1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: So God bless you. It's a joy to come into 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: your homes. We love you and we know God has 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: great things in store. If you're ever in our area, 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: I hope you'll stop by and be a part of 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,159 Speaker 1: one of our services. I promise you we'll make you 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: feel right at home. But thanks so much for tuning 11 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: in today, and again thank you for coming out. I'd 12 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: like to start with something funny, and I heard about 13 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: these two little boys, ages four and six. They were brothers. 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: They were spending the night with their grandmother and she 15 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: told them before they went to bed to make sure 16 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: that they said their prayers. They went in the room 17 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: and got down on their knees, and the smallest boy 18 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: began praying at the top of his lungs. God, I 19 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: pray for a new bicycle. I pray for a new PlayStation. 20 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: I pray for a new DVD. It's brother, Punston, Why 21 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: are you screaming? God? Isn't death. He said, I know that, 22 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: but Grandmother is hold up your Bible, say it like 23 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: it says. I am. I have what it says I have. 25 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 26 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confessed. 27 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 28 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 29 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about dealing with 30 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: unexpected difficulties. It's one thing to know that you're going 31 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: into a challenging season. You get prepared for it, you 32 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: get mentally ready. But what about the difficulties that we 33 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: didn't see coming, The unexpected crisis that catches us off guard. 34 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: It's so overwhelming, it's almost like it knocks the wind 35 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: out of us. Few years after Victoria and I were married, 36 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: there was a knock on the door. I answered it, 37 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: and a police officer was to there. He handed me 38 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: an envelope and said, somebody really doesn't like you. I said, 39 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: what do you mean. I didn't think I had an 40 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: enemy in the world. He said, this man is suing 41 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: you over some property that you sold him. I wasn't 42 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: expecting to be in a lawsuit at twenty four years old. 43 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: One time I was driving to lunch with some friends. 44 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: We had just left the church and I got a 45 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: phone call saying that my sister Lisa had opened a 46 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: mail bomb. It exploded in her lap. I wasn't expecting 47 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: to be rushing to the hospital hoping she would survive. 48 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 1: A gentleman was at our service last week. He came 49 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: home from work just like normal, thought it was an 50 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: ordinary day, but there was a note on the kitchen 51 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: table saying his wife had fallen in love with someone else. 52 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: In life, we all have to deal with the unexpected. 53 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: Just because we're a believer, just because we're a good 54 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: person doing the right thing, doesn't make us exempt from trouble. 55 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: The scripture says, the rain falls on the just and 56 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: the unjust. And in these times where something unexpected has happened. 57 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: The boss called you in and said, I'm sorry, we 58 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: don't need you anymore. The doctor says, we see something 59 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: on your exam that doesn't look good. When you find 60 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: yourself facing a crisis, it's easy to panic and fall 61 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: all apart, but you have to realize that crisis is 62 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: not a surprise to God. It may be unexpected to us, 63 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: but God knows the end from the beginning. God has 64 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: solutions to problems that we haven't even had. And God 65 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: would not have allowed the difficulty unless he had a 66 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: divine purpose for it. You have to remind yourself you 67 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: are in a controlled environment. It may feel like your 68 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: circumstances are out of control, but the creator of the 69 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: universe is in complete control. He has you in the 70 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: palm of his hand. Nothing can happen to you without 71 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: God's permission. In fact, God is even in control of 72 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: our enemies. The scripture talks about how God caused Phaiah 73 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: to harden his heart and not let the people go. 74 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: Notice God caused him to be difficult. Why was that 75 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: so God could show his power in extraordinary ways when 76 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: something unexpected happens catches you off guard. Instead of falling apart, 77 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: blaming God and panicking, our attitude should be God, I 78 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: know you're still on the throne. This is not a 79 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: surprise to you. You wouldn't have allowed it unless you 80 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: had a purpose. And it may look like a set back, 81 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: but I know the truth. It's a set up for 82 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: you to show your power in a greater way. It's 83 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: a setup