1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Hope you're having a great summer. Know that we're praying 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: for you, and we know God has awesome things in store. 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: So great having you with us. Enjoy the message today. Well, 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: God bless you. It's always a joy to come into 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: your homes. We love you. We know God has great 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: things in store for each one of you. And if 7 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: and see us. I'll promise you we'll make you feel 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: right at home. But thanks for tuning in, Thanks again 10 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: for coming out today. And I like to start with 11 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: something funny each week. I heard about these three sisters, 12 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: ages ninety six, ninety four, and ninety two. They lived together. 13 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: One day, the ninety six year old draws a bath 14 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: and puts one foot in and stops. She hollers, downstairs, 15 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: I can't remember if I was getting in or getting out. 16 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: The ninety four year old said, just a second, I'll 17 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: come upstairs and help you. She gets halfway up the 18 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: stairs and stops. She says, I can't remember if I 19 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: was going up or coming down. The ninety two year 20 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: old shook her head and said, I hope I never 21 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: get that. Forgetful. She knocked on wood for good luck. 22 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: Then she said, hang on, I'll come help both of 23 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: you as soon as I see who's at the door. 24 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: All right, hold up your bible. Say it like you 25 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 26 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: says I am. I have what it says I have. 27 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 28 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 29 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 30 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 31 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about being quick 32 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: to give God the credit. We've all seen God's blessings 33 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: and favor in our lives. He's opened doors and given 34 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: us opportunity, and it's so important that we recognize where 35 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: the favor is coming from. It's not just our gifts, 36 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: our education, our hard work that got us to where 37 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: we are. The Scripture says every good gift comes from 38 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: our Father in Heaven. Your gift may have helped you 39 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: get that position, but it was God who gave you 40 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: the gift in the first place. Your education may have 41 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: opened the door, but it was God who gave you 42 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: the ability to learn. Or your hard work may have 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: brought you success, but it was God who gave you 44 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: the health, the strength, the breath to get out of 45 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: bed each morning. If we're going to continue to see 46 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: God's favor, we have to be quick to give him 47 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:36,839 Speaker 1: the credit. We were never created to contain glory. We 48 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: were created to give God glory. The higher we go, 49 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: the more humility we have to walk in, the more 50 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: God promotes us, the more grateful we should be. We're 51 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: not supposed to go around thinking, look what I've built, 52 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: Look what I've accomplished, look at my position. When we 53 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: do that, we are taking what belongs to God. I've 54 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: seen some of these celebrities that didn't live a long 55 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: life or that were on top, but they had a 56 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: setback and never recovered. One reason is they were containing 57 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: all the glory. They let the success go to their 58 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: head and they started thinking, look how great I am. 59 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: There's nobody like me. They just kept taking in all 60 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: the praise. But this is important. God will not share 61 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 1: his glory if we take the credit thinking that we're 62 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: the one that's making it all happen. At some point, 63 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: God will remove his hand of favor to make sure 64 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: that we realize where the credit really belongs. It says 65 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: in One Peter, chapter five and verse six, humble yourself 66 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt you. 67 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: Now I've learned if we don't humble ourselves, God will 68 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: humble us if we don't give him the credit. Recognizing 69 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: that it is his goodness that got us to where 70 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: we are. Then God has a way of getting our attention. 71 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: And it's interesting. We can come down a lot quicker 72 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: than we go up. What took twenty years to build 73 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: can come down in a split second. This is what 74 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: happened to King Nebuconezzar. He said in Daniel four, How 75 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: great is our God? How mighty are his works? His 76 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: kingdom is everlasting. Notice he started off good. He started 77 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: off giving God credit talking about his greatness, and God 78 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: continued to increase inim But somewhere along the way he 79 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: allowed a spirit of pride to creep in. Twelve months later, 80 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: in verse thirty, he looked out over the city and said, 81 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: is this not the great Babylon that I have built 82 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: by the might of my power and for the honor 83 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 1: and glory of my majesty. Notice, all the mines might 84 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: my power, my majesty. He began thinking man, I'm pretty great. 