PURE SPIRITUA.L POWER

August 30 - Pure Spiritual Power

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
(Galatians 5:22-23)

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So many believers think of the fruit of the Spirit as little more than a passive list of pleasant qualities that can help improve their personalities. But they're far greater than that! They're pure spiritual power.

Love is so powerful, the scripture says, that it never fails. Patience is so powerful it cannot be stopped. No matter what the circumstances, it will not quit. Temperance is so powerful it can master all the unruly desires of your flesh.

The fruits of the Spirit are not weak; they're strong. So strong all the demons of hell can't stop them. So strong that if you'll let them flow out of you, they'll correct the problems in your life. They'll keep you steadfast when all the people around you are falling down. They'll keep you on your feet when governments fail and when the storms of life come.

We are living in dangerous days. There's only one way you can make it through in victory. You must begin to release those powerful fruits of the Spirit God has placed inside you. Believe me, if you're born again, they are there. Learn to yield to them and as 2 Peter 1:10 promised, you shall never fall!

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Scripture Study: 2 Peter 1:1-10

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

YOU HOLD THE KEY

August 29 - You Hold the Key

"I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
(Matthew 16:19)

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The Greek text of that scripture would literally read, "I give you the keys of the kingdom. Whatever you declare locked on earth is locked in heaven and whatever you declare unlocked on earth is unlocked in the heavenlies."

The heaven Jesus was talking about there isn't the heaven where God resides. He was talking about the battle zone, about the heaven where Satan's forces are operating.

He was telling us that God has given us power to bind the wicked spirits in heavenly places and to loose the angelic powers of God to work in our behalf.

Philippians 2:9-10 says, "We have been given a Name which is above every name, and at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow!" Where? In heaven, in earth and under the earth. That covers it all!

As believers, we have total authority over the powers of Satan. We can take authority over the evil spirits that are trying to destroy this nation. We can take authority over them in the Name of Jesus and pull down their strongholds.

It is time we began to realize how important we are to world affairs. Since the day Jesus gave us the Great Commission, the life or death of the world has been in the hands of the Church. We are the ones who have the mighty Name of Jesus and the awesome strength of the gospel to bring life and abundance to every creature. We are the ones whose prayers can change every office of authority in this land.

It's up to you and me to begin to intercede right now and use the power God has given us. We may come from different lands with different backgrounds, but we all have one thing in common--Jesus Christ is our Lord. And that alone is enough to alter the spiritual complexion of this earth.

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Scripture Study: Acts 4:1-14


Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

ABIDE IN JESUS

August 28 - Abide in Jesus

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered."
(John 15:6)

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If I were to ask you to make a list of a hundred things you need to do to please the Lord today, you could do it, couldn't you? In fact, you probably have so many spiritual "do's" and "don'ts" cluttering up your mind that you'd hardly know where to start.

But you can relax. I'm not going to suggest you make a list of them. Instead, I'm going to help you simplify things by giving you only one: Abide in Jesus.

The one thing you're truly responsible for is your union with Him. If you keep your union and fellowship with Him intact, everything else will be taken care of.

"But Gloria, I'm facing some big problems right now. My life's turned upside down. I'm so rushed I don't know whether I'm coming or going. I don't have time to fellowship with the Lord today."

That's when you need to do it the most! You need to maintain your union with the Lord particularly when the storms of life come. I know that's often not easy to do. Whether the storm is a sickness in your body or financial problems or family strife, the temptation will be to settle your attention and your mind on that problem. You won't even want to think about anything else.

That's what the devil planned on. That's the reason he sent that storm in the first place. To distract you from fellowshiping with God. To draw your attention away from your union with Him.

Don't fall into the devil's trap. Instead, keep your thoughts and affections trained on the Lord. As you do that, the force of faith will begin to flow out of you. And that flow will repel every form of darkness. It will bring you in triumph through every storm.

Fellowship with Jesus today.

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Scripture Study: Philippians 3:1-11

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

NOT OF THIS WORLD

August 27 - Not of This World

"Whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith."
(1 John 5:4, Amp)

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Years ago the devil started a rumor. He told a few Christians that as long as they lived in the world, they had to suffer as the world did. He told them they had to share the diseases and the defeat, the poverty and the failure of those around them.

It was a crafty lie--and it worked. Believers accepted it and began to spread it among themselves. You may have even heard it yourself. If so, I want to help you put that rumor to rest today. I want to help you get the facts straight once and for all.

You see, despite what you may have heard, health, prosperity and victorious living aren't concepts some comfort-hungry believer selfishly dreamed up. They are God's ideas.

You may say, "That sounds good, Gloria, but we've got to be realistic. We live in a world that's full of problems. And as long as we live in this world, it seems to me we're going to have our share."

Yes, that's true. Even Jesus said, "In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration." But notice, He didn't stop there! He went on to say, "But be of good cheer-- take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted--for I have overcome the world.-- I have deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it [for you]" (John 16:33, The Amplified Bible).

Most believers don't have any trouble believing the first part of that verse. They know all too well how many tribulations, trials, distresses, and frustrations surround them. But they're less certain about the last part. They haven't yet experienced for themselves exactly what Jesus meant when He said He had deprived those things of power to harm them.

Why not?

Because they're still living as though they're part of the world.

But, listen. Jesus said you and I are to be "sanctified," or separated from the evils of this world. How? Through the Word of God! (John 17:17).

