A Lost Gift Restored

by Kenneth Copeland


Not Debt or Depression, but Dominion

Not everyone knows about this restored gift. Or if they do, they don’t receive it and put it to use in their lives. They are not celebrating at all during this Christmas season. In fact, some people are suffering from depression. Others are getting into debt by buying gifts they can’t afford. Satan’s goal in all this—causing depression, debt and every other distraction—is to make believers lose sight of one thing in particular. He wants us to forget that the celebration of Christmas is the celebration of a gift restored…and that gift is the restoration of the purpose for which man was created.

Jesus told us that in His last words on earth. Just before He ascended to His heavenly Father, He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:18-20).

He had gone into hell and broken its power. Jesus had triumphed over the grave, “led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). He “spoiled principalities and powers” making a public show of them “triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15).

And now Jesus has commanded us to enforce that victory. How? Through that same regained authority and dominion, and by manifesting His love and operating in the gifts He has given us.

Notice Jesus didn’t say, “I'm going into all the earth to preach the gospel; come go with me.” Instead, He said, “You go, and I'll go with you.”

That’s why we read in the last chapter of Mark that the disciples obeyed His command to go into all the earth casting out the devil, speaking in tongues and preaching everywhere. And as they did, He went with them, working with and confirming the Word with signs following (Mark 16:15-20). They preached it; He confirmed it! They took authority; He backed it. They bound; He bound. They loosed; He loosed.

From His exalted position of authority at the right hand of the Father, He “ever liveth to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25). He is anointed and appointed High Priest over our profession, or confession, of His Word (Hebrews 3:1).

The gift that had been lost—the dominion and authority God had created man to use to bless the earth—had been restored (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8:5-6).



Be Busy Obeying


Receiving and administering this great gift begins with you and me. We do it by confessing and ordering our lives according to Jesus’ command in Matthew 22:37-39: “Father, I love you with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. And I love my neighbor as myself. Reveal to me Your plan for my life. Whatever You reveal for me to do, I will do it.”

Then we stay in the Word and in prayer. We refuse to do anything until we know what God desires for us to do. We walk like Jesus walked on this earth: “I say nothing except what I hear my Father say. I do nothing except what I see Him do.”

When He does tell you to do something, be faithful to do it even if it seems insignificant. Have the attitude that if He desires for something to be done, you’re going to be the one who is faithful to do it! Your obedience to His instruction is what will open the door to the next, and that door will lead to the next, and so on until you are continually following the Spirit of God. You’ll begin to hear His voice more clearly—in prayer, as you meditate the Word and as you are ministering to people.

When you begin loving others—helping people, praying for them, laying hands on them, telling them Jesus loves them—I guarantee God will move with you! Jesus will work with His words spoken in faith from your mouth. He will confirm them with the manifestation of His life and love.

As you are busy obeying God, the pattern and plan for your life will begin to take shape. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself walking smack in the center of God’s will for your life.

A benefit of being in God’s will that you’ll immediately notice is this: Any heaviness or troubling spirit that may have condemned and tormented you about being out of God’s will, will be gone.

Next you’ll find that as you obey the Lord, He will confirm His Word with the manifestation of His life and love. With each success you experience, you will gain confidence in God’s love at work in you. As fear loses its grip and is being flushed out of your life, love is being developed.

When you increase in knowledge of how Love works, the gifts of the spirit will begin to manifest in greater power in your life. Soon you will be marked as a man or woman of authority. And authority will bring what it always brings: success, respect, advanced knowledge and joy!



You Become the Gift


I don't care what's going on in your life right now—it is time to receive the gift Jesus suffered, died and rose from the grave to give you! It is time to walk in the blessings of God’s love and be His instrument of blessing in the earth. It’s time to celebrate a gift restored—the gift of the believer’s authority and dominion.

Don’t allow anything to keep you from celebrating!

If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life, now’s the time to do it. Or if you have walked away from fellowship with the Lord, it’s time for you to come back to Him. Don’t be embarrassed—run as hard as you can straight into His arms! He never left you; He has been right there with you all along—even while you were doing crazy stuff. Confess your sin, turn from it and get on with your life in Him. Pray this prayer right now:


Oh God in heaven, thank You for loving me. I take You at Your Word. I confess that Jesus is Lord. And I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. Thank You for coming into my heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You have promised, and for being Lord over my life. Thank You, Jesus. I give You my whole life. I give You this whole situation. I give You praise and honor. Right now, I rebuke you, Satan. Get out of my life! Shut up! I speak to you in the Name of Jesus! Oh Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I thank You, in Jesus’ Name.

God can take you from anywhere to total victory. He can give you success and bless you with abundance no matter what kind of mess you are in. You may owe so many people, they are looking for you on every corner. But God will help you, He’ll deliver you, He’ll get you out of debt. He’ll heal your body, if that’s the problem. He’ll restore your marriage. He’ll bring your children into His kingdom.


No wonder when Jesus was born that angel shouted, “I bring you good news!”

Take it! Rise up right now with a renewed faith in the words of Jesus’ authority in your mouth. Put the devil on the run. Cast the mountain of debt into the sea. Take authority over sickness and disease.

In your mind “see” Jesus standing right behind you with fire in His eyes and a smile on His face. You are standing right in the middle of His perfect will for you and your life. You are on your way. To where? To victory! Overwhelming victory. Victory in the blood. Victory in the Word. Victory in the Name of Jesus.

Take back the authority that is yours. That is the way to victory in your life. Don't throw your life away—give it away. Give it to Jesus and give it to other people.