1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: It's always a joy to come into your homes. And 7 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: if you're ever in our area, please stop by and 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: be a part of one of our services. These are 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: the finest people in all of Houston, Texas right here 10 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: at Lakewood. We'll make you feel right at home. But 11 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: thank you for tuning in and thank you again for 12 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: coming out today. And I like to start with something 13 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: funny and I heard about this minister. He bought a 14 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: new horse. He trained it to respond to praise the 15 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: Lord meaning giddy up, and Hallelujah meaning woe. Every time 16 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: he said praise the Lord, the horse took off running. 17 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: When he said woe, it would quickly stop. One day 18 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: he was out riding, the horse got spooked and took 19 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: off straight toward the cliff, running full speed. In the 20 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: panic he could remember what he trained the horse to 21 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: respond to. He said, Bless God, Glory, Amen, Nothing happened. 22 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: At the last second, he shouted, Hallelujah. The horse came 23 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: to a screeching hawk just inches before the edge of 24 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: the cliff. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, 25 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: Praise the Lord. Hold up your bible, say it like 26 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 27 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 28 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 29 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 30 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,839 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 31 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God, bless you. 32 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about blessed in 33 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: the dark places. We all go through situations in life 34 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: that we don't understand. Company was downsizing and we got 35 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: laid off. A friend walked out of a relationship. Now 36 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: we're having to start all over. A young lady I 37 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: met last year week. She had been pregnant for five 38 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: months with her first child. She was so excited, already 39 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: decorated the baby's room. But something went wrong and she 40 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: had a miscarriage. She looked like she was numb, no expression. 41 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: A dark place. In nineteen eighty one, my family thought 42 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: we'd be celebrating the Christmas holidays, looking forward to faun 43 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: and fellowship. Instead, we learned that my mother was diagnosed 44 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 1: with terminal liver cancer. It's a very somber Christmas. All 45 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: of us at some time will go through dark places. 46 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: A loss, a sickness, a divorce, a child that broke 47 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: your heart. It's easy to get discouraged, give up on 48 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: your dreams and just settle there. But God uses the 49 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: dark places. They are all a part of his divine plan. 50 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: Think of it like a seed. A seed cannot germinate 51 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: in the light. As long as the seed stays up 52 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: on a shelf, it will never become what it was 53 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: created to be. You have to plant the seed in 54 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: the soil, in the dark place, so that what's on 55 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: the inside will come to life. In the same way, 56 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: there are seeds in you, dreams, goals, talent, potential that 57 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: will only come to life in a dark place. And 58 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: if you study the scripture, every person that did something 59 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: significant went through one of these dark places. Moses made 60 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: a mistake and killed a man. He spent forty years 61 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: on the back side of the desert alone, feeling like 62 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: he had blown it. But in that dark place, something 63 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: was happening on the inside. It was getting him prepared. 64 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: He was developing patience, humility, confidence. Without the dark place, 65 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: he would have never held up the rod and parted 66 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: the red sea. The dark place is a prerequisite to 67 00:03:55,400 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: stepping into the fullness of your destiny. Esther was an or, 68 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: a young lady that had lost both of her parents. 69 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: She felt alone, forgotten, a dark place, but God used 70 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: her to help save the people of Israel. Elijah was 71 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: so depressed he wanted to die a dark place. Yet 72 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 1: he's one of the heroes of faith. Or David. He 73 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: had an affair with a married woman, had her husband killed. 74 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: For one year, he was broken, sick, guilty, yet he's 75 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: called a man after God's own heart. God doesn't send 76 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: the difficulties, but he will use anything that comes into 77 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: our lives. In those dark places is where we really grow. 78 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,799 Speaker 1: That's where our character is developed. We learn to trust, 79 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: to persevere. Our spiritual muscles are getting stronger. In the 80 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: dark places, you pray more, you draw closer to God, 81 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: You get quiet and listen to what He's saying. In 82 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: those dark places, you reavise, You wait your priorities, you 83 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: spend time with your family. You have a new appreciation 84 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: for what God has given you. A friend of mine 85 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: was told that he was going to lose his vision. 86 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: He had some kind of infection and he had a 87 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: surgery and wasn't supposed to see after the operation. But 88 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: it wasn't what the doctors expected and they were able 89 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: to correct it. His vision is perfectly clear now. Every 90 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: morning when he wakes up, he spends the first fifteen 91 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: minutes staring at the sunrise, staring at the flowers, staring 92 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: at his children. You may not realize it, but in 93 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: the dark places you're being blessed. Something's happening on the inside. 