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See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 33 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 34 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 5: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 35 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 5: the ministry. 36 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 6: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 37 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 6: blessing and share it with a friend. 38 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 5: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 39 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 5: your life. 40 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 4: Well, God bless you. 41 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 5: It's great to be with you today, and I hope 42 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 5: you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 43 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 5: daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can 44 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 5: come visit us in person. 45 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 4: Findest people in all of Houston. 46 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 5: Texas right here at Lakewood and we'd love to have 47 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 5: you be a part of one of our services. 48 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 4: I like to talk with something funny. 49 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 5: And I heard about these three pastors that were in 50 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 5: a boat together fishing. One of them said, we never 51 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 5: get to let our hair down. Let's each tell the 52 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 5: area that we struggle in the most, our greatest sin, 53 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,839 Speaker 5: so we can pray for each other. First pastor said, 54 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 5: I hate to admit it, but I have a problem 55 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 5: with gambling. Sometimes I'll sneak out at night and gamble. 56 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 5: Second pastor said, I'm ashamed to admit this, but I 57 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 5: have a problem with cheating. I hardly ever pay my taxes. 58 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 5: Third pastor sat there silently. 59 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 4: They waited and waited. He wouldn't budge. 60 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 5: They said, we are not leaving until you tell us 61 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 5: your greatest sin. He said, all right, My greatest sin 62 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 5: is gossiping, and I can't wait. 63 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 4: To get off this boat. 64 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 5: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 65 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 5: I am what it says I am. I have what 66 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 5: it says I have. I can do what it says 67 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 5: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 68 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 5: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 69 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 5: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 70 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 5: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 71 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 5: about grow through it. 72 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 4: We all go. 73 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 5: Through things that are uncomfortable and things that we don't like. 74 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 4: A coworker is getting on our nerves. 75 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 5: Child is difficult to raise, a dream is taken longer 76 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 5: than we thought, and it's easy to live frustrated wondering. 77 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 4: Why it's not changing. 78 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 5: But I've learned you can't pray away everything that's uncomfortable. 79 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 5: God uses difficulties, delays, and inconveniences. 80 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 4: To do a work in us. 81 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 5: And if the situation is not changing, maybe God is 82 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 5: using the situation to change you. 83 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 4: He wouldn't have allowed it if he didn't have a 84 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 4: purpose for it. 85 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 5: Don't just go through it upset, bitter, offended. Grow through 86 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 5: it an opportunity to get stronger, to develop your character, 87 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 5: to build your spiritual muscles. Because we don't grow so 88 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 5: much in the good times, we grow in the difficult times. 89 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 5: And the scripture says our faith is tested in the 90 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 5: fire of affliction. 91 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 4: That person that. 92 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 5: Did you wrong, that's not random, it's not just a 93 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 5: bad break. 94 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 4: That's a test God is seen. 95 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 5: Are you gonna get bitter, hold a grudge, try to 96 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 5: pay them back, or are you gonna take the high 97 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 5: road and forgive or you didn't get the promotion you 98 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 5: deserved wasn't fair. Are you gonna get upset, bad mouth 99 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 5: the company, slack off, or are you going to keep 100 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 5: being your best, going the extra mild knowing that God has. 101 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 4: Something better coming. 102 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 5: These times when we're uncomfortable and we're not getting our way, 103 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 5: those are opportunities to prove to God that you're ready 104 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 5: to go to the next level. 105 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 4: Before you're promoted. There's a time of testing, a time 106 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 4: of proving. 107 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 5: If you keep letting the same people offend you, the 108 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 5: same traffic upsets you, same challenge is still your joy, 109 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 5: then you're going to get stuck. You're going through it, 110 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 5: try a better approach, grow through it. 111 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 4: God. I don't like this. 112 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 5: It's uncomfortable, but I trust you. I know you wouldn't 113 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 5: have allowed it if I didn't need it. So I'm 114 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 5: gonna pass this test. I'm not gonna let this jerk, 115 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 5: I mean, this coworker get on my nerves anymore. I'm 116 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 5: not gonna get frustrated every time I don't get my way, 117 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 5: not gonna be sour because things aren't changing on my timetable. 