85 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: I built an alle awsome kingdom here. I like these 86 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: people bowing down in worshiping me. See, he started out 87 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 1: giving God the credit, but as he got successful and 88 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: saw more of God's favor, he made the mistake of 89 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: thinking it was his talent his ability. Instead of giving 90 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: God the credit, he started taking the credit. It's much 91 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: easier to stay humble when we're first starting out. But 92 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: the real test is when God increases you and you 93 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: get that promotion and now you're in a position of authority, 94 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: that's when it's more difficult to walk in humility. That's 95 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: why God told the people of Israel. When you live 96 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: in nice homes and you have plenty to eat, and 97 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: you're blessed and prosperous, make sure you don't forget it 98 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 1: was the Lord your God who gave it to you. 99 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: King never Canezzar's downfall is he started containing the glory 100 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: instead of giving God the glory. As he was up 101 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: there into the people about how great he was and 102 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: all the amazing things that he built, says in verse 103 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: thirty one. While he was still speaking, a voice came 104 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: out of the heavens, saying, Nebu Canezzar. This day the 105 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: kingdom has departed from you. Friends. This is a powerful principle. 106 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: God will not share his glory. Let's be quick to 107 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: give him the credit. Don't ever say, look what I've done, 108 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: Look what I've built, Look how talented I am. Know 109 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: without the goodness and mercy of God, we wouldn't be anything, 110 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: and we wouldn't have anything. We should constantly be thanking 111 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: God for where we are, bragging on his goodness, bragging 112 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: on his favor, giving him the honor. The scripture says 113 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 1: God opposes the proud, but he gives favor to the humble. 114 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: When you humble yourself and say, God, I know it 115 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: was your goodness that got me here and your mercy 116 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: that's kept me here, You're a favor that's opened these doors. 117 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: When you walk in humility like that, being quick to 118 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: give God the credit, He'll take your places that you've 119 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: never even dreamed of. Because it's really it's not how 120 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: talented you are, or smart you are, or educated you are. 121 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: What really matters is do you have the favor of 122 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: God on your life? Because I know people that are 123 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: extremely talented, they have plenty of degrees behind their name, 124 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: but they are so stuck on themselves they're not seeing 125 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: God's favor like they should. I talked to a gentleman 126 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: last week after the service, and he came from a 127 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: very poor home. He never was able to attend college. 128 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: In fact, he never even finished high school. But twenty 129 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: seven years ago he and his wife started a business. 130 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: He said, every morning, we would get down on our 131 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: knees and say, Father, we humble ourselves before you, recognizing 132 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: you are the one that gave us this business and 133 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: so we canmitted into your hands. Today, that company has 134 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: thousands of employees, offices all over the country, extremely successful. 135 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: He told something that really got my attention. He said, Joel, 136 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: we used to just get up in the morning and 137 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: give God credit. But now that we're so blessed and 138 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: so successful, every night before we go to bed, we 139 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: get down on our knees and do the same thing. 140 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: Notice as God increase them, they increase their humility, they 141 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: increase their gratitude. That is so important because many people 142 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: like Nibu Canzar, they start thinking it's their gifts and 143 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: their talents. But these people they did just the opposite. 144 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: Instead of letting that make them more proud and think 145 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: of them of how great they were. They became even 146 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,959 Speaker 1: more humbled by their success, realizing more than ever it 147 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: was God's goodness in their life. That's the key. The 148 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: higher we go, the more humility we have to walk in. 149 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: I think about King Saul. God honored him in a 150 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: great way. He was chosen to be the first king 151 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: of Israel. He started out so humble, so obedient, that, 152 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: like Nebuca Nezzar, over time he let his guard down. 153 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: He ended up losing the kingdom. God said something significant 154 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: in First Samuel fifteen, Saul, when you were little in 155 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: your own eyes, I anointed you as the king. How 156 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: that should be our prayer? God help me to stay 157 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: little in my own eyes. God helped me to not 158 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: get the big head, but to always walk humbly before 159 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: you and realize that every good gift, every accomplishment, all 160 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: my talents, it's because you poured out your goodness and 161 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: your favor in my life. I've had the opportunity of 162 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: visiting with doctor Billy Graham. He's in his nineties now. 163 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: Every time I go see him, one thing that stands 164 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: out is his spirit of humility. After all his accomplishments, 165 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: speaking to millions, touching this generation. He is still small 166 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: in his own eyes. I go there to honor him, 167 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: let him know how he's inspired me and been such 168 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: a great example. I'm bragging and bragging on him, but 169 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: he won't take any of it. He turns it around 170 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: and starts bragging on me. He never will take the credit. 