When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you know that you—the real you—are spirit, soul and body?
In that reflection staring back at you is an image of your physical body. You see your face, and everyone else sees what you see. We spend time in the mirror to ensure the person we see is the best representation of ourselves.
Yet, that’s not God’s top concern.
God didn’t just create a physical body. He made a trinity, a three-part being that involves your spirit, soul and body. Paul mentioned these three parts when he wrote, “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Someone may ask, “Who are you?” Your answer should start from within, not from that image in the mirror. God wants you to know your identity and how each part of you—spirit, soul and body—plays a role in discovering the real you.
You Are a Spirit
Your spirit is referred to as the hidden man of the heart. 1 Peter 3:4 (KJV) says, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Your spirit is the part of you that is connected to God.
When you were born, your spirit was alive to God (Romans 7:9). But, once you reached the age of accountability, you had a choice: Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord or reject Him.
You might have questions like, “What happens to a child when they die?” or “What is the age of accountability?” God is a good God and does not hold children responsible until they are old enough to distinguish between good and evil.
If you received Jesus, the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) came to live in your spirit. He speaks to you, guides you, protects you and helps you in every way that you let Him. Now, your spirit is alive again and connected to God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Watch Kenneth Copeland as he teaches on spirit, soul and body.
You Have a Soul
You are a spirit, and you have a soul. Third John 2 (NKJV) says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Your soul is composed of your mind, will and emotions.
Your mind is where you think and make decisions. God gave you the right to choose, and He knows your mind is inclined to act independently of Him. That’s why God said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV). He gave you the solution: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, KJV).
God’s Word gives you instructions about your mind.
Another part of your soul is your will. It is a gift from God, but it must be trained to align with Him. Your will can express a desire or a commitment. “Someday, I will…” or “Yes, I will.”
When you make Jesus your Savior and Lord, it’s an act of your will. When you realize God wants you to forgive someone and you’re against it, say, “As an act of my will, I forgive that person, in Jesus’ Name.” Your emotions may not agree to forgive, but you are making a declaration of obedience to God.
The third part of your soul is where your emotions are stored. Your feelings—happy, sad, confident, depressed, hopeful, worried—want your mind to make decisions based solely on feelings.
Until you allow your spirit to be in control of your personal trinity, your soul will try to guide your life. The problem is that your soul is easily influenced by outside forces such as the opinions of friends, social media, news, and even the devil.
If you find yourself doing things that God doesn’t want you to do, repent and be cleansed from sin. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Your soul prospers as it is aligned with the Spirit of God. When you think God’s thoughts and follow His ways, your soul prospers, and the real you prospers too.
Join Gloria and Kellie Copeland as they share how to prosper in your soul.
You Live In a Body
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that your body is a temple: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (NKJV).
Historically, a temple is typically an opulent structure where people engage in acts of worship to their deity. In your body, you perform acts of worship, such as prayer, praise and worship, as well as actions that share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God also asks that you bring your body as a sacrifice to Him. That means you choose His way and will in all aspects of life: what you eat, what you wear and how you present yourself as a witness of Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:1-2 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Paul understood the three-part being God made you to be; he said, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20, KJV).
Who is the real you?
The real you—the spirit man—is the one that should be running the show in your life when you spend time feeding on the Word of God and fellowshipping with the Father. As you focus on the real you, instead of just seeing your physical body when you look in the mirror, you’ll see the light of Jesus shining through you.
He was serving a lifetime sentence in prison because of drug use and crime. As an inmate, he surrendered his life to the Lord; then a miracle happened.
Reginald Watts had a Leave It to Beaver type upbringing, which, according to him, means, “I have no excuses for what I’m about to tell you.” During his last semester as a junior at Texas Southern University, he got hooked on drugs.
Trying to hide that from his family brought on more problems. “You tell so many lies…you borrow money from so many people and never pay ’em back…. You eventually run out of friends. Your circle gets smaller and smaller, and that’s what happened to me,” said Watts. So, he started stealing, which eventually led to his first conviction on robbery. The charges were dropped down to an assault charge, and he was given credit for time served.
When he was released that year, he was already thinking about how he was going to change— but his thoughts weren’t about changing into a righteous person who does good; rather, he was thinking about how he was going to level up: stop using drugs and instead start selling drugs. “Well, that lasted maybe a week, then I was back to using drugs again and back to robbing,” stated Watts. His next conviction was for two counts of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery.
Hear Reginald Watts tell his story:
He went to trial and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, the judge vacated the 25 years and gave him a life sentence, due to the Habitual Offenders Act, “which is legal,” said Watts.
With the 25 years vacated, they gave him a life sentence— “L-I-F-E. Not 99 to life, not a hundred to life, not 50 to life, LIFE,” explained Watts. “No probation, no parole, no suspension of sentence. In essence, I was to die in the Louisiana State Penitentiary.”
A Desire To Do What’s Right
In the penitentiary, every prison cell had a shelf with the Bible on it. Watts loves to read, and that was the only book he had access to. He started reading it, and it opened up to Romans 7:14-25. Verse 18 says, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.”
“I read it again,” said Watts. He got an epiphany, realizing he did, in fact, want to do what was right. “I always wanted to please my parents. I always wanted to do what was right. But I kept getting back to drugs and stealing and all the stuff that comes with it,” he remarked. It was then that he broke down and told God that God was right and he was wrong, and that he needed God’s help.
While he was in prison, a man named Kenneth Copeland came to preach to the inmates. Said Mike Barber, of Mike Barber Ministries (MBM), “He [Watts] cut his teeth on listening to Kenneth and Gloria Copeland teach the uncompromising Word of God.”
According to Barber, for 15 solid years he connected with Watts while he was incarcerated, and they would pray together, believing the day would come when Watts would be released.
After over 25 years in prison, Watts walked out the doors of the prison as a free man. Barber was there to embrace him. “With the sheriff holding one door, the warden of the facility holding the other door, Mike Barber and his wife were standing there with one of my spiritual mentors,” recalled Watts.
