BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

No. 3: The Divorced Are Tempted to Feel Unusable by God I often think about the many men and women crushed and beaten down by divorce. The devil wants you to feel unclean, unwanted and unusable by God. I’m happy to tell you that “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 103:17). When I think about my Christian brothers and sisters who have faced this, I remember Jesus’ example with the woman at the well (John 4). She had been married five times. Five times! Even then as she spoke to Jesus, she was living with a man who wasn’t her husband. Jewish tradition dictated that Jesus shouldn’t have even been talking to her. What did Jesus do? He saved her and sent her back to the city without the weight of guilt. Some people explain their divorce away by saying, “Yes, I was divorced before I got saved.” Do we really believe God is more forgiving and merciful to an unsaved person than to His own child? Of course not! Whether you divorced before or after you were saved, God’s mercy always has been, always is and always will be “from everlasting to everlasting.” No. 4: Those in Need Are Tempted to Disbelieve the Message of Prosperity The devil prefers that you live in lack—plain and simple. He’ll go so far as to try to convince you that poverty is a blessing. As someone who has known poverty, I can tell you that’s a lie. Some even try to explain the idea that poverty is a blessing by pointing to Paul’s statement that he was hungry and thirsty (1 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 11:27). The difference is that Paul didn’t stay that way. He said, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound” (Philippians 4:12). Yes, you may go through battles, but you don’t have to live there. You, too, can abound. When the devil tries to convince you to give up and say, “I just don’t believe God wants me to prosper,” turn to him and use the Name of Jesus. Tell him, “Satan, my heavenly Father is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He’s the God of our Lord Jesus Christ who became poor that we might become rich. My God says He’ll supply all my needs according to His riches in glory, and I take Him at His Word!” When you learn how to resist the enemy, you will never be the same. When the tempter comes, no longer will he be able to convince you to think wrong, plan wrong or do wrong. You’ll be ready to rise up in your covenant rights and privileges as a joint heir with Jesus and drive the devil out of your life. And Jesus will proudly say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). V John Osteen: The late John Osteen served the Lord as pastor, evangelist, author and teacher for 60 years. He and his wife, Dodie, traveled extensively throughout the world, taking the message of God's love, healing and power to people of all nations. For more information or ministry materials, go to lakewooodchurch.com. **********ADVERTISEMENT********** Tune in for Election Coverage in the Spirit of Faith! Take a stand for your nation today! visit AmericaStands.us * Learn how to register to vote in your state * Find trusted voting guides * Download a prayer for the nation * Watch live election & convention coverage ******************************** BVOV : 27

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