News and Updates
March 1, 2018
David Copeland · March 1, 2018
Newsletter · Volume: 18 Issue: 3
Last month we began discussing the orphan mindset. In our stream of Christianity, many people have taken the habit of calling things a spirit when they are really not a “spirit” at all. Many of the things we battle as believers are a result of the un-crucified flesh that continues to control us because of wrong mindsets we have allowed to be created over our lifetime.
A mindset is simply a habitual way of thinking that may or may not be truth. A mindset can create a stronghold which is simply a thinking pattern impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable situations that we know are contrary to the will of God.
Our second characteristic of an orphan mindset is this: an orphan mindset will plague people who lack the understanding of their identity. Yes, it will plague people.
In the story of the prodigal son, there is a character in that story that is almost never talked about. He’s the elder brother. The elder brother, according to the father, was given his inheritance at the same time the youngest son was granted his. Because of an orphan mindset, he thought his constant working and striving would be pleasing to his father. He never completely embraced what had already been given to him. But listen to what his father said in Luke 15:12 & 31:
Vs 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
Vs 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” (NKJV)
The elder brother’s orphan mindset kept him from experiencing the benefits of his inheritance. The father gave them both EVERYTHING! Because he was constantly working and striving to please his father, he never realized his father loved him unconditionally before he was ever able to work at all. This blindness kept him from enjoying the inheritance his father had already given him.
Paul told the Ephesian believers, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-18 NKJV
I am very busy in ministry. I have been told at times I need to slow down that I am actually striving to be accepted by God by my preaching and ministry schedule. But I don’t work and constantly preach to fill a hole in my heart by my lack of identity; I work for Him in response to the great love He has poured into my heart for humanity. My identity is in Christ; not in my labor.
Many in the Charismatic community are at what is called the padion stage of their son-ship: working, fasting, praying, denying themselves in an attempt to earn the anointing or to earn the right for their local ministry to experience revival.
Revival will come in response to His command to repent and seek His face from our wicked ways. Simple obedeince to His Word brings blessing from above.
You can be in the house and be a son but still think like an orphan. Don’t allow the same orphan mindset that the elder brother had keep you enjoying the full measure of your inheritance that has already been made available for your life!
Ministry Update:
In February Evangelist Mike Joyner & I traveled to Narok, Kenya for a three day outreach to the city. Over 160 pastors & leaders came together from across the region for teaching, preaching and some powerful times of altar ministry. We are happy to announce that September 3-7, 2018 we will hold the first Narok School of Ministry.
April 6-8 we will travel to Kitale with Apostle John Sang for another outreach to that area of Kenya. April 9-13 we will travel to Malava for the April session of the Malava School of Ministry. April 18-21 we will be in Kilgoris for the Kilgoris Women’s Conference, then April 23-27 we will lead the Kilgoris School of Ministry.
$50 will sponsor one pastor or leader to attend either the Schools of Ministry in Malava or Kilgoris; or the Women’s Conference in Kilgoris. God is truly enlarging our territory and causing us to hear the cries of men and women of God to “come over and help us”!
Would you consider sowing an extra gift this month that will help us minister to the five hundred plus pastors and leaders we will serve through our April Kenya outreach?
Thank you for listening to and simply obeying what God puts in your heart to do this month.