As Barber drove Watts to his new home outside of prison, he received a phone call from the commissioner over all the prisons in Mississippi. The warden had already heard that Watts had been picked up from the penitentiary, and he shared with Barber and Watts that he had been believing for 15 years that one day he would have Watts on his staff in Mississippi.
Said Barber, “Within two hours, Watts went from having been in prison for 26 years, to being asked to be the head chaplain over all the prisons in Mississippi.”
Watch Mike Barber share the story of his relationship with Reginald Watts and the impact that KCM Partners have on the work that MBM can do:
“It was amazing,” said Watts. “I’m telling you, the power of God, not just to get me outta prison, but to already have my purpose lined up the way that He knew I would accept it…. And just to show you the full circle, here I am now at Kenneth Copeland’s Southwest Believers’ Convention. I am directly in debt to Kenneth Copeland Ministries.”
Watts shared something Mike Barber had said to inmates many times before: “He said, ‘My name is on those study papers we give y’all, but it’s Kenneth Copeland Ministries that allows me to come here.’” Added Watts, “Those that are in the ministry with KCM, those of you that donate, those of you that give of your time and your finances, it’s being used greatly.”
Said Barber, “Every time Mike Barber Ministries goes into the prisons, you’re there with them, because you give to KCM as a Partner.” This is made possible because 10% of all money given to KCM is immediately given to other ministries, such as MBM, to carry the good news of Jesus even further than KCM could on our own. We call this twice-sown seed.
Reginald Watts shares with Kenneth Copeland how his life was forever altered by the Word through KCM’s prison ministry:
Matthew 25:36 says, “I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me…. I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”
MBM witnesses to over 250,000 inmates per month. As a Partner with KCM, you’re there witnessing to them, too.
“Don’t ever think that you’re not part of it because your name is not there, or we don’t call your name. If you gave 50 cents to KCM, you have done something big. Because it takes money to do the ministry. Especially when you go into prisons. ’Cause we can’t give anything back. Prisoners are always receiving,” said Watts.
Watts is thankful for KCM and those who have partnered with KCM. “We thank God for you, not only as pastors, but as chaplains, as well.”
What are some traditions you practice when celebrating the Fourth of July? Do you cook on your outdoor grill or decorate everything with red, white and blue? Do you have time to find a spot to watch fireworks in your area or fall asleep because of all that BBQ?
As a nation, we do many things on the Fourth of July, but our focus should be on celebrating our freedom!
Almost 250 years ago, America’s 13 Colonies elected 56 delegates to represent them in the Continental Congress that drafted and ratified the Declaration of Independence. Each of those delegates, known as “the Founding Fathers,” signed the document declaring an end to England’s oppressive rule and the beginning of a nation where all could be free!
As wonderful as that is, it’s even better to celebrate that God offers you spiritual freedom in Christ Jesus. This freedom was purchased at a high price—paid for by Jesus’ work on the cross. Jesus freed you from the power of sin and death (Romans 8:2, NKJV).
John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” Because of Jesus, you are free, literally!
“What’s the catch?” While this spiritual freedom was paid with an extreme price (it cost Jesus His life), it’s free to you. Your only requirement is to receive this gift of freedom.
Spend time learning these 10 ways Jesus makes you free, and understand the reason you have, in Jesus’ Name, to celebrate every day of the year.
1. You are free from fear
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7
Fear is dangerous. It will cripple and paralyze a person. Knowing God’s love is the perfect antidote to fear. The Bible says that perfect love expels all fear (1 John 4:18). Knowing and experiencing the love of God will expel every trace of fear.
Make this declaration: “Thank You, Lord, that I am free me from all fear. I refuse to be afraid because You, Lord, love me and are with me to protect and take care of me.”
2. You are free from shame
“Whoever believes on Him [Jesus] will not be put to shame.”—Romans 10:11, NKJV
Shame is a weapon the devil uses to cause you to pull back from the only One who absolutely loves you—God. The devil tries to make you feel unworthy of God’s love and hide yourself from attending church and other situations where the love of God is poured out. Don’t let him! You are free to fellowship with others.
Make this declaration: “I am free from shame. No longer will I cower under the heavy hand of shame for any mistakes I may have made. God has forgiven me, I forgive me, and I am free, in Jesus’ Name!”
Watch Gloria and Kellie Copeland talk about the crippling effects of pride and shame
3. You are free from worry
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” —Matthew 6:25-26
Some people think that those who do not worry are irresponsible and don’t love their family. That’s not true! Worry is like saying to God that He is incapable of helping you or that He doesn’t love you. Neither of these things is true. You are instructed to “give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). That’s one reason Jesus died on the cross—to free you from worry—if you’ll let Him!
Make this declaration: “Worry, you are no longer a part of my life. I choose to depend on God who loves me and cast all my cares on Him because I know He cares for me.”
4. You are free from bondage
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” —Hebrews 2:14-15, NKJV
Jesus said the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Before he kills you, the devil does his best to keep you in captivity. Whatever you feel has kept you in any bondage, you can be free by accepting Jesus’ offer of freedom.
Make this declaration: “Jesus has broken the chains that were binding me. I declare the devil is defeated and his weapons have no effect on me whatsoever, in Jesus’ Name.”
5. You are free from all forms of captivity
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.” —Luke 4:18
You have an enemy, and he wants to hold you captive in every area of your life: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, relationally and financially. He desires to pull you away from God and discourage you to the point of death. Remind him that you are free from his work and that Jesus died for your freedom!
Make this declaration: “Jesus has made me free in every way. No sickness, blindness or oppression will work against me. Jesus loves me, and He is my Lord, in Jesus’ Name!”
6. You are free to choose
“Today, I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” —Deuteronomy 30:19
You have two choices to make: life and blessings, or death and the curse. You choose life over death when you make Jesus your Savior and Lord. You choose blessings over the curse any time you choose the Word of God over something else. You are choosing for yourself and your descendants, so choose life!
