1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: listening to the podcast. 3 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 2: We believe you're going to finish twenty twenty three strong, 4 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four is even going to be greater. 5 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for being with us and enjoy the podcast. 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 2: Well, God bless you. Always a joy to come into 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: your homes. 8 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: We love you. 9 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 2: And if you're ever in our area, I hope you'll 10 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: stop by and be a part of one of our services. 11 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: I'll give you a personal invitation. I promise you We'll 12 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 2: make you feel right at home. These are the finest 13 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 2: people in all of Houston, right here at Lakewood. 14 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: So come see you. 15 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: Sometimes I like to start each week with something funny, 16 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 2: and I heard about this pastor. He was raising money 17 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 2: for a new auditorium, and he told the congregation anyone 18 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 2: that will give one thousand dollars can pick out the 19 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: next three hymns. 20 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: Little old lady in the back stood up and said. 21 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 2: Pastor, I'll do it. He was so excited. He said, 22 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: that's great. Now, which three hymns would you like? She 23 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: looked over the congregation said I'll take. 24 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: Him and him and him. 25 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 2: All right, hold up your Bible, say it like you 26 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 27 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 2: says I am. I have what it says I have. 28 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: I can do what it says I can do. Today 29 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly 30 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 31 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 32 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: bless you. 33 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about how you 34 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: can have the last laugh. We all go through situations 35 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: where we're not being treated fairly. Maybe somebody's talking behind 36 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,479 Speaker 2: our back trying to make us look bad, or we 37 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: were overlooked for a promotion. 38 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: Perhaps even cheated in a business deal. 39 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 2: I talked to a young man that was being made 40 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 2: fun of at school, who was constantly being ridiculed and 41 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: given a hard time because he wasn't in a certain group. 42 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: Another lady told. 43 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 2: How she was looked down on it at work and 44 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: not given the credit she deserved because she wouldn't go 45 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 2: to lunch each day and gossip and complain with the 46 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: rest of the coworkers. They thought she was too good 47 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: for them. Didn't have anything to do with that. She 48 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: just didn't want the poison to go on the inside. 49 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: When we're being mistreated somebody on purpose, is trying to 50 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: make us look bad, on purpose, talking behind our back. 51 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: The natural thing to do is get in there, defend ourselves, 52 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: set the record straight. If you talk about me, I'm 53 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 2: going to talk about you. You stab me in the back, 54 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: you better watch out. Who can play at that game. 55 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 2: Your time is coming. Human nature wants to get revenge. 56 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: We like to get even, but the scripture says vengeance 57 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: is mine, says the Lord. That means God will make 58 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: your wrongs right. God wants to pay you back for 59 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: every unfair thing that's happened. 60 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: He is a god of justice. 61 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 2: People may be making light of you, not giving your 62 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 2: credit you deserve, treating you poorly. Bottom line is this, 63 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 2: God wants you to have the last laugh. Here's how 64 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 2: it can happen. Romans twelve nineteen says, never avenge yourself, 65 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: but leave the way open for God. Notice you can 66 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: either avenge yourself or you can let God be your avenger. 67 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 1: But you cannot have it both ways. If you take matters. 68 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: Into your own hands and you're always trying to get 69 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: even and pay people back, prove to them that you're 70 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 2: right and they're wrong, then God's going to step back 71 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 2: and say, you go ahead, you do it your way, you. 72 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: Don't need my help. But on the other hand, if. 73 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: We can learn to stay on the high road, and 74 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: no matter how great the opportunity to make somebody look bad, 75 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 2: no matter how much we want to pay them back, 76 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 2: we rule over our emotions and say no, I'm going 77 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: to let God be my avenger. I'm gonna trust God 78 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: to bring justice into my life. When you do that, 79 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 2: that's when God will show up and say, all right, 80 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: let me go to work. I remember one time, many 81 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: years ago, my father received a letter from another ministry 82 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 2: that was very mean, very critical, very hurtful. 83 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: He accused my father. 84 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: Of things that were totally false, no truth to them whatsoever. 