171 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: Last time I was with him, he said, Joel, I 172 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: watch you on television each week from that big arena 173 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: that's your church. Now I would come visit you. I 174 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: just don't think I could get a seat. But here's 175 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: a man that has touched our generation like no other minister. 176 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: Yet he still walks in incredible humility, no wonder. God 177 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: has promoted him in amazing ways. Even though he's received recognition, 178 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: he's received credit, he didn't contain it. He gave it 179 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: to the one who deserves it. And there is no 180 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: limit to how high God will take you if you 181 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: will stay small in your own eyes and always be 182 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: quick to give God the credit. The other day, a 183 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: reporter was asking me about the success here and listed 184 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 1: all the accomplishments, the books, and the big stadiums and 185 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,079 Speaker 1: the new building, on and on, all these things that 186 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: could have given me a big head. But My one 187 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: comment was to God be the glory if I brag, 188 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna brag on me. I'm gonna brag on 189 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: the goodness of God. I'm gonna brag on the fact 190 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: that God has put amazing people in my life. I'm 191 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: gonna brag on the fact that God has opened up 192 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: incredible doors and given us opportunities that we've never dreamed of. 193 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: I know where my source of strength and talent and 194 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 1: blessing comes from. It's God's favor on my life. And 195 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: I realize we can come down a lot quicker than 196 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: we went up. I'm gonna make sure to give the 197 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: credit where it belongs. I'm gonna humble myself so that 198 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: God doesn't have to humble me. I heard somebody's say 199 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: we should treat praise and criticism the same way. In 200 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: other words, when somebody criticizes and says hurtful things, we 201 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 1: should immediately deflect that down, don't dwell on it, don't 202 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: give it the time of day. In the same way, 203 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: when someone is giving you praise and telling you how 204 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: talented you are and congratulating you on all of your accomplishments, 205 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: instead of deflecting it down, deflect it up. God, to 206 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: you be the glory. I know you've given me this 207 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: ability and this strength, so I give you the credit. 208 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: Don't let that praise go to your head. Just like 209 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: that criticism can poison your spirit. If you start taking 210 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: the credit thinking that you're the great one, then that 211 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 1: pride will poison your spirit and keep you from God's best. 212 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: I have people tell me from time to time, Joel, 213 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: thank you for what you do. You've helped change my life, 214 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: And of course I'm grateful, and I let those kind 215 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: words encourage my heart. But at the same time, I say, God, 216 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: to you be the glory. I know you've given me 217 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: this gift. You've honored me by helping others, so I 218 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: give you all the credit. One time in the scripture, 219 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: King Herod got up and gave a great speech. The 220 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: people were so impressed. They started saying, this is the 221 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: voice of God and not of man. They begin to 222 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: bow down and worship him. Old Herod made a big mistake. 223 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: He let it go to his head. He loved it 224 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: and just ate it up, And the scripture says in 225 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: Acts twelve, immediately the Angel of the Lord struck Herod 226 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: with a disease. He ended up dying in early death, 227 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: being eaten by worms, all because he accepted the people's 228 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: praise rather than giving the praise to God. I don't 229 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: know about you, but I don't want any worms around me. 230 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna make sure I give the credit where it belongs. 231 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: I'm a sports fan, and I love when I see 232 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: these ball players. After they hit a home run or 233 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: score a touchdown, do something great, they point up toward 234 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: the heavens. They're saying, God, I honor you, this cheer, 235 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: this applause. It's coming to me, but I deflect it 236 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: up to you. I know you've given me this talent, 237 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: so I give you all the glory. I saw one 238 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: of the leading actors of our day being interviewed on television. 239 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: He's had a career that spans more than sixty years, 240 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: very well respected. The reporter asked him about all of 241 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: his success and how could it last so long without 242 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: missing a beat. He said, it's all because of the 243 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: grace of God. He was quick to give God the credit. 