94 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 1: It's helping you to realign your vision. And when you 95 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: go through enough dark places, you don't complain about small things. 96 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: You don't get upset because you didn't get your parking spot. 97 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: You don't lose your joy because you got stuck in traffic. 98 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: You're not offended because a coworker was rude de you. 99 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: You've been through too much to let that sour you. 100 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: You got a backbone made of steal. A person said 101 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 1: to me the other day, Joel, I heard SO and 102 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: SO was talking about you, and I'm so sorry. They 103 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: were saying that they meant well, they were being kind. 104 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: But I thought to myself, you don't have to feel 105 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: sorry for me. I buried my father, I saw my 106 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: mother fight through terminal cancer. I learned how to minister 107 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: when every voice told me I couldn't do it. I 108 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: believe for this place when the odds were against uff, 109 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: if I could make it through that, I could make 110 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: it through somebody not liking me. But you know, really, 111 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: you know, really, that's just like a little gnat that 112 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: you got to flick away. When you go through a 113 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 1: few dark places, it toughens you up. The dark places 114 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: are what have made me into who I am today. 115 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: I like the good times a lot better. I prefer 116 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: everything going my way. But it wasn't the good times 117 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: that brought out the best in me. It was the 118 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: lonely nights, the times I didn't think I could do 119 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 1: it on my own, the times that I didn't see away. 120 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: That's when I really learned how to pray. That's when 121 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: I developed an unshakable confidence in God. That's when my 122 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: faith was stretched and increased. Don't complain about the dark times. 123 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: There are blessings in the dark places. God is doing 124 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: something that can only happen in the fire of affliction. 125 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: When my father died, I was trying to learn how 126 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: to minister. I was so nervous to get up in 127 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: front of people. There were many nights after dinner I 128 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: would go to my closet to pray. Victoria would come 129 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: looking for me, ask the children, where's dad, and she 130 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: would find me in their praying. The fact is I 131 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: never prayed like that in the good times. I never 132 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: went out of my way to draw closer to God 133 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: when everything was going my way. It was the dark 134 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: places that helped me to really develop my spiritual muscles. 135 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: Even though I didn't like what I was going through. 136 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: I didn't like having to stretch, I was uncomfortable. I 137 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: wouldn't change it. It made me better. God uses the 138 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: dark places. When Joseph was falsely accused and put in 139 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: prison for thirteen years, the scripture says, as he sat 140 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: in those chains of iron, his soul entered into that iron. 141 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: He developed a strength of perseverance that he could not 142 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: get any other way. There are some things you can 143 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: only learn in the dark places. Quick complaining about what 144 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,719 Speaker 1: you're going through, who hurts you, how bad it was, 145 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: It may be uncomfortable. You may not like it, but 146 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: it's working for you. You're getting stronger, it's developing something 147 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: that you could only get in the dark. You cannot 148 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: reach your highest potential being in the light all the time, 149 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: no adversity, no problems, nobody coming against you. That sounds good, 150 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: but it will stunt your growth. David said, God enlarged 151 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: me in my times of distress. He wasn't enlarged in 152 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: the good times. He was enlarged when things weren't going 153 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 1: his way. As a teenager, he wanted to be out 154 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: having fun with his friends, but he got stuck taking 155 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: care of his father's sheep. Month after month, he was 156 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: out there alone, nobody to talk to. Didn't look like 157 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: he could ever accomplish his dreams. But those years in 158 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: the lonely shepherd's fields are what helped prepare him to 159 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: become a champion. When he went out and defeated Goliath, 160 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: people called him an overnight success. But the fact is 161 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: it didn't happen overnight. It happened because he went through 162 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: the dark places with a good attitude. When he didn't 163 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 1: get his way, when he didn't understand it, when he 164 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: felt like God had forsaken him. He just kept doing 165 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: the right thing. David understod this principle. His attitude was, God, 166 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: this is a dark place now. I may not see it, 167 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: but I believe that it's working for my good. I 168 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: believe I'm getting stronger, developing character, patience, learning to trust. 169 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: At the right time. He not only came out, but 170 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: he came out increased, promoted, better than he was before. 