Kenneth Copeland Ministries: Pursuit Of His PresenceSample

From a Dog to a Prince

by Kenneth Copeland

“And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” 2 Samuel 9:7

Most people know the story of the covenant between David and Jonathan. The Word says, “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1). These two men, a sheepherder and a prince, entered into a blood covenant with one another.

What most people don’t know is what happened after Jonathan died. The covenant relationship continued between Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth and David.

You see, David’s unconditional love (hesed) didn’t end the day Jonathan was killed. It remained within him—even though he had become king. Even though he was wealthy and powerful, his covenant with Jonathan still burned inside him. He was so compelled that years later he cried out, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). One of Saul’s former servants, Ziba, gave David his answer: “Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.... Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar” (verses 3-4).

When David sent for him, Mephibosheth was afraid David would kill him. He came into the palace, threw himself at David’s feet, and began to religiously bawl and squall about what an unworthy dog he was (verses 6-8). David didn’t even acknowledge his unworthy dog talk. In his eyes, Mephibosheth wasn’t a dog. He was a rich man. He just didn’t know it. David had kept his covenant with Jonathan...and all of Jonathan’s wealth had been set aside for an heir. All Mephibosheth’s life he had been covenanted to David, but he didn’t know it. David was as much his father as Jonathan was because of the blood covenant between them.

That’s the message of God’s prosperity. Mephibosheth didn’t do anything to become prosperous. Someone sent for him, picked him up, and placed him in the middle of the most prosperous situation he’d ever seen in his life. Someone loved him—not because of anything he had done, but because he was the heir of a blood covenant.

Once you grasp that, you won’t ever believe you don’t deserve to be healed, blessed or delivered. You didn’t do anything to get where you are except receive Jesus. Once you did that, the Holy Spirit “fetched” you and placed you in the middle of the abundance of God Himself. You are surrounded by His blood. You are filled with His Spirit. You are crowned with His crown. And you wear the robe of His righteousness. Receive who you are in Christ Jesus today. Live like the son or daughter of the King. You’re a prince...destined to live in abundance in your spirit, soul and body.

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“God has made me a king and priest and I reign on the earth.” —Revelation 5:10

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