85 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: And when my father read it, he was not only 86 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: extremely hurt, but he was a little angry. He thought 87 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 2: to himself, I'm going to give this guy a piece 88 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 2: of my mind. He sat down and wrote back the meanest, 89 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 2: ugliest letter he possibly could. He said, brother, you don't 90 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: know what you're talking about. How dare you accuse me 91 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: of these things? He sealed it, walked to the end 92 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: of the driveway, put it in the mailbox, and mailed it. 93 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: In a few minutes, he heard a voice right down 94 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: in here saying you got even, didn't you. 95 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: Daddy said, yeah, God, even you feel better, don't you? 96 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? 97 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: Feel better? You paid him back, didn't you? Yeah? Paid 98 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 1: him back. 99 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 2: Then the voice said you sure did. You paid him back? 100 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: Evil for evil. My father gulped. He could feel that conviction. 101 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 2: He knew it was God speaking to him. He realized 102 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 2: he didn't respond the right way. He went back to 103 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 2: the mailbox, got the letter out, tore it up. He 104 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 2: never sent it, never said another word about it. You 105 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 2: know what he was doing, choosing to let God be 106 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: his avenger. He was choosing to let God make his 107 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 2: wrongs right. Sixteen years later, my father received a phone 108 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 2: call from the man. 109 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: He was weeping and weeping. 110 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 2: He said, Pastor ostein that letter I sent you, it 111 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 2: was so wrong. 112 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: I feel so bad. Can you forgive me? 113 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: Friends, God knows how to bring justice in your life. 114 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: It may not happen overnight, but it will happen. 115 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: God knows every. 116 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 2: Person that's done you wrong. He sees every time you've 117 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 2: been hurt. 118 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: He's keeping the records. 119 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 2: If we can just learn to stay on the high 120 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: road and not waste our time trying to pay people 121 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: back trying to get even. Then God promises he will 122 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: be our vindicator. And I don't believe we would be 123 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: here today if my father had not learned how to 124 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 2: pass those kinds of time. God will only release favor 125 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 2: and promotion in our lives when he knows our character 126 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: can handle it. If you get upset every time somebody 127 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: does you wrong, and you live your life trying to 128 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: vindicate yourself, that you're not going to get to where 129 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: God wants you to be. And it's interesting. In the scripture, 130 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: David was anointed to be king many years before he 131 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: ever took the throne. He had to go through a 132 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 2: period of testing. During this time, King Saul was trying 133 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: to kill him. Was very unfair. David had done nothing 134 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 2: but good for Saul that Saul had turned it around, 135 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 2: and at one point David had an opportunity to end 136 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 2: Saul's life. He could have put an end to his 137 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 2: frustration and misery. But do you know David would not 138 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: do it. He said, Saul, may the Lord avenge me 139 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 2: of the wrongs you have done, but my hands will 140 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: not touch you. 141 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: No wonder. 142 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: David was a champion, No wonder, he was promote that 143 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 2: he knew how to let God be his avenger. Now 144 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 2: I wonder how many people just like David have been 145 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: anointed to do something great in life, to be in 146 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 2: a position of leadership, a place of honor, fulfill their 147 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: God given dreams. But the problem is they never pass 148 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: the test. They're always trying to pay back the sauls 149 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: in their life. They don't realize the saws. That is, 150 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 2: the people that on purpose do you wrong, The people 151 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 2: that are constantly criticizing they are simply distractions. That is 152 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: a trap to try to get you to lose focus, 153 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 2: where you spend all your time and energy trying to 154 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 2: pay them back when you should be using your time 155 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 2: and energy to move forward into your God given destiny. 156 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: And understand you cannot avenge yourself like God can avenge you. 157 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 2: You may think you can, but God's ways are bigger 158 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: and better than our own. 159 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: God can take those people that are making fun of. 160 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 2: You right now and use them to be the people 161 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 2: that promote you instead of having to work for that 162 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 2: boss that's always putting you down, never giving you any credit. 163 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 2: You don't know when God vindicates you, that boss may 164 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 2: be working for you. That person that won't give you 165 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: the time of day. Never listen to your opinion. When 166 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: God avenges you, they'll hang on every word you say. 167 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: They'll do whatever they can to spend time with you. 168 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 2: They may be laughing now, but. 169 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: When God brings justice, you're gonna have the last laugh. 