BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

It causes God’s wonderful promises and plans to manifest in our lives. “But Gloria, I have planted the Word in my heart,” you might say, “and nothing much has changed for me yet. Maybe the Word won’t work for me like it does for you.” Sure it will. God is no respecter of persons. He loves you just as much as He loves me, and His Word will work for anyone who will believe and obey it. It won’t necessarily work instantly, however. I wish it did! I wish every time I asked God for something, it would immediately materialize right in front of my eyes. But that’s generally not what happens. Just as it takes time for a physical seed to grow up and bear fruit, it usually takes time for the spiritual seed of God’s Word to grow and produce results in the natural realm. That’s why Jesus said in Luke 8:15 that once we’ve heard the Word, we must “keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” It’s through faith in the Word and patience that we inherit God’s promises (Hebrews 6:12). Ken and I haven’t always understood this. We initially expected our faith harvests to come almost overnight. For example, about 30 days after we first heard the message of faith, we went looking at new houses. Our bank balance was so low we could hardly afford a chicken coop, but we went shopping for a house anyway, figuring somehow we’d be able to buy one. We weren’t looking at mansions, just nice, new little homes. They weren’t really very expensive. But compared to what we could afford, they cost a fortune. We talked to the builder about purchasing one and he said, “How are you going to finance it?” “Our Father is going to pay for it,” we said. It might sound like a peculiar response (I’m sure the builder thought it was), but our hearts were in the right place. ************************************************************************* Questions and Answers by Kenneth Copeland Q: I’ve heard people talk about “the prayer of faith” but I’m not sure I understand how to pray the prayer of faith. Would you please explain it to me? A: To understand how to pray the prayer of faith we need first of all to understand what faith is, and Hebrews 11:1 gives us the answer: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The Amplified Bible says, “[faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” We also need to know how to develop faith if we are going to pray in faith. Romans 10:17 tells us: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” From these scriptures we understand the prayer of faith, then, is a prayer that is based on God’s WORD and it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. When you pray the prayer of faith you start with the answer, The WORD, instead of the problem. God’s WORD holds the answer to your situation. So if you’re sick, find healing scriptures; if you have a financial need, find promises in The WORD about provision. Then when you pray, say what The WORD says about your situation. Believe it, declare it and continue to confess God’s WORD over that situation. Call those things that be not as though they were. Before you see any evidence of change, believe that it’s done according to The WORD of God. See yourself with the answer. See it on the inside, act like you already have it and praise God for the answer! It’s also important to realize that the prayer of faith changes things, not God. You’re not trying to convince God to do something for you…He’s already given you the victory. So renew your mind to what The WORD says, then let that be the final authority. That problem may represent the facts, but if you will stay on The WORD, the Truth will change the facts! Faith requires no outside evidence or support. God’s WORD is faith’s final answer. Faith praises God for the answer before it is manifest to the five physical senses. The prayer of faith will work if you’ll stand on The WORD of the living God instead of believing the circumstances. Contrary evidence of the senses is no reason for doubting. The evidences on which our faith rests are far more reliable—they are eternal. God’s WORD never fails. Make a point of reminding yourself and reminding the devil that you are not going to believe God but you have already believed God. Many times when I pray, I actually take my foot and draw a line across the floor and say, “That’s the line of faith. As I step over it I believe I receive the promise. Now Father, I have prayed the prayer of faith in the Name of Jesus. I believe that I have the petition that I desire of You. I’ve stepped over this line of faith and I’m never going back. As far as I’m concerned, it’s done. Amen, so be it.” Now, when there is a contrary symptom or negative words spoken by others to try and make me believe something other than what I’ve prayed, I refer to that moment when I crossed the line of faith. It helps me stay focused in my mind. It helps me take a stand against fear. It reminds me that I have believed God and now I’m walking in faith, expecting the desired result. Victory is inevitable—for you and for me—if we’ll stay in faith and not quit. V BVOV : 30

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