1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for. 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 2: Supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have. 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: An awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 2: God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, God 6 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 2: bless you. It's a joy to come. 7 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: Into your homes, and if you're ever in our area, 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 1: please stop by and be a part of one of 9 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: our services. I promise you we'll make you feel right 10 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: at home. I say it often, but these are the 11 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: finest people in all of Houston, Texas, right here at Lakewood. 12 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: So come out whenever you can. But thanks for tuning in. 13 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: Thank you again for coming out. I'd like to get 14 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: started each week with something kind of funny. And I 15 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: heard about this couple. They'd been married for over sixty years. 16 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: They were at a church fellowship and somebody asked them 17 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: the secret of their success and how they'd been married 18 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: so long. The man told how he always treated his 19 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: wife with respect, and how he took her on trips 20 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: all over the world. He said, in fact, for our 21 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: twenty fifth wedding anniversary, I took her to Beijing in China. 22 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: Everybody kind of clapped. 23 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: When men spoke up and said, what'd you do for 24 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: your fiftieth anniversary, he said, I went back and picked 25 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: her up. 26 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 3: All right, hold up your bibles. Say it like you 27 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 3: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 28 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 3: says I am. I have what it says I have. 29 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 3: I can do what it says I can do. Today 30 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 3: I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess. 31 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 3: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 32 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 3: never be the same. 33 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever living 34 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: seed of the Word of God. I'll never be the same. Never, never, never, 35 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: I'll never be the same. In Jesus's name, God bless you. 36 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about putting the 37 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: right actions behind your faith. 38 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 2: It's not enough to just believe. 39 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: We have to take it one step further and start expecting. 40 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: When we're at expecting, we're making plans. We talk like 41 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: it's going to happen. We act like it's going to happen. 42 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: Just like a young couple that's expecting a baby. They 43 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: make all these preparations. Why because a child it's on 44 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: his way. The fact is they haven't seen the baby. 45 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: They haven't touched it yet. They have enough faith in 46 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: the doctor's report to start making these preparations. And God 47 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: has put dreams in every one of our hearts. We 48 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: all have things that we're believing for. Believing to overcom 49 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: an illness, believing to get out of debt, believing. 50 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 2: To accomplish our dreams. But here's the key. 51 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: We have to go beyond believing. True faith has actions 52 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: behind it. If you're sick, you need to start making 53 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: plans to get well. If you're struggling in your finances, 54 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: start making plans to prosper. If your marriage is on 55 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: the rocks, start making plans to see that relationship restored. 56 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: Put your faith out there. 57 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: A lot of times we're believing one way, but with 58 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: our actions were doing just the opposite. We have to 59 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: understand our faith will work in either direction. Now I 60 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: know people they're making plans to get the flu at 61 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: the grocery store. 62 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: Well, it's glue season. I better pick up some of 63 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: this flu medicine just in case. 64 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 1: After all, it was bad last year. God lucky in 65 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: didn't get it, but I'll probably get it this year. 66 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: They talk like it's going to happen. They take it 67 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: one step further and put actions behind their faith behind 68 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: the flu medicine. 69 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,959 Speaker 2: A few months later, they've got it. See their faith worked. 70 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: They believe for it, they expected, they made plans, and 71 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: they get it. Faith will work even in the negative direction. 72 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: And I'm not saying to go overboard. We have medicine 73 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: at our house, but I don't think we should run 74 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: down to the pharmacy every time a television commercial comes 75 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: on announcing flu season. 76 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: Is here, get ready to get it. 77 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: It's funny sometimes we put more faith in that than 78 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: we do in what God says. The scripture says, no 79 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: weapon formed against us is going to I love what 80 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: it says in Psalms. 81 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: A thousand may fall at my side. 82 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: Ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not 83 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: come near my dwelling. That means everybody at work may 84 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: be getting the flu, everybody at school may have it. 85 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: But I believe God has put a hedge of protection 86 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: around me, and I'm going to stay in faith and 87 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: not make plans to get it. 88 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 2: And you know, if we read the news long enough. 