The Word of God will separate you from the world. His Word will set His dream for victory into motion in your life. If you'll receive it and believe it, speak it and act on it, that Word will set you apart from those around you. It will take you from trouble to triumph again and again.
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Scripture Study: John 17:1-17

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

August 26 - Take the First Step

"The steps of a [good] man are directed and established of the Lord, when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]."
(Psalm 37:23, Amp)

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God's will is to lead you on a day-by-day basis. He's given His Spirit to guide you every day.

Most believers don't know that. They expect God to reveal His complete will for their lives in one big revelation. Don't make that mistake. Don't just sit around waiting for God to show you whether or not He wants you to go to Africa for the rest of your life.

Let Him begin to lead you in little things first, to tell you what you need to do about this situation or that one. He'll show you what you need to change. And, as He does, you'll change one thing at a time.

The truth is, you probably already know one thing God wants you to do. You might not know why He wants you to do it. You may not know where it's leading, but you've heard His voice in your heart.

If you want to keep on hearing Him, you'll have to set aside your own ambitions and desires. Spend time in prayer and in the Word. Tune your ear to the voice of His Spirit.

Learn to trust Him. Remember that He's smarter than you are and be willing to do what He says whether you can understand it with your mind or not. Obey even His smallest instructions. If you do, He'll eventually change your whole life...one little step at a time.
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Scripture Study: Genesis 12:1-8

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

CHOOSE FRIENDS WISELY

August 25 - Choose Friends Wisely

"I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate(closely and habitually) with unchaste (impure) people."
(1 Corinthians 5:9, Amp)

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The company you keep has such an influence on your spiritual life. Fellowshiping with godly people will help speed you on to victory, while fellowshiping with those who are ungodly will drag you down to defeat.

That's why the Bible has some things to say about your friends. That's why it tells you to separate yourself from the world. Because evil companions will corrupt you.

Now, I'm not talking about ministry. Jesus Himself ministered to sinners. You have to mix with them to preach to them and pray for them. What I'm talking about here are the people you choose for friends.

If you want to walk in the things of the Lord, don't choose friends who walk in the things of the devil, people who talk and act ungodly, who don't give God any place in their lives. They'll pull you down. As you rub shoulders with them, you'll expose yourself to temptation. You'll get so familiar with sin it will start to appear less repulsive to you. Sooner or later, you'll fall into it.

So choose your friends wisely. Fellowship with those who call on the Name of the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22). Expose yourself to their love and peace. Let their faith rub off on you!
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Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

TRADITION---A KILLER!

August 24 - Tradition--A Killer!

"Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."
(Matthew 15:6)

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Cancer. Heart disease. Multiple sclerosis. When we think of killer diseases, those are the names that come to mind. But the truth is, there's a far more deadly killer on the loose in the Church today. And it's destroyed more lives than any of us can imagine. It's called tradition. Traditions rob believers of their healing. They steal the power from the promises of God. Here are three you should beware of:

1. The tradition that says it's not always God's will to heal you.

It is God's will to heal you! It says so in His Word. If you don't believe that it is, then you can't pray in faith believing you'll receive. You're like the farmer who sits on his porch and says, "I believe in crops, but I'm not going to plant any seed this year. I'll just believe, and if it's God's will, my crop will come up." That farmer will never see his crop. Faith is the seed of healing--if you don't plant it, it won't grow. A prayer that includes the words, "If it be thy will" won't produce a healing harvest. You must know without a doubt that healing is always God's will for you.

2. Another tradition we hear is that healing has passed away. That there are no miracles today. But the Word of God proves that's not true. In Exodus 15:26, God says, "I am the Lord that healeth thee." He also tells us that He does not change (Mal. 3:6). He has never changed since the beginning of time. For healing to pass away, God would have to pass away...and He is not about to do that!

3. The third dangerous tradition is this one: "God gets glory from Christians being sick." That tradition totally violates the Word of God. The Bible says that people gave glory to God when they saw the lame walk and the blind see. God receives glory from your healing--not your pain!

The world is looking for a way out of sickness and disease, not a way into it. Let's break down those traditions and deliver a hurting world from the most dangerous killer of all.

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Scripture Study: Mark 2:1-12

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

LEAVING THE LOW LIFE BEHIND

August 23 - Leaving the Low Life Behind

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
(Matthew 16:25)

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The high life...or the low life? God's kind of life...or the world's kind of life? You can't have them both. It's one or the other. You have to choose.

You may try to put off that choice. You may try to hang on to the low life while reaching out for the high life at the same time, so you can see if it's something you really want before you give up everything the world has to offer. But, believe me, you're not that tall!

You'll never be able to sample the high life for yourself until you're willing to let go, until you're willing to take God at His Word and trust Him to take care of you.

What will happen to you when you do that? You'll start living the kind of life God describes in Psalm 1. You'll be like "a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in season; your leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever you do shall prosper."

In West Texas talk that means your roots will go down so deep that no drought can dry you up and no storm can blow you down. No matter what happens in the world around you, you'll prosper.

The stronger the wind blows, the more you'll bend in the breeze. Depression and inflation won't be able to break you. When the rains stop coming and everyone else is withering away, you'll just keep on thriving and bearing the fruit of the Spirit because you're drawing up nourishment from the riverbed!

That's what the high life is like and there's nothing that the world has to offer that can even compare. I know that from experience. Once you dare to let go and trust God...so will you.

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Scripture Study: Matthew 16:13-26

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

DON'T TOOT YOUR OWN HORN
BY PAT GULLEY

Prov 27:2
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. (KJV)

There is an old saying that goes, "Times change, but people don't." The writer of this Proverb certainly knows that it is not wise to 'toot your own horn'. The Bible teaches us that bragging on one's self is the very thing that caused the fall of Lucifer from heaven.

