BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Like David, we are in a battle against giants, and if we keep our shepherd’s bags full of good things and live according to our war manuals (aka the Word of God), we’ll be victorious. Never Quit Psalm 138:7 is a favorite of mine: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” I love David’s never-quit attitude. Those who know me know that’s how I live my life. I often get asked, “How do you keep going after all these years of preaching around the world?” There are lots of secrets I could give, but my greatest is this: I don’t quit. It’s simply not in my vocabulary. I don’t allow “quit” in my head. I don’t allow it in my heart. I don’t allow it in my ministry staff. I don’t quit. Period. In the military, we used to say, “The only way to stop a U.S. Marine with an M16 is surrender.” Now I say, “The only way to stop a Bible-believing, tongue-talking, devil-casting-out believer is surrender.” There’s no other way to stop us. We don’t surrender. And if we don’t quit, the enemy can’t win. Psalm 23:4 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” There really is a place called the Valley of the Shadow of Death in the Holy Land between Jericho and Jerusalem. It was the main route by which shepherds would take the flocks from the Jordan River Valley up to the hills of Judea for feeding. There are steep cliffs on both sides all the way through. It’s also filled with caves. Bandits would hide in them to steal the sheep and even kill the shepherds in the process. That doesn’t even include the wild animals that called the place home. That’s the place that inspired David to write that psalm. He looked at that place known for danger and death and said, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Your Key to Victory That might not be the valley you walk in, but I guarantee you, that as you serve the Lord, you’ll encounter giants—people and situations that will threaten your life, try to hurt you, mess with your body, attack your money, threaten your family, invade your congregation. Every one of them is bent on stopping you from doing what God has called you to do. To survive, you must be so washed by the Word of God that you can’t be distracted or defeated. All you know is this: I am invincible. God always gives me the victory. I am more than a conqueror. The Lord is on my side, and nothing is going to harm me. It’s time to grab the lion by the beard. That’s the key to your victory no matter what your battle looks like. You’re a child of God and your shepherd’s pouch is filled. No matter what giants you’re facing, you’re armed for battle and destined to win! V Mark Barclay is the founding pastor of Living Word International Church, in Midland, Mich., and president and founder of Supernatural Ministries Training Institute. For information or ministry materials go to marktbarclay.com. Watch Mark Barclay on VICTORY Channel® Sun: 2 a.m. & 3 p.m.; Thu. 3:30 a.m.; Fri. 8 a.m.; Sat. 5:30 p.m. ET ********************************** ********************************** WORDS OF FAITH FOR A GOOD FUTURE THE BLESSING has been God’s will for mankind ever since the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 1:28) The curse was not God’s idea; satan produced it by convincing Adam and Eve to sin. (Gen. 3:1) All human heartache and destruction is satan’s work, and Jesus came to destroy it. (Acts 10:38) Through His life, death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the devil, overcame the curse and restored everything Adam lost in the Fall. (John 10:10) BVOV : 11

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