1 00:00:00,409 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Hey, thanks again for being with us today. Always my 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: honor to be able to share God's word with you 3 00:00:05,380 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: and hopefully inspire you and encourage you. If you're enjoying 4 00:00:08,180 --> 00:00:10,289 Speaker 1: the podcast, I hope you'll share it with a friend, 5 00:00:10,470 --> 00:00:13,250 Speaker 1: pass it along. Let's inspire some other people as well, 6 00:00:13,289 --> 00:00:15,010 Speaker 1: but know that we love you. It's going to be 7 00:00:15,030 --> 00:00:18,950 Speaker 1: a blessed day for you. Well, God bless you. Always 8 00:00:19,030 --> 00:00:21,590 Speaker 1: a joy to come into your homes. We love you. 9 00:00:21,610 --> 00:00:23,970 Speaker 1: If you're ever in our area, stop by and see us. 10 00:00:24,130 --> 00:00:26,029 Speaker 1: I promise you, we'll make you feel right at home. 11 00:00:26,070 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: But thanks for tuning in. Thanks again for coming out. 12 00:00:29,260 --> 00:00:31,140 Speaker 1: I like to start with something funny each week. And 13 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,739 Speaker 1: I heard about this 92-year-old man. He wasn't feeling well, 14 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: so he went to the doctor for a checkup. A 15 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,339 Speaker 1: few days later, the doctor saw him out walking. He 16 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: had a beautiful young lady by his side and he 17 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: looked to be just as happy as he could be. 18 00:00:45,740 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: The doctor said, wow, you sure are doing a lot better, 19 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: aren't you? He said, yes, doctor. I'm just following your orders. 20 00:00:51,909 --> 00:00:55,910 Speaker 1: You said get a hot mama and stay cheerful. Doctor said, 21 00:00:55,950 --> 00:00:58,230 Speaker 1: I didn't say that. I said, you've got a heart murmur. 22 00:00:58,270 --> 00:01:03,020 Speaker 1: Be careful. All right, hold it up. Say it like 23 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 1: you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 24 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:09,060 Speaker 1: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 25 00:01:09,580 --> 00:01:12,220 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today, 26 00:01:12,380 --> 00:01:15,179 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly 27 00:01:15,220 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I 28 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,660 Speaker 1: will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 29 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,300 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about living life 30 00:01:27,620 --> 00:01:31,870 Speaker 1: as a healer. Everywhere we go, there are people in need. 31 00:01:32,510 --> 00:01:35,610 Speaker 1: They may smile on the outside, but on the inside, 32 00:01:35,670 --> 00:01:39,209 Speaker 1: they're hurting. We all have a ministry. It may not 33 00:01:39,290 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: be in the pulpit, but God is counting on us 34 00:01:42,660 --> 00:01:46,259 Speaker 1: to reach out to others and bring healing wherever we go. 35 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,780 Speaker 1: When you see someone that's down and you go over 36 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: and encourage them, you just became a healer. You just 37 00:01:54,020 --> 00:01:57,730 Speaker 1: released God's goodness into them. When you call a friend 38 00:01:57,770 --> 00:02:00,710 Speaker 1: that's discouraged and you say, hey, I'm thinking about you. 39 00:02:01,130 --> 00:02:03,870 Speaker 1: I know there are good days up ahead. You just 40 00:02:03,930 --> 00:02:07,900 Speaker 1: poured in the healing oil. It can be something simple, 41 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,339 Speaker 1: just smiling at a stranger. You don't even know that person. 42 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: You didn't think much about it, but you became a healer. 43 00:02:16,250 --> 00:02:19,510 Speaker 1: God caused your smile to say to them, you're important. 44 00:02:19,990 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: I care about you. All around us, people are dealing 45 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:29,970 Speaker 1: with family issues, health problems, rejection, broken dreams, low self-esteem. 46 00:02:30,530 --> 00:02:33,940 Speaker 1: You never know what they're going through. God wants to heal, 47 00:02:34,220 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: but he uses people. My message is you can become 48 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: a healer. A man stopped me on a busy sidewalk 49 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,619 Speaker 1: not long ago, and he was dressed very nice, looked 50 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,260 Speaker 1: like he was on top of the world. But behind 51 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:50,910 Speaker 1: this outer facade, he was in so much pain. He 52 00:02:50,940 --> 00:02:54,430 Speaker 1: and his wife had just gotten separated. He was so discouraged. 53 00:02:54,750 --> 00:02:57,790 Speaker 1: He said, Joel, I don't have any reason to live anymore. 54 00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:02,070 Speaker 1: He sobbed and sobbed like a baby. My coat was 55 00:03:02,150 --> 00:03:05,150 Speaker 1: wet with his tears. I didn't have all the answers. 56 00:03:05,630 --> 00:03:09,110 Speaker 1: I couldn't fix everything in two minutes on a busy sidewalk, 57 00:03:09,710 --> 00:03:13,339 Speaker 1: but I could pour in some healing oil. I could 58 00:03:13,419 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: offer some words of encouragement. I told him, God has 59 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: you in the palm of his hand. Us meeting here 60 00:03:20,540 --> 00:03:24,179 Speaker 1: is not an accident. That's God's way of saying everything 61 00:03:24,300 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: is gonna be all right. After we prayed, he noticed 62 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,540 Speaker 1: how wet my suit was with his tears and he 63 00:03:30,590 --> 00:03:32,710 Speaker 1: was embarrassed. He said, oh, Joel, it looks like I've 64 00:03:32,770 --> 00:03:36,430 Speaker 1: ruined your jacket. But really, those tears were like having 65 00:03:36,470 --> 00:03:39,950 Speaker 1: a trophy. You're never more like God than when you're 66 00:03:40,010 --> 00:03:43,770 Speaker 1: helping hurting people. And one of our assignments in life 67 00:03:44,150 --> 00:03:48,510 Speaker 1: is to help wipe away the tears. Are you sensitive 68 00:03:48,670 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: to the needs of those around you, your friends, your neighbors, 69 00:03:51,980 --> 00:03:56,860 Speaker 1: your coworkers? Many times, like this man, behind the nice clothes, 70 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: behind the pretty smile, behind the Sunday praise, there's a 71 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: person that's hurting. They're alone. Their life's in turmoil. They 72 00:04:05,060 --> 00:04:07,710 Speaker 1: don't know what they're going to do. Reach out to them. 73 00:04:08,250 --> 00:04:11,950 Speaker 1: Be a healer. Be a restorer. Take time to wipe 74 00:04:12,010 --> 00:04:15,500 Speaker 1: away the tears. Friends, our job is not to judge. 