BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Are You Listening? by Kenneth Copeland I’ve been flying airplanes now for 52 years. During those years, one skill in particular has become second nature to me: I’ve learned no matter what else is going on, to listen for and to what the air traffic controller is saying to me. That might sound simple. But it’s not always as easy as you’d think. In an environment where air traffic is heavy, there are a lot of voices and instructions coming through the radio: “American 451, turn left...climb and maintain 5,000.” “Delta 23, turn right...descend to and maintain 8,000.” To someone unfamiliar with aviation, it might sound like a confusing mess. But as a pilot I don’t even hear it. Why? Because I’m listening for something else. I’m listening for my call sign. When the controller says, “62 Juliette, turn left to heading 3-5-4,” I respond immediately because that’s me. “Yes, sir,” I answer, “62 Juliette, turning left to 3-5-4.” In my almost 50 years in ministry, I’ve found I have to do much the same thing where the voice of God is concerned. If I’m going to follow the instructions He gave in Proverbs 4:20 (“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.”), I must always be tuned in to what He’s saying to me. I must be continually listening for His words. In life, just as in the cockpit, that’s not always easy. There are all kinds of voices out there making a lot of noise. But I’m determined not to let them distract me, because God’s voice is the only one I really need to hear. His words are the only ones that can supply me with abundant life, keep me walking in THE BLESSING and get me where I need to go. As Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” God’s very life is in His WORD! If you’re saved today, you’re living proof of it. You’ve been “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). The WORD is the basis of God’s entire kingdom. It’s the key to His whole operating system. Jesus left no doubt about it. During His earthly ministry when people asked Him how He did such mighty, miraculous works, He pointed them again and again to the power of God’s WORD. He didn’t say, “I can do anything I want because I’m the Messiah and have special supernatural power.” He didn’t say, “Because I’m God manifested in the flesh I can work miracles anytime I choose.” Instead He said things like this: • I can of mine own self do nothing. (John 5:30) (Not “I won’t,” but “I can’t.”) • [The Father] that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard [from Him]. (John 8:26) • I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. (John 8:28) • The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10) This was the process behind Jesus’ entire life and ministry! First and foremost, He listened for, and heard, God’s words. Then, in faith, He spoke and acted on those words, and the Father who dwelled within brought them to pass. 4 : BVOV : MAR '14

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