89 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: And watch all the studies, if we're not careful, they'll 90 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: just about talk us into having heart disease. And high 91 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: cholesterol and diabetes. Well you know what they say, Joel, 92 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: one in four people get cancer. Maybe that's true, but 93 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 1: why don't you believe to be one of the three 94 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: that don't get it instead of the one of the 95 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: ones that do get it. It is just as easy 96 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: to believe for the positive as it is the negative. 97 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 1: And I want you to start making plans to live 98 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: a long, healthy life when you face sickness. We all 99 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: have things come against us, but don't just give up 100 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: and start. 101 00:04:58,000 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 2: Making plans to live with it. 102 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: I've heard people say, well, Joel, I'm learning to live 103 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: with my arthritis. I'm learning to live with my high 104 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: blood pressure. No, that's not your high blood pressure. That's 105 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: not your sickness. Quit taking ownership of it and start 106 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: making plans to get well. Our attitude should be this 107 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 1: sickness didn't come to stay, It came to pass. Now 108 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: I know with long life, God's going to satisfy me. 109 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: So I declare it by faith. I'm getting better and 110 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: better every day in every way. See, don't give up, 111 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: don't quit dreaming. Got to keep the vision in front 112 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: of you. I love what a friend of mine did. 113 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: Both of his knees were crushed in an accident. The 114 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: doctor told him he would be fortunate to ever walk, 115 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: but he would certainly never run or play sports again. 116 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: He was so disappointed. 117 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: But after being in the hospital for over three months, 118 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: when he got out, the first thing he did was 119 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: go up and join a health club. He took a 120 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: step of faith. The fact is he couldn't go up 121 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: there for over a year he was too weak. He 122 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: made up his mind he was not going to just 123 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 1: sit back and plan on staying in that wheelchair. He 124 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: was making plans to be up walking again. That was 125 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: over five years ago. Little by little he got stronger 126 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: and stronger, and today that young man can outrun me. 127 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 1: He defied the odds. What happened He went from believing 128 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: to expecting. He started making plans to rise up. 129 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: Out of that. 130 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: He could have easily let the negative words sink in, 131 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: just convince him to give up settle for mediocrity. Maybe 132 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: you've had some negative things spoken over you, But what 133 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: I'm saying is, don't let those negative. 134 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 2: Words take root. 135 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: Keep believing God has you in the palm of his hand, 136 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: and remember faith is always in the now. Get up 137 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: every morning, not saying well, I know one day, God's 138 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: gonna work. One day, God's gonna turn this around. Now 139 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: we should be saying, Father, I thank you that. Right 140 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: now you're working in my life. I thank you that 141 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 1: right now I'm getting better. Right now things are changing 142 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: in my favor. You've got to stay in the now. 143 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: Faith is always in the present. But a lot of 144 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: times we're making preparations for the wrong things. I had 145 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: a man tell me how his father, when he got 146 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: up there in years, he had a terrible time with 147 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: his eyesight. 148 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: He got to the point where he couldn't read anymore. 149 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: And this was very common for the older people in 150 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: their family. 151 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: Several of them had that. 152 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: And this man was doing exactly opposite of what I'm 153 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: asking us to do. He was already making plans to 154 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: have it himself. He said, Joel, I love to read, 155 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: so I've started buying all of my books on CD now. 156 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: That way I can listen to them just in case 157 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: something ever happens to my eyesight. Now, that's making plans 158 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: for the wrong things. That's putting your faith in the negative. 159 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: That's what allows it to come to pass. 160 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: I told him, you need to keep buying regular books 161 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: that you always read, and even if you're older, don't 162 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: start buying these large prints books just cause some of 163 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: your friends are and it makes it a little easier 164 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: for you. 165 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: Now, if you don't need it, don't take the easy 166 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 2: way out. And even if you do need. 167 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: It, put that off until you cannot read that other 168 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: print anymore. 169 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 2: Don't give up any ground. I like what Victoria did. 170 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: She's always had real good eyesight twenty twenty vision, but 171 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years she's had a little 172 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: difficulty reading things up close. And I've tried and tried 173 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: to get her to go see the eye doctor, but 174 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: she just wouldn't do it. 175 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 2: She could not stand to think about the fact that 176 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: her vision might be going down a little bit. 177 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: Well, finally I talked her into it. He said it 178 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: was nothing. She just needed the lowest power reading glasses 179 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: kind you can buy over the counter at the grocery store. 