75 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: Our job is not to figure out if they deserve 76 00:04:18,220 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: it or not. Who's right? Who's wrong? No, our job 77 00:04:21,940 --> 00:04:25,450 Speaker 1: is to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, to 78 00:04:25,529 --> 00:04:29,490 Speaker 1: heal the hurting. Too often we get focused on our 79 00:04:29,650 --> 00:04:32,779 Speaker 1: own goals, our own dreams and how we can get 80 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: our miracle. But I've learned something more important. I can 81 00:04:36,740 --> 00:04:41,500 Speaker 1: become someone's miracle. There is healing in your hands. There's 82 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,109 Speaker 1: healing in your voice. You are a container that is 83 00:04:45,260 --> 00:04:49,090 Speaker 1: filled with God. Right now you are full of encouragement, 84 00:04:49,650 --> 00:04:54,390 Speaker 1: full of mercy, full of restoration, full of healing. Everywhere 85 00:04:54,430 --> 00:04:57,730 Speaker 1: we go, we should dispense the goodness of God. If 86 00:04:57,750 --> 00:04:59,890 Speaker 1: you get around me, you better get ready. You're gonna 87 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: be encouraged. You may have made mistakes, but I'm gonna 88 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 1: tell you, God's mercy is bigger than any mistake you've made. 89 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: You may have wasted years of your life making poor choices, 90 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna tell you, God still has a way 91 00:05:13,060 --> 00:05:16,020 Speaker 1: to get you to your final destination. You may have 92 00:05:16,060 --> 00:05:18,820 Speaker 1: had that addiction since you were a teenager, but I'm 93 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:20,980 Speaker 1: going to let you know the power of the most 94 00:05:21,020 --> 00:05:23,810 Speaker 1: high God can break any addiction and set you free. 95 00:05:24,670 --> 00:05:28,790 Speaker 1: That's what it means to dispense good. You lift the fallen. 96 00:05:29,170 --> 00:05:32,730 Speaker 1: You encourage the discouraged. You take time to wipe away 97 00:05:32,770 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: the tears. I think of the story Jesus told about 98 00:05:36,020 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: the good Samaritan. He was riding his donkey and He 99 00:05:39,660 --> 00:05:41,540 Speaker 1: saw a man on the side of the road that 100 00:05:41,580 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: had been beaten and left for dead. He put him 101 00:05:44,220 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: on his donkey and took him to a place where 102 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: he could recover. And I love the fact that the 103 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:53,250 Speaker 1: good Samaritan started down the road riding his donkey. The 104 00:05:53,330 --> 00:05:56,330 Speaker 1: injured man was walking down the road, but it ended 105 00:05:56,470 --> 00:06:00,810 Speaker 1: up the good Samaritan was walking and the friend was riding. 106 00:06:01,510 --> 00:06:05,150 Speaker 1: The message is sometimes you have to trade places with 107 00:06:05,170 --> 00:06:07,770 Speaker 1: the people that are hurting. You've got to be willing 108 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,690 Speaker 1: to be inconvenienced. You might have to miss dinner in 109 00:06:11,750 --> 00:06:14,339 Speaker 1: order to wipe away a tear. You might have to 110 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: skip working out one night in order to encourage that 111 00:06:17,620 --> 00:06:20,860 Speaker 1: couple that's struggling. You may even have to drive across 112 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,660 Speaker 1: town and pick up that coworker that's addicted and bring 113 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,140 Speaker 1: him to church with you on Sunday. But if you're 114 00:06:27,170 --> 00:06:30,190 Speaker 1: gonna live life as a healer, you've gotta be willing 115 00:06:30,490 --> 00:06:34,029 Speaker 1: to change places with those that are hurting. Many times, 116 00:06:34,330 --> 00:06:37,050 Speaker 1: we're so caught up in our own dreams and so 117 00:06:37,110 --> 00:06:39,770 Speaker 1: focused on our own goals that We don't see the 118 00:06:39,850 --> 00:06:43,110 Speaker 1: needs of those around us. We've got to learn to 119 00:06:43,510 --> 00:06:47,070 Speaker 1: take time to care. Listen to what people are saying. 120 00:06:47,740 --> 00:06:51,339 Speaker 1: Look beneath the surface. That person next to you at work, 121 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: when you see they're down and discouraged, Don't think, what's 122 00:06:54,540 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: their problem? They sure are unfriendly today. I'm not going 123 00:06:57,260 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: to talk to them. No, turn it around. Have the attitude, 124 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,860 Speaker 1: I have what they need. I'm a healer. I'm going 125 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,700 Speaker 1: to encourage them. I'm going to lift their spirits. I'm 126 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,580 Speaker 1: going to see if there's something I can pray with 127 00:07:08,620 --> 00:07:13,430 Speaker 1: them about. That's living life as a healer. I was 128 00:07:13,490 --> 00:07:15,690 Speaker 1: at the grocery store not long ago and there were 129 00:07:16,010 --> 00:07:17,930 Speaker 1: eight or nine people in line in front of me 130 00:07:18,170 --> 00:07:20,950 Speaker 1: waiting to check out. The lady that was working the 131 00:07:21,090 --> 00:07:24,500 Speaker 1: cash register was very slow and one item, didn't have 132 00:07:24,540 --> 00:07:27,090 Speaker 1: a price on it. And we had to wait and wait. 133 00:07:27,150 --> 00:07:29,910 Speaker 1: And then she overcharged someone and the supervisor had to 134 00:07:29,970 --> 00:07:32,670 Speaker 1: come and correct it. The people in front of me 135 00:07:32,710 --> 00:07:35,850 Speaker 1: were getting so frustrated. By the time they got up 136 00:07:35,870 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: there to check out, they had had it. They were 137 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,980 Speaker 1: cold and just real matter of fact, some of them 138 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,820 Speaker 1: even rude to the young lady. And she was doing 139 00:07:43,860 --> 00:07:46,820 Speaker 1: the best that she could. She was just frustrated and 140 00:07:46,940 --> 00:07:50,300 Speaker 1: nothing was going her way. I had to make a decision. 141 00:07:50,900 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: Am I going to be a part of the problem 142 00:07:53,380 --> 00:07:56,270 Speaker 1: or a part of the solution? Am I going to 143 00:07:56,330 --> 00:08:00,290 Speaker 1: just dump more frustration and make her life more miserable 144 00:08:00,370 --> 00:08:03,940 Speaker 1: like everybody else? Or am I going to live life 145 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,980 Speaker 1: as a healer? And since I'm a pastor and I 146 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,180 Speaker 1: thought she might know me, I decided to do the last. 147 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: When I got up there, I smiled real big and 148 00:08:13,460 --> 00:08:15,570 Speaker 1: I said, you know what? I think you are doing 149 00:08:15,610 --> 00:08:18,930 Speaker 1: a great job. And these people, I know they're kind 150 00:08:18,970 --> 00:08:21,010 Speaker 1: of rude and impatient, but don't let it bother you. 151 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:24,290 Speaker 1: I can tell you're doing your very best. Do you know, 152 00:08:24,450 --> 00:08:27,230 Speaker 1: she started weeping. I thought, dear Lord, what did I 153 00:08:27,290 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: do now? You thought the line was long before. Now 154 00:08:31,100 --> 00:08:34,300 Speaker 1: it's going to be really long. I said, what's wrong? 155 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,380 Speaker 1: She said, Joel, my little boy is in the hospital. 156 00:08:37,870 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: I am so worried I can't even concentrate on what 157 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:44,359 Speaker 1: I'm doing here. Friends, usually there's a good reason why 158 00:08:44,420 --> 00:08:47,140 Speaker 1: somebody's not up to par. There's a reason why they're 159 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: worried and frustrated. We can't see what's going on behind 160 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,780 Speaker 1: the scenes. You can't see their personal life, the heartache 161 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,870 Speaker 1: and pain that they've pushed down. Now they're doing everything 162 00:08:57,890 --> 00:09:00,730 Speaker 1: they can to just try to keep it together. The 163 00:09:00,770 --> 00:09:03,849 Speaker 1: last thing they need is for somebody else to come 164 00:09:03,890 --> 00:09:07,230 Speaker 1: dump another load on them. And I've learned that God 165 00:09:07,330 --> 00:09:10,990 Speaker 1: puts people in our path on purpose so we can 166 00:09:11,070 --> 00:09:14,569 Speaker 1: love them back into wholeness. That person that has an 167 00:09:14,610 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 1: addiction in your life, they're not there for you to criticize. 168 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,070 Speaker 1: God put them there so you can help them overcome it. 169 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: That student at the school that doesn't have any friends, 170 00:09:25,780 --> 00:09:28,740 Speaker 1: everybody makes fun of them. God put them there so 171 00:09:28,780 --> 00:09:31,209 Speaker 1: you can make them feel accepted, so you can make 172 00:09:31,250 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: them feel loved. or that neighbor that's dug himself into 173 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: a pit. Instead of thinking, I told him, I tried 174 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: to warn him, he brought it on himself, he's getting 175 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: what he deserves. No, he's in your life by divine appointment. 176 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: God is expecting you to lift him out of that pit. 177 00:09:47,990 --> 00:09:50,089 Speaker 1: God's counting on you to be a voice of hope 178 00:09:50,390 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 1: and encouragement, not judgment and condemnation. Proverbs 15 verse 4 says, 179 00:10:03,660 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: a gentle tongue brings healing. It's amazing what happens when 180 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:12,020 Speaker 1: you tell someone, everything is going to be alright. You're 181 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,370 Speaker 1: going to make it. There are good days up ahead. 182 00:10:15,170 --> 00:10:18,069 Speaker 1: That's all some people need to hear. You don't have 183 00:10:18,110 --> 00:10:21,229 Speaker 1: to preach a sermon. You don't have to quote 25 184 00:10:21,230 --> 00:10:24,690 Speaker 1: scriptures or counsel them for eight hours. Just a few 185 00:10:24,970 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: kind words can start the healing process. Right there at 186 00:10:29,660 --> 00:10:32,260 Speaker 1: the cash register in the middle of the grocery store, 187 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: I asked her if we could pray. We prayed together 188 00:10:35,620 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: and now the line was really long. The supervisor came 189 00:10:39,860 --> 00:10:43,229 Speaker 1: over and when he saw her crying, he looked at 190 00:10:43,270 --> 00:10:47,190 Speaker 1: me like, what have you done to my employee? She said, no, no, 191 00:10:47,590 --> 00:10:51,429 Speaker 1: I haven't felt this much peace in years. What happened? 192 00:10:51,990 --> 00:10:56,309 Speaker 1: I became someone's miracle. When you reach out to people 193 00:10:56,410 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: in need, you are kind, loving, merciful, understanding. You are 194 00:11:01,820 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: sowing seeds for God to do the same thing for you. 195 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: When you make a mistake or your children or grandchildren 196 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:13,059 Speaker 1: get off course and they need mercy, because you're living 197 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,230 Speaker 1: life as a healer, God will make sure someone will 198 00:11:16,330 --> 00:11:20,590 Speaker 1: always be there for them. And friends, there's already enough 199 00:11:20,850 --> 00:11:27,510 Speaker 1: condemning voices. There's already enough critical, fault-finding people. Let's break 200 00:11:27,570 --> 00:11:30,330 Speaker 1: out of that rut. Our attitude should be, I'm going 201 00:11:30,350 --> 00:11:33,290 Speaker 1: to live my life as a healer. I'm not looking 202 00:11:33,309 --> 00:11:35,910 Speaker 1: for somebody that's done wrong so I can push them 203 00:11:35,990 --> 00:11:39,890 Speaker 1: further down. I'm looking for somebody that's fallen so I 204 00:11:39,929 --> 00:11:42,900 Speaker 1: can lift up. I'm looking for someone that made a 205 00:11:42,940 --> 00:11:47,380 Speaker 1: mistake so I can help restore. Someone that's hurting so 206 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: I can love them back into wholeness. I heard Jim 207 00:11:51,340 --> 00:11:55,210 Speaker 1: Baker say, the former head of the PTL television network, 208 00:11:55,610 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: tell something that happened when he was about to get 209 00:11:58,059 --> 00:12:01,540 Speaker 1: out of prison. You might remember that he spent several 210 00:12:01,580 --> 00:12:05,350 Speaker 1: years incarcerated for not handling things properly. When he was 211 00:12:05,410 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 1: about to be released, Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son got 212 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,300 Speaker 1: in touch with him and told him that the Grahams 213 00:12:12,380 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: were going to rent him a house and get him 214 00:12:14,740 --> 00:12:16,780 Speaker 1: a car to drive when he got out of prison. 215 00:12:17,420 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: Jim Baker said, Franklin, you can't do that. I have 216 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:24,580 Speaker 1: too much baggage. You'll be criticized. Your ministry can't be 217 00:12:24,620 --> 00:12:28,540 Speaker 1: associated with me. Franklin said, sure we can, Jim. You 218 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: were our friend before and you will be our friend afterwards. 219 00:12:32,820 --> 00:12:37,689 Speaker 1: The first Sunday that he got out, He was living 220 00:12:37,730 --> 00:12:42,340 Speaker 1: temporarily in a halfway house. Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's wife, 221 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:45,380 Speaker 1: called the place and asked the man in charge if 222 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,500 Speaker 1: Jim could have permission to leave and come to church 223 00:12:48,540 --> 00:12:51,219 Speaker 1: with the Grahams that Sunday. He gave him permission and 224 00:12:51,540 --> 00:12:54,020 Speaker 1: Jim got to the church and they ushered him right 225 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: down to the very front row and sat him next 226 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,850 Speaker 1: to Franklin Graham. The Grams had 10 or 15 family 227 00:12:59,890 --> 00:13:02,870 Speaker 1: members there. There were two vacant seats next to Jim 228 00:13:02,910 --> 00:13:05,770 Speaker 1: Baker before the service started. He didn't know who they 229 00:13:05,790 --> 00:13:08,490 Speaker 1: were for. But when the music kicked up, a side 230 00:13:08,530 --> 00:13:11,650 Speaker 1: door opened and out walked Billy and Ruth Graham, and 231 00:13:11,690 --> 00:13:14,650 Speaker 1: they sat right next to Jim Baker. He had only 232 00:13:14,770 --> 00:13:17,550 Speaker 1: been out of prison for 48 hours, but the whole 233 00:13:17,610 --> 00:13:21,210 Speaker 1: world knew that the Grams were his friend. What were 234 00:13:21,230 --> 00:13:24,410 Speaker 1: the Grams doing associating with somebody that had been a 235 00:13:24,450 --> 00:13:29,130 Speaker 1: convicted criminal? They were loving him back into wholeness. I 236 00:13:29,170 --> 00:13:34,449 Speaker 1: heard somebody say, a true friend walks in when everybody 237 00:13:34,550 --> 00:13:38,260 Speaker 1: else walks out. A true friend doesn't rub it in 238 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,940 Speaker 1: when you make a mistake. They help rub it out. 239 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,339 Speaker 1: That's the question we should ask. Am I rubbing it 240 00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:48,450 Speaker 1: in or am I rubbing it out? Am I a healer, 241 00:13:48,650 --> 00:13:52,949 Speaker 1: a restorer, or have I gotten critical and judgmental? If 242 00:13:53,010 --> 00:13:56,250 Speaker 1: somebody makes a mistake, do I have the attitude, stay 243 00:13:56,290 --> 00:13:58,510 Speaker 1: away from me, cross them off my list, never have 244 00:13:58,550 --> 00:14:02,179 Speaker 1: anything to do with them. The scripture says Jesus was 245 00:14:02,220 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: a friend of sinners. I don't know about you, but 246 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,599 Speaker 1: I'm gonna live my life as a healer. I'm gonna 247 00:14:07,660 --> 00:14:10,199 Speaker 1: make sure I help rub it out and not rub 248 00:14:10,220 --> 00:14:13,490 Speaker 1: it in. That doesn't mean that we overlook wrongs and 249 00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:16,930 Speaker 1: act like that it never happened. But we understand if 250 00:14:17,010 --> 00:14:19,170 Speaker 1: it were not for the grace of God, that could 251 00:14:19,210 --> 00:14:23,530 Speaker 1: be us. When you show mercy to the guilty, when 252 00:14:23,550 --> 00:14:27,500 Speaker 1: you encourage the discouraged, when you lift people up when 253 00:14:27,580 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: everyone else is pushing them down, that touches the heart 254 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:35,010 Speaker 1: of God in a very special way. I know as 255 00:14:35,050 --> 00:14:37,590 Speaker 1: a parent, it's one thing to do me a favor. 256 00:14:37,850 --> 00:14:40,530 Speaker 1: I would appreciate that. I would thank you. But if 257 00:14:40,650 --> 00:14:43,620 Speaker 1: one of my children were in need and you helped them, 258 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,940 Speaker 1: if my son made a mistake and you showed him mercy, 259 00:14:48,420 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: if my daughter was hurting and you helped heal that pain, 260 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,490 Speaker 1: then as a parent, there's nothing in the world I 261 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,410 Speaker 1: wouldn't do for you. It's the same way with God. 262 00:15:00,610 --> 00:15:04,170 Speaker 1: When you make it your business to help His children, 263 00:15:04,790 --> 00:15:09,060 Speaker 1: His sons, His daughters, and you go around wiping away 264 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: the tears, lifting the fallen, pouring the healing oil on 265 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:16,060 Speaker 1: the wounded, when you live life like that, you might 266 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,020 Speaker 1: as well get ready. You will not be able to 267 00:15:18,140 --> 00:15:22,210 Speaker 1: outrun the goodness of God. I heard a young lady 268 00:15:22,230 --> 00:15:26,090 Speaker 1: named Tammy Trent being interviewed on television. She's a popular 269 00:15:26,150 --> 00:15:29,530 Speaker 1: Christian artist. And one time she and her husband went 270 00:15:29,570 --> 00:15:33,110 Speaker 1: on a tropical vacation to an island to celebrate their 271 00:15:33,490 --> 00:15:37,730 Speaker 1: 11th anniversary. Her husband was a very skilled underwater diver. 272 00:15:38,170 --> 00:15:41,190 Speaker 1: He could stay underwater for up to 10 minutes without 273 00:15:41,230 --> 00:15:43,390 Speaker 1: an air tank. He could hold his breath that long. 274 00:15:43,890 --> 00:15:45,870 Speaker 1: When they got to the beach, they were so excited. 275 00:15:45,890 --> 00:15:49,820 Speaker 1: The husband jumped in and swam underwater and started exploring 276 00:15:49,860 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: the caves. Tammy just stayed up on the beach and 277 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,170 Speaker 1: was taking in the beautiful scenery. 10 minutes or so 278 00:15:56,210 --> 00:15:58,590 Speaker 1: went by and Tammy noticed that her husband had not 279 00:15:58,650 --> 00:16:00,150 Speaker 1: yet come up for air and she got a little 280 00:16:00,170 --> 00:16:04,170 Speaker 1: bit worried. 15 minutes, still nothing. 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 281 00:16:04,410 --> 00:16:07,450 Speaker 1: she began to panic. She told the authorities and they 282 00:16:07,470 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: got the boats and started searching and searching. Long story short, 283 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: the young man drowned. They found his body the next day. 284 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: Tammy was not only in shock, not only totally devastated, 285 00:16:19,470 --> 00:16:23,290 Speaker 1: but now she was alone in this foreign country with 286 00:16:23,390 --> 00:16:26,690 Speaker 1: nobody she knew. She called her parents and they said 287 00:16:26,710 --> 00:16:30,630 Speaker 1: they would immediately come. The first flight was the next morning. Well, 288 00:16:30,650 --> 00:16:35,370 Speaker 1: this happened on September the 10th, 2001. The next day 289 00:16:35,510 --> 00:16:40,170 Speaker 1: was 9-11. No flights could come or go. Everybody was stuck. 290 00:16:40,750 --> 00:16:44,470 Speaker 1: So for day after day, she was stuck there all alone. 291 00:16:44,910 --> 00:16:48,670 Speaker 1: She felt forgotten. She was so numb, she couldn't even 292 00:16:48,790 --> 00:16:52,670 Speaker 1: think straight. Finally, she said, God, if you're up there anywhere, 293 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: please send somebody to help me, somebody to let me 294 00:16:56,340 --> 00:16:59,450 Speaker 1: know that you care. Little later, there was a knock 295 00:16:59,550 --> 00:17:03,010 Speaker 1: on the hotel door room. It was the housekeeper. She 296 00:17:03,050 --> 00:17:06,730 Speaker 1: was an older Jamaican woman. She said, I was cleaning 297 00:17:06,790 --> 00:17:09,630 Speaker 1: the room next door and I don't mean to bother you, 298 00:17:09,690 --> 00:17:12,730 Speaker 1: but I couldn't help but hearing you crying. And I 299 00:17:12,780 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: was wondering if there's anything that I could pray with 300 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:19,580 Speaker 1: you about. Tammy told her what had happened. That older 301 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: Jamaican woman put her loving arms around Tammy and held 302 00:17:24,140 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: her like she was her very own daughter. That moment, 303 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,190 Speaker 1: thousands of miles from home, Tammy Trent knew that God 304 00:17:31,270 --> 00:17:35,950 Speaker 1: was still in control. What made the difference? This housekeeper 305 00:17:36,290 --> 00:17:39,889 Speaker 1: was living life as a healer. She was sensitive to 306 00:17:39,910 --> 00:17:43,110 Speaker 1: the needs of those around her. She heard the cries 307 00:17:43,170 --> 00:17:47,310 Speaker 1: of help coming, even from another room. She could have thought, oh, 308 00:17:47,570 --> 00:17:50,380 Speaker 1: I've got a lot of work to do. I'm busy. Yes, 309 00:17:50,430 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 1: that girl's got problems, but I got problems of my own. No, 310 00:17:54,220 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: she understood this principle. she knew her assignment in life 311 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:02,530 Speaker 1: was to help wipe away the tears. That moment, she 312 00:18:02,609 --> 00:18:06,570 Speaker 1: poured the healing oil onto Tammy's wounds. She didn't try 313 00:18:06,609 --> 00:18:09,550 Speaker 1: to explain everything. She didn't try to figure it all out. 314 00:18:10,270 --> 00:18:13,830 Speaker 1: She simply let her know that she cared. She became 315 00:18:13,869 --> 00:18:17,030 Speaker 1: a healer. And the scripture talks about how one day 316 00:18:17,390 --> 00:18:20,530 Speaker 1: God will wipe away all the tears. There will be 317 00:18:20,590 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: no more tragedy, no more sickness, no more pain. But 318 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:27,740 Speaker 1: in the meantime, God is counting on you and me 319 00:18:28,220 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 1: to wipe away these tears. Are you lifting the fallen? 320 00:18:32,260 --> 00:18:35,820 Speaker 1: Are you taking time to help somebody else? It's great 321 00:18:35,859 --> 00:18:39,300 Speaker 1: to come to church, celebrate God's goodness. We come to 322 00:18:39,340 --> 00:18:42,939 Speaker 1: be trained, to be challenged, to be inspired. But our 323 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:47,530 Speaker 1: real work begins when we leave this building. Look around you. 324 00:18:47,770 --> 00:18:51,750 Speaker 1: Find the people that are hurting. Listen for the cries 325 00:18:51,869 --> 00:18:54,659 Speaker 1: in the other room. You may not hear them with 326 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,820 Speaker 1: your physical ears, but you can hear them with your heart. 