Kenneth Copeland — Patiently Experiencing the Reward

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Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

In Hebrews 10:35-38 we are admonished to, “Cast not away therefore your confidence [or faith], which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise…the just shall live by faith.” Now, remember, Romans 5 says that tribulation works patience, and Hebrews 10 says that we have need of patience—because patience works experience. Experience is the reward. Patience produces the reward of experiencing the answer.

“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,” or you could say it this way, “After you have acted on the Word of God, employ the power of patience and you will receive the promise of that Word.” Hebrews 6:12 tells us that through faith and patience we inherit the promises. Faith is acting on the Word. God’s Word is His will. After you have exerted the force of faith by acting on the Word, or the will of God, then patience comes into action to produce the experience of victory!

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

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Kenneth Copeland — Perfection Through The Word

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Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” This is the way the saints are perfected—not through tribulations. We are to be perfected by the Word, through the ministry.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m glad to know that God didn’t send cancer to edify me or poverty to perfect my faith. No, these curses are not from God. They are from Satan, and we are to triumph over them with the power twins—faith and patience.

The Word does not say faith is developed by trials, but it does say that the trying of our faith works patience. It’s what we do with trials and tribulations that makes the difference—not the fact that we’re suffering. There are those in the Church who think we are to glory in tribulations, but tribulation is not the goal of Christianity. Many think we can’t be worth anything until we suffer. That’s not true. You’ll not be worth anything unless you overcome that suffering. Suffering is the result of the attack of Satan. The glory is in overcoming that trial with the Word of God, through the power of God. There is no glory in knuckling down and enduring trials. This is why we can count it all joy when we are tried. We know that Jesus has defeated Satan, and that we’re victors over anything he sends our way.

Jesus said in 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.” The glory lies in overcoming the world and its trials and tribulations. Trouble may come our way, but through the good things of God, He always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:1-4). Paul was saying that he had peace with God whatever came his way. He had this peace, not only when things were working right for him, but also when trouble came down the road. He did not let go of his peace with God because of tribulation. This tribulation only worked patience in him, and patience brought the experience of victory. Then the experience of victory worked hope.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

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Kenneth Copeland — Understanding Romans 8:28

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Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

Many Christians use Romans 8:28, “…All things work together for good to them that love God” as an excuse to fail. To them this scripture says, “All the devil does to me will turn out for my good. After all, you know the Bible says we are made stronger by the trials and tribulations of this life.” The Bible does not say that at all! When the Apostle Paul wrote that all things work together for the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose, he was teaching on intercessory prayer.

Romans 8:26-28 says:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

All things work together for the good of those who love God, when we are operating together in intercessory prayer!

While a friend and I were talking about prayer one day, the Lord spoke to me and said, Those things do not mean all bad things work together for the good of those who love God. I am talking about the things of God: the Word of God, the gifts of the Spirit, the Name of Jesus and the power-weapons of the Body of Christ. These are the things that work together for the good of those who love God. Under this kind of operation, the things that the devil throws at you will be overcome by the power of the things of God, and victory will be the result.

Many trials Satan causes make people weaker instead of stronger. If it were the trials and tribulations that make us strong, everyone on earth would be a spiritual giant. Certainly there have been enough trials and tribulations to perfect the saints. That must not be the avenue through which God perfects us.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

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Kenneth Copeland — No Temptation Too Great

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Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

Don’t forget the ministry of the Holy Spirit in all this. He is continually working in you, teaching, interceding and backing your faith with His mighty power. This is where the power of patience is so important. As long as your faith is active, the Spirit of God is active. It’s impossible to please Him without faith. Patience guards against your admitting a doubt or confession of fear into your consciousness. Even when we stretch our faith as far as it will go, He who is within us is greater than he who is in the world.

First Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” This scripture reveals three more important things about trials: (1) Testings and temptations are common to man. No one is ever tested or tried with things that are not common to mankind. Satan does not have the right to call upon his experience as a heavenly being to apply things that are outside the realm of humanity, as tests or trials. (2) God is faithful. You will never face anything you cannot overcome. (3) God always provides the way of escape.

Satan’s weapons are no match for the weapons God has provided for us. Thank God, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but powerful through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Satan is limited to the things that are common to mankind, but we are not. We have access to the full armor of God, Himself. Our patience rests solidly on the full assurance that, no matter what comes next, Jesus has provided more than enough victory to put us over.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

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