Podcast Summary: Fundamentals Of Faith, Part 2 (Kenneth Copeland)

Host: Dufresne Ministries
Speaker: Kenneth Copeland
Date: January 13, 2023
Event: Holy Ghost Meetings 2023

Episode Overview

This episode features Kenneth Copeland sharing on the "Fundamentals of Faith," diving into faith’s practical outworking, its spiritual laws, and the testimonies that reinforce its power. Speaking at a Holy Ghost Meeting, Copeland connects Biblical principles to modern life, especially regarding health, forgiveness, abundance, and the necessity of corresponding action in faith. The episode is peppered with storytelling, scripture exposition, worshipful moments, and anecdotes from decades of ministry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Longevity, Health, and Divine Promises

• Focus on Genesis 6:3: God ordains man’s lifespan as 120 years (00:33). Copeland discusses how both scripture and science indicate humans are built for long life, barring disease and poor lifestyle choices.
• Faith for Health: Citing Exodus and personal testimony, Copeland shares a moment of declaring divine health over his life:

  “He has taken sickness from the midst of me, and I’ll never be sick again hereafter forever, in the name of Jesus, whose I am and whom I serve, glory to God.” (04:52)

• Practical lifestyle: He talks about confronting personal addiction to food (gluttony vs. self-control), advocating for discipline of the flesh (11:04).

2. Physical & Spiritual Discipline

• Analogy to Exercise: Spiritual muscles need workouts just like physical ones (13:38).
• Copeland narrates his own experiences with physical soreness and parallels these efforts to faith training.

3. Application of God’s Word and the Power of Confession

• Deuteronomy’s Structure: Importance of understanding the full context of scripture, not taking blessings or curses in isolation (16:50).
• Blessing and Cursing Mountains: Illustration of Mount Gerizim (blessing) and Mount Ebal (curse) as a picture of tangible covenant realities (19:40).

4. Redemption From The Curse

• Galatians & the Finished Work: Christ has redeemed us from all the curse, including illness (22:11).

5. Healing Is a Reality, Not a Reward

• Dispelling Myths:

  “Healing is not a reward.” (24:55)
  Copeland addresses questions about ministers who still need medical help, emphasizing that faith and practical help are not mutually exclusive.

6. Personal Faith Stories and Miracles

• Details recurring healings, missions, and God’s faithfulness.
• Humbly recounts both successes and failures in healing ministry (01:38:32).

7. The Fundamentals of Faith – Spiritual Laws

• Overview: Begins with “The Law of Faith” from Romans 3:27 (36:13).
• Main Principles:
  1. Believe in the heart, say with the mouth: (Mark 11:23, Romans 10:10; 36:35)
  2. Faith won’t work in an unforgiving heart.
  3. Abraham’s blessing cannot be received with ‘Thomas’ faith’:

     “Jesus told him, Thomas, quit being faithless...” (40:38)

  4. Faith calls things that be not as though they were: God’s creative power is in calling the unseen into existence (42:05).
  5. Corresponding action is required: Faith is not mental agreement, but practical application (53:13).

8. Faith in Action – The Fig Tree Incident (Mark 11)

• Lesson on Spiritual Authority:
  Copeland narrates Jesus cursing the fig tree, emphasizing speaking the end result with confidence and not wavering (56:04).
• Faith’s Timetable: Sometimes, results are instant at the spiritual root, even if physical evidence appears later (01:09:15).

9. The Importance of Forgiveness

• Forgiveness makes faith work: Unforgiveness blocks the results of faith.

  “I learned to pre-forgive... Many, many times, I just stop and say, ‘Lord, I just forgive everybody in here, I just forgive everybody in the place.’” (01:22:19)

• Personal Examples: Stories of handling criticism, betrayals, and difficult people in love, not retaliation (01:13:21 and ongoing).

10. Prosperity in God—Breaking Poverty Mindsets

• Dispelling Myths About Jesus’ Poverty: Asserts that Jesus’ family was not poor, and the concept Christians should be poor is unscriptural (01:00:00).