170 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 2: And our attitude should be. This may not be fair. 171 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 2: They're not treating me right, but I'm not taking matters 172 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: into my own hands. I'm gonna let God be my avenger. 173 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 3: Now. 174 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 2: I know when God vindicates me, I'm gonna come out 175 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: smelling like a rose. You may look down on me now, 176 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: but one day you'll look up to me. 177 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: You may not give me the time. 178 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 2: Of day now, but one day you'll wish you had 179 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 2: my time. I may not have much today, but one 180 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 2: day you'll wish you had what I have. I love 181 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 2: the way David put it, Psalm twenty three, verse five. 182 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 2: God prepares a table before us in the presence of 183 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 2: our enemies. That means God will not only avenge you, 184 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 2: He'll not only make your wrongs right, but he will 185 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 2: bless you in front of your enemies. He could promote 186 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 2: you anywhere, but he'll promote you in front of the 187 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 2: people that we're trying to make you look bad. He'll 188 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 2: give you favor on a recognition in front of the 189 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 2: people that were trying to bring you down. That person 190 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,719 Speaker 2: that stabbed you in the back, betrayed you, tried to 191 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: keep you from rising higher. 192 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: Don't worry about it. 193 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 2: One day they'll be watching you receive the credit you deserve. 194 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: When people talk about me, I don't get discouraged. I 195 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 2: know God just sent the angels to the grocery store. 196 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 2: Somebody lies about you, no big deal. I can see 197 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 2: Gabriel setting the table, somebody spreading rumor somebody criticizing. I'm 198 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: not upset. I know God just turned the oven on. 199 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 2: I'm getting ready for my meal, not alone, not by myself, not. 200 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: With just my friends. There's going to be some onlookers. 201 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: There's going to be a few people that can smell 202 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 2: the food, they can see the beautiful table, they can 203 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: hear the laughter. But this time they're not a part 204 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 2: of the party. You're having the last laugh. They're watching 205 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 2: you enjoy what God has prepared. In other words, they're 206 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: seeing you be promoted. They said you'd never meet anyone, 207 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 2: but they're watching you get married. They said you don't 208 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 2: have what it takes, but they're watching you accomplish your dreams. 209 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 2: They said you'd never get out of the hospital, but 210 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: they're watching you walk out healthy in home. They said 211 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 2: you're too slow, too small, not talented enough, but they're 212 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 2: watching you receive honor stepping into that winter circle. You 213 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 2: need to get ready. Many of you have done the 214 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 2: right thing. You have overlooked offenses, you've shaken off negative words. 215 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 2: You've blessed your enemies. You need to know today your 216 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: dinner is almost ready. The food is cooked, the table 217 00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 2: is set. 218 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: It's just a matter of time until you step up 219 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: to the plate. 220 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 2: What am I saying? Don't get discouraged. Just keep doing 221 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 2: the right thing. 222 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: I've learned. 223 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 2: If the enemy can't stop your dinner, he'll try to 224 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,719 Speaker 2: sour your party. He already knows God's gonna vindicate you. 225 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 2: He knows you're gonna have the last laugh. He can 226 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: see the table is set, but he'll do everything he 227 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 2: can to try to steal your joy and convince you 228 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: it's never gonna work out. You're never gonna be vindicated. No, 229 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 2: just keep shaking that off. Any moment you're gonna hear 230 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 2: the dinner bell ringing. Those people that are hindering you, 231 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 2: trying to bring you down. They're gonna see you stepping 232 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 2: into a new level. They're gonna see God's favor and 233 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 2: goodness in your life in a greater way. I was 234 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 2: talking to a gentleman that was a mechanic at a 235 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 2: big diesel shop. He told how for years he was 236 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 2: treated unfairly there. It's a very negative environment. Who were 237 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 2: constantly making fun of him. They thought he was kind 238 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 2: of stiff because he wouldn't go party with them after work. 239 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 2: And year after year he had to put up with 240 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 2: this injustice, this ridicule. And he was one of the 241 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: top producers, one of the best mechanics at that company. 242 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 2: But in seven years he had never had a promotion, 243 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 2: a raise, a bonus, nothing, because his supervisor didn't like him. 244 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 2: He could have easily gone around with the chip on 245 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: his shoulder, negative, discouraged. But no, he understood this principle. 