BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

I remember such a moment in my life. After serving one church for many years and literally pouring our hearts and souls into that congregation, Denise and I sensed that it was time for us to follow God's call elsewhere. The days passed and the time drew nearer to our last church service with our congregation. More and more I became aware that when I stood before the people as senior pastor for the last time, I'd be preaching the most important message I'd ever preached to that church. In the years we had served in this church, the congregation had heard many of my sermons. But in that last service, I'd be speaking my last words to them as their senior pastor. Therefore, I knew my words had to be carefully chosen and sensitively spoken. It was essential that I leave them with the message that was most important for them to hear from me as I stood before them for the last time in the role of their senior pastor. After Jesus washed His disciples' feet and served them their first Communion, He stayed with them and taught them for a lengthy period of time. We don't know exactly how long Jesus' teaching lasted that night, but three entire chapters (John 14, 15 and 16) are devoted to His last words to His disciples. These chapters contain the Spirit-inspired record of what Jesus said to His disciples just hours before He went to the Cross and the grave. This would be the last time He'd ever speak to them as the Leader they had known in human form. Jesus was about to physically depart from this world. He knew it was absolutely essential that the disciples learn how to rely entirely on the Spirit of God for guidance and direction after He left. Therefore, Jesus used His last moments to teach the disciples how to follow the Holy Spirit's leadership in the same way they had followed Him. It must have seemed strange to the disciples as they listened to Jesus speak about the Holy Spirit. They had been accustomed to Jesus physically and visibly leading them, but now they were learning that the Spirit of God would become their Leader. This would be a Leader they couldn't see, couldn't touch, and couldn't audibly hear; yet they were supposed to follow Him just as they had followed Jesus. They were probably thinking, What is the Holy Spirit’s leadership going to be like in our lives? Does He act and think differently than Jesus? What is it going to be like to follow the Spirit of God? Knowing that these were normal questions to ask, Jesus used His final moments with the disciples to dispel all fear and insecurity they might have felt about following the Holy Spirit's leadership. This is why Jesus was so careful to use key words when He spoke to them about the coming of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16, for example, Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter….” ****ADVERTISEMENT******* Two days that will impact your life Meet other believers, hear the uncompromised Word and receive personal ministry. May 30-31 The M Resort 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Henderson, NV 89044 Featuring: • Special message with Kenneth Copeland • Ministry updates, Teaching, Prayer and Healing Service with Dr. Stephen and Kellie Swisher •Pre-Service Prayer with Lyndsey Swisher Admission is FREE. Register today! kcm.org/LivingVictory For more information call 1-800-600-7395 (U.S. only) or +1-817-852-6000. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada 2014 LIVING VICTORY FAITH ENCOUNTER Preregister and receive a coupon at check-in for $10 off any purchase of $30 or more at the KCM book tables. Schedule is subject to change without notice. ******************************** APRIL '14 : BVOV: 25

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