BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

of many nations, as he had been promised…. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised (Romans 4:18–21, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition). Faced with the impossible, Abraham and Sarah believed God for a miracle, and they got one. God's mighty power changed their bodies, and Isaac, the son God had promised them, was born. Everything You Could Ever Need "But Gloria," you might say, "I don't have a specific promise from God about my situation like Abraham and Sarah did." Sure you do! You have an entire Bible full of God's promises. Plus, as a born-again believer, you have Jesus, and 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen…." That's why the good news about Jesus is called "the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). The word peace in Hebrew is shalom. It means "wholeness, with nothing missing, nothing broken." The word salvation in the New Testament carries much the same meaning. It's translated from a Greek word that denotes deliverance, preservation, material and temporal deliverance from danger; pardon, protection, liberty, health, restoration, soundness and wholeness—everything it takes to make your life complete. Talk about having a comprehensive promise from God! Romans 1:16 says that the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." It's the good news that whatever you need to be whole, with nothing missing and nothing broken, God has promised and provided it for you in Jesus. It's the good news that Jesus has done and will continue to do whatever is necessary to make your life complete—even if it takes a miracle. Jesus has always been big on miracles! He did all kinds of them during His earthly ministry, and He did them in all kinds of situations—sometimes in rather surprising settings. The first miracle He worked was at a wedding where the hosts had run out of wine! That's not what I'd consider a life-and- death situation. But Jesus' mother, Mary, was concerned about the embarrassment it would cause the groom's family. She knew it was too late for them to get more wine any other way, so she told Jesus about the problem and expected Him to fix it. Confident that He would, she turned to the servants who were standing nearby and said to them, "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5, AMPC). You probably remember what happened. Jesus told the servants to fill six big stone pots with water and take it to the governor of the feast. They did, and the water turned into the best wine they'd had all day. Verse 11 says, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory…." Jesus is still in the manifesting forth His glory business! He hasn't changed His mind about miracles. He's "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8). He's still willing and able to do everything He ever did. Think about all the impossible things Jesus did for people just in the three years He ministered on earth. Think of the numbers who came to Him needing not just healing but creative miracles. According to Matthew 15:30-31: Great multitudes came unto him, having 2 8 : B V O V We get what Jesus bought and paid for with His precious blood. We get the mercy of God. Nobody would ever receive a miracle if God wasn't merciful. But He is!

• Cover