While I was in Ohio, God dealt with me about the television
ministry. At that time I could not understand, or see, with
my own mind how it would work financially, but I had learned
long before not to back off for this reason. I knew the Lord
could work it out. It didn’t matter how it operated or what the
financial details were, I knew there was only one way to succeed—
by giving. Then the thought flashed across my mind,
“No man has given until he has given all he has,” and the first
thing I saw was my twin-engine airplane. Well, cold chills ran
up and down my spine! That little plane was my pride and joy.
I had tithed and believed God for it, and He had given it to me
as a tool of this ministry. Because of this, it really meant a lot to
me. Then I realized that I had to get rid of it. I couldn’t afford
to let it come between God and me, so I went into prayer and
the Lord said, “If you will realize what I am leading you into,
you will make an agreement with Me so that I can help you
financially. Make Me Lord over your finances.” That is exactly
what I did. I wrote out an agreement about the airplane and
used it to lay up a treasure in heaven for the time to come when
I would need it. I didn’t want to release that airplane, but I
knew that God would not take it without giving more in return.
My faith dictated that God’s Word was true, so I disciplined my
thinking to get in line with my faith (instead of my fear) and I
wrote out this agreement: “On the fourth day of October 1971,
I give my airplane to the Lord to be sold and the money put
into preaching the Word of God on television and in any other
manner possible.”
I made this covenant with the Lord according to Luke 6:38,
“Give, and it shall be given unto you…again,” and Mark 10:30,
“But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time.” The agreement
also contained this statement: “I freely give this money
from the sale of the airplane, and I expect the return on it.”
Then I had the engines overhauled, had some maintenance
done, ran an annual inspection on it, and altogether spent about
$8,000 on a piece of equipment that technically didn’t belong to
me any longer. Since God is love, it follows that the laws governing
the power of God are the giving laws. You can’t stop
these laws and still make God’s power operate. It just will not
work that way! God’s system is really unique. He takes a person
who is absolutely destitute, provides the seed to start his giving,
then gives him the hundredfold return on what he gives. Only
God could manage or afford a financial operation like that!
I made the agreement to release my airplane in October
1971. Then on February 11, 1972, while we were holding a
meeting in Birmingham, Ala., the Lord instructed me to give it
to a particular evangelist. So that is what I did. This is the point
I want you to grasp: When God told me to give it away, I didn’t
hesitate for one moment. You see, God had set up this deal
almost four months before, and there had been time for me
to be healed of a possessive spirit where that plane was concerned.
Therefore, when God spoke, I acted and was thrilled
to do it! We flew it home and gave it away.
Archive for February, 2010
Kenneth Copeland — Ready To Sow Part 2
Kenneth Copeland — Ready To Sow Part 1
While I was in prayer one afternoon during a meeting in
Dayton, Ohio, the Lord drew me to this portion of scripture
about laying up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor
rust corrupts. As I read this, the Lord said, “This rust and corruption
is inflation and depression.” If you will let heaven be
your financial reservoir—your bank and depository where you
place your trust—regardless of what happens to the world’s system,
you will always have more than enough! Then the Lord
said, “I did not say this treasure could not be used until you get
to heaven.” First Timothy 6:19 says to lay up for yourselves a
good foundation for the time to come when you will need it. A
heavenly bank is not subject to theft and ruin; it will always be
there when you need it.
Up to this time I was under the impression that when I
gave, I could expect the entire amount plus the hundredfold
return on it immediately, but there were times when it didn’t
work like that. I was confused, so I asked the Lord about it. My
needs were always abundantly met, but I didn’t fully understand
what was happening. The Lord explained it this way:
“There was no use in My transferring money which you
had laid up in heaven to an earthly bank when you didn’t need
all of it at the time. When money is on earth, it is vulnerable to
Satan and to the world’s system of finance. If I gave you $1,000
today, in nine months’ time, it probably wouldn’t be worth
more than $750. You need to learn to exercise your faith in the
fact that you have this money on deposit, and when you need
it, all you have to do is call for it. Make your deposits with Me
according to the rate of exchange which My Word guarantees
and operate under My system of finance instead of the world’s
system. We can make it work at the current rate of exchange at
that time. It won’t matter if it takes a billion dollars to buy a
loaf of bread—I [God] can afford it!” If God can afford it, so
can I. He’s my Father!
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Gloria Copeland — Your Heavenly Account Part 2
First Timothy 6:17-19 illustrates this same point. “Charge
them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor
trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly
all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good
works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in
store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches.” Paul was referring to those
who are rich here on earth—that they should not trust in their
riches. This is the reason Jesus said it was hard for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God. When a rich man trusts in his
money, his heart will be in his riches. Satan then will be able to
deceive him; the deceitfulness of riches will choke the Word of
God and cause it to become unfruitful in him (see Mark 4:19).
“Nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth
us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in
good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up
in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life.” You don’t lay hold on eternal
life after you get to heaven. You lay hold on it by faith while you
are here on earth, taking a firm stand and standing fast in the
liberty into which you are called. The 23rd Psalm speaks of God
preparing a feast before us, and we have thought of this as a
heavenly feast. However, it says He is preparing a table before us
in the presence of our enemies. Our enemies are not in heaven.
They are here on earth! When the Lord showed me this, He said,
“The only problem I have is getting My kids to come to the
table!” Paul tells us to “lay up in store” for ourselves in our
heavenly bank account by being “ready to distribute” and “willing
to communicate.” Then when we need it, we have it on
deposit in heaven! ALL the money, gold, etc., is already in the
earth. By giving, heaven declares certain portions as mine. No
force on earth then is able to keep it from coming to me when I
call for it! Heaven’s record says so, and earth dares not refuse.
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Gloria Copeland — Your Heavenly Account Part 1
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break
through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where
your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light
of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single,
thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be
evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore
the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is
that darkness! (Matthew 6:19-23).
You need to have a single eye, to become single-minded,
concerning the Word of God. You must accept God’s Word as
final authority. What it says, it means. When the Word says you
are healed, you are healed! It doesn’t matter what your body
says about it. If you will believe this and operate accordingly,
then the covenant you have with God—His Word—will become
the absolute truth in your situation, and your physical body
will come into agreement with the Word.
I first began to learn this in the area of finance and prosperity
when I went back to college. The idea of going back to
school really scared me! I was 30 years old with a wife, two
small children, and no idea how I would support them. There
were people who told me I was making a mistake, that my family
would go hungry, but I had accepted the call to the ministry
and was looking to the Lord to meet my needs. Many people
thought I was nuts! According to the world’s system, a man has
to be in sheer poverty while he is in college, but the Word
doesn’t say that. It doesn’t say, “God will meet your needs
according to His riches in glory just as soon as you get out of
college.” At that time I knew very little about operating by
faith, but I was doggedly determined to go through with it. God
took care of us. I never asked anybody for a quarter. We began
to learn how to operate by faith.
In Matthew 6:20, Jesus teaches us to “…lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” This is what
the Word says. However, with our religious heads we have read
it this way: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth…but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt…and where thou canst not touch it until
thou gettest to heaven.” We have added our own little idea, but
this is not what Jesus meant. He was saying, “If you will let
heaven be your treasury and your supply, then regardless of
what happens on earth, you will have a bank that is not subject
to theft or ruin.” What you have laid up then will be ready
when it is needed. Jesus was not referring to when we get to
heaven. He was teaching about God providing for us now. If you
will notice, He finished His sermon in Matthew 6 by saying that
your heavenly Father knows you need these things, but seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these
other things will be added to you.