Isa 14:12-15
(12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
(13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
(14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
(15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (KJV)

Did you notice all the 'I wills' in that revelation from Isaiah about how and why Satan was cast out of Heaven? (Rev 12: 7-9) There were five. When someone says 'I will', and doesn't give any place to the Lord's Will, it is very dangerous territory to be traveling.

It is also not very wise to be saying a lot of 'I dids' or 'we dids'. When it comes to letting other people know of your good deeds or your various exploits it is best if those testimonies come from the mouth of strangers. They do not have an agenda and the Lord already knows what you did so you do not need to impress Him.

Jesus also talks about doing good works and letting our light shine before men that they may see those good works and give the glory to God.

Matt 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

I believe that when the Presence and the Power of God lives and manifests the Mercy and Grace of God in and through the life of a born-again human being, those who see it will be blessed and benefited by it. They will most assuredly give the credit and praise to the Lord and not to the person He has chosen to use.

It is an awesome thing to be used by God as a vessel to help humanity. When the light and workings of the Holy Spirit are witnessed by others, Jesus is magnified and God is glorified. This is the purpose of the Christian and this is why we are joined together with Him as a Witness to the world of God's love.

I am not saying that we will never have to justify ourselves to others. There will be those who may question our motives for doing or saying the things we do or say. Do not be entrapped by them or their accusations.

I am saying that we must be very humble and always know within ourselves that we are but a branch that receives our very sustenance from the Vine. Any fruit of good works that is produced through us is from the Vine and the Vine alone. We should be the first to recognize that.

NO CONSOLATION PRIZE

August 22 - No Consolation Prize

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye maybe perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
(James 1:4)
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I talk a lot about faith. But there's another force that goes along with it that's just as important. It's patience, the ability to stand fast on the Word of God even when your victory seems slow in coming.

Patience is not automatic. It won't go to work unless you let it go to work. So many people don't understand that. They somehow think faith and patience will go to work for them without their help. They just let the devil tear their lives apart and then they say silly things like, "Well, I guess God sent that trial to strengthen my faith."

Don't you ever get caught saying that!

In the first place, James says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God" (James 1:13). And in the second place, that trial isn't going to make your faith stronger. In fact, it'll destroy it if you'll let it.

If I were to give you a set of weights, would that set of weights make you any stronger? No. As a matter of fact, if you dropped one of them on your foot, you could end up painfully weaker. It's what you do with them that counts, right?

Well, the same thing is true when you run into some kind of trying circumstance the devil's brought your way. If you just lay down and let it run over you, it will damage you. But if you'll let patience have her perfect work, if you'll remain consistently constant, trusting in and relying confidently on the Word of God, you'll end up perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

"Wanting nothing." That phrase alone should convince you that patience is no consolation prize. It's a first-rate power that will put the promises of God within your reach. It's a force that will make a winner out of you.

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Scripture Study: Genesis 26:15-22

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

HELL CAN'T PUT OUT THE LIGHT

August 21 - Hell Can't Put Out the Light

"In Him was Life and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it."
(John 1:4-5, Amp)

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Whenever things around you get dark and you feel the devil is about to overpower you, remember this: You have the Light of the world in you, and try as they may, all the forces of hell can't put it out!

Even when you're at your weakest, even when you feel like the light within you is small, the devil's darkness is no match for you.

Let me show you what I mean. Imagine for a moment that you're in a large auditorium that has no windows or doors to let in outside light. The place is so black you can't see anything, not even your hand in front of your face. There's nothing around you but complete darkness!

Now, imagine one little lightning bug flying around that auditorium. Every eye in there would turn toward it. As small as that little light is in comparison to the great darkness around it, you would still be able to see it. That massive blackness wouldn't be able to do a thing to shut off that bug. Everywhere he flew, the darkness would just have to yield. It would always be dispelled by his light.

When the circumstances around you begin to get black and you're tempted to despair, think about that lightning bug. Meditate on the fact that Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, is in you. When the revelation of that hits you, you'll never again let the darkness back you into a corner. You'll start chasing it down-- overcoming it with your light!

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Scripture Study: Ephesians 5:8-16

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

WHEN SOMEBODY DOES YOU WRONG

August 20 - When Somebody Does You Wrong

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
(Luke 10:19)

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Somebody's done you wrong! Sooner or later it happens to all of us. Somewhere along the way, we all get hurt or cheated or lied to or abused.

It's as predictable as it is painful. Yet when it happens most of us find ourselves strangely unprepared. In our outrage, we often cry out to God against the one who wronged us. We ask for justice, or even vengeance, and end up making things tougher on everyone involved--including ourselves.

If that's been true of you, it's time you found out how you can put the power of God to work for you the next time somebody does you wrong.

Step one: Identify the enemy! Right here's where the majority of us make our biggest blunder. We mistakenly identify our enemy as the person who hurts us. Don't waste your energy ranting and raving or plotting and scheming against people who cause you pain. They're simply under the devil's influence. Aim your spiritual ammunition at the right target. It's the devil who's behind it all. Go after him!

Step two: Fire! Once you've pointed your spiritual guns in the right direction, fire! Hit the devil fast and furiously with the Word of God. Use the Name of Jesus and the power that's been given you as a believer and bind the devil from doing you any further harm in that area. Then move on to the next and most important part of this spiritual battle.

Step three: Pray the prayer of intercession. In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus gives us these instructions: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."

