John Bevere Quotes & Sayings

A natural example of this is the two seas in the Holy Land. The Sea of Galilee freely receives and gives out water. It has an abundance of life, nurturing many different kinds of fish and plant life. The water of the Sea of Galilee is carried by way of the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. But the Dead Sea only takes water in and does not give it out. There are no living plants or fish in it. The living waters from the Sea of Galilee become dead when mixed with the hoarded waters of the Dead Sea. Life cannot be sustained if held on to: It must be given freely. — John Bevere

.Be ye perfect is not. . .a command to do the impossible. [God] is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. — John Bevere

Jesus was showing them that not dealing with anger can lead to hatred. Hatred not dealt with would put them in danger of hell. Then He said that if they remembered their brother was offended with them, they were to make it top priority to find him and seek to be reconciled. Why should we seek with such urgency to be reconciled - for our sake or for our brother's sake? We should go for his sake that we might be a catalyst to help him out of the offense. Even if we are not offended with him, the love of God does not let him remain angry without attempting to reach out and restore. We may have done nothing wrong. Right or wrong doesn't matter. It is more important for us to help this stumbling brother than to prove ourselves correct. — John Bevere

The Lord then brought to my remembrance that His Word did not say, "Children, obey your parents only if they are born again." He explained, You are my Child; therefore, I place My wisdom and instruction in the hearts of your parents for your guidance and protection. — John Bevere

Jesus never gave advice — John Bevere

fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. — John Bevere

YOU GROW MORE FROM THE MOST CHALLENGING OFFENSES - THE ONES FOR WHICH YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TRAINED. — John Bevere

I will use this period of spiritual training in my life to focus on the greatness of my God instead of the impossibility of my circumstances. — John Bevere

There is no other way to know good from evil, right from wrong, unless we have His Word dwelling richly in our heart. It's good for us to spend time in His Word. — John Bevere

Our lives must be submitted to and built upon His position of lordship, not upon His work as Savior. Another — John Bevere

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. — John Bevere

There is nothing good for you outside of God's wisdom or Word, nothing at all. — John Bevere

Our response to an offense determines our future. — John Bevere

We want Jesus to come to our house, but we're going to question Him when He gets there. — John Bevere

Most are deceived by and drawn to behavior and things that seem right, good, and wise but are contrary to His wisdom. — John Bevere

Love forgets wrongs so that there is hope for the future. — John Bevere

How can a good God appoint cruel people to positions of authority? The answer is simple: God is the originator of the authority, but He is not the author of the cruelty. Man is responsible for his cruel actions, not God. All authority is of God, but not all authority is godly. — John Bevere

No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). — John Bevere

Holy fear is the key to God's sure foundation, unlocking the treasuries of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. Along with the love of God, it composes the very foundation of life! We will soon learn that we cannot truly love God until we fear Him, nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him. — John Bevere

Godly fear, faith, and humility is the true threefold cord that can't easily be broken (see Ecclesiastes 4:12). — John Bevere

We must always keep in mind all legitimate authority is from God, and is given for protection, provision, and peace. — John Bevere

We should be leaders in all aspects of our society, not followers. If you're a public schoolteacher, then through the gift of grace you constantly come up with fresh, creative, and innovative ways to communicate knowledge and wisdom to your students that none of the other educators in your school system have thought of. You set the bar high and inspire your students in such a way that others marvel. Your fellow educators cannot help but discuss among themselves, "Where is he (or she) getting such great ideas?" If — John Bevere

But we will never advance this heavenly cause if we do not rely on the power of the Spirit. Jesus needed the Spirit's power - what makes us any different? — John Bevere

This truth remains: Only those you care about can hurt you. You expect more from them-after all, you've given more of yourself to them. The higher the expectations, the greater the fall. — John Bevere

WHERE ARE THE FATHERS? I have seen this cry in countless men and women in the body of Christ. Most of them are young and with a strong call of God on their lives. They cry out for a father, a man to disciple, love, support, and encourage them. This is why God said He would "turn the hearts of the fathers [leaders] to the children [people], and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Mal. 4:6). Our nation lost its fathers (dads, leaders, or ministers) in the 1940s and 1950s, and today our condition is getting worse. Not unlike Saul, many leaders in our homes, corporations, and churches are more concerned with their goals than with their offspring. Because of this attitude, these leaders view God's people as resources to serve their vision instead of seeing the vision as the vehicle to serve the people. — John Bevere

Father, I want to continue to always grow into a more intimate relationship with You. Expose the areas of my life that hinder me from being Christlike, and cause my life to reflect the character of my precious Savior and Lord. — John Bevere

The greater hardship you endure, the greater the authority God entrusts to you. — John Bevere

If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." (Exodus 33:15) As a reminder, where was here? It was the place of lack, adversity, stress, and hardship - the desert. Moses gave a reply that's perplexing, even mind-boggling, to the average person. In essence he declared, "If I have to choose between Your presence and Your blessing, I'll take Your presence - even if it's in a place of lack and hardship - over Your blessing in a great environment." Was Moses delusional? Had the desert sun distorted his sense of judgment? No. His internal GPS was set on what was best. It was directing him to make the best choice even when God was offering him a good choice, one that common sense and uncomfortable circumstances would have dictated he accept. — John Bevere

The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. - Oswald Chambers L — John Bevere

If we do not carry God's truth and light to this world, no one will. — John Bevere

Grace is God's free empowerment that gives us the ability to go beyond our natural ability. W — John Bevere

An offended heart is the breeding ground of deception. — John Bevere

He quickly responded, "A person with a religious spirit is one who uses My Word to execute his own will!" In other words, it is when we take what the Lord has said and work our own desires into it. — John Bevere

A common excuse for self-preservation through disobedience is offense. There is a false sense of self-protection in harboring an offense. It keeps you from seeing your own character flaws because the blame is deferred to another. You never have to face your role, your immaturity, or your sin because you see only the faults of the offender. Therefore, God's attempt to develop character in you by this opposition is now abandoned. The offended person will avoid the source of the offense and eventually flee, becoming a spiritual vagabond. — John Bevere

We all have life-defining moments. They are like open-book tests, but we don't know we have been examined until it is over. — John Bevere

If we don't risk being hurt, we cannot give unconditional love. Unconditional love gives others the right to hurt us. — John Bevere

The knowledge of God's Word without love is a destructive force because it puffs us up with pride and legalism. — John Bevere

There's One Person above all others who desires an extraordinary life for you. He is a Father who delights, like any good father, in the achievements and happiness of His children. His name is God! And nothing will please Him more than seeing you reach your highest potential. — John Bevere

The man or woman who doesn't forgive has forgotten the price that Christ paid for them on the Cross. — John Bevere

Do not be afraid to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any unforgiveness or bitterness. The longer you hide it, the stronger it will become and the harder your heart will grow. Stay tenderhearted. — John Bevere

Physical maturity is bound to time. Spiritual maturity is bound to obedience. — John Bevere

God is seeking those who hear His call to a life of worship. Those who heed are those who will walk in His presence. They will know Him intimately as He will manifest Himself to them. — John Bevere

Trees endure the hot sun and rainstorms by sending their roots down deeper. The adversity they face is eventually the source of great stability. The harshness of the elements surrounding them causes them to seek another source of life. They will one day come to the place that even the greatest of windstorms cannot affect their ability to produce fruit. — John Bevere

Often God will send us what we need in a package we don't want. Why? To let us know He's God and we cannot second-guess Him. We cannot search for answers merely with our heads; we must seek Him and His provision with our hearts. Scripture cannot be interpreted from our limited human mental understanding. There must be a breath of the Spirit of God. He alone gives wise counsel and correct application. — John Bevere

We cannot discern what is truly good for our lives without first having our minds renewed. — John Bevere

There is the prophetic ministry of promise born of the will of the Father and there is the prophetic ministry born of flesh and the will of man. Though both are conceived through a genuine desire to fulfil God's plan and promise, the one birthed by flesh must be maintained by flesh while the one birthed by the Spirit will be sustained by the Spirit. Flesh reproduces flesh and therefore speaks directly to the desires of man. Spirit reproduces spirit and therefore speaks forth the desire of God. — John Bevere

We are like horses that must be broken; basically that one should submit to a pastor even if he is wrong. — John Bevere

Remember that God has given you today and that the choices you make today will shape your tomorrow - not your yesterday. — John Bevere

Christianity is not a sprint but an endurance run. Therefore it is not how we start the race that counts, but how we complete it. How we finish is determined by the choices we make, and those are often formed by patterns we develop along the way. — John Bevere

justifies the cost of wounded lives and shattered people. Justice, mercy, integrity, and love are compromised for success. Decisions are based on money, numbers, and results. — John Bevere

A PERSON WHO CANNOT FORGIVE HAS FORGOTTEN HOW GREAT A DEBT GOD HAS FORGIVEN THEM. — John Bevere

God has brought His Church into the wilderness. Spiritually, America is a dry and thirsty land. Our time of testing is at hand. God once again watches to see whether His people will seek His face or His hand. His face represents His character and nature; it denotes a relationship. His hand represents His provision and power. If you seek only His hand, you may not recognize His face. But if you know the face, you will know His hand. — John Bevere

Because the Western church has emphasized the work Jesus did for us as Savior rather than His position as Lord, lack of submission to His position of authority creates a significant fault in our foundation. Hear — John Bevere

We don't honor just to get a reward; we honor because it is the heart of God, and it is our delight. — John Bevere

IT IS RIGHTEOUS FOR GOD TO AVENGE HIS SERVANTS. IT IS UNRIGHTEOUS FOR GOD'S SERVANTS TO AVENGE THEMSELVES. — John Bevere

The Bible is very clear that in the last days men will be "lovers of themselves" (2 Tim. 3:2). — John Bevere

Everything in the universe is good to the degree it conforms to the nature of God and evil as it fails to do so. - A.W. Tozer — John Bevere

The Spirit of God is jealous over us; He doesn't want superficial fellowship, but genuine intimacy. — John Bevere

When we oppose God's delegated authority, we oppose God Himself. — John Bevere

it is important to seek godly counsel and the peace of the Spirit. But too often we believe Mr. or Ms. Right will miraculously fill all the gaping holes in our lives. No human being is up for that task. It's a role only God can fill. And you can't manage the condition of anyone else, reforming them into exactly what you think you need. What you can do is embrace God's process of refinement and become a man or woman who selflessly lays down your life for your current or future spouse. In the process of laying down your life, you will discover more fulfillment than if you'd sought your own interests. — John Bevere

Complex faith does not kill giants. It imprisons us in "wonder" land where we try to figure out what we cannot change and hesitate to make any move. — John Bevere

It is an infallible truth that if we do not fear God, we will be afraid of Him at the revelation of His glory, for every knee shall bow to Him, if not out of godly fear then out of terror — John Bevere

The wilderness is a dry place. It may be dry spiritually, financially, socially, or physically. It is here that God gives "daily bread," not "abundance of things." He meets our needs in this time - not necessarily our wants. The purpose of the wilderness - to purify us. Our pursuit is to be His heart, not His provision — John Bevere

We don't want to merely obey God: we need to catch His heart. It is then we will glimpse the wisdom behind His directives, and not just see them as laws. — John Bevere

It is much better to tell the truth than to compromise truth and have someone believe a lie. It is far better they hear the truth now than that they believe they can keep other idols in their life - and then one day, when it's too late, shockingly hear the Master say, "Depart; I never knew you, you who were deceived! — John Bevere

If we proclaim a gospel that doesn't emphasize transformation, we end up with a deficit of clean containers, which consequently creates a shortage of God's manifest presence on the earth. — John Bevere

Some offenses will be more challenging than those for which we've been trained. This extra strain may cause — John Bevere

I see a generation comprised of all ages, inclusive of men and women, awakening to the extraordinary qualities hidden within. The power to accomplish remarkable feats and live an exceptional life is not defined by an individual's family, education, or occupation; it's a disposition of the heart. Unless it's suppressed, there is an innate desire to rise above the norm. I encourage you to step into the unknown, embrace the divine empowerment, and live your extraordinary life. — John Bevere

THE DREAM BECOMES A NIGHTMARE — John Bevere

When we blame others and defend our own position, we are blind. We struggle to remove the speck out of our brother's eye while there is a log in ours. It is the revelation of truth that brings freedom to us. When the Spirit of God shows us our sin, He always does it in such a way that it seems separate from us. This brings conviction, not condemnation. — John Bevere

True honor is an outflow from a heart that fears God. — John Bevere

It doesn't matter how good something looks, how happy it makes you, how much fun it is, how rich and successful you'll become, how deeply spiritual it appears, how sensible it seems, how popular or accepted it is - and the list goes on and on. If something is contrary to the wisdom (or Word) of God, it will ultimately be detrimental and bring sorrow to your life. — John Bevere

Love is the bottom line in our relationship with the Lord - not love of principles or teachings but love for the Person of Jesus Christ. — John Bevere

What we say in private we must be willing to say with a heart burning with love and honor before the face of our leaders. If not, we will poison our spirits and it will manifest in the presence of our leaders. — John Bevere

Trials in this life will expose what is in your heart - whether the offense is toward God or others. Tests either make you bitter toward God and your peers or stronger. If you pass the test, your roots will shoot down deeper, stabilizing you and your future. If you fail, you become offended, which can lead to defilement with bitterness. — John Bevere

God is waiting to satisfy us, yet His goodness will not satisfy us if we are already full of other things. — John Bevere

In essence he declared, "If I have to choose between Your presence and Your blessing, I'll take Your presence - even if it's in a place of lack and hardship - over Your blessing in a great environment. — John Bevere

God doesn't author hardship but uses it to strengthen us for greater conquests. He never leads us into a storm that He doesn't give us the power to overcome. — John Bevere

is good enough? In these times the terms good and God are seemingly synonymous. We believe that what is generally accepted as good must be aligned with God's will. Generosity, humility, and justice are good. Selfishness, arrogance, and cruelty are evil. The distinction seems pretty straightforward. But is that all there is to it? If good is so obvious, why does Hebrews 5:14 teach that we must have discernment to recognize it? — John Bevere

I say that trials and tests locate a person. In other words they determine where you are spiritually. They reveal the true condition of your heart. How you react under pressure is how the real you reacts. — John Bevere

Offended people still may experience miracles, words of utterance, strong preaching, and healing in their lives. But these are gifts of the Spirit, not fruits. We will be judged according to fruit, not gifting. A gift is given. Fruit is cultivated. — John Bevere

In other words, a believer who chooses to delight in the Word of God in the midst of adversity will avoid being offended. That person will be like a tree whose roots search deep to where the Spirit provides strength and nourishment. He will draw from the well of God deep within his spirit. This will mature him to the point where adversity will now be the catalyst for fruit. Hallelujah! — John Bevere

Simply put, the promises of God are not automatic; they must be acquired by faith. — John Bevere

Physical growth is a function of time. No two-year-old child has ever been six feet tall. Intellectual growth is a function of learning. Spiritual growth is neither a function of time or learning, but it is a function of obedience. — John Bevere

Offense cuts you off from God. We separate ourselves from the pipeline. I've never seen anything block blessings from Heaven except offense. — John Bevere

Just as Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered, we learn obedience by the difficult circumstances we face. When we obey the Word of God that is spoken by the Holy Spirit, we will grow and mature in the times of conflict and suffering. Our knowledge of Scripture is not the key. Obedience is. — John Bevere

Grace gives us the power to live, and mercy keeps us free from guilt, condemnation, and shame. — John Bevere

True humility is absolute obedience and dependence on God. It puts Him first, others second, and ourselves third in all things. — John Bevere

The promise is nothing without Your presence! — John Bevere