327 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: You can see when somebody's down and all of a 328 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,570 Speaker 1: sudden you feel a flow of compassion toward them. And 329 00:19:05,590 --> 00:19:07,710 Speaker 1: you think, I need to go pray for them. I 330 00:19:07,750 --> 00:19:10,070 Speaker 1: need to go encourage them. Your mind will tell you, 331 00:19:10,090 --> 00:19:12,530 Speaker 1: you're crazy. You don't even know them. You're going to 332 00:19:12,550 --> 00:19:16,290 Speaker 1: be embarrassed. Don't push it down. That's God wanting you 333 00:19:16,450 --> 00:19:19,369 Speaker 1: to bring healing. There's a tear that needs to be 334 00:19:19,410 --> 00:19:23,550 Speaker 1: wiped away. I'll never forget one time, Victoria called a 335 00:19:23,609 --> 00:19:26,550 Speaker 1: friend named Shannon. She dialed the number and this young 336 00:19:26,609 --> 00:19:31,419 Speaker 1: lady answered and seemed somewhat troubled. Victoria said, Shannon, is 337 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,120 Speaker 1: this you? And the voice was muffled and said, yes, 338 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: this is me and I'm going to be okay. Well, 339 00:19:37,540 --> 00:19:41,460 Speaker 1: Victoria was more confused and she said, is this Shannon so-and-so? 340 00:19:42,109 --> 00:19:45,109 Speaker 1: Called her last name. The young lady said, no, you 341 00:19:45,150 --> 00:19:48,050 Speaker 1: must have the wrong number. This is a different Shannon. 342 00:19:48,790 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: Victoria was about to hang up. All of a sudden, 343 00:19:52,140 --> 00:19:56,060 Speaker 1: she felt this flow of compassion toward her. She said, Shannon, 344 00:19:56,260 --> 00:19:59,170 Speaker 1: I know this may sound strange, but can I pray 345 00:19:59,210 --> 00:20:02,570 Speaker 1: with you about something? She began to weep. She said, 346 00:20:02,609 --> 00:20:06,790 Speaker 1: would you please? My father just died and I'm so depressed. 347 00:20:06,950 --> 00:20:09,530 Speaker 1: I don't know what I'm going to do. Victoria began 348 00:20:09,550 --> 00:20:12,580 Speaker 1: to pray and speak faith into her, let her know 349 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,500 Speaker 1: that everything was going to be all right. Before she 350 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: hung up, the young lady said, you're my angel. Now 351 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,700 Speaker 1: I know that God still has a plan for my life. Friends, 352 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,030 Speaker 1: God will bring people across our path so we can restore. 353 00:20:28,210 --> 00:20:33,070 Speaker 1: Be sensitive and follow that flow of compassion. One time 354 00:20:33,130 --> 00:20:35,709 Speaker 1: I was at the hospital visiting with a friend and 355 00:20:36,390 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: when I came out, a mother and her daughter asked 356 00:20:39,340 --> 00:20:41,619 Speaker 1: if I would go down the hall and pray for 357 00:20:41,660 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: their father. And I said, sure I will. Let's go 358 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: down there together. When they got to the room, they said, Joel, 359 00:20:46,700 --> 00:20:48,590 Speaker 1: we'll just stay out here and let you go in 360 00:20:48,630 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: by yourself. I thought that was a little strange, but 361 00:20:51,619 --> 00:20:53,740 Speaker 1: I went in there and never seen the man before. 362 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: He's about 60 years old and we just acted like 363 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,379 Speaker 1: we were old friends and I talked and talked and 364 00:20:59,780 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: visited maybe 10 or 15 minutes and I prayed over 365 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,899 Speaker 1: him and I gave him a big hug and when 366 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,750 Speaker 1: I walked out, the mother and daughter were grinning from 367 00:21:08,010 --> 00:21:11,690 Speaker 1: ear to ear. I said, what is so funny? They said, Joel, 368 00:21:11,730 --> 00:21:14,650 Speaker 1: we can't believe he let you pray for him. He 369 00:21:14,690 --> 00:21:20,220 Speaker 1: doesn't even like you. I thought, oh, thanks a lot. 370 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,940 Speaker 1: That's why I went in by myself. They said, when 371 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,869 Speaker 1: we watch you on television, he always makes fun of 372 00:21:26,910 --> 00:21:29,790 Speaker 1: you and tells us to turn you off. And I 373 00:21:29,830 --> 00:21:31,409 Speaker 1: thought if I'd known that, I may have prayed a 374 00:21:31,430 --> 00:21:36,330 Speaker 1: little bit differently. But when you take time to care, 375 00:21:36,510 --> 00:21:40,290 Speaker 1: you never know what God will do. That was years ago. 376 00:21:40,730 --> 00:21:44,260 Speaker 1: And today, do you know every service that man and 377 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: his family is sitting at Lakewood? They never miss a Sunday. 378 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 1: When you live life as a healer, it breaks down 379 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:58,690 Speaker 1: the walls. It softens hard hearts. Love never fails. Come 380 00:21:58,710 --> 00:22:01,010 Speaker 1: to find out, that man used to be a deacon 381 00:22:01,090 --> 00:22:04,090 Speaker 1: in his church. But something happened where he wasn't treated 382 00:22:04,150 --> 00:22:06,830 Speaker 1: right and he hadn't been to church in 30 years. 383 00:22:07,690 --> 00:22:10,180 Speaker 1: The book of James talks about how we need to 384 00:22:10,580 --> 00:22:13,699 Speaker 1: go after the prodigals. We need to go after the 385 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: people that have fallen away. And if you know people 386 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,609 Speaker 1: that have been strong in their faith at one time, 387 00:22:20,690 --> 00:22:23,729 Speaker 1: but now they've fallen. Maybe they used to come to church. 388 00:22:23,810 --> 00:22:26,450 Speaker 1: They used to volunteer. They used to serve, but not anymore. 389 00:22:27,230 --> 00:22:30,890 Speaker 1: I'm giving you an assignment. Sick them. Go after them. 390 00:22:31,390 --> 00:22:34,950 Speaker 1: Write them a letter. Track them down. Call them. Stop 391 00:22:34,990 --> 00:22:37,389 Speaker 1: by their house and say, hey, where have you been? 392 00:22:37,850 --> 00:22:40,370 Speaker 1: We miss you. We need you. Why don't you come 393 00:22:40,410 --> 00:22:44,540 Speaker 1: back home? We have to go after the prodigals. Our 394 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: attitude should be, I'm on a mission from God. If 395 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,580 Speaker 1: you fall away, you're on dangerous ground because I'm going 396 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:52,479 Speaker 1: to track you down. I'm going to help bring you 397 00:22:52,540 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: back into the fold. This is what my father did. 398 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: One time years ago, he went to a service across 399 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,860 Speaker 1: town at a friend of ours church. He got there late, 400 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: so he just sat on the back row. In a 401 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: few minutes, a young man came in that looked very troubled, 402 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,860 Speaker 1: very disturbed. My father felt that flow of compassion going 403 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: out toward him. He thought after the service, I'm gonna 404 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: get him and encourage him and speak faith into his heart. 