BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

B V O V : 1 1 New American Standard Bible). Without the anointing dispersed through these men and women of God, we would be ill-equipped to live a life worthy of our calling as end-time workers. Zacharias' wife, Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron. She would represent the laity of the Church who, though not called to pulpit ministry, have still been born into "a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). Together, they represent all aspects of the Church working in divine order toward the hastening of His return. Luke 1:6 gives us some insight into what this royal priesthood should be giving special attention to. It says, "They both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord" (Amplifi ed Bible, Classic Edition). 'Walking Blamelessly' Sounds impossible! Blameless in every commandment? How? Well, we know from 2 Corinthians 5:21 that the Church has been made the righteousness of God in Christ. When a person accepts Jesus as Lord, that person accepts His substitutionary work, and is re- created by a master work of the Holy Spirit. His work is perfect and perfectly pleasing to the Father. This makes it possible for us to be blameless and welcome in His presence, both now and in heaven. But that's not walking in righteousness. There is still too big of a gap between our righteous inner being and how we are walking it out. In the Old Testament, people were looked upon by God as righteous based on their works. It was righteousness on the outside, covering for the lack of it inside. But in the New Testament we are not saved by our works, but by grace. That doesn't dismiss our works, or deeds, as unimportant. In fact, we will be judged according to what we do while in this body, in this life. But instead of trying to live blamelessly by our own e orts, we are to live from the inside out, our every action enabled by His indwelling righteousness. Ephesians 2:10 tells us we were re-created in Christ Jesus so that we may do those good works which God predestined for us. The result is not failed attempts by the fl esh at holiness, but a lifestyle of holy behavior that comes from living out of our spirit man and truly being who and what we are: the children of the most righteous and holy God. Now, even though righteousness makes holiness possible, we still need help. Thank God He sent the very Spirit of Holiness Himself to both teach and empower us to grow up in Jesus until we live just like Him. What exactly were Zacharias and Elizabeth blameless in? "Walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord" (Luke 1:6, AMPC). First John 3:23 summarizes all that Jesus has commanded and required of the Church: "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." Clear enough! Faith and love. For the last 55 years, my dad, Kenneth Copeland, along with many others, has made those two things the pillar of his ministry. After 55-plus years of faith and love, I'm sure some have thought, Will he ever stop preaching on that? To which Brother Kenneth E. Hagin would answer, "Not until you get it!" It is very prideful and dangerous for us to ever think, Now, we already know about that. That just sets aside the need to grow in faith and love. It's one thing to know about something and quite another to master it. There's no end to how far the Church can develop in faith or love, so we must never tire of hearing about them or establishing them in our lives. Our eyes should always be on Jesus, the Author of our faith and the full expression of God's love. By the Spirit within us, we are ever adjusting ourselves until we are walking in the light, even as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). To be sure—being righteous before God hangs entirely on the fi rst of God's great golden hooks, the First Coming of the Lord. But in these last days, our walk of faith, love and power will draw us, and many, many others with us, to that other golden hook—the Second Coming of the Lord! This gives purpose to both who we are, and all we do. i Terri Copeland Pearsons, the eldest daughter of Kenneth Copeland, is chief visionary of cer of Kenneth Copeland Ministries and president of Kenneth Copeland Bible College ® . Along with her husband, George Pearsons, she is also senior pastor of Eagle Mountain International Church at KCM in Fort Worth. Watch EMIC services with Pastors George & Terri on C H A N N E L with Pastors George & Terri on C H A N N E L Live services: Sun. 11 a.m. | Wed. 8 p.m. Replays: Sun. 10:30 p.m. & Sat. 2 a.m. Wed. midnight ET Watch by Terri Copeland Pearsons

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