1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for. 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: Supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an. 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: Awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 2: God bless you today and enjoy the message. God bless you. 6 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 2: It's great to be with you today, and I hope 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 2: you'll stay connected with. 8 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: Us during the week through our daily podcast, YouTube channel, 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: social media, and you can come visit us in person. 10 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you be a part of one 11 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: of our services. I like to start with something funny, 12 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: and I heard about this ninety two year old man. 13 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: He wasn't feeling up to par so he went to 14 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 2: the doctor. A few days later. 15 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: The doctor saw him out walking in the park with 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: this beautiful young lady by his side. He seemed as 17 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: happy as can be. Doctor said, Wow, you sure are. 18 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 2: Feeling a lot better, aren't you. 19 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: He said, yes, Doctor, I'm just following your orders. You said, 20 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: get a hot mama and stay cheerful. The doctor said, 21 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: I didn't say that. I said you got a heart murmer, 22 00:00:58,840 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: be careful. 23 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: He heard what he wanted to hear. But here we go, y'all. 24 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: This is my Bible I am what it says I am. 25 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 26 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be 27 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 28 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 29 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 30 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about God given desires. Sometimes 31 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: life can be confusing. We think, how do I know 32 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 1: what my purpose is? What am I supposed to do? 33 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: There are so many roads we can take, so many 34 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: different paths we can go down. We have ideas, goals 35 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: we want to accomplish, but we're not sure. Is this 36 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: my plan or is this God's plan? Is this just 37 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: an idea I came up with or is it something 38 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: I should pursue. Is it a part of my destiny? 39 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: How do we know what's right for us? David said 40 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: in Psalm thirty seven, if you will commit you to 41 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: the Lord, if you will trust him and do good, 42 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: then God will give you the desires of your heart. 43 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: We read that to mean that God will give us 44 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: whatever we want. But another perspective is when you honor God, 45 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,839 Speaker 1: he will put the right desires in you. 46 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 2: When you have a heart to please God. 47 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: When you've committed your ways to him, then he will 48 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: make sure you have the right desires. You can trust 49 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: that your will will be aligned. 50 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: With His will. 51 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: That means what you have a desire to do, that 52 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: open door you feel good about, that position you want 53 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: to take, that person you want to get to know, 54 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: you can act on it knowing that God is putting 55 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: his desires in you. Knowing our purpose, knowing God's will 56 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: for our life is not as difficult as we make it. 57 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: If you're keeping Him first, there will be things that 58 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: you're passionate about, things you're gifted at, opportunity that excites you, 59 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: dreams that motivates you. That's God leading you into your destiny. 60 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: When you've committed your ways to him, you can be 61 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 1: sure that God is watching over your desires. He's going 62 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: to override wrong desires. He's going to close doors you're 63 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: not supposed to go through. 64 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: He's going to mew people out that shouldn't be there. 65 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: And I'm not talking today about temptation, carnal desires. 66 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: We all have to deal with that. 67 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: I'm talking about when it comes to your purpose to 68 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: fulfilling your destiny. 69 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 2: God is going to make sure you have the right desires. 70 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: He said in Psalm thirty two, I will guide you 71 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: along the best path for your life. I will advise you, 72 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: watch over you, and instruct. 73 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: You along the way. Notice how God takes you down 74 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,119 Speaker 2: the best path. He puts desires in you. 75 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: He advises you, he instructs you, he watches over you. 76 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: You don't have to worry about missing your destiny. What 77 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: am I supposed to do? What if this isn't the 78 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: right decision. Because you've committed your ways to God, you 79 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: can trust your desires. 80 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: You can follow what he put in your heart. He's 81 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: watching over you. 82 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: He's going to put the right desires at the right time. 83 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: In the Scripture of. 84 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: The Prophet, Samuel came to a young man named Saul 85 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 1: and said that he was going to be the first 86 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: king of Israel. 