. They heard the Word of God being preached and it strengthened their hearts. In the wee hours of the morning, Laura sat beside Josh’s bed and listened to the rhythmic whir of the respirator. She thought back to all the Partner Profile testimonies she’d read in the Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine over the years. She remembered testimonies she’d read in Good News Gazette. Often she’d wondered what it was like for those who’d stood in faith through life-and-death situations—when everything looked bleak. Now I know, she thought, as she lifted her voice in songs of praise to God. | Night faded into morning with no change in Josh’s condition. “We were told that assuming Josh lived, he would probably be in intensive care for several weeks then he would be moved to a skilled nursing unit for a couple more weeks,” Laura recalled. “After that, he’d be transferred to a rehab hospital for three to six months.” The family pulled together to help so Loren and Laura could stay at the hospital with Josh. Ben took a week off from his job to help run the farm and Loren’s brother irrigated, and fed and watered livestock, working long, hard days in the blistering July heat, taking care of his own farm as well as theirs. “Meanwhile Loren and I didn’t leave the hospital. We alternated between the waiting room and Josh’s bedside—praying, speaking the promises of God and singing praises. The hardest part was seeing absolutely no change day after day. “For some reason, Sunday—the sixth day of Josh’s hospitalization—was the hardest. We’d wanted some glimmer of life…anything to show us that he was improving. But none came. We simply had to cling to God’s promises and refuse to walk by sight—because things looked bad. “An average adult has nine to 12 pints of blood in his b Josh lost so much blood that he was given 10 units of whole blood, eight units of plasma and two units of platelets. As I watched that blood drip into his arm, I realized that there was no logical reason for him to be alive. And I thanked God for the protective power of Jesus’ blood that delivered him from death.” Having Done All—Stand

Great Things Do Come in Small Packages! Now you can get some of the best teaching from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland in this special Minibook Package. Small enough to fit in your pocket and take along with you, these eight minibooks cover a variety of topics such as walking in love, how to receive healing, freedom from fear and angelic protection. In this special package, you’ll receive: • In Love There Is No Fear • Harvest of Health • Love Letters From Heaven • This Same Jesus • Love Never Fails • Freedom From Fear • You Are Healed • The Protection of Angels They’re perfect for quick inspiration at the office or sharing with others. Order the Minibook Package today—now at a miniature price!

Minibook Package |

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The Prayer of Faith

On Monday, the seventh day of Josh’s hospitalization, the doctor offered the first word of encouragement. “We no longer consider Josh’s condition life-threatening,” he said. Loren and Laura nodded. They didn’t tell him that they never had considered his condition life-threatening. The hospital staff also let Loren and Laura know they were watching for signs that the brain swelling was decreasing. Tuesday, one week after the accident, Laura phoned the prayer ministry at KCM again and asked them to pray specifically that the brain swelling decrease. The Holls also sent the prayer request to friends, family and members of their church. The following morning at 6, a nurse rushed to the waiting room and said, “Quick! Come see!” Loren and Laura hurried to their son’s bedside. The nurse said, “Josh, wiggle your toes.” They wiggled! “Josh, wiggle your fingers.” They wiggled! “Josh, wiggle the fingers on your right hand.” They wiggled! “He can wiggle his fingers and toes, so he’s not paralyzed!” the nurse explained. “And he knows the difference between left and right, which means his brain is functioning. The pressure on his brain is decreasing!” By late morning, he was taken off the ventilator. Josh blinked golf-ball size eyes and said, “Hi, Mom.” They were the most beautiful words Laura had ever heard. | After only nine days in intensive care, Josh was transferred. But not to the skilled nursing floor—he was able to go directly to the rehab hospital. There, the staff worked with Josh to evaluate his memory. “Repeat these numbers,” they said. “7326514.” “7326514,” Josh repeated. After asking him more questions, they said, “Can you repeat that sequence of numbers again?” “7326514,” he answered. Josh could remember everything—except the events of that fateful morning, July 2, 2002, and the week he spent in a coma. The staff worked with him on regaining his balance. They helped him walk up and down steps. And a week later, Josh was discharged and went home. “It was a miracle that he had survived the fall,” Laura said. “And it was a miracle Josh was released f rom intensive care and the rehab hospital so quickly. But it wasn’t a surprise. Because of our partnership with KCM, One Step at a Time