244 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: I think about the Apostle Paul. At one point in 245 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: his life he hated believers. He was persecuting them and 246 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: trying to have them killed. That you remember how in 247 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: a split second God changed his life, and he went 248 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: on to write over half of the New Testament and 249 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: do many great things for God. He said in First 250 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: Corinthians fifteen ten. Whatever I am now, it's because God 251 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: poured out his special favor. Notice, he knew where the 252 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: credit belonged. That's why God could use him in amazing ways. 253 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: We need to see pride as a poison. Going around 254 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: thinking that we're the only reason for our success, and 255 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: we made it all happen by our talent, our hard work. 256 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: That's just like pouring a soft drink into your car's 257 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: gas tank. It's not the right kind of fuel. Sooner 258 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: or later the car is going to start sputtering, why 259 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: you put poison in the engine. That's what pride does 260 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: to us. If we start thinking that we did it 261 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: all on our own, we start taking all the credit, 262 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: not realizing that every good gift comes from our Father. Then, 263 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: because God won't share the glory, he will remove his 264 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: hand of favor. But if we can just turn it 265 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: around and go through the day saying Father, thank you 266 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: for my talent, thank you for this promotion. God, thank 267 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: you for this opportunity. I know I am where I 268 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: am because you poured out your special favor, and I 269 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: give you the credit. If you'll humble yourself like that, 270 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: it says God will exalt you. He'll increase you and 271 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: entrust you with more. Last Tuesday, Victoria and I had 272 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: the honor of having breakfast with President Obama, some of 273 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: the staff, and other Christian leaders. And as we sat 274 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: there in the in the East room of the White House, 275 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: I thought about all the amazing things that had taken 276 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: place in that building. I couldn't help but feel an 277 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: overwhelming sense of gratitude. I remember how I worked behind 278 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: the scenes with my father doing the television production many 279 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: many years. I never thought I would be a minister, 280 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: But now God's taken me places that I've never even 281 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: dreamed of. And as we were leaving the White House 282 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: that day, I could easily thought, man, I've really turned 283 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: into something special. I've been hanging out with the prayers now. No, 284 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 1: it was just the opposite. I felt an incredible sense 285 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 1: of humility. I can say with Paul, whatever I am, 286 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: it's because God poured out his special favor. I know 287 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: it was his mercy, his blessings, his goodness in my life. 288 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: Now I say that to say, when you see Ephesians 289 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: three twenty come to pass in your own life. As 290 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: you see God begin to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond, 291 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: make sure you remember where the favor comes from. It's 292 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: easy to think, Wow, I'm pretty great now I got 293 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 1: this new position, I got accepted into the college that 294 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: I wanted, or I got asked to do the presentation 295 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 1: in front of the whole company. Anytime there's honor, recognition, increase, 296 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: that spirit of pride will come knocking on the door saying, oh, yeah, 297 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: you're right, this is all because of you. You're so smart, 298 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: you're so talented. No, don't fall into that trap. The 299 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: scripture says promotion doesn't come from people. Promotion comes from 300 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: the Lord. And yes, I know, we have to do 301 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: our part, develop our gifts and talents, be focused in discipline. 302 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: But ultimately, God is the one that opens doors. God 303 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 1: is the one that gives good breaks. He lifts up 304 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: one and sets down another. The reason some people are 305 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: being set down is because they started taking the credit 306 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 1: rather than giving God the credit. But we weren't designed 307 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: to contain the glory. We were designed to pass it 308 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: on the higher God takes you the lower you have 309 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: to go, the more He promotes you, the more humility 310 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: you have to walk in. Let's be quick to give 311 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: God the credit even in small things in our daily life. 312 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: You get a good deal at the mall, Thank you, Lord, 313 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: I know this is your favor. Somebody pulls out and 314 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: you get a front row parking spot. Thank you Lord, 315 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: I know this is your goodness. At the office, all 316 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you have a great idea. The boss 317 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: loves it. People are congratulating. You. Receive that encouragement. Let 318 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: it build your confidence. But at the same time, have 319 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,880 Speaker 1: a sense of gratitude. Father, I know every good thing 320 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 1: comes from you, and I realize you gave me that idea. 321 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: So I give you the glory. If you will stay 322 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: small in your own eyes and always stand in amazement 323 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: of what God has done, realizing that He's given you 324 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: the gifts, the talents, the ideas, then God will continue 325 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: to take you higher and hire. One thing that will 326 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: help us to keep this spirit of humility is we 327 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: should remember where we came from on a regular basis. 328 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: It's good to look back over your life and remember 329 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: the key moments where God gave you favor and opened 330 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: up a door and you met someone special. You got 331 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: a new position that led you to where you are now. 332 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: As you remember the good things God has done, it'll 333 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: help you to stay grateful and to realize it was 334 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: God's hand of favor that got you to where you are. 335 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: I remember often walking into the jewelry store meeting Victoria 336 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: for the first time. We fell in love and got married. 