1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: God bless you. It's always a joy to come into 6 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: your homes. We love you, We know God has great 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: things in store. And if you're ever in our area, 8 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: I hope you'll stop by and be a part of 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: one of our services. I promise you we'll make you 10 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: feel right at home. But thank you so much for 11 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: tuning in. Thanks again for coming out today. I like 12 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: to start with something funny, and I heard about this 13 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: man that was very stingy with his money, and just 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: before his death, he made his wife promise that she 15 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: would have him buried with the fifty thousand dollars he 16 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: had saved. The wife reluctantly agreed. At the funeral, just 17 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: before they closed the casket, she slipped in a small 18 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: wooden box. Her friend said, surely you didn't just bury 19 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: the money, did you. I've said, of course I did. 20 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: I'm a Christian. I can't lie. I promised him I 21 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: would do it. So I did it. She said, you 22 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: mean you just buried fifty thousand dollars. The wife said, yes, 23 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: I did. I wrote a check. Hold up your bible, 24 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 25 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what 26 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 27 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 28 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 29 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 30 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 31 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: about how God can speak to us even in our doubts. 32 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,279 Speaker 1: Sometimes we think we're supposed to have a perfect faith, 33 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: where we never doubt, we never have a question, we 34 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: never get discouraged, we never wonder why something has happened. 35 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: If we waver at all, something must be wrong with 36 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: Usuarly God couldn't do anything. I talked to a gentleman 37 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: that had worked for a company for thirty six years. 38 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: He was in the banking industry, just a few months 39 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: from retirement, and the bank sold. The new owners restructured 40 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: everything to where they didn't need his position anymore. He 41 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: not only lost his job, but he lost all of 42 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: his retirement, all of his benefits. He's in his late fifties. 43 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: He said, Joel, I just don't understand how God could 44 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: let this happen to me. Of course, I went into 45 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: my two minute PEP talk about how God is in 46 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: control and he's going to open up another door. Then 47 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: he said something that stuck with me. He said, I 48 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: want to believe. I just wish I didn't have all 49 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: these doubts. He said it almost like he was apologizing, 50 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: like he felt so badly for thinking that way. Here's 51 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: what I want to tell you. It's okay to have questions. 52 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: It's okay to wonder why something has happened. God doesn't 53 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: expect us to be mister and missus super believer that 54 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: never has a doubt, never gets discouraged, never has a 55 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: question that's not reality. I heard somebody say the presence 56 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: of faith doesn't mean the absence of doubt. In other words, 57 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: we may have doubt up here in our head, in 58 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: our thinking, but down here in our hearts, where it counts, 59 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: we know God is still in control. We know God 60 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: is good even though something bad may have happened. Now 61 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: I want to take the pressure off God. Understands what 62 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: it's like to be wronged. He knows what it's like 63 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: to have someone walk out of a relationship. He knows 64 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: how it feels to pray and pray, but your loved 65 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: one didn't make it. God doesn't right us off and say, 66 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: look at them, they're down, they're doubting. I thought they 67 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: trusted me. See if I ever do anything for them. No, 68 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: it's just the opposite. God is moved by our faith, 69 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: but sometimes it's our doubt that will actually draw God 70 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: to us. When Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared 71 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: to Mary and Martha at the garden tomb. He said, 72 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: go tell my disciples. Word quickly got out that Jesus 73 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: was alive. Everyone was so excited. There was great joy 74 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: among all the disciples. All that is, except one person. 75 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: Thomas said, Wait a minute, guys, I'm a believer. I 76 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: love Jesus. I know he promised that he would come 77 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: back to life. Yes, I understand those women said that 78 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: they've seen him. But unless I see him with my 79 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: own eyes, unless I feel the nail prints in his hands, 80 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: unless I touch the scars in his side, that I'm 81 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: not going to believe. Here, Thomas had spent just as 82 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: much time with Jesus as the other believers. You might 83 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: say he grew up in church, he went to vacation 84 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: Bible school. He knew all the scriptures. Deep down, he 85 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: wanted to believe, but in his mind it was filled 86 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: with doubts. A few days later, the disciples were in 87 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: a room together. All of a sudden, Jesus came walking 88 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: through the door. They thought it was a ghost, and 89 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 1: soon they recognized it was Jesus. What's interesting is Jesus 90 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 1: didn't go over to Peter and say hello. He didn't 91 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: go over to Matthew and give him a big hug. 92 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: He didn't go over to John and say hey, I'm back, 93 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: it's great to see you. No, Jesus headed straight toward Thomas. 