405 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,189 Speaker 1: But midway through, the young man got up and walked out. 406 00:23:21,710 --> 00:23:24,970 Speaker 1: My father felt so strongly, he went after him. He 407 00:23:25,010 --> 00:23:27,489 Speaker 1: looked in the lobby and couldn't find him. Daddy went 408 00:23:27,530 --> 00:23:29,770 Speaker 1: out in the parking lot, searched and searched, still nothing. 409 00:23:30,210 --> 00:23:32,940 Speaker 1: He came back in and checked the restroom and sure enough, 410 00:23:32,980 --> 00:23:35,420 Speaker 1: there he was. My father looked him in the eyes 411 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 1: and said, I don't know you, but I want to 412 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,420 Speaker 1: tell you, God's hand is on your life. He's got 413 00:23:41,460 --> 00:23:44,690 Speaker 1: a destiny for you to fulfill. Don't give up on 414 00:23:44,730 --> 00:23:47,810 Speaker 1: your future. He began to weep and weep. He said, 415 00:23:47,850 --> 00:23:50,650 Speaker 1: my life is so messed up. I'm addicted to so 416 00:23:50,690 --> 00:23:53,590 Speaker 1: many drugs. I decided to come to church one more 417 00:23:53,650 --> 00:23:55,780 Speaker 1: time and then I was going to go home and 418 00:23:55,820 --> 00:23:59,409 Speaker 1: take every pill I could find. He told later how 419 00:23:59,450 --> 00:24:02,230 Speaker 1: he saw my father sitting on the back row. He 420 00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:05,149 Speaker 1: didn't know who he was, but he was very impressed 421 00:24:05,310 --> 00:24:08,950 Speaker 1: with my father's shoes. He said, when I left, I 422 00:24:09,030 --> 00:24:11,590 Speaker 1: saw you come after me and I did everything I 423 00:24:11,630 --> 00:24:14,660 Speaker 1: could to get away. But everywhere I went, I saw 424 00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:19,219 Speaker 1: those shoes following me. You know what they were? The 425 00:24:19,300 --> 00:24:23,580 Speaker 1: shoes of a healer, the shoes of a restorer. What 426 00:24:23,619 --> 00:24:28,620 Speaker 1: was my father doing? going after the prodigals, tracking down 427 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: somebody that he knew had fallen away. That night was 428 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,070 Speaker 1: a turning point in the young man's life. Today, more 429 00:24:35,109 --> 00:24:37,810 Speaker 1: than 30 years later, he's a pastor of a very 430 00:24:37,869 --> 00:24:42,250 Speaker 1: large church, has thousands and thousands of people. But I 431 00:24:42,310 --> 00:24:45,740 Speaker 1: wonder where he would be if my father had not 432 00:24:45,780 --> 00:24:49,500 Speaker 1: been living life as a healer. A hundred years from now, 433 00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 1: If someone were to remember me, I don't want them 434 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,219 Speaker 1: to say, oh yeah, Joel, he's the guy that had 435 00:24:55,270 --> 00:24:57,850 Speaker 1: a big church. He wrote some nice books. He was 436 00:24:57,910 --> 00:25:00,910 Speaker 1: kind of popular. No, I want them to say that 437 00:25:00,990 --> 00:25:04,590 Speaker 1: man was a healer. He was a restorer. He lifted 438 00:25:04,630 --> 00:25:09,429 Speaker 1: the fallen. He encouraged the discouraged. He gave mercy to 439 00:25:09,450 --> 00:25:13,689 Speaker 1: the guilty. He spent his life wiping away the tears. 440 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,510 Speaker 1: I received a letter just recently from a lady that 441 00:25:17,550 --> 00:25:21,170 Speaker 1: talked about how for 42 years she had been beaten 442 00:25:21,230 --> 00:25:25,270 Speaker 1: down by life and beaten down by religion. She was 443 00:25:25,350 --> 00:25:28,290 Speaker 1: told that God only loved her when she kept all 444 00:25:28,350 --> 00:25:32,530 Speaker 1: the rules and she followed all their man-made laws. She said, 445 00:25:32,609 --> 00:25:35,930 Speaker 1: I suffered under religion. I could never be good enough. 446 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,980 Speaker 1: She ended up dropping out of church, depressed and confused. 447 00:25:39,980 --> 00:25:42,879 Speaker 1: 12 years later, she was flipping through the channels and 448 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,419 Speaker 1: she heard me talking about God's unconditional love and how 449 00:25:46,460 --> 00:25:48,820 Speaker 1: he's still got a great plan for all of our lives. 450 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: For the first time, she felt a freedom on the inside. 451 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,899 Speaker 1: It was like God breathed new breath into her spirit. 452 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: She said, Joel, sometimes because you don't condemn people, other 453 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 1: people criticize you and say you're just preaching Christianity light. 454 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: But let me tell you, I lived under Christianity heavy 455 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:12,780 Speaker 1: for 42 years. I was broken. I was defeated. I 456 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:17,169 Speaker 1: was depressed. But today, I'm healthy. I'm happy. I'm whole. 457 00:26:17,450 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 1: I'm helping others. She went on to say, I will 458 00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:27,340 Speaker 1: take Christianity light over Christianity heavy any day of the week. 459 00:26:28,140 --> 00:26:32,679 Speaker 1: Don't take this wrong, but religion likes to beat people down. 460 00:26:33,380 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: Religion will criticize you because you're not hard enough on others. 461 00:26:37,220 --> 00:26:39,990 Speaker 1: But I love what Jesus said. My yoke is easy. 462 00:26:40,369 --> 00:26:45,350 Speaker 1: My burden is light. I've learned this. People are already 463 00:26:45,490 --> 00:26:50,490 Speaker 1: beaten down enough by life. Let's be healers. Let's be restorers. 