1 00:00:05,260 --> 00:00:07,580 Speaker 1: I hope you and your family are having a great summer. 2 00:00:07,820 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: Victoria and I are praying for you, believing for God's 3 00:00:10,260 --> 00:00:13,100 Speaker 1: very best in your life. And it's always my pleasure 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,010 Speaker 1: to be able to share a message with you. I 5 00:00:15,030 --> 00:00:20,660 Speaker 1: hope you're encouraged and inspired today. Well, God bless you. 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,619 Speaker 1: It's a joy to come into your homes. And if 7 00:00:23,660 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: you're ever in our area, please stop by and be 8 00:00:26,180 --> 00:00:28,620 Speaker 1: a part of one of our services. I promise you, 9 00:00:28,740 --> 00:00:30,980 Speaker 1: we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks so 10 00:00:31,020 --> 00:00:33,180 Speaker 1: much for tuning in today. And thank you again for 11 00:00:33,220 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: coming out. I like to start with something funny. And 12 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,099 Speaker 1: I heard about this mother that was cooking breakfast for 13 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:44,220 Speaker 1: her two young boys. Ryan was five and Kevin was three. 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,650 Speaker 1: And they began to argue over who should get the 15 00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:50,050 Speaker 1: first pancake. The mother saw it as an opportunity to 16 00:00:50,090 --> 00:00:53,410 Speaker 1: teach them a lesson. She said, boys, boys, if Jesus 17 00:00:53,450 --> 00:00:56,370 Speaker 1: were here, he would say, let my brother have the 18 00:00:56,390 --> 00:00:59,830 Speaker 1: first pancake. Ryan turned to his younger brother and said, 19 00:00:59,870 --> 00:01:04,530 Speaker 1: all right, Kevin, you be Jesus. Hold your Bible up. 20 00:01:04,810 --> 00:01:07,270 Speaker 1: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 21 00:01:07,730 --> 00:01:10,020 Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what 22 00:01:10,030 --> 00:01:12,390 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 23 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: I can do. Today, I will be taught the Word 24 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,179 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My 25 00:01:19,220 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 26 00:01:23,860 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 27 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: about passing the small test. Many people don't realize how 28 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,740 Speaker 1: God speaks to them. They think it's going to be 29 00:01:34,780 --> 00:01:39,250 Speaker 1: this big, dramatic voice. But one way God speaks is 30 00:01:39,310 --> 00:01:43,390 Speaker 1: through impressions. We think, I know I should go visit 31 00:01:43,430 --> 00:01:46,780 Speaker 1: my parents. I know I shouldn't eat so many sweets. 32 00:01:47,580 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: I know I should stay home and do my schoolwork. 33 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:54,220 Speaker 1: The I knows are God talking to you. That's the 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,250 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit leading you, trying to keep you on the 35 00:01:57,290 --> 00:02:02,130 Speaker 1: best path. It's a still, small voice. Not out loud, 36 00:02:02,410 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: but a knowing, an impression. Be sensitive to what you 37 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,330 Speaker 1: feel down in here. Don't ignore it. Learn to be 38 00:02:10,410 --> 00:02:13,380 Speaker 1: quick to obey. A lot of times we know what 39 00:02:13,419 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: we should do, but we make excuses and we reason 40 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,060 Speaker 1: it out, try to soothe our conscience. I'll do it later. 41 00:02:20,410 --> 00:02:24,269 Speaker 1: I'm real busy now. We have to understand God doesn't 42 00:02:24,430 --> 00:02:27,090 Speaker 1: ask us to do it for his sake. He asked 43 00:02:27,150 --> 00:02:30,290 Speaker 1: us to do it for our own sake. He's trying 44 00:02:30,330 --> 00:02:33,900 Speaker 1: to increase us, get us into the fullness of our destiny. 45 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: Now I've learned before God will release big blessings, he 46 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:43,030 Speaker 1: will give you small tests. You'll feel an impression to 47 00:02:43,070 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: be good to somebody, a desire to just buy their dinner. 48 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: That's not just a nice thought. That's God asking you 49 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,820 Speaker 1: to do it. And too often we dismiss it and think, oh, 50 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: I don't feel like it. And I don't really know them. 51 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,019 Speaker 1: Maybe another time. But if you don't learn to pass 52 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,650 Speaker 1: these small tests and do what God's asking you to do, 53 00:03:04,150 --> 00:03:06,750 Speaker 1: it will keep you from the big things God has 54 00:03:06,810 --> 00:03:10,529 Speaker 1: in store. God wants to know, can I trust you? 55 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,260 Speaker 1: Will you be quick to obey or will I have 56 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,980 Speaker 1: to ask you again and again, try to talk you 57 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: into it, argue with you? Listen, talk is cheap. We 58 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: can say, God, give me a lot of money. I 59 00:03:23,060 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: promise I'll be good to people. I'll give to the homeless. 