246 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 2: He knew God was his vindicator. He knew the food 247 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:30,839 Speaker 2: was being prepared, the table was set. 248 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: In any moment, God was going to bring justice. 249 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 2: One day, out of the blue, the owner of the 250 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 2: company called him. He had never met the man before. 251 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 2: The owner wasn't involved in the day to day operations. 252 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 2: For some reason, he called this man and talked about 253 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 2: how he wanted to get out of the business, and 254 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 2: he offered to sell the company to this man. Men said, 255 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 2: I don't have bunny to buy your company. The owner said, 256 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 2: you don't need money. I'm going to loan it to you. 257 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 2: Long story short, he took the offer, and today that 258 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 2: man owns the company free and clear. What happened his 259 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,319 Speaker 2: dinner was served. Now those people that used to make 260 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 2: fun of him, they don't make fun of him anymore. 261 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: Instead of instead of calling him names, they call him boss. 262 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 2: What is that God's serving him dinner in the presence 263 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 2: of his enemies. God promoted him right in front of 264 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 2: the people that were doing him wrong. They used to 265 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 2: look down on him. Now they look up to him. 266 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 2: They used to blow him off and not give him 267 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 2: the time of day. Now they have to make an 268 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 2: appointment if they want to see him. Friends, God knows 269 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 2: how to avenge. 270 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 3: You. 271 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 2: Don't take matters into your own hands. If you'll let 272 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 2: God be your vindicator, he'll not only bring justice, but 273 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 2: he will promote you right in front of the people 274 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 2: that were trying to make you look bad. Says in 275 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 2: proverb sixteen. When God approves your life, your enemies will 276 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 2: end up shaking your hand. I met a man in 277 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 2: the lobby not long ago. He said, Joel, I was 278 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 2: your biggest critic. I was always talking about you, blogging 279 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 2: against you, and I came to one of your services 280 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 2: to find something else to criticize. But I liked it 281 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 2: so much. I came back to next week. That's been 282 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: six months. I hadn't missed a service yet. Now I'm 283 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 2: your biggest supporter. He reached out and shook my hand. 284 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 2: That's God causing. 285 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: Your enemies to shake your hand. 286 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: You may have people right now that you're at odds 287 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: with somebody at work that won't speak to you, perhaps 288 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: a family member that's gotten bitter towards end. Even though 289 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 2: you're doing your best to be kind and respectful, they're 290 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: just the opposite. The more kind you are, the more 291 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 2: hateful they are. You have pure motives, you want to 292 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 2: do what's right, but they're always twisting your intentions. It'd 293 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 2: be easy for you to get bitter. Say fine, you 294 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: want to treat me like that, I'll treat you like that. 295 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 2: See if I'm ever nice to you again. Now, don't 296 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 2: sink down to their level. Just keep doing the right thing. 297 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: God is a god of justice. He knows how to 298 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 2: change people's hearts. It may be a week, it may 299 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 2: be a year, it may be twenty five years, but 300 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 2: God promises one day they're going to reach out and 301 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: shake your hand. One day they're going to give you 302 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 2: the respect that you deserve. I know a friend that 303 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 2: worked for this company, and he always gave it one 304 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: hundred percent. 305 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: It's got a great attitude. 306 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 2: But the owner of this company had something against him, 307 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: never treated him fairly. And even though this young man 308 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 2: is very talented, very bright, he would never take his opinion, 309 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 2: never given the time of day, just kind of dismissed 310 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 2: him as inferior. This young man never got better. He 311 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: didn't try to prove to everybody who he was. He 312 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: just kept being his best day in and day out. 313 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 2: And eventually this owner unjustly fired him. He let him 314 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 2: go for no reason. The young man went out on 315 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 2: his own and started his own real estate company and 316 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 2: became extremely successful. Thought much more about his former boss, 317 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 2: how he wasn't treated right. He had totally let it go. 318 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 2: Didn't have any ill will toward anyone. But God is 319 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 2: a god of justice. He never forgets what you are owed. 320 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: You may let it go, but God doesn't let it go. 321 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 2: He's gonna make sure you get everything you deserve. Several 322 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 2: years later, his former boss, the one that treated him 323 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: so bad, he was downsizing his company. He needed a 324 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 2: new building to put his business in, and it just 325 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 2: so happened he wanted to rent the. 326 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: Building that this young man owned. 