Crying out for the vengeance of God to strike like a lightning bolt when somebody does us wrong isn't acting like our Father. Remember God has great, great mercy. Not just for me and you, but for everyone!

The devil will probably think twice before he bothers you again. Next time someone causes you pain, put the power of God to work for you. Identify the real enemy. Hit him hard with the authority you've been given as a believer. Then pray the prayer of intercession.

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Scripture Study: Matthew 6:6-15

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

SEE YOURSELF RISEN WITH JESUS

August 19 - See Yourself Risen With Jesus

"Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ, the Messiah, [as] risen from the dead."
(2 Timothy 2:8, Amp)



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This is the key to holding onto the blessings of God. When pressure comes, when troubles and trials are bearing down on you, remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead!

Remember that when Jesus arose, you arose. When He came out of hell and defeated the enemy, you came out of hell and defeated the enemy. His victory is your victory because you're in Him.

In the hard places, remember that. When the devil tells you you're not going to get your answer this time, remember that. When he tells you there's no way out, you remember Christ, the Anointed One, the Victorious Conqueror, risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father!

If there's an image Satan hates more than any other, it must be that image of Jesus, rising from the dead, stripping him forever of his authority, and openly displaying his defeat to all of heaven and hell. That's the picture you need to keep in the forefront of your mind. Think about it until it's etched into your heart so deeply that nothing Satan says or does can get it out of you.

That's when the gifts of God will be established in your life. That's when the devil won't be able to talk you out of your inheritance with trials and tribulations. Keep in mind Jesus Christ, risen from the dead!

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Scripture Study: Hebrews 12:1-13

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

GET OUT FROM UNDER

August 18 - Get Out From Under

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
(1 John 4:4)

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Under the circumstances... Have you ever caught yourself using that phrase?

"I suppose I'm doing pretty well under the circumstances."

If you've ever said something like that, I want you to kick those words out of your vocabulary right now. Because you, as a victorious child of God, don't have any business living your life "under" your circumstances. You don't have any business letting problems and situations rule over you.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus--the One Who is in you--ransacked Satan's kingdom. Through His death at Calvary, He legally entered the regions of the damned and stripped Satan of everything. He took away all his armor. He took the keys to death and hell. He bound that strong man, looted his kingdom, and Colossians says He spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them.

Then Jesus turned around and gave that victory to you. YOU are of God. Remember that! You have overcome through Jesus because He lives in you. You never have to live "under" the circumstances again!

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Scripture Study: Colossians 1:9-15

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

GIVE GOD A WAY IN

August 17 - Give God a Way In

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land."
(Malachi 3:11-12)

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God is vitally interested in your finances. He wants to multiply and protect them. But He won't be able to--unless you open the door for Him to do it.

How? Through tithing.

When you tithe, you give God the legal right to intervene in your financial affairs, to bless you richly, and to defend you against the destruction the devil brings. When you tithe, you lay a foundation for success and abundance. You establish deposits with God you can draw on when you need them.

But don't wait until your back is against the wall to start. Begin now. Start developing your faith when things are going well by meditating on the blessing God's Word promises you as a tither. Learn to act on that Word now, and when Satan tries to put you in a financial corner, he'll fail. His power over you financially will have already been broken. Because you've established yourself on the covenant of God, Satan will have no chance against you. God will rebuke him for your sake.

If you haven't yet opened the door and given God a way into your finances, don't wait any longer. Do it today. Then, when the pressures of tomorrow come, you'll be prepared and protected by the special privileges that are guaranteed to those who tithe.
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Scripture Study: Hebrews 7:1-9

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION
BY PAT GULLEY

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (KJV)


When Jesus spoke these words he was just hours away from the Cross. He chose his words well at the end, much like hearing the last words of a loved one who is about to leave this earth and enter into their eternal reward. And what did Jesus say? "In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

He planned that these words would help and comfort His followers during the hard times that were sure to come. The world's government and religious leaders crucified God's only begotten Son; but His spoken words still bring us help and comfort in these trying times of the 21st century. Jesus tells us to be cheerful when we go through tough times. He also told us why we could be cheerful. It is because we are safe in Him and in His victory over death, hell, and the grave. (Remember John the Revelator: Rev 1:9)

It is possible for us to have peace in the midst of trouble. It is possible for us to be of good cheer in the middle of sorrow and suffering. It is possible because Jesus did the impossible. He paid the price we couldn't pay, and He lived the life we couldn't live. He redeemed us from the curse of the law that went into effect in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:14-19) and gave us new life through faith in Him when He was raised from the dead.

Jesus indeed overcame the world. He said it before He did it. Isn't that cool? He spoke of His Victory over the world and the devil before He even stood before Pilate or was nailed to the Cross. (This is what we call 'faith' Rom 4:17)

Persecutions and afflictions, trials and tribulations will happen to one and all residents of planet earth. The Apostle Peter also wrote the Church and warned them of the fiery trials that would come their way. He told them not to be surprised when things went terribly wrong as though some strange thing happened to them. But he did warn them to check their lifestyle and make sure the problems that were happening were happening because they were doing what was right and not because they were doing something wrong. (Mark 4:17)

1 Pet 4:12-16
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (KJV)

Christian friends, we are in the world to be witnesses to the love and faithfulness and mercy of God. We are ordained to spend eternity in Glory with Father and Son and all members of His Holy Family. But in the meantime, in between time, let us be ever mindful of His Presence with us and let us always remember that God is pleased when we trust His Word and when we shine as lights in the night that others may see and give Glory to Him. Be of good cheer. We win.