337 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 1: The scripture says he who finds a wife finds favor 338 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: from the Lord. I know she's brought me favor. That's 339 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: good because I need a lot of it to take 340 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: care of her. I remember as a young couple when 341 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,959 Speaker 1: God led us to purchase a piece of property that 342 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 1: ended up doubling in value. I remember when my father 343 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 1: went to be with the Lord. I didn't know how 344 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: to minister. We never dreamed the church would grow. We 345 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: were just trying to maintain what my parents had built. 346 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 1: But God had other plans. Here we are today, in 347 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: this beautiful facility. You need to look back over your 348 00:20:55,840 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: own life and remember where God brought you from. Remember 349 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: your victories. Don't let them become so ordinary that they 350 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: don't excite you anymore. We should never lose the amazement 351 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: of what God has done. I learned this from my father. 352 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 1: He grew up in extreme poverty. His parents were cotton 353 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 1: farmers that lost everything in the Great Depression. My father 354 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: dropped out of high school so he could help his 355 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: family make a living. But when he gave his life 356 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: to the Lord, he not only went back and got 357 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,879 Speaker 1: his high school diploma, but he got his college degree 358 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 1: as well. My father used to constantly say, Joel, can 359 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 1: you believe where God has taken me? We would even 360 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,959 Speaker 1: drive back to East Texas where he grew up so 361 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: he could see the farm and the property that he 362 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: was raised on. That he would stand there in amazement 363 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 1: looking out at that property and just in awe of 364 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: how God brought him out of that defeat and poverty. 365 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 1: And my father never got tired of telling his testimony 366 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: how he gave his life to the Lord. He told 367 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: it like it happened yesterday. If you've been around here long, 368 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: you've heard it one hundred times. How he was lost 369 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 1: and undone coming home from the nightclub two o'clock in 370 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: the morning. That never got old to him. When we 371 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: built the sanctuary that holds eight thousand people, that was 372 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: my father's dream. He used to come up during the 373 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: week and say, Joel, come on, let's go look at 374 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: the new sanctuary. I thought, man, we've seen it five 375 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: hundred times. But we would go stand in the bleachers 376 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: with nobody there, and my father would just take it 377 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 1: all in a lot of times he'd say, hey, turn 378 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: on the lights, turn on the sound, turn on the screens. 379 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: We had services in there three times a week. He 380 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: knew what it looked like, but he never lost the 381 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: amazement of what God had done. No wonder, he was 382 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: always giving God the credit. Let me encourage you. Don't 383 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: let your miracles become so old and so stagnant that 384 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: they don't excite you anymore. Don't let the times that. 385 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: Don't let the time that God God opened a door 386 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 1: and gave you favor, and the time God turned a 387 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: situation around and somebody went out of their way for 388 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: no reason to be good to you. Don't let that 389 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: become old. Don't ever lose the excitement, the amazement of 390 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,719 Speaker 1: what God has done. When we live in awe of 391 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 1: God's goodness and we're constantly remembering his favor, then it's 392 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 1: easy to give God the credit. We can't contain the glory. 393 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: We're too busy giving God the glory. It's interesting. In 394 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: the Old Testament, God commanded the people to have certain 395 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: celebrations and feast, and one of the main reasons was 396 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: so they would remember what he had done. And several 397 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: times a year they'd all stop what they were doing. 398 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: Everybody would take off and they'd go celebrate how God 399 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,959 Speaker 1: brought them out of slavery, how God protected them from 400 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: this enemy, and how God defeated these other people over 401 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: here they were required to remember. They had these big 402 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: feasts with music and dancing. Imagine someone coming over to 403 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: your home and you're having a big party. Everyone's having fun, 404 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 1: the music is going. They ask you what kind of party? 405 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 1: Is this a birthday party, super Bowl party, a wedding party? 406 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: You say, no, we're celebrating what God has done. Five 407 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: years ago, God spared my life in an accident, so 408 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: we're having this party tonight. Or ten years ago God 409 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: set me free from an addiction, so we're celebrating right now. 410 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: Or twenty nine years ago, God healed my mother from cancer, 411 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:40,120 Speaker 1: and so we're thanking him once again. As you remember 412 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:43,679 Speaker 1: the great things God has done and you stand in 413 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: awe of his amazement, that will help you to stay 414 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 1: filled with gratitude. You can't keep the credit when you're 415 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: always giving God the credit. Most of you know how 416 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: we've had a sixty year lease on this facility from 417 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: the city. It was always our desire to own, but 418 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: the least was the best thing at the time. But 419 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: just two weeks ago the Houston City Council voted to 420 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,880 Speaker 1: sell us this property for seven and a half