171 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: It's not a coincidence that David said, the Lord is 172 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie 173 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters, 174 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: and though I walk through the valley of the shadow 175 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: of Death, I will fear no evil. David was saying, 176 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: an effect, the same God that leads me to the 177 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: green pastures, the same God that leads me beside the 178 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: still waters, is the same God that leads me through 179 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: the valley. We can all trust him in the green pastures, 180 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: that's easy. We can trust him beside the still water. 181 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: I'm asking you to trust them even in the dark valleys. 182 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: He hasn't left you. You may feel alone, forgotten. Life 183 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: hasn't turned out the way you wanted, but God is 184 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: still leading you the dark places are all a part 185 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: of the plan to make you into who you were 186 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: created to be. It may not be easy, you may 187 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: not understand it. But faith is trusting God when life 188 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: doesn't make sense. Dare to believe that He's blessing you 189 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: even in the dark places, that what's meant for your 190 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 1: harm He's going to use to your advantage. David went 191 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: on to say, after you go through the valley after 192 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: the dark places, God will anoint your head with oil. 193 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: He'll prepare a table before you in the presence of 194 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: your enemies. Your cup will run over. Notice you've got 195 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: to go through the valley to get to the table 196 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: that's already set. Before you go through the loneliness, through 197 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: the betrayal, through the sickness, to get to the fresh annointing, 198 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: the new beginning. You've got to go through the shepherd's fields, 199 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: doing the right thing when the wrong thing is happening, 200 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: through the struggle, the lack, the debt, before you come 201 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: to your cup that runs over. Now too often we 202 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 1: want the overflow and not the valley. God give me 203 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: more favor, more resources, more influence. God says, okay, fine, 204 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: but you've got to be willing to go through the 205 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: valley with me in the dark times is where we 206 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: prove to God what we're really made of. Can God 207 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: trust you with more favor, with more influence, with more resources. 208 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: You have to be faithful in the shepherd's fields when 209 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: you're not getting your way, when it's lonely with Joel. 210 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: I don't like my boss. That's why I show up 211 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,839 Speaker 1: late to work. He doesn't treat me right. That's why 212 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: I slack off. No, if you're not faithful in the wilderness, 213 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: how can God trust you to be faithful in the 214 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: promised land. Have a new perspective. The dark places are 215 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: opportunities to grow. You're not thereby accident. If God wasn't 216 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: going to use that for your good, he would have 217 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: never allowed it. You may not understand it, it may 218 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: not make sense, but God knows what he's doing. Pass 219 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: that test. This is what I had to do when 220 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: my father went to be with the Lord. It was 221 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: a dark place. Sometimes when you go through a loss, 222 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: it's easy to get discourage and kind of feel like 223 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 1: that God lets you down. There won't be any more 224 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: good days. But I've learned anytime something is dying in 225 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: your life, something else is coming to life. It looks 226 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: like the end, but God has a new beginning. A 227 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: friend betrayed you walked away, that relationship died. At the 228 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: same time, God is birthing a new relationship. He's got 229 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: another friend already and to come across your path. You 230 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: lost a position, a client, an opportunity that may have died, 231 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: but God's already lined up a new position, a new opportunity, 232 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 1: a new level. And if you'll go through the valley, trusting, believing, 233 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: knowing that God is still in control, then you'll come 234 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: in to the table that's already prepared for you, to 235 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: the fresh anointing to increase to where your cup runs over. 236 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: Friend of mine I used to play baseball with many 237 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: years ago, was the star player on the team. He 238 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: always led the league and hitting and fielding, and his 239 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: dream was to play professional baseball. And during the summer 240 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: he was invited to play on this highly competitive team 241 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: that traveled around the nation. Was a big honor. You 242 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: had to be extremely talented. He played that year and 243 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: did exceptionally well, but some of the players were jealous 244 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: of him. They started spreading lies and about him. The 245 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: next year, the coach, even though he liked him very much, 246 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: he believed these rumors and didn't invite him back to play. 247 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: My friend was very discouraged. Tried to get on several 248 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: other teams, but there was no place. They were already full, 249 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: and for the first time that summer, he didn't have 250 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: anywhere to play. He missed the whole season, no games, 251 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: no opportunities, a dark place. He didn't understand it. It 252 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: wasn't fair, but he didn't get bitter. He knew the 253 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: same God that led him to the green pastures and 254 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: the still waters was now leading him through the valley. 