60 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: I'll support my church. No, God says, will you give 61 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,750 Speaker 1: that $ 10 I'm asking you to give now? Will you 62 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:35,890 Speaker 1: buy that person's dinner? Will you give that coworker a 63 00:03:35,930 --> 00:03:41,150 Speaker 1: ride home? Pass these small tests. Obey the I knows 64 00:03:41,270 --> 00:03:45,070 Speaker 1: on the inside. Maybe you're about to drink that 12th 65 00:03:45,210 --> 00:03:48,270 Speaker 1: cup of coffee in the morning. Something says to you, 66 00:03:48,310 --> 00:03:50,710 Speaker 1: put it down. That's too much. That's going to be harmful. 67 00:03:51,090 --> 00:03:54,270 Speaker 1: That is not your mother's voice. That's God talking to you. 68 00:03:55,690 --> 00:04:00,470 Speaker 1: God speaks to us about practical everyday things. You got 69 00:04:00,490 --> 00:04:03,060 Speaker 1: to pay attention to what you're feeling down in here. 70 00:04:04,110 --> 00:04:07,869 Speaker 1: Maybe you get around a certain person, you feel an uneasiness, 71 00:04:08,330 --> 00:04:12,250 Speaker 1: an unrest. Something says, stay away. That's trouble. Those are 72 00:04:12,290 --> 00:04:15,700 Speaker 1: not just bad vibes. That's the Holy Spirit warning you. 73 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,060 Speaker 1: It may be small, but it can keep you from 74 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,270 Speaker 1: big heartache. Well, Joel, if I don't hang out with them, 75 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,660 Speaker 1: I may not have any friends. No, God will give 76 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: you new friends. He'll give you better friends. But here's 77 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:33,049 Speaker 1: the key. If you don't let go of the wrong people, 78 00:04:33,450 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: the right people won't show up. You have to make 79 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: the first move. God doesn't force us to do this. 80 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,469 Speaker 1: He's given us our own free will. But whenever God 81 00:04:43,589 --> 00:04:46,469 Speaker 1: asks you to give something up, he's never trying to 82 00:04:46,529 --> 00:04:49,950 Speaker 1: take something away. He's trying to get something better to you. 83 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: And as we grow and develop and mature, the more 84 00:04:53,940 --> 00:04:58,099 Speaker 1: of his blessings and favor will be released. Maybe down deep, 85 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: you know, you're supposed to volunteer, serve in the children's ministry, 86 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,049 Speaker 1: be an usher, coach little league. You think I'm too busy. 87 00:05:06,450 --> 00:05:08,849 Speaker 1: Got so much going on. They got plenty of people. 88 00:05:08,890 --> 00:05:11,450 Speaker 1: They don't need me. Besides, I want to do something 89 00:05:11,510 --> 00:05:16,980 Speaker 1: more important. Unless you obey in the small, God can't 90 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,450 Speaker 1: entrust you with much. Our friend Joyce Meyer has a 91 00:05:20,510 --> 00:05:24,150 Speaker 1: great ministry. She tells how God dealt with her for 92 00:05:24,250 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: years about not leaving her shopping cart in the parking lot. 93 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: Every time she's about to leave it at the grocery 94 00:05:32,180 --> 00:05:35,930 Speaker 1: store parking lot, Some voice would say, take it back 95 00:05:35,990 --> 00:05:38,740 Speaker 1: up where it belongs. Be a person of excellence. Don't 96 00:05:38,779 --> 00:05:41,140 Speaker 1: leave it out here. She'd look around. There were other 97 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: grocery carts all over the parking lot. God, why do 98 00:05:44,820 --> 00:05:48,170 Speaker 1: I have to take mine back? Nobody else does. Here's why. 99 00:05:48,610 --> 00:05:55,219 Speaker 1: Everybody is not going where you're going. Everybody... Everybody is 100 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,740 Speaker 1: not going to be sensitive to God's voice and have 101 00:05:57,779 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: the discipline and determination to become all they were created 102 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,230 Speaker 1: to be. Joyce would spend five minutes trying to steady 103 00:06:05,270 --> 00:06:08,450 Speaker 1: the grocery cart so it wouldn't roll and hit anybody's car. 104 00:06:09,089 --> 00:06:11,170 Speaker 1: The time she spent trying to get it to stay, 105 00:06:11,510 --> 00:06:13,409 Speaker 1: she could have taken it back up where it belonged. 106 00:06:14,270 --> 00:06:18,020 Speaker 1: Seems like a little thing, but if Joyce had not 107 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:21,140 Speaker 1: learned how to pass the small test, she wouldn't have 108 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:26,540 Speaker 1: a ministry that touches the world today. Don't confuse small 109 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: with insignificant. It may be a small thing to not 110 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:34,350 Speaker 1: leave your grocery cart, small thing to buy somebody's dinner, 111 00:06:34,650 --> 00:06:38,130 Speaker 1: small thing to serve in the children's ministry, but without 112 00:06:38,270 --> 00:06:41,650 Speaker 1: passing the small test, you won't step in to the 113 00:06:41,730 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: fullness of your destiny. Is there something small holding you 114 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,190 Speaker 1: back today? You know you need to, but you don't 115 00:06:49,250 --> 00:06:52,070 Speaker 1: feel like it. You keep putting it off, thinking, ah, 116 00:06:52,100 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: it's no big deal. No, it is a big deal. 117 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,420 Speaker 1: Start passing the small test. Every time you obey, a 118 00:06:59,460 --> 00:07:03,540 Speaker 1: blessing will follow. And sometimes we're waiting for the big things. 