Look at Mark 4 and you’ll see what I mean. There, we find Jesus’ disciples facing a problem that required them to take some kind of action. But they chose the wrong action—and it landed them in deep water.

Here’s the situation. Jesus had been preaching all day at the seaside. At the end of the day, a matter of choice He had instructed the disciples to take Him by boat to the other side of the sea.

And when they [the disciples] had sent away the multitude, they took him [Jesus] even as he was in the ship…And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:36-41).

Now, think about this situation for a moment. There were the disciples, facing this fierce storm. No doubt they were doing everything they knew to do, naturally speaking, to keep their boat afloat. They were bailing, they were paddling.

But they didn’t say a word to Jesus, even though He was right there in the boat with them!

They didn’t call on His power until the boat was full of water and they were about to sink. Why? They’d made the wrong choice. They had chosen to look to natural solutions instead of supernatural ones. Faith never even entered their minds until they were about to drown!

It should have. After all, Jesus had been teaching them the Word all day. He’d told them how the devil comes to choke the Word with pressures and cares of the world. Then he got into the boat and said, “Now we will go to the other side,” and went to sleep expecting His Word to be carried out.

If they’d really listened to the Word Jesus had taught, any one of those disciples could have—and should have—stood up in the bow of that boat and hollered, “Peace, be still! The Son of the living God has told us to go to the other side of this lake, and we are going if we have to walk!”

If they’d thought supernaturally, instead of just naturally, any one of them could have drawn by faith on the Anointing and the words of Jesus and stopped that storm. But they made the wrong choice.

Many well-meaning believers are making that same mistake today. They have Jesus right there in their boat, but they’re depending on natural resources to get them through their lives instead of calling on the supernatural Anointing of God. They’re making the wrong choices, so they’re going under.

Kenneth Copeland

Amp—If any of you is deficient in wisdom,
let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to
every one liberally and ungrudgingly, without
reproaching or faultfinding, and it will
be given him.

Moffatt—Whoever of you is defective in
wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all
men without question or reproach, and the
gift will be his.

NIV—If any of you lacks wisdom, he should
ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 3:17
KJV—The wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Amp—The wisdom from above is first of
all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving,
courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing
to] yield to reason, full of compassion and
good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward,
impartial and unfeigned—free from
doubts, wavering and insincerity.

Moffatt—The wisdom from above is first
of all pure, then peaceable, forbearing,
conciliatory, full of mercy and wholesome
fruit, unambiguous, straightforward.

NIV—The wisdom that comes from
heaven is first of all pure; then peaceloving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy
and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

2 Chronicles 1:12
KJV—Wisdom and knowledge is granted to
thee; and I will give thee riches and wealth,
and honour, such as none of the kings have
had that have been before thee, neither
shall there any after thee have the like.

Amp—Wisdom and knowledge are
granted you, and I will give you riches, possessions,
honor and glory, such as none of
the kings had before you, and none after
you shall have their equal.

Moffatt—Wisdom and intelligence I give
you, and I will add riches, wealth, and honour
such as no king before you ever had,
and no king after you will ever have.

NIV—Therefore wisdom and knowledge
will be given you. And I will also give you
wealth, riches and honor, such as no king
who was before you ever had and none
after you will have.

Proverbs 2:6-7
KJV—For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of
his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for
the righteous: he is a buckler to them that
walk uprightly.

Amp—For the Lord gives skillful and godly
Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge
and understanding. He hides away sound
and godly Wisdom and stores it for the
righteous—those who are upright and in
right standing with Him; He is a shield to
those who walk uprightly and in integrity.

Moffatt—For it is the Eternal who supplies
wisdom, from him come insight and knowledge,
he has help ready for the upright, he
is a shield for those who live honestly.

NIV—For the Lord gives wisdom, and
from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding. He holds victory in store for
the upright, he is a shield to those whose
walk is blameless.

Proverbs 3:13-18
KJV—Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
and the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than
the merchandise of silver, and the gain
thereof than fine gold. She is more precious
than rubies: and all the things thou canst
desire are not to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in
her left hand riches and honour. Her ways
are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths
are peace. She is a tree of life to them that
lay hold upon her: and happy is every one
that retaineth her.

Amp—Happy—blessed, fortunate [enviable]—
is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding—
drawing it forth [from God’s Word and life’s
experiences]. For the gaining of it is better
than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it
than fine gold. Skillful and godly Wisdom is
more precious than rubies, and nothing you
can wish for is to be compared to her.
Length of days is in her right hand, and in
her left hand are riches and honor. Her
ways are highways of pleasantness, and all
her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to
those who lay hold on her, and happy—
blessed, fortunate [to be envied]—is every
one who holds her fast.

NIV—Blessed is the man who finds
wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and
yields better returns than gold. She is more
precious than rubies; nothing you desire
can compare with her. Long life is in her
right hand; in her left hand are riches and
honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all
her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to
those who embrace her; those who lay
hold of her will be blessed.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have
spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In other
words, Jesus is saying, “The world will come at
you with everything it has to offer, but don’t
worry about it—I’ve already beaten it—I’ve
already overcome the world.”

Now when Jesus said He had overcome the
world, He wasn’t referring to just 99 percent of
it. He said, “I have overcome the world.” One
hundred percent of it! It makes no difference
what problems the world brings to your
doorstep. Just turn to Jesus and you’re
guaranteed to conquer those problems because
He has already overcome every one.

There’s something else in that scripture I want
you to notice. Jesus said, “…that in me ye might
have peace.” He was teaching here about being
one with Him and the Father, and telling us that
our battles here on this earth don’t have to keep
us in turmoil. He has guaranteed our victory, so if
we’ll just trust in Him, we can have peace, even
in the midst of trouble.

