News and Updates
November 1, 2012
David Copeland · November 1, 2012
Newsletter · Volume: 12 Issue: 11
Jeremiah 7:1-7 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.
3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.
5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;
6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. (emphasis mine)
For the last two years I have been taking my time reading through the Bible instead of attempting to read it completely in one year. God continues to amaze me with things I have missed all these years.
As we get to Jeremiah Seven, God is no long “baiting” Judah with a subtle request to come back to Him. In previous chapters, God tried to draw Judah’s attention to what the northern ten tribes did, how they rejected Him, pursued idolatry, rebellion and the captivity that came as a result of it.
God then moves from a subtle request to an all out cry in Chapter 7 as the people are gathering in Jerusalem for a day of fasting, believed to be the Day of Atonement.
The message to Judah is the same message to us today!
First, Repent. Verse 3 God says, Amend your ways…This simply means repent!
I was told some time ago that repentance is not actually a New Testament doctrine. While I understood some of what this person was telling me, I went to the Word to see for myself.
The word repent is used forty-five times in Scripture: twenty-two times in the Old Testament, twenty-three times in the New Testament. I realize repentance is not wailing, crying and making a scene at an altar…only to get up and go back to the same old lifestyle; genuine repentance is a change of mind that is a result of a true change of heart. In my opinion it’s at least one time more important in the New Testament than it is in the Old Testament!
The word repentance is used twenty six times in the entire Bible! One time in the Old Testament; twenty-five times in The New Testament.
Secondly the prophet cries, Believe the right words! Read verse 4 again. The people thought that simply because they had the Temple in Jerusalem, they could live any way they wanted to and God would turn a blind eye. It was really a superstitious idea that a building would cover their rebellion against God. The Temple had become nothing more than a good luck charm.
I am grateful and very thankful for the grace of God! But Grace is not a license to sin: it is a license to NOT sin!
Thirdly, God cries through the prophet just do what is right!
Do the right thing with people, be kind to strangers, protect the orphans, care for the widow…these are all common sense attributes society has when they are walking in the order of God. But when rebellion fills people’s heart, selfishness reigns. When selfishness and self-centeredness rules your life, foolishness becomes king. And foolishness will bring things into your life God never intended you to have. Like pain and needless suffering.
May we turn completely to God with all our hearts! Our country will never acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus till the church does. The church cannot declare Jesus is Lord until we as individuals make Him the Lord of our lives. A building has never saved anyone; and a church building never will protect mankind from sin and judgment.
The Blood of Jesus still makes ugly sin white as snow! But it’s power hinges on us turning our hearts completely to Him. Say Yes to His prophetic word for your life today!
Ministry Update
When a shift in assignment comes, a shift in thinking is required. Since 2001 Pam and I have crisscrossed the United States declaring the message of revival in churches large and small. More small than large. God has honored that call with revivals lasting as long as nine weeks in many places.
Over the last two years, God has shifted our hearts to the nations in a greater way to lead teams on short-term mission trips. While we will continue to minister in revivals and Sunday services here at home, we are feeling a very strong call to spend more time in other countries ministering the message of repentance, restoration and revival! But for us to accomplish that assignment, we need your help.
Would you help us answer the call on our lives to lead teams on short-term trips to the nations? Thank you to everyone who currently supports us financially and with prayer! We cannot do what we do without friends like you!
Would you be willing to share what we are doing with your friends and family? Maybe you know a church or a pastor who is looking to support a quality mission outreach. Maybe you know a business that would like to support a pastor in a developing country that is living on one U.S. dollar per day. Or maybe you are interested in traveling with Pam and I on one of our international outreaches in 2013.
There are senders; then there are “go-ers”. I’ll never forget that fateful day in October 2009 when God spoke to me “…get ready, you are going to Kenya more and more…”. That word was conditional on me saying yes. There are hundreds of people in other countries that are glad I said yes. As each person simply says yes to what God speaks to their heart, we will go more and more…and you will receive the same reward we receive when we all stand before Jesus, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
Thank you for helping us fulfill our part of the Great Commission!
David & Pam