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!
Posts Tagged ‘treasure’
Kenneth Copeland — Ready To Sow Part 1
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.