Giving and Receiving

Would you like to know how you can increase your income? Regardless of your status in life, there is a way. My purpose in writing this book is to bring you the revelation that will show you how.

Once you receive the Word of God, then you are responsible for putting it to work.

I was talking with a man by telephone one day, and we were praying together for his business.

The Lord spoke to me right in the middle of my prayer and said, Ask him why General Motors didn't pay him anything last year.

I hesitated a moment, but then I did it out of obedience to God. I said, "How come General Motors didn't pay you anything last year?" He was quiet for a second and replied, "Well, they didn't owe me anything."

And the Lord said, Tell him that's how come I didn't pay him anything either.

That really opened my eyes! The Word says very plainly, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again" (Proverbs 19:17). If we haven't been giving, then God has nothing to work with to increase us financially.

I want the Word to change your thinking from giving to giving and receiving. Don't just think in terms of giving. The Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi that they alone communicated with him in giving and receiving (Philippians 4:15).

"Well, I don't think I should desire to receive anything back when I give, Brother Copeland." If this is what you are thinking, then your thinking is wrong! You wouldn't think well of a farmer who kept planting seeds and then let his crop rot in the field. Giving financial seeds and not receiving a harvest is just as irresponsible. There are people in this world starving to hear the saving message of the gospel. God wants you to receive a harvest from the financial seeds you plant. You need to have an abundance of finances so that you can help finance the preaching of the gospel.

The Body of Christ should be the wealthiest, most powerful and most influential people in all the world.

But what have we done? We have turned the management of the world's finances over to the devil, and believing his lies is an indictment against us all.

One of the ways the devil has deceived us and controlled our finances is through debt. We live in a debt culture. In the book of Deuteronomy God made a direct connection between Israel's possessing the Promised Land and lending to many nations while borrowing from none. Debt is a way of possessing. We have allowed Satan to flip the coin over on the other side and put the Body of Christ in debt to the world. In doing this, we have allowed them to possess us. The borrower is servant of the lender.

Many Christians are in so much debt that they cannot give into the ministry. When are we going to turn things around and give and receive from God as our source so much that we no longer need go any further into debt?

Giving Is the Basis of Redemption

Giving is the key element in the Father's character. The whole plan of redemption revolves around giving and receiving. Let's look at His attitude in the face of seemingly total failure.

God lost His top-ranked, most anointed angel.

In addition to that, He was deprived of at least a third of His angels when Lucifer fell. He lost the man and the woman He created. And because of man's fall, He lost the whole earth and all of the fullness thereof. When you add it all up, that is a lot of real estate gone down the drain! The Father didn't do anything to cause this huge loss, but He took the blame for it. Why? Because the buck stopped with Him. He is the Creator of the ones who did it. Therefore, the Father accepted the responsibility for turning the whole mess around (Isaiah 54:8-17).

When the serpent seduced Eve and caused the Fall of Man, God prophesied the plan of redemption. Speaking to the devil He said, One is coming Who will put His heel on your head. Then He set out to get the job done. God searched until He found Abraham, the man through whom He could legally bring the Redeemer, a faith man.

It's interesting to note that in His effort to redeem His possessions, God could have chosen from a number of options. But He elected to give.

Giving is the most powerful tool that God has at His command. Giving is the cardinal law.

Now, the next question is, what is He going to give? He still has two-thirds of the angels. He still has all of heaven and, of course, He still has His Son, Jesus.

I can almost hear His thoughts. If I risk the angels and lose them through it, I can always create more. But, I sure wouldn't want to take a chance on losing Jesus. He's all I have left. If I lost My Son, I would be all alone. There are other things I could give.

If God had taken that attitude, He would not have really been giving. He knew that to really give, He had to give something that cost Him.

Why? Because, if it didn't cost anything, He hadn't really put His faith on the line. The Father knew that it would take faith to turn the situation around. He knew that He had to give all that He had in order to be in a position of faith. He was giving to receive. He gave His best to receive the best.

Jesus put it this way. He said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16).

Can you see the faith God released in sending His only Son? Man had proven that he didn't have to accept anything that he didn't want. He had already chosen the devil over God. From this viewpoint, we can see the magnitude of the price that was paid for our redemption. God gave the best He had.

For a moment Jesus was separated from God.

The Supreme Sacrifice walked into the place of the damned to answer for Adam's treason. At that very instant, all that God had to give was given for man and given to man.

