CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 How Far I Had Fallen!

CHAPTER 2 The Homecoming!

CHAPTER 3 Dare To Believe!

CHAPTER 4 Pour It In—Pour It Out!

CHAPTER 5 A Miracle That Multiplies

CHAPTER 6 Inheriting a Crisis

CHAPTER 7 Pick Up the Mantle

CHAPTER 8 More Than a Crumb!

CHAPTER 9 Placing a Demand!

CHAPTER 10 Your Great Inheritance

INTRODUCTION

September 11, 2001, was a day of tragedy beyond belief. To think that terrorists could commandeer four U.S. airliners and take the lives of thousands of innocent victims was shocking. It left millions of people all over the world stunned and saddened.

As the news unfolded, Lindsay and I gathered our girls around us and prayed for God's peace and protection in the midst of this storm.

In the days that followed, a wave of anxiety swept over Americans. I could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices—many were reluctant to fly, others feared opening their mail.

I thought about the words of Jesus, that in the last days, there would be "distress of nations...men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth " (Luke 21:25,26 nkjv).

Even before the dust had settled, people began to ask, "Where do we turn for help?"

■    Can the government protect us?

■    Do I call on the United Way or the American Red Cross?

■    Will the United Nations resolve the problems of world peace?

As you will discover in this book, the answers to the dilemmas of life are not always found in agencies, organizations, or the government. God must become your Source!

Yes, I am a firm believer in the principles on which this nation is founded, and I believe that we will prevail in the struggle of freedom versus terrorism, good versus evil. However, there is something far greater in which I place my trust—God's Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Victory is mine, in this life and in the life to come, because I have claimed what is rightfully mine.

The apostle Paul asked, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:35,37).

I have written this book because I want you to declare, affirm, and embrace every promise the Father has given to you. I also want you to learn:

■    Your source of true freedom.

■    How I almost lost—but then found—my spiritual inheritance.

■    God's principles of harvest.

■    How your seed can multiply.

■    The secret of turning a mess into a miracle.

■    How to receive your double portion.

■    Why you must demand what is yours.

■    How to claim an account that is paid in full.

■    Surefire steps to victory.

With the psalmist you, too, will be able to say, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?... Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident (Psalm 27:1,3).

May God bless you, and may God bless America!

—Richard Roberts

CHAPTER 1

How Far I Had Fallen!

It's only natural for new viewers who watch our live television program, THE HOUR OF HEALING, to assume that because I am the son of Oral Roberts, I've been active in ministry all of my life.

Far from it. Only heaven knows how close I came to losing it all—my life, my soul, my spiritual inheritance. Like the Prodigal Son, there was a time when I was not only feeding the pigs, I was wallowing in the pigpen!

My life certainly didn't start that way. Far from it. I was raised by loving, godly parents in an atmosphere where the Lord was the center of our home.

From my early years, my dad would take me to his healing crusades—mostly during the summer months. I can still remember those hot, steamy nights in Florida, Texas, California, and a host of other states. I would sit on the front row under the world's largest gospel tent, listening to my father preach. Thousands would go forward to give their lives to Christ.

In most of the services, those responding for salvation would receive my father's prayers, then be prayed with personally by local ministers. Robert DeWeese, my father's associate, would organize the healing line. He often had the entire audience fall to their knees to pray that God would perform mighty miracles.

‘Will You Help Me?'

During that time, my dad would leave the platform and go to an auxiliary tent where people who were too sick to stand in the healing line would be waiting for prayer. He called it the "invalid tent."

Even when I was only six or seven years old, my father almost always asked me to go with him to the invalid tent as he prayed for people who were desperately ill. Many times as I walked by his side he would turn to me and say, "Son, will you help me pray for this man?" Back in the huge tent, hundreds would line up when their prayer cards were called. Again, I would often stand beside my father, not realizing that I was being mentored for the healing ministry. Dad would sometimes say, "Richard, let's lay our hands on these people together." With childlike faith, I would reach out and pray for them too.

Total Exhaustion

In 1957, when I was nine, Dad pitched his tent cathedral in Trenton, New Jersey. There was a sweltering heat wave during that crusade, with temperatures soaring to over 100 degrees. And it was obviously much hotter under the tent.

It was my father's custom that if a person's prayer card had not been called during the crusade, they could be assured that during the final service he would personally pray for them.

At the final service of the Trenton crusade, when my father went to the invalid tent, Brother DeWeese announced to the ten thousand or more people, "I want you to pick up your chair and carry it to the edge of the tent." And workers began loading the chairs in the huge trucks. Meanwhile, Collins Steele, our longtime crusade manager, tied string between the tent poles to help organize the extremely long prayer lines.

That blistering hot, muggy day in Trenton, my dad walked down those lines and began laying hands on every person. I was right beside him, step-by-step, for the next several hours. He must have personally prayed for more than five thousand people.

When the service was over, my father was so exhausted he could no longer walk. He had to be carried to the car. His associates took off his coat and wrung it out like a washcloth!

I can remember events such as this as if they had happened yesterday. Even at that young age, I realized that my father was paying a toll in his own body to fulfill God's calling on his life. What I saw and heard made an indelible impression and became part of my heritage.

I Bristled!

By the time I was twelve I began to have big dreams about my future. I wanted to be a professional golfer like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, or Arnold Palmer. I would spend days on the local courses and hours practicing my chip shots and putting.

There was another goal that also surfaced about this time. I was convinced that I could become a singer, and I could see myself entertaining large crowds of people.

Just after I turned thirteen, my father must have realized that I had some vocal talent. On our way to a crusade in Roanoke, Virginia, he said, "Richard, I'd really like for you to sing in the crusade tonight."

After all of my years growing up around a healing ministry, I should have been thrilled at such an invitation. But my reaction startled him—and shocked me. I bristled and defiantly said, "No! I don't want to do that!"

For the first time in my life, I refused a request of my father.

Here was my problem. Dad wanted me to use my singing ability for the Lord, and that was totally opposite to what I had in mind. You see, I was learning to play the guitar, and I could see myself performing in nightclubs.

It was the beginning of my rebellion.

The Struggle

Inside, there was an enormous struggle taking place. I realized that in order to please my parents I would have to make a commitment of my life to Christ. I simply wasn't ready to do that. I kept thinking, If I turn my future over to Jesus, it will wreck my plans. My future will be ruined.

I felt that if I got saved, I'd have to walk around with a permanent frown and look like I'd been eating sauerkraut! I thought of most Christians as being miserable, driving around in a rattletrap car with the sign of a fish (a Christian symbol) on the trunk. I didn't want that to be me!

I also justified my decision because of the way I had seen my father treated. I dearly loved my dad, and I hated the way he had been slandered and maligned by the media. More than once I heard stories about my father which I knew were not true. I remember a so-called expose in Life magazine which was riddled with lies. Yet I knew my father was a man of integrity.

I also saw what some people who called themselves Christians said and did. I was not ready for a relationship with God if it was going to result in criticism, stress, and pressure on my life.

Let's face it, being the son of an internationally known evangelist was often a bumpy road. At the public school I attended kids would sometimes have a field day with me. For example, in the hall between classes one boy would put his hands over my eyes while his friend yelled, "Heal! Heal!" Students would break into laughter, sometimes joined by the teachers.

In my heart, I knew my father's motives were right when he asked me to use my voice for the Lord. He believed I could sing, and he thought it would be a blessing to the people. The problem was with me!

In high school my world-centered dreams turned to reality. By the time I was a junior, I was a member of a popular local rock band, playing at dances and parties in an ever-widening circle.

An Unexpected Scholarship

You can only imagine the tension in our home because of the path I had chosen. One of the few things I did that pleased my parents was my playing the lead in the musical, The Sound of Music, during my senior year of high school.

This was also the time when Oral Roberts University first opened its doors. I stayed as far away from the campus as possible, but there was one event my father insisted that I attend. Joseph Maddy, the founder of the famed Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, brought a performing group to the campus. It was a much-publicized concert. Dad introduced me to Mr. Maddy, and he asked that I sing for him. To my amazement, I was offered a music camp scholarship on the spot—for that very summer, 1966.

What an experience! Interlochen is one of the premier camps in the world for instrumentalists and vocalists, musicians, singers, dancers, actors, artists, and writers, and I was overwhelmed! I sang in the various choirs and landed the male lead in the camp's production of Annie Get Your Gun. The staff and fellow campers took me seriously, and there was very little reference to my being the son of a famous evangelist.

The Golf Game

Even with my independent, stubborn nature, most people expected me to enroll at ORU as a freshman that fall. Obviously, they didn't know me! I applied to North Texas State University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Kansas. I was accepted at all three, but I chose to go to Kansas because it was the farthest away from Tulsa. To say that I was not living for the Lord is an understatement. I wanted all that the world could offer!

During a break in classes one semester, I went home for a short stay. My father and I had become somewhat estranged, but we decided to play golf together—something I always loved to do.

We have always had a mutual respect for each other— especially in golf—and it was like old times. We found ourselves laughing, and the pressure seemed to subside. It was a rejuvenation between father and son.

About halfway through the game, Dad began telling me about an event that was scheduled at ORU. He said, "Son, I'd really like for you to sing at it."

Well, I instantly flew into a rage. And I yelled, "You're going to have to get the hell out of my life!" Then I went even further. I said, "And don't ever mention God to me again!"

Little did I realize that that was exactly what my dad was trying to do—get the hell out of my life!

My father looked at me, his eyes filled with sadness, and said, "Richard, I'll never mention God or singing to you again unless you ask me to."

Feeding Swine

Oh, how far I had fallen! In my search for a place in this world, I had become like the Prodigal Son Jesus talked about.

He told the story of a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father,

Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him (Luke 15:12-16).

That was me—wasting my substance with reckless living.

I went back to Kansas, thinking, I know that my father is a man of his word. If he said he wouldn't mention God or singing for the Lord again, I believe him.

What Now?

During my second semester of college I began to have recurring stomach problems—highly unusual for me. Other than having the flu as a child or catching an occasional cold, I had very few sick days in my life.

I went to the campus physician and was immediately admitted to the hospital at the University of Kansas Medical Center. After a series of examinations, I was told, "You are going to require colon surgery."

It was beyond my thinking that an 18-year-old college freshman could need colon surgery. Life was just starting for me. There I was, in a ward with six or seven men, when the doctor came to my bedside and said, "We are going to transfer you to our hospital in Kansas City. That's where we will do the procedure."

I was terrified.

What now? I was raised in an atmosphere of healing, but would God be willing to listen to Richard Roberts? Should I tell my parents the severity of my condition?

Should I ask my father to pray for me?

CHAPTER 2

The Homecoming!

On that hospital bed in Lawrence, Kansas, I felt hopelessly alone. My mother and dad were in another state, I didn't want to trouble my college friends, and I had severed my personal relationship with the Lord.

Staring up at the ceiling, I summoned the courage to utter these words: "Lord, if You will heal me, I will serve You."

I knew that if God was going to do His part, I had to offer something in return.

'Good News!'

Suddenly, I felt the power of God surge through my body. It was exactly what I had experienced many times as a boy when my dad would pray for me. I recalled those moments when I'd had a fever and my father had laid his hands on my forehead. It was that same jolt of divine energy.

When the doctor came back to the ward, I said, "Sir, I'd like you to reexamine me to make sure I really need this surgery."

The new test results were surprising. "Good news! We don't see the same problem with your colon," announced the physician. "We don't know what happened, but you won't require an operation. The condition has cleared itself. We're going to release you from the hospital."

Obviously, God had honored His part of my prayer. But would I keep mine?

I Heard a Voice

Within days of returning to campus, I reverted to my old habits. Too little studying, too much carousing—and I conveniently forgot my promise to God.