255 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: Every night he would go up to the batting cages 256 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: and keep improving his skills. He kept working out, lifting weight, 257 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: staying in shape. No games, not treated right, but he 258 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: knew on the other side of that valley was the 259 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: table already prepared for him. You gotta go through it 260 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: to get to it. Don't get stuck in your valley. 261 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: Don't get bitter and lose your passion with Joel. I 262 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: don't understand why this has happened to me. They laid 263 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: me off after all these years. They broke my heart. 264 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: I'm dealing with this sickness. I just don't if you're 265 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: always trying to figure it out, you're going to get stuck. 266 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: Think about this in punctuation. An exclamation point is simply 267 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: a question mark straightened out. If you want God to 268 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: take your question marks, the things you don't understand, and 269 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: turn them into an exclamation point, you have to trust 270 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: in in those dark places where it wasn't fair, instead 271 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: of wondering why did this happen to me? No, turn 272 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: it around, God, I know you're still on the throne. 273 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: I may not understand this, but I believe on the 274 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: other side of this valley is my exclamation point, the 275 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: table that's already prepared for me, the fresh and no, 276 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: the right people, the new beginning, the new level. If 277 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: you'll go through the dark valleys like that, you will 278 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: come in to those exclamation points. You'll see God amaze 279 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 1: you with his goodness. When my father died, I had 280 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: a lot of question marks. Would the church make it? 281 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: Could I really get up here? And minister? Would anybody 282 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: listen to me? And over time, one by one, as 283 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: I stayed in faith went through the dark valleys with 284 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: a good attitude, I saw question marks turned into exclamation points. 285 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: Would the Church make it? Yes? And here's a compact 286 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: center to hold all the people. Exclamation point. Would anybody 287 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: listen to me? Yes? And here are some number one books, 288 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: Here are networks that will carry your program. Here's a 289 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: serious XM radio channel. Exclamation point, one after another after another. 290 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: You may be in a dark place right now. You 291 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: went through a breakup, somebody broke your heart. You're hurting 292 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: your lonely, wondering if you'll ever be happy again. I 293 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: can tell you firsthand, I am a living witness. If 294 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,360 Speaker 1: you will keep honoring God moving forward, God will bring 295 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: somebody into your life better than you ever imagine, somebody kinder, friendlier, 296 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: that will treat you like a queen, like a king. 297 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: You won't even miss that person that left you. God 298 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: has an exclamation point waiting on you. Maybe in your health, 299 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: it's a dark place. You don't see how you're gonna 300 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: make it. The medical report is not good. Stay in faith. 301 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: Like my mother diagnosed with terminal cancer. Thirty three years later, 302 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 1: she is still healthy and strong and listen. That's great. 303 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: But here's the exclamation point. Every week my mother goes 304 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: up to the medical center to pray for other people 305 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: that are sick. That's God making the enemy pain. Or 306 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,719 Speaker 1: perhaps it's in your finances a dark place. He had 307 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 1: a bad break, a disappointment, lost to client. You're wondering, 308 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: is it ever going to get any better? Yes. On 309 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: the other side of the valley is your cup that 310 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: runs over Increase abundance, a new level of your destiny. 311 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: And you may have been in the valley for a 312 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: long time. You need to get ready. This is a 313 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: new day. You're about to see the breakthrough. You're about 314 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: to see the overflow. That problem is about to turn around. 315 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: Don't quit believing. God didn't bring you this far to 316 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: leave you. He has an exclamation point come in your way. 317 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: This is what my friend did, the one that played baseball. 318 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: One day, he was out practicing, minding his own business. 319 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: What he didn't know was there was a scout from 320 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: a professional team up in the stands. This man was 321 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: there to watch another player, but when he saw how 322 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: talented my friend was, he called him over and said, 323 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: I want you to try out for our team. That's 324 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: God putting you at the right place at the right time. 325 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: God knows how to get you to your destiny. He 326 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 1: tried out, made the team, played a couple years in 327 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: minor league baseball, then he got bumped up went to 328 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: the major leagues, went on to have a long, successful 329 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,959 Speaker 1: professional baseball career. But think about early on those other guys. 330 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: They tried to stop him by spreading rumors. But people 331 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: don't determine your destiny. God does. A bad break can't 332 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 1: stop you. Rumors can't stop you. Injustice can't stop you. 333 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 1: God has the final say. If you'll go through the 334 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: dark places with the right attitude, you'll see exclamation points 335 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: come in your way, the surpassing greatness of God's favor. 