million dollars, 421 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: and today we hold it forever. That day that the 422 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: council voted yes was a Wednesday, and instead of having 423 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: our normal Wednesday night services, we came in here and 424 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 1: took the whole time just to sing, to shout, to 425 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:30,119 Speaker 1: celebrate God's goodness. We were saying, God, to you be 426 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: the glory. This was not our own might, not our 427 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 1: own power, but it was your goodness. I was thinking 428 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,959 Speaker 1: about how now every April we have even another reason 429 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:43,959 Speaker 1: to celebrate. Now I'm asking you today to remember the 430 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: great things God has done. Be quick to give him 431 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 1: the credit. Recognize it's His favor in your life. If 432 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 1: you're going to brag, don't brag on yourself. Brag on 433 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:57,479 Speaker 1: the goodness of God. Stay small in your own eyes. Now, 434 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: I believe in the coming days, we're going to see 435 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: God's favor like we've never seen it before. That means 436 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna have to walk in humility like we've never 437 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: walked in it before. The scripture says, when they wanted 438 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: to make Jesus king, he went up higher. Friends, there's 439 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 1: a higher place than just taking all the credit, the praise, 440 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: the recognition for yourself. When you go up higher and say, God, 441 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 1: I know you've given me every good gift. Now I 442 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 1: wouldn't be where I am without your favor, so I 443 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: give you the praise, the honor, the recognition. When you 444 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: have that kind of attitude, there's no limit to how 445 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 1: high God can take you. If you study some of 446 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: the greatest believers that ever lived, you'll find that they 447 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: had a common ingredient. It wasn't their great faith, or 448 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: their dynamic personality, or even their incredible speaking ability. The 449 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: common ingredient is they had a spirit of humility, and 450 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: they were quick to give God the credit. That's what 451 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: the scripture says, before honor comes humility. If you'll make 452 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: this decision with me to stay small in your own 453 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 1: eyes and be quick to give God the credit, then 454 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: he promises he will exalt you, He will increase you 455 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: and I believe in declare you will live that life 456 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: of victory he has in story. Amen until you receive 457 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: it today or we never like to close our broadcast 458 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 459 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 460 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:35,400 Speaker 1: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll 461 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: make you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 462 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 463 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place 464 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 1: in your life. He'll take your places that you've never 465 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: dreamed of. 466 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 2: Our negative thinking can short circuit God's power and blessing 467 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 2: in our lives. When you say, I always seem to worry. 468 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 2: I can't forgive what was done to me. I pray, 469 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,919 Speaker 2: but it feels like God doesn't hear. I won't have 470 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 2: enough to provide for me and my family. How do 471 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 2: you overcome this type of negative thinking that limits you 472 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:11,160 Speaker 2: from God's best. 473 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 1: Our thinking sets the limits for our life. Every morning, 474 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 1: you have to power up your mind, get it going 475 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: in the right direction, but dwelling on what God says 476 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: about you. When you think thoughts of faith, hope, and victory. 477 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: You'll tap into blessing and favor that belongs to you. Now, 478 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: I'd love to send you my newest book. It's called 479 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: power Up. I'll show you how to delete negative thoughts 480 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: and focus on the promises rather than the problems. 481 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 2: You can discover God's unprecedented power in your life. As 482 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,719 Speaker 2: our way of saying thank you for your gift of 483 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 2: any amount to the ministry, this month, Joel and Victoria 484 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 2: would like to send you this life altering resource, power Up, 485 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 2: a twenty one day action plan to transformative thinking. God 486 00:28:55,880 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 2: wants to power up every area of your life, your relationships, career, finances, health. 487 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:05,719 Speaker 2: He wants to bless it all. But sometimes negative thinking 488 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 2: can short circuit the truth. This resource reconnects those power lines, 489 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 2: providing the free flow of God's eternal promises. Remember, wherever 490 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 2: you're at, whatever you're facing, you can make the choice 491 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 2: to power up and access God's promises. 492 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: When your mind is going in the right direction, your 493 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: life will go in the right direction. Start powering up 494 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,520 Speaker 1: each day and watch what God will do. Victory and 495 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 1: I want you to know that we pray for you 496 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 1: and your family. We appreciate your prayer and support. Your 497 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: generosity is impacting so many lives. Remember you can watch 498 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 1: the services live online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, 499 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 1: watch our YouTube channel, listen on Serious Exam. But until 500 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. 501 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of power Up, a 502 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 2: twenty one day action plan to trans informative thinking today. 503 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 2: Visit Joe Loustein dot com or call us toll free