A few weeks later, while taking a nap in my dorm room between classes,

I was awakened by a voice—an audible voice— that said, "You are in the wrong place."

I thought it was my roommate telling me I had fallen asleep on his bed and he needed me to move. But that wasn't the case. There was no one else in the room.

A few moments later I heard the same voice again, repeating, "You are in the wrong place."

This was weird! I stood up and glanced around the room. No one was there. I even looked in the closet and under the bed, just to make sure, all the time wondering, Where is this voice coming from? Surely it must be some of my friends playing a trick on me. I opened the door and looked down the ninth-floor hallway. Not a soul was in sight.

As I sat down on the bed, I heard the same words for the third time: "You are in the wrong place."

My Destiny

By now I was aware that it was the voice of the Lord, and I blurted out, "If this is the wrong place, then where is the right place?"—afraid of what I would hear.

As clearly as anything I had ever heard, the Holy Spirit said to me, "You are supposed to be at Oral Roberts University. That's where your destiny is."

In that instant I was both stunned and disappointed, because I knew what would happen if I returned to Tulsa. I would never be a professional athlete or a professional singer.

Here's what I did realize. I knew that if I transferred to ORU, I would probably get saved, and God would call me into the ministry. I wasn't thinking about how my life would be dramatically changed for the better. I thought it would be permanently ruined!

I could see myself burdened by the pressure my father constantly endured, and I wanted no part of it. Still, I had to admit that the Lord had performed a miracle in my life, and I remembered my vow: "Lord, if You will heal me, I will serve You."

Mother's Wisdom

My hand trembled as I picked up the telephone to call my mother. Without telling her any of the details of how the Lord had been dealing with me, I asked a question that must have shocked her. "Mother, do you think it would be possible for me to be a student at ORU next year?"

She was quiet for a moment. Then, in her wise way, she answered, "Richard, I don't know if the University would accept you. After all, you have all kinds of habits that are prohibited at ORU. You are smoking, you are drinking, and doing a lot of other things which are wrong. I really don't know if they will allow you to enroll."

Mother didn't claim to be a psychologist, but what she said hit me at the core. "Mother, I can change," I told her. "I really can!

She put the ball in my court.

"Richard, you know the director of admissions. You'd better give him a call and talk to him yourself."

That's exactly what I did. And a short while later I received the news that I had been accepted at ORU for the fall semester of 1967.

One Last Fling

While completing the spring semester at the University of Kansas, I auditioned for the Kansas City Starlight Theatre— the popular 8,000-seat outdoor venue. If I was accepted, I would be one of approximately fourteen to be chosen as members of the chorus. Most of the spots for singers and dancers were locked up, but somehow I made the cut for the 77-show summer production schedule.

I rented an apartment and lived like the devil all summer. After the shows my friends and I would hit the bars until one or two in the morning.

Knowing the radical lifestyle adjustment I'd have to make at ORU in the fall, I lived on the edge. I kept telling myself,

Enjoy it, Richard. This is your last time in the pigsty!

Playing a Game

I knew campus life would be different at a Christian college, yet I really wasn't prepared for the culture shock I experienced at ORU. At Kansas there were virtually no rules, and now I was faced with regulations, an honor code, and a lifestyle I wasn't used to.

I was wearing a shirt and tie to class and attending required chapel services. I had to give my word that I would not smoke, drink, or be involved in anything that was illegal or immoral. That was really tough on me.

I said to myself, Okay, I'll play the game. I decided I would tone down my lifestyle, but I wouldn't change it. I'll obey the Lord and finish my education at ORU, I thought. Then I will do whatever I want.

Reported to the Dean

My deceitful actions didn't fool anyone. Living in the dorms at ORU, if you sneak out to smoke or drink, you can't hide it from other students. The smell lingers on you. So the word about my activities quickly spread through the campus grapevine.

I hadn't been at ORU two weeks before the dean of men called me into his office because of reports he had heard concerning my behavior—all of which were true. In fact, I was turned in by one of my best friends, whom I had known most of my life!

The administrators told me, "Richard, this is unacceptable conduct at ORU." However, instead of throwing me out, they treated me with love and compassion. I was disciplined, but it was accompanied by a heavy dose of mercy.

I learned that some students had formed a prayer group just for me. More than once, as I walked across campus I'd stop to talk with classmates who said, "Richard, we've been praying for you!"

It got to me.

During my junior year, I was at a crossroads. I had figured out how to break the rules without being caught, yet I could hardly live with myself. Inside I felt unclean and conscience-stricken that I was living such a lie.

I Knew She Was Right

It was on a Sunday afternoon that I drove to my parents' house. Mother was there alone. Dad was preaching a crusade in California.

I walked into her bedroom, and we began to talk. At one point she said, "Richard, I need to tell you this. You will never be fulfilled until you receive Christ as your Savior."

My mother had spoken those words to me before, yet I had never really heard them. Now, however, I knew she was right.

I was almost twenty years old; yet, like a child, I put my head on her lap and she led me in the sinner's prayer. Tears began streaming down my cheeks, and I felt the weight of the world lifting from my shoulders.

For the first time in my life I was crying, rejoicing, and praising God from the depths of my soul. In that moment, my life was transformed.

"We've got to call Dad!" I jubilantly exclaimed.

Mother couldn't dial the number fast enough. It was early afternoon California time, and he was getting ready for the closing Sunday crusade service.

When he came to the phone, I said, "Dad, I've just given my life to the Lord, and it's going to be all right!"

He was crying. I was crying. Mother was crying.

Oh, what a marvelous day that was! And when Dad got home, our relationship was totally restored.

Alive Again!

That was the day I "came to myself" and turned my life over to the Lord.

The same thing happened to the Prodigal Son. Jesus said,

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry (Luke 15:17-24).

I experienced that same rejoicing.

The Word Spread

When I arrived back on campus, I was shouting for joy. "You will never believe what happened to me this afternoon," I told some of my friends.

"I gave my life to the Lord. I got saved!"

ORU was rather small in those days—only six or seven hundred students, and they all knew each other. Well, the word spread like a prairie fire. "Oral's son got saved!"

Across the hall in my dorm a group of guys had a prayer meeting at least two nights a week, and they had invited me to join them many times. I always concocted an excuse and stayed away.

But this night, I was anxious to be there. When I walked in, they were all speaking in tongues. "What in the world's going on here?" I asked, knowing full well what was happening. I had heard my parents pray in tongues all of my life.

"We're praying in the Spirit," answered one of the students. "Would you like to join us?"

Five minutes later I was gloriously baptized in the Holy Spirit, and I have been praying in tongues ever since.

Think of it. Saved and baptized in the Spirit on the same day! Hallelujah!

A Clean Slate

Beginning that day, I knew God was going to use me in ministry. I didn't know when or how, but I was ready. I was forgiven. The slate had been wiped clean, and I was anxious for a new life.

When I finished my junior year at ORU, I joined my father's ministry full-time. It was the year he went back on prime-time television, and he asked me to be part of a musical group—the ORU Collegians, which later became the World Action Singers.

Soon I was giving my testimony and preaching, and the doors of ministry have never closed.

Richard, the prodigal, had come home.

CHAPTER 3

Dare To Believe!

Just because I was born into a family where Christ was honored and faith was practiced didn't make me a Christian. If I had continued on my stubborn path, I never would have received the spiritual inheritance God had planned for me.

The blessings of heaven are not the result of wishes, hopes, or desires. You can claim them only by believing!

Regardless of the marvelous gifts the Lord has waiting for you, He will never force you to accept them. Why? Because He created you a free moral agent with the power to choose— the power to believe.

The Word declares, Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

What follows faith and belief? Read that verse once more and the answer will be clear: rewards. God has gifts prepared for you that defy imagination.

Your View of God

Many say, "Yes, I know there is a God. He is somewhere up in heaven in His long white robe watching me. He has a big stick, and He is waiting for me to make a mistake so He can zap me with it."

That's how I once thought of the Creator: as a stern judge and taskmaster. Then after my conversion, I began to read about God's Son, who was filled with love and mercy and had healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2).

I also read the words of Jesus in John 14:9: He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.

That was it! God is like Jesus—merciful, kind, and loving. Plus, He is a giving God to those who diligently seek Him.

If we do our part—believe and seek Him—He will do His part. Reward us!

My Turnaround

When I gave my life to the Lord, it was more than simply turning over a new leaf. I believed that Jesus was the Son of God who had forgiven me and cleansed my heart.

After running from the Lord for years, I finally submitted myself to His authority. And the selfish dreams that I harbored of singing in Las Vegas or playing on the PGA circuit suddenly dissipated. God erased those desires from my heart and replaced them with something far greater—even though it took years for my new dreams to be fulfilled. In the process, I made my share of mistakes and journeyed through much pain, hurt, and suffering.

A Drastic Change

What is the first step to receiving your inheritance? Repentance. The Prodigal Son made a decision to turn his life around. In the midst of his sin, he came to himself and declared, I will arise and go to ' my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee (Luke 15:18).

Repentance begins when you change your mind so God can change your heart!

Millions have fallen into a great trap because they attempt to rule and reign with their minds, while God has created us to be led by His Spirit.

Adam and Eve lost it all because they allowed their thinking to take control. God gave them a command: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:16,17).

Satan came along and lied, saying, "You're not going to die. You will be like God!" And the devil is still perpetuating that same deceit today. Repent and say, "I'm going back to my Father!"

That is exactly what I did.

Pushed and Pulled

People are surprised to learn that it was eleven years after my conversion that God called me to preach the Gospel and enter the healing ministry.

During those years of spiritual growth, I was being pushed, pulled, and prompted by many well-meaning people. They felt that since my father was a healing evangelist and I was now saved, I should start preaching immediately.

They would just shake their heads when I told them, "But that is not what God has spoken to me." Although I loved my father, I did not want to follow in his footsteps. I desired to follow in Jesus' footsteps.

It was only when I knew that I had been called by God that I stepped out into a healing ministry. He touched me, yet I still had to choose to follow His leading.

The Choice

In life, we receive what we decide, and we are never free enough to escape our choices. However, our decisions must reflect responsibility, integrity, and character. Remember, without holiness...no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

I did not know that I would someday become President of the University I once ran from. It happened because I made a choice—I chose God's path.

Joshua said, Choose you this day whom ye will serve (Joshua 24:15). Moses asked, Who is on the Lord's side? (Exodus 32:26).

The best news of all is that God has selected you to become part of His divine family. Jesus declared, I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit (John 15:16).

Don't Give Up!

My heart breaks for those who come close to receiving God's blessing, then back away. If they only knew that the giver of all good things was within reach.

Read these words aloud and repeat them again and again: Don't give up on God. He has not given up on me.

I'm sure you recall the story of Judas, a disciple of Jesus who betrayed the Master for money. The Bible records, Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14,15).

Later, when Judas realized what he had done, he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5).

In my mind's eye I can see Judas as he climbed out on a tree limb and placed the noose around his neck, preparing to jump to his death.

Across the city of Jerusalem, at Calvary, I can almost hear Jesus pleading from the Cross, "Please, Judas, don't take your life!"

What a day it would have been if Judas had climbed down from the tree and had run to Calvary. I can see him throwing his arms around the feet of Jesus, crying, "Lord, I am sorry. I didn't mean to do it! Please forgive me!"

How do you think Jesus would have responded? Would Christ have forgiven Judas? The Bible says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

I have no way of proving it, but in my heart I believe if that had happened there would have been five Gospels— Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the book of Judas—the gospel of a second chance. But that is not what took place.

'Don't Worry, Lord'

Contrast that story with Peter, who told Jesus, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended (Matthew 26:33).