180 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: But still it has been like pulling teeth for her 181 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: to ever even give in to wearing those things. 182 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: Now, I love the fact she's not going to just 183 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: sit back and accept it. She stands against it. 184 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: She has put it off and put it off and 185 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 1: put it off. I mean, we'll go to a restaurant 186 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: and she'll have to hold the menu wave back here. 187 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: It's like my dad used to say, God, you're either 188 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: going to have to heal my eyes or lengthen my arms. 189 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: But my point is she doesn't just sit back and say, well, 190 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: I guess I'm getting older. I guess my vision's going downhill. No, 191 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: she is not making plans for defeat. I read a 192 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: study the other day, had this big chart that showed 193 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: how at different ages certain things started to decline. According 194 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: to the research, when we get to be twenty five 195 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: thirty years old, our hearing starts to go down so 196 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: much every year, and we lose so much muscle mass 197 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: every year. Our brain cells decrease by a certain percentage every. 198 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: Year, on and on. 199 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: And if you let that junk take root and you 200 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: start believing it and acting on it, that's what allows 201 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: it to come to pass. 202 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 2: I heard somebody the other day said, Joel, I. 203 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: Just turned sixty and I can't hear as good as 204 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: I used to. And I knew this day was coming. 205 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: Everybody told me my hearing would go down. No, you 206 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 1: are agreeing with the wrong voices. Quit putting your faith 207 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: in the wrong places and agreeing with what God says 208 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: about you. Says there in Deuteronomy thirty four, verse seven, 209 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: talking about Moses, when he was one hundred and twenty 210 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: years old, his eye. 211 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 2: Was not dim and his natural strength was not abated. 212 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: That means he could still see clearly, he could hear clearly. 213 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: He was strong and healthy. 214 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, but I'm gonna believe to 215 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: live out my days like Moses. And instead of listening 216 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: to all these negative reports, let me give you a 217 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: different report. Let me give you a study found in 218 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: God's word. 219 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 2: It says, in effect, at sixty, you're still supposed to 220 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,719 Speaker 2: hear well. At seventy, your mind is. 221 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: Supposed to be as sharp as it was when you 222 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: were twenty five. At eighty, you're supposed to be full 223 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: of joy, full of life, full of energy. Why don't 224 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 1: you start making plans to live a long, healthy, satisfied life. 225 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: I remember about fifteen. 226 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: Years ago we were remodeling the old sanctuary, mainly the 227 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: platform area, and at that time my father would have 228 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: been seventy years old. 229 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 2: One of the architects I was working with he said, Joel, 230 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 2: your dad's getting a little older. 231 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: Don't you think we should put a wheelchair ramp up 232 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: to the side of the platform, just in case he's 233 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: ever in a wheelchair, and he meant, well, he's a 234 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: very nice man. But I thought to myself, you don't 235 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 1: know my father. If he heard you say that, he 236 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: would chase you out of this county. Because my dad, 237 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: in no way, shape or form, was ever planning on 238 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: being in a wheelchair. And I'm asking you today to 239 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: not make plans for defeat. Don't make plans to get 240 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,839 Speaker 1: old and being over and not be. 241 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 2: Able to do anything. 242 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: Keep your faith out there, talk health, talk long. 243 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: Life, and then put some actions behind it. I know a. 244 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: Man he's in his nineties and he still lives at 245 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: home alone, and his bedroom is on the second floor. 246 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: That means every day, several times he's got to go 247 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: up and down those stairs. His children, his grandchildren have 248 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: tried to talk him in to move it into one 249 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: of the empty bedrooms downstairs, but he won't do it. 250 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 2: His mind is made up. He said, Joel. I know 251 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 2: if I give. 252 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: In, I'll never be able to go back up those stairs. 253 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: And I know we have to use common sense. We 254 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: have to be realistic, for. 255 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 2: To what I'm saying is is just don't make plans 256 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 2: for defeat. 257 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: Everybody around you may be getting old and cranky, and 258 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: this doesn't work, and that doesn't work. 259 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: But let me tell you that doesn't have to be you. 260 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: You can be the exception believed to live a long, 261 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: healthy life. I know my father he never wanted to 262 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: live if he couldn't preach. He didn't want to retire. 