for you to show my unbelieving co workers 84 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: your greatness. God's purpose in the crisis is to not 85 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: just show us his power, but to show other people 86 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: what he can do. If you will view that adversity 87 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: as an opportunity for God to display his greatness, then 88 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: God will use you as an example. He wants your 89 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: neighbors to say, how in the world did they make it? 90 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: The medical report said impossible, but look at her today, 91 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: she's as strong and healthy as can be. Or they 92 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: got laid off at the worst possible time, but look 93 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,239 Speaker 1: at them now. They got a better job than we do. Friends, 94 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: God wants to turn your test into a testimony. That's 95 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: why God will not stop every adversity. Being a believer 96 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: doesn't make us immune to difficulty. But God promises, if 97 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: we'll stay in faith, he will take what was meant 98 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: for our harm and not only use it to our advantage, 99 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: but he will use it to display his greatness to 100 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: other people. And so when something unexpected happens, instead of 101 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: falling apart and panicking, now that's when, more than ever, 102 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: you need to expect God to show up and turn 103 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: the situation around. Expect God's favor, expect his supernatural power. 104 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: And it is true that the rain falls on the 105 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: just and the unjust. But here's the difference for the just, 106 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: for the believer, that's you and me. The scripture says 107 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: no weapon formed against us will ever prosper. It doesn't 108 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: say that something would never form, you'll never have any rain, 109 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: you'll never have unexpected trouble. No, it says, in effect, 110 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: you may go through some difficulties, you may get a 111 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: negative medical report, you may see a relationship turned sour. 112 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: But because you're a child of the most High God, 113 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: that difficulty is not going to prosper against you. This means, 114 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: in the end, it's not going to get the best 115 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: of you. You're going to get the best of it. 116 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: God's not only going to bring you out, He's going 117 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: to bring you out better off than you were before. 118 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: And when we face an unexpected challenge, it's easy to 119 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: get down on ourselves and think, well, I'm trying to 120 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: do my best, trying to honor God. I must be 121 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: doing something wrong. I must just not be doing good enough. 122 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: A lot of times, the reason we have difficulties is 123 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: not because we're doing something wrong, but because we're doing 124 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: something right. It's because you're making a difference. It's because 125 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: you're taking new ground for your family. It's because you're 126 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: a threat to the enemy. He would leave you alone 127 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: if you weren't advancing the kingdom. He wouldn't bother you 128 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: if he didn't know. God had something amazing in your future. 129 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: That's why he's trying to get you discouraged and bitter 130 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: and blaming God to keep you from the new levels 131 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: that God has in store. You say, Joel, I don't 132 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: understand why these people at the office give me such 133 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: a hard time. I treat them with respect, I work hard, 134 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: I mind my own business, but they're always criticized and 135 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: finding fault with me. Listen, that's not because you're doing 136 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: anything wrong. If you acted like them, they'd leave you 137 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: alone if you were lazy and complained and had a 138 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: bad attitude. It's because you're doing something right. It's because 139 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: you're letting your light shine. Darkness never likes the light, 140 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: but don't worry about it. Light will always overtake the darkness. 141 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: Just keep shining, keep smiling, Keep treating people good even 142 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: though they're not treating you good. Keep doing the right 143 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: thing even though the wrong thing's happening. That trouble is 144 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 1: a sure sign that God has something amazing in your future. 145 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 1: And the enemy is not going to roll out the 146 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: red carpet and let us fulfill our destiny unopposed. He's 147 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: going to throw out unexpected challenges, unexpected trouble, unexpected difficulties. 148 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: But know this, the God we serve has unexpected favor, 149 00:08:54,400 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: unexpected healing, unexpected breakthroughs, unexpected turnarounds. In Matthew chapter thirteen, 150 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: Jesus told a story about a man that went out 151 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: to his field and planted wheat in the ground. He 152 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: sowed good seed. This represents he was doing the right thing, 153 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: honoring God with his life, being good to others. But 154 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: it says while he slept, an enemy came in and 155 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: planted weeds in his soil. The man was asleep, he 156 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: didn't know what happened. He was expecting to have a 157 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: great harvest of wheat. He had done the right things, 158 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: he had sown the right seeds, But when it came 159 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 1: time for harvest, all of a sudden, the weeds sprung 160 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: up among his wheat. Any time you're doing the right thing, 161 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: you're living a life that's honoring God. You're being your 162 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: best each day, don't be surprised if you find some 163 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: weeds among your wheat. Doesn't mean that you're doing anything wrong. 