BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Sin is absolutely running wild these days. I’m amazed sometimes at how much evil has increased just during my lifetime. Acts of wickedness that were practically unthinkable when I was growing up are almost commonplace now. Many people these days have gotten the idea that sin really isn’t a big deal. They think we should be more tolerant of it. Some are even proud of their sin and boldly flaunt it in the face of God. If you’ve read Bible history, you know that’s not a smart thing to do. It makes cultures increasingly violent and dangerous. It opens the door to calamity, destruction and ultimately to divine judgment. Maybe this isn’t a popular thing to say these days, but I’m going to say it anyway: Sin is not OK. It carries penalties with it. Anyone who thinks it doesn’t, needs to look at what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. They don’t exist anymore. You and I can’t go there on vacation and tour the antiquity museums. Those cities are gone. God had to judge and destroy them because if He’d let the evil there continue unchecked, it would have contaminated the whole world. It would have darkened the hearts of future generations and prevented God from getting through to them. Although the world hasn’t gotten to that point yet in our day (and I don’t believe it will as long as the Church is on the earth preaching the gospel and living for Jesus), sin is clearly having a negative effect on this planet. The earth can take only so much evil before it revolts, and things like earthquakes, fires, famines and plagues start to multiply. That’s why the closer we get to the end of this age, the more dangerous this world will become. You Can Be Sheltered and Secure “Well, Gloria,” you might say, “you’re making things sound pretty scary.” I know, and they would be scary if it weren’t for this: As believers, God has provided protection for us. He has offered us a refuge from the dangers of this world. If we take Him up on that offer, we can be like the man in Psalm 91 who dwells in the secret place of the Most High. We can say with confidence: “The Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!” (verses 1-2, The Amplified Bible). A refuge is a wonderful thing. It provides a place of safety even in the midst of the most terrible destruction. Have you ever seen old photos of people during World War II crowding into underground bomb shelters? That’s a good illustration of what a refuge can do. It can protect you and literally save your life when evil and violence are exploding all around. In times of trouble, even a natural refuge can be a great blessing. But a supernatural refuge—the kind that God provides for us—is an even greater blessing. Unlike a natural shelter, there’s always plenty of room in the secret place of the Most High. God will never turn you away and tell you there’s no vacancy. He’ll never say, “My shelter is full.” God is big! He’s big enough to cover everyone who comes to Him. He’s so big He can keep us surrounded continually by His goodness, so that wherever we are we can say like David did in 2 Samuel 22:2-3: “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” **TAKE REFUGE continues on page 30** *****ADVERTISEMENT******** KCM & United Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Degree ******** FULLY ACCREDITED Strengthen and refine your prophetic and pastoral skills—no matter where you live. Kenneth Copeland Scholars Program photos of Kenneth Copeland & Dr. Stephen L. Swisher ******** With hands-on training by Dr. Stephen L. and Kellie Swisher, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Dr. Harold Hudson and others, you’ll discover how to engage our culture with the principles of faith through: • Learning to preach faith with power to impact your community for Jesus • Impacting the world with international TV broadcasts • Creating subscription-based ministry magazines from start to finish • Harnessing the power of social media • Using every available voice—from motion pictures to podcasts—to spread the gospel And much more. Apply now! Fall semester starts in AUGUST. kcm.org/uts or call 1-817-252-2792. ****************************** MAR '14 : BVOV : 29

• Cover