Josh, Caleb and Kristy.

we’d learned how to pray and use our spiritual authority. “But one of the greatest blessings was the way the Body of Christ joined together in prayer. KCM provided wonderful prayer support and encouragement. Both Loren’s mother and my mother are women of prayer, a they prayed for Josh. Our friends and family prayed. Our church and other churches prayed. “Even the woman who handled Josh’s workers’ compensation claim wrote, ‘I prayed for Josh several times the day of his accident. He has touched my life and his recovery has truly been a work of God.’” It was beautiful how the prayers of family and church members in Nebraska…the prayers of KCM ministers in Texas…the prayers of an intercessor in the Northeast…the prayers of an insurance agent in some distant office…all these prayers were woven into a harmonious voice claiming victory for Josh Holl. The Body of Christ was fitly joined together…and a miracle happened. The sun still creeps over the horizon every morning to shine God’s blessing on Loren and Laura’s farm. The cattle still low in the pasture, and the crops are still thirsty for water. But something basic has changed. No longer do Loren and Laura believe that they have to be on the farm to keep it running. They’ve learned to lean on other people for help. That lesson freed them to attend the 2003 Great Lakes Believers’ Convention, and also to drive to Branson, Mo., to hear the Copelands speak. These were times of recharging their faith and refreshing their spirits. Their table is still laden with bounty, but like the crops and the cattle, the Holl family has also grown. Now when they get together Ben and his wife, Kelli, bow their heads in thanksgiving. Josh, fully recovered, brings his wife, Kristy, to the table to celebrate life. But perhaps it is the laughter of Josh’s son, Caleb, echoing across the fields that reminds everyone most of the absolute goodness of God. It’s true that there is a time a a season for everything on earth…and each new day is a time to rejoice and praise God. V ICTOR Y O C T O B E R

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B Y

GLO

RI A

CO

PEL A N D

Get on the

HighWay

good to

Health When Ken and I were first born again, we lived on the edge of disaster all the time. I’m not saying we weren’t seeing God work in our lives. If He had not helped us, we would have never made it! In fact we needed His help just to make it through the week. / But as we matured in faith and began walking in the Word of God daily, an important change took place. We found that we needed fewer and fewer crisis miracles. Our needs started being met. Our family’s health began improving. Within 11 months, we were out of debt. / To tell you the truth, as precious and important as those miracles were in our times of need, it was nice not to have to believe God for a miracle just to pay the power bill. It was nice not to need to pray we had enough money to pay the bill in the / What made the differgrocery line. ence? What was the secret? / There was no secret. We simply discovered how to live in the blessings of God. And we’ve been living in them ever since. We began to apply the principles of the kingdom of heaven and they worked!


Imagine what it would be like to live healthy and whole all the time. No colds, no flu, no allergies. No heart disease, no mental illness…no cancer.

Living a Heavenly Lifestyle

|

When I look back on how Ken and I lived more than 38 years ago, it’s easy to see that it was a low level of living. Even though we were believers, we had no idea of what the future held for us. We didn’t know what jobs to take or where to live. We didn’t know how to pay our bills, own a car or house or live debt free. We didn’t even know how to rebuke sickness and disease off our lives. What we did know was how to live broke and sick. It was a low life. But that kind of life is not what God wanted for us back then, and it certainly is not what He desires for any of His people today! God desires for His people to live well in every area of life. He desires us to live well in our spirits, our souls and our bodies. He desires us to live every day in the fullness of His blessings. Just imagine what it would be like to never have to be healed again. Of course, it’s nice to get healed when you’ve been sick or physically injured. But imagine what it would be like to live healthy and whole all the time. No colds, no flu, no allergies. No heart disease, no mental illness...no cancer. Well according to the Word of God, that’s exactly the way our lives should be. In fact heaven is a pattern of that kind of good life God has for us. What’s more, I’m certain that people in heaven never have to run to the throne of God and say, “Lord, I have this terrible sinus infection that just will not go away. Please heal me!” No. People in heaven live in the continual, supernatural power of a benevolent Father. They are constantly in the fullness of God’s presence. They are constantly in the fullness of His blessings. They have no need for