164 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: And it's one thing to know you're sowing bad seeds 165 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: and compromising, not living right, and you can expect to 166 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: reap trouble and adversity. That's no big surprise. But what 167 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 1: about like this man, when you're doing the right things, 168 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: sowing the right seeds, but you look in your field 169 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: and you see things popping up that you didn't plant. 170 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: That doesn't seem fair. The worker said to this farmer, 171 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: where did these weeds come from? We saw you, We 172 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: know you sowed good seeds. The farmer said, an enemy 173 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: has come in and sown these destructive seeds. It's the 174 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: same way today. There is an enemy that has sown 175 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: weeds in all of our lives. The good news is 176 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 1: those weeds do not have to keep us from our 177 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: god given destiny. It's interesting it says that when the 178 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: wheat was ready for harvest, the weeds sprung up unexpectedly suddenly. 179 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: This tells me that when we are close to our victory, 180 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: when we are on the verge of our greatest accomplishment, 181 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: our greatest breakthrough when you're about to go into the 182 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: harvest season. That's when the unexpected challenges will pop up 183 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: to try to keep us from moving forward. I remember 184 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: when my father went to be with the Lord back 185 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety nine. I knew I was supposed to 186 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: step up and pasture the church. I felt a strength, 187 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: a confidence of peace like I'd never felt before. I 188 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: knew I was stepping into a new level of my life, 189 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 1: a new level of my destiny. But at the same time, 190 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: I never felt such fear, intimidation, feelings of inadequacy. What 191 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: was that there were two crops coming up. The one 192 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: I had planted of faith, of confidence, of victory, and 193 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: the one the enemy had planted of doubt, unbelief. You 194 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: can't do this. I could have easily talked myself out 195 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: of it, but I realized those destructive thoughts were just 196 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: weeds that the enemy had sown into my good soil. 197 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: They were popping up right when it was my time 198 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: for harvest. Now I had the attitude, Hey, I didn't 199 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: sow it, I don't have to reap it. I'm going 200 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: to reap the confidence, the faith, the victory. I'm gonna 201 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,839 Speaker 1: step into that new level of my destiny, and some 202 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: of you today are wondering where did this trouble come from? 203 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: Doesn't make any sense. I work for this company loyally 204 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: for twenty years. How could they lay me off? Or 205 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,199 Speaker 1: I've done my best to stay healthy, to stay in shape, 206 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: to exercise. Why did I come down with this sickness? Friends? 207 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: Those are simply weeds that the enemy has sown into 208 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: your life. They may pop up at just the wrong 209 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 1: time when you should be enjoying the best of life, 210 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: have a sickness to deal with. Business slows down, a 211 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: child starts acting up. Here's what I'm saying, don't panic, 212 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:52,119 Speaker 1: don't start blaming God. You are close to your breakthrough. 213 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: Your harvest is coming. That's why those unexpected challenges are 214 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: popping up. And let me tell you, if those weeds 215 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: could keep you from your destiny, God would have never 216 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,319 Speaker 1: allowed them to be planted. If that trouble could stop you, 217 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: God would have never permitted it to happen. It says 218 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: in one Peter four twelve. Don't think it's strange when 219 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: you encounter fiery trials. It's saying, don't be surprised by difficulties. 220 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: Don't get bent out of shape when you face tough times. 221 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: I want us to see these unexpected challenges in a 222 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: new light. Instead of falling apart thinking I can't believe 223 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: this is happening. Now, our attitude should be it's just 224 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: another weed, No big deal. I didn't sow it. I 225 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: don't have to reap it. God said he would take 226 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: care of it for me. For some reason. You got 227 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,959 Speaker 1: laid off, lost your job, don't panic, it's just the 228 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: weeds popping up. If you'll stay in faith, God will 229 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: not only open up another door, but he'll give you 230 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: a better job with better benefits, better friends, making better money. 