327 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 2: When he walked in and saw his former employee, the 328 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 2: one that he fired, as the owner, he nearly passed out. 329 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: This time, he hung on every word he said. He 330 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 2: treated him with respect and honor, He valued his opinion. 331 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: He ended up renting. 332 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 2: That facility, and today he pays rent to the young 333 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 2: man he unjustly fired. 334 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: That's God causing your enemies. 335 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 2: Tap to shake your hands, ask God giving you the 336 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 2: last laugh. I think about the people that didn't want 337 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: us to have this facility. Some of them made fun, mocked, ridiculed, 338 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 2: we don't want a church down there. 339 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: Of all things, on and on. They did whatever they 340 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: could to stop us. 341 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 2: But understand, no person can stand against our God. No 342 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 2: obstacle is too big, no enemy is too powerful. What 343 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 2: God has ordained cannot be stopped by people by the economy, 344 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 2: by governments, by injustice. God always has the final say. 345 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 2: And now when the critics and naysayers drive up and 346 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 2: down the freeway and see our beautiful facility, you know 347 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 2: what that is. God's serving us dinner in the presence 348 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 2: of our enemies. 349 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: God wants to promote you. 350 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 2: Not in private, not alone, not just with your supporters. 351 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 2: God wants to promote you in front of your opponents. 352 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 2: Part of his justice is vindicating you. So the people 353 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 2: that said you would fail, see you succeed. The people 354 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 2: that said you don't have what it takes, see you 355 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:13,199 Speaker 2: accomplishing your dreams. I remember when my father died and 356 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 2: I first started ministering. Ninety nine percent of the people 357 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 2: were totally for me, totally encouraging. But there were certain 358 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 2: people that told being around about way they didn't think 359 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 2: I would make a good minister. I was too much 360 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 2: of this, too much of that. Really, they wanted someone 361 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 2: else to take over. And some of these people I'd 362 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 2: known for a long long time, I thought they were 363 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 2: my friends. I thought they would surely support me and 364 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,360 Speaker 2: encourage me. After all, it was hard enough going through 365 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 2: the loss of my father and stepping up trying to 366 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 2: do something new. The last thing I needed were people 367 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 2: that I thought were on my side trying to pull 368 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 2: me down. 369 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: From time to time. 370 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 2: I heard reports that they were talking and trying to 371 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 2: stir things up. But I made a decision early on 372 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 2: that I was going to stay on the high road. 373 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 2: I said, God, they're talking about me, but I'm not 374 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 2: gonna talk about them. I'm not gonna try to defend myself, 375 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 2: and I'm certainly not gonna change and try to fit 376 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 2: into their mold. I'm just gonna be who you created 377 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 2: me to be. And today, ten years later, I can 378 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 2: truly say God has brought justice into my life. Now 379 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 2: I don't say this arrogantly in any sense, but God 380 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 2: has given me the last laugh. They said that, They 381 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: said that I didn't have. 382 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: What it takes, but God knew otherwise. 383 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 2: They said I was too much of this or not 384 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 2: enough of that, but I knew God didn't make a 385 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 2: mistake when he created me. 386 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: Now I didn't have. 387 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 2: Their approval, but I had God's approval, and that's all 388 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 2: that really matters. 389 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: Now. 390 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 2: Practically every time they turned the television on, at least 391 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 2: on Sunday, they can't help but see me. 392 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: Some of you are watching right now. I can see you. 393 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 2: They may flip it off to another station, but you 394 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 2: don't know. 395 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: I may be on that station next. What am I saying? 396 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 2: We don't have to defend ourselves. We don't have to 397 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 2: have everybody's approval. If you'll stay on the high road 398 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 2: and let God be your vindicator, he'll not only give 399 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 2: you the last laugh. 400 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: But he'll put an exclamation point on it. 401 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 2: He'll promote you in front of your critics. He'll give 402 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: you honor and favor in front of the people that 403 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 2: says you didn't have what it takes. And yes, they 404 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 2: may continue to talk bad about you, but all they're 405 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 2: really doing is preparing the way for God to bless 406 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 2: you more. 407 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: The more they talk, the more God sends the. 408 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 2: Angels to the grocery store, the bigger meal he prepares. 