News and Updates
August 1, 2018
David Copeland · August 1, 2018
Newsletter · Volume: 18 Issue: 8
There is not a week that goes by that someone doesn’t call me or ask me, “how can I know for certain what the perfect will of God is for my life?
Just this past weekend I prayed for so many people who expressed to me the desire to truly know that it is God leading them to do something. No one in their right spiritual mind wakes up daily with the express purpose of disobeying God. On the contrary, every person reading this newsletter has a burning passion to obey Him to the fullest!
You WERE created for a purpose that involves more than working, paying taxes, spending your money at Walmart then dying. So very much more!
How can I know it’s God’s Spirit leading me to make a move? How can I know if it’s time to change jobs? Make a career change? Change ministries? Or launch into ministry for the very first time?
Isaiah 55:12-13 gives us a powerful clue on knowing the will of God for our lives.
2 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
First, the will of God will produce joy. “You shall go out with joy…” This is not a joy that is produced from eating good food or your favorite team winning a ballgame. Joy unspeakable and full of Glory is how 1 Peter 1:8 states it. Nehemiah told the Jews as they were mourning how the city had fallen into rubble and how they had rebelled against Jehovah, he said, “…weep not! For the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10) In every instance in which I have been troubled about which direction God’s will was taking me, when the joy came, I knew I was headed in the right direction!
Second, there will be peace in the will of God. “…you shall be led forth with peace…” This doesn’t mean in the will of God there will never be conflict; there will be times in which situations will be very challenging and you may want to run away, but the peace of God is the second indicator you are right in the center of His will. Always move toward peace, never away from it.
Some time ago I was praying concerning greater clarity in our ministry direction when the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “son, you have settled for an absence of conflict instead of pushing forward into My promise.” I knew exactly what He was saying! Often, we think peace means the promise is here; but peace simply means you are headed in the right direction. The manifested promise means the promise is manifested. Peace will help you persevere until all the promises of God come completely to pass in your life. Don’t just settle for peace coming to your life; don’t quit until you have obtained the promise!
Third, a song will burst forth into your heart. “…the mountains and the hills will break forth before you into singing…” I’m always amazed at how God will almost always use a song to confirm the direction He wants me to take. Even in a particular service in which I am ministering! The joy and peace of God will always produce a new song of praise in your hearts to Him. Or, a song will come to you that tremendously blesses you during the transition.
Fourth, God will bring confirmation through others. “…and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Trees are symbolic of people. Psalms 1 tells us those who make the Word of God their foundation will be “…like trees planted by the rivers of waters…” (Psalms 1:3) This doesn’t mean everyone will be happy about you continuing to follow God’s will for your life. Many will oppose you and many may even be close family members. In fact, according to Jesus, the family test will be one of the first challenges you will have to face in stepping into the perfect will of God for your life.
Mark 10:28-30 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; (emphasis mine) and in the world to come eternal life.
Don’t settle for anything less than the perfect will of God for your life!
To read an expanded version of this month’s Revival Now Newsletter, visit our website http://revivalnow.org/news.
Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.
David & Pam