464 00:26:50,830 --> 00:26:52,950 Speaker 1: Let's get up every day and say, where is a 465 00:26:53,050 --> 00:26:56,149 Speaker 1: need I can meet? Where is someone where I can 466 00:26:56,190 --> 00:27:00,050 Speaker 1: help lighten a load? Friends, you are a container filled 467 00:27:00,109 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: with God. Release His healing wherever you go. If you 468 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,820 Speaker 1: will live your life as a healer, as a restorer, 469 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:10,380 Speaker 1: I promise you this, God's face will always shine down 470 00:27:10,460 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: on you. Because you rub it out and don't rub 471 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,530 Speaker 1: it in, God will be there for your children, for 472 00:27:16,550 --> 00:27:19,710 Speaker 1: your grandchildren. He won't just meet your needs. He will 473 00:27:19,730 --> 00:27:23,150 Speaker 1: give you the desires of your heart. You'll overcome your obstacles, 474 00:27:23,190 --> 00:27:26,790 Speaker 1: defeat your enemies. I believe and declare you'll see every dream, 475 00:27:27,050 --> 00:27:29,460 Speaker 1: every promise God put in your heart. It will come 476 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 1: to pass. Amen. Do you receive it today? We never 477 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity 478 00:27:37,340 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you 479 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,700 Speaker 1: pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of 480 00:27:43,740 --> 00:27:48,030 Speaker 1: my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my 481 00:27:48,090 --> 00:27:51,850 Speaker 1: Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 482 00:27:51,950 --> 00:27:54,190 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again. Get in a good 483 00:27:54,230 --> 00:27:57,510 Speaker 1: Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take 484 00:27:57,530 --> 00:28:08,340 Speaker 1: you places you've never dreamed of. A few years ago, 485 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: I stood in a forest of giant redwoods, trees hundreds 486 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,220 Speaker 1: of feet tall and thousands of years old. I remember 487 00:28:15,260 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: thinking every one of them started as a single seed, 488 00:28:18,980 --> 00:28:21,510 Speaker 1: something you could hold in your hand. But I was 489 00:28:21,570 --> 00:28:24,670 Speaker 1: amazed at what they had become. That's not just true 490 00:28:24,710 --> 00:28:27,860 Speaker 1: of trees. It's true of you. There are seeds God 491 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,420 Speaker 1: has already placed in you that are waiting to come 492 00:28:30,460 --> 00:28:33,720 Speaker 1: to life. You haven't seen all that you can become. 493 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: I'd love to send you my new 90-day devotional called 494 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: Super Bloom. It's designed to help you water what God 495 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:44,140 Speaker 1: has already planted in your life. Each day's reading will 496 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:47,770 Speaker 1: strengthen your faith, remind you of God's promises, and encourage 497 00:28:47,790 --> 00:28:50,790 Speaker 1: you to keep believing. As you do this, you'll see 498 00:28:50,850 --> 00:28:54,530 Speaker 1: new confidence, new joy, and new growth. Those seeds of 499 00:28:54,590 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: greatness will begin to flourish and you'll discover a life 500 00:28:57,860 --> 00:29:00,020 Speaker 1: more rewarding than you've ever imagined. 501 00:29:01,060 --> 00:29:04,719 Speaker 2: Super Bloom, 90 days of growth, encouragement, and hope for 502 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:08,300 Speaker 2: all seasons of life is Joel's brand new devotional designed 503 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 2: to help you water what God has already planted in you. Inside, 504 00:29:12,340 --> 00:29:15,940 Speaker 2: you'll find 90 days of scripture, encouragement, and a simple 505 00:29:16,060 --> 00:29:20,220 Speaker 2: daily practice. Whatever season you're walking through, whatever you're believing 506 00:29:20,310 --> 00:29:24,390 Speaker 2: God for, because what you water today is what blooms tomorrow. 507 00:29:24,890 --> 00:29:26,930 Speaker 2: It's yours as a thank you for your gift to 508 00:29:26,970 --> 00:29:30,210 Speaker 2: the ministry today. Be sure to request your copy of 509 00:29:30,290 --> 00:29:34,170 Speaker 2: Super Bloom, available this month by visiting us at joelostein.com 510 00:29:34,230 --> 00:29:36,650 Speaker 2: or call 888-567-JOEL. Keep watering what God has planted. 511 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: I believe you're going to come into your super bloom season. 512 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: Victoria and I love you. We're praying for you and 513 00:29:46,180 --> 00:29:48,850 Speaker 1: your family every day. And thanks so much for your 514 00:29:48,890 --> 00:29:52,550 Speaker 1: prayer and support. Your generosity helps take this message of 515 00:29:52,630 --> 00:29:55,530 Speaker 1: hope to people all over the world who need their 516 00:29:55,710 --> 00:29:58,390 Speaker 1: own moment with God. And a special thank you to 517 00:29:58,450 --> 00:30:01,580 Speaker 1: our Champion of Hope partners. Your monthly support makes a 518 00:30:01,620 --> 00:30:04,380 Speaker 1: difference every single day. If you're not a partner, I 519 00:30:04,420 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: hope you'll consider becoming one. Until next time, may the 520 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you. 521 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of Superbloom, available this 522 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:19,930 Speaker 2: month by visiting us at joelosteen.com or call 888-567-JOEL. With 523 00:30:19,970 --> 00:30:23,290 Speaker 2: an additional gift, you can also receive the Superbloom devotional 524 00:30:23,430 --> 00:30:26,370 Speaker 2: together with the Planted in God journals. a place to 525 00:30:26,430 --> 00:30:29,710 Speaker 2: capture your prayers, your dreams, and all the good things 526 00:30:29,810 --> 00:30:32,670 Speaker 2: God is doing in your life. We are also making 527 00:30:32,730 --> 00:30:36,220 Speaker 2: available to you this month the Bloom Expanded Collection, the 528 00:30:36,260 --> 00:30:40,340 Speaker 2: devotional and journal together with the NLT Spiritual Growth Bible, 529 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,890 Speaker 2: one of the most comprehensive study Bibles available to help 530 00:30:43,910 --> 00:30:47,230 Speaker 2: you go even deeper in God's Word. What you water 531 00:30:47,290 --> 00:30:51,460 Speaker 2: today is what blooms tomorrow. You can request these inspiring 532 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:58,310 Speaker 2: resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging on to joelosteen.com today. 533 00:30:58,970 --> 00:31:02,010 Speaker 2: Take the step today and watch what God planted in 534 00:31:02,050 --> 00:31:05,209 Speaker 2: you break open into your own super bloom, a season 535 00:31:05,250 --> 00:31:09,219 Speaker 2: of joy, hope, and growth you never imagined. Call or 536 00:31:09,260 --> 00:31:10,580 Speaker 2: click anytime, 24 hours a day.