11. Contemporary Issues, Societal Curses, and Open Doors

• Commentary on societal issues (like prayer being removed from schools and recent trends in gender and sexual issues), interpreting them as spiritual open doors left unclosed (01:15:20).
• Advocates praying for those involved—“Forgive them, Lord, they don’t know what they’re doing.” (01:20:20)

12. Practical Outworkings: Faith for All Circumstances

• No Matter the Circumstance:

  “What about the economy? Have faith in God. What about sickness? Have faith in God. What about children’s school? Have faith in God.” (01:33:10)

• Faith should be applied in all areas of life – personal, financial, physical, relational.

13. Worship and Testimonies

• Strong emphasis on praise and worship moments throughout (singing “He is Lord,” “You are so Beautiful,” “Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me”; 23:30, 25:50).
• Touching stories about his wife Gloria and the importance of inner beauty leading him to salvation (29:17).

14. Practical Instructions: “The Six I’s of Faith”

• Vision with Jesus and the Cookie Tray:

  “Your response is: I believe; I will; I take it; I have it; I thank you for it; I forgive.” (01:54:32)

• Faith is activated by believing, acting, receiving, thanksgiving, and forgiveness.

15. Covenant Foundations & America’s Christian Roots

• Refers to George Washington and America’s founding covenant with God, likening the nation's destiny to faithfulness to covenant (02:03:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Health and Divine Healing:

  “He has taken sickness from the midst of me, and I’ll never be sick again hereafter forever, in the name of Jesus, whose I am and whom I serve, glory to God.” — Kenneth Copeland (04:52)

• On Faith and Forgiveness:

  “When you stand praying, forgive if you have ought against any, that your Father…may forgive you.” (01:44:54)

• On Practical Faith:

  “I started to pray, and it didn’t turn out like I thought it was going to…” (story of handling criticism and the Lord’s rebuke, 01:13:21)
  “Faith demands corresponding action.” (53:13)

• On the Power of Declaration:

  “He answered it and said unto it, no man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever.” (Mark 11, 56:28)

• On Faith in Crisis:

  “Do not join into the recession. It doesn’t belong to you; it belongs to whoever will receive it and talk about it.” (01:12:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Longevity and Divine Health | 00:33 – 11:04 | | Spiritual and Physical Discipline | 11:04 – 16:00 | | The Mountains of Blessing and Cursing | 16:50 – 22:11 | | Healing is not a Reward/Practical Examples | 24:55 – 29:17 | | Laws of Faith/Fundamentals | 36:13 – 42:05 | | The Fig Tree & Spiritual Authority | 56:04 – 01:09:15| | Handling Criticism and Persecution | 01:13:21 | | Social Issues & Spiritual Warfare | 01:15:20 | | The Importance of Forgiveness | 01:22:19 – 01:27:00 | | Applying Faith Across Life | 01:33:10 | | Worship & Testimony (Gloria’s Story) | 23:30 – 29:17 | | Story: Jesus and the Cookie Tray (Six I’s of Faith) | 01:54:32 | | Covenant & America’s Foundations | 02:03:00 |

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Faith is a law, not a feeling: Learn the ingredients and practice until consistency produces results.
• Forgiveness is the engine: Without letting go, faith is blocked.
• Speak the Word: Say what God says, keep declaring, and look for the supernatural result, not just the natural evidence.
• Act in Love: Faith works best when love is the motive; serve, bless, forgive, and stay available for God’s use everywhere life takes you.
• Live courageously: Whether facing opposition, lack, sickness, or criticism, “Have faith in God” is always the antidote and the strategy.
• Legacy matters: Generational impact and national destiny are wrapped up in the faithfulness of individuals to God’s Word and Spirit.

For a rich, practical, and at times humorous deep dive into faith, spiritual authority, and walking the walk, this episode offers both deep teaching and memorable personal testimonies.