336 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: In the scripture, when Jesus had the little boy's lunch, 337 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: five loaves of bread and two fish, it's about to 338 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: feed the thousands. He lifted them up and gave thanks. 339 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: Then it says he broke the bread and it multiplied. 340 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: Notice the blessing was in the breaking. The more he 341 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: broke it, the more it multiplied. There are times that 342 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: we all feel broken, broken dreams, broken promises, a broken heart. 343 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: The young lady that lost her baby, as she told me, 344 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: big tears ran down her beautiful face. She said, Joel, 345 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: I wanted this baby more than anything else. When you 346 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: feel broken, you go through a disappointment, don't get bitter, 347 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: don't give up on your dreams. The brokenness is not 348 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 1: the end. It's a sign that God is about to multiply. 349 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 1: That's what David said. God enlarged me in my distress. 350 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: In that brokenness. It may have been meant to stop you, 351 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: but God's going to use it to increase you. The loss, 352 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:52,360 Speaker 1: the disappointment, the person that didn't keep their word. They 353 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: thought they were hindering you, but in fact they were 354 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 1: setting you up for God to multiply. You may have 355 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 1: gone through more than your share of bad breaks, but 356 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: take heart, the more broken you are, the more God's 357 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 1: going to increase. The bigger the disappointment, the bigger the blessing. 358 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: God has beauty for your ashes, joy for the morning. 359 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: The brokenness is only temporary. Now, don't settle in the valley. 360 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: Don't get comfortable there. The valley is not your home. 361 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 1: The shepherd is leading you through the valley. On the 362 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: other side, there are new beginnings, fullness of joy, great relationships, 363 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: health and wholeness, dreams coming to pass. Jesus said in 364 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,159 Speaker 1: John chapter twelve, unless a kernel of wheat falls to 365 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: the ground and dies, it will remain alone. But if 366 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: it dies, it will produce much fruit. He was using 367 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: an example of a seed. You can have a seed 368 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 1: on your desk for a lifetime, won't do any good 369 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: until you plant it. As long as it's where it's comfortable, 370 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: it doesn't have to stretch deal with adversity. Then its 371 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: potential will remain locked up on the inside. Only after 372 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: it's planet it goes through a process of germination. The 373 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: outer shell breaks off, new growth begins. That's when it 374 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: will blossom and produce much fruit. The problem with some 375 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: people is they want the fruit, but they don't want 376 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 1: to go through the process. They don't want to be uncomfortable. 377 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 1: They don't want to stretch and have to deal with adversity, betrayal, opposition. 378 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 1: But without the dark place, your potential will not be 379 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:42,199 Speaker 1: fully released. The seed can't germinate in the light. Now, 380 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: I'm sure if you were to ask the seed, it 381 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 1: would say, I don't want to go in the dirt. 382 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: It's dark, it's lonely, it's uncomfortable. I don't want people 383 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: walking on top of me. It looks like it's buried, 384 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: like it's the end. But what the seed doesn't realize 385 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: is it's not buried. Its plant in it. It has 386 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: the life of Almighty God on the inside and those 387 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: dark places. Even though it's uncomfortable, it's a critical part 388 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 1: of the process. Over a period of time, as the 389 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: seed germinates and grows, instead of just being one seed buried, 390 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: it can become a beautiful flower, blossoming, producing much fruit. 391 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: If you were to ask the seed after the process, 392 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: it would say, I didn't like the dark place, but 393 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: I realize now it was a blessing. Look what I've become, 394 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: Look what I've blossomed into. We all go through these 395 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: dark places and it feels like at times we're buried. 396 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 1: Thoughts will tell you, hey, you've seen your best days. 397 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: That layoff ruins your career, that divorce, it just tainted 398 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: your future. That sickness is going to be the end 399 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: of you. No, have a new perspective. You're not buried, 400 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: you're planet. If you would have never had the loss, 401 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: the disappointment at the dark place, you would never discover 402 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: what's on the inside. Like that seed, your potential is 403 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: about to be released. You're not only going to come out, 404 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: You're going to come out bearing much fruit, better, stronger, 405 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: fully in blossom. See when my father went to be 406 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: with the Lord, kind of felt like I was buried. 