94 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: He didn't go to the people that had faith. He 95 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: went to the one disciple that had doubt. He looked 96 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: him in the eyes and said, Thomas, I've heard what 97 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: you've said about me. I've heard you don't believe, you 98 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: have questions, you have doubts, And you know what, Thomas, 99 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: that's okay. That's why I've come to you. Firsts Now, 100 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: feel the nail prince in my hands, touch the scars 101 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: on my side. Be assured of this, Thomas. I'm a 102 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: faithful God, and I will do what I've promised. What 103 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: am I say? Our doubts don't drive God away. He 104 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: doesn't ride us off and close the door. God is 105 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: so merciful those doubts can actually draw God to us. 106 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: When we go through things we don't understand. Somebody does 107 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: us wrong. We prayed and our loved one didn't make it. 108 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: Our child is born with special needs. So often we 109 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: think we're supposed to be superman superwoman and never shed 110 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: a tear, never get discouraged, never have a doubt. That's 111 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: not true. It's okay to say God, I prayed and 112 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: it didn't work out. God, I don't understand it. I'm hurting. 113 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: I have these doubts. I'm wondering where you are. The 114 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: scripture says God is touched by the feelings of our infirmities. 115 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: That means when you hurt, God hurts when you're disappointed. 116 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: God feels your pain when you're discouraged. God knows what 117 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: it's like. He's been there. When Jesus was in the 118 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: garden of Gasimine about to be crucified, he was so 119 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: depressed that he sweat great drops of blood on the cross. 120 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: He cried out, my God, my God, why have you 121 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: forsaken me? Even Jesus, the son of God, a man 122 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: that never sinned, a man that had perfect faith, he 123 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: even got so discouraged and so despondent that he questioned 124 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: his father. God didn't say, Jesus, you know I haven't 125 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: forsaken you. You know I'm still on the throne. You 126 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: know you're going to rise again. Now you need to 127 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: quit thinking like that. No. God knew that he was human. 128 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: God knew that he had fed, he had emotions. In 129 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: the same way, it's okay to feel disappointed. It's okay 130 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: to say, God, I feel like you've forsaken me. I 131 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: don't know where you are. I want to believe, but God, 132 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: I have all these doubts. God is more pleased when 133 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: we are open and honest, and we come before him 134 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: even with our doubts, our questions, the things we don't understand. 135 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: He'll respond to that quicker than when we try to 136 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: hide all these things that he already knows, and we 137 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: try to act like we're this perfect display of faith 138 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,079 Speaker 1: that's never been discouraged, never had a doubt, never had 139 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,599 Speaker 1: a question. When Jesus was on his way to be crucified, 140 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: they made him carry his own cross. He had been 141 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: so beaten down and so mistreated he couldn't carry it 142 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: the whole way. He fell down under the weight of 143 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: his cross. Don't you know God could have strengthened him 144 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: to finish the journey. God could have given him a 145 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: second wind, so he wouldn't have fallen down and looked 146 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: weak and defeated. No, God was sending this message, you 147 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: don't have to be strong one hundred percent of the time. 148 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: It's okay to fall down. It's okay to have a doubt. 149 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: It's okay to say God, I can't take this anymore. 150 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: Sometimes the cross we're carrying can get heavy. We think 151 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: I can't raise this child, I can't stay in this marriage, 152 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: I can't deal with this legal situation another day, and 153 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: those accusing voices will come and try to convince us 154 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: that if we've ever had a doubt, if we've ever 155 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: gotten discouraged, if we've ever fallen, then God's not going 156 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,959 Speaker 1: to do anything for you. Man. Look, you're weak, you're 157 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: on the ground. You're letting life get the best of you. No, 158 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: always remember even Jesus couldn't carry the weight of his 159 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: own cross. Notice what happened when he fell down. God 160 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: didn't leave him there. God didn't say too bad, Jesus, 161 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: you should have had more faith. I told you not 162 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: to doubt me. No. God immediately sent another man across 163 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: his path, by the name of Simon, and Simon carried 164 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: the cross for him. Here's the point. When you're down, 165 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:21,199 Speaker 1: when you have doubts, when you're discouraged, God will always 166 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: send somebody to help you back up, somebody to encourage you, 167 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: somebody to tell you that you're going to make it. 168 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: It may be my voice today letting you know that 169 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: it's okay to fall, just get back up again. It's 170 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: okay to have doubts, Just don't stay there. It's okay 171 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: to be disappointed. Just realize that disappointment is not the end. 172 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: It's a new beginning. God still has something great in 173 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:55,320 Speaker 1: your future. Several years ago, some friends called from another 174 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: state and they were expecting their second child and so 175 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: excited about it. But when the baby was born, they 176 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: discovered that she had special needs and was going to 177 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 1: require a lot of extra care. This couple were strong believers. 