A FIRM FOUNDATION

August 16 - A Firm Foundation

"These things I command you, that ye love one another."
(John 15:17)
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In Luke 6:47-48, Jesus said:

"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."

That's probably a familiar scripture to you. But today I want you to do something new with it. I want you to put it together with what Jesus said in John 15:17:

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Love. That one word sums up all Jesus said for us to do. If you'll build your life on it, even the most violent storms of this world will be unable to shake you. It will make you solid in every area of your life.

If you'll build your family on love, you can win back those the devil has stolen from you. You can win them to Jesus with the love of God.

If you'll build your business on love, you'll prosper beyond your wildest dreams. I had a friend who did that. He went into a television and radio business in his church. He wanted to buy a station from a Jewish man and he offered such a good price for it that the owner was stunned. "Why would you offer me such a wonderful price?" asked the Jewish owner. "Because the Word of God says that if I will bless you, God will bless me. So I'm going to see to it that you get the better part of this deal," answered my friend.

Before it was all over, that Jewish station owner had made Jesus Lord of His life. He and my friend ended up prospering and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ together on the radio.

When love rules, prosperity can flow!

Commit to living the life of love today. Commit to building your house upon the rock. Then when the storms of life begin to blow--at home, at work, or in any situation--you can enjoy the solid security of knowing that love never fails.

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Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

EVIDENCE OF A MIRACLE

August 15 - Evidence of a Miracle

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
(Hebrews 11:1)

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Don't ever short-circuit a miracle by trying to see it in progress! So many believers do that. They'll lay hands on someone and pray for healing or deliverance and then, when they don't see any immediate, outward change take place, they'll withdraw their faith and assume nothing happened.

The Lord taught me an unforgettable lesson about that once when I was in Jamaica. I was preaching to a group of about 150 people in a church that was lighted only by a single kerosene lantern. It was so dark I couldn't see anyone's face. All I could see was my Bible and the feet of the man right in front of me.

Suddenly I realized that I'd always depended on the facial expressions of the people to whom I was preaching to determine how my sermon was being received. Knowing what I did about faith, I knew that was dangerous. So I made a quality decision at that moment never to preach another sermon except by faith. I would not be swayed by the expressions of people.

Before that series of meetings was over, I saw just how important that decision could be. The Jamaicans, who tend to show very little expression anyway, sat through every sermon without any outward reaction at all.

One lady was completely healed of blindness during one of those meetings. She never let on that anything had taken place. She was almost rigid when she found me outside and said simply, "Brother Copeland, I was blind, but now I can see. Thank you." That was all! A miracle had taken place, and by watching, you wouldn't have been able to tell anything had happened at all.

Next time you're tempted to evaluate what God is doing by the looks of things, don't do it. Remember instead that it is faith, not appearances, that makes miracles happen. It's the only real evidence that you need!

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Scripture Study: Hebrews 11:1-13

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE YOUR PRAYERS

August 14 - Don't Underestimate Your Prayers

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)
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That verse is clear, isn't it? The instruction is plain. Yet even in these tumultuous days when our nation is so desperately in need of God's guidance, most of God's people don't do what that verse commands.

Why not?

I believe it's because most of us are overwhelmed by the problems we see around us. "How could my prayers make a dent in the national debt?" we think. "How could my faith affect foreign policy?"

In other words, we fail to pray because we fail to realize just how powerfully our prayers can affect this country.

It's time we caught hold of that. It's time we realized that if we'd just be obedient to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, there's no council of any kind on earth, no king, no president, no congress, no anything that could overthrow God's purpose for His people.

God has called us to intercede. He has commanded us to pray for those in authority. He has given us His Word, His power, His Name, His authority, and His faith. We have all the tools necessary to pray effectively for our government and its leaders.

I urge you to intercede. It is your responsibility as a believer to get involved in the affairs of your country. God wants this great land of ours, and the only way He's going to get it is through His ambassadors, you and me.

Pray for this nation. Every day. And never again underestimate the world-changing power of those prayers.

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Scripture Study: Daniel 2:1-30

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE YOUR PRAYERS

August 14 - Don't Underestimate Your Prayers

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)
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That verse is clear, isn't it? The instruction is plain. Yet even in these tumultuous days when our nation is so desperately in need of God's guidance, most of God's people don't do what that verse commands.

Why not?

I believe it's because most of us are overwhelmed by the problems we see around us. "How could my prayers make a dent in the national debt?" we think. "How could my faith affect foreign policy?"

In other words, we fail to pray because we fail to realize just how powerfully our prayers can affect this country.

It's time we caught hold of that. It's time we realized that if we'd just be obedient to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, there's no council of any kind on earth, no king, no president, no congress, no anything that could overthrow God's purpose for His people.

God has called us to intercede. He has commanded us to pray for those in authority. He has given us His Word, His power, His Name, His authority, and His faith. We have all the tools necessary to pray effectively for our government and its leaders.

I urge you to intercede. It is your responsibility as a believer to get involved in the affairs of your country. God wants this great land of ours, and the only way He's going to get it is through His ambassadors, you and me.

Pray for this nation. Every day. And never again underestimate the world-changing power of those prayers.

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Scripture Study: Daniel 2:1-30

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

HEART TO HEART

August 13 - Heart to Heart

"For who has known or understood the mind(the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct [Him] and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ, the Messiah, and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart."
(1 Corinthians 2:16, Amp)
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Isn't it exciting to realize that you can hold the thoughts and feelings and purposes of God's very own heart in your heart? Isn't it thrilling to know the Creator of heaven and earth wants to be one spirit with you and transmit His thoughts to your mind?

