News and Updates
March 1, 2020
David Copeland · March 1, 2020
Newsletter · Volume: 20 Issue: 3
Isaiah 1:19,20 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20. But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
This passage keeps coming up almost daily since the beginning of the year. Holy Spirit also continues to speak to me also out of Revelation 3:7,8:
‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;
I have always asked the Lord to reveal to me any areas of my life I have not nailed to the cross. I always want to be sensitive to the Spirit and never ask Him to bless what I am doing; I want to be always walking in the center of His will so I will walk in what I call an unconscious anointing and an unconscious blessing. Never asking Him to bless what I am doing but walking according to His will (which is His Word) so His blessings just automatically chase me down and run over me! (Deuteronomy 28)
Recently as I was meditating on this Scripture from Isaiah, the Lord began to show me several things:
1.There have been times I have been willing, but not obedient.
This is a no brainer. All of us, if we are honest can say this. Being willing at certain times of our lives is the easy part; but being obedient when you are not exactly certain which direction to go can be challenging, especially when you are standing in front of several open doors at once.
2.There have been times I have been obedient, but not willing.
Just today (the day I am writing this newsletter), I realized several opportunities I have had put before me just this very week, I have been obedient in; but yet my attitude while I was doing was not an attitude of willingness. I did it because I felt like I had to. I have been reading this month through the Book of Leviticus and as I was reading about the cleansing of leper or the law of leprosy, I realized what Paul said was true: the law never did what was needed in mankind: change a person’s heart. No matter what sin people committed, they were never really under any obligation to completely change their lifestyles because they knew the way out was to simply go and offer another sacrifice. The grace of God that is now on display for all of humanity, doesn’t just provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) it also leads to a changed life!
3.There have been times I have been BOTH willing AND obedient.
That my friends brought great blessing into my life! I often counsel and mentor people who want to do missions with me and Pam. They tell me all the time they want to travel with us on some of our ministry opportunities; but they refuse to get a passport. They always have an excuse on why they haven’t even TRIED to get a passport yet. Others say they are ready to surrender to the call to ministry but refuse to be accountable to a local church. They refuse to allow anyone speak into their lives to the point that transformation occurs. They will stay in a church until the pastor begins to touch a place in their life they have not surrendered…then run away.
Willing AND obedient.
God continues speaking to Isaiah and says “if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken!”
I realize many people are telling us we that as New Testament believers we no longer have to repent. While I DO believe as a New Testament believer God has forgiven my past and present sins that I have confessed to Him; nowhere in Scripture does it say He will forgive your future sins…unless you confess them. John said it this way:
1 John 1:8,9 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Are you willing but making excuses why you are not obedient? Are you being “obedient”, but there is not a genuine willingness associated with it? What is your attitude while you are “obedient”?
I chose to eat the good of the land. Our response should always be a willingness AND obedience. If not, a certain devouring is awaiting us.
Happy March!
David & Pam