263 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: He didn't want to kick back and take it easy. 264 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,959 Speaker 1: He made plans to preach right up until he died. 265 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: He used to tell me, Joel, I will never have 266 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: a stroke. He was saying that by faith, because he 267 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: struggled with high blood pressure his whole lifetime. 268 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 2: He would say, I'll. 269 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: Never be incapacitated. I'll never come to the place where 270 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: I cannot preach. And do you know my father preached 271 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: just eleven days before he went to be with the Lord. 272 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: God gave him the desire of his heart, but he 273 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: had his faith out there. 274 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 2: He was believing he. 275 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: Was going to be productive right up until the day 276 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: that he died. And it's easy to think, well, Joel, 277 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: this is just a part of getting old. 278 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 2: This doesn't work. That doesn't work. 279 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: Can't see can't hear cranky? No, don't fall into that trap, 280 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: especially the cranky part. There's enough cranky people. Make plans 281 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: to be healthy, to be full of joy, to be productive, 282 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: right up to the day God calls you home. I 283 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 1: love what Caleb did when he was eighty years old. 284 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: He said, God, give me another mountain. He was saying, God, 285 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: give me something else to do, give me another assignment. 286 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: Notice he was planning on living out his life in victory. 287 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 1: He could have said, God, just let me retire, and 288 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: my back's hurting, can't hardly see anymore. Medicare wouldn't pay 289 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: that latest prescription. I'm so aggravated. I'm pretty sure Caleb 290 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: wouldn't wearing one of those things around his neck that 291 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: says help, I fall in. 292 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 2: And I can't get up. No, he was strong, he 293 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 2: was energetic, ready for the next. Let me tell you you're. 294 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: Never too old to do something for God. You wouldn't 295 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: be here if God didn't have a purpose for you. 296 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: You're not just taking up space waiting to go to Heaven. 297 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 1: Get your joy back, get your enthusiasm back. 298 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 2: Don't plan on them withering up. 299 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: No, make plans to live every day, joyful, vibrant, healthy, productive. 300 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: An older couple came to our leadership conference a couple 301 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: of months ago, and during the question and answer session, 302 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: they stood up and the man said, Joel, we're not 303 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: real sure what we're. 304 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: Supposed to be doing. At our age. They were in 305 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 2: their nineties. 306 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: This man was dressed to a tea, his skin looked great, 307 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: had on a hat. His wife was the epitome of 308 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: grace and beauty. I mean, you've never seen a sharper, 309 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 1: more striking looking older couple. And I told them, one 310 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: thing you need to do for sure is just go 311 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: around and let other people see you be an example. 312 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 2: Your joy, your health, your. 313 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: Peace, your victory is an inspiration to I said, you 314 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: need to let the younger generation to them. That's anyone 315 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: under eighty. You need to let them see how you 316 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: can be up there in years and still be healthy, joyful, peaceful. 317 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 2: I mean they inspired me. 318 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: I tell Victoria every week, I'm believing for at least 319 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: forty more good years of strong, productive ministry, forty years 320 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: of sharing God's word, encouraging people, building the kingdom, not 321 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: thirty good years, and then the last ten. 322 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 2: My back's hurting. 323 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: This doesn't work, that doesn't work, no joy, no peace, 324 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: No I got my faith out there. I'm believing, at 325 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: eighty years old, I'm going to be just as good 326 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: looking as I am right now. 327 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 2: I'm believing I'm gonna still have. 328 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 1: My hair, still be telling my jokes, still be making 329 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: fun of my brother Paul, kidding him that his dentures 330 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: are loose and I've got hair and he doesn't. I'm 331 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: making plans. I'm making plans to live a long, healthy, prosperous, 332 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: joy field, abundant life. 333 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 2: Why don't you do the same thing. 334 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: I've told you about these three sisters, ages ninety six, 335 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: ninety four, and ninety two. 336 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 2: They lived together. 337 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: One day, The ninety six year old draws a bath 338 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,479 Speaker 1: and puts one foot in and pauses. She yells, downstairs, 339 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: I can't remember if I was getting in or getting out. 340 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: The ninety four year old says, I don't know. I'll 341 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: come see. 342 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 2: She gets halfway up the stairs and says. 343 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: I can't remember if I was going up or coming down. 344 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: The ninety two year old shook her head and said, man, 345 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: I hope I never get that. 346 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: Forgetful. She knocked on wood for good measure. Then she said, 347 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 2: hang on, I'll. 348 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: Come help both of you as soon as I see 349 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: who's at the door. 350 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 2: Let's believe we're not going to get like that. 351 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: We gotta believe that our mind is gonna be sharp, 352 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: we're gonna be