Make this declaration: “I have chosen life, because I am born again into the family of God. Today, I choose blessings, because the Holy Spirit within me is guiding me to make right choices, in Jesus’ Name.”
Watch Kenneth Copeland explain how you can choose THE BLESSING every day!
7. You are free to give
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” —Luke 6:38
You are free to give money, food, clothing, time or anything else. When you do give, you should give joyfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’”
Make this declaration: “I am a giver! I am a receiver! I give and God gives back to me more and more. In that way, the kingdom of God is multiplied, and I am blessed, in Jesus’ Name!”
8. You are free to be right with God
“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
Here’s the bad news: God cannot look on sin, and you were a sinner. Here’s the good news: To reconcile this problem, God sent Jesus to become your sin and be punished in your place; and in exchange, you become sinless and receive right standing with God. What a deal! You are free to become a child of God!
Make this declaration: “I am right with God. I’m a child of God. My sins have been wiped out, and God no longer sees me as a sinner. Thank God!”
9. You are free to have eternal life with God
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 6:23
We’ve all heard the stories about the elusive fountain of youth. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf, you can live forever. You can have eternal life with God, His Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Believe in Jesus Christ, and you will have eternal life!
Make this declaration: “As David said, ‘Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever’ (Psalm 23:6). I will live with God forever, in Jesus’ Name!”
10. You are free to love and be loved
“We love each other because He loved us first.” —1 John 4:19
God loves the whole world and that includes you (John 3:16)! You are free to be loved by God and receive all the benefits of His Love. You are also free to love God and His family. Love is from God, and it’s so satisfying to know God loves you unconditionally.
Make this declaration: “God loves me, and He always will! Because He loves me, I choose to love who and what He loves. I am unmovable as I depend on God’s unfailing love, and I know I am firmly established in His kingdom, in Jesus’ Name.”
Knowing these 10 Ways Jesus Makes You Free, you are ready to celebrate your freedom! As you fire up the grill or watch fireworks this Fourth of July, reflect on all the ways you enjoy freedom both in our nation and in Christ!
The pain in her knee felt like a knife. While stuck immobile in her chair, she read her BVOV magazine, then something unexpected happened!
Longtime KCM Partner Cindy Blackamore awoke with stabbing pain in her knee. Familiar with the teachings of the authority she had as a born-again believer, she knew what to do:
Don’t panic. No need to run to anyone or anything else, go first to God. Always go first to God.
Blackamore had given this sound advice to other people many times before. “Just take a second and pray the thing through,” she had instructed. “So, I was doing that,” stated Blackamore. However, despite praying and telling the pain to leave, it was not relenting; Blackamore decided she must visit a doctor.
Watch Cindy Blackamore tell her story:
In the meantime, she grabbed a copy of the Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine and began reading it from cover to cover. After all, she was chair-bound due to the pain anyway. She decided to read the testimonies page—a section of the magazine she didn’t always read. “I wasn’t even looking to get healed from reading the magazine; I was looking to pass the time since I was stuck in a chair for the day,” stated Blackamore.
She read a small blurb from the page of testimonies when, as she stated it, “All of a sudden, I was just like, ‘oh, I will be healed right now. In the Name of Jesus, I am healed,’ and as God is my witness, the pain stopped.”
The pain had felt like a knife to her knee all morning and afternoon. However, suddenly it was gone. “All from just reading that testimony page,” marveled Blackamore. This reminded Blackamore of Acts 19. Verse 12 tells us, “When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched [Paul’s] skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases.”
Blackamore believes that because KCM is an anointed ministry, the magazine laying on her lap, right on her knee, was like a handkerchief that day. Said Blackamore, “It was through that magazine that I got my healing that day.”
Resources to help you learn more about the anointing:
Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Good News about Christ. The more we hear from the Word of God about His desire for our bodies to be made whole, the faith that was deposited in our hearts when we became born again rises in our hearts and reaches a boiling point, overflowing to the point when we know, I have it.
Watch as Gloria Copeland and Pastor George Pearsons teach on The Measure of Faith.
As a Partner with KCM, Blackamore knows she helps the anointed message of healing go around the world, reaching people in times of need, much like she was. “How are people gonna hear if somebody doesn’t take the message?” asked Blackamore. “If you give a cup of cold water to a prophet (Matthew 10:41-42), then you receive a prophet’s reward. So, whatever you can do to help the ministries that you believe in, you do.”
The Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine at your fingertips! Click here to read past issues, or to sign up to receive your FREE monthly issue, right in your mailbox!
Be the captain of your own life and apply these 3 Steps To Steer Your Life to Victory!
What if one small adjustment to your life could steer you to victory? Would you do it? James compares your words to the rudder of a ship, emphasizing the importance of your words: “And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches” (James 3:4-5).
God says your words are powerful and set the course for your life. If you want to know more about the power you wield with your words and how to use your words to agree with God’s Word, read these 3 Steps To Steer Your Life to Victory.
1. Put the right words in your heart.
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”—Psalm 119:105
What are the “right words” to steer your life to victory, and where do you find them? David says in Psalm 119 that God’s Word illuminates his path. If you have made Jesus the Lord of your life, then God’s words are the right words for you. David also understood the concept of putting God’s Word in his heart: “I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees” (Psalm 119:10-12).
Read and study the Bible, as David did, to find God’s promises for your life. Write them down. Put His promises where you can see them and read them out loud every day. Soon God’s Word will move from letters on a page to a strong belief in your heart.
When your heart is full of God’s Word, you’ll find yourself thinking about God’s promises and envisioning yourself with the answers. When someone makes a statement that doesn’t agree with the promise, you’ll find yourself thinking about the promise instead of agreeing with them.
Putting the right words in your heart is step one to steering your life to victory.