First Corinthians 6:17 says that when you were joined to the Lord you became one spirit with Him. He came into union with you so that He can talk to you heart to heart. God wants you in this harmony with Him so that His thoughts can become your actions. He wants you to walk so closely with Him that you never lack power to overcome the evil of this world. He wants you to be so in tune with His Spirit that you are able to feel His heart of compassion toward those around you who are hurting or bowed down with sickness and pain. He wants to be one with you, so He can reach out through your hands and fulfill His purposes in the earth.

Make a fresh commitment today to walk in union with your God. Give your attention to His Spirit in your inner man. Determine to yield to His voice and not to the voices of the world or the flesh!

Allow the mind of Christ to flow through you!

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Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 2

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

MEDITATE ON THE WORD

August 11 - Meditate on the Word

"And [God] brought [Abram] forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."
(Genesis 15:5-6)

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Do you ever have trouble believing the Word of God? Not just agreeing with it mentally, but really believing that what it says will work for you?

I do. There are times when the promises in the Word stagger my mind. There have been times when I've felt so defeated and the circumstances around me looked so bad that it was tough for me to believe I was "more than a conqueror" even though I knew God said I was.

What do you do when your mind staggers like that at the promise of God? You meditate on that promise.

Scriptural meditation simply means thinking about and reflecting on the Word of God. It means pondering a particular scripture and mentally applying it to your own circumstances again and again until that scripture permanently marks your consciousness.

That kind of meditation can affect your life in a way that almost nothing else can. It can, quite literally, alter your mind. That's what happened to Abram.

When God first told him that he was going to father a nation, he was an old man. His wife, Sara, was also old. What's more, she had been barren all her life. How could an aging, childless couple have even one child--much less a nation full of them? Abram couldn't even imagine such a thing. It contradicted his entire mind-set.

But God knew the mental struggle Abram would have, so He didn't just make him a verbal promise and leave it at that. He gave Abram a picture of that promise to meditate on. He took him out into the starry night, turned his eyes to the sky and said, "So shall thy seed be."

Can't you just see Abram staring out at the stars, trying to count them? Filling the eyes of his heart with the promise of God?

That's what meditation is all about. Taking time to envision the promise of God until it becomes a reality inside you. It's tremendously powerful, and by focusing on the scriptural promises God has given you, you can put it to work in your life just as Abram put it to work in his.

Don't just read the Word. Meditate on it today.

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Scripture Study: Romans 4:13-25

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

A LIVING EXAMPLE OF LOVE

August 10 - A Living Example of Love

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
(Romans 5:5)
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Don't ever worry about not having enough love inside you. The Word says God's love is shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost. God's love is in you. What you need to do is make a decision to let it flow.

Pray this prayer today.

"In Jesus' Name, I make a fresh and strong commitment today to live the life of love, to let the tenderness of God flow through me and heal the wounded hearts of those I meet.

"Father, teach me to love even when things go wrong. To be patient and kind when the children are underfoot. To overlook the spiteful words of an angry spouse. To rejoice when someone at the office gets the raise that I thought I needed. Teach me to talk in love, to lay gossip quietly aside and to take up words of grace instead.

"Lord, Your Word says that Your love is already inside me...that it has been shed abroad in my heart. So today, I resolve to remove every obstacle that would keep that love from flowing freely into the lives of others. I put resentments behind me, and I forgive all those who've done me wrong.

"In the days ahead, cause me to increase and excel and overflow with Your love. Cause me to be what this world needs most of all...a living example of love. Amen."

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Scripture Study: 1 John 4:7-17

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

POSSESS GOD'S REST

August 9 - Possess God's Rest

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God....Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
(Hebrews 4:9,11)

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God's rest. Considering the hectic, busy lives you and I live that sounds like a pretty good thing to have, doesn't it? But exactly what is that rest? And how do we enter it?

The third and fourth chapters of Hebrews compares God's rest with the children of Israel taking possession of the Promised Land. That land was to be a place where their every need would be met, a place of freedom from their warring enemies, a place no one would ever drive them from again. All they had to do was go in and possess it. But something kept them from it: unbelief and disobedience.

As believers, we, too, have the opportunity to enter a Promised Land of abundance and peace. A land where we can rest from our struggles and enjoy the victory of God. To enter it we must do what the children of Israel failed to do. We must simply trust God and obey His voice.

How do you come to that place of trust and obedience? By getting to know your Father. By spending time fellowshiping with Him in prayer and in the Word. That is the labor that will bring you into His rest!

I'll never forget when I first discovered that. I had been learning the principles of faith, striving hard to do them. It seemed back then that keeping doubt and unbelief out of my heart was difficult. Then, one day, I began to labor to know the Father instead of just knowing about Him.

When I did that, He began to reveal Himself to me. He gave me glimpses of His heart, His nature and His love. As He revealed to me how much He wanted to do for His children, it changed my striving into peace, my doubt into trust, my fear into bold obedience. It enabled me to enter His rest.

Get to know your Father. Work at it. Make it your "labor." He has a Promised Land of rest that is waiting for you!

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Scripture Study: Hebrews 4:1-11

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

KEEP PADDLING UPSTREAM

August 8 - Keep Paddling Upstream

"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
(Psalm 141:3)
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Do you really believe that you need to watch over your mouth? Most believers don't. You can tell that just by listening to their conversations. They profess, for example, to be trusting God concerning their health. But you're likely to hear them say something like this: "I'm just sure I'm going to get the flu. I get it every year. I'll be sicker than a dog too, you'll see...."