231 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: If you were to get a report about your health, 232 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: don't fall apart. Why God meet no view that sickness 233 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:11,079 Speaker 1: as a weed. It's not permanent, it's temporary. It can't 234 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: keep you from your destiny. You're a child of the 235 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: Most High God, and if it's not your time to go, 236 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: you're not going to go. Or maybe a friend betrays you, 237 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: walks out of a relationship. Next time you see them, 238 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: just say hello, weed. You don't need them to become 239 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: who God's created you to be. All right, don't say it, 240 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: but you can sure think it. This parable ends with 241 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: the workers asking the farmer should we go out and 242 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: pull up the weeds. The farmer says no, just wait 243 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: and at the right time, the weeds will be destroyed. 244 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: That's what God is saying to us, the weeds that 245 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: pop up, the unexpected difficulties. You don't have to fight 246 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: those battles. Don't spend your life constantly trying to pull 247 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: up all the weeds and fix everything in your own strength. 248 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: If you do that, you'll end up destroying the harvest 249 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: when you were trying to destroy the weeds. Just wait 250 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: and let God take care of it for you. God 251 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: knows how to fight your battles. God knows how to 252 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: make your wrongs right. God knows which doors need to 253 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: be opened, which people need to be moved out of 254 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: the way, so you can get to where you're supposed 255 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: to be. Years ago, I was on a flight to 256 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: India with my father and we'd been flying for about 257 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: thirteen hours. We had another couple of hours to go. 258 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: Up to that point, it had been a very smooth, 259 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: comfortable flight, but at one point we hit some turbulence 260 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: like nothing I'd ever experienced before. It was like a 261 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: roller coaster. The plane was going every which way. There 262 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: was food and bags up on the ceiling. Then they'd 263 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: come down and go right back up again. For ten minutes. 264 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: It was the wildest ride of my life. People were hollering, 265 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: babies were crying. That plane was shaken so violently, you 266 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: were sure it was going to break apart. And me, 267 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: being the great man of faith that I am, I thought, 268 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: this is it. It's over. There's no way we're gonna 269 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: make it through. But sure enough, in about ten minutes, 270 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: it seemed like an eternity. We made it through the 271 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: turbulence and it was just as calm and smooth as 272 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: it was before. Now, hour or two later we landed 273 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: safely at our destination. That's the way it is in life. 274 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: We're going along just fine, got a good job, healthy children, 275 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: are blessed. Then we hit some turbulence, we get a 276 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: negative medical report, a relationship goes through a storm, we're 277 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: named in a lawsuit. Our mind tells us this is 278 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: the way it's always going to be. You're never going 279 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: to get well. That lawsuit's going to sink you. The 280 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: relationship's never going to work out. Now, can I tell 281 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: you you're just in a part of your ten minutes of turbulence, 282 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: This too shall pass. God is still on the throne. 283 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: He's brought you safe and sound this far. Just because 284 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: it's rocky and people around you are hollering and you 285 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: feel like panicking doesn't mean it's over. Sooner or later, 286 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: you're gonna come through that turbulence and it's gonna be 287 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: just as smooth and calm as it was before. Now 288 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: I've learned in life, basically every person is going to 289 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: have ten minutes of turbulence, not all at once, but 290 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: a minute or two here, minute or two there. In 291 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: those tough times when you feel like the plane is 292 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: gonna break apart, you feel like panicking, living upset and worried, 293 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: you gotta come back to that place of trust and say, no, 294 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: I know the creator of the universe is piloting my plane. 295 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: The most High God is directed my steps. And he said, 296 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: no weapon formed against me is gonna prosper. He said, 297 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: to not be surprised by these fiery trials. So I'm 298 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: not gonna panic, get upset, drop out of church, live 299 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: life bitter. Now I'm gonna come back to that place 300 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 1: of peace and I'm gonna enjoy my life right in 301 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: the midst of these difficulties. I've heard it said trouble 302 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 1: is inevitable, but misery is optional. We're all gonna face trouble. 