Jesus said to His beloved disciple,

Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice (v. 34).

Peter replied, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee (v. 35).

He was telling the Lord, "Don't worry. Even if everyone else fails You, I won't."

However, as Jesus was being interrogated and Peter was warming his hands by the fire, a woman approached him, asking, "Were you not with Jesus?"

Peter responded, I know not what thou sayest (v. 70).

A second person walked forward and said to all who were present, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he [Peter] denied with an oath, I do not know the man (vv. 71,72).

Those who were standing around said, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee (v. 73).

They identified Peter as one of the disciples by his Galilean accent. Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew (v. 74).

Instantly Peter remembered the words of Jesus: Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly (v. 75).

Following Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, the disciples were once again with the Lord. He looked at them and said, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you (John 20:21).

Jesus could have looked at Peter and said, "I knew I could not trust you. I knew you would let Me down."

No, it was a look of forgiveness. Peter had repented—he believed. The Lord not only forgave him, but He thrust Peter into a great ministry.

Starting Over

Perhaps you are much like Peter and are in desperate need of a fresh start. Let me tell you from personal experience that you can receive forgiveness and have a new beginning.

At a time when my life had fallen apart, God brought me a great deliverance, and I discovered just how concerned the Lord was for me. I also realized that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). What He did in the life of Peter, He could also do in mine.

I read the account where they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them (Acts 5:15). The Bible says that when this happened, those who were sick and others with unclean spirits were healed every one (v. 16).

If this could happen in the ministry of someone who had once denied the Lord, just think what He can do in your life.

Don't give up on God. He has not given up on you.

CHAPTER 4

Pour It In—Pour It Out!

When Jesus was about thirty years old and preparing to launch His ministry, He was invited, along with His mother and the disciples, to a wedding at Cana, a village in the district of Galilee. Cana was only a few miles north of Jesus' hometown of Nazareth.

Most of the friends at the wedding knew there was something different about Jesus. They had heard the stories about His birth and of how the wise men had followed the star to Bethlehem. I'm sure they discussed the time that Herod ordered the killing of every baby boy under the age of two. That's when Mary, Joseph, and their little son fled to Egypt before finally settling in Nazareth.

These people also knew the Prophetic Scripture which foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and that the coming King would be a Nazarite (see Micah 5:2 and Judges 13:5).

They were watching Jesus closely. And here He was, a guest at the gala wedding feast.

During the celebration something unforeseen happened.

The manager of the banquet was embarrassed when he discovered there was no more wine. For that to happen at a Jewish wedding was not a good sign as people would think,

This marriage is off to a bad start!

'Do It!'

Mary, the mother of Jesus, heard what was taking place. She went over to her Son and said, They have no wine (John 2:3).

I can see Him with His arms folded, saying, "Mother, what does that have to do with Me?" Scripture records that He told her, My time (hour to act) has not yet come (v. 4 AMP).

"Oh, yes, it has, Son," she most likely told Him. "Whenever there is a need, it is Your hour."

Mary informed the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it (v. 5).

There were six waterpots of stone standing there, as the Jewish custom of purification (ceremonial washing) demanded, holding twenty to thirty gallons apiece (v. 6 AMP).

Filled to the Brim

Jesus said, "Tell them to fill those pots with water."

"With water?" the servants probably answered. "Nobody wants to drink water. It's not water we are out of—it is wine!"

Jesus asked them to do what He requested, And they filled them up to the brim (v. 7).

Then He said, Draw some out now and take it to the manager of the feast [to the one presiding, the superintendent of the banquet]. So they took him some (v. 8 AMP).

First, Jesus told them, "Pour it in!" Then He said, "Pour it out!" Here, at the beginning of His ministry on earth, the Lord  was establishing this Seed-Faith principle:

■ Plant your seed and expect a miracle.

■ Sow your crop and expect a harvest.

■ Give unto God and believe that He will multiply it back.

When the servants poured out the water, they noticed it wasn't clear. You couldn't see through it. It was dark. Somebody ran over and grabbed a cup and said, "I'd better check this out." Surely there was an official taster. He must have tasted a sample and said, "I watched the servants pour water into those pots, and this is not water. It's wine! It's amazing!"

A cup of the wine was taken to the director of the banquet.

And when the manager tasted the water just now turned to wine, not knowing where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew—he called the bridegroom and said to him, Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now! (vv. 9,10 amp).

The Beginning

This was the first recorded miracle of Jesus in Scripture. It was not the healing of a blind man or the deliverance of someone possessed of a demon. It was a miracle of Seed-Faith—pouring in water and pouring out wine.

Scripture records, This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him (v. 11).

The word beginning means that Jesus commenced something He meant to continue.

The Lord's miracles in your life can multiply when you make Him your Source and when you plant seed on a continual basis, not just when you face a crisis or find yourself in trouble.

Jesus called the marvelous things that were beginning to take place in His ministry "the works of My Father." He did not call them miracles. To Him they were normal and expected. Jesus declared, If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not (John 10:37).

Ending the Curse

It is significant that the first miracle God performed through Moses in the Old Testament was to turn water into blood, a symbol of the death and destruction that would befall the Egyptians.

Pharaoh was standing on the banks of the Nile when Moses told him the Lord was saying, "Let My people go."

When the king refused, Moses did as God commanded.

He lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood (Exodus 7:20).

Centuries later, at the wedding feast, Jesus did not turn water into blood, but into wine, which represents new life.

The Old Testament ends with a curse. In the last verse of the final chapter it says, And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6).

How does the New Testament begin? With the birth of a Savior and the promise of redemption. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

'I Don't Understand!'

A virgin giving birth to God's Son was a supernatural miracle. A miracle is the supernatural intervention of God, something that cannot be explained away. Unbelievers attempt to rationalize it, yet they can't. Why? Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7).

There is only one way to receive God's supernatural blessing. You must believe with your heart and obey what the Lord says.

You may ask, "What if I don't understand?"

Do you think the helpers at the wedding feast understood when Jesus asked them to fill up the waterpots? No. They were instructed only to obey.

The Word tells us, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

It's not sacrifice that is honored by the Almighty; it is obedience. The prophet Samuel declared, Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (I Samuel 15:22).

Remember, the cause of the first murder in recorded history concerned obedience. Cain killed his brother because Abel's offering pleased God and Cain's did not. (See Hebrews 11:4.)

Start Pouring!

Before you can share God's abundance with the world, you need to make certain your vessel is filled. Here are three necessary ingredients:

1. Pour in obedience.

If you plan to receive your Father's rewards, you need to follow His rules.

In the Old Testament, because of what the Amalekites did to Israel, God spoke through the prophet Samuel and told Saul to slay all the Amalekites, including King Agag and all of their animals.

Saul followed almost every order of the prophet, except that he left the animals and the king alive. Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs (I Samuel 15:9).

He went back into town and told Samuel, "I've done everything the Lord commanded."

Samuel replied, "If that is true, why do I hear the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, and why is King Agag still here?"

The Lord spoke to Samuel, saying, I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands (I Samuel 15:11 AMP).

What did the prophet do? He took out his sword and finished the job. Scripture says, Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal (I Samuel 15:33).

God's command must be obeyed.

2. Pour in salvation.

Several years ago, Charles Coleman was on death row in the state penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma. The convicted criminal was waiting for his execution date.

The warden allowed him to have a television set in his cell, and one day he watched our program. He listened intently as I told the viewers, "If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I want you to repeat the sinner's prayer after me."

Charles reached out his hand and touched the television set. He repeated those words from the depths of his heart and was born again.

When news reached us of his marvelous conversion, the warden allowed us to conduct a video interview with the inmate. Prison officials told us, "Charles is a totally changed individual. The transformation has been amazing."

After Charles Coleman told us his story, we asked, "What happens now? What if the governor does not stay your execution and you are put to death?"

He smiled and answered, "I'll be in heaven. I will be with Jesus." Charles eventually paid the ultimate penalty for his crime; yet, because salvation was poured in, heaven was poured out. The apostle Paul declared, To be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:8).

Charles said, "No matter what happens, I can't lose either way."

3. Pour in the Word.

Several times I have been asked,

"Richard, do you memorize Scriptures?"

"No," I respond, "I don't memorize them. I simply study the verses and say them out loud. And the more I speak the Word, the more it penetrates my spirit and becomes part of me."

Then, when I face a problem or a difficult situation, Scripture comes pouring out. Why? Because I poured it in!

Sometimes after a service or a television program, we will be on our way home, and Lindsay will say, "Did you hear what you said?"

"What do you mean?" I'll ask.

When she tells me, I often say, "I didn't say that!"

"Well, I'll play the tape for you!" Lindsay replies.

Sure enough, under the Spirit's direction, words flow out of me that are not of my own choosing or planning. God uses me to plant a kernel of truth into someone's life.

'How Terrible!'

The critics of Seed-Faith and miracles have arrived too late. I have seen too many people healed, and I have been healed myself! In fact, I wouldn't even be writing this book if my own father had not been miraculously healed of tuberculosis at the age of seventeen.

Talk about criticism! Can you imagine what it was like several years ago when, in the midst of a ministry financial crisis, a racetrack owner from Florida brought my father a check for $1.3 million?

The holier-than-thou nitpickers came out of the woodwork. "You took that money from a racetrack owner who races dogs! How terrible!"

Well, they forgot the fact that when the children of Israel were about to leave Egypt, God told Moses to take worldly possessions. The Israelites did according to the word of Moses; and they [urgently] asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver and of gold, and clothing ' (Exodus 12:35 amp).

What did Moses do with the gold? He built a tabernacle in the wilderness with the riches of Pharaoh!

He Didn't Refuse

The complainers also overlooked Mary Magdalene, the demon-possessed woman who was delivered by Jesus. Many Bible historians believe that she was a prostitute before her life was transformed by Christ. Then she became part of a group of several women who ministered unto him of their substance (Luke 8:3).

Did Jesus say, "I know where that money came from, and I don't want any part of it"? No. He gratefully received the gifts.

The critics also forgot about Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward. She had been part of perhaps the most decadent society in world history—the Roman Empire. She, too, gave money to help further Jesus' ministry (see Luke 8:3). He didn't refuse to accept it.

It Belongs to Him

When the dogtrack owner came to the Prayer Tower to present the check, my father asked, "Did God tell you to do this?"

The gentleman said, "I don't know about that. I am not a church person.

All I know is that the devil didn't tell me to do it!"

My father took the man's hand and led him in the sinner's prayer.

You see, money has no character of its own. It's just a means of goods and services. The character is in the person who possesses the resources.

It is God who is preparing your inheritance, and every dollar belongs to Him.

What a Celebration!

It is notable that Jesus' first miracle concerned giving and receiving.

If people want to think that God doesn't multiply seeds that are sown, fine. I know better. I've seen enough Seed-Faith miracles to last a lifetime, and we're just getting started!

As a believer, I have access to the unlimited riches of heaven.

■    My God owns the cattle upon a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). And all the land under the cattle is His!

■    Not one speck of this earth belongs to the devil. The psalmist wrote, The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24:1).

■    God owns all the precious metals. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts (Haggai 2:8).

If anyone has a right to sow seeds and expect a miracle, it is you and me! I don't live by what is written in The New York Times, the Tulsa World, or The Jerusalem Post. I am guided by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

At this very moment, the Lord is preparing the greatest wedding feast of all—the marriage supper of the Lamb. What a celebration that will be!

CHAPTER 5

A Miracle That Multiplies

One of the great stories in the Old Testament concerns the prophet Elijah when God sent him to a brook called Cherith.

God told him, And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there (I Kings 17:4).

Elijah followed the Lord's direction, and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook (v. 6).

What an amazing thing! Who could imagine a raven bringing food to anyone? After all, ravens are meat-eating scavengers. These birds are takers, not givers! It is totally against their nature to take food to another creature.

Yet that's how God works. When we are obedient to Him, He can change the nature of others to help meet our need.

After a while, however, the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land (v. 7).

God could have easily refilled the stream and sent new ravens with food. Instead, He sent Elijah to a town called Zarephath and said, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee (I Kings 17:9).

Gathering Sticks

This was a time of great famine, and the last person you would have expected God to call on to feed His prophet would have been a poor widow. Can you envision that happening today? The headlines would probably read, "Prophet Takes Widow's Last Meal! Condemns Her to Death With Her Son!"

When Elijah reached Zarephath, he saw the woman and asked, "What are you doing?"

She replied, "I'm gathering sticks to build a fire."

The prophet said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.... [And] bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die (I Kings 17:10-12).

The First Part

What a hopeless situation! This was the last supper for the widow and her son. Death was imminent!

I don't know about you, but I get hungry quite regularly— several times a day. This woman didn't need just one breakfast or lunch; she needed her life to be sustained until the rains drenched the land and those in the village could sow into the ground again.

Elijah said to the widow, "Cook the meal, but give the first part to me."

Critics today would say, "That sounds just like a preacher! What nerve to ask for something first!"

What Does God Need?

Here's the important message most people never understand: God needs something to multiply.

If you give God nothing and He multiplies it, you still have nothing! Zero times zero equals zero.

Elijah said to the widow, Fear not...make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth (I Kings 17:13,14).

The woman did exactly what the prophet asked, and she and her son did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah (vv. 15,16). What a miracle!

Did the drought occur because the prophet had done something wrong? I don't think so. I believe it was because the woman's lesson in obedience was also a message to the nation of Israel and for the body of Christ thousands of years later.

Digging Holes!

Some people say, "What happened to Elijah doesn't occur today. It's a fairy tale!" Let me assure you that miracles still take place.

There have been times in the development of Oral Roberts University when we have broken ground for a large building.

My dad has always been a great one for digging holes for building projects! There was often nothing to put in it, but we moved the dirt!

In 1971, when we broke ground for what is now the Mabee Center, it was to be an $11 million building. It is hard to estimate what it would cost to construct that same building today.

We had absolutely no money to start the project. A group of men sat around a table and joined hands in prayer for the giant undertaking. Then they emptied their wallets on the table and totaled it up—a little more than $200.

That doesn't sound like much when you are launching an $11 million building project, but it was good enough to begin digging a hole!

Then God began to multiply that seed. Three years later the Mabee Center was complete, and within five years the mortgage on that building was totally paid. Why? Because God's Word is true!

The prophet Elijah said, "Give me the first part—not the last."

Don't reach down to the bottom and give the tenth dollar. Give it from the top. Present God your best, then ask for His best!

If you give the Lord what is second or third, that's exactly what you will receive in return.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:7, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Expect It!

When you step out in faith, you must believe that something is going to happen.

For example, when you turn the key in the ignition of your car, do you say, "I wonder if this thing is going to start?" No. You put your seatbelt on and get ready to move. You expect the engine to start. You have planned your entire day's schedule because you believe in your automobile!

When you give to God, don't hope He will multiply it back to you. Expect it!

In the Old Testament, when people heard the phrase, "Thus saith the Lord," they knew the prophet of God meant business. That's what Elijah said to the widow. Today we say, "In the Name of Jesus," and the results are the same.

When you sow your seed, declare, "God, I'm doing this in the Name of Jesus. Don't let my meal barrel diminish. Don't allow my cruse of oil to fail."

An Eternal Principle

The widow not only cooked what she had, but whenever she became hungry there was enough for the next meal, and the next, and the next. It has been estimated that the woman prepared one thousand meals from those meager ingredients!

When the widow gave to the prophet, an eternal principle went into effect. In the New Testament, Jesus said, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.... For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again (Luke 6:38).

The good news is that God is no respecter of persons. What He did for the widow, He will do for you.

Never become weary of planting your seed. There are more windows of heaven to be opened. There are more lives to be reached for Christ.

Something Grand!

Jesus asked, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth (Mark 4:30,31).

You may say, "I don't have much to give. My resources are so limited."

Let me encourage you. What you sow grows into something great, something grand! Jesus said that when that tiny mustard seed is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it (Mark 4:32).

Remember, your seed doesn't grow down—it grows up!

Spirit, Mind, and Body

It's God's plan for you to arise! Just as a seed sprouts from the ground, He wants your spirit, mind, and body also to become active and alive.

Jesus went to the Pool of Bethesda one day, and there was a man there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. There was a certain time when an angel would appear and the water was stirred. Whoever stepped into the water first would be healed (see John 5:2-4).

The Lord approached the man and asked, Wilt thou be made whole? (v. 6).

The man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me (v. 7).

He was certainly right when he said, "I have no man." It takes more than people to bring healing. I've preached all over the world and have seen people bound by voodoo, sorcery, and all kinds of demonic activity. These forces produce only misery and distress.

Jesus spoke life to the man. He said, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked (John 5:8,9).

When Jesus commanded, "Rise," He spoke to the man's spirit. The seed within the man instantly began to grow. It was as if the Lord had said, "Sir, your spirit has been depressed. Stand up on the inside. Let your spirit arise!"

Then Jesus spoke to the man's mind, declaring, "Take up your bed." He was saying, "That bed has carried you for thirty-eight years. Now it's time for you to carry the bed!"

Then the Lord spoke to the man's body, telling him, "Walk!"

Praise God, the man was healed in spirit, mind, and body!

It Works!

Since my salvation, one of the greatest things I have learned is how to make my life a seed.

Although it goes against the laws of today's economy, God's principle is true: What you sow you will reap. The Word declares, While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest... shall not cease (Genesis 8:22 amp).

Present-day pundits say, "What goes up must come down." The Lord's economic system is the exact opposite. According to God's laws, what goes down—what you sow— must come up!

I not only believe in the concept, I have proven it over and over again. As I write this book, I continue to stake my life on the principle of Seed-Faith.

The Stranglehold

When I became the President of Oral Roberts University, I made a startling discovery. I was shocked to learn that as the financial pressures had mounted, someone on our staff had made the decision to stop our corporate tithing. It was something that neither my father nor I was aware of.

The moment I learned that our giving to God's work had stopped, it dawned on me why we were at a standstill in paying off the University's debt.

What happened with the University has happened in the homes of many Christians. When hard times hit, they stop giving to God. They say, "I can't afford to tithe!"

That is a dangerous mistake. Why? Because it allows satan to get a deadly stranglehold on your finances.

The moment I made the unsettling discovery, I called members of our staff together, and we repented before God for neglecting Him in our giving. Falling to our knees, several hundred of us made a vow to God, saying, "We are going to tithe 10 percent of every dollar that comes into this ministry, no matter how much it hurts."

'You'll Go Under!'

You should have been there when our bankers heard the decision. "That doesn't make sense," they argued. "You owe $52 million. And some of that is to us!" They added, "You'll go under!"

I didn't flinch. I believed with all of my heart that if we were going to go under, we would go under in a blaze of giving to God.

That same month we began sowing our seed—10 percent of every dollar that passed through the hands of our ministry.

We began giving to Christian missionaries, Christian medical projects, Christian education, and to churches and other ministries in Oklahoma and around the world.

Those who didn't understand just scratched their heads. I didn't care what anyone thought, because my great desire was for God to "rebuke the devourer" for ORU's sake (see Malachi 3:11).

Sowing Bountifully

God's Word is abundantly clear. It says, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes (Malachi 3:10,11).

By practicing Seed-Faith giving we have already paid off half of the University's debt. It is the concept that is at the heart of everything we do, and I believe it will produce hundreds of millions of dollars in endowment funds to secure the University's future and the ministry's until Jesus comes.

Lindsay and I practice Seed-Faith giving in every area of our lives—not just financially. We give our love, our time, our prayers, our compassion, and even our smiles. Whatever we do, we plant it as a seed.

Several years ago I made the decision to help Christian television stations with their fund-raising. When I fly in for their telethons, I always arrive with a check for them. I never allow them to give me an honorarium or reimburse me for any expenses. Why? Because I know that God will greatly multiply the seed I am sowing.

You see, the Lord is obligated to watch over His Word, not my word. Scripture says, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully (II Corinthians 9:6).

Seed for the City

God is not trying to get something from you. He is trying to get something to you. However, in order to accomplish that, you must place something in His hand.

Every year ORU students participate in "We Love You Tulsa Day." Several hundred students go to a needy neighborhood and rake leaves, paint houses, clean gutters, and do other things that are a blessing to the people. Last year we gave more than $90,000 worth of food, clothing, and other materials on this special day. Our students also had the opportunity to pray for the sick and lead people to Christ. It was our seed of love to the city.

Unbelievable!

"You've got to be kidding me!" I exclaimed when our people in finance showed me a utility bill for energy costs at ORU. It was in the winter of 2000-2001.

During an average winter we had been paying about $1.5 million to heat the campus. But this bill was staggering! "At this rate it's going to cost us about $4.5 million. That's a $3 million increase," I calculated. It was unbelievable!

In this part of the country, electricity is powered by natural gas, and natural gas costs had skyrocketed.

We had set aside funds to help us through the coming summer months when income usually slows, and I could see that money quickly disappearing.

I discussed the matter with a number of advisors. One of them suggested, "It may be time to put a larger mortgage on the University. You could consolidate debt, get a lower interest rate, and spread the payments out over twenty-five or thirty years."

From a business perspective it made sense. A new loan would also give us cash to invest in future programs for ORU and have some cash reserves to pay the high energy bills.

After praying about the matter for several days, Lindsay and I came to the conclusion, "We are not going to solve this crisis the world's way. It's time . to cut this giant's head off once and for all."

No Fear!

American Indians have a phrase they use: "It's a good day to die!"

In the westward expansion of this nation, the U.S. cavalry learned the hard way that one small group of Apache Indians could hold off an entire regiment. They were among the greatest guerrilla fighters who ever lived because they weren't afraid to die.

When you give up your fear and place your total trust and faith in God, there is a knowing in your heart. You know that somehow, someway, the Lord is going to provide a miracle that would not happen under normal circumstances.

I'm not criticizing people who feel it is necessary to borrow money. In the past that's the route the University has taken. However, in this crisis, I knew that increasing our debt was not the answer.

'That's It! ’

In the natural we didn't have enough money to get through the summer of 2000. In the supernatural—well, that's another story.

We prayed and prayed about the impending matter, and God gave us a breakthrough. Lindsay said, "Richard, why don't we pay off someone else's energy bill?"

The moment she uttered those words, they resonated in my spirit. "That's it!" I shouted. "That's the answer!"

Immediately, Lindsay and I both began to think about a ministry—a shelter for battered women in Tulsa. I said, "Let's call and find out what their energy bill is. I'm sure they're being hit with rising costs just as we are."

'Trust Me!'

I dialed the number of a wonderful Christian woman who runs the shelter. "This is Richard Roberts, and I'd like to ask you a question, I said. "What have your energy bills been for the last couple of months?"

"Why do you need to know that?" she asked.

"Trust me, I have a reason for asking," I told her. "Well," she began, "we usually pay about $200 a month, but recently the bills have gone through the roof. Now it's costing us about $800 a month."

I quickly estimated that if something didn't change soon, the women's shelter would be paying thousands of dollars for energy costs during the coming year.

"We're sending you a check for $10,000 to pay your energy bills this year," I told her.

The woman almost went into shock!

Then I explained, "You see, we are sending this as a seed, because I don't know how we are going to pay our own energy costs. They are going to be $3 million more than we expected."

Instantly, the woman began to pray on the phone. Her words were powerful.

"Lord," she prayed, "I bind the devil in Jesus' Name. And I ask You to greatly multiply the seed that is being sown. Meet every need at ORU and their ministry!"

Today I can report good news. Because we did our part, God has done His!

CHAPTER 6

Inheriting a Crisis

Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel and totally giving up? You are not alone. I've felt that way, and I want to share it with you later in thischapter.

Even Elijah, one of the great Old Testament prophets, sat under a juniper tree one day and requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, 0 Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers (I Kings 19:4).

Shortly before this time, however, the prophet had been on the mountaintop, claiming a major spiritual victory.

The Showdown!

There was a contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah, the wilderness preacher, and 450 prophets of Baal. Both sides wanted to settle the question, "Who is the true God?" (See I Kings 18:19-39.)

Elijah stood before the people and asked, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word (v. 21).

Here was the test: The two sides would each take a bull, cut it into pieces, and lay it on wood—but place no fire under it. Then Elijah said, Call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God (v. 24).

The prophets of Baal tried first.

They went through their ritual of calling fire down from heaven, to no avail. After a few hours, Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked (v. 27).

The Baal worshipers cried out loud, cut themselves, and performed their incantations. Still there was no fire.

'Add Some Water! ’

I can visualize Elijah standing over to the side with his hands on his hips. "Are you through?" he asks. "Now let me show you what the true God can do!"

After the prophet repaired the altar and put on fresh meat, he ordered the men to fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time (vv. 33,34).

The Bible records that there was so much water around the altar that it filled the trenches.

Elijah walked up to the sacrifice and prayed a powerful prayer. He looked up to heaven and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word (v. 36).

The fire descended from heaven! It not only consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, but it licked up the water that was in the trenches!

When the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God (v. 39).

Running Away

After the contest, Elijah got carried away. He killed all the 450 prophets of Baal. Every one of them! (see v. 40).

When Ahab told Jezebel what had taken place, she sent a message to Elijah, telling him that within twenty-four hours he would be facing the same fate (see I Kings 19:2).

That's when Elijah ran into the desert, sat under a tree, and wished he were dead.

An angel came and ministered to the prophet, then sent him to Horeb, the mountain of God. It was there, while he was hiding in a cave, that the Lord spoke to Elijah, telling him to stand on the mountain before Him.

The Scripture says, Behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire (vv. 11,12).

After all of this, Elijah heard a still small voice telling him to stop feeling sorry for himself. It was time to come down off the mountain. God said, "Pull yourself together. I want you to go in My Name and anoint a new king in Syria and a new king in Israel" (see vv. 14-16).

God was saying, "Elijah! Hold your head up high. You are special in My sight!"

Perhaps this is you. Because of the mistakes you have made, or the pressures you face, you are hurting, confused, and unsure of tomorrow. Let me reassure you that God knows your situation, and He has a plan for your deliverance.

The Vote

On January 27, 1993, I stood before the Board of Regents of Oral Roberts University. My father had announced to the board, "At my seventy-fifth birthday I will step down. You will have to elect a new president."

As my name was placed in nomination and the vote was about to be taken, I said, "May I have a word before you vote?"

The chairman said it was okay.

"If you are voting for me to be President of ORU because I am Oral Roberts' son," I said, "I do not want to be President. However, if you're voting for me because you believe that I am God's man, then on that basis I am willing to serve."

I sat down and they voted. It was unanimous.

They put an academic robe on me, hung a large medallion around my neck, and marched me across the campus where our students, faculty, and staff were waiting for the official installation.

In front of the assembled audience, I was proclaimed the second President and Chief Executive Officer of ORU.

I was also handed a $52 million debt, and my parents moved across the country to California.

Two Heads?

"Dad," I said, "I have stood beside you since 1969. I've been your shadow. I have walked where you have walked, and now you are moving away. Thanks a lot!" I smiled.

He looked at me and laughed. "Call me if you need me," he said. "Your mother and I will be only a thousand miles away. God bless you!"

Privately, my father told me, "Richard, there can be only one head of anything, and you are now the head of this University." Then he added, "Anything with two heads is a monster."

He said, "I would be doing irreparable damage to both you and ORU if I stayed in this city. People would attempt to go around you as the new leader and come to me for decisions. It just wouldn't work."

The separation was difficult, yet it was one of the greatest things my father ever did for me.

What a Mess!

I thought I knew everything about ORU. As a teenager I had watched its construction. Even though I had run away to attend another university, I had returned to finish my education at ORU. Then I joined my father's ministry as his executive assistant and later served as executive vice president for eight years. I understood how ORU functioned —the administration, the academics, and the student life. However, nothing can prepare you to become the President of a university. Nothing. It's like someone describing the experience of parachuting out of an airplane. Until you strap a parachute on your back and physically jump out of that plane, you are never going to understand.

It didn't take long at the job until I felt as though I had been hit by a steamroller.

I looked up and said, "Lord, how in the world did I get into this mess? Before I was elected President I didn't owe anybody a dime. Now I owe $52 million!" What an inheritance!

Nightmares!

During those early months I thought I would go out of my mind. The University's bankers and creditors were coming out of the woodwork—placing unbelievable pressure on me.

Student enrollment was dropping, and things were getting worse by the minute. I had a half-million dollar payroll to meet every Friday afternoon, and there wasn't enough money. I felt as though it was all my responsibility.

At night, satan was taunting me in my dreams, saying, "It's all going under. Your father could build a great institution, but I am going to destroy it through you in one year!"

I would wake up with nightmares, sweating profusely. I wished I could fly to some distant island where nobody knew my name.

Mad at God

Satan kept hounding my thoughts. It's all your fault. It will all be on your shoulders. The devil even showed me the newspaper headlines, "Richard Roberts Fails As President! ORU Closes!"

I developed an ulcer, and I could hardly work or sleep. I was absolutely miserable.

Lindsay felt sorry for me, but she could hardly wait for me to leave the house in the morning. I was not a joy to be around.

The stress and tension made me totally oblivious to what else was going on around me. I tried to carry the burden alone—mad at God, mad at the world, mad at myself. Day after day, I cried out, "Lord, why did You put me in this predicament?"

In August 1993, I hit absolute rock bottom. It looked like the doors of the University would be padlocked. The overdue bills were staggering.

In my mind I was preparing the letter I would have to write to the students, telling them, "We are sorry to inform you that Oral Roberts University is closing its doors."

'So What?'

At the lowest point in my life I received a phone call from Karl Strader, a minister in Lakeland, Florida, and a member of ORU's Board of Regents. He asked, "Would you please come down and preach for me?"

I didn't have time, and I really didn't want to. But when I told Lindsay about the call, she insisted, "Richard, you need to go."

"Why?" I responded.

"Because God is going to do something for you in Lakeland. He is going to help you turn a corner in your ministry."

"So what?" I grumbled. That's how much I was hurting.

Reluctantly, I called Pastor Strader and accepted the invitation.

'It's Me!'

When I arrived in Lakeland, Karl told me, "By the way, I want to give you a word of warning. We've had a revival in our church, and there has been an outbreak of Holy Ghost joy."

"What's that?" I wanted to know.

He said, "Wait. You'll find out."

At the Sunday morning service there was a wonderful time of praise and worship; then I was introduced to the several thousand people who were present. I decided to preach on a most unlikely topic, "How To Get Out of Your Present Mess!"

Of course, I was preaching to myself.

In the middle of the message, God gave me a word of knowledge about a man who was deaf in one ear. In the back of the auditorium a man stood to his feet and said, "It's me!"

He came down the aisle, and I met him about halfway. As I approached him, the Lord said, "Touch him." When I did, he began to fall under the power of God, and there was nobody there to catch him. He was about to hit his head on the pew.

In a flash, I could see myself facing a lawsuit. Instinctively, I reached around and tried to catch him by myself. He was a big man, much larger than I am.

When I grabbed him, his weight flipped me into the air, right over him. It was a spiritual somersault! My feet went up, and I landed on the other side of the man—on my feet.

Holy Rollers!

I have to admit it was funny. The whole church started to laugh. Twenty minutes later they were still laughing! I didn't know what to do. I couldn't preach because nobody was paying any attention.

People were literally rolling in the aisles—holy rollers! I had never seen anything like it. "What's happening here?" I wanted to know.

All of a sudden I felt something begin to rumble in my stomach. I knew the Scripture says, He that believeth on me...out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).

I thought, Well, maybe I'll just stand here and pray in tongues.

Without warning, I began to chuckle...and the chuckles turned to laughter. Don't ask me why, but I walked over to the front row, lay down on the pew, and placed my head on a woman's lap. Then I began to laugh uncontrollably.

‘I Probably Don't Have a Clue! ’

The service must have ended, because the next thing I remember I was on my way to lunch with the pastor and his family. I never did finish the message.

"Karl, what's going on?" I asked.

"Well," he replied, "do you remember the Scripture in Nehemiah 8:10, The joy of the Lord is your strength? "

"Of course I do," I said.

"Do you know what it means?"

"After this morning, I probably don't have a clue!" I told him.

Pastor Strader continued, "Let me help you with another Scripture. Paul says, Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10).

I knew that Scripture also.

He said to me, "How can you be strong unless you have joy?" Then he added, "Richard, people in the body of Christ have had their heads down. They've been misinterpreted, lied about, and stolen from. They have been cheated, criticized, ostracized, and beaten up by the world's system. Their spirits are low. But now, God is restoring His joy.

I said, "Pastor, I don't have any joy. All I've got is $52 million worth of debt." As a member of our board, he knew that only too well.

"Richard," he encouraged me, "God began something special in you this morning. He is releasing the joy of the Lord in your life."

On the Floor

Back at the pastor's home that afternoon, I thought and prayed about my most unusual morning. I was hesitant to call Lindsay because I knew what she would say—"I told you so!" But I called her anyway. She didn't say, "I told you so." She just encouraged me and told me that God was moving in my life.

In the evening service, I was seated on the front row, waiting for Pastor Strader to introduce me. When he said my name, I fell off the pew and hit the floor. It was as if somebody had glued me to the carpet. I tried to get up, but I couldn't. Then I started to laugh.

We were live on the radio, and I heard the pastor say, "For the benefit of our radio audience, I want to tell you that our evangelist is on the floor." For about ten minutes I lay there, laughing uncontrollably.

Finally I was able to get up, though my message was gone. I had no memory of it whatsoever.

There were about two thousand people present, and I didn't know what to do next. So I decided to sing. About eight bars into the song I erupted into laughter so intense that I had to sit down.

I just sat there and continued to laugh, and laugh, and laugh. Then I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit clearly say to me, "As you laugh, I am going to pay off your $52 million debt."

As I sat there, I felt my ulcer begin to heal. The bitterness and anger started to subside. Something was changing inside me.

Not the Same

Flying back to Tulsa the next morning, I picked up a book I had been reading. A few minutes later I started laughing again—out loud. I tried to stop, but I couldn't.

People around me must have thought I was crazy. The man seated next to me leaned over and asked, "Are you all right?" I kept right on laughing.

Something was changing inside me.

A flight attendant inquired, "Is everything okay?"

A curious passenger wanted to know, "What in the world are you reading?"

"The Hunt for Red October," I replied. That's not a book with a humorous plot. Still I laughed all the way to Tulsa.

At home I tried to explain to Lindsay what had happened, and she watched the videos of the services four times.

"Richard," she beamed, "you're not the same man I sent to Florida."

"You're right, Lindsay. Something has changed in me."

We were within two weeks of shutting down everything, and suddenly I had no concern whatsoever about the finances. None. I was no longer carrying the load. I laughed and said, "Here, God. It's Yours!"