118 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 4: God, I know you're. 119 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 5: Working all things for my good that's how you grow. 120 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 5: That's how you come out stronger, more confident. 121 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 4: More loving, more forgiving. 122 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 5: When the Israelites were in the desert on the way 123 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 5: to the Promised Land, the scripture says that God didn't 124 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 5: take them the easiest way because they weren't prepared for war. 125 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 5: There were enemies that were bigger and stronger that would 126 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 5: have defeated them. 127 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 4: They had to. 128 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 5: Go through some things to get ready for what God 129 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 5: had in store, and the longer route wasn't because God 130 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 5: just wanted to make their life miserable, having to deal 131 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 5: with delays, not knowing what they were going to. 132 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,239 Speaker 4: Eat, people coming against them. 133 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 5: That was all strategic. That was growing them up, making 134 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 5: them stronger. God knew they needed that to go into 135 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 5: the Promised Land. The reason you face difficulties and things 136 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 5: that may not seem fair is because God has an 137 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 5: awesome future in store for you. Where God is taking 138 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 5: you is going to take greater faith, greater strength, greater patience. 139 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 5: Every challenge you face is a sign that God is 140 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 5: getting you ready for something you've never seen. 141 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 4: Don't get sour, why is this happening? 142 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 5: Have a new perspective. God is growing me up. He's 143 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 5: getting me prepared for my promised land. But if God 144 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 5: gave you right now all that He has lined up, 145 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 5: it wouldn't be a blessing. 146 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 4: It would be a burden. He loves you too much 147 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 4: to give you what you can't handle. 148 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,679 Speaker 5: There will be seasons where it's taken longer than you thought. 149 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 5: You're still in the desert, dealing with that cranky neighbor, 150 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 5: fighting that battle in your hell, pressured raising that child. 151 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 4: You could be sour. 152 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,239 Speaker 5: When is this going to change? No, that's the time 153 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 5: to prove to God who you are. You're not weak, 154 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 5: You're a warrior. You don't fall apart when trouble comes. 155 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 5: You are strong in the Lord. You don't complain that 156 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 5: you can't take it anymore. You can do all things 157 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 5: through Christ. You don't live offended by people that did 158 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 5: you wrong. You let God be your vindicator. That's how 159 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 5: you don't just go. 160 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 4: Through it, you grow through it. When you prove to 161 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 4: God that you'll be faithful when it's not fair. 162 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 5: You'll be good to people that are not good to you. 163 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 5: You'll stay in peace when you should be upset because 164 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 5: your spiritual muscles are growing, because you're getting strong longer, 165 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 5: developing your character. 166 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 4: God can take you to new levels of your destiny. 167 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 5: He can entrust you with more favor, more resources, more influence. 168 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 5: And I know sometimes it's painful, but the. 169 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 4: Pain has a purpose. 170 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 5: When I lift weights, the last two or three reps 171 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 5: are always painful. My mind says, stop, this is hurting. 172 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 5: I'm uncomfortable. I don't like it, but I know that pressure. 173 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 5: That pain is number one only temporary, and number two 174 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 5: is causing me to get stronger. I was uncomfortable for 175 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 5: a short time, but the results lasted a long time. 176 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 4: Now I have this massive good looking for sea, but 177 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 4: in my mind I do. But you may be uncomfortable 178 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 4: for a season. 179 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 5: And yes, it's hard to bite your tongue when somebody's rude. 180 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 5: It's hard to keep a good attitude when the contract 181 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 5: didn't go through. It's hard to stay in faith when 182 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 5: things aren't changing. But if you'll dig down deep and 183 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 5: pass the test, you're going to come into favor that 184 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 5: will last a long time. 185 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 4: Here's what I've learned. 186 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 5: The pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret. 187 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 5: It is painful to do the right thing when it's hard, 188 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 5: but it's less painful to look back and think What 189 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 5: could I have become if I wouldn't let this temper 190 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 5: get the best to make? What could I have become 191 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 5: if I learned how to overcome this compromise, Deal with 192 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 5: this impatience, this jealousy, this pride, not being easily offended, 193 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,479 Speaker 5: Not let that hold me back. The mistake the Israelites 194 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 5: made out there in the desert is they didn't grow 195 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 5: through it. 196 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 4: They didn't pass the test. 197 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 5: They thought the delay was a bad break, when in 198 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 5: fact it was God protecting them. He knew they weren't ready. 199 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 5: They would have been defeated. He was doing them a favor. 200 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 4: But they thought He had forgotten about them. 201 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 5: They were negative and complain, Moses, why'd you bring us 202 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 5: out in the desert to die? 203 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 4: It's nothing good to eat out here. 204 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 5: God gave them manna every morning for breakfast, but they 205 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 5: got tired of it because they didn't pass the test. 206 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 5: Because they never grew, never developed the faith, the trust, 207 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 5: the character. 208 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 4: They went around the same mountain for forty years. Here. 209 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 5: God had brought them out of slavery, sent plagues on 210 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 5: their oppressors, parted the Red Sea, drowned Pharaoh's army. God 211 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 5: didn't do all those amazing things to lead them in 212 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 5: the desert. 213 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 4: What was the problem. 214 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 5: They didn't pass the test, They never got prepared for 215 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 5: where God was taking them. They complained when it wasn't easy. 216 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 5: They got discouraged because it was taking longer. They were 217 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 5: frustrated because they weren't getting their way. When the truth is, 218 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 5: all those difficulties, all those inconveniences, that wasn't the enemy. 219 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 4: That was God giving them opportunities to grow. 220 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,839 Speaker 5: How you handle difficulties will determine whether you make it 221 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 5: into your promised land. God has the good breaks, he 222 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 5: is the right people, the resources, But before that happens, 223 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 5: you have to prove to him that you can handle it. 224 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 5: The way you're tested is in the fire of affliction. 225 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 5: It's in disappointments, delays, when you're not getting your way, 226 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 5: recognize that's an opportunity to come up higher. It's easy 227 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 5: to get negative, try to pay people back. It's easy 228 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 5: to live in self pity, discourage over a bad break. 229 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 5: It's easy to get upset in traffic. It's easy to 230 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 5: be rude to people that are rude to you. But 231 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 5: what if you knew. 232 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 4: All that was a test, that it wasn't random, It was. 233 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,439 Speaker 5: Strategic that God puts you there to see how you 234 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 5: would respond. Don't be like the Israelites and go the 235 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 5: next forty years letting the same things upset you, same 236 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 5: people offend you, same traffic frustrates you, same compromise defeats you. 237 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 4: That's going through it. 238 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 5: I'm asking you to grow through it instead of waiting 239 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 5: for it to change. Why don't you change, Instead of 240 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 5: trying to pray away the difficulty, why don't you pray 241 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 5: God help me to do the right thing in the 242 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 5: midst of this difficulty. Every challenge is an opportunity to 243 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 5: prove to God that you can handle the favor, the influence, the. 244 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 4: Destiny that He's laid out for you. 245 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 5: It's not going to come without testing, without proving that 246 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 5: you have the character, the integrity, the fortitude to handle it. 247 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 5: We see this with Joseph in the Scripture. As a teenager, 248 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 5: God gave him a dream that he would be in 249 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 5: leadership and he would see great favor and influence. He 250 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 5: was excited, he knew big things were in his future. 251 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 5: But Psalm one five says until the time came to 252 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 5: fulfill Joseph's dream, God tested Joseph's character it's significant that 253 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 5: God gave him a dream. Then God said, I'm going 254 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 5: to test you to see if you can handle it. 255 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 5: Test your character. Will you be good to people that 256 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,119 Speaker 5: are not good to you. I'm going to test your endurance. 257 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 5: Will you give up if it doesn't happen fast enough. 258 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 5: I'm going to test your integrity. Will you do the 259 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 5: right thing when no one is watching. I'm going to 260 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 5: test your attitude. Will you get sour when things don't 261 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 5: go your way? We love when God gives us a dream. 262 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,439 Speaker 5: We know something big is in our future. We have 263 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 5: to realize along with the dream come test. How we 264 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 5: respond will determine whether we keep going around the mountain 265 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 5: or whether we go in to our promised land. Joseph's 266 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 5: brothers heard about this dream, and they didn't like it. 267 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 4: They were already jealous of Joseph. He was their father's 268 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 4: favorite child. 269 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 5: One day, these brothers were in another city taking care 270 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 5: of their animals out in the pastures. 271 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 4: Joseph's father asked him to travel there to check on them. 272 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 5: When the brothers saw him coming, they thought, this is 273 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 5: our chance to get rid of Joseph. 274 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 4: They threw him into a pit. 275 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 5: They were going to leave him there when they saw 276 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 5: a caravan of Ishmaelites coming. Instead, they sold Joseph as 277 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 5: a slave. His whole world was turned upside down. He 278 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 5: went from his father's favorite child to a slave in 279 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 5: a foreign country, didn't speak the language. 280 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 4: His freedom was gone. 281 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 5: You would think he would be bitter, God, where are you? 282 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 5: Why did you let my family betray me? But you 283 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 5: never read where Joseph complained, kept being his best, doing 284 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 5: the right thing when the wrong thing happened, so much 285 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 5: so that the owner of that house put Joseph in 286 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 5: charge of all of his household. Joseph wasn't just going 287 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 5: through it, he was growing through it. His attitude was, 288 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 5: this is where God has me, so I'm gonna shine. 289 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 5: It's not fair. I don't understand it, but God, I 290 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 5: trust you. I believe that you're ordering my steps. The 291 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 5: owner's wife lied about Joseph. He is falsely and cue 292 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 5: put in prison. Surely now he would be upset God, 293 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 5: I've had enough, But Joseph kept doing the right thing. 294 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 4: He excelled in prison. The warden ended up putting him 295 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 4: in charge. 296 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 5: Notice how he's passing the test, proving to God that 297 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 5: he could be trusted, that he had the character, the integrity, 298 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 5: the humility. 299 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 4: He interpreted a dream for a fellow prisoner. Could have 300 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 4: been sour, not going to do you a favor. 301 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 5: Man, I got more problems than you, but he was unselfish. 302 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 5: Not long after that, he interpreted the Pharaoh's dream. The 303 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 5: Pharaoh was so impressed he made Joseph the prime minister 304 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 5: of Egypt. 305 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 4: Overnight. 306 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 5: He went from a slave to one of the most 307 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 5: powerful people of that day. But notice how the dream 308 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 5: came to pass. God tested Joseph's character all along the way. 309 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 5: The challenges we face aren't random. That's God giving you 310 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 5: an opportunity to develop your muscles, to get strong longer. 311 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 4: To prove to him that you can handle the promotion. 312 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 5: It may not be as dramatic as Joseph being put 313 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 5: in prison for something you didn't do. 314 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 4: It may just be. 315 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 5: How you handle the traffic each morning, how you treat 316 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 5: the person at work that's not good to you, how 317 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 5: you respond when you're doing the right thing but the 318 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 5: wrong thing is happening. Don't get bitter, don't try to 319 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 5: pay people back. 320 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 4: Be a Joseph. Show God what you're made of. 321 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 5: That's an opportunity to grow when you do the right thing. 322 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 5: Your spiritual muscles are getting stronger. Your trust, your patience, 323 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 5: your endurance, your faith is increasing. When God sees that 324 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 5: you can handle the dream, when you've proven to him 325 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 5: that you have the character, the integrity, He'll open doors 326 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 5: you could never open. He'll defeat giants that were much bigger. 327 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 5: You'll find yourself further than you've ever imagined. Maybe, like Joseph, 328 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 5: you're in that time of testing now, wondering why these 329 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 5: unfair things have happened, why the doors have closed, why 330 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 5: it's taken so long. God has not forgotten about you. 331 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 5: He sees you doing the right thing when it's hard. 332 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 5: He sees you praising when you could be complaining. He 333 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 5: sees you at work being your best and not getting 334 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 5: the credit. 335 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 4: He sees the lonely nights, those tears from what's breaking 336 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 4: your hearts. 337 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 5: But you're still serving, still giving, still being good to people. 338 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 5: You are proving to God that you can handle the blessing. 339 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 5: I know thoughts of whispers never gonna work out. 340 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 4: No, your time is coming. 