healthy, we're gonna be productive right up 353 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: until the day that we die. But we have to 354 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: get beyond these stereotypes, these strong hauls. Well I'm getting old. 355 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: There goes my health, my vision, my hearing. No, our 356 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 1: faith is going to work in either direction. I know 357 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: a lady that went through a very extensive medical checkup 358 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: and at the time, she was about seventy years old, 359 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: and they'd compiled all her information and then they gave 360 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: you an average life expectancy based on their findings her health, 361 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: her genetics, her family's history. They told her she had 362 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 1: probably lived to be around seventy five years old. Well, 363 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: that was only another five years. You might as well 364 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: have told her she was going to die. The next day, 365 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: she got so depressed she wouldn't come out of her house, 366 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 1: lost her joy, lost her peace. Basically, she had just 367 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: quit living her life. This went on month after month. 368 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: One day her family brought her up here and I 369 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: was able to tell her what I'm. 370 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:48,679 Speaker 2: Telling you today. 371 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 1: Don't make plans for the worst don't let the negative 372 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: words take root. God can do what men can't do. 373 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: And I found sometimes these experts, even though they are 374 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: fine people, they can be wrong. And I started pumping 375 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: her full of faith. What today that lady is eighty 376 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: one years old and as healthy and vibrant as convened. 377 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: I saw her not long ago. She said, Joel, I've 378 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: already beat it by six years. I said, yeah, and 379 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: when you make it to ninety, we're going to have 380 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: a real party around here. Don't let those negative words 381 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 1: take root. And it's important to set a high. 382 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 2: Goal for your life. 383 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: My father always believed that he would live to preach 384 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: into his nineties. He didn't quite make it, but he 385 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: used to say, I'd rather shoot high and missus little 386 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: than shoot low and make it keep a high goal. 387 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: I used to play basketball with a gentleman that was 388 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: in his seventies. 389 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: He was in great shape. He could run up and 390 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 2: down the court with the twenty year olds, and one 391 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 2: day we were talking. He said, Joel, that's kind of funny. 392 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: When I was forty, my doctors told me that my 393 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: knees wouldn't hold up playing this much. But I just 394 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: kept playing, and at fifty He told me my back 395 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: would start hurting if I kept running and jumping like this, 396 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: but I just kept on. At sixty, he told me 397 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: I could never keep up physically, but I can still 398 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 1: run with the young guys, he said. I went back 399 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: at seventy. Finally, he told me, just keep playing as 400 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: much as you want to. I laughed, and I said, 401 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: how long are you going to play? He smiled and said, 402 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: I'm gonna play until I get old. And I like 403 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: that because old is in your mind. Your body may age, 404 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: but if you'll stay young in your heart, it'll help 405 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: your body to age even better. This man had the 406 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: heart of a twenty five year old. I mean, he 407 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: was always grateful, always happy, always in a good mood. 408 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: You could tell he wasn't making plans to get old 409 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 1: and worn out, nothing working right. He was planning on 410 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: living out his life. 411 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 2: Joyful, vibrant, in good health. 412 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: And I know some of you have a history of 413 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: certain illnesses in your family. I was praying with somebody 414 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: last week, and she told how her grandmother had a 415 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: certain illness, and her cousin had it, and her own 416 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: uncle had it, and it had shortened all of their 417 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: lives and naturally she was concerned about it. 418 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:08,239 Speaker 2: But you have to stand against things like that. You 419 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:09,360 Speaker 2: can be the exception. 420 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 1: You can be the one to start a new standard 421 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: for your family. Here's what you gotta do. You got 422 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: to think different and you've got to take different actions. 423 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: You cannot prepare. 424 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 2: For defeat and expect to have victory. Keep your faith 425 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 2: going in the right direction. 426 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: I remember my grandmother on my father's side, Grandmother Osteine. 427 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: She was a very feisty lady, one of a kind. 428 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,160 Speaker 1: She only stood about five feet tall. One time, when 429 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: she was older in life, she went to see her 430 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: doctor and he said, I'm sorry, missus Ostein, but you're 431 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: in the beginning stages of Parkinson's disease. Well, grandmother Ostine 432 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: didn't really know what that was, but she was sure 433 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: she didn't want to have any part of it, and 434 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: so she'd bristled back. She got real stern. She said, 435 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: listen here, doctor, I'll not have that. 436 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,679 Speaker 2: I refuse to have it. I'm too old to have it. 437 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: And she went home, and do you know, my grandmother 438 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: did have Parkinson's disease. She just kept doing what she'd 439 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: always been doing, planning on living. 