409 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 2: Somebody lies about you. Just imagine God just turned the 410 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 2: oven on. Somebody is spreading rumors, betrays you. Gabriel just 411 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 2: left to the grocery store. Instead of being discouraged by it, 412 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 2: you should be encouraged knowing that part of God's of 413 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 2: indication is to not only bring you out, but to 414 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 2: bring you out promoted, increased in front of your opponents. 415 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 2: I was talking to a minister the other day. He's 416 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 2: an older man now. For fifty or sixty years, he 417 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 2: went all over the world doing so much good. Everywhere 418 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 2: he went people received him and loved him so much. 419 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 2: But in his own hometown, the local newspaper did not 420 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 2: like him at all. They were always finding something wrong. 421 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 2: He could do one hundred things right, they wouldn't report 422 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 2: on that. They'd find the one thing he did wrong 423 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 2: and make a big deal about it. 424 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: This went on year after year. 425 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 2: He had an interesting perspective, He said, if it had 426 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 2: not been for that newspaper, I would not have accomplished 427 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 2: so much. They not only kept me on my knees, 428 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 2: They not only gave me fuel to prove them wrong, 429 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 2: but their critical spirit that injustice, put me in a 430 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 2: position to receive God's faith in a greater way. He 431 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 2: went on to build a big university in that town. 432 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 2: Thousands of young people have attended. It seemed like the 433 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 2: least likely place for him to be blessed, the least 434 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 2: likely place for him to accomplish his dreams, where he 435 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 2: had the most opposition, the most criticism. But no, God says, 436 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 2: that's where I prepare the table. That's where I want 437 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 2: to increase you. That's where I want to show you 438 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 2: unuse your favor. Not necessarily just in front of all 439 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 2: your supporters, all the people that celebrate you, But God 440 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 2: wants to promote you in the presence of your enemies. 441 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: Here's what this means. 442 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 2: Practically, at work, somebody is doing you wrong. You just 443 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 2: thank God if you'd give me another job. These people 444 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 2: are against me. Now understand, you don't have to leave 445 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 2: there to be blessed. God wants to bless you right 446 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: where you are. He wants to promote you, not only 447 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 2: in spite of the opposition. He wants to promote you 448 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 2: in front of the opposition. That's the way God brings justice, 449 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 2: That's how he vindicates us. One time in the scripture, 450 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 2: there was a great famine in the land, no water, 451 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 2: no food, month after month, and Isaac was about to 452 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:16,719 Speaker 2: pack up and move to another place. But God said, no, Isaac, 453 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 2: I don't want you to leave there. I'm gonna bless 454 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 2: you right where you are. And so Isaac went out 455 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 2: and planted his fields. The Philistines, the people that lived there, 456 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 2: they already didn't like Isaac. 457 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 1: They already were jealous of him. This just added fuel 458 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 1: to their fire. I can imagine. 459 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 2: Them making fun of him, mocking him. 460 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: Ridiculing Isaac. What in the world are you doing? 461 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 2: Are you a fool planning and a time of famine, 462 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 2: nothing's gonna grow, there's no water. I'm sure he was 463 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: the laughing stock of the community. But Isaac understood this principle. 464 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: He didn't get in there and try to prove his point, 465 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 1: try to set them straight. He just stayed in peace. 466 00:23:56,560 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 2: In fact, his name means laughter, I can imagine. And 467 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,159 Speaker 2: the more they made fun, the more they criticized, the 468 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 2: more he stayed full of join just said God, I 469 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 2: thank you that you're still on the throne, that you're 470 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 2: going to bring the promise to pass, that you're going 471 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 2: to give me this harvest. Several months later, all the 472 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 2: people that were mocking and criticizing, they were standing there 473 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 2: looking at his fields, scratching their heads. 474 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: They couldn't believe it. 475 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 2: The scripture says he received one hundred times more than 476 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 2: he planted, right there in the midst of the famine. 477 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 2: His critics were dumbfounded, thinking, how does this guy get 478 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 2: a harvest with no water? Friends, God specializes in blessing 479 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 2: you in front of your enemies. Some of you are 480 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: trying to run away from. 481 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: A situation that's difficult. 