119 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: We'd work hard, give it our best if we got 120 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,580 Speaker 1: that promotion. God, if you'd give me that position I 121 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: really want, I'll get to work early. I'll do more 122 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: than I have to. No, here's the real test. Will 123 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: you be your best right where you are, even though 124 00:07:19,430 --> 00:07:23,230 Speaker 1: you're doing something that you know is beneath you? Will 125 00:07:23,270 --> 00:07:26,210 Speaker 1: you be kind to that coworker that's not being kind 126 00:07:26,230 --> 00:07:30,110 Speaker 1: to you? Small test. Will you clean the kitchen even 127 00:07:30,150 --> 00:07:32,910 Speaker 1: though you didn't make the mess with a good attitude? 128 00:07:33,890 --> 00:07:36,670 Speaker 1: Will you turn that program off that you feel an 129 00:07:36,770 --> 00:07:40,490 Speaker 1: unrest about instead of letting it pollute your mind? It 130 00:07:40,590 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: may be difficult, but God will never ask you to 131 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: do something and then not give you the power to 132 00:07:46,620 --> 00:07:50,620 Speaker 1: do it. Whatever test you're facing, you have the grace 133 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:54,270 Speaker 1: to pass it. Don't believe those lies. I'm too shy. 134 00:07:54,650 --> 00:07:57,970 Speaker 1: I can't make any new friends. I've been hurt too badly. 135 00:07:58,290 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: I can't forgive. I'm too undisciplined. I can't take my 136 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,460 Speaker 1: grocery cart back. No, you have what you need to 137 00:08:05,540 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: do what God's asking you to do. Don't make excuses. 138 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: Excuses can keep you from your destiny. Like Nike says, 139 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:18,790 Speaker 1: just do it. One time in the scripture, Jesus made mud. 140 00:08:19,630 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: put it on a blind man's eyes, told him to 141 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: go wash it off and he would be healed. Jesus 142 00:08:25,660 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: could have just as easily healed the man right then 143 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,990 Speaker 1: and there. But Jesus asked him to do something small, 144 00:08:33,730 --> 00:08:37,570 Speaker 1: something ordinary. Wasn't difficult. He didn't ask him to go 145 00:08:37,630 --> 00:08:40,090 Speaker 1: climb a mountain. He asked him to wash it off. 146 00:08:40,750 --> 00:08:44,210 Speaker 1: When the man did, he could see. It was his 147 00:08:44,429 --> 00:08:48,330 Speaker 1: act of obedience that released the fullness of God's power. 148 00:08:49,110 --> 00:08:52,290 Speaker 1: He could have gone around another week, a month, a year, 149 00:08:52,550 --> 00:08:55,809 Speaker 1: still blind, thinking, I'm not going to wash this off. 150 00:08:56,510 --> 00:09:00,890 Speaker 1: That's insignificant. That's a small thing. Now, when you do 151 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: what God's asking you to do, even if it's small, 152 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: it will activate the greatness of God's power. It's not 153 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,559 Speaker 1: so much what you do. The power is in the obedience. 154 00:09:12,670 --> 00:09:15,630 Speaker 1: Maybe God's asking you to do something that seems small, 155 00:09:16,190 --> 00:09:18,950 Speaker 1: like Joyce, to just put the grocery cart back. That's 156 00:09:19,010 --> 00:09:22,270 Speaker 1: no big deal. Yes, that's like washing the mud off 157 00:09:22,309 --> 00:09:26,170 Speaker 1: your eyes. Maybe God's asking you to get to work 158 00:09:26,270 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: on time, to be kind to a stranger, to be 159 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 1: more disciplined in your diet, to not nag your spouse, 160 00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:38,510 Speaker 1: to not criticize your pastor, small things like that. The 161 00:09:38,590 --> 00:09:44,340 Speaker 1: size is not what's important. It's the obedience. When you obey, 162 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:49,380 Speaker 1: blind eyes open. When you obey, miracles happen. When you obey, 163 00:09:49,840 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: negative situations turn around. Today, it's as if God has 164 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:06,500 Speaker 1: placed the mud on our eyes. He's saying, I've done 165 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:10,500 Speaker 1: my part. I've touched you. Now the miracle will be 166 00:10:10,660 --> 00:10:13,860 Speaker 1: activated when you do your part. It's up to us 167 00:10:14,020 --> 00:10:18,230 Speaker 1: to obey. Another place in the scripture, the prophet Elisha 168 00:10:18,610 --> 00:10:21,309 Speaker 1: told a man by the name of Naaman to go 169 00:10:21,370 --> 00:10:24,450 Speaker 1: wash in the Jordan River and he would be cured 170 00:10:24,610 --> 00:10:28,790 Speaker 1: of his leprosy. Same principle, obey and the miracle will 171 00:10:28,809 --> 00:10:32,290 Speaker 1: show up. Well, Naaman was the captain in an army, 172 00:10:32,670 --> 00:10:35,910 Speaker 1: a very influential man. He didn't want to go wash 173 00:10:36,050 --> 00:10:40,030 Speaker 1: in the dirty Jordan River. His attitude was that's absurd. 174 00:10:40,590 --> 00:10:43,990 Speaker 1: That's little, that's insignificant. That's not going to make any difference. 175 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,820 Speaker 1: His assistant said, Naaman, if he were to ask you 176 00:10:47,860 --> 00:10:51,090 Speaker 1: to do something hard, something big, you would do it. 177 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,179 Speaker 1: Why don't you do this small thing? I wonder how 178 00:10:55,220 --> 00:10:59,630 Speaker 1: many of us would see our breakthrough, our healing, our promotion, 179 00:10:59,910 --> 00:11:02,650 Speaker 1: a dream come to pass if we just do the 180 00:11:02,730 --> 00:11:06,850 Speaker 1: small thing that God's asking us to do. Naaman finally 181 00:11:06,890 --> 00:11:09,790 Speaker 1: went and washed and like the blind man, he was 182 00:11:09,850 --> 00:11:14,130 Speaker 1: totally healed. When you obey, it releases a new level 183 00:11:14,429 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: of God's favor. But sometimes we don't realize these little 184 00:11:18,740 --> 00:11:21,620 Speaker 1: tests that we're not passing, thinking, oh man, it doesn't 185 00:11:21,660 --> 00:11:25,010 Speaker 1: really matter. I know I should treat my spouse better. 