The Phone Call

The next morning I gathered together the top leadership of the University and the ministry and told them the story of my trip to Florida. They looked at me as if I were crazy. I could almost hear them saying, "The pressure's become too much for him. He's gone over the edge. He's cracked!"

The phone rang in the conference room, and one of the men answered it. His face turned ashen. He put the phone down and said, "This is the call we've been dreading. They have got to have money by two o'clock this afternoon or the University's group insurance will be canceled."

I knew what that meant. You cannot operate a university without insurance. I thought, This is it. Tomorrow we'll be writing that letter to the students. We will have to close.

Then I fell off my chair and began to laugh hysterically.

By now I'm sure the senior staff members were certain I had lost it!

When I'd regained my composure, the phone rang again, and the same man answered it. Once more he turned white as a sheet.

When he put the receiver down, the man said, "You are not going to believe this. We have just received a check for $250,000!"

Once more I hit the floor and began to laugh with the joy of the Lord!

Miracles! Miracles!

Since that day we have seen God perform countless miracles to reduce our debt. In the natural it would have been impossible.

■    People we did not know have said, "We feel led of the Lord to sow into this ministry.

■    Corporate executives have called to say, "We have decided to forgive your debt."

■    There have been many gifts of $1 million or more.

■    Thousands of people have sent sacrificial offerings. Often the total was exactly what was needed for that day.

■    We have been able to sell pieces of property far above the appraised value.

Miracle after miracle after miracle!

'Most Every Day!'

Of course we have challenges. At this writing we still have debt, but I've learned to roll it over onto God. It's not my payroll. It's not my University. It's not my ministry. It is His. Someone recently asked me, "Richard, are you still laughing?"

"Most every day!" I answered.

I'm learning what it means to claim the marvelous joy of the Lord. It is my strength!

CHAPTER 7

Pick Up the Mantle

From the moment God called me into the ministry, I have wanted a double portion of the anointing that has rested upon my father, Oral Roberts.

He has been a giant among men, an apostle of the healing ministry. He has personally laid his hands on nearly two million individuals in prayer, and it is conservatively estimated that he has won twenty million people to Christ. In addition, he has built a major university for the glory of God.

Many have questioned me when I've said, "I want a double portion of my father's anointing."

Do you remember what the prophet Elijah said to Elisha when he was presented with a similar request? He replied, Thou hast asked a hard thing (II Kings 2:10).

Elijah did not say, "You have asked an impossible thing." The request would only be difficult. Then he added, Nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee.

I Was Confused

When I said to my father, "Dad, I want a double portion of the Spirit that has rested upon you," he responded with a twinkle in his eye, "Son, if you see me when I go, you'll have it."

To be honest, I was a little confused by the statement of my father—and also Elijah. What did they mean by, "If you see me when I go"?

I opened my Bible and reread the story of Elijah and Elisha. In their travels together, Elijah would come to a city and say to his assistant, Elisha,

"You stay here. I'm going to Gilgal," or, "I'm going to Bethel," or to Jericho.

What was Elisha's response? As the Lord liveth, and - as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee (II Kings 2:2).

How Can I See Him?

I kept thinking about my dad's statement, "If you see me when I go...."

I thought, How can I see him? We are in different cities most of the time. Then it dawned on me. That's not what my father was talking about, and it was not what Elijah was trying to communicate to Elisha.

What I believe they were saying is, "You can have the double portion of the anointing if you keep your eyes on the Lord that is in me."

I remembered the admonition of the apostle Paul, telling people to follow him as he followed Christ (see I Corinthians 11:1).

Over the years that is what my dad has said to me. "Son, as long as you can see Jesus over my shoulder, follow me."

The thought crystallized in my mind that I would one day receive a double anointing if I kept my eyes centered on Christ.

Expect It!

Scripture teaches that no good thing will he [God] withhold from them that walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). Yet there are prerequisites:

■    We must believe.

■    We must use our faith.

■    We must plant our seed.

■    We must make our confession known.

■    We must expect the double portion.

As I write these words, my father still carries the same anointing of the Holy Spirit that has rested upon his life during his entire ministry. However, should the Lord tarry, one of these days Oral Roberts will go to his reward. And I do not believe the full manifestation of the double portion of the anointing that I am believing for will come until my father is in heaven.

It did not come for Elisha until Elijah was caught up to be with the Lord. The full power of the Spirit did not rest on the disciples until Jesus had been crucified, buried, raised from the dead, and He had ascended to heaven.

Yes, there is a heavy anointing on me now, and it continues to grow. However, I believe with all of my heart that something far greater—that double portion—is waiting ahead.

It Remains!

What is the anointing of God? It is that divine energy that comes upon you and separates you from yourself and fills you with His power. As a result, when you speak, it is like God speaking. When you act, it is like God acting.

It is the anointing that breaks the yoke of sin, sickness, fear, poverty, demons, and anything and everything that is unlike the Lord.

There is a distinct difference between the presence of God and the anointing. The presence of the Almighty deals with the person of God Himself, while the anointing deals with the power of that presence.

The story of Elijah and Elisha demonstrates that when a man or woman of God goes to be with the Lord, the anointing that has been on their lives does not ascend to heaven with them; it remains on this earth for us to receive.

This was also true of the departure of Jesus. He declared, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12).

There Is a Price

During the early 1970s I had the honor of spending a considerable amount of time with Kathryn Kuhlman. Our family counted her as a personal friend.

I loved to be present when this vibrant evangelist and my father were in the same room. You could feel the power of God. What a dynamic duo!

In those days I was singing and giving my testimony at crusades, but I had not yet been called to a preaching or healing ministry.

Several times Kathryn called and asked me to fly to a city where she was conducting a crusade. Her amazing services sometimes lasted nearly five hours, and often the people were exhausted when they left the auditorium. Not Miss Kuhlman! She was refreshed and energized, ready for another service.

One day she told me, , "Richard, the anointing is not free, and it's not cheap. There is a price to be paid."

I watched her as she ministered during her last years. This great saint of God literally gave her life for the work of God.

A Precious Treasure

You've probably heard the saying, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." It's true. You don't receive something for nothing.

I remember the story my father has often told about an antique dealer who loved to visit shops in towns off the beaten path to hunt for bargains. One afternoon, as he was browsing in a small antique store, he saw a cat drinking milk from an old bowl. He watched for a while and suddenly recognized that it was no ordinary bowl, but a precious treasure.

The man thought to himself, This merchant obviously doesn't know the value of that bowl or he would not let a cat drink milk from it. I'll be able to buy it for little or nothing!

"Say, that sure is a beautiful cat," he commented to the dealer. "I love cats, and I would really like to buy this one. Is it for sale?"

"Sure," said the owner. "For $100, the cat is yours."

After paying the man, he took the furry animal and began to stroke it.

Then he reached down and picked up the bowl. He casually said, "You know, I've noticed the cat is used to this bowl. Is it all right if I take it with me?"

The shop owner replied, "Mister, you put that bowl down. That's the best cat-seller I've ever had!"

Nothing comes cheap.

Three Tests

Like Elisha, there are three specific places God will take you on your spiritual journey before you receive a double portion of His anointing on your life. And there are tests you must pass.

Test #1: Gilgal—Religion Without Power

One day Elijah and Elisha were walking together in Gilgal, and the prophet said, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel (II Kings 2:2).

I believe that every word in Scripture is divinely inspired and placed there for a purpose. Gilgal, for example, represents a place of religion without power.

After the children of Israel crossed the desert, Gilgal was the place where the manna ceased (see Joshua 5:12). No longer were they led with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The people had -religion, yet there was no power.

If you expect to receive an abundant outpouring of God's power from heaven, you must pass through Gilgal.

That's where I was at one time. I had given my life to Christ, but there was no authority. I had studied at the feet of Oral Roberts and Kathryn Kuhlman; I had received an excellent education at ORU; yet there were no miracles moving through me. There was not an anointing on my life.

Many believers are still resting in Gilgal. They have attended church for years. However, something is sadly missing. They have never felt the surge of the Spirit of God in their soul.

The Prophecy

I can still remember the day in 1977 when I was a guest on a national Christian television program. About three-quarters of the way through the telecast the host introduced a woman who walked in and sat down beside me. I knew her just enough to know that I didn't like her.

To be honest, I thought she was a phony, and I was reluctant to be sitting next to her. In fact, it bothered me so much that I scooted my chair away from her to create a little more distance.

As she began to talk, I was praying that the program would soon end. Finally, at the close of the telecast the host asked each of us to have a final prayer. He began the prayer, then turned to me, and then asked the woman to conclude.

Well, the moment that woman opened her mouth, she began to boldly prophesy over me. She turned in my direction and declared, "The Lord would say unto you, 'I am calling you into a healing ministry. You will pray for the sick, but not in the same way as your father prayed for the sick, wherein he laid hands on the sick. I will manifest the gifts of the Spirit in your life, and you will speak and people will be healed. You will sing, and people will be healed. You will testify, and people will be healed. And you will go to the nations of the earth, and people will be healed.'''

It was powerful! You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was genuinely moved. I couldn't believe this woman was giving me a word from God. Yet I also knew there was no way on earth that she could have known the dream in my heart.

'Please Forgive Me!'

When the program ended, I asked the woman if I could speak with her privately for a moment. We stepped to the side of the set, and I said, "I owe you an apology."

"Why?" she asked.

It's said that confession is good for the soul, so I looked her squarely in the eye and said, "I've never liked you, and I thought you were a fake. I have misjudged you, and I am asking you to please forgive me."

She said, "Of course I'll forgive you. I didn't even know you were harboring anything against me."

At that time I was struggling spiritually, hungry for God to do something special in my life. It would be three years before the prophecy would come to pass, yet God gave me the assurance that it would be fulfilled.

I left Gilgal for a better place.

Test #2: Bethel—a Place of Great Decision

Elisha refused to stay in Gilgal. If the prophet Elijah was headed for Bethel, he was going there too.

When you study God's Word, you will find that Bethel symbolizes a place of great decision. It is where Jacob, sleeping on a stone for a pillow, awakened and made a vow to God. He declared, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go...then shall the Lord be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee (Genesis 28:20-22).

Jacob made a decision that no matter what he lost, he would serve the Lord with his heart, his soul, his mind, and his strength. Because he had such determination and would not let go, the Lord even changed his name. God said, Thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name (Genesis 35:10).

Time To Decide

Bethel is where you find out what kind of backbone you really have. God tests you to be certain you are truly seeking after Him.

Oh, the Bethels of life! I've been there too!

There was a time in my life when my world fell apart. Many people wanted to throw me out with the trash.

Yet I found that having God in my life was more important than anything I had lost.

Someone may be testing you and your family, telling you that you cannot really serve God. Others may try to convince you that you don't have a testimony or a ministry. You may be at your Bethel—a place of great decision—but you don't have to stay there.

What happened after Bethel? Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho (II Kings 2:4).

Test #3: Jericho—a Place of Warfare.

Don't expect a double portion without a battle. Jericho is a place of warfare. It is where all the demons of hell will break loose against you. It is the place where Joshua and the children of Israel marched around the walls of the city seven times. They blew the trumpets, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city (Joshua 6:20).

In 1980, three years after the prophecy was given that I would have a healing ministry, I was wondering, God, when?

God, where? God, how is it going to come to pass?

Meanwhile, satan was throwing every weapon in his arsenal in my direction. There were barriers at every turn.

I even found myself giving the Lord suggestions on how He could use me in a ministry of miracles, but He didn't seem to be listening!

Then one night in a service where I had been invited to preach, as I was about to close in prayer, something came out of my mouth that took me totally by surprise: "Lord, heal that man's big toe!" I said.

