Growing Your Faith

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:16-17). For a number of months I have been struggling with the subject of faith. I have strongly sensed the Lord saying "trust Me, believe in Me, I am in control. As I prayed about my struggle the Lord brought to mind a very familiar verse (Romans 10:17). However, as He is so gracious to do, He is teaching me a deeper understanding of the principles taught in this verse. The verse says we build our faith by reading and living the Word of God. As we "renew our mind we will be transformed." I am now beginning to see in a new, fresh way that as I saturate my mind and heart with the Word of God, it washes away the lies of the enemy. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." God's Word is absolute truth. Spiritual warfare is a very real part of our Christian lives. Just because we try to ignore the enemy, doesn't mean he will ignore us. He really isn't a gentleman, and you can't bargain with him. Thus we must choose to see the battle as God sees it. He says "Our adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour." We need to put on the whole Armour of God. It starts with the "Belt of truth." This is the Word of God. Here are some statement of truth to meditate on. Each statement come from the Scriptures. Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing; but in Jesus I can do all things. I choose to see myself as He sees me according to His living Word. My life is hid with Christ in God. I l choose to believe the same things that God believes and He has revealed Truth in His Word. How can two walk together if they don't agree? I choose to trust God. His Word will be the final authority in my life. I base my entire life upon God and His living Word. Because I meditate upon His Word day and night and carefully do all that is written in it, I will prosper as He chooses to prosper me. I'm a child of the living God. I'm an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. I'm not just a sinner; I'm a new creation in Jesus. I'm part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. I'm one of God's chosen people. Jesus has declared me not guilty. I refuse to be discouraged. God is the God of all encouragement. There is no condemnation for me because I'm in Christ Jesus. Satan is the father of lies. I won't listen to his accusations. I am cleansed by Jesus' blood. No weapon formed against me will succeed. I will disprove every tongue that rises against me in judgment. My mind is being renewed by the word of God. I will pull down strongholds and cast down imaginations. I will bring every thought captive to the will of Christ. I am accepted by God. If God is for me, who can be against me? Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. As the Father loves Jesus, so Jesus loves me. I have the righteousness of God through Christ. I am not a slave of sin, I'm a slave of God and a slave of righteousness. I will continue in God's word. I know the truth and the truth has set me free. I am free indeed because Jesus has set me free. I have been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness. I'm now part of the kingdom of God. I will submit to God. When I resist the devil, he has to flee. No temptation will overcome me which is not common to man. God is faithful. He will not let me be tempted beyond my strength. With any temptation He will also provide me with a way of escape, so that I can endure. Jesus always causes me to triumph. I'll reign as a king in life through Christ Jesus. The Word of God lives in me. I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. I am an over-comer. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God gives me the victory through Jesus Christ my Lord. I am a success to the glory of God. All His blessings will come upon me and overtake me because I obey the voice of the Lord, my God. I am confident that those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. I will not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The Word of God is a truth builder. The more I interact with the Scriptures the stronger my faith will grow. My faith is no better than the object of my faith. And my faith is growing in the Promises of God which never fail. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

True Success

"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord you God will set you high above all the nations on earth" (Deut. 28:1-2). Sometimes God allows us to fail before we succeed. How we respond to failure reveals who we are living for. For the believer death precedes success. We really need to die to our old self life and then be resurrected to a new Christ life. This happens as we fully surrender our lives to Him. Remember the "kernel of wheat falling into the ground and dying" before there was any fruit. The theme of obedience runs as a thread through out the Bible. In many cases, as with the above verse, obey and hear are used synonymously. Hearing the Lord implies obedience to what He instructs us to do. There has been an over emphasis on the theme of success in some circles. We have modern day "Pastors" who are little more than motivational speakers. Some are involved in huge TV ministries. Rather than preach repentance of sin and salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ, they preach the "Gospel of success." This kind of "Flesh success" is attractive to some but really leaves a bad taste in the mouth of discerning unbelievers. I do believe God is the God of success All true success is a gift from Him. All that He proposes will be carried out "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". There are Biblical principles when applied to business, they just plain work. The principle "He who is greatest of all will be servant of all" tells us that the business that best serves their customers succeeds. The "Golden rule" always comes up in any sales training I have taken. Even the world has adopted Biblical principles for success in business. However as believers our success is rooted in our relationship with Christ. When our abilities are separated from Him success is short-lived. I know a man who is a multimillionaire, I watched his life fall apart as he fell deeply into sin. He has gone from being a wise business man to a very reckless decision maker. His violent anger has alienated his best employees and his extreme instability has destroyed all credibility. His vast empire is crumbling because disobedience and sin exact a terrible price in a sinners life. True success is living for the Lord in an intimate, obedient, love relationship with Him. As we daily reaffirm our commitment to trust Him with all our hearts and follow His ways in all we do, our lives will come into alignment with His purposes. This will ensure that His purposes are being fulfilled through our lives. This is the meaning of true success. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Changeless Truths in a Changing World

Please read Hebrews 13:8-16. In these eight verses we find several changeless truths that will impact our world of superficiality. Each truth revolves around Christ, the immutable One who is the changeless Rock of stability and faithfulness. First, the doctrine of immutability. We live in a world that knows nothing but accelerating change. God is not fickle; His moods don't swing, and His dealings with us are not subject to cancellation or redefinition. He always deals with us on the basis of His revealed Word. Second, a warning against heresy. The word "Divers" comes from the same Greek word from which we get the term "Polka dot." False teachings come in many colors, they are pleasing to the eye and they sound good to the ear. However, heresy is always destructive to the soul. The text mentions one source of weakness, food, our "Hearts are to be established with grace not meats". The writer is saying "Do what is right and Scriptural." No person is ever benefited by following a heresy. Third, our involvement for spirituality. The writer gives us a list of four specifics that touch the lives of those who embrace grace and the person of Jesus Christ. We have an altar to use. This is a reference to the cross, where Christ's sacrificial offering was made. Those who seek fulfillment in form rather than substance have "No right to eat" from this altar. We also have a reproach to bear. There is a price to pay for identifying with Christ. There is a separation stigma with which we must live. This is part of the curriculum of grace. God has given us a city to seek. This city is on the horizon which God Himself has designed and built. It is in no way earthly. And we have a sacrifice to offer. Although we have no sanctified earthly altar, we still have a sacrifice of praise to offer, that of doing good and giving. Forth, we have a means to practicality. Three perspective-shaping lessons come to light in the above passage. A changing world emphasizes my need for a changeless Christ. A changeless Christ redirects my desire toward a grace relationship. And a grace relationship strengthens my hope in a secure eternity. Are you feeling the need for a Rock to which you can cling? Are you desperate for that which is Unchanging? I encourage you to run to Jesus, "For there's room at the Cross for you!" Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.