BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

B V O V : 1 1 Become Established… and Flourish! When you're tempted to quit, don't run from God, and don't run from His Word. Run to them! Once again, they're able to build you up, strengthen you and cause you to become established, settled, secure, fi rm and immovable. Become like the person described in Psalm 112:6-8: "Surely he shall not be moved for ever… his heart is fi xed, trusting in theLord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid." When you become strong and established, you become someone who is able to receive everything God has promised. You'll be able to testify about another blessing that has come into your life, and another victory you have experienced. If you will not quit, then you'll fl ourish (Psalm 92:12). Whenever you fi nd someone abounding in the blessings of God, it's clear why—they're strong and established. Their faithfulness stands out. Don't get upset with them. Don't become envious or mad at them. Don't say ugly remarks about them. Instead, follow their example. What He's done for them, He'll do for you. If you won't quit, and if you'll remain faithful, then get ready to fl ourish like never before. Get ready to abound in God's blessings. That's what happens to people who refuse to quit. the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," I asked the Lord, "What is Your defi nition of faith? Give me something easy to relate to." He said, It is a deep conviction of the reality that it is impossible for Me to lie. Read what the Lord said to me again: It is a deep conviction of the reality that it is impossible for Me to lie. That's faith! You can fi nd confi rmation of this in several other verses of Scripture, including Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; Psalm 89:34; and Isaiah 40:8. If you're not deeply convicted that it's impossible for God to lie, then you'll always struggle with your faith. As Brother Copeland has said, when you get to the place where you believe God's Word as quickly as you would the word of your doctor, your lawyer or your best friend, then you won't struggle with your faith anymore. Another reason people quit is because they're not willing to wait. Believers who give up have never developed the force of patience in their lives. Hebrews 10:35-36 says, "Cast not away therefore your confi dence [or your faith], which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." The Message says, "So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It'sstilla sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion." If you "stick it out" you will receive a promised completion. That motivates me. It keeps me standing (Ephesians 6:13-14). It may take two days, or it may take 20 years, but there's a promised completion if you stand with faith and patience. A third reason I believe people quit is because they don't spend enough time in fellowship with God and His Word. Acts 20:32 states, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctifi ed." God and His Word are one and the same, and they're both able to build you up as you spend time with them. They'll make you strong and cause you to become established, which will turn you into a person who will never quit. "Whenever you fi nd someone abounding in the blessings of God, it's clear why— they're strong and established."

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