186 00:11:25,270 --> 00:11:28,380 Speaker 1: I will one day. I know I should be kind 187 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: to this new neighbor in the community. Joe, I'm busy 188 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 1: right now. I know I should be more disciplined in 189 00:11:33,460 --> 00:11:36,939 Speaker 1: what I watch, but it's not hurting anything. Yes, it's 190 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:41,450 Speaker 1: keeping you from the fullness of your destiny. Maybe something small, 191 00:11:41,830 --> 00:11:45,510 Speaker 1: but your act of obedience will cause God to release 192 00:11:45,550 --> 00:11:48,860 Speaker 1: the big thing that he has in store. I know 193 00:11:48,890 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: a man that's a minister. For years, he and his 194 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:54,660 Speaker 1: wife tried to have a baby. She couldn't get pregnant. 195 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:57,660 Speaker 1: They prayed and believed, did everything they knew how to 196 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,020 Speaker 1: do with no success. One day, he was on an 197 00:12:01,140 --> 00:12:06,590 Speaker 1: airplane returning from India from a missionary trip. under his breath, 198 00:12:07,090 --> 00:12:10,910 Speaker 1: he said, God, it's not fair. I don't understand it. 199 00:12:10,950 --> 00:12:12,930 Speaker 1: I go all over the world to help people, to 200 00:12:12,990 --> 00:12:17,030 Speaker 1: do your will. Why can't we have a baby? God 201 00:12:17,110 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: spoke something to him right down in here. He said, son, 202 00:12:20,750 --> 00:12:23,680 Speaker 1: you're not going to have a baby until you start 203 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: treating your wife better. He wasn't doing anything major wrong. 204 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:32,180 Speaker 1: He just wasn't being as kind and considerate as he 205 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:36,459 Speaker 1: knew he should be. Little disrespectful here, little sarcastic there. 206 00:12:37,220 --> 00:12:39,709 Speaker 1: When he heard this, he kicked it into a new gear. 207 00:12:40,490 --> 00:12:42,770 Speaker 1: He went out of his way to be good to her, 208 00:12:43,030 --> 00:12:46,010 Speaker 1: took her breakfast in bed, treated her like a queen. 209 00:12:46,270 --> 00:12:49,630 Speaker 1: Do you know, it wasn't any time before she conceived. 210 00:12:50,010 --> 00:12:54,070 Speaker 1: Today they have a beautiful daughter. Could it be if 211 00:12:54,110 --> 00:12:56,610 Speaker 1: you would do what God's asking you to do, a 212 00:12:57,290 --> 00:13:00,849 Speaker 1: dream would come to pass? Maybe you're waiting on God, 213 00:13:01,150 --> 00:13:04,090 Speaker 1: but God's waiting on you. He's put the mud on 214 00:13:04,130 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 1: your eyes. He's waiting for you to wash it off. 215 00:13:07,580 --> 00:13:10,939 Speaker 1: May not be something big, just a small thing. If 216 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: you will make that simple adjustment, your act of obedience 217 00:13:15,490 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: will bring the miracles. My friend, Craig Groeschel, pastors the 218 00:13:19,740 --> 00:13:23,420 Speaker 1: Life Church in Oklahoma. He told how when he was 219 00:13:23,460 --> 00:13:26,179 Speaker 1: a young man, he'd just come to know the Lord. 220 00:13:26,580 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: This was all new to him. He was in church 221 00:13:29,210 --> 00:13:33,510 Speaker 1: one Sunday. The music was going, people were singing. He 222 00:13:33,550 --> 00:13:36,590 Speaker 1: looked over a few rows and he saw this woman 223 00:13:36,630 --> 00:13:40,110 Speaker 1: that looked very discouraged. Seemed like she had the weight 224 00:13:40,290 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: of the world on her. Something said to him, Craig, 225 00:13:44,020 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: I want you to give her an offering. He had 226 00:13:47,130 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: never felt anything like that before. He thought, I don't 227 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: even know the lady. I'm not going to go over 228 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,740 Speaker 1: there and interrupt her. He went back to worshiping, tried 229 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: to dismiss it, but it kept coming back up. He 230 00:13:59,220 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 1: looked in his wallet. All he had was a $ 5 bill. 231 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: He thought there is no way I'm going to go 232 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:09,110 Speaker 1: over there and give her $ 5. That would be embarrassing. Besides, 233 00:14:09,230 --> 00:14:13,189 Speaker 1: what good could $ 5 possibly do? He pushed it down 234 00:14:13,570 --> 00:14:16,620 Speaker 1: again and again and again. Couldn't get away from it. 235 00:14:16,890 --> 00:14:19,670 Speaker 1: Finally got his nerve up. Walked over right in the 236 00:14:19,710 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: middle of the service. Said, ma'am, I know this sounds 237 00:14:22,380 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: totally strange, but I feel like I'm supposed to give 238 00:14:26,460 --> 00:14:31,110 Speaker 1: you this $ 5. She began to weep. He turned to 239 00:14:31,150 --> 00:14:34,570 Speaker 1: walk away. She stopped him and said, listen, I'm a 240 00:14:34,630 --> 00:14:37,820 Speaker 1: single parent mom. Had a lot of things come against 241 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,940 Speaker 1: me this month. I knew I needed to get to church, 242 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: but I only had gas to get there one way, 243 00:14:45,140 