178 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: They had grown up in church. They knew all the scriptures, 179 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: but this baby being born like that really rocked their faith. 180 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: They begin to have these questions and things that they 181 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: didn't understand, things like if God loved us so much, 182 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: how could he let this happen. We're good people. Why 183 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: didn't we have a healthy baby? They said, Joel, we 184 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: want to believe we know the right thing, but we're 185 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: so disappointed. We're hurting so badly. We're wondering where God is. 186 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: They were expecting some great explanation from me, but I 187 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: told them just what I'm telling you. It's okay to 188 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: feel disappointed. It's okay to have questions. Faith is not 189 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: about hiding everything and trying to act like we're superhuman. 190 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: Faith is about being real Jesus on the Cross. There's 191 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: nothing wrong with saying, God, why have you forsaken me? God? 192 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: I'm heartbroken. I'm lonely. God, I don't understand why this 193 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: has happened. When you are real with God and you're 194 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 1: honest enough to even express your doubts, those doubts will 195 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: not drive God away. It'll do just the opposite. It'll 196 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 1: draw God closer to you. Now. I went on to 197 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: tell this couple. That baby being born to your family 198 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 1: is not a mistake. It's not an accident. God chose 199 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: you because He trusted you to raise this child. She 200 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 1: has special needs, but God knows you have special gifts. 201 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: She's going to take extraordinary care, but God knows both 202 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: of you are extraordinary people. You're not being punished. God 203 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: is not telling you you've done something wrong. No, this 204 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: is just another chapter in your life that God has 205 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: already equipped you for. Sometimes on the way to our 206 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: divine destiny, the weight of the cross gets so heavy 207 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: that we fall down. We don't know why somebody walked 208 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: out of a relationship for like a man I mentioned 209 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: why he got laid off so close to retirement, or 210 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: why we prayed and prayed but our loved one didn't 211 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 1: make it. You may have questions things you don't understand. 212 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: You wonder where God is. But the good news is 213 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: God is not just with us in our times of faith, 214 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: but He is with us even in our times of doubt. 215 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: He is not a fair, weathered God there for us 216 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: when we're perfect and gone when we're not. He doesn't 217 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: just speak to us when we're on the mountaintop singing 218 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: you are good reading your best life. Now. No, God says, 219 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: I'll speak to you just as much when you're alone 220 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: and discouraged. I'll talk to you when you're upset and 221 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: you feel like I've left you. I'll show up not 222 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: just because of your faith, but I'm so merciful I'll 223 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: even show up because of your doubt. Now, I want 224 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: us to take the pressure off. We don't have to 225 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 1: go around acting like we've got it all figured out. 226 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: We never have a doubt, we never think a wrong thought, 227 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: we never get discouraged. No, even Jesus fell down. Even 228 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: Jesus said, God, I don't want to go this route. 229 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: Let me go another way. God, why have you forsaken me? 230 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: What am I doing up here on the cross? In 231 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: other words, God, why did this situation not work out? God? 232 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: Why did these people treat me wrong? It's okay to 233 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: be human because that doubt is not in your heart. 234 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: It's up here in your head. And God has the 235 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: amazing ability to look past the doubt and to see 236 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: the faith that's on the inside. For some people, that 237 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: doubt is a mile high. They've had things happen, they 238 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 1: don't understand things that were not fair. Maybe they weren't 239 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: raised in a leaving environment. But I love this. It 240 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: says that God has put a measure of faith on 241 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: the inside of every person. That means people that don't 242 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: give God the time of day, they don't believe, they're cynical. 243 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: They look like they're full of doubt. But what they 244 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:22,479 Speaker 1: don't realize is on the inside, deep down, the creator 245 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: of the universe has placed a mustard seed of faith. 246 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: This is why it's so important to never write anybody off. 247 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: That person at the office that's sarcastic, makes fun of 248 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: you for going to church, gives you a hard time 249 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: for staying on the high road. It may seem like 250 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: they are full of doubt. Surely God wouldn't have anything 251 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: to do with them. Now, God says, there's another Thomas. 