Immediately I walked off the platform, thinking, Why in the world would you say that? And I flew back to Tulsa.

The Beginning?

Several days later my secretary handed me a letter. In the first paragraph it read, "How did you know about my toe? I was seated on the front row in your service, and when you uttered those words, my toe snapped and I could move it."

The man went on to explain that he had revisited his doctor and had a new X ray taken. When it was compared to the old X ray, the toe was now perfectly normal. He added, "What did you do?"

I answered the letter and told the gentleman, "I didn't do anything. In fact, I felt silly for saying such a thing. But I rejoice that you are healed."

That night I went to sleep and dreamed of a man's big toe —not a foot, just a toe. For three nights I had the same dream.

After the third night I said to Lindsay, "I know this sounds weird, but every night I have been dreaming of a man's big toe."

As we discussed what was taking place, she observed, "Richard, this is the beginning of the word of prophecy that came into your life. This is the start of the healing ministry that you've been praying for."

Into the Word

The next day Lindsay and I began to study the Word of God - with a new fervor. We opened up Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and found every Scripture that contained the word "healing." We read the verses out loud and examined them in context.

We knew the Bible says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15). So we saturated ourselves in healing Scriptures morning, noon, and night. The Word not only seeped into our hearts, it was pouring out of our mouths. It was just as Matthew 12:34 says: Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Specifically, we were praying that God would open the doors for a great healing ministry, and we believed it would line up with His will and His Word. Scripture declares, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayestprosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (Ill John 2).

We stood on the words of Jesus, Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11:24).

God receives no glory out of people being sick. I knew that healing is in accordance with His will.

Lindsay and I were preparing to wage war on satan. You see, Jesus said, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). The Bible also declares, For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8).

Would It Happen?

Lindsay and I fell to our knees and prayed these words: "God, by faith we ask You for a healing ministry. And we receive it, in the Name of Jesus!"

That was it! And we believed our prayer with every fiber of our beings.

Please understand, except for the man with the big toe, no one else was being healed. I continued to sing, preach, and teach, but there were no miracles. Every day, however, Lindsay and I thanked the Lord for the healing ministry we believed was on the way. We had no evidence, no manifestation—just our faith. That's all we could cling to.

Days passed, then weeks and months. We would not let go. It was our Jericho. All hell was telling me, "It will never happen."

Some people think an inheritance is something that is handed to you on a silver platter. Not in God's process. You have to believe it, confess it, work for it, and claim it by faith!

'Uh-Huh!'

I was preaching in New Mexico when the power of God fell on me as never before. My words came directly from heaven, and I began to speak to sickness and disease.

In that service, for the first time manifestations of healing began to take place:

■    A man who had been deaf in one ear for ten years was healed.

■    A young woman who had been blind in one eye for four years suddenly could see.

■    A woman with arthritis who came with a walker received a miracle.

As I walked off the platform, I looked at Lindsay. She was just nodding her head as if to say, "Uh-huh."

I knew exactly what she was thinking. Yes, that which you have prayed for, honey, that which you have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart, has now arrived.

Jericho was behind us.

Parting the Waters

Next Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan (II Kings 2:6). Elisha responded, "If you're headed for Jordan, I am going too!"

Jordan symbolizes vision.

When you reach Jordan, victory is in sight. You have come through Gilgal and have passed the test of religion without power. You've walked through Bethel, the place of decision in your life. You have experienced Jericho, where you've said to satan, "You're not going to have my family, my finances, or my future."

Now you have come to the river Jordan, and God is about to part the waters.

As Elijah and Elisha stood on the banks of the river, the prophet took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground (v. 8).

That is where Elisha asked for the double portion. Then suddenly there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (v. 11).

Elisha, the servant who would not leave the prophet's side, was there when it happened. He saw it with his own eyes! And he knew his day was coming.

There It Was!

Standing on a hill overlooking the Jordan were fifty men — sons of the prophets—who observed what took place (v. 7). They must have said, "Oh, no! There goes the last prophet!" It is the same today when a great man or woman of God goes to be with the Lord.

When Elisha saw the prophet taken up with the whirlwind, he exclaimed, My father, my father (v. 12).

About that time the Holy Spirit tapped Elisha on the shoulder and told him to look up. There it was! Elijah's mantle, which represented God's anointing, came floating down.

Elisha walked over and took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan (v. 13).

With the mantle in his hand, Elisha smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? (v. 14). He did not ask, "Where is the man Elijah?" but, "Where is the God of Elijah?"

Scripture records that when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over (v. 14).

There was no doubt or question in the minds of the fifty sons of the prophets. They said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him (v. 15).

Whether you are a teacher, a doctor, a musician, a preacher, a policeman, or whomever, you need a double portion of God's anointing, God's Spirit and power.

Your day is coming!

Get ready to pick up the mantle!

CHAPTER 8

More Than a Crumb!

When a parent passes away, it is customary for the family to gather for the reading of the will. That's when sons, daughters, and friends learn of their inheritance.

Do you realize that God also has a will?

■    Salvation is in His will. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).

■    Healing is in His will. Jesus touched the leper who asked Him to make him clean and said, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed (Matthew 8:3).

How do we receive what is in our Father's legacy? By faith.

'I Will Come'

Much is written in Scripture concerning faith, yet there are only two instances where Jesus responded to great faith— once to a man, the other to a woman. And they were people who were outside of the church. It demonstrates that faith is where you find it.

Perhaps you recall the story of the Roman army officer, a centurion, who approached Jesus in Capernaum, saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented (Matthew 8:6).

The servant, a military aide, was some miles away, where a company of Roman troops was centered. (The word centurion means one who is in charge of one hundred soldiers.)

The officer had heard enough . about Jesus to call Him Lord, effectively transferring his allegiance from Caesar, the Roman emperor, to Jesus.

Immediately the Lord said, I will come and heal him (v. 7).

That was the nature of Jesus. Wherever He went there was saving, healing, and delivering.

Speak the Word!

The centurion responded, "It is not necessary for You to come under my roof. I am not worthy of such an honor. You don't have to come and lay Your hands on him." He declared,

Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed (v. 8).

Then the Roman officer shared his reasoning. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it (v. 9).

He was explaining, "I know what authority is, and mine comes from Caesar. But, Jesus, I recognize that You have authority above Caesar. I know that if You speak the word, my servant will be healed."

Astonished!

That is also what the apostle Paul told the believers at Philippi. He declared, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus ~ every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9,10).

The Lord was astonished at both the centurion's reasoning and his belief. The Bible records, When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel (Matthew 8:10).

Jesus was saying, "I have been looking for that kind of faith. Isn't it amazing that I found it in someone who is not even a follower?"

The Lord turned to the centurion and said, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour (v. 13).

A Desperate Mother

The second time Jesus witnessed great faith was when He journeyed north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. He was obviously exhausted from the constant crush of the crowds. The Bible states that He entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid (Mark 7:24).

There, a woman sought out Jesus on behalf of her little girl who was demon-possessed. The Bible says she fell at his feet (v. 25).

The woman was a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter (v. 26).

When Jesus finally spoke to the woman, she certainly could have taken His words as an insult. He said, "I didn't come for you. I came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (see Matthew 15:24).

The distraught mother, however, was not offended. She would not go away!

The Children's Bread

This woman was from the area that is now called Lebanon. I can identify with her persistence because Lindsay is of Lebanese descent. She's tenacious. If she grabs on to something, she won't let go!

Jesus looked at the woman and said, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs (Mark 7:27).

The Lord was telling her, "It is not right to take healing— the children's bread—and give it to someone like you who lives like a wild animal."

Christ was referring to the fact that her people were nomadic and worshiped pagan gods. She was not part of the household of faith. That is why He referred to her as a "dog."

He Gave More

The woman still would not leave. She argued, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs (v.

She told Jesus, "I understand what You're saying. However, in Jewish homes, the master gives the dogs crumbs from his table."

It was a tradition in Israel that small dogs were allowed to sit near the table. The man of the house would feed them scraps of food.

"Yes, Lord, You are right," she agreed. "I am like a wild animal. But You could give me a morsel." Her faith was so strong that she begged, "Jesus, You don't have to do anything spectacular. Just give me a small taste of Your healing power for my child, and she will be healed."

Seeing her great faith, Jesus gave her even more than she asked. He declared, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter (v. 29).

When the woman returned to her dwelling place, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed (v. 30). Her child was healed!

She Would Not Wait

I remember the night in one of my father's tent crusades when a woman brought her young son for prayer. I was only a boy myself.

When the mother and son reached the front of the prayer line, my dad read what was written on the prayer card.

The boy had been born without a hip socket. You could place your hand on his hip and feel the indentation.

My father commented to the woman, "Ma'am, I don't want you to be disappointed, but I don't have faith for a creative miracle. We will have to wait for this kind of healing until the Resurrection."

It wasn't that my father didn't have confidence in God's ability to heal. He was letting the woman know that certain miracles are rare indeed.

The woman looked at my father and remarked, quite sternly, "Brother Oral Roberts, I don't ask you to have any faith. I just ask you to pray. I will do the believing."

My dad laid his hands on her son, and the child walked off in the same condition he had arrived.

The next evening, as my father walked under the tent, the crusade manager was interviewing the same woman and son. The boy was walking back and forth across the platform.

My dad immediately went over and felt the young boy's hip. It was perfect! Not a sign of an indentation!

Praise God! During the night, the Lord had performed divine surgery and had created a new hip socket!

The Acts Continue!

Even after Jesus ascended to heaven, miracles continued. He declared, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12).

The book of Acts is filled with the wonders done in Jesus' Name. Wherever Peter, Paul, or the other disciples journeyed, there were miracles.

It is important to note that the book of Acts has no logical ending because it's not over. The acts of the apostles are still happening because Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and to day, andfor ever (Hebrews 13:8).

God's table is filled to overflowing. He will give you more than a crumb!

CHAPTER 9

Placing a Demand!

The University once owned a piece of property that the Board of Regents voted to sell. We were told, "The land is appraised at $3.5 million, but it certainly isn't worth that much."

When we placed it on the market, there was very little interest in it until one day, as a total surprise, I received a call from the bank that held the mortgage on the property. "We have a bid. An offer of $3.8 million—$300,000 above the appraisal price." The banker proceeded to tell me about the group who wanted to sign the deal.

I was feeling great, on cloud nine. I couldn't wait to tell the Regents, "We've got a firm offer on the land for more than it's worth!"

Then the Lord spoke to me and said, "Don't take a penny less than $5 million for it!"

I arranged a meeting with the banker and announced, "Tell the buyers we are not interested in their offer."

"You've got to be kidding!" he nervously replied. "That's an outstanding price."

He was shocked when I continued, "The Holy Spirit told me the price is $5 million." The man actually laughed at me!

About two months later the same group came back to the table and offered the University $4.5 million for the property. The banker remarked, "All right.

You've made your point. This offer is $1 million more than the appraisal."

"Well, I have a problem," I told him. "The Holy Spirit said I was not to take less than $5 million."

The gentleman was quite upset. He could see his bank missing out on some healthy commissions.

Claiming What Was Mine

In about thirty days another group, whom I had never met, bought the property from us for $5 million cash!

After the transaction was completed, I received a call from the bankers. They told me, "We want to come out to the University and meet with you."

Before this, I had always gone to their offices for meetings.

When they arrived, the head of the bank said, "Richard, our hats are in our hands today. We owe you an apology. We didn't believe you when you insisted on holding out for $5 million."

"I know you didn't believe," I said, "but I certainly did!" Then I told them about how the Lord spoke to me. "As a banker you may not understand, but I was just claiming what God promised was mine!"