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: not enough to get back home. I said, God, I'm 244 00:14:48,020 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: going to take a step of faith. If I go, 245 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:54,220 Speaker 1: you got to get me back home. That simple act 246 00:14:54,420 --> 00:14:59,010 Speaker 1: of obedience, just $ 5, not only got her back home, 247 00:14:59,570 --> 00:15:02,270 Speaker 1: but it told her something much more important that God 248 00:15:02,350 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: still has her in the palm of his hand. Craig 249 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,780 Speaker 1: went back to his seat, very encouraged. And after service, 250 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: a bunch of young people were going out to eat 251 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: and they asked Craig to go. And he said, no, 252 00:15:15,980 --> 00:15:18,900 Speaker 1: I think I'll pass. Didn't have any money. The main 253 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,740 Speaker 1: guy spoke up and said, come on, Craig, I'm buying tonight. 254 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: You got to go. He went and got an $ 8 255 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: hamburger instead of a $ 5 sandwich. Passed the small test. 256 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: God puts people in our path on purpose so we 257 00:15:34,260 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: can be a blessing to them. Anytime you do good 258 00:15:37,780 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: for others, you are sowing a seed for God to 259 00:15:40,740 --> 00:15:44,180 Speaker 1: be good to you. Take time to follow what God's 260 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,390 Speaker 1: put in your heart. Be willing to be inconvenienced. May 261 00:15:48,470 --> 00:15:51,190 Speaker 1: seem small to you, but you don't know what kind 262 00:15:51,230 --> 00:15:54,310 Speaker 1: of impact it will have on that other person. One 263 00:15:54,330 --> 00:15:58,910 Speaker 1: of the best things I've learned is obey quickly. When 264 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: God asks you to do it, do it right then. 265 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,500 Speaker 1: When God told David to go face Goliath, the Bible 266 00:16:05,580 --> 00:16:09,570 Speaker 1: says David ran to the battlefield. You know why? If 267 00:16:09,630 --> 00:16:12,030 Speaker 1: David would have thought about it long enough, he'd have 268 00:16:12,050 --> 00:16:14,610 Speaker 1: talked himself out of it. If he had gone over 269 00:16:14,770 --> 00:16:18,590 Speaker 1: all the facts, figures, how much bigger Goliath was, how 270 00:16:18,630 --> 00:16:21,940 Speaker 1: much more experience he had, David would have lost his 271 00:16:22,020 --> 00:16:25,780 Speaker 1: courage and missed his destiny. When God asks you to 272 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: do something, don't overanalyze it. Don't reason it out. If 273 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: you think about it too long, you can miss your destiny. 274 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: Why should I buy their dinner? They got more than 275 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: I do. Why should I apologize? I apologized first last time. 276 00:16:41,820 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: Why should I be good to them, Joel? They're not 277 00:16:43,580 --> 00:16:46,620 Speaker 1: being good to me. No, quit making excuses. Quit reasoning 278 00:16:46,660 --> 00:16:49,609 Speaker 1: it out. Quit thinking you heard God wrong and just 279 00:16:49,690 --> 00:16:53,510 Speaker 1: do it. Learn to be quick to obey. God knows 280 00:16:53,610 --> 00:16:58,820 Speaker 1: what he's doing. He can see things that we cannot see. 2003, 281 00:16:58,820 --> 00:17:04,149 Speaker 1: a young pastor from Africa attended our services. He's an 282 00:17:04,290 --> 00:17:07,430 Speaker 1: up and coming minister, has a large church over there. 283 00:17:08,130 --> 00:17:11,910 Speaker 1: I met him afterwards. He was so excited about being here. 284 00:17:12,380 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: He has this big infectious smile. You look at him 285 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,310 Speaker 1: and he just makes you feel happy. When he shook 286 00:17:19,369 --> 00:17:21,689 Speaker 1: my hand, you would have thought he was meeting the 287 00:17:21,730 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: President of the United States. He was so thrilled, so 288 00:17:25,410 --> 00:17:29,220 Speaker 1: honored to be here. While we were talking, I felt 289 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 1: very strongly that I was supposed to give him my tie. 290 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: Out of the blue, wasn't even thinking about it, this 291 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,340 Speaker 1: thought came to my heart, Joel, bless him with your tie. 292 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:45,460 Speaker 1: I looked down, it was a brand new tie. I thought, 293 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:50,180 Speaker 1: get behind me, Satan, that was not God. first time 294 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 1: I ever wore it. As we were visiting, this debate 295 00:17:54,060 --> 00:17:56,550 Speaker 1: was going on in my mind. I thought, all right, 296 00:17:56,590 --> 00:17:58,830 Speaker 1: God wants me to give him a tie. I have 297 00:17:58,869 --> 00:18:01,950 Speaker 1: a bunch of old ties at home, ties that I 298 00:18:01,970 --> 00:18:05,210 Speaker 1: don't like anymore, ties that are out of style. God 299 00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:08,649 Speaker 1: won't care. He won't know any different and I'll still 300 00:18:08,710 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: be giving him a tie. Came up with this good 301 00:18:11,380 --> 00:18:14,900 Speaker 1: solution in my mind, but down in my heart, something 302 00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: kept saying, Joel, I want you to give him that tie. 303 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: By the way I argued, you would have thought God 304 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,700 