482 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 2: Somebody's trying to make you look bad, talking behind your back. 483 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: I want you to have a new perspective. 484 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 2: You do not have to leave there in order to 485 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 2: be blessed. God wants to bless you right where you are. 486 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:00,639 Speaker 2: Part of His vindication is promoting you so the opposition 487 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 2: can see it. 488 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: Our attitude should be. 489 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 2: They may be laughing now, it may not be fair, 490 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 2: but I'm not the least bit worried. I know their 491 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 2: injustice is preparing the way for God to promote me. 492 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 2: They meant it to hold me down, but God's gonna 493 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 2: use it to thrust me forward. And I should be discouraged, 494 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 2: I should be trying to get even. 495 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 1: But I know better. I know a secret. 496 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 2: In fact, I can hear something in the distance. It 497 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 2: sounds like a dinner bell is ringing. Not only that 498 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 2: I can smell something, I believe I can smell the 499 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 2: pot roast, the corn bread, the enchiladas, the fahitahs, the 500 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 2: bluebell ice stream. What is that God preparing the dinner? 501 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 2: And know this, when you are served, there's gonna be 502 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 2: some onlookers, the critics, the naysayers, the opposition, the backbiters, 503 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 2: the backstabbers, the ones that were jealous, the ones that 504 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 2: said you'd never make it, the ones that said you 505 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 2: don't have what it takes. 506 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: You can be assured. 507 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 2: God will make sure they have a clear view of 508 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 2: your table. He'll make sure they see you being promoted, 509 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 2: you being honored, you accomplishing your dreams. So what's my 510 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 2: encouragement today? Let God be your avenger. Let God make 511 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 2: your wrongs right. Either he can do it or you 512 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 2: can do it. And if you let him do it, 513 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 2: you'll always come out better. He'll even cause your enemies 514 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 2: to end up shaking your hand. They may be laughing 515 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: right now, but know this, God is a faithful God. 516 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 2: In the end, you're gonna have the last laugh. God's 517 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:29,920 Speaker 2: gonna bring justice into your life. 518 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: Amen, do you receive it today? 519 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 2: Well, we never like to close our broadcast without giving 520 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 2: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 521 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 522 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 2: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 523 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 2: you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 524 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 2: simple prayer. We believe you got born again. Get in 525 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 2: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 526 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: He's gonna take your places you've never dreamed of. 527 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,439 Speaker 3: Sometimes life can make you feel like you are just 528 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 3: living in the dark. Even your prayers don't feel like 529 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 3: they are making it to heaven. But God is listening 530 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 3: and his light is about to shine. 531 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 2: We know God is all powerful that he can answer 532 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 2: any prayer, but sometimes we don't know what to pray. 533 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 2: We don't think we deserve God's goodness. Maybe we're inconveniencing him, 534 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 2: or he has more important things to deal with. But 535 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 2: God is concerned about every detail of your life. 536 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: He's waiting to hear your prayers. 537 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 2: I have a new resource called Praying with Confidence, guided 538 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 2: prayers for life's moments. When you face challenges or obstacles 539 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 2: that seem too big, you'll find prayers that will build 540 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 2: your faith, prayers that will move the hands of God. 541 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:49,360 Speaker 2: There are prayers you can pray for peace and comfort, 542 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 2: prayers for your family and hell, prayers for your dreams 543 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 2: and goals. As you make these prayers your own, pray 544 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 2: with confidence, that's when you'll see the creator of the 545 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 2: universe to work I hope you'll request your copy today. 546 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 3: With a gift of any amount this month, we would 547 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:09,119 Speaker 3: like to immediately send you a copy of Praying with 548 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:13,919 Speaker 3: Confidence Guided Prayers for Life's Moments. In this new resource, 549 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 3: Joel shares how to pray when you need a breakthrough, 550 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 3: when you need strength. Yes, when life's moments happen and 551 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 3: you're not sure how to pray. Praying confident prayers will 552 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 3: put you on the right path. You'll enter new seasons 553 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 3: in your prayer life that will turn challenges to victory's 554 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:37,680 Speaker 3: heartache to hope, frustration to new found favor. Be sure 555 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 3: to request your copy of Praying with Confidence Guided Prayers 556 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 3: for Life's Moments today. Visit Joeloustein dot com or call 557 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:47,560 Speaker 3: eighty eight five six seven. 558 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: Joel