407 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: I could feel that pressure. But in that dark place, 408 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: when something was dying, something was being birthed new on 409 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: the inside. That's when I discovered gifts and talents that 410 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: I didn't know I had. I didn't like going through 411 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: the process, but that's what caused me to blossom. None 412 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: of us like to be planted. It's lonely, uncomfortable. But 413 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:48,120 Speaker 1: in the dark places you have to remind yourself new 414 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,399 Speaker 1: growth is coming my way. Even though it feels like 415 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: something is dying, something else is coming to life. You're 416 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: not buried, you're planted. When you come out, you're going 417 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: to bear much fruit. My challenge to us today is 418 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: be willing to go through the process. Too many people 419 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: get bitter, discouraged Joel. If God was good, how could 420 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: he let this happen to me? No, dare to trust him. 421 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: God knows what he's doing. There may be dirt all 422 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 1: around you right now. It's uncomfortable. That dirt is not 423 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 1: there to bury you. It's there to bring out the 424 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: seeds of greatness on the inside. It's just a matter 425 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: of time before you break out and blossom into who 426 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: you were created to be. If you will go through 427 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 1: these dark places, with the right attitude. I believe and 428 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: declare God is going to turn your question marks into 429 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: exclamation points. You will go through every valley to the 430 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: table prepared for you, to the fresh anointing to increase 431 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: where your cup overflows. You'll be able to say, like David, 432 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,399 Speaker 1: God enlarged me in my distress. He blessed me even 433 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: in the dark places, in Jesus' name. If you receive it, 434 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: can you say that then today? And we never like 435 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to 436 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 1: make Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray 437 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, 438 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:24,439 Speaker 1: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 439 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 440 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 441 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take your places that 442 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: you've never dreamed. When was the last time you asked 443 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: God to do something that seemed impossible? If you only 444 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: pray small, ordinary prayers, you live a small ordinary life. 445 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,959 Speaker 1: I have a new book called Pray Bold. I'll challenge 446 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: you to stretch your faith and believe of the big 447 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,400 Speaker 1: things God puts in your heart. Victoria and I used 448 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: to have seasoned tickets to watch the Rockets play basketball here. 449 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: We never dreamed it could be ours when they move. 450 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: Doubt somehow we had the faith to pray a bold prayer. 451 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: God made things happen that we could never make happen. 452 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 1: It's the same for you, who knows what God will 453 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:11,959 Speaker 1: do in your life. If you'll dare to pray bold, 454 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: ask him for your dreams, ask for your healing, as 455 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 1: for your freedom. That's when God will show up and 456 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: do more than you could ever imagine. 457 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 458 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 2: of any amount this month, we would like to send 459 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 2: you a copy of Joel's brand new book, Pray Bold, 460 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 2: Dare to Ask and Believe Big. Joel shares that when 461 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 2: we pray, we can tap into God's creative, awesome power, 462 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 2: something bigger than we have ever imagined. God doesn't want 463 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 2: us to just pray in our comfort zones. No, God 464 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 2: loves when we pray big, believe big, expect him to 465 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 2: do the unexpected. There are inspiring stories from the Bible, 466 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 2: from history, and personal testimonies of people who dared to 467 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 2: believe God in extraordinary ways you'll learn how to practically 468 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 2: expand your prayers and watch your life move from the 469 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 2: common to the extraordinary, from less than to overflowing. Be 470 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 2: sure to request your copy of Praybold Today, visit Joelostein 471 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 2: dot com or call us toll free. 472 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: God has put dreams in your heart, things He's whispered 473 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: in the night that seem impossible. But as you pray 474 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: these bold prayers, you're going to see the goodness of 475 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: God in ways you've never seen, tour in our belief, 476 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: and you're gonna have a great twenty twenty five. We 477 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: pray for you and your family every day, but God's 478 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: very best. We want to thank you for your prayer 479 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: and your support. You're impacting people all over the world. 480 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of Pray Bold Today, 481 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 2: visit joelostein dot com or call us toll free. Finally, 482 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 2: elevates your personal time with God by requesting the My 483 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 2: Time with God Collection. This beautiful collection contains the prey 484 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 2: Bold new release, plus the New Living Translation, one year 485 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 2: Chronological Study Bible, and a beautiful glass mug and throw 486 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 2: blanket based around the inspiring scripture from some forty six 487 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 2: to ten be still and know that I am God. 488 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 2: You can learn more about this unique new gift collection 489 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 2: by calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel. We're 490 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 2: logging onto Joeloustein dot com today. 491 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 492 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on Sirius XM, watch on YouTube, 493 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: and now the new Joel Ostein network streaming on television 494 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: twenty four hours a day. If you've never been to Lakewood, 495 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: we have a great opportunity. We called it Homecoming Weekend. 496 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: We'd love to meet you and your family. You can 497 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,480 Speaker 1: see the building and attend one of the services. It's 498 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: a great time to be a part of the Lakewood family. 499 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: Looking forward to seeing your Homecoming Weekend.