Speaker 1: had asked me to give him my house, my car, 305 00:18:24,740 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: my firstborn child. All I was supposed to give him 306 00:18:28,420 --> 00:18:32,730 Speaker 1: was a tie, a small test. Friends, it's usually not 307 00:18:32,790 --> 00:18:35,510 Speaker 1: the big things that keep us from God's best. It's 308 00:18:35,530 --> 00:18:38,470 Speaker 1: the small things. God said, Joel, I don't want him 309 00:18:38,490 --> 00:18:40,590 Speaker 1: to have an old leftover tie. I want him to 310 00:18:40,630 --> 00:18:44,250 Speaker 1: have that tie. You probably already learned this, but when 311 00:18:44,270 --> 00:18:48,540 Speaker 1: you argue with God, he's always going to win. You 312 00:18:48,580 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: might as well save your breath and do what he's 313 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 1: asking you to do the very first time. When God 314 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:58,939 Speaker 1: asks you to forgive, he doesn't mean partially forgive. When 315 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:01,810 Speaker 1: he asks you to volunteer, he doesn't mean do it 316 00:19:01,910 --> 00:19:04,530 Speaker 1: when you get to heaven. When he asks you to 317 00:19:04,869 --> 00:19:07,730 Speaker 1: get your finances in order, he doesn't mean just change 318 00:19:07,790 --> 00:19:09,930 Speaker 1: banks so you could at least get your new balance. 319 00:19:11,390 --> 00:19:16,020 Speaker 1: Do it wholeheartedly. Do it completely. I could have given 320 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:20,220 Speaker 1: him an old tie, but I've learned this. Partial obedience 321 00:19:20,700 --> 00:19:24,770 Speaker 1: is not obedience. Giving an old tie is not obeying. 322 00:19:25,830 --> 00:19:28,370 Speaker 1: Finding them a ride when God asked you to pick 323 00:19:28,390 --> 00:19:32,210 Speaker 1: them up is not obedience. Hanging out with that person 324 00:19:32,690 --> 00:19:35,190 Speaker 1: that God told you to stay away from three days 325 00:19:35,250 --> 00:19:39,109 Speaker 1: a week instead of seven days is not obeying. It 326 00:19:39,150 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 1: may be hard. But the greater the difficulty, the greater 327 00:19:43,180 --> 00:19:47,370 Speaker 1: the reward. When you sow a radical seed of obedience, 328 00:19:47,710 --> 00:19:51,530 Speaker 1: you will reap a radical reward. I finally took my 329 00:19:51,570 --> 00:19:53,570 Speaker 1: tie off right then and there, gave it to him. 330 00:19:53,890 --> 00:19:56,770 Speaker 1: You would have thought I had given him a million dollars. 331 00:19:57,070 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: He was so happy. I was so depressed. No, I'm 332 00:20:00,540 --> 00:20:04,889 Speaker 1: just kidding. A few years later, he came back and 333 00:20:04,930 --> 00:20:08,820 Speaker 1: visited us. They had just built a new sanctuary. Big, 334 00:20:09,130 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: beautiful building. He was showing me a picture of the 335 00:20:12,540 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: dedication ceremony. They were doing the ribbon cutting. Government leaders, 336 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:21,179 Speaker 1: city officials, a historic occasion. He pointed and said, Joel, 337 00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:25,510 Speaker 1: notice what I have on. He was wearing the tie 338 00:20:25,570 --> 00:20:29,470 Speaker 1: that I had given him. He told how he kept 339 00:20:29,570 --> 00:20:33,740 Speaker 1: this tie in his office. Whenever he was tempted to 340 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,500 Speaker 1: get discouraged, he would go look at it and be 341 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:42,010 Speaker 1: reminded that with God, all things are possible. When he 342 00:20:42,070 --> 00:20:45,369 Speaker 1: was told, no, the funds aren't going to come in. 343 00:20:45,410 --> 00:20:47,950 Speaker 1: The project's not going to work out. He would call 344 00:20:48,010 --> 00:20:53,090 Speaker 1: his whole team in, gather around that tie and say, God, 345 00:20:53,450 --> 00:20:56,070 Speaker 1: you did it for those people in Houston. You can 346 00:20:56,109 --> 00:21:02,130 Speaker 1: do it for us here in Africa. That tie... That 347 00:21:02,210 --> 00:21:06,650 Speaker 1: tie became a symbol of hope, a reminder that God 348 00:21:06,710 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: is all powerful, that he can make a way even 349 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:11,739 Speaker 1: when we don't see a way. I thought I was 350 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,500 Speaker 1: just giving him a tie, but God used it to 351 00:21:14,619 --> 00:21:18,790 Speaker 1: inspire their faith, to build a sanctuary that can touch 352 00:21:18,850 --> 00:21:24,430 Speaker 1: a nation. don't confuse small with insignificant. It's easy to think, hey, 353 00:21:24,450 --> 00:21:26,570 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. Forgive me this time or that time. 354 00:21:26,590 --> 00:21:28,770 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter if I put my grocery cart back. 355 00:21:29,030 --> 00:21:31,340 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter if I treat this person right. No, 356 00:21:31,380 --> 00:21:34,420 Speaker 1: it matters a whole lot more than you think. Before 357 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,620 Speaker 1: God can release big blessings, you got to pass these 358 00:21:37,660 --> 00:21:42,940 Speaker 1: small tests. First Samuel chapter 15, the prophet Samuel said 359 00:21:42,980 --> 00:21:46,170 Speaker 1: to a young man named Saul, the leader of the Israelites, 360 00:21:46,910 --> 00:21:52,830 Speaker 1: go out and attack the Amalekites, utterly destroy everything that 361 00:21:52,869 --> 00:21:57,530 Speaker 1: belongs to them. Do not spare anyone or anything, including 362 00:21:57,570 --> 00:22:01,490 Speaker 1: the cattle, the sheep, and all of the livestock. Notice 363 00:22:01,530 --> 00:22:06,330 Speaker 1: Saul had very clear instructions from God to totally wipe 364 00:22:06,510 --> 00:22:10,030 Speaker 1: out everything that had to do with the Amalekites. Saul 365 00:22:10,070 --> 00:22:13,350 Speaker 1: and his 200,000 men went out, attacked them. They had 366 00:22:13,369 --> 00:22:17,070 Speaker 1: a great victory. But in verse nine, it says that 367 00:22:17,190 --> 00:22:21,429 Speaker 1: Saul captured the king and he kept the best of 368 00:22:21,470 --> 00:22:24,730 Speaker 1: the oxen and the best of the sheep. He thought, 369 00:22:24,980 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 1: I'm going to take this king back alive to show 370 00:22:27,180 --> 00:22:31,060 Speaker 1: everybody what we've done. These cattle, these sheep, they're fine animals. 