2. Choose to speak the right words.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”—Psalm 19:14
It’s possible to think the right words but not say them out loud. Step two to steering your life to victory is to choose to speak right words. Your words contain power, and as soon as they leave your mouth, they begin to work to make what you say happen.
As captain of your life, you have the authority to choose each destination. See yourself on the bridge of a ship. Get your microphone and with the authority given to you by Jesus, shout your intent to everyone listening—angels and demonic forces alike. Don’t be shy! Don’t be afraid someone will stop you! You’re the captain! You have the authority to direct the ship!
Instead of waiting for things to “just happen,” in your life, you can line yourself up with God’s will for your life by speaking God’s Word out of your mouth.
For example, someone might say, “Things are not working. Looks like we’re all going overboard!” When you’ve put the right words in your heart, you will declare as Jesus did in the midst of a storm, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake” (Luke 8:22). When you are walking through a dark situation in your life, you can say, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
Set your course and go toward the goal by saying the right words!
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”—Hebrews 10:23
The third step to steer yourself to victory is to be unwavering in your words of faith (Hebrews 10:23). Believe God’s promise, say it and refuse to change no matter what. Kenneth E. Hagin said, “If you’re prepared to stand forever, it won’t take very long.” Expect God’s promise to come to you today!
Brother Copeland has explained the importance of maintaining a steady heading when flying an airplane. You can set the instruments to the correct heading to get you from Texas to Los Angeles. But, in the event of unexpected conditions, it’s important to monitor the actual heading of the airplane and correct your course along the way. If you get just a little off course at the beginning of your flight, you will miss Los Angeles and find yourself over the Pacific Ocean, running out of fuel with no airport (or fuel station) in sight!
Keep yourself steady and headed in the right direction by choosing not to change your declaration of faith. You will have many opportunities to do so. Circumstances, friends, disappointments, criticism and the list goes on. You must use your authority and refuse to change. That’s what faith does; it refuses to speak against the promise.
Brother Copeland gives the definition of a quality decision: “A decision from which there is no retreat and about which there is no more argument.” You must make a quality decision to speak right words—the words God spoke when He made you a promise.
Watch Jerry Savelle demonstrate how continually speaking God’s Word is like paddling a canoe upstream against the raging currents of the world—and winning!
Abraham is a great biblical example of not changing his declaration of faith. God told Abraham he and Sarah would have a son and eventually he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). However, naturally speaking, everything was against that ever happening. First, Sarah was unable to have a child. Second, Abraham received this promise from God when he was 75 years old and his body was past being able to father a child. Third, 25 years went by since Abraham received the promise of descendants. There seemed to be no way that promise would ever be fulfilled. But Abraham refused to give up (Romans 4:17)! He believed that God would keep His promises day after day until the day an angel told him, “This time next year Sarah will have a son” (Genesis 17:21). Sure enough, Abraham and Sarah had a healthy baby boy!
Work with the Lord to put these 3 Steps To Steer Your Life to Victoryinto practice and like Abraham and Sarah, you can receive the promise of God for your own life. Like the firm hand of a captain of a ship who steers in the right direction, right words will keep you moving toward victory!
Empower International is a non-profit organization committed to empowering next-generation leaders in Thailand, Myanmar and Pakistan.
From the time he was a little boy, Todd Powers had a desire to know about God. “But nobody ever talked to me about Jesus,” he shares. One day he looked up at the sky and said, “God, if You’re real, show me who You are.” When he was 15 years old, he met a young woman who finally told him about Jesus. Her name was Julie, and she later became his wife.
As teenagers, they attended the West Coast Believers’ Convention in Anaheim, California. “It was in those moments, as a teenage boy, that the teachings of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland began to really get into my heart and into my life,” says Powers.
At 17 years old, Powers knew he was called into ministry. “Even though I had no idea what that meant,” he states. After graduating high school, he and Julie got married, then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend Bible college. At 22 years old, they took their first foreign mission trip to Guatemala. It was on this trip that he had an encounter with the Lord, and he knew in his heart that he was being called into global missions.
Todd Powers was a special guest on Inside the Vision with Pastor George Pearsons. Watch here:
Empower International Is Born
In 2002, they registered Empower International as a non-profit organization, which is committed to empowering next-generation leaders to communicate the message of God’s love and salvation to people who have never heard it before.
In 2003, they sold their home and everything they owned, and officially launched Empower International. They moved their young family to Bangkok, Thailand because they knew the Lord had called them to that nation and to that city. Says Powers, “17,000,000 people, and we didn’t know a soul in that Buddhist nation.” However, they had a passion and love in their hearts for the people of that part of the world, and that’s what drove them to get started.
“Our vision is summed up in our name,” says Powers. “‵Empower’ is our vision. And it’s to empower leaders in those nations to succeed in their mission to reach their people for God.”
When the Powers initially went to Thailand, they saw many pastors from that nation that were struggling. These pastors had no network, accountability or resources to do what God had put in their hearts to do. God spoke to the Powers and said, I want you to empower existing leaders. They allowed the Lord to highlight and lead them to the right people so that they could begin fulfilling this mandate from Him.
To date, here are just a few areas in which they empower leaders, impacting local regions:
Bible Schools
Student Sponsorship
Human Trafficking Prevention
Local Churches and Pastors
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid
Children’s Homes
Water-well Projects.
Empowering Leaders to Reach Their People
In the nation of Myanmar, one of the poorest countries in the world, the Lord instructed Todd to empower leaders there by providing them with debt-free land, homes and buildings for their ministries. Many of them were struggling, living in little bamboo huts that were suspended a few feet over water and mud that was littered with trash.
Powers recalls the time he pulled up to one of those homes, and a pastor named Timothy was standing out in his front yard on a piece of bamboo, brushing his teeth. Powers noticed there was a plastic cup nailed to the tree that the pastor was standing next to. It had about fifteen toothbrushes in it belonging to all the orphans they had taken in, as well as his own family; they would all stand on that bamboo to brush their teeth.
