BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

I realize that’s often taught, but it’s incorrect. That verse was written to the Corinthians about giving financially into the kingdom of God. It’s talking about money. And it doesn’t say that Jesus came to earth as a poor man. He didn’t! On the contrary: Wise men showed up when He was born and provided Him and His family with significant wealth. After He grew up and went into ministry, Jesus was so prosperous He needed a treasurer to keep track of the funds. He always had plenty to give to the poor. Money or no money, feeding 20,000 people was no problem for Him. Jesus was a prosperous man all His earthly life. So, when did He become poor? When He went to the Cross. There Jesus became poorer than any human being has ever been. He took the whole burden of mankind’s poverty upon Himself all at once. In the same way that He bore all our sins on the Cross so that we could be made as righteous as He is, He bore our sicknesses so that we could be as well as He is, and He also bore our poverty so that we could be as rich as He is! Clearly, our prosperity is important to God. It’s so central to His will that He included it in the price Jesus paid for our redemption. So it doesn’t matter whether or not we think we need it. What matters is that God needs it! “Oh, Brother Copeland, God doesn’t need anything.” In one sense that’s true. As Almighty God, He is complete in Himself. But let me ask you this: Does He need people? Yes. Because He’s chosen to, God does need people. Specifically, He needs you. Does He need you to be an unsaved sinner running around doing the devil’s will? No, He needs you born again. Does He need you sick and weak, unable to bear any fruit for His kingdom? No, He needs you healthy and strong enough to serve Him. Does He need you so broke that you can’t bless anyone? No, He needs you “always having all sufficiency in all things,” so that you can “abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). That’s why it bothers me so much when believers shrug off God’s will concerning prosperity and say they can get along without much money. It’s a selfish perspective. What about helping your church and your pastor? What about helping missionaries? What about giving to the poor? This isn’t just about you and your little family, or me and my little family. It’s about the kingdom of God. It’s about being blessed so that we can be a blessing. No one said you have to keep all the prosperity God gives you. If you enjoy living on a shoestring, fine. Go ahead and live on $500 a month, but believe God for $10,000—and give $9500 into the Kingdom. “But how can I do that?” you might ask. “The economy has been horrible.” The economy might be bad on earth but heaven’s economy is doing just fine; and that’s where your financial supply comes from. As Philippians 4:19 says, “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” You see, even though you live physically on earth, surrounded by the devil’s kingdom, you’re not a citizen of that kingdom anymore. When you were born again, God delivered you out of it and translated you into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13). You’re not going to get into God’s kingdom someday when you die and go to heaven; you’re a citizen of heaven right now. You’ve already been raised up together with Christ and made to “sit together in heavenly places” in Him (Ephesians 2:6). *****ADVERTISEMENT***** COMMANDER KELLIE AND THE SUPERKIDS RETURN Order Your Movie Today! $19.95 #S130903 1-800-606-4190 skathemission.com : Order online & save 10% #CmdrKellieReturns Offer and price valid until Oct. 31, 2013 OCT ’13 : BVOV : 6

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