252 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: I'll get to you people full of faith in just 253 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: a moment. Right now, I'm going after them. It doesn't 254 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: always make sense to our theology, but sometimes God will 255 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: bypass the people of faith so he can go after 256 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: one person that's filled with doubt. I had a lady 257 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: tell me how her whole life she had been an atheist. 258 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: She didn't believe in God, wasn't raised in a religious environment, 259 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: really didn't even give God the time of day. But 260 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: one morning, her daughter, she was in her early twenties, 261 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: was involved in a serious car accident. This mother rushed 262 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: to the hospital. So stressed and so worried she got 263 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: the news that her daughter probably would not make it. 264 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 1: She stayed by her side day after day, wouldn't leave 265 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: the hospital. Unfortunately, the doctors told her that the injuries 266 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: were too great and her daughter had died. She drove home, 267 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: pulled in the garage. While she was still sitting in 268 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: her car, she screamed out to the top of her lungs. God, 269 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. She said. 270 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: She heard a voice. It was the kindest, most gentle 271 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: voice you could ever man. It said, that was the 272 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: first time You've ever spoken to me, and I want 273 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: to tell you how much I loved you, she said. 274 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: I never believed in God before, but at that moment, 275 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: there was no doubt in my mind that God was real. 276 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 1: I felt a peace that I never felt before. I 277 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: knew it was the presence of the creator of the universe. 278 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: That was God. Looking beyond years and years of doubt 279 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: to that one small seed of faith, we all know 280 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: that God is moved by our faith. That's the best 281 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: place to live. But what I'm saying today is God 282 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: can even be moved by our doubt. In those times 283 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: that we don't understand it, we have questions, we feel 284 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: alone and abandoned. That's when God has a way of 285 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: showing up and doing something amazing in our life. That's 286 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: just what happened to Thomas in the midst of all 287 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 1: those believers. Jesus went to Thomas first, the one doubter, 288 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: and said, Thomas, take a look at my nailed, scarred hands. 289 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: The reason Jesus shows up in those times of doubt 290 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 1: is so that our faith will be restored. He could 291 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: have said to that lady, too bad, that's what you 292 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: get for not giving me the time of day. Scream 293 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: all you want to, it's payback time. No, God is 294 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: full of mercy. He knows what it's like to lose 295 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 1: a child. He lost his only son, and God is 296 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: not in the business of giving us what we deserve. 297 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: If that was the case, Thomas wouldn't have had a chance, 298 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 1: or he wouldn't have let this lady feel his love. 299 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: God is in the business of restoring our faith. He's 300 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: in the business of getting us back on track so 301 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:53,640 Speaker 1: we can live as a believer and experience his abundant life. 302 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: And some of you today you have questions things that 303 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: you don't understand, and you feel badly because you're not 304 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: in faith one hundred percent of the time. But God 305 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 1: is saying that's okay. You're a human. You don't have 306 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: to have a perfect faith. There's nothing wrong with saying God, 307 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:16,239 Speaker 1: I just don't understand it. Like Thomas, those questions that 308 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: seemingly doubt is not going to keep God away. It's 309 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 1: going to draw God to you. He is not going 310 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: to leave you wondering, confused, discouraged. He's going to show 311 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: up so that your faith will be restored. I heard 312 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: Jensen Franklin tell something that happened to him. Jensen is 313 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: a good friend and a great minister. He's the pastor 314 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: of Free Chapel in Atlanta. When his daughters were much younger, 315 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: he and his wife, Charise decided to go to Sea 316 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 1: World in Florida. He had already made arrangements to leave 317 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: on Monday and they would be at the park on Tuesday, 318 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 1: but for some reason, Cherise really wanted to leave Sunday 319 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: after church. Jensen said, well, I've already made the light 320 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: reservations and the hotel reservations. I'd have to change everything. 321 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: She felt so strongly about it. He made the changes. 322 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 1: They left Sunday and went to the park on Monday 323 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: instead of Tuesday, and at one point they were at 324 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: this outdoor arena waiting for the dolphin show to begin. 325 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: It's a perfectly beautiful sunny day. All of a sudden, 326 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 1: out of nowhere, there was this huge clap of thunder. 327 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 1: It was so loud everyone practically jumped out of their seats, 328 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: and a few moments before they knew it, it was 329 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: pouring down rain and lightning like nothing they'd ever imagined. 330 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: Of course, everyone ran for cover. While they were underneath 331 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: the bleachers, there was another very loud clap of thunder. 332 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: Jensen and Teresa's little three year old daughter got very scared, 333 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: and instead of turning to their parents, she ran to 334 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: a twenty five year old girl that they had never 335 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 1: seen before about fifteen feet away, and gave her a 336 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: big hug and held on to her her and wouldn't 337 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 1: let her go. Jensen and Cherise looked at each other. 