“I can remember thinking, If only I could provide them a building for the orphans. If I could only provide them with a home for their family,” recalls Powers. “To know they don’t have to worry about a mortgage or rent, and they can focus on the ministry that God has called them to, to reach their people…that to me is empowerment.”
Powers understands this empowerment means recognizing that he’s not going to change somewhere like Thailand, as a western English-speaking American Christian. “But what I can do is find the key leaders that God has called and anointed to reach their people in that region,” he shared. Usually, these leaders have previously been part of the false religion of that nation, and they understand the culture of the religion of their nation. Plus, they speak the language. “Learning the Thai language is very difficult,” says Powers with a chuckle. “It’s almost impossible, it seems.” However, if Empower International can go in and help equip those local leaders to succeed in their mission to reach their people with the gospel, the army of God has increased and been empowered, and there’s nothing that can stop that.
“So, that was our strategy and our goal in reaching into the existing leaders,” says Powers.
Empowering The Next Generation
Reaching the next generation of leaders is something Powers really enjoys. “Investing in children, teens and young professionals, the younger generation…that’s really my happy place,” says Powers.
He wants to empower the next generation of leaders with that same passion that he had when he was a teenager, and help them discover God’s purpose for their lives, His vision for their futures, and then help them to pursue it with everything they’ve got.
One of Powers’ favorite things that they’re doing right now is going into places like Pakistan, which is an Islamic republic— meaning Christians are in the minority — and starting schools there.
As they began going in to plant churches in Pakistan, they’ve discovered that many children of Christian families are not allowed to go to school. Because many of these children came from poor families, they were forced to work as slaves in brick factories and in the fields. When the Powers saw that, they developed a vision for children’s education.
Their first school had about 30 kids. Today, they have multiple schools with around 1,000 children! All of this is on debt-free land and in debt-free buildings.
Their students are performing academically at such a level that the government is coming to them and asking what they’re doing, because their students are outperforming all the private and public Muslim schools. Some of their graduates are even getting full-ride scholarships to some of the best universities.
These children learn the Bible, pray and worship God every day in school. “To me, education is a vital part of empowering a young person,” says Powers. “But not just any education: Bible-based education with biblical values teaching them not only academics, but godly-life.”
Empowering Leaders With the Gospel in Buddhist Schools
In Thailand, which is a Buddhist country, Empower International has doors opened to preach the gospel in virtually every public school in the entire nation. “These are Buddhist public schools, but they love Empower International; they love what we do,” says Powers.
With their team of Thai leaders who were once Buddhist but have been born again, they hold school assembly programs in these public schools. These leaders share their testimony of how God came in and changed their lives. They don’t experience resistance from the teachers, the principals or the superintendents, and the students love to hear the stories of Christianity, the Bible and how God changed these Thai formerly Buddhist people’s lives. They share the simple yet powerful gospel, and many of the students say, “That’s what I want in my life.” Empower International is not restricted at all in these schools!
Empowering Leaders Through Free Education
Empower International covers the entire cost of a school year for students. Transportation, school uniforms, textbooks, aptitude tests, curriculum, labs, field trips, family counseling, tuition fees, teachers and more are provided by Empower.
They believe that access to quality education is crucial in preventing human trafficking, exploitation and the perpetuation of poverty. As stated on their website, “We are committed to breaking the chains of oppression mentally, generationally and spiritually. Our goal is to empower children and young adults to believe in themselves and recognize their capabilities with the support of God and their leaders.”
In faith and action, they embody 1 John 3:18, which says, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
Your Giving Is Helping Empower Leaders
Partner, your support for KCM has helped support Empower International and its mission for over 20 years, because each time you give to KCM, we sow 10% into other ministries who touch the lives of people we normally could not reach. We call this twice-sown seed.
Says Powers, “I just want to say to the Partners of KCM that we are so thankful for you, because as KCM supports us out on the mission field in the most unreached part of the world, we would not be able to do that without your partnership. Thank you. We appreciate and are so thankful for what you’ve done in supporting us to reach the world for Jesus. People’s lives are changing. It’s a matter of life and death. It’s matter of eternity in the hearts of the people that God has called us to reach. Thank you for helping us do this.”
Learn 5 ways to use your spiritual authority in any situation in life.
There is a story of a farmer who found an eagle’s egg and brought it home to his chicken coop. When the egg hatched, the young eagle only saw chickens around him. Without knowing what he truly was, he simply mimicked what he saw around him. He scratched, pecked and flew for short distances. He believed he was a chicken; therefore, he acted like a chicken.
Many believers are living the same way—trapped in a chicken mentality. They have received salvation, but stop short of living life abundantly as God intended. They want to live in prosperity, health, protection and peace, but they stop short of achieving victory in those areas for one reason—they don’t know how to use their authority.
Luke 10:19 says, “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy….” Jesus has given you the authority, but you must take it and exercise it.
Are you ready to fly the coop and soar like an eagle? Here are 5 Ways To Use Your Spiritual Authority and claim victory once and for all.
1. Use Your Authority for Physical Protection
“No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” –Psalm 91:10 (NKJV)
Salvation includes more than just the guarantee of going to heaven—that’s just the beginning. Salvation is a big word. In the Greek language, it literally means “deliverance, safety, preservation, material and temporal deliverance from danger; pardon, restoration, healing, wholeness and soundness.”
Do you know how that pertains to you? It means you don’t have to be afraid of anything harming you or your children physically. Physical protection for you and your family is a covenant right. Peace, safety and deliverance from calamity, disaster or harm of any kind belong to you.
It is not God’s will that you or your children are filled with sickness and disease, or suffer injuries. It is not God’s will that you suffer under any part of the curse. But the devil has come to steal, kill and destroy—he’s looking for a loophole—a way in to break the circle of protection that encompasses you.
It is God’s will that you stop the enemy, and rule and reign over him. This is a dangerous world, so taking your authority for protection should be done daily. It doesn’t take long—speak a word of protection as you drive, repeat a promise over your family as you head to work or run errands, plead the blood of Jesus first thing in the morning when you wake, and read Psalm 91 as if it were written expressly for you. As you make God’s Word part of your daily routine, it will become second nature to you.
Take authority by saying something similar to Billye Brim’s daily declaration:
You listen to me, kingdom of darkness: It is written that I am seated at the Father’s right hand far above you (Ephesians 1:18-23), and that I overcome you by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11). So here is the word of my testimony, and here is who you can’t go near today. I draw the blood around (name your family members), and I plead the blood over myself, too. Satan, you stay away from us! Stay away from the good works I should walk in. You stay away from my ministry, my church, my neighborhood, my home, and every vehicle and building I go into. I draw a bloodline around them.
When you get into your car or fly on an airplane you can say:
In the Name of Jesus, I plead the blood of Jesus over my car. bumper to bumper, side to side, top to bottom, every part working and nonworking; no one and nothing will bump this car, and I’ll bump no one or nothing. I’ll get to wherever I’m going without incident.
You have the Name of Jesus, you have the authority of Jesus, and you overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of your testimony (Revelation 12:11, KJV).
“No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.” –Psalm 91:10
You have authority over sickness and disease—every cold, flu, backache, cancer, heart disease—all of it. You have the authority through Christ Jesus to drive it away from you and your loved ones.
So, why do you sometimes face these challenges? Simple: God is not going to override your authority. He gave Adam authority, and He didn’t override Adam’s decision to relinquish it to Satan. He has given you the same authority in the earth, and He has given you the way to victory using His Word.
But He won’t override your authority. He will let you die sick if you choose to do so. You would have to ignore every healing scripture in the Bible and all that Jesus bought for you when He bore your sicknesses and carried your diseases, but you have the authority to go ahead and die. God will not stop you.
So, if you’re talking about your symptoms and sickness, you’re relinquishing your authority to Satan as Adam did in the Garden of Eden. That won’t get results! Don’t call for sickness and disease if you want to be healed. Use your authority and command your body to be healed in the Name of Jesus.
When Kenneth Copeland was first starting out in ministry, he was under the mentorship of Oral Roberts. One night, in the healing room after the service, they came to a woman who had cancer of the stomach. She was the picture of death. As they approached her to lay hands on her, in a loud, authoritative voice, Oral Roberts said, “You foul, unclean spirit, take your hands off God’s property in the Name of Jesus, whose I am and whom I serve! Come out of her now!”
She instantly spit out that cancer on the floor. (It was the size of a fist and had nasty-looking tentacles hanging off it.) Then she jumped off her bed and ran around the room shouting, “I’m healed! I’m healed! I’m healed!”
That same authority is inside you right now. You can use it to heal yourself; you can use it to heal others—and you should.
When you take authority over your body, say, “Body, I command you to get in line. I rebuke every symptom in my body right now, in Jesus’ Name. Be healed and made whole from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I take my healing! I am healed!”
3. Use Your Authority To Cast Out Demons
“They will cast out demons in my name.” –Mark 16:17
Demonic activity isn’t something you’ll hear preached about on many Sunday mornings, but it exists, and there is a simple way to deal with it—by taking your authority. Certain countries see a greater level of demonic activity, but it’s everywhere, and it’s not to be tolerated—not even for a minute.
In Mark 5:1-20, you can see how Jesus handled demons when He drove them out of the demon-possessed man and into a herd of pigs. He used His authority—the same authority that has been given to you—to drive them out.
Billye Brim shared a story in her book The Blood and the Glory, about something that happened to her son, Chip, and his three friends when they were living in a mobile home while attending college:
“The first day they arrived home from school, they noticed strange things. The doors and windows were open. Hairdryers and a toaster were on. The television and stereos were blasting. They thought it was someone playing a joke, but no one else had a key. One night, Chip was in his bedroom studying. Everyone else was in bed. He heard the front door slam and the whole mobile home shook. He and his friends ran out of there as fast as they could.
“Many other similar incidents took place that day. They ran to a pay phone and called Billye. She instructed the young men to take scriptures and with their authority, cast out the demons. Then, she told them to anoint the doors and windows with oil and apply the blood of Jesus. By using the authority given to them by the blood of Jesus and His Name, they had no further trouble.”
All believers can cast out devils in Jesus’ Name. John Osteen used to say that when demons would approach his house, they must have said, “Oh, don’t go over there, those people will beat your brains out.” That’s the way you ought to be when the devil tries to think about coming to your house.
Use the Name of Jesus. Plead the blood of Jesus. Drive demons and any demonic activity out of your home, your body, your life, your neighborhood, buildings, cars and anything else they try to occupy. Never be afraid of them—you have the authority. And they know it.
4. Use Your Authority To Subdue Disaster
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” –Mark 4:39 (NKJV)
With so many devastating storms and disastrous tornadoes, floods, fires and other happenings, many people have asked, “Is God behind it?” The answer is, absolutely not!
Jesus said in John 10:10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (NKJV).
Jesus is your example when it comes to dealing with destructive storms. You know Jesus spoke to the wind and said to the water, “Peace, be still!” and they obeyed Him (Mark 4:39). You have the same authority through Jesus. It’s not His place to enforce the laws of the Kingdom in the earth; it’s yours.
Watch KCM Partners use their authority to stop a wildfire that was approaching their home in California HERE:
So, when a report of a disaster comes, don’t wait and see what’s going to happen. Start speaking to it now! Go outside if you can. Shout! Don’t just talk to God about it. Speak to the elements. Say, “You don’t come to my house! I declare the blessing wall up and around me, my family, my property and all that’s mine!”
Forget about what other people think. They already think faith people are crazy. Being worried about what others think is a form of fear, and if the devil can get you to back off, he’ll try to destroy what’s yours and blame it on God.
You have authority! Don’t be afraid of any fire, storm, tornado or earthquake. Rebuke it just as Jesus did.
5. Use Your Authority for Finances
“He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” –Colossians 2:15
If you’ve ever experienced the stress that comes from financial pressure, you know how difficult it is when you’re so strapped you don’t have enough money to pay your bills.
There are things that can block financial blessing such as walking in unforgiveness or failing to walk in love, failing to tithe and sow, or operating without integrity. Those areas should be checked first. But if everything is in line with the Word of God, you may be facing an attack of the devil on your finances. He comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He does not want you to be blessed.
Here’s the good news: Jesus reduced principalities and powers to nothing—He took away the devil’s power to dominate you in any way—including in the realm of your finances. Your job is to act on this truth. As long as you behave like the devil has power over your finances, he will. But if you will believe in your heart and confess with your mouth what God’s Word says about finances, you’ll be taking your authority, and you’ll get what you need.
So, when you’re facing an attack of the enemy on your finances, take your place of authority. Speak to the financial mountain. Say, “Satan, take your hands off my money and my property. Ministering spirits (angels), go! Cause all that’s mine in the kingdom of God to come into my hands, now! I declare the blessing of the Lord and the shield of grace up around all that’s mine!”
When you learn and apply these 5 Ways To Use Your Spiritual Authority, nothing will be impossible for you! Stop imitating those around you like the baby eagle who was raised with chickens; and instead, operate in the position of authority God intended from the beginning. God did not create you to be a victim—you were made to be a victorious winner!
Tahella Rose followed the Lord’s lead step by step as she volunteered in ministry. In the process, He led her to attend KCBC, and her college tuition was paid for!
“I came from church hurt, so when I came here to EMIC, I was kind of closed off to others,” shared Tahella. “That’s not really my personality.” However, it took one person to approach her and, “get all up in my grill,” as Tahella states it, welcoming her and letting her know that she was seen and valued.
As Tahella went through the process of becoming a member at EMIC and began serving on Sundays, she was often mistaken for a KCBC student. “I didn’t want to go to school,” said Tahella. “I thought I was just here for ministry, not knowing that God had more for me.”
Tahella was invited to become part of the young adult community at EMIC. It was then that the door “was busted wide open to be able to go to school,” as Tahella said. Every other door she tried to go through was shut.
So, Tahella stepped into the opportunity to attend KCBC and walked by faith. “It was a smooth transition,” said Tahella. “Before I started school, God told me, I’m gonna provide for you. I’m gonna pay for your school.”
Watch Tahella Rose tell her story:
The first year of classes built her foundation and helped her increase her faith. According to Tahella, it was very difficult for her to come out of her own understanding and lean on His. “The Lord was like, just trust Me,” recalled Tahella.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Tahella saw the beautiful fruit of trusting Him when, during her second year of classes, she received a scholarship and also became part of the work study program at the school which paid for all her tuition! “He keeps His promises,” said Tahella. “He’s faithful, and He’s never let me down.”
Her life is a testimony to Numbers 23:19: “Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
Cultivating the Gift
Tahella has a gifting from God to be able to praise and sing, but she didn’t know anything about stewarding that gift when she first arrived. So, coming here prepared her, giving her more of a direction of what to do and simply being able to home in on the voice of God. She learned to listen and yield to what He was telling her to do with her gift. “What He tells me to do with it is better than what I can think,” said Tahella.
Resources to help you know the will of God for your life:
Whether you’re thinking of attending KCBC, or simply seeking the Lord on your next step, Tahella has this encouragement for you: “If God is telling you to go, if He’s instilled in your heart that there’s more He wants you to know, and that there’s secrets that He wants to share with you…act in faith and do it. Act in faith and go.”
Tahella speaks from the conviction and confidence of first-hand experience. “He’s already provided for you. It’s already done. You just have to walk it out by faith.”
Feed Thy Kids Daycare is a free facility, fully supported by the financial generosity of KCM Africa Partners through twice-sown seed.
Feed Thy Kids (FTK) is a non-profit daycare serving over 60 children, ages 1-5, in a region of South Africa where poverty and unemployment are widespread. In a faith-filled, loving environment where Jesus is Lord, FTK provides free daycare and two nutritious meals daily. It offers a safe space for children to play, learn and grow while their parents work hard to provide for their families, despite the challenges surrounding them. Kenneth Copeland Ministries Africa has provided financial support to FTK since its inception in 2016.
The name for this facility was taken from Song of Solomon 1:8 (KJV), in which it instructs to, “feed thy kids beside the shepherd’s tents.”
Through this outreach, not only are the children’s practical needs met, but seeds of joy and creativity are sown into their young lives as the love of God is demonstrated in action. It is a blessing to see the light of God’s love shine in their hearts, bringing hope and joy into what could otherwise be challenging circumstances. FTK is raising up a generation to know that with Jesus, they can live a life of victory!
FTK has become a beacon of hope by offering a no-cost haven to parents of vulnerable children, who face the very real threats of kidnapping and human trafficking. Under the loving and watchful care of the dedicated team at FTK, these children are not only protected but nurtured in an environment saturated with the love of Jesus.
“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.'” Matthew 19:14
Matthew 25:40 says, “‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”Through ministries like FTK, the heart of Jesus is being demonstrated, showing these families that they are never forgotten but always loved and cared for by God. The Partners of KCM Africa make this possible!
This daycare is just one of many ways that the impact of the seed sown by our Partners into KCM is multiplied through twice-sown seed, because 10% of every dollar given to KCM is immediately sown into other ministries.
Partner, thank you! This is one example of how your giving is multiplied, from the top of the world to the bottom and all the way around the middle.
Learn how to take care of your family with 7 Ways a Father Provides for His Family.
Fathers are called many things like Dad, Daddy or Pops. Another word that expresses the role of a father is provider. If you had a father who was a good provider to you, you are truly blessed!
One of God’s Names is Jehovah Jireh, which means “God our Provider.” God, in His mercy, provides you with salvation and eternal life; meets your physical needs such as food, housing, healing and protection; and even gives you wisdom for each day. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (ESV).
