BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

********** ADVERTISEMENT ********** Rick Renner is now on bvovn® BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY NETWORK REAL. LIFE. FAITH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * watch on: dish® CHANNEL 265 apple tv® 4th Generation Roku® [logo] bvovn.com YouTube® amazon fire TV facebook Apple® iOS android *********************************************************** * * * article from p. 21 continues * * * * * Second Corinthians 4:8-9 says, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” “We are troubled on every side.” That word troubled means “to be crowded, pushed or pressed.” Do you ever feel like something is pushing against you? That something is pressuring you? Paul said it’s on every side. It’s not a lack of faith to acknowledge something you’re dealing with. Faith is not calling those things that are as though they are not. No, faith is calling things that are not as though they are! The physical is real! It’s temporary, but it’s real. Something is going to push on you. That’s a reality. You can’t control everything that tries to push on you. But what you are in control of is your response to it. Paul says we’ve been troubled on every side. We’ve been pressed and pushed, yet with all the trouble, with all the pushing and pressing, we’re not distressed. Is it possible to not be distressed, even in the midst of stuff pushing against you and pressuring you? Yes. Is it easy? This is where the fight of faith comes in. What Are You Fighting to Do? Hebrews 4:11 says we are to “labour therefore to enter into that rest.” That’s where the fight comes: Staying in that rest after you’ve entered in. The enemy will do everything in his power to keep you out of that rest. And once you’ve entered in, he’ll do everything possible to get you out. Out of rest, out of peace, out of trust, out of faith. The Lord has heard your prayer. Your seed is in the ground, your work is done and faith has been released. But that’s not the end of it, because at that point, you haven’t seen anything yet. You don’t feel it. And, in the natural, you need it. You need the money. You still hurt. You’re still uncomfortable. This is where the fight comes in. Can you be pushed, can you be pressed and not be distressed? This is the spirit of faith. We are perplexed, meaning we’re at a loss. But although we’re perplexed, the scripture says we’re not in despair. Can you be perplexed and clueless and still be up instead of down? If you’re in faith you can. You can be clueless and happy. It’s possible! Faith people would never say something like, “Why isn’t it working?” Why would you believe it’s not working? Because of what you see and feel, or don’t see and feel? If that’s the case, then you’re walking by sight, not by faith. Faith is up. Anyone can be up when the money is in your hand, or the symptoms are gone and you feel great. But when you’re hurting and you rejoice because you’re healed—that’s real faith. Real faith has real joy and real peace in the midst of contradictions, symptoms and lack. The Spirit of Faith Is the Spirit of Victory If God were moved by needs and people acting pitiful, miracles would be popping up all over the planet. But that’s not what moves God. God is moved by faith. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Faith will never acknowledge that it’s whipped, because it can’t be whipped. It will never acknowledge that God’s Word didn’t work, because God’s Word works—always! Faith will never concede defeat! There are many Christians who don’t always understand, but that doesn’t mean they can’t trust God with all their hearts. Whatever is going on that’s troubling your understanding or feelings, don’t lean on or rely on that. If your thoughts counter what God says, then learn to cast them down. Negative or troublesome thoughts are one way the enemy tempts you. But the Bible says we are to slap those thoughts down: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). God said I’m healed. He said my needs are met. He said my steps are ordered. He keeps me. He protects me. With long life He will satisfy me. Those are the thoughts I choose to dwell and meditate on. 22 : BVOV

• Cover