371 00:22:31,380 --> 00:22:34,460 Speaker 1: We could use them. He didn't think anything about it. 372 00:22:35,150 --> 00:22:38,730 Speaker 1: But when Samuel showed up, he said, Saul, why didn't 373 00:22:38,770 --> 00:22:41,910 Speaker 1: you obey? Saul said, Samuel, what are you talking about? 374 00:22:42,150 --> 00:22:46,020 Speaker 1: I went out and conquered the Amalekites. Samuel said, then 375 00:22:46,060 --> 00:22:48,659 Speaker 1: why do I hear the sheep and the oxen out 376 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 1: in the field? And why do I see this king 377 00:22:50,940 --> 00:22:56,310 Speaker 1: still alive? He was saying, Saul, partial obedience is not obedience. 378 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,550 Speaker 1: Do you know Saul ended up losing the throne because 379 00:23:00,570 --> 00:23:04,369 Speaker 1: he wouldn't fully obey? Kept a few sheep, a few cattle. 380 00:23:04,570 --> 00:23:07,530 Speaker 1: In other words, he didn't pass the small test. And 381 00:23:07,570 --> 00:23:10,630 Speaker 1: if God can't trust you in the small, he can't 382 00:23:10,710 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: release you into the fullness of your destiny. Don't let 383 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: that be you. Let's make a decision to fully obey. 384 00:23:18,410 --> 00:23:20,810 Speaker 1: There's a young lady that's been attending Lakewood for about 385 00:23:20,850 --> 00:23:23,570 Speaker 1: a year, but she couldn't get her husband to come. 386 00:23:24,170 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: He wasn't raised in church and this is very foreign 387 00:23:27,020 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: to him. Plus he works on Sundays. They really need 388 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:34,400 Speaker 1: the income. She encouraged him and encouraged him. Finally, he 389 00:23:34,460 --> 00:23:37,730 Speaker 1: agreed to come. He went in very early to work 390 00:23:37,850 --> 00:23:40,490 Speaker 1: on a Sunday, then took off the rest of the day. 391 00:23:41,390 --> 00:23:43,890 Speaker 1: His friends at work gave him a hard time. They 392 00:23:43,930 --> 00:23:47,750 Speaker 1: couldn't believe he was going to miss work. Missed the 393 00:23:47,850 --> 00:23:51,530 Speaker 1: income he could be earning to come to church. When 394 00:23:51,550 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: they attended, they came down front for prayer. It just 395 00:23:54,740 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: so happened my friend Johnny prayed for them. When Johnny 396 00:23:59,060 --> 00:24:02,010 Speaker 1: was praying, he felt impressed to give them a gift. 397 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 1: He had five 20s and eight $ 1 bills wrapped all 398 00:24:07,140 --> 00:24:11,020 Speaker 1: together in his front pocket. While he had one hand 399 00:24:11,380 --> 00:24:14,439 Speaker 1: on the man's shoulder praying, he put this hand in 400 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,750 Speaker 1: the front pocket and tried to separate the ones from 401 00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:22,270 Speaker 1: the 20s. So this big ordeal is going on. He's praying, praying, 402 00:24:22,510 --> 00:24:24,750 Speaker 1: tried to separate this. They don't know anything about it. 403 00:24:25,010 --> 00:24:28,110 Speaker 1: Johnny gets through praying. He can't get it separated. So 404 00:24:28,150 --> 00:24:31,330 Speaker 1: he pulls the whole amount out, discreetly puts it in 405 00:24:31,350 --> 00:24:33,189 Speaker 1: their hand. He says, here, I want to bless you 406 00:24:33,230 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: with this. They went back to their seat. First time 407 00:24:35,859 --> 00:24:38,780 Speaker 1: Johnny ever saw him, never met him before. They sat 408 00:24:38,859 --> 00:24:41,460 Speaker 1: down and they looked at the money. They couldn't believe it. 409 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:45,460 Speaker 1: They found Johnny after service. The young man said, I 410 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:50,460 Speaker 1: took off six hours of work today. This $ 108 is 411 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:56,470 Speaker 1: the exact amount I missed out on. You could say 412 00:24:56,930 --> 00:25:00,330 Speaker 1: they got paid to come to church. Now they're here 413 00:25:00,410 --> 00:25:04,290 Speaker 1: all the time. What's my point? If you need prayer, 414 00:25:04,369 --> 00:25:12,700 Speaker 1: find Johnny. But seriously, Pass the small test. Friends, God's 415 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: looking for people that he can use for his highest purposes. 416 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,439 Speaker 1: People that he can take to amazing new levels. It's 417 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: going to be people who are quick to obey. People 418 00:25:24,010 --> 00:25:26,930 Speaker 1: that he doesn't have to argue with, try to give 419 00:25:27,450 --> 00:25:32,250 Speaker 1: seven confirmations, 12 lightning bolts before they move. No, people 420 00:25:32,290 --> 00:25:36,590 Speaker 1: that are so sensitive that at the smallest nudge, they move. 421 00:25:37,250 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: God impresses them, go here, they go. Bless this person, 422 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: no problem, I'll bless them. Change in this area, yes, God, 423 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:47,790 Speaker 1: I'll change. It's going to be people God can trust. 424 00:25:48,330 --> 00:25:51,210 Speaker 1: And when God looks down from heaven at you and me, 425 00:25:51,230 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: I want him to say, I can count on Joel. 426 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: I can count on Bob. I can count on Maria. 