440 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 2: A long, healthy life. 441 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: She didn't let the negative words take root, and I realized, 442 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: we can't just necessarily wish things away, but we can 443 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: decide what we're going to plan for. We can plan 444 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: to get old and lose our sight and lose our health, 445 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: or we can plan to live a long, healthy, blessed, 446 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: prosperous life. What are you planning for today, sickness or 447 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: divine health, to barely get by or to be blessed, 448 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,239 Speaker 1: to stay where you are, or to rise higher and 449 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 1: really accomplish your dreams. Every one of us, according to 450 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,479 Speaker 1: our actions or even our inactions, we're all making plans 451 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 1: for something. There's an interesting story in Second Kings about 452 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: a widow. Her husband has died and she doesn't have 453 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: any money to pay her bills, and now the creditors 454 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: are coming to take her two sons as payment. The 455 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: only thing she has of any value is a. 456 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 2: Small pot of oil. 457 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 1: Elisha the prophet showed up at her home and he 458 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: told her something interesting to do. He said, go out 459 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,199 Speaker 1: to all your neighbors and gather up as many of 460 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: these large empty containers that you can find, these big 461 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: jars that used to hold oil. And he told her specifically, 462 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: don't get just a few, get as many as you 463 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 1: can possibly find, and in the natural it seemed like 464 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: she was just wasting her time. 465 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 2: This lady had enough problems. 466 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: She lost her husband, she didn't have any money, the 467 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:32,120 Speaker 1: creditors are on her back. But Elisha knew he had 468 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: to get her faith going in the right direction. She 469 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: had been sitting around long enough preparing for defeat. Now 470 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: he was trying to get her to start preparing for victory. 471 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: And so she gathered up all these empty containers, got 472 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: them home, and Elisha told her to pour the oil 473 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: that she had into one of the other containers. And 474 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: it looked like she was just going to transfer it 475 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,880 Speaker 1: from one to the other. But the scripture says her 476 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: oil never ran out. She kept pouring and pouring and pouring. 477 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: God supernaturally multiplied it until every single container was completely full. 478 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 1: The fact is, if she would have gotten a dozen 479 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 1: more containers, they would have been full as well. 480 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 2: Friends, we are the ones that limit God. 481 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 1: Let me challenge you have a big dream for your life, 482 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: make provision for abundance. Well, Joel, I'd love to pay 483 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: my house off, I'd love to get out of debt, 484 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: but I don't see how it could happen for me. 485 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: I've gone as far in my career as I can go. 486 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: I'd love to send my children to college, but it's 487 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,919 Speaker 1: so expensive these days. No, are you making any provision? 488 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: Do you have a savings account opened up? Do you 489 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: have any containers? Well, Joel, that'd be kind of foolish 490 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,360 Speaker 1: to have an account and not have anything to put 491 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: in it. 492 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 2: That's what this lady did. You got to take a 493 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 2: step of faith. It's not enough to just believe. Put 494 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 2: actions behind your faith. Do what you can. 495 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: Are you being your very best on the job, showing 496 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,400 Speaker 1: up early, going the extra mile, doing more than expected. 497 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: Are you dressing for success? You may only have one suit, 498 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: clean it up, press it and wear it like you 499 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: own the place. Are you talking successful, Well, everybody gets 500 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 1: promoted except me. They're talking about laying off people at 501 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 1: my job, and Joel, last week my washing machine broke. 502 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: If it's not one thing, it's another. Now that's only 503 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: preparing you for defeat. Change your attitude and change what 504 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: you're saying. Start saying, this is going to be a 505 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: blessed year. I know great things are in store. Goodness 506 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: and mercy are following me. God's favor is surrounding me. 507 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: I am expecting increase, promotion, abundance in this new year. 508 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 2: Then don't stop there. 509 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: Do like this little lady and start making plans to prosper, make. 510 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 2: Preparations to succeed, not to fail. 511 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: I know when my father went to be with the 512 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: Lord back in nineteen ninety nine and I stepped up 513 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: to pastor the church, one of the first things I 514 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: did was to cancel our weekly television time. I thought, 515 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: I've never preached before, and I'm sure not going to 516 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,239 Speaker 1: get on television and preach. And so I called our 517 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: representative from the main national network that we were on. 518 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 2: He was a good friend. 