With God as his perfect example, an earthly father can take on the role of provider in many ways: in the spiritual growth and development of his family, for the material needs of his family, and with emotional support and encouragement. It’s a big job! But the man who puts 7 Ways a Father Provides for His Family into practice in his life can do it!
1. A father loves God and others.
“The man answered, ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” –Luke 10:27
The No. 1 way a father provides for his family is to love God. What activities show that a father loves God? He prays, reads God’s Word, and attends and participates in church. He also tithes and gives offerings. He spends time each day visiting with his Father God. He carves time out of his day to listen for the voice of the Lord.
A father also provides for his family by loving others. He is patient and kind, not jealous, boastful or proud (1 Corinthians 13:4). He is available to teach and train others, including his children. The love of God through the father provides a sense of belonging and offers strength to overcome obstacles in life. A father provides for his family by making them feel secure and teaching them to love others.
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” –Ephesians 4:32
Another way a father provides for his family is that he forgives as God has forgiven him. In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” Jesus replied, “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!”
The best kind of father is one who forgives and keeps on forgiving. After all, God forgives us (Psalm 103:3). Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone needs to be forgiven. When a child makes a mistake, it’s important for the father to tell the child, in love, what they did wrong. Then, to end the matter, the father needs to say those three important words, “I forgive you.” This simple act of forgiveness provides stability in the home.
When a father refuses to forgive a family member or a business associate, not only does he get more and more miserable, but he also puts himself in jeopardy and paints a dangerous picture for his family to imitate. Holding a grudge and living in unforgiveness is like scratching a sore that never heals. A father can provide for his family by demonstrating forgiveness to them and others.
3. A father walks in the fruit of the spirit.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” –Galatians 5:22-23
A third way a father provides for his family is that he walks in the fruit of the spirit. When a man is born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live within his spirit, and what a difference that can make! The Holy Spirit will work through a father so that his natural inclination changes from the old ways to the ways of God.
Instead of anger, he can demonstrate love. Instead of sadness, he can be quick to show joy and laughter. Instead of strife, there is peace. Rather than lose his temper, the father can patiently wait and act with kindness, gentleness and self-control. All these character traits are available to the father who chooses to walk in the fruit of the spirit.
If you have a parent or spouse who struggles to walk in the fruit of the spirit, you can pray for them to develop in spiritual maturity: A Prayer To Draw Near to God
It doesn’t happen overnight, but as a father yields to the Lord, the fruit begins to ripen to the image of Christ, and this fruit provides a godly home for his family.
4. A father puts the Word of God first place in his life.
“I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.” –Psalm 119:10-13
A father also provides for his family by putting the Word of God first place in his life. What does that mean? It means he makes God’s Word the final authority in every decision.
For example, a teenage daughter wants to go to her friend’s party. The father is responsible to find out certain things about the party. Are her friend’s family Christians? Will the parents be at the party? Will boys and girls be properly chaperoned? Will alcohol or other dangerous substances be served, or maybe brought in? Does his daughter have an escape plan? These are things the father needs to know before he can make his decision.
Decisions based on God’s Word will bring successful results. A father must consider God’s Word in deciding where to go to church, where to work, where to live, how to spend money, and how to be a witness for Jesus Christ. Those decisions come easier as he and his wife are in agreement with the Word of God (Matthew 18:19-20). With God and His Word in first place and as final authority, the father can provide a good life for his family.
5. A father prays about everything.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:6-7
Another way a father provides for his family is by praying about everything. That’s when spending time daily with the Lord becomes essential. Knowing what to do, and how and when to do it, can be a challenge. A father who prays about everything can have confidence in his decisions. God is his Source and will provide all he and his family need, including God’s wisdom and peace.
A father’s prayer also provides confidence for each member of the family. They know their father’s prayers are effective because he prays according to God’s Word. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16).
Even more powerful is when a family prays together and comes into agreement with the Word! Jesus said, “If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:19-20). A father provides for his family by praying about everything.
6. A father is generous with his time and resources.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” –Matthew 6:19-21
A father who is generous with his time and resources provides for his family. It takes effort for a father to be generous with his time and resources. After all, his job, which oftentimes provides for his family, takes most of his time and attention. And it takes a concentrated effort to focus on the family’s activities, interests and responsibilities. Being a father is not for the fainthearted!
One of the most encouraging phrases in the Bible is “but God” (Ephesians 2:4). Whatever is going on, whatever seems stressful or impossible can be overcome with that little phrase, “but God.” You see, the word but is a word that cancels out everything said before. For example: “There’s not enough money for that…but God.” With that little word, but, lack is no longer a factor. “I can’t do that…but God.” Suddenly the impossible becomes possible with God. “There’s no way I will get that better-paying job…but God.” Hope and faith soar at the possibility that God will intervene and allow the father to provide what is needed.
7. A father avoids the things God hates.
“There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.” –Proverbs 6:16-19
Finally, a father provides for his family by avoiding the things God hates. It can be hard to associate a loving God with the concept of hate. But God does hate evil. “You love justice and hate evil” (Hebrews 1:9). Evil is the opposite of good—and God, and everything about God, is good.
As a father, it’s best to avoid the things God hates. Haughty eyes? That’s pride. Lying tongue? That’s obviously lies. Hands that kill the innocent? That’s murder. A heart that plots evil? That’s corruption. Feet that race to do wrong? That’s a person who has no restraint. A false witness who pours out lies? That’s a deceiver. And a person who sows discord in a family? That’s strife. Not only does a father hate the things God hates, but he also loves the things God loves—and that includes his family.
Watch Kenneth Copeland share a message to fathers on Father’s Day:
When you put into practice 7 Ways a Father Provides for His Family, you are relying on your Father God to help you and equip you to be a blessing to your family. Drawing from your Ultimate Provider, God, you can provide for your family both spiritually and naturally; and be a light and witness to others of the goodness of God!