Do people like that have what they say?

Oh yes! Check with them a few weeks later and they'll be quick to tell you that they got just as sick as they said they'd be. But, odds are, if you try to tell them there's any connection between the words they spoke and the illness they suffered, they'll look at you as if you were out of your mind.

Of course, if they'd dig into the Word of God and find out what it has to say about the subject, they'd realize that the words they speak have a tremendous impact on their lives. They'd see that it quite literally determines their future. If you're a born-again believer, you've already experienced the most powerful example of that. You believed with your heart and confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you changed the eternal course of your life. You know firsthand just how powerful your words can be.

Yet, even so, if you're like me, you still find that speaking faith-filled words consistently is tough to do. I've been at it myself for many years now and, despite all the time I've spent on it and all the experiences I've had, it's still something I have to watch all the time.

You see, the world around you is in negative flow. Like a rushing river, it's always pulling at you, trying to get you to flow with it. Living by faith and speaking words of faith is like trying to paddle upstream. You can do it--but it's a great deal of work. And there's never a time you can afford to take a vacation from it. If you relax a little bit you'll just start drifting right back down the river.

Make the decision right now to set a watch over your lips. Determine to consistently fill your mouth with the Word of God. "Attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings" (Prov. 4:20). Let God's Word be your watch and everything you say will take you a little further upstream!

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Scripture Study: Romans 10:8-17

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

PUT YOUR IMAGINATION TO WORK

August 7 - Put Your Imagination to Work

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
(2 Corinthians 9:8)

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If you have a desire to give, yet financial failures keep holding you back, you may be surprised to learn that what you need is not more money. What you need is a spiritual breakthrough. You need to take the Word of God and shatter the images of poverty and lack within you. You need to replace them with a vision of the sufficiency of God. Then more things, including money, will come.

How? By spending time thinking on the prosperity promises He's provided for you in His Word. By meditating on them. By believing you receive those promises actually being fulfilled in your life.

Begin to see yourself, for example, being a generous giver to people in need. In your mind, see yourself as a giver instead of the one who is always in need. Each time you do, the promise of God will become more real to you and your faith will grow.

"Oh my, Brother Copeland, surely you're not saying I should use my imagination!"

Yes, that's precisely what I'm saying. Why do you think God gave it to you? Coupled with the Word of God, your imagination is a tremendous thing. However, without the Word, your imagination will become worldly and bind you instead of feeding your faith.

Sometimes creating such new images of hope are tough--especially when there are old images of doubt blocking the way. If you've been broke, for instance, all or most all of your life, it may take a while for you to see yourself prospering in God. But you can do it if you stay in the Word.

Just keep meditating the Word of God. Eventually you'll be transformed by the renewing of your mind. When that happens, financial failures will never be able to stop you again.

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Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 8:1-14

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

LET YOUR LIFE BEGIN AGAIN

August 6 - Let Your Life Begin Again

"Behold, now is the day of salvation."
(2 Corinthians 6:2)

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Did you know that Jesus has unlocked the prison doors of guilt that have kept you captive? It doesn't matter who you are or what you've been. I don't care if you've been a prostitute, a murderer, a thief, a drug dealer, or a churchgoer who's never made Jesus Christ Lord of your life. The Bible says that today is the day of salvation.

A new life is only a prayer away.

Gloria and I discovered that for ourselves more than 25 years ago. Actually, it was Gloria who took the first step. She found out that the Bible said that not even a sparrow falls without God's knowledge. "Well," she thought, "if God knows and cares when the sparrows fall, He must know what terrible shape my life is in right now. And if He cares, maybe He can do something with it."

Gloria didn't know anything about the Bible. She didn't even know for sure that God would let her start over. But when she told Him she wanted Him to take over her life, something supernatural happened on the inside of her. She was born again.

"But what about my past?" you may say. "I feel so guilty about it!"

When you've been born again and made a new creature in Christ--that past doesn't belong to you anymore. And it would be ridiculous to walk around feeling guilty about someone else's past, wouldn't it?

What would you think if I took a little baby on my lap, a pretty little thing just a few months old, and said, "Oh, isn't she precious? But just think about her past."

You'd think I was crazy! "What past?" you'd say. "She doesn't have any past!"

Well, it's the same way with you once you've been born again. You don't have any past. Your life begins again the day you make Jesus Lord of your life. Then, when Satan comes around trying to remind you of what a worm you were before, just tell him he's knocking on the wrong door.

You've been kicked around long enough. There's no need to wait any longer. The prison door is open. Walk through to Jesus and let your life begin again today.

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Scripture Study: Matthew 10:29-33:

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

WATCH AND PRAY

August 5 - Watch and Pray

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
(Matthew 26:41)

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Have you ever been frustrated with the weaknesses of your flesh? Have you ever resolved never more to yield to a particular sin, yet when the temptation came, you fell right back into it?

It's happened to all of us. Even the disciple Peter. He swore he would never deny Jesus...but he did it anyway, time and time and time again.

There is, however, something we can do to keep from falling prey to temptations like that. We can "watch and pray." That's what Jesus told Peter and the other disciples to do in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew they were about to be tempted, and He knew that the weakness of their flesh would overcome them if they didn't strengthen their spirits through prayer.

That's true for you and me too. That's why in Jude 20 and 21, God tells us much the same thing that Jesus told the disciples that night. He says, "But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith... praying in the Holy Spirit: Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God" (The Amplified Bible). God knows even better than we do that our flesh has been trained to flow with the world's stream. He knows that even though our born again spirits are reaching for God, our untrained flesh will always have a tendency to fall into sin.