87 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: You would think Saul would be excited. 88 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: What an honor. But Saul didn't want to become king. 89 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: He was afraid, intimidated. He didn't think he had what 90 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: it took. He told Samuel, I come from the smallest 91 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: tribe in Israel. My family is the least important family 92 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: in that tribe. I'm sorry, Samuel, you have the wrong 93 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: person I'm not about to step up and. 94 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 2: Lead these people. Samuel could have thought, God, you told 95 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: me to anoint him. I must have heard you wrong. 96 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: But the scripture says as Saul turned to leave, God 97 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: changed his heart, and all that Samuel prophesiede came to pass. 98 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: No, this one moment, Saul didn't want to do it. 99 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: The next moment he did. What happened, God put the 100 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: desire in him. God is not going to let you 101 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: miss your purpose. You may not want to do his 102 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 2: will at first, you may say, like Saul, that's too big. 103 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: I'm not that talented. That's not my thing. But when 104 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 2: God changes you want to when He puts new. 105 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: Desires in you, it won't be a struggle you want 106 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:29,559 Speaker 1: to think, oh man, this is a pain. 107 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 2: I don't want to lead. 108 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: I don't want to raise these children. I don't want 109 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 1: to run that business. 110 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: There will be a passion, a grace, the favor to 111 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 2: do what God put in your heart. 112 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: I want you to have this confidence that because you're 113 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: committing your ways to God, He's going to put the 114 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: right desires in you. 115 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: He's leading you down the best path. 116 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: You're not going to have to worry wonder which way 117 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: what should I do. 118 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 2: You can relax knowing that God is in control of 119 00:05:59,160 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: your desires. 120 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: He's not just opening the right doors, not just bringing 121 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: the right people, but he's giving you the want to, 122 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: the passion, the drive, the wisdom to go down. 123 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: The best path for your line. 124 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: What's interesting is when the Israelites were in slavery, God 125 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: told Moses to go tell the Pharaoh to let the 126 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: people go. 127 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 2: But the scripture says. 128 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: God caused Pharaoh to harden his heart and he wouldn't 129 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: let the people leave. Pharaoh didn't harden his heart on 130 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: his own. God put the desire in him to be stubborn. 131 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: God gave him the desire to say no, It goes 132 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: on to say, so that God could get great glory 133 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: at Pharaoh's expense. God went on to perform all these 134 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: great miracles so everyone knew who the God of Israel was. 135 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 1: It was all a part of his plan so the 136 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: Israelites could fulfill their purpose. 137 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 2: My point is, if God. 138 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: Will put desires in other people that don't know him, 139 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: that are not so him to bring about his purpose, 140 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: how much more will God put the desires in you 141 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: so you can. 142 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: Fulfill your destiny. 143 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: You don't have to fear the future, worry about what's ahead. 144 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: How do I know if this is the right choice. 145 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: Just keep honoring God. Your part is to. 146 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: Commit your ways to him every morning. Lord, let your 147 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 2: will be done and not mine. 148 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: I put your first place. God's part is to put 149 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: the right desires in you. He's leading you into the 150 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: best plan that He's already laid out. You may not 151 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: understand it all right now, but you can stay in 152 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: peace knowing that you're not going to miss your destiny. 153 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: God knows how to make the desire strong enough to 154 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: where you step into his will. 155 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 2: Think about with David. 156 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: He was delivering lunch to his brothers who were out 157 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: on the battlefield when he heard Goliath taunting the Israelites, 158 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: making fun, daring them to fight. 159 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: Well, of a sudden something rose up in David. 160 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: He said, who is this man that he would defy 161 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: the armies of the Living God. 162 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 2: He had this desire to take on Golia. 163 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: Well, there were thousands of other Israeli soldiers, strong, brave, skilled, yet. 164 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: Not one of them wanted to fight Goliath. 165 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: They hurt him day after day, threatening them they would 166 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: run and hide. They were terrified. Here David was a teenager, 167 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: a shepherd. He didn't have the training, the experience, the size. 168 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: Yet suddenly he knew he was supposed to take on Golia. 169 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: And one thing we know about David is he had 170 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 1: a heart after God. He had committed his ways into 171 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: God's hands. In turn, God put this desire in his heart. 172 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: If it wasn't a God given desire, David would have 173 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: talked himself out of it. Man, I'd like to fight him, 174 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: but he's twice my size. I don't have a chance. 175 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: I'll get out there and look like a fool. But 176 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: when God put the desire in you, He'll make it 177 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: stronger than all the negative voices, all the doubt that 178 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: tries to talk you out of it. When it's a 179 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: God given desire, you won't be moved by opposition, by how. 180 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 2: Impossible it looks, by what people are telling you. 181 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: There will be a boldness, a confidence to do what 182 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: you know God put in your heart. Paul said in Philippians, 183 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: God is working in you to give you the desire 184 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: and the power to do what pleases him. It's one 185 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: thing to have the desire. 186 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 2: That's great. But God doesn't stop there. He says, I'm 187 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 2: going to give you the power to do it. I'm 188 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 2: going to give you the favor. I'm going to give you. 189 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: The courage, the skill, the resources. You're going to feel 190 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: a strength that you've never felt, ability that you've never had, 191 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: favor like you've never seen. God doesn't just give you 192 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: the desire. He gives you the ability to accomplish what. 193 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 2: He's put in your heart. 194 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: The scripture says they ran toward Goliath. All the other 195 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: soldiers ran away from Goliath. They all ran in hid 196 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: But one teenager, with nothing but a slingshot and a 197 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: god given desire, took off running toward Goliath. He slung 198 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: that rock knocked him out. That day, he became a 199 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: national hero. But think about this. A few weeks earlier, 200 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: he was sitting in the shepherd's fields alone, nobody paying attention. 201 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 1: He had big dreams, but he didn't see how it 202 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: would ever happen. Then, in one moment, God dropped a 203 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: desire in his heart. That one victory catapulted David to 204 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: a new level. God has some of these destiny desires lined. 205 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: Up for you. 206 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: Things he's going to drop in your heart. Others will 207 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: think it's too big, doesn't make sense. They're intimidated. It's 208 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: because God didn't put the desire in them. That desire 209 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: is leading you down the best path, a path of abundance, 210 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: a path of greater influence, a path of helping more people, 211 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: making a bigger difference, seeing your gifts come out in 212 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 1: greater ways. Well, Joel, I think I may have missed 213 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: my chance. There were some good opportunities that I passed up. 214 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,719 Speaker 1: I was distracted. I was afraid I. 215 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 2: Didn't step out. No, when God puts the desire in you, 216 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: it's going to be so strong you can't pass it up. 217 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: He's not going to let you miss your purpose. God 218 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: knows how to make you want to do his will. 219 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: He'll give you the power to obey what he put 220 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 1: in your heart. From the time I was a little boy, 221 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: I loved anything to do with cameras and production editing 222 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: twelve years old, I was running camera at the old 223 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: church during the services. I'd come down on Saturdays as 224 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 1: a teenager and play with all the equipment. Graduated from 225 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: high school, I went to college to learn more about production. 226 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: I knew that's what I wanted to do with my life. 227 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: After that first year, I felt so strongly that I 228 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: was supposed to come back home and start a television 229 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: outreach at Lakewood. My father was fine with it, but 230 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 1: my mother not so much. So she said, Joel, I 231 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: never wanted you to drop out, said mother. I didn't 232 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 1: drop out. I knocked it out. I took the one 233 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: year planned. My brother Paul went eleven years to become 234 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: a surgeon. But some of us are more. 235 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 2: Accelerated and we don't need that long. God has a 236 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 2: sense of humor. 237 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: Twenty five years later, that same university gave me an 238 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 1: honorary doctorate degree. I didn't tell them I don't even 239 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: have my bachelor's degree yet. 240 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 2: But so seventeen years I worked behind the scenes. 241 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 1: Here at Lakewood doing the television production, and I was fulfilled. 242 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 2: I loved doing it. 243 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: Did my best to make my father look good, represent 244 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 1: the church with excellence. During those years, my father would 245 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: try to get me up to minister, said, Joel, you'd 246 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 1: be a great pastor. 247 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 2: Why don't you start speaking for me? But I had 248 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 2: no desire. Not one part of me wanted to get 249 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 2: up in front of people. 250 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: Was it something I wrestled with, Maybe I should, maybe 251 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: I shouldn't. 252 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 2: There was no question that wasn't for me. 253 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: But when my father passed in nineteen ninety nine, the 254 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: strangest thing happened. All of a sudden, I had the 255 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 1: desire to pasture the church. 256 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 2: I had a. 257 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: Desire to get up in front of people. And yes, 258 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 1: I was intimidated. I didn't feel qualified, doubt. Negative voices 259 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: tried to talk me out of it. But what significant 260 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: is the desire was stronger. 261 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 2: Than anything that was trying to hold me back. 262 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: God knows how to make his desires override all the 263 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: negative things. 264 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 2: That could keep you from doing it. 265 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: He's not only giving you the desire, but he's given 266 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: you the power to do it. That's why you don't 267 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: have to second guess. Man, did I miss my opportunity? 268 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: You know, when God puts the desire, he'll make sure 269 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: it's strong enough that you act on it. Proverb says 270 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: a man plans his ways, but God directs his steps. 271 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 1: I had my plan. I'm gonna work in television productions. 272 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: I'm gonna stay behind the scenes. That was right for 273 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 1: the time. That was God leading me down the best path. 274 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: But then God changed my plan. I know this is 275 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: what God has called. 276 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 2: Me to do. 277 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: It's not a struggle. I don't dread it. Man, I 278 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: have to get up in front of people. 279 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 2: This is a pain. I love doing it. What changed 280 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 2: the desire? 281 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: God is going to put the right desires at the 282 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: right time. That's going to lead you into the best 283 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: path for your life. You don't have to live stressed. 284 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: Is this the right decision? Should I go here? Is 285 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: this my will? Or is this God's will? You can 286 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: stay in peace knowing that because you've committed your waste 287 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: to God, He's in control of your desires. You wouldn't 288 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: be feeling that impression. You wouldn't have that longing. 289 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 2: If He wasn't leading you in that direction. 290 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: In the scripture, Nehemiah was working as a cupbearer for 291 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: the king. He was living in Persia, a thousand miles 292 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: away from his hometown of Jerusalem. His brother came to 293 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: visit and told how the people of Judah were in 294 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: great danger. The walls of Jerusalem had been torn down, 295 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: the gates pulled out. What could Neemiah do about it? 296 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: He is working in the kitchen. He could have told 297 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: his brother, and that's too bad. 298 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 2: I hate hearing that. 299 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: But suddenly God dropped a desire in Nehemiah to rebuild 300 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: those walls. 301 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 2: Didn't make sense to his mind. 302 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: He didn't have the staff, the resources, the influence. But 303 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: when it's a God given desire, you don't talk yourself 304 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: out of it. 305 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 2: You don't come up with excuses. You know God will 306 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 2: make a way, So you take steps of faith, You. 307 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: Get out of your comfort zone and do things you 308 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: never thought you could do. 309 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 2: That's God not just giving you the desire, but the 310 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 2: power to do what pleases him. 311 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: When it's a destiny desire, there's a force breathing in 312 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: your direction, pushing you forward, opening doors, causing people to 313 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: be good to you. 314 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 2: You're not stressed over how it's going to happen. You 315 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 2: know it's going to happen. 316 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: Neemiah, he was quiet, reserved, he never made any waves. 317 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: But now there's this new boldness, a confidence, the faith 318 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: to believe for what seemed impossible. He went to the 319 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: king and asked if he could take time off to 320 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: go build the walls of Jerusalem. Imagine going to your 321 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: boss tomorrow saying, can I have a year off to 322 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: go home take care of some family business. But when 323 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: God puts the desire in you, you not only have 324 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: the want to, but God gives you the favor to 325 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: get it done. The king said, yes, Nehemiah, you can 326 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: have the time off. 327 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 2: He said, thank you so much. 328 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: I'm very grateful, but I don't have any supplies, any materials, 329 00:16:58,360 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: any funds. 330 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 2: He said, don't worry. 331 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: I'll give you a letter requiring people to give you 332 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: everything that you need. The scripture says the king granted 333 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: him all his request because the gracious hand of God 334 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: was upon him. 335 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 2: Notice God not only put. 336 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: The desire in him, but God put the favor on 337 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: him so he could see that desire. 338 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 2: Come to pass. 339 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: God never gives you the desire without the power, without 340 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: the favor. 341 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 2: You don't have to make. 342 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 1: All this happen, try to force doors to open, manipulate things, 343 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: play up to people. Just keep God first place, make 344 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: pleasing him a priority, and God will put the right 345 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: desires in you. He'll lead you down the best path. 346 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,679 Speaker 1: The best path is something you've never imagined. You have 347 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 1: your plans, but you should see God's plans. His ways 348 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: are better than our ways. He has exceedingly abundantly above 349 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: and beyond in your future. In my plan, I never 350 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: thought i'd be doing this. In David's plan, he never 351 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: thought he'd be defeating a giant become the king Neemiah's plan. 352 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: He never thought he'd rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Who 353 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: knows where God is taking you. There are desires He's 354 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: going to put in your heart that are gonna boggle 355 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: your mind. 356 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 2: The beauty is you won't be talked out of it. 357 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 1: He'll make it strong enough to override the doubt, the naysayers, 358 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: the fear. You'll step into levels greater than you've ever imagined. 359 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 2: A friend of. 360 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: Mine grew up in a very dysfunctional home. 361 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 2: There was a lot of strife. They were very poor. 362 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: As a young boy, there were knights, he'd have to 363 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: get out of the house afraid of all the violence. 364 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: He could have grown up bitter and angry, but his 365 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,880 Speaker 1: attitude was I'm not gonna live like this. I'm gonna 366 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 1: break this negative cycle and do something productive with my life. 367 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 1: There was a doctor in the small town in Alabama 368 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: where they live. He was the only man he saw 369 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 1: that was successful and always happy. He made up his 370 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: mind as a young boy that he was going to 371 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: become a doctor just like that man. 372 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:13,360 Speaker 2: He loved playing football. 373 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 1: Sixteen years old, a friend invited him to a fellowship 374 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: of Christian athletes meeting, he felt something that he had 375 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: never felt. His family didn't know anything about God, but 376 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,959 Speaker 1: that night he gave his life to Christ. 377 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 2: He went to the University of Alabama hoping to play football. 378 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: They let him try out for the team. Against all odds, 379 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 1: he made it. 380 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 2: They gave him a full scholarship. 381 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: His senior year, he was finishing up his pre med classes, 382 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: still planning to become a doctor. But he thought, I'm 383 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: not passionate about medicine anymore. 384 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: I don't want to. 385 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: Become a doctor, and he decided to go into health management. 386 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 1: Graduated from college, had a job lined up when his 387 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: football coach called him and said, I want you to 388 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: come and work for me my assistant. 389 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: He never thought about coaching. That wasn't even on his radar. 390 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: He went to check it out, see what it was like, 391 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: and he fell in love with it. 392 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 2: He said, this is what I was born to do. 393 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,959 Speaker 1: When you keep God first, he'll guide you down the 394 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: best path. 395 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 2: He thought he wanted to become a doctor at the time. 396 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: That's what he needed, that vision to go to school 397 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: to break out of the dysfunction. But God knows how 398 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: to change your desires. He's doing this to align your 399 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: will with his will. Had he not seen that doctor 400 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: growing up, he never had a desire to go to college. 401 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: Had he never gone to college, he had never played 402 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: for Alabama. Had he never played football, he'd never become 403 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: an assistant coach. Had he never become an assistant, he 404 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: would have never become the head coach of Clemson University, 405 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: coach Dabo Sweeney, who's won two national championships, one of 406 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: the greatest college coaches of our day. 407 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 2: He had his plan, but God had another plan. 408 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: I can assure you God's plan is better than your plan. 409 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: The beauty is you don't have to figure it all out. 410 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: All you have to do is commit your ways to God. 411 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: Keep him first place. He'll put the right desires in you. 412 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: He'll guide you down the best path for your life. Well, Joel, 413 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: I've had a lot of these desires. 414 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 2: A long time. Something I've been dreaming about, something I 415 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: want to become. But it hasn't happened. 416 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: It either hasn't been the right time, or God has 417 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 1: something better. 418 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: Trust him, believe what. 419 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: He promised that He's giving you the right desires and 420 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: the power to do what pleases him. 421 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 2: Now. 422 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: Great prayer is Lord, Thank you that my will is 423 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: aligning with your will. Thank you that you're in control 424 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: of my desires. You know what's best for me. God, 425 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 1: I trust you with my life. Elisha was out working 426 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,959 Speaker 1: in a field with a bunch of his staff. There 427 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: were eleven teams of oxen. 428 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:04,360 Speaker 2: In front of him. 429 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 1: He was leading the twelfth team. He was a part 430 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: of the family business. They were successful, had plenty of resources, 431 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 1: and he was next in line to run it all. 432 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: One day, the prophet Elijah came by, threw his jacket 433 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: on him and said, come work from me. Why would 434 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,959 Speaker 1: Elisha want to leave? His future is set. He has 435 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: all these resources, a staff, nice place to live. 436 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 2: But suddenly God dropped the. 437 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: Desire in Elisha. He felt it so strongly. This is 438 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 1: a part of your destiny. It's time to step out. 439 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: The scripture says, Elisha burned the plows, sacrificed the oxen, 440 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: and went with Elijah to be his assistant. Sometimes what 441 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 1: God puts in your heart doesn't make sense to other people. 442 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: I'm sure he was the talk of the town. Can 443 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: you believe Elishah left everything to follow that old man, 444 00:22:58,640 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: that prophet. 445 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 2: That's kind of crazy. See, but God won't move you 446 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 2: out unless he has something better. 447 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: Not long after that, Elijah was taken to heaven and 448 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 1: Elisha received a double portion of his spirits. He performed 449 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: twice as many miracles as Elijah. God is going to 450 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 1: put desires in you that are going to take you 451 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: further than you can imagine. 452 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 2: You think you've reached your limits, call as far as. 453 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: You can, according to your education, your family, your income. 454 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: But God is not limited by any of that because 455 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: you keep him first. He's going to open doors you 456 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: never dream would open, bring opportunity, influence, favor resources. The 457 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: best path is an abundant path, a favor filled path, 458 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: a bountiful path. 459 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: How do you get there? Commit your ways to the Lord. 460 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: He'll not only put the right desires in you, he'll 461 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 1: make sure you have the power to do what pleases 462 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: in But what about when we're not putting God first? 463 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: What about family loved ones that are not committing their 464 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: ways to him? 465 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 2: How are they ever going to make right choices? 466 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: God is so merciful, He'll still put desires in you. 467 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: The scripture says he chose us before we could choose him. 468 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 1: Seventeen years old, my father was coming home from a 469 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: nightclub two o'clock in the morning. He didn't know anything 470 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 1: about God. His family were good people, but they didn't 471 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 1: have any kind of faith. Looked like my father would 472 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: continue down that same path. But for some reason, that 473 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: night he looked up at the stars and begin to 474 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: think about God what he was going to do with 475 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: his life. That was God drawing my father in, giving 476 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: him the desire to think about his creator. He got 477 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,159 Speaker 1: home and saw the family Bible on the coffee table. 478 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: He was just there for decoration. Something said to him, 479 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,919 Speaker 1: open it up. He opened it. It fell to a 480 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: picture of Jesus standing at a door and knocking. The 481 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: caption read, if you'll open the door, I'll come in. 482 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: The Next day he went to church with a friend 483 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 1: and gave his life to Christ. He felt this calling 484 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: to become a minister. He told his family that he 485 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: was going to leave the farm and go out. 486 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 2: And start ministering. Nobody had left the farm. Where did 487 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 2: this come from? 488 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: That was God putting desires in my father, choosing him 489 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: when he didn't know how to choose. 490 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 2: Where would we be without the mercy of God? 491 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:34,919 Speaker 1: When we didn't keep him first, when we didn't listen 492 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: to his voice. He still guided us, He still protected us. 493 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:43,199 Speaker 2: Parents. You may have children that are off course, doesn't 494 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 2: look good. You keep praying, keep loving them, and at. 495 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: The right time, God is going to give them new desires, 496 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: His desires, desires that moved them into their destiny. I 497 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: know today you have a heart after God, or you 498 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: wouldn't be here. You want to do the right thing, 499 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 1: or you wouldn't have tuned in. My encouragement is you 500 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: can trust God with your desires. He's not going to 501 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: let you miss your destiny. Live from a place of peace, 502 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: knowing that God is giving you the right desires and 503 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: the power. 504 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 2: To do what pleases him. If you'll do this, I 505 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: believe and declare, you're. 506 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: Going to see the best path for your life, like 507 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: with Elijah, something you've never imagined, Like with Nehemiah, favor 508 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: that you've never seen. 509 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 2: New doors are about to open. 510 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: The right people are going to show up, healing breakthroughs, 511 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's. 512 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 2: Name, And if you receive it, can you say amen? 513 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,880 Speaker 1: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 514 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: the lord of your life. 515 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me? Just say Lord? Jesus, I'll 516 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 2: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. 517 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: I make you my Lord and Savior. If you pray 518 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd 519 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,200 Speaker 1: love to send you some information on your new walk 520 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: with the Lord. You can text the number on the 521 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: screen or go to the website. I hope you'll get 522 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,679 Speaker 1: into a good Bible based church and keep God first place. 523 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 3: It's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. 524 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 3: It's a new year, time to forget the struggles of 525 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 3: the past and make room for new blessings. It's a 526 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 3: new year, the perfect time to build expectation and faith 527 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 3: for an amazing new season. 528 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: The beginning of the year is a great time to 529 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,400 Speaker 1: start afresh and a new to let go of negative 530 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: things of the past and to get ready for the 531 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 1: new things God has in store. Every January we create 532 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 1: a new devotional calendar. When you start off each day 533 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: in faith, grateful for what God has done, making positive 534 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 1: declarations over your future, you're setting the tone for a 535 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:58,120 Speaker 1: blessed day and a victorious year. This devotional calendar will 536 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: help you get your mind going in the right direction 537 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: so you can live in faith, expecting the goodness of God. 538 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 539 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 3: of any amount this first month of the year, we 540 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 3: would like to send you a copy of our brand 541 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,400 Speaker 3: new twenty twenty five three hundred and sixty five day 542 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 3: devotional calendar. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, 543 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 3: two three. One wake up with an expectancy in your heart. 544 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 3: Two reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 545 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 3: Three capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines 546 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 3: for writing and reflection. 547 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 2: This is going to be one of your best years. 548 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: Our twenty twenty five devotional calendar is going to help 549 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: you stay in faith and see the goodness of God 550 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: in ways you've never seen victory. And I pray for 551 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: you and your family every day, and thank you so 552 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting 553 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 1: lives around the world. And a special thank you to 554 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. You're 555 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 1: not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember 556 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, 557 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast watch on YouTube now. 558 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 2: The new Joel Osteine Network twenty. 559 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: Four hours a day, and of course listen live on 560 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: SiriusXM as well. But until we meet again met, the 561 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you, may show you his 562 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: favor and watch over you. 563 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 564 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 3: five devotional Calendar today. Visit Joelosteine dot com or call 565 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:33,880 Speaker 3: us toll free