338 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 1: It was the strangest thing. They didn't know who the 339 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: young lady was and why their daughter would be drawn 340 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: to her. Normally, their daughter would never go to a 341 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: stranger like that. They went over very politely and tried 342 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: to get the daughter away, but she just wouldn't let go. 343 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: The young lady began weeping. Her parents were there. They 344 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: started weeping as well. Come to find out that young 345 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: lady had a three year old daughter that was born 346 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:36,400 Speaker 1: with congestive heart failure, and just six weeks earlier, her 347 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: daughter had died. She had not been out of the 348 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: house in those six weeks because she was so depressed. 349 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: That day, her parents talked her into going to the park. 350 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: She said later, when your little daughter was hugging me 351 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: the whole time, I could feel healing being poured into me. 352 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: God was letting me know that my little girl is 353 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: up there in heaven and I can move forward with 354 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: my life. That was God's speaking to her, not in 355 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 1: her faith, but in her doubts. You know what Jensen's 356 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 1: little three year old daughter was. She was a simon 357 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: helping her to carry her cross. Sometimes God knows we 358 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: go through things that we don't understand in our mind. 359 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: In our head, we think, God, how could this happen? God? 360 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: Where are you? But in our hearts, God can see 361 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: those seeds of faith that he's planted on the inside. 362 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: Like this young lady, God will never abandon us. He'll 363 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: never say we're too bad. You should be stronger, you 364 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: should have more faith. No, God will always show up 365 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 1: and help to restore our faith in those difficult times. 366 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: We're like Jesus, the cross is so heavy that we 367 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: fall down, Or like Thomas, we want to believe, we 368 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: just can't until we see it with our own eyes, 369 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:59,360 Speaker 1: or like this young lady, we're so discouraged we don't 370 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: even want to leave the house. You can rest assured 371 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:06,439 Speaker 1: you are not alone. The God we serve doesn't just 372 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: show up in our times of faith. He even shows 373 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: up in our times of doubt. I remember my father. 374 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 1: For more than forty years he preached to people about 375 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 1: how God could heal you. He saw my sister Lisa 376 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: healed of something like cerebral palsy, a birth injury, and 377 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: of course he saw my mother healed in nineteen eighty 378 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: one of terminal cancer. And he prayed for many other 379 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: people and saw God do amazing things. But one thing 380 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 1: my father never fully understood. In spite of all those 381 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: other people being healed. His whole life, he struggled with 382 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 1: high blood pressure. In fact, that's what caused his kidneys 383 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: eventually to failed where he had to go on dialysis. 384 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: And there were times he thought, God, you're doing it 385 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 1: for everybody else, why don't you do it for me? God, 386 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: this doesn't seem fair. Where are you when I need you? 387 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: There were times those thoughts of doubt came and tried 388 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 1: to keep him from moving forward. My father was very 389 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: open and honest. He never tried to hide anything. Now 390 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: I love the way he finished his life. He was 391 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: seventy seven years old and he couldn't sleep. One night, 392 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: he was sitting up in his recliner. Around midnight. He 393 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: called my brother in law, Gary, to see if he'd 394 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,399 Speaker 1: come over and visit with him, and they talked for 395 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: a couple of hours, and at one point Gary asked 396 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: about suffering and what he was going through and where 397 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 1: is God and all of this. My father said, Gary, 398 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 1: I don't understand it all. I have plenty of questions, 399 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:42,360 Speaker 1: but one thing I know is God's mercy endoers forever. 400 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: He took one more breath, laid back his head, and 401 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: went to be with the Lord. The last words he 402 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 1: ever spoke were his mercy endoers forever. But my father 403 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: could have thought I've been a pastor all these years. 404 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: I can't admit that I have questions, that I have doubts, 405 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: that I have things that I don't understand. No, my 406 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: father was real. God is not looking for mister super 407 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: believer that has an answer to every question and that 408 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 1: never wonders why something has happened. He's not looking for 409 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 1: missus super believer that never gets discouraged, always acts like 410 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: everything's okay, tries to hide every doubt, every question. Now, 411 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,200 Speaker 1: God is looking for people that are open and honest 412 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:31,239 Speaker 1: enough to say, God, I don't understand this. Lord, I 413 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: want to believe, but I have these doubts. God, I'm 414 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 1: asking you to help me. If we will have that 415 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: kind of attitude, then like Thomas, God will search you 416 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: out and come restore your faith. Why don't you take 417 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,239 Speaker 1: the pressure off Some of you are beating yourself up 418 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: because you had a down week, You got discouraged. You said, God, 419 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: I can't take it anymore. Listen, God knows what you're 420 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: going through. He can feel the weight of what you're carrying. 