The first day at the Southwest Believers’ Convention is awesome! We reconnected with our friends, Bob and Connie Frost. They’ve been ushers at the SWBC for many years, and we’ve sat in their section each time we’ve come. They’re strong believers, and two of the most encouraging, joy-filled believers I know. It’s great to be surrounded by love and faith.
As always, Len Mink led worship. The KCM worship team is one of the best, and the presence of the Holy Spirit was almost palpable. Brother Len has led worship for the Copelands’ meetings for over 30 years.
Brother Copeland was the first speaker this morning. It’s always thrilling when he bounds onto the platform and cries out, “Shout Amen somebody!” Cherie commented how dapper he looked in his two-toned shoes.
Brother Copeland began laying the foundation for what he’ll preach on this week. His preaching will center on The Blessing. He began in Romans 4:1-16. He noted that Abraham found out how God would treat him as if he hadn’t sinned – just believe God and do what He says. From verse 7, he noted that sin and iniquity will block the operation of the Blessing. While preaching from verses 13-16, he noted that we don’t earn our salvation or healing, so what makes us think we have to earn our prosperity. Just as salvation and healing come by faith and grace, so does prosperity. When God sends us into a situation, He is sending us in to apply the Blessing.
Brother Copeland preached that we are to mimic God, to imitate Him, to act like Him. (Ephesians 5:1). As an illustration, he remembered taking skiing lessons from the Mayer brothers, both of whom had been Olympic champions. All they taught was how to turn. (He said anyone can go straight down, but the results are disasterous). Brother Copeland’s aim, though, was to look like and act like the Mayer brothers when he skiied. In the same way, when we imitate God, we should expect to see the same results.
Brother Copeland talked at some length about being healthy. He preached that we need to eat real food, and was very blunt – eat organic food instead of genetically engineered food. We need food that’s like our bodies. In the same way, we need the unadulterated Word of God to feed our spirits. Religion, he said, is like genetically engineered Bible.
As he has preached so often this year, the Blessing began in the Garden of Eden. The Blessin of Abraham that is ours is just a continuation of that same Blessing. In Isaiah 51:1-3, we see that we should be living in the Garden of Eden even in desert circumstances. We are blessed!!