L iving by every word from God is the only way we can live in every blessing of God.

miracles—and neither should we! Now I realize you might be thinking, That’s a nice thought, Gloria, but that’s heaven—I’m down here. I still need miracles! I understand, but 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In this verse, the word wholly means whole, complete, undamaged and intact. In other words, God wants us to live our lives separated unto Him, and He wants us well in every way. He wants us whole, complete, undamaged and intact in our spirits, minds, bodies, finances and so on. We find this same principle in 3 John 2: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” The point is, while we as believers may need a miracle of God in our lives f rom time to time, we should endeavor to reach the point where we become so developed in our faith walk that we live each day in all the blessings of heaven—in all the blessings that have been provided for us in our covenant with God through Jesus Christ.

God’s Way Is the High Way | If we truly want to

reach that place of living in constant health and constant prosperity, then we will have to do what we just read in 3 John 2—“prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” We will have to prosper in our souls, f irst. How do we prosper in our souls? Let’s look at Isaiah 55:2-3, 7-9. Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live.... Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For

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as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. In order for our souls to prosper, we have to begin thinking the way God thinks. After all, God’s way of thinking and doing things is always the right way. It’s always the higher way, always the best way. Once you and I come into God’s kingdom, it’s our responsibility to learn His ways and walk in them. We have to discard our old, low thoughts and our old, low ways of living, and receive His higher thoughts and higher ways. How do we do that? Through the Word. God gave us His Word so we could see exactly how He thinks and how He does things. That’s why for generations He has endeavored to get His people to agree with Him, to agree with His Word—to read it, speak it and put it to work. All you and I have to do is find out what the Word says and then do it. As we do, the Word will keep us out of trouble and in the fullness of His blessings. We see this so clearly in the earthly life and ministry of Jesus.

In Matthew 4 we read that after Jesus had been baptized by John in the Jordan River and filled with the Holy Spirit, He was tempted by Satan while fasting in the desert. It was during this confrontation with the devil that Jesus gave us the key to living well. He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (verse 4). You see bread—or natural substance—is not enough for us to live abundant lives. We need the Word of God. The Word is just as vital to our lives as the food we eat. But notice that Jesus said we live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God, not some words. Every word God gives us is to our advantage and our good. Living by every word from God is the only way we can live in every blessing of God. When Ken and I learned this principle, it changed our lives. Once we began living daily on the Word of God, circumstances and situations in our lives began lining up with that Word—and they’ve never stopped changing for our good.

Three Steps to “The Good Life” | God’s Word is full of promises and principles concerning our physical

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We should endeavor to reach the point where we become so developed in our faith walk that

we live each day in all the blessings of heaven.

health. That’s why, if we want to be healthy every day of our lives, we cannot be ignorant of the Word and all that it has to say—nor disobedient to it. David asks the question in Psalm 34:12, “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?” The answer he gives is in verses 11, 13-14: “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”

Hear and Do | First, to have long lives filled with

good health, we must fear the Lord. And simply put, to fear God, or to reverence Him, is to listen to His Word and then do it. That’s what the word hearken in verse 11 means. It means to “hear and do.” We find in Proverbs 9:10 that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Added to that, Proverbs 14:27 tells us that the fear of the Lord “is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death” (The Amplif ied Bible). So every time we read about fearing the Lord in the Bible, it’s referring to honoring God by listening to what He says and then doing it. By honoring God, by hearkening to His Word, we allow His life to flow through us. We become fountains of life, avoiding the snares of death.