So, He's given us the ability to pray in other tongues, to strengthen our spirit and build it up until it takes ascendancy over our flesh. As we pray in the Spirit, Romans 8:26 tells us, the "(Holy) Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf" (The Amplified Bible).

Is it any wonder the Apostle Paul said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all!" (1 Cor. 14:18). It is one of the most powerful tools God has given us.

So don't neglect to use it. Follow the instruction in Ephesians 6:18 and pray "always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...watching thereunto with all perseverance."

Don't make the mistake that Peter made. When temptation comes to your door, don't let it catch you sleeping. Be prepared. Make sure your spirit is strong enough to rise above it.
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Scripture Study: Matthew 26:30-44

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

RECEIVE HIS MERCY

August 4 - Receive His Mercy

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
(Psalm 136:1)

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God's mercy endures forever! His willingness to act on man's behalf is still operating in the earth. His mercy never runs out. Neither has it abated or weakened.

"Praise the Lord! His mercy endureth forever!" Mighty and powerful things happened when Israel said these words. They are words of praise and adoration to God.

When Solomon finished building the house of the Lord, the trumpeters and singers lifted their voices as one, and with trumpets, cymbals, and instruments of music, they praised the Lord saying, "For He is good: for His mercy endureth forever."

Jehoshaphat appointed singers unto the Lord to go before the army and say, "Praise the Lord! For His mercy endureth forever."

It has been thousands of years since the Lord said His mercy extended to a thousand generations, and His mercy continues to reach you day after day. He is still plenteous in mercy unto them that call upon Him. With your spirit, dare to stretch your faith to take in the boundless mercy of God. And say with your mouth, "The Lord He is good and His mercy endureth forever. His mercy surrounds me even today!"

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Scripture Study: 2 Chronicles 5:1-14

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

LET IT FLOW

August 3 - Let It Flow

"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
(John 4:14)

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Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Gentleness. Goodness. Faith. Meekness. Temperance. Powerful forces the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. They're the character traits of God Himself and when the Holy Spirit came to dwell in you, He brought them with Him, so they could become your character traits too.

They're designed to bubble up inside you, to gush forth like a powerful stream constantly protecting and cleansing you from the inside out.

Have you ever noticed that you can't put any trash in the mouth of a flowing fountain? When it's shooting that water up, the force of its own outflow protects it and keeps it clear of any impurities from the outside. Well, the spiritual fountain within you works the same way. When you're allowing the forces of love and joy and peace and gentleness and all the others to flow out, the devil can't get any of his junk in.

How do you keep the Spirit flowing? You pump your heart so full of the Word of God that the forces of eternal life start bubbling out. Just a little at first...and then stronger and higher.

Choose to keep those forces streaming out of the fountain of your heart. Refuse to let selfishness and sin stop the flow. You have a fountain filled with unbeatable LIFE forces inside you and it's ready to come forth. Let it flow!

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Scripture Study: Jeremiah 17:7-13

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

COURAGE COMES FROM FAITH

August 2 - Courage Comes From Faith

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
(Joshua 1:9)
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Courage comes from trusting God. It can't be mentally drummed up. It comes from believing what God says regardless of what the circumstances look like. Courage comes from faith!

Where does discouragement come from? From fear and unbelief. It comes when you listen to the devil's lies about what God is not going to do for you.

As the people of God, you and I must shake off discouragement and rise up with courage! We must quit looking at our own abilities and failures and limitations and start looking to God. We must rise up in the Name of Jesus and the power of His Spirit and establish the kingdom of heaven upon earth.

If you've been discouraged lately, stop listening to Satan's lies. Stop receiving evil reports. Whenever someone tells you God is not going to deliver you, just tell them, "He's already delivered me in the Name of Jesus."

Once you begin to realize who you are and what you've been given by the power of God, you'll quit letting the devil run all over you. God didn't suggest that you be strong and courageous. That is His command!

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Scripture Study: Joshua 1:1-9

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

RECEIVE YOUR MIRACLE

August 1 - Receive Your Miracle

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
(Romans 10:10)

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Do you need a miracle? Then believe it, confess it and receive it!

"Oh Gloria, I just don't know if I can do that."

Yes, you can! You've already done it once. When you made Jesus the Lord of your life, you believed, confessed and received the greatest miracle in the universe, the miracle of a reborn spirit! Every other miracle you receive will come in exactly the same way.

You start by simply believing what God's Word says concerning your area of need, by letting that Word change your heart and mind.

A lot of people try to skip that step. They try to believe for a miracle without spending enough time in the Word to change their heart and mind. They just want to confess it with their mouths and have it instantly appear. But that won't happen. It's what we believe in our hearts and say with our mouths that we receive.

If you don't have enough faith yet to believe for the miracle you need, then you can get it. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). So start filling the ears of your heart with the Word until faith for your miracle is born.

That's what the woman did who had the issue of blood. She believed in her heart that Jesus would heal her. Then she spoke her faith out loud. Then she acted on that faith--and she received her miracle.

It wasn't Jesus' decision. He didn't suddenly say, "You know, I think I'll work a miracle for that little lady today." No. She made it happen. She took her faith and drew on the power of God. That's why Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole" (Matt. 9:22).

You have that same opportunity. God's power is always present everywhere. Your faith will bring it into your life, body or circumstances. So reach out to Jesus. Believe, confess and receive your miracle today.

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Scripture Study: Matthew 9:18-31

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Fort Worth Texas 76192-0001