421 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 1: He's saying today I'm right there with you. You're going 422 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: to make it. You're not only going to come out, 423 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,399 Speaker 1: you're going to come out better off than you were before. 424 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: Be encouraged today. The God we serve is not just 425 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: with us in our times of faith, but he's even 426 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: with us in our times of doubt. Some of you 427 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: need to come back to that place of peace. You're 428 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: so down on yourself, thinking that you're not strong enough, 429 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: wondering why you have these questions. No, remember, the presence 430 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: of faith doesn't mean the absence of doubt. You don't 431 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 1: have to have a perfect faith in order for God 432 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 1: to do something great in your life. Besides that, doubt 433 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:44,199 Speaker 1: is not in your heart. It's in your head, and 434 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: God is looking down here at your heart. And what 435 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: I'm saying today is it's okay to have questions. It's 436 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: okay to say God, I don't understand it. It's okay 437 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: to not be strong one hundred percent of the time. 438 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: If you'll give yourself permission to not have a fit 439 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: to faith and not feel bad if you have questions, 440 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: some doubts, some things you don't understand, then you will 441 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: feel a freedom that you haven't felt before. That weight 442 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 1: of feeling like God is not pleased with me. I'm 443 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,800 Speaker 1: just not strong enough. I'm not measuring up. That'll lift 444 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: off of you. And what God did for Thomas, he'll 445 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: do for you in those times of doubt. Instead of 446 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: running from you, God will come running to you. He's 447 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: promised he will restore your faith so that you can 448 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: move forward and become everything He's created you to be 449 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: and have everything He's intended for you to have. Amen. 450 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: Do you receive that today? Well, we never like to 451 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make 452 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 453 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 454 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 1: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 455 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:58,400 Speaker 1: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 456 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church, Keep 457 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take your places that 458 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:05,639 Speaker 1: you've never dreamed of. 459 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:10,199 Speaker 2: Sometimes the difficulties of life can be so overwhelming you 460 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:13,479 Speaker 2: feel like you're stumbling around in the dark. Things are 461 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 2: so bad you would need a miracle to change your situation. 462 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 2: But as a miracle even possible. 463 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: We all face situations where we don't see a way out. 464 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,199 Speaker 1: It's easy to get discouraged and give up on what 465 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 1: we're believing. For that's how we felt. In nineteen eighty one, 466 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 1: my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a 467 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 1: few weeks to live. Nothing could be done medically speaking, 468 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 1: but she chose to believe that God is a miracle worker. Today, 469 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 1: forty three years later, by the grace of God, she's 470 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: still healthy and strong. I'm so grateful to be alive. 471 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: I'm ninety years young. I thank God every day that 472 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: he still does miracles. I'd love to send you by 473 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: new book. It's called Miracles Happen. It's filled with powerful 474 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: stories of miracles from the Scripture and real life stories 475 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: of people that have seen the hand of God. It'll 476 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: help build your faith so you can believe what seems impossible. 477 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: God did it for my mother. Yes, He'll do it 478 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: for you. 479 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 480 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 2: of any amount to the ministry this month, Joel and Victoria, 481 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 2: we'd like to send you this powerful book, Miracles Happen 482 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 2: your journey to supernatural breakthrough. This new book details thirty 483 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 2: different miracles from the Word of God, and each one 484 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 2: comes with an encouragement and application to your own life. 485 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 2: God has miracles stored up for you, healing, freedom, favor, breakthroughs. 486 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: Miracles still happen today, and faith is what activates God's power. 487 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: When you believe all things are possible, that's when you'll 488 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 1: see the hand of God do supernatural things in your life. 489 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: Victory and I are standing in faith with you. We 490 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: pray for you every day. We appreciate your prayer and support. 491 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: Your generosity is impacting so many lives. Remember you can 492 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: watch this services live online every Sunday morning, download our 493 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: daily podcast, watch on YouTube the new Joelostin Network, listen 494 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 1: on SiriusXM until we meet again. May the Lord bless 495 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: you and keep you. 496 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of Miracles Happen your 497 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 2: journey to Supernatural Breakthrough today. Visit Joelostein dot com or 498 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 2: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel