There is a Faith Worth Duplicating

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” Hebrews 11:8-16. The writer of this letter, being a realist, refuses to let us simply put faith into our mental files. He turns to flesh-and-blood people who made faith a thing to live by, a principle to practice, a daily way of life. Here we take a look at Abraham, another common man who was hard pressed to explain how and when things would work out. Note four things about the faith life. First, what it takes to please God (11:6). Faith fits into the fabric of life just as clothes fit on our backs and shoes fit on our feet. Faith requires that we come to God. Faith requires that we believe God is there. Faith requires that we trust Him to keep His word. This means that I must trust Him to reward and honor my attitudes of dependence and availability. Second, how it occurred in two ancient lives (11:8-12). Abraham (vv. 8-10), when he was called, he obeyed. Sarah (vv. 11-12), in Old Testament times, a Jewess was considered cursed if she was barren. But by faith, Sarah was able to miraculously conceive. Third, there are principles that continue to this day (vv. 13-16). The following name the ingredients we must integrate into our lives if we are to walk by faith. We must have vision, hope, that looks beyond the restrictions of the present (v. 13). There is pursuit: the determination to cultivate identity with God (v. 14). Total abandonment: the willingness to release all earthly ties (v. 15). And desire: yearning for a godly life-style (v. 16). We are told regarding those who walked and died in faith, that “God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” Fourth, why is the faith-life rare? If it is so great and rewarded so richly, why are examples of the faith-life so seldom found? There are at least two reasons for this. Most people would do anything rather than exercise risk. Those who walk by faith do nothing to publicize it. Let's ask a few questions. Would your life be characterized as one of vision? Is your life one of pursuit? Are you a person characterized by abandonment? Is your mind filled with the right sorts of desires? Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Choosing how to Respond

We have a real choice in how we respond to the daily situations of life. Many Christians exclude God and make terrible decisions when the circumstances of life intrude on them. Our lives can go from wondrous to disastrous in a moment, and we do not respond well. A parent has died. You've lost your job. You've learned a good friend is dying of cancer. How do you respond to such tough developments? Many Christians choose to respond by blaming God. They feel that God has "messed up" their happy lives like some kind of divine Grinch. Thus, when they face trouble, they have a true choice: to go God's way or their own. Some people refuse to go God's way, saying, "His way isn't practical" or, "It doesn't make sense." Some argue, "God's way is too hard." Thus, they reject God's directive. They exclude or ignore God in their decision making. You can be sure Satan will jump in at that point with his own alternative. How can we move in the direction of choosing God's answers for our problems? Through doing two things: knowing God and talking to Him daily. Almost every client I have counseled did not know who God truly, is. The enemy had distorted their perception of who God is; he still does that. In fact, every lie of the enemy is a distortion of either God's Word or His person. Furthermore, most clients I've counseled did not have a prayer life. People who drift away from God are never prayer warriors. They have replaced dependence on God with self-sufficiency, thinking they are masters of their own destinies-a big lie of the enemy that leads to prayerlessness. To counteract such lies, I try to help counselees build into their lives two resources: (1) a knowledge of who: God truly is, and (2) a dynamic prayer life. As we lay this twofold foundation, God fortifies us for the day of battle. The harsh situation you may be in may not be your choice; but your response is. The truth is that we have a choice about how we react in every situation. We can choose to trust God or blame Him; we can go His way our our way. But we are never "forced by circumstances" into some action. We can and must choose to trust God. Carol's problem reflects the unwillingness to let God control her life because she did not know Him well. She struggled with a sleeping disorder for twenty years and eventually ended up in a mental hospital, diagnosed as being schizophrenic. A doctor placed her on anti psychotic drugs, but after years of medication, another doctor said she was misdiagnosed; she had a bipolar dysfunction. When Carol changed churches, she learned her root problem might be spiritual. She told her minister about her treatments and the changed diagnosis. "My new pastor shared with me that mental illnesses may be real, but sometimes they are the results of harboring sin, bitterness, etc., in one's heart." At that point this pastor referred her to me. Carol waited several months for an appointment, and during that time the Lord began working in her life. Before her visit she sensed God leading her to a number of verses. One from Deuteronomy 10:12 was an eye-opener: "What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." During our first session, Carol was open and revealed her childhood experiences of sexual abuse. Carol felt justified anger toward the people who had hurt her and believed that anger, a form of revenge, was right. In the process of our sessions, God revealed this lie the Evil One had placed in her heart. At first, though, she struggled. Because of her childhood abuse, she felt a deep-seated anger toward God. In time, Carol forgave her mother and a number of other people. She repented of her anger and hatred toward those who had offended and abused her. And she repented of her anger toward God and for doubting God's willingness to keep His word. The morning after our session in which she'd expressed and done these acts, Carol told me "My time in the Word was sweet, God gave me a special verse. "Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me" (Psalm 129:2). The next week an issue between Carol and me came up. She felt I spent too much time teaching her about the issues of repentance and forgiveness and she became angry with me. That evening she attended a mid-week church service and heard her pastor say "When you are under pressure the real you comes out. Your choices reveal what you really believe. True repentance results in a change of heart, not just some modification of your behavior." Carol sat there stunned. Had the real Carol shown herself in her seeking to perform for God? Was doing the things to impress Him what really mattered her her? Was control the thing she always had to have in order to feel safe? That night, Carol repented of wanting to control every situation. She sensed God's forgiveness and for the first time she felt truly free. She had learned to accept doing things God's way, not her way. Later she wrote me about what she was learning through her times in the Scriptures and prayer: "God is teaching me how to die to self and surrender to Christ daily, I am learning in a new way that God is sovereign and in control....I have learned to allow Christ to live His life through mine. The Lord will continue to enable me to over come bitterness and anger in my life. Praise God, for only He could set me free. Carol saw for the first time that following God's way through her Scripture and prayer time fulfilled her. By submitting to Him, she would enter into His plan and live out the reality of life in Christ that she had always wanted. I marvel that God's Word and power can cause such amazing changes in as person's life. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Choosing our Focus