When Jesus said these things, He was
speaking to His disciples—men who had been
with Him day and night for three years. Yet they
couldn’t grasp what it meant to be “in Him” as
well as you and I can today. You see, the Holy
Spirit had not yet come to dwell in them, and
without the Holy Spirit, it’s impossible to
understand spiritual things. It takes the Holy
Spirit to reveal even simple truths, like the
reality of being born again.

Just think of it. These men had never even
heard of being born again! Jesus told Nicodemus
about it, but Nicodemus thought He was talking
about a man going back into his mother’s womb.
Jesus told him, “I’m speaking of heavenly things,
and you don’t even understand earthly things.”
(See John 3:1-12.) These men had no concept of
what Jesus was about to do at Calvary. They had
no idea that through His death and resurrection,
He was to become the firstborn from the dead
and issue forth a new race of born-again winners
filled with the mighty Spirit of God, Himself.
Only after the Holy Spirit came on the Day of
Pentecost could they see what Jesus had been
saying. Then Peter stood up and boldly preached
the Word of God by revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Can you see what a change the Holy Spirit
brought in his life?

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Proverbs 8:17-21
KJV—I love them that love me; and those
that seek me early shall find me. Riches and
honour are with me; yea, durable riches and
righteousness. My fruit is better than gold,
yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than
choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness,
in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit
substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Amp—I love those who love me, and those
who seek me early and diligently shall find
me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring
wealth, and righteousness [that is, uprightness
in every area and relation, and right
standing with God]. My fruit is better than
gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase
than choice silver. [Wisdom] walk in the way
of righteousness [of moral and spiritual rectitude
in every area and relation], in the
midst of the paths of justice, That I may
cause those who love me to inherit [true]
riches, and that I may fill their treasuries.

Moffatt—Those who love me, I love them;
those who seek me find me. I hold wealth
and honour, position and good fortune; what
I yield is better than the best of gold, what I
bring in is better than rare silver. I deal right
fairly, justly do I act, enriching those who
love me, and filling their stores full.

NIV—I love those who love me, and those
who seek me find me. With me are riches
and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield
surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of
righteousness, along the paths of justice,
bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

Ecclesiastes 5:19
KJV—Every man also to whom God hath
given riches and wealth, and hath given him
power to eat thereof…and to rejoice in his
labour; this is the gift of God.

Amp—Every man to whom God has given
riches and possessions and power to enjoy
them…and to rejoice in his toil, this is the gift
of God to him.

Moffatt—It is God’s own gift when a man is
made rich and wealthy and able to enjoy it
all…and to enjoy himself as he toils.

NIV—When God gives any man wealth
and possessions, and enables him to enjoy
them…and be happy in his work—this is a
gift of God.

Jeremiah 29:11
KJV—For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of
peace, and not of evil, to give you an
expected end.

Amp—For I know the thoughts and plans
that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts
and plans for welfare and peace, and not for
evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Moffatt—For I keep in mind my purpose
for you, a purpose of weal, not of woe, to
let you have hope for the future.

NIV—“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and
a future.”

Acts 14:17
KJV—He [God] left not himself without witness,
in that he did good, and gave us rain
from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our
hearts with food and gladness.

Amp—He [God] did not neglect to leave
some witness of Himself, for He did you
good and kindnesses, and gave you rains
from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying
your hearts with nourishment and happiness.

Moffatt—As the bountiful Giver he [God]
did not leave himself without a witness,
giving you rain from heaven and fruitful
seasons, giving you food and joy to your
heart’s content.

NIV—He [God] has not left himself without
testimony: He has shown kindness by giving
you rain from heaven and crops in their
seasons; he provides you with plenty of
food and fills your hearts with joy.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Psalm 23:1

KJV—The Lord is my shepherd; I shall
not want.

Amp—The Lord is my shepherd [to feed,
guide and shield me]; I shall not lack.

Moffatt—The Eternal shepherds me, I lack
for nothing.

NIV—The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
be in want.

Psalm 35:27

KJV—Let them shout for joy, and be glad,
that favour my righteous cause: yea, let
them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified,
which hath pleasure in the prosperity
of his servant.

Amp—Let those who favor my righteous
cause and have pleasure in my uprightness
shout for joy and be glad, and say continually,
Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes
pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.

Moffatt—May they shout for joy, may
they be glad, who love to see me righted!
May they have ever cause to say, “All hail
to the Eternal, who loves to see his servant
prospering!”

NIV—May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness; may they
always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights
in the well-being of his servant.”

Psalm 37:3-11

Amp—Trust (lean on, rely on and be confident)
in the Lord, and do good; so shall you
dwell in the land and feed surely on His
faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He
will give you the desires and secret petitions
of your heart. Commit your way to
the Lord—roll and repose [each care of]
your load on Him; trust (lean on, rely on
and be confident) also in Him, and He will
bring it to pass. And He will make your uprightness
and right standing with God go
forth as the light, and your justice and right
as [the shining sun of] the noonday.
Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him,
and patiently stay yourself upon Him; fret
not yourself because of him who prospers
in his way, because of the man who brings
wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger
and forsake wrath; fret not yourself; it tends
only to evil-doing. For evildoers shall be
cut off; but those who wait and hope and
look for the Lord, [in the end] shall inherit
the earth.

For yet a little while and the evildoer will
be no more; though you look with care
where he used to be, he will not be found.
But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the
earth, and shall delight themselves in the
abundance of peace.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries