Quotes from 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.

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

The knowledge of God's Word without love is a destructive force because it puffs us up with pride and legalism (1 Cor. 8:1-3). This causes us to justify ourselves rather than repent of the unforgiveness.

Do we honor them for the extras? No, a thousand times no. We [honor them] because God gave us the charge to honor all.

Yet often these people who are "on our side" are offended as well. So, instead of helping, we stack additional stones on our existing walls. Without our knowing when it happens, these walls of protection become a prison. At that point, we are not only cautious about who comes in, but in terror we cannot venture outside our fortress.

If there are two churches next to each other, and you know in one of them you might hear words that will deal pointedly with your sinful behavior, and in the other you will only hear an uplifting, encouraging word, you'll pick the latter. This is what Paul said would eventually happen—people would choose good over God. The correct question is not what is more desirable, but what is more beneficial?

When an offense occurs, a debt is owed. You have heard it said, "He'll pay for this." So forgiveness is like the cancellation of a debt.

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.

Jesus said, "It is impossible that no offenses should come" (Luke 17:1). It is not a question of opportunity to be offended, but what your response will be. It is an unfortunate fact that, not some, but many are offended and held captive.

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.

Stay submitted to God by not becoming offended; resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). We resist the devil by not becoming offended. The dream or vision will probably happen differently than how you think it will, but His Word and His promises will not fail. We only risk aborting them by our disobedience.

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

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. How? Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. —EPHESIANS 4:31-32

God tests His servants with obedience. He deliberately places us in situations where the standards of religion and society would appear to justify our actions. He allows others, especially those close to us, to encourage us to protect ourselves. We may even think we would be noble and protect others by avenging ourselves. But this is not God's way. It is the way of the world's wisdom. It is earthly and fleshly.

A person with a religious spirit is one who uses My Word to execute his own will!

The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. —Oswald Chambers

The reality is, when someone knows the truth, knows the will of God, knows what God has spoken , and yet pushes back and doesn't obey, it is idolatry . The reason? Their will, agenda, wishes, and desires have been placed above God's. All of these things come before Him, and an idol.

The Christian] does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us. . . —C.S. Lewis

Jesus wasn't seeking His own honor, but rather modeling the Honor Principle to the ones He was sent to.

Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. Peter learned obedience by the things he suffered. Paul learned obedience by the things he suffered. What about you? Have you learned? Or are you hard, calloused, cold, bitter, and resentful? Then you did not learn obedience.

When it comes to leadership, silence is nonverbal communication. It communicates agreement and grants permission by saying, "What you're doing is fine.

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.

Many things lost in life can be restored; however, time misused can never be recovered. Once the sun goes down, the day is forever gone.

God wants our lives to be significant!