As far as I was concerned, the first offers were null and void. I was determined to wait until the real offer came.

Faith is what you hold on to until you receive what you are believing for. If you have a dollar in your hand, you don't need faith for a dollar. It's when you don't have it that faith is necessary.

I didn't just ask. I placed a demand upon what the Holy Spirit had shown me.

Spiritual Robbery

If you expect to claim all that God has for you, don't hesitate to place a demand on the supply.

When you visit your bank and hand the teller a withdrawal slip, you are making a demand on the money in your account.

Of course, you'd better have an account with God that includes making His Son the Lord of your life.

If not, you are committing spiritual bank robbery.

It is not enough to know about God; you must know Him. As someone once observed, "It is one thing to have your lunch on the table; it's another thing to have it in your stomach."

You may attend church regularly, sing in the choir, and teach Sunday school, yet do you have an account with the Lord? Do you have a personal relationship with Him?

When you present a withdrawal slip at the bank, they have no choice but to give you the funds. In God's economy, the withdrawal slip is your faith—that is what's necessary to make a demand on the supply.

Some may ask, "Are you telling me that I can instruct God on how to run His business?"

No. I tried that and it failed. In my younger days I attempted to tell the Lord how, where, and when to do what I wanted. And He never once did He do it my way.

Today, I am claiming only what is rightfully mine according to His will and His Word.

Touching the Word

Jesus was on the way to the home of Jairus to heal his daughter when in the throng that followed, a woman who'd had an issue of blood for twelve years sought to get close to Him.

She said, If I may touch but his  clothes, I shall be whole (Mark 5:28).

You see, there is a supply of the anointing wherever there is a demand for the anointing.

That's what this woman experienced. She said, "If I can only touch the border of His garment, I know I will be healed."

Jewish historians teach that rabbis of that day wore a certain type of prayer shawl with tassels, representing the Law of Moses, which was the Word of God.

I believe the woman thought, He doesn't have to touch me, and I don't have to touch Him. Just let me get my hands on the Word, and I know I'll be healed.

'Who Touched Me?'

Jesus, moving along with Jairus, was not paying any attention to the woman when she reached out and touched the hem of His garment.

Immediately Jesus turned and asked, Who touched me? (Luke 8:45). Peter and those who were with him tried to tell Him it was just the multitude crowding in on Him.

Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me (v. 46).

Jesus was not only the Word, He was wearing the Word. The woman fell at His feet and told Him why she had touched Him and that she had been immediately healed.

The Lord said, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace (v. 48).

He Was Insistent

We can rejoice in the fact that God's supply is far greater than our need.

That's what blind Bartimaeus found out. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by on the road where the blind man sat begging, he placed a demand on the Lord. He cried out, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me (Luke 18:38).

The people around the blind man rebuked him, telling him to hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me (v. 39).

Why was he so insistent? He knew that Jesus could restore sight to his eyes. That's why he would not stop.

Jesus asked Bartimaeus, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God (Luke 18:41-43).

Living Reservoirs

Today, I believe there are certain individuals who are raised up with a specific healing anointing. They are living reservoirs. It is not their power; it's God's power in them.

I grew up watching my father lay hands on the sick, and I thought that was the only way it could be done. When he would place his hand on a person's forehead and say, "In the Name of Jesus!" it was powerful. I know, because I have felt it personally.

However, when the Lord called me into the healing ministry, He said to me through a prophecy that "primarily, you will not lay hands on the sick as your father has done. I am going to manifest the word of knowledge by the Holy Spirit."

The prophecy also included these words: "You are going to be on television far more than your father has ever been. And people will be healed without your ever touching them— both through television and your crusades."

Thousands More

That was a new concept to me, and I began to study the Scripture concerning the word of knowledge.

I recalled the disappointment of my father when he personally could not lay his hands on all those who came for healing. At crusades in India, Africa, and Asia, where there would be crowds of more than 100,000, he would pray for people until his body was totally exhausted. Still, there would be ten thousand more waiting for him to lay his hands upon them.

Although many mighty miracles occurred, he would return home with a heavy heart because of those he could not touch.

The Lord showed me that I would not have to experience that disappointment. He said, "I will manifest healing through the word of knowledge."

Don't Reject It!

I learned long ago as a young man that not everyone is going to respond to the Gospel. Not everyone in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is thrilled that Oral Roberts University places the Spirit of God above its quest for academic excellence.

Remember, even Jesus was rejected in His hometown. Here was the Son of God in their very midst, with healing in His wings and an unlimited supply of the anointing. He declared, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18).

The people were astonished when He stated, I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me (John 6:38).

They said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? (v. 42).

Because they would not accept the fact that the son of a carpenter was sent by God, they missed their hour of visitation. They did not tap into the anointing.

Jesus is still telling the world, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst (v. 35).

As long as there is a demand, our God will always have a supply!

CHAPTER 10

Your Great Inheritance

The longer I live, the more I realize that our giving on earth is an investment in eternity. Countless lives are permanently changed because of the seeds we sow.

Let me give you an example.

In the early days of ORU, a woman named Eleanor Reece came to the campus to visit my father. "Dr. Roberts," she began, "my husband, Ralph, recently passed away, and I would like to do something in his honor." Mr. Reece had been an executive in the insurance business.

At the time, my father was in the process of building the Prayer Tower. He said to her, "Mrs. Reece, we are believing to build beautiful sunken gardens around the Tower. We envision many varieties of trees, shrubs, and flowers. It's going to be magnificent!"

He continued, "There will be walkways for students to enjoy, and it will be a wonderful place for people to stop and pray."

She interrupted him. "You don't have to say any more. I want to sponsor it!"

My father responded, "But you don't know how much it is going to cost."

"That's not the point," she answered. "I just want to honor my husband."

Today, the beautiful Ralph L. Reece Memorial Gardens grace the campus of ORU.

Eleanor later remarried, and her name became Mrs. Hamill. She and her new husband sponsored the Hamill Student Dining Commons.

An Eternal Legacy

In the mid-seventies, having outgrown the place where we conducted our chapel services, we were praying for a 4,000-seat auditorium. When my father began talking about the building, Eleanor once again responded to the need with a major gift, contributing half the cost of the building. We praised God for her generosity.

When we suggested naming the facility after her, Eleanor replied, "No, I believe it should be named Christ's Chapel."

When she passed away, she left a considerable amount to the University. In reality, her giving was so much more than mere finances. The heartfelt stories of students whose lives have been transformed in Christ's Chapel would fill many volumes.

Eleanor left a legacy for eternity!

The Storehouse

Here is one of God's great principles: When we give of our earthly inheritance, we receive a spiritual inheritance.

Scripture clearly tells us to bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house (Malachi 3:10).

What is the storehouse? It is the entire work of the body of Christ, including the local church, missions, evangelism, and Christian education. Remember the fivefold ministry mentioned in Ephesians 4:11? God gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. They all are worthy of our support, and I believe that is what the prophet Malachi meant by the storehouse.

What a Window!

When we obey the Lord in our giving, something remarkable results. The second portion of Malachi 3:10 is the double portion. It says, Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

I am convinced there is a large window in heaven on which your name is etched. Can you picture it?

Now let me ask you this question. Is that window open, or is it closed? If it is shut, you can be assured that God did not close it. You did! His windows are always open.

Will It Pass You By?

When you give, expect God's blessings to start flowing. Some people say, "I gave the Lord $100, and I wonder if anything is going to happen. They sit in a corner, waiting and watching, and their miracle passes them by.

God is ready to pour out a bounty so great that there will not be room to store it. He sends it where needed most.

■    The blessing may be financial, because God knows that's what you need.

■    The miracle may be in your body, because you are sick.

■    The healing may touch your marriage, because the Lord knows about your relationship.

God always meets you at the point of your need.

Your Father Gave!

A man once said to me, "Are you telling me that you give in order to get?"

I looked right into his eyes and replied, "Yes, sir, that's exactly what I am saying, because that is what your heavenly Father did."

The Bible says, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

God loved us so much that He gave the best He had to offer—His Son. He planted Him as a seed to obtain the desired result. He gave Him to receive you and me!

'Paid in Full!'

What would you ask God for if you knew His answer would be yes? (It must be something that lines up with His Word.)

Right now, go ahead and say, "It's mine!"

You may think, That's just pulling something out of thin air.

No, we are acting upon Scripture, calling those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

That is how the world began. God called light out of darkness. He spoke into being something that did not exist.

Someone recently asked me about the remaining debt on the University. I said, "By faith, it is paid in full!"

They must have thought, Richard is an ostrich! He's putting his head in the sand and ignoring reality.

I am not denying the facts. I am just claiming the promise: "Paid in full, by faith!"

That's what Abraham did. God assured him that he would have a son and his seed would inherit the earth (see Genesis 15:4,5).

The Covenant

It came to pass. Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety when God told him, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him (Genesis 17:19).

Through the years, Abraham did not murmur or complain. He just believed. And sure enough, the promised son was born.

Later, when God told him to take Isaac up to the mountain and prepare to offer him as a sacrifice, Abraham had total faith. He told those around him, Abide ye here...andI and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you (Genesis 22:5).

He confessed, ”We are going up, and we are coming down." He was claiming things that were not as though they were.

The Gift

I once heard a story about Arnold Palmer, who will go down in history as a king of the golfing world. He was asked by a noted sheik to go to one of the nations near the Persian Gulf to give him personal golf lessons. The sheik was one of the wealthiest men in the world.

Arnold flew over in his personal jet and taught the man the finer points of the game. When the lessons were over, the sheik asked, "Mr. Palmer, what do I owe you?"

Arnold replied, "You don't owe me anything!"

He insisted, "Sir, please allow me to do something for you. You have not only helped my golf game, but I have enjoyed your presence in my country."

Arnold protested, "That's not necessary. There is nothing I need."

After great persistence by the sheik, Palmer caved in. "Okay, you can give me a new golf club," he said, and then he flew back to America.

A few days later, Arnold received a letter from the sheik. Inside was the deed to a brand-new 18-hole golf club—three hundred acres!

Wow! The sheik gave Arnold what he asked for—not a seven-iron club, but a real golf club.

Be careful what you request—you just might receive it!

What Will You Leave?

I was once asked, "What inheritance do you want to leave to your children?"

Every parent desires to see their ffspring prosper, to be happy in their ersonal relationships, and enjoy good lealth. I pray that my legacy will nclude much more.

■    I want to leave within my children a knowing that God is the total Source of their supply—that He is Savior, Healer, and Baptizer.

■    I want them to know that the Lord is the possessor of heaven and earth, the deliverer from all of their enemies.

■    I want them to understand how vitally important the Word of God is to their lives.

■    I want them to know that their spiritual heritage includes healing.

■    I want to leave a Christ-centered University where they, and thousands of others, can receive their academic and spiritual training.

■    I want to instill in them a knowledge that God will multiply every seed they sow.

■    I want to leave them with an understanding of how to hear the voice of God, so they will fulfill His calling.

That is the desire of my heart for our children. It is also my prayer for you.

Inherit the Kingdom!

I love what the apostle Paul said to the believers at Ephesus: And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among . all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32).

At this very moment, the Lord is preparing a homecoming in your honor. That is when He will say, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34).

There is an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you (I Peter 1:4).

Claim your inheritance!

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 How Far I Had Fallen!

CHAPTER 2 The Homecoming!

CHAPTER 3 Dare To Believe!

CHAPTER 4 Pour It In—Pour It Out!

CHAPTER 5 A Miracle That Multiplies

CHAPTER 6 Inheriting a Crisis

CHAPTER 7 Pick Up the Mantle

CHAPTER 8 More Than a Crumb!

CHAPTER 9 Placing a Demand!

CHAPTER 10 Your Great Inheritance