Watch Your Mouth | A second step to living a long and healthy life that David gives us in Psalm 34 is to “keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (verse 13). The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about our mouths. They are, after all, the key to life. But what comes out of our mouths is the result of what we have put in our hearts. And Proverbs 14:30 says that a “sound heart is the life of the flesh.” If we want to live free of sickness and disease, our hearts must be sound with the Word of God. The Word must be abiding within us ( John 15:7). The more Word we put inside us, the more Word will come

out of our mouths...and the more life will flow through our bodies. So to live well, we must do something about our words. We cannot get healed and stay healed by going through life talking sickness and disease. “Yeah, but, Gloria, it is allergy season, you know, and I always have a rough time of it with all the pollen... my father and my mother had the same trouble.” That may be so. But the truth is, by going through life and speaking that kind of unbelief you will always shut the door of blessing in your face. You’ll never walk free of those allergies or their symptoms. You will be just like your father and mother and you will probably pass that unpleasant heritage to your children. No, to get well and stay well our tongues must constantly speak what the Word says: “I thank You, Father, that Jesus has redeemed me from the curse of the law of sin and death. By His blood I have covenant rights to ALL the blessing of Abraham, and that includes my health...” (Galatians 3:13-14). All God asks is that we believe and say what He has already said so we can prosper and be in health. Now that will take some time and effort on our part, but we can do it!

Turn From Evil | Finally, in Psalm 34:14, we find a third step toward a healthy life, which is to “Depart from evil, and do good.” Throughout the Bible we find that a wise man lives separated unto God. In other words, a wise man departs f rom evil. Proverbs 3:7 exhorts us to “fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” Second Corinthians 6:14 asks, “ W hat fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” Why is departing from evil so important? Proverbs 3:8 goes on to say that departing from evil “shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” The word navel refers not to just a part of the body but to all of it. So departing from evil is health to the whole body. But now, notice that the opposite of verse 8 is also true. Participating in evil brings sickness and disease

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to our whole flesh. Examples of evil would include envy, strife, immorality and so on. These all bring sickness to the body. In Proverbs 1:19, we read, “So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” Here, it’s quite clear that greed can take away our life. It’s a wicked force that can cut our lives short. We find this same warning in Proverbs 14:30. We read earlier its declaration that a sound heart is life to our flesh. The rest of that scripture says, “...but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones” (The Amplif ied Bible). Someone who is full of envy, strife, jealousy and wrath is a candidate for sickness and disease. It’s that simple, and that serious. Evil does not make for a sound heart or a healthy body. Participating in any amount of sin will only open the door for the devil to bring sickness into our lives. Do you see the real reason why God wants us to depart from evil? He wants us well!

Only One Road to Victory | Only one thing can

separate us from all the results of having lived an evil life—God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word is able to separate us from bad things. It will separate us from living a life of evil, and it will lead us into a godly life. The Word will separate us from sickness, disease and lack. To get separated f rom our evil past, however, we have to give God’s Word first place in our lives. It’s not just going to jump into our hearts overnight. James 1:21 talks about getting rid of “all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness” and receiving “the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls” (The Amplif ied Bible). It’s this implanted or engrafted Word that works in our lives, abiding in us, talking to us and delivering us. When we come across a situation concerning our health, it is the Word of God that ’s alive inside us that rises up and brings light to whatever we’re facing. But the Word cannot rise within us if it hasn’t been deposited there to begin with. That ’s