341 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 5: The scripture says, when you have passed the test, you 342 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 5: will receive the. 343 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 4: Victor's crown of life. Victory is coming. Favor is coming. 344 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 4: You've been struggling a long time. Ease is coming. 345 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 5: God is about to shift some things, like with Joseph. 346 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 5: He's gonna take it from the background to the foreground. 347 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 5: It's gonna happen suddenly, a shift from borrowing to lending, 348 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 5: from being stuck to being promoted, from morning to dancing, 349 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 5: from sorrow to joy. 350 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 4: That Victor's crown is on the way. Now. Keep being faithful, 351 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 4: keep doing the right thing. When you're uncomfortable. You don't 352 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 4: understand it. It's not fair. Don't just go through it. 353 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 4: Grow through it. 354 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 5: It's doing something on the inside of you. It's getting 355 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 5: you prepared for something that you've never seen. A couple 356 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 5: of years after my father passed them, the church was 357 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 5: growing and we needed a larger auditorium, the Compact Center. 358 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 5: This place became available after a year and a half battle. 359 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 5: By the grace of God. Ten city council members voted 360 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 5: for us and we got the facility, and we were 361 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 5: so excited. I grew up watching the Rockets play basketball here, 362 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 5: and this was more than I ever dreamed. But the 363 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 5: day after that big victory, a large company that owns 364 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 5: all the property around this building filed a federal lawsuit 365 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 5: to try to keep from moving in. They said we 366 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 5: violated the deed restrictions, that this was a sports facility 367 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 5: and not a church. Our attorneys told us there was 368 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 5: no guarantee that we would win, that it could be 369 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 5: tied up. 370 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 4: In the court system for ten years. I thought, God, you. 371 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 5: Just gave us this great victory. We just spent the 372 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 5: day celebrating. Now it was like the wind was taken 373 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 5: out of ourselves. I prayed, I believed, I declared, but 374 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 5: nothing changed. Months went by. The other side didn't want 375 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 5: to talk. It was to their advantage to just sit 376 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 5: it out longer. 377 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 4: It took the worse it was for us. I had 378 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 4: to do what I'm asking you to do. I didn't 379 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 4: like it. I was uncomfortable. Thoughts told me it was 380 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,199 Speaker 4: never going to work out. You're going to look like 381 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 4: a fool. 382 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 5: You told those people you got the building, you celebrated, 383 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 5: and you're going to have to give it back. I said, no, 384 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 5: Thanks God, I know you're still on the throne. 385 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 4: I know what you started you will finish. 386 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 5: I know you being four a it's more than the 387 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 5: world being against us. There were many nights I woke 388 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 5: up in a cold sweat, tempted to worry, doubt, had 389 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 5: to make that decision to tune it out. Two years later, 390 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 5: with hardly any contact, the other side called and said 391 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 5: they wanted to meet. Twenty four hours after that, they 392 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 5: had not only dropped the lawsuit, but they leased us 393 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 5: nine thousand cupboard parking spaces. We didn't have to build 394 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 5: a fifty million dollar garage. What am I saying, Before 395 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 5: your dream comes to pass, God will test your character. 396 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 5: He'll put you in situations that are uncomfortable that you 397 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 5: don't understand. 398 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 4: God could have turned this around in two weeks instead 399 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 4: of two years. It's no harder for God. He's God. 400 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 4: But He was doing a work in me. 401 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 5: He was getting me prepared to handle the blessings that 402 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 5: were coming. 403 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 4: It's not always about right now. 404 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 5: God is looking down the road at what you're going 405 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 5: to need to handle the weight of blessing, the weight 406 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:03,640 Speaker 5: of favor. In those two years, I learned to pray 407 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 5: like I had never prayed. I learned to trust that 408 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 5: God was in control. I learned to lean not to 409 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 5: my own understanding. Some things you can only learn in 410 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 5: the battle, in the difficulty, when you don't see a 411 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 5: way but God wouldn't have allowed it if it wasn't 412 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 5: working for your good. If it's not changing, maybe God 413 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,120 Speaker 5: is changing you. He's given you an opportunity to grow, 414 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 5: to develop greater character, to prove to him. 415 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 4: That you won't give up easily, that you'll do the right. 416 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 5: Thing when it's hard, that you'll believe when every thought 417 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 5: says to doubt, that you'll stand strong in faith even when. 418 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 4: You're facing a goliath. 419 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 5: Isaiah forty one says, God will harden you to difficulty. 420 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 4: Some of the things I. 421 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 5: Face today, if I would have faced twenty years ago, 422 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 5: they would have defeated me. God knows what you can 423 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,959 Speaker 5: handle as you keep passing these tests. What's happening is 424 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 5: He's hardening you to difficulty. You're getting stronger, your faith 425 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 5: is growing, your endurance is increasing, your spiritual muscles are 426 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 5: being built up. The reason God is doing this is 427 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 5: because there are awesome things. 428 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 4: In your future. 429 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:19,679 Speaker 5: God is taking you to a wide and spacious place. 430 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 4: He's going to enlarge your territories. Here's the key. 431 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 5: With greater influence comes greater giants. With greater blessings come 432 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 5: greater opposition. Greater favor comes greater persecution. If he didn't 433 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 5: harden you to difficulty, you couldn't withstand what comes against you. 434 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 5: Even now, if you look back into your life, some 435 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 5: of the things that you face today, if you would 436 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 5: have faced a few years ago, they would have caused 437 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 5: you to live worried, upset. Now it's no big deal. 438 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 5: You know God's fighting your battles. You know no weapon 439 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 5: formed against you will prosper. You know this too shall pass. 440 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 5: Why is that you're growing? You've gotten stronger, your faith 441 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 5: is increased, your expectancy is greater, your trust at a 442 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 5: new level. The things you've been through, I know they 443 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 5: weren't fun, they weren't comfortable, But it wasn't God just 444 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 5: making you suffer. They deposited something on the inside. Everything 445 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 5: you've been through was necessary for where God is taking you. 446 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 4: If you don't understand this, you'll. 447 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 5: Lift frustrated, fighting everything you don't like, bitter over who 448 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 5: did you wrong? 449 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 4: God? Why did these brothers throw me into a pit? God? 450 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 4: Why did that company file the lawsuit? God? 451 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,360 Speaker 5: Why did I have this setback? That's just going through it, 452 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 5: discouraged upset. That's what most people do. But I'm asking 453 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 5: you to grow through it. See it as an opportunity 454 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 5: to show God what you're made of, to prove to 455 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 5: him that you'll do the right thing when it's hard, 456 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,439 Speaker 5: that you'll keep a good attitude when you feel like 457 00:23:55,560 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 5: being upset. That's developing your character. That's proven to go God, 458 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 5: that you're ready for the. 459 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 4: Fullness of your destiny. 460 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 5: And when things are taken longer than we thought, could 461 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 5: it be we're delaying what God wants to do. 462 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 4: We're waiting for him to change the situation. 463 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 5: But God is waiting for us to change. We're waiting 464 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:20,199 Speaker 5: for him to remove what's uncomfortable. But if we'll do 465 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 5: the right thing when it's uncomfortable, then God will change things. 466 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 5: Think about David. He was anointed to be the next 467 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 5: king of Israel. Prophet Samuel showed up at his house 468 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 5: chose him over his brothers, a remarkable moment, but David 469 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 5: didn't go to the palace. 470 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 4: He went back to the shepherd's fields. 471 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 5: You can be anointed before you're appointed, like Joseph. You 472 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 5: can have the dream, but there will be a time 473 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 5: of testing, a time of proving to get you prepared 474 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,719 Speaker 5: for what God promised. And this is where we can 475 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,160 Speaker 5: get discouraged. God, you anointed me. Why did you send 476 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 5: me back to take care of these sheepd to complain, 477 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 5: could have slacked off, but out in the shepherd's fields 478 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:06,159 Speaker 5: with no one watching. 479 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 4: He kept being his best. He's a king with a 480 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 4: big dream. 481 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 5: What's he doing shoveling sheep dum protecting the animals closely 482 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 5: watching over them. He had his slingshot ready for wild 483 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 5: animal came, David was there. He nailed it, never dreaming 484 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 5: that one day he would use that same skill to. 485 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 4: Slay a giant. 486 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 5: David had to prove that he would take care of 487 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 5: those sheep before God would allow him to take care 488 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 5: of his people. 489 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 4: Don't despise the small beginnings. 490 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 5: Don't slack off because you're not getting recognition. Nobody's celebrating you. 491 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 4: You're in preparation. 492 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,479 Speaker 5: Keep passing those tasks, being your best, serving when no 493 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 5: one is. 494 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 4: Looking, doing the right thing when you're not getting the credit. 495 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 4: God is watching. 496 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 5: He sees your faithfulness, He sees how trustworthy you are, 497 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 5: how you have that spirit of excellence. 498 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 4: King Saul suffered from depression. They sent for. 499 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 5: David to come to the palace to play the heart 500 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 5: for Saul. As David was playing, being good to Saul 501 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 5: saw through a spirit David and tried to kill him. 502 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 5: This happened several times. David had to flee for his life. 503 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 5: He had done no wrong, he didn't deserve this, but 504 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 5: now he was living in caves. 505 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 4: Hiding in the wilderness. Saul kept chasing him. 506 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 5: One night, Saul and his men were asleep and David 507 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 5: snuck over to their camp. 508 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 4: This was his big chance to get rid of Saul. 509 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,679 Speaker 5: He could finally put an end to this man that 510 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 5: was making him miserable, finally get out of this uncomfortable situation. 511 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:43,880 Speaker 4: But David wouldn't do it. 512 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 5: He knew Saul was the king and he wasn't going 513 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:48,920 Speaker 5: to touch God's anointed. 514 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 4: He was going to let God make the transition. 515 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 5: When God can trust you to not get out of 516 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 5: every uncomfortable situation, but to do the right thing, to 517 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 5: take the high road, forgive your enemies. 518 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 4: Not live sour because you. 519 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 5: Had the bad break, frustrated because a dream hasn't. 520 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 4: Come to pass. 521 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 5: You are proving to God that you can take your throne, 522 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 5: so to speak, that you can handle the blessing, the 523 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:19,200 Speaker 5: favor that He has in store. It may be unfair, 524 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 5: you don't understand it. Don't just go through it, grow 525 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:27,400 Speaker 5: through it. God sees what's happening. He sees who did 526 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 5: your own, he sees what didn't work out, he sees 527 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 5: the medical report. 528 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 4: That's not how your story ends. 529 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 5: That's one chapter in the book that He's written for 530 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 5: your life. 531 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 4: There are many great chapters up ahead. 532 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 5: Don't fight everything you don't like before you ask God 533 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,880 Speaker 5: to change the situation. Say God, help me to change, 534 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 5: help me to grow, help me to come up higher, 535 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,679 Speaker 5: to trust you more. Those are opportunities to show God 536 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 5: that you're ready for the amazing future he has in store. 537 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 4: You haven't seen, heard, or imagined where God is taking you. 538 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 4: That's why you face challenges. 539 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 5: He's getting you prepared for something greater if you'll keep 540 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 5: the right attitude, not just go through it, but grow 541 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,879 Speaker 5: through it. I believe and declare, like Joseph, you're going 542 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 5: to see God vindicate you and suddenly turn things around. 543 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 4: Like David, You're going to. 544 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:27,120 Speaker 5: Defeat giants, accomplish dreams, and reach the fullness of your 545 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 5: destiny in Jesus's name. 546 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 4: And if you receive it, can you say amen, I'd like. 547 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 5: To give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord 548 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:37,679 Speaker 5: of your life. 549 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 4: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I 550 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 4: repent of. 551 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 5: My sins, Come into my heart. I make you my 552 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 5: Lord and Savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, we 553 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 5: believe you got born again. We love to send you 554 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 5: some free information on your new walk with the Lord. 555 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 5: You can text the number on the screen or go 556 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 5: to the website. But I hope you'll get into a 557 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 5: good Bible based. 558 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 4: Church and keep God first place. Thanks so much for 559 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 4: listening to today's message. 560 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 561 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 5: podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 562 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 6: Help us to continue to share the message of hope 563 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 6: with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 564 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,479 Speaker 6: or click the link in the description to partner with 565 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 6: us today. 566 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 5: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 567 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 5: be sure to follow us on social media. 568 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 4: We're praying for you. 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