What guarantee was there that the Father would ever get His Son back? The guarantee was the power of faith in His own Word, released through the law of giving and receiving. God's own Word and its power to bring itself to pass.

This spiritual principle is by far the greatest promise there is.

When you plant a seed, it will produce a harvest. It's guaranteed. No one can stop it. The devil may try, but there is nothing Satan can do that is powerful enough to block the law of giving and receiving.

The whole plan of redemption revolves around giving. Did you ever stop and think that in giving, God also received? In fact, that is why He gave His Son, so that He could receive many more sons!

(See Hebrews 2:10.) Hallelujah! Jesus did not just hang on the cross for nothing. He was the seed.

You and I are the harvest.

Giving and Receiving

One of the exciting benefits of this revelation is that financial harvests are not seasonal. If you give, you will receive! You may not receive the harvest for several months, but if you are planting, you will always be on the receiving end.

The Word says, Cast your bread on the water and after many days it will return (Ecclesiastes 11:1).

If you keep casting it out there, then eventually you will have something coming in on every wave—steady income from the steadiest source of all, God the Father by Christ Jesus according to His riches in glory.

God is leading us to change the way we live our lives. The most important change is in the way we give.

"Well, yes, Brother Copeland, but I've given all I can." You haven't given all you can until you have given all you have.

Some might say, "Well, I don't think we are required to do that!" I am not talking about what we have to do. God has given me much more than I require to live, but that's because I stepped out and gave beyond what God required of me a long time ago! The more I study tithing, giving, receiving, etc., the more I'm saying, "How much can I get God to receive of mine?"

Giving Prepares Us to Receive

Giving is an essential part of everything we receive from God. First Corinthians 9:7 says,

"Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?"

You don't join the army and then buy your own uniform and weapons. The government provides everything you need. They not only provide everything, they get everything! They own you, brother!

The Body of Christ is a military organization provided for by the King! He has made provision for all that we will ever need. The sooner we take the attitude that we belong to Him and let Him rule over our finances, the sooner His provisions will begin to flow our way.

The Word continues to say in 1 Corinthians 9:8-9, "Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?" (Don't put a muzzle on those organizations which are preaching the good news and then shout, "We ought to preach the gospel to the world." The ones doing the preaching are the oxen treading out the corn.)

"Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope"

(verse 10). (When you sow into the gospel, you should expect a crop. Sow in hope. Plow in hope.

Don't plan on crop failures.) Without hope, faith has nothing to bring to pass.

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:11-14).

This is talking about the ministry. Wherever God tells you to put your seed, don't get upset because those of us who are doing the work of the ministry are living by the work. That is part of it.

Keep your eye on the harvest and on the Lord of the harvest, Jesus!

Now let's tie 1 Corinthians 9:11-14 with a thought in 2 Corinthians 9:9-10. "He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness."

Righteousness means "right-standing with God." Giving puts us in a right relation with Almighty God. Giving is the cardinal law. It is synonymous with love. When we give, we love.

When we are walking in the God-kind-of love, we are in right relation with Almighty God. Love gives. We are in a position to receive everything that the Word declares is ours: faith, salvation, hope, prosperity and healing.

What does healing have to do with giving?

Second Corinthians 9:9-10 says that He would "increase the fruits of your righteousness." This fruit is the product of your right-standing with God. If you are in a right relationship with the Father, you don't have any trouble receiving your healing. Giving or planting always increases the fruit.

God said, Give and it will be given to you again. The way you measure it, it shall be measured back to you again (Luke 6:38; Mark 4:24). You should never give without expecting to receive a return. That measure belongs to you!

Expect it!

Giving Edifies the Body

Now let's tie all of this in with the fourth chapter of Ephesians. The Apostle Paul's attitude as he wrote this letter to the Ephesians was that of a "prisoner of Jesus Christ." The Apostle was a bond servant of the Lord. It wasn't that Jesus had taken him prisoner. Paul voluntarily gave himself to the Lord as His servant.

Notice Paul's statement in Ephesians 4:1: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Paul had abandoned himself to Jesus and he admonishes us to do the same. When you are born again, you become a child of God, not a servant. The only way you can become a prisoner, or servant, of the Lord is to volunteer.

Once we take on the Apostle Paul's attitude, that we are living totally for Jesus and for His Body, we will be in a right relationship with God.

What happens then? The fruits of our righteousness will increase and that will cause revival. And then we can expect the gifts of the Spirit to operate in a far greater measure. Why?