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why Psalm 103:2-3 tells us to “forget not all [God’s] benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” You and I have to be dedicated to God’s Word. Have you noticed that evil people are dedicated and evangelistic? They live evil with all their heart and they want you to join them, too. It makes them feel better about themselves if you’re in it with them. In the same way, we have to be strong in the Word, not giving in to anything else. The slightest bit of carelessness toward it—not walking in fear and honor of it—will expose us to sickness and disease and the rest of the curse. “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee” (Deuteronomy 28:15). So it depends on what we want. If we want to live long and well, we must pursue God’s Word with our whole hearts. We must pursue the Word the way people in the world go after their evil lifestyle. Proverbs 4:18-22 says, The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Again the key to living well is hearing and doing... giving attention to God’s Word, spending time in it, meditating on it and then doing it. If you really believe the Bible holds the keys to health and prosperity—and you’re as tired of low living as Ken and I were—then give the Word your undivided attention. Read it when you get up in the morning. Read it when you go to bed at night. Read it at every opportunity. Yes, it’s wonderful to get healed when you’re sick. But it’s more wonderful to live in divine health—and God’s Word can take you to that place! The Word can get you well and keep you well. So get on it. Stay on it. And honor God by doing what it tells you to do. It ’s your high way to living well! V ICTOR Y


Turn to the

Word your healing for

G

God’s healing power is yours for preserved blameless unto the coming the taking! His will is for your perof our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23, King James Version). fect health and well-being. Anything that comes against you is subject to change. As you speak these scriptures And may the God of peace Himself daily in faith, the law of the spirit of life sanctify you through and through in Christ Jesus will be activated in your [separate you from profane things, body. The medicine of God’s Word make you pure and wholly consewill go to work to effect a healing and crated to God]; and may your spirit a cure. Remember, by His stripes you and soul and body be preserved were healed. sound and complete [and found] Proverbs: 4:10 Receiving the Word or acting on blameless at the coming of our Lord the Word comes by being diligent. If you need healJesus Christ (the Messiah) (1 Thessalonians 5:23, The Amplified Bible). ing in your body, look up the following verses and read them aloud daily. Refuse to give in to doubt and unbelief. And remember, God’s Word works! May the God of peace make you holy through and through. May you be kept in soul and mind and Wholeness body in spotless integrity until the coming of our And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23, J.B. Phillips pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be Translation of the New Testament).

Hear and receive My Word and the years of your life will be many!

Exodus 15:26

Isaiah 41:10

Mark 11:22-24

Hebrews 10:23

Deuteronomy 7:14-15

Jeremiah 1:12

Romans 4:16-21

Hebrews 11:11

Exodus 23:25

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 1 Kings 8:56

Psalm 91:9-10, 14-16 Psalm 103:1-5

Psalm 107:19-21 Psalm 118:17

Proverbs 4:20-24

Isaiah 55:4-5

Jeremiah 30:17 Joel 3:10

Nahum 1:9

Matthew 8:2-3

Matthew 18:16-17 Matthew 18:18-19 Matthew 21:21

Mark 16:14-18 Romans 8:2, 11

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Galatians 3:13-14, 29 Ephesians 6:10-17 Philippians 2:13

Philippians 4:6-7 2 Timothy 1:7

Hebrews 10:35-36 Hebrews 13:8

James 5:14-16 1 Peter 2:24

1 John 3:21-22 1 John 5:14-15 3 John 2

Revelation 12:11


Beyond Religion—

There’s Relationship! “To know Him should be, without question, the number one priority in every person’s life. It is the key that opens every door.” —Gloria Copeland Living contact with God is not only possible… it’s something He desires! As you draw close to Him, you’ll find difficult situations in your life will begin to line up with His Word. Trusting Him for your every need will become second nature. Love, joy and peace will not just be something you’re striving to attain, it will be part of who you are. This compelling book by Gloria Copeland will help you come To Know Him as never before! You’ll learn:

> The role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual growth > The importance of living in the Word > The urgency of guarding your heart > How God Himself will lovingly and masterfully teach you His ways

When you have the desire and make the effort to know Him—you will! You will go beyond religion and enter into the most rewarding and fulfilling relationship you can ever have!

To Know Him

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Kenneth Copeland Ministries PO Box 3111 STN LCD 1 Langley BC V3A 4R3

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