519 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: I told him what had happened, how we were going 520 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,479 Speaker 1: to have to cancel our broadcast. Well, the fact is 521 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: I was making plans for defeat. I was making plans 522 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 1: to not do very well. I didn't think I could preach. 523 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 1: I didn't think anybody want to listen to me. So 524 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 1: I put actions behind my faith. The problem is I 525 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,160 Speaker 1: was using my faith in the wrong direction. I got 526 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: home that night and told Victoria just in passing what 527 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: I'd done. She said, Joel, you did what you need 528 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 1: to get that time back. People all over the country 529 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 1: are waiting to see what's going to happen to Lakewood. 530 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,200 Speaker 1: When she said that right down in here, I knew 531 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: that I knew that it was right. Long story short, 532 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: we were able to get it back, and today the 533 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: broadcast goes out all over the world. 534 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 2: But a lot of times, a lot of times. 535 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: With our own actions, we are limiting God. And had 536 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: I not taken a step of faith in the direction, 537 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:03,959 Speaker 1: I don't know if we'd be on television today. We 538 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: cannot prepare for defeat and expect to have victory. 539 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 2: And some of you are kind of like I was. 540 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: You're preparing to fail, preparing to barely get by, preparing 541 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: to lose your health. 542 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:15,919 Speaker 2: Now I want to challenge you today. 543 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: Start preparing for good things. Prepare for success, Prepare for abundance, 544 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,639 Speaker 1: Prepare for victory, Prepare for a long life, Prepare for 545 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: good health. 546 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 2: Get your faith going in the right direction. 547 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: Remember, with our actions, or even our inactions, we're all 548 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 1: making plans for something. Now I'm asking you today to 549 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: start making plans to live a blessed, prosperous, healthy, joy filled. 550 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 2: Abundant long life. 551 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: I know if you do this, God will do more 552 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: than you can even ask or think he will pour 553 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: out his blessings in favor and you'll live that life 554 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: of victory God has in story. 555 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 2: Amen, do you receive it today? 556 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 557 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Ge Jesus the lord of your life. 558 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I 559 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart, wash me clean. 560 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you 561 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 562 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 1: Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 563 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: He's going to take your place as you've never dreamed of. 564 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 4: What if what you imagine came to pass. What if 565 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 4: what you asked for turned out greater than what you 566 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 4: can see? What if you could plan for God's best 567 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 4: in your life. 568 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: We all have hopes and dreams and things we're believing for, 569 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 1: But what God has in store for you is more 570 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: than you can imagine. When you start the year off 571 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: in faith, believing for greater things, that's when God will 572 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: exceed your expectations. We love to send you are twenty 573 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 1: twenty five more to imagine. Planner can write down your 574 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: dreams and goals plus use it for your everyday activity 575 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: and reminders. 576 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,160 Speaker 5: It is so important to feed yourself hope and faith 577 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 5: on a daily basis. This planner is not only a calendar, 578 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 5: but it's filled with inspiration and scripture to help you 579 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 5: stay encouraged and keep believing for what God has put 580 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 5: in your heart. 581 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: He sees your faithfulness, how you being your best each day. 582 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,160 Speaker 1: You're going to see the goodness of God in new 583 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: ways in twenty twenty five. 584 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,120 Speaker 4: As you support the ministry this month with a special 585 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 4: year end gift of any amount, we would like to 586 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 4: bless you with the More to Imagine twenty twenty five Planner. 587 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 4: With a new planner, you can start each day writing 588 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 4: down the fresh vision God gives you, whether it's appointments, 589 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 4: daily tasks, or long term desires in your heart. Let 590 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 4: each note be a testament to your faith. Included our 591 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:54,479 Speaker 4: handpicked scriptures end uplifting reflections to empower you as you 592 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 4: walk this faith journey with Jesus one day at a time. 593 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 5: Joel and I are standing in faith with you that 594 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 5: twenty twenty five will be a year of far and 595 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 5: beyond favor for you and your family. 596 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: We pray for you every day for God's very best 597 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 1: and we want to thank you for your prayer and support, 598 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 1: especially your year end gifts. 599 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 2: You are impacting people all over the world. 600 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 601 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on SERIOUSXM. We'll watch our 602 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: YouTube channel and the new joel Ostein streaming television network 603 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: twenty four hours. 604 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 2: A day until we see you next time. Have a 605 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 2: very merry Christmas. 606 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 4: Be sure to request your copy of the More to 607 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 4: Imagine twenty twenty five planner today. Visit Joeloustein dot com 608 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 4: or call us toll free