Manifestations of the Holy Spirit are called "gifts."

Gifts are part of giving and receiving. They are part of the fruits of righteousness. Living totally for Jesus and His Body, or living to give, helps bring us to the place where He can trust us with power, whether it's in His gifts or in the form of handling His money.

God has to be able to trust us with His money.

In Deuteronomy 8:6,11-14, the Word says: Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him....

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied [Remember that 2 Corinthians 9:9-10 talks about multiplying and increasing the fruits of your righteousness.]; Then thine heart be lifted up [This is what God's against.], and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

What will keep us from becoming proud and independent of the Lord? Being totally committed to Jesus and living to give. If you are not living to give, then you are living for yourself and cutting off the flow of God. Living to give will bring you into the place of living from your giving.

Giving Establishes God's Covenant

He goes on to say in verse 18, "But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." This has a double meaning. First, God promised it, so in order to establish His covenant, He has to give you the power to obtain wealth.

Secondly, He gives you the seed in order for you to put the covenant into motion. Giving establishes or sets in motion God's covenant. When the fruits of your righteousness increase, not only will you be healed and have your needs met, but the gifts of the Spirit will begin to operate in you.

When the gifts of the Spirit flow, revival comes.

Giving activates your covenant with God.

Giving Uproots the Devil

First Timothy 6:10 tells us where the root of all evil lies. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred [been seduced] from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." This scripture says the love of money is the very root of Satan's operation. We can cut him off at the very root and destroy his base with the love of giving.

Glory to God!

Is there a situation in your life that needs to be turned around? In comparison with fallen man, our little human problems don't even compare.

Redeem your circumstances the same way that God did His. Give your way out of it. Give your very best. Don't eat your seeds. Give, give, give expecting to receive, so you can give, give, give!

Determine to enlist in the army of the Lord.

Let's change our civilian attitude to one that says, like the Apostle Paul, "I am a prisoner of the Lord to walk worthily of this calling." Whether I am a private or a general, it doesn't matter. I'm just committed to the Lord and to my buddies whose lives depend on me. We are in the service together.

Investing in the kingdom of God is a sure thing. God has been doing it since the beginning of time! His investment has produced a generous return. For He gave one Son in order to receive many sons (Hebrews 2:10). Glory to God!

If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life, you cannot activate His covenant. The first step is to receive Jesus as Lord. That is where giving and receiving begins. Receive God's gift to you. Ask Jesus to come live in your heart. Then give yourself to Him to live in His heart.

Pray this prayer from your heart with me:

Prayer for Salvation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into, my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." I do that now.

I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.

I am now reborn! I am a Christian—a child of Almighty God! I am saved! You also said in Your Word, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: HOW MUCH

MORE shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13). I'm also asking You to fill me with the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise God.

I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance (Acts 2:4).

Begin to praise God for filling you with the Holy Spirit. Speak those words and syllables you receive—not in your own language, but the language given to you by the Holy Spirit. You have to use your own voice. God will not force you to speak. Worship and praise Him in your heavenly language—in other tongues.

Continue with the blessing God has given you and pray in tongues each day.

You are a born-again, Spirit-filled believer.

You'll never be the same!

Find a good Word of God preaching church, and become a part of a church family who will love and care for you as you love and care for them.

We need to be hooked up to each other. It increases our strength in God. It's God's plan for us.

About the Author

Kenneth Copeland is co-founder and president of Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas, and best-selling author of books that include Managing God's Mutual Funds, How to Discipline Your Flesh and Honor—Walking in Honesty, Truth and Integrity.

Now in his 31st year as minister of the gospel of Christ and teacher of God's Word, Kenneth is the recording artist of such award-winning albums as his Grammy nominated Only the Redeemed, In His Presence, He Is Jehovah and his most recently released What a God You Are. He also co-stars as the character Wichita Slim in the children's adventure videos The Gunslinger, Covenant Rider and the movie The Treasure of Eagle Mountain and as Daniel Lyon in the Commander Kellie and the Superkids SM video Armor of Light.

With the help of offices and staff in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, South Africa and Ukraine, Kenneth is fulfilling his vision to boldly preach the uncompromised Word of God from the top of this world, to the bottom, and all the way around. His ministry reaches millions of people worldwide through daily and weekly TV broadcasts, magazines, audio and video teaching tapes, conventions and campaigns, and the World Wide Web.

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