427 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,419 Speaker 1: I can count on those people at Lakewood. They are 428 00:26:00,619 --> 00:26:03,750 Speaker 1: sensitive to my voice. They are quick to obey. I 429 00:26:04,230 --> 00:26:08,909 Speaker 1: can use them to do great and mighty things. Remember... 430 00:26:09,619 --> 00:26:14,220 Speaker 1: Every time you obey, a blessing will follow. Like with Naaman, 431 00:26:14,420 --> 00:26:18,540 Speaker 1: your act of obedience activates the fullness of God's power. 432 00:26:19,220 --> 00:26:23,370 Speaker 1: Don't ignore the I knows. Be quick to obey. And 433 00:26:23,410 --> 00:26:26,350 Speaker 1: if you'll learn to pass these small tests, there's no 434 00:26:26,470 --> 00:26:30,090 Speaker 1: limit to how high God will take you. The scripture 435 00:26:30,150 --> 00:26:34,540 Speaker 1: says when we fully obey, God's blessings will chase us 436 00:26:34,619 --> 00:26:38,139 Speaker 1: down and overtake us. You won't be able to outrun 437 00:26:38,220 --> 00:26:41,659 Speaker 1: the good things of God. Now I believe and declare 438 00:26:42,060 --> 00:26:45,649 Speaker 1: because you obey in the small, God is about to 439 00:26:45,690 --> 00:26:55,190 Speaker 1: release big blessings, big opportunities, new levels of favor, healing, restoration, vindication, promotion. 440 00:26:55,590 --> 00:26:58,250 Speaker 1: You're going to step in to the fullness of your 441 00:26:58,290 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: destiny and become everything God's created you to be in Jesus' name. 442 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 1: If you receive it, can you say amen today? We 443 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,060 Speaker 1: never like to close our broadcast without giving you an 444 00:27:11,140 --> 00:27:14,360 Speaker 1: opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would 445 00:27:14,380 --> 00:27:19,070 Speaker 1: you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus. I repent 446 00:27:19,090 --> 00:27:23,689 Speaker 1: of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you 447 00:27:23,730 --> 00:27:28,050 Speaker 1: my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 448 00:27:28,330 --> 00:27:30,950 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again. Get in a good 449 00:27:31,010 --> 00:27:34,590 Speaker 1: Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take 450 00:27:34,609 --> 00:27:44,690 Speaker 1: you places you've never dreamed of. If you want to 451 00:27:44,730 --> 00:27:46,970 Speaker 1: know what you're going to be like in five years, 452 00:27:47,190 --> 00:27:50,580 Speaker 1: listen to what you're saying about yourself. You are prophesying 453 00:27:50,619 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 1: your future. Now, I'd love to send you my new book, 454 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,220 Speaker 1: Your Words, Your Reality. I'll show you how to speak positive, 455 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,610 Speaker 1: faith-filled words that agree with what God says about you. 456 00:28:01,250 --> 00:28:03,570 Speaker 1: You'll learn how to use your words not to describe 457 00:28:03,609 --> 00:28:07,380 Speaker 1: the situation, but to change the situation. When you speak 458 00:28:07,420 --> 00:28:10,790 Speaker 1: words of health, favor, and victory, you are setting the 459 00:28:10,850 --> 00:28:14,570 Speaker 1: direction for your life. That's how you'll break negative cycles, 460 00:28:14,850 --> 00:28:18,290 Speaker 1: develop a healthier mindset, and see more of the goodness 461 00:28:18,330 --> 00:28:19,530 Speaker 1: of God in your life. 462 00:28:20,790 --> 00:28:24,710 Speaker 2: Your words equal your reality is a powerful new guidebook 463 00:28:24,869 --> 00:28:28,450 Speaker 2: designed to help you speak God's promises over every area 464 00:28:28,470 --> 00:28:32,980 Speaker 2: of your life. Inside, you'll find scripture-filled declarations for your health, 465 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:38,300 Speaker 2: your relationships, your finances, and your future, plus real guidance 466 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 2: for wherever you are right now. Whether you're facing a challenge, 467 00:28:42,340 --> 00:28:46,350 Speaker 2: walking in breakthrough, or somewhere in between, each page will 468 00:28:46,380 --> 00:28:49,550 Speaker 2: help you align your words with what God says and 469 00:28:49,630 --> 00:28:52,729 Speaker 2: step into the very best He has for you. It's 470 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:54,820 Speaker 2: yours as a thank you for your gift to the 471 00:28:54,860 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 2: ministry today. Be sure to request your copy of Your 472 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,390 Speaker 2: Words Equal Your Reality, available this month by visiting us 473 00:29:02,650 --> 00:29:05,230 Speaker 2: at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 474 00:29:08,100 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 1: You can change what you're seeing by changing what you're saying. 475 00:29:11,620 --> 00:29:16,380 Speaker 1: Speak life, declare His promises, and watch what God does. Victoria, 476 00:29:16,420 --> 00:29:18,300 Speaker 1: I want you to know that we pray for you 477 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,500 Speaker 1: and your family every day. Thank you for your prayer 478 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:25,030 Speaker 1: and support. Your generosity helps us take this message of 479 00:29:25,090 --> 00:29:28,130 Speaker 1: hope around the world. Thanks so much for helping us 480 00:29:28,230 --> 00:29:31,300 Speaker 1: finish the summer strong. A special thank you to our 481 00:29:31,380 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 1: Champion of Hope partners for all you do to make 482 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,210 Speaker 1: the ministry possible. Until we meet again, may the Lord 483 00:29:37,250 --> 00:29:38,610 Speaker 1: bless you and keep you. 484 00:29:38,630 --> 00:29:42,209 Speaker 2: Be sure to... to request your copy of Your Words 485 00:29:42,390 --> 00:29:46,180 Speaker 2: Equal Your Reality, available this month by visiting us at 486 00:29:46,260 --> 00:29:53,100 Speaker 2: joelosteen.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 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