We have the responsibility to choose our focus. We can choose to focus on others. Satan desires that we focus on ourselves. In spiritual warfare, we often find the battle ground to be the temptation to please ourselves. Kevin began talking before he came through the doorway. "My wife is bitter toward me to the point where she even quit reading her Bible." As his story fell from his lips, his previous statement began to make sense. A job transfer sent him to a state where his wife for years had longed to live. He was the first to relocate to the area and he began looking for a house to buy. He found what he thought was the perfect house; he had his wife fly in to look at the home, and she fell in love with it. In her mind she had already arranged the furniture when he suddenly had a change of mind. He decided it would be better to rent a house and look around for a while. After a year in a rental home the house sold out from under them. For the next three months they split up the family with relatives while Kevin looked for another rental house. As Kevin and I talked, what became most apparent was the fact that he had raised expectations in his wife's heart and then shattered them. He had "sold" her on the idea that his dream house would be where they would live out their lives. I quoted the proverb "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12). I also told him that he was responsible to honor his wife. In this case, his refusal to provide a decent home to live in was dishonoring to her. As I spoke, the Lord brought to his mind other times he had done the same thing. His marriage was marked by broken promises and looking out for himself. The Holy Spirit led Kevin to repent of his sin and later to ask his wife's forgiveness. They went house hunting the next week. She is now a content woman in a house that meets her family's needs. He is a happy husband who has the respect of his wife and family. The enemy's lie was "You can change your mind and she will understand. It won't matter what you promised her; after all, you are her leader, and your wishes rule." God's truth is "He who swears to his own hurt and does not change...shall never be moved" )Psalm 15:4-5). Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

What's Hope all About

"So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, 'Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!'" (Job 2:7-9). Yesterday I was visiting with a Bank Manager. He said the economic situation is more difficult than he could have ever imagined. This level of stress in the economy puts tremendous stress on those affected by it. I know several individuals who are unemployed and are not receiving unemployment benefits. Some were fired from their jobs unfairly, others were pushed out of their jobs because of decreased production due to less consumer demand. I know a newly married young man, with an engineering degree, that has not been able to find a job of any kind. I learned yesterday his car is being repossessed. On top of this I know people with serious illnesses who have no health insurance. As a believer what can you do? During these seasons, you can only do one thing. You must hang onto whatever faith you have to get through each day and entrust your life to Him. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Hab 3:17-18). When faith doesn't see results it challenges what you believe. You must pray as Job prayed: "Teach me what I cannot see" (Job 34:32). God says there is a purpose in everything you go through. God is going to reveal things to you through this season of adversity that you would never receive had you not gone through this. There are lessons learned in the dark that only make sense in the light. In Isa. 45:3 the Lord promised to "Give you the treasures of darkness, the hidden riches of secret places." Seasons of adversity and darkness come in every believers life. This is part of your calling, even though Satan may be the instrument. The Sovereign God of heaven is always bigger than Satan's afflictions." Your greatest tests come when you cannot see positive results from your faith and obedience (darkness). In such cases you must die to your expectations and entrust them to the Lord. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Heart Check Up

We all need an occasional check up. Here is a heart check up that might reveal some spiritual deficiency's. 1. Emotions, have you cried lately? Or have you really laughed? A healthy heart is fully aware of deep emotions, and can name them. 2. Moments, are you present or preoccupied? Ask your spouse, children, or friends if you're "All there" when you're with them. They can say whether your "Skimming key relationships. 3. People, do you resent phone calls and people seeking you out? Or do you see them as opportunities for ministry? If you're running for cover, trying to dodge people you're overextended. 4. Whispers, how long has it been since you heard the still, small voice of God? One of the first signs of a hardening heart is a deafened ear to the quiet promptings of God. As long as we are doing a check up, here are four categories of pride. 1. When I begin to assume responsibilities that belong to God. A. My protection. Psalm 18:2 B. To be critical or judgmental of others. God is the Judge. Romans 2:1-3. C. To take control of my life and situations. I Timothy 6:15; Proverbs 3:5-6. 2. Looking to someone or something to give me only what God can give. A. Worth, value, significance, acceptance. B. Because of the death of Jesus Christ, I have all these in Christ. Ephesians 1:3-6. 3. Holding on to things that rightly belong to God. A. My life, physical body, time, plans, secret desires. Romans 12:12; Galatians 2:20; colossians 3:2. B. Possessions, they belong to the Lord. If you think you own something, you don't own it, it owns you. 4. Neglecting or rejecting what God has clearly told me to do. James 4:6-10. Remember, to be prideful and half hearted is to get the worst of both worlds. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Where Is Your Refuge?

Do you have a place to hide? Where do you go when you are down, in need of someone to listen, depressed, hurt, angry or lonely? In other words when life gets really crumby where do you go? Do you run to drugs, alcohol, pornography, shopping, throwing a pity party, etc? Where do you go to escape? Do you have a place to hide? King David found the perfect place. “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:114. The song of old asked the question "Where can I go but to the Lord?" I can hide in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91). To be in the shadow implies closeness. Psalm 90 says "The Lord is our dwelling place from all generations." The birds have nests the fox have dens and we as God's children have Him. Jesus said He is the Vine and we are the branches, if we abide in Him we shall bear much fruit. Again the theme of closeness and dependency comes to the forefront. A teenage girl learned a lesson through babysitting. She was babysitting a young boy, 8 o'clock PM came around and it was bed time. He, like most young boys didn't want to go to bed. She picked him up and she said "He was as stiff as a board." She said "It's hard to hug a stiff kid." The next day she baby sat a young girl. This young girls parents were going out of town for the day, the teenage girl ran to their house right after the morning church service was over. The mother of this young girl apologized, and said their little daughter was in the back yard playing in a mud puddle. Clean clothes were laid out and the parents left. The little girl really loved her teenage babysitter, and when she saw this young woman, dressed in her Sunday finest, she ran to her with open arms and threw her arms around her. Now two young ladies had to change their clothes. The teenager said "It's a lot easier to hug a dirty kid than a still kid." So it is with God, it's easier for Him to deal with our sin than for Him to deal with our stiffness. Stiff Christians don't hang around with God, they are self sufficient. So where do you go when you are in need? Stiffness is a defense mechanism you don't need. Surrender to the Lord and hide in Him. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, seminars and local church meetings.