303 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: Unfair situations are going to come, but it's totally up 304 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: to us as to whether we're gonna fall apart and 305 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: panic and get upset and drop out of church and 306 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,719 Speaker 1: live life. Sour heard about this man that was out walking. 307 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 1: He got bit by a dog and he was so upset. 308 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: He went to the doctor and they discovered the dog 309 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,199 Speaker 1: had rabies and he was gonna have to get some shots. 310 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: And now he was really upset and been out of 311 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: shape and angry. The doctor came back in to give 312 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: him the shots, and he saw the man making out 313 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: a list. He thought the man was writing out his will. 314 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: The doctor kind of laughed and said, sir, it's not 315 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: that bad. You're not going to die. The man said, 316 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: this is not my will. This is a list of 317 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: all people I'm going to bite. I know people like that. 318 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 1: They encounter one of their ten minutes of turbulence and 319 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: they get mad at the world. They go around spreading 320 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: that poison everywhere they go. Don't let that be you, 321 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 1: don't let that be me. When something unexpected happens. Our 322 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: attitude should be I'm not impressed. This difficulty doesn't move me. 323 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna complain, get bitter, start panicking. No, I 324 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: know this too shall pass. It's just another step on 325 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: the way to my divine destiny. This is what Joseph 326 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: had to do. He constantly was dealing with unexpected difficulties. 327 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: He never expected his own brothers to throw him into 328 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: a pit and sell him into slavery. He could have said, God, 329 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: that's not fair. I thought you put a dream in 330 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 1: my heart. No, Joseph understood this principle. He knew he 331 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: didn't sow those seeds, and God would take care of 332 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: the weeds. He just kept being his best. He never 333 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: expected Potterphar's wife to lie about him have him thrown 334 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: into prison. He never expected his cellmate when he got out, 335 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: to forget all about Joseph, even though he had done 336 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,679 Speaker 1: him nothing but good. It was one bad break after another. 337 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,880 Speaker 1: Joseph could have easily gotten bitter and angry and made 338 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: that list of everybody he was going to bite. No, 339 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,959 Speaker 1: his attitude was this is all just a part of 340 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: my ten minutes of turbulence. These are weeds that the 341 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,359 Speaker 1: enemy has sown into my good soul. So I'm not 342 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: worried about it. I know these weeds cannot keep me 343 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: from my God given destiny. He just kept being his best, 344 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,199 Speaker 1: and you know the story. He ended up second in 345 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: command of the whole nation. He's the one that said, 346 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: what was meant for my harm, God used to my advantage. 347 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: And you may be in one of your ten minutes 348 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: of turbulence right now. It looks very difficult, but I'm 349 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 1: here to tell you this too. I'll pass. God did 350 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: not bring you this far to fail you. Now. It 351 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: may be rocky. The medical report may say impossible, the 352 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 1: financial situation may tell you you're going under. In the natural 353 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,719 Speaker 1: you don't see any way, But God is saying, I 354 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: still have a way. I'm Jehovah Jirah, the Lord, your provider. 355 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: I'm Jehovah Rathah, the Lord your healer. I am Elshady, 356 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 1: the God who is more than enough. If that crisis 357 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: could stop you, if those brothers throwing you into the 358 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: pit so to speak, like Joseph could ruin your life, 359 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: you can be assured God would have never allowed it 360 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 1: to happen. If that person that hurts you that disappointment 361 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 1: you went through could have kept you from your destiny. No, 362 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: the most High God would not have permitted that. What 363 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: am I saying, if you're alive and breathing, you can 364 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: still become everything that God has created you to be. 365 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: Don't allow a crisis that you've gone through, or you're 366 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: going through, or you ever go through, to steal your 367 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 1: joy and keep you from pressing forward. Just remember that 368 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 1: scripture Romans eight twenty eight. All things are going to 369 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: work together for your good. The key word is together. 370 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: A difficulty on its own may not make sense, but 371 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: when it comes together one day, it will make sense. 372 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: I mentioned earlier how few years after Victoria and now 373 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: were married, we were named in a lawsuit. The person 374 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: that bought our house was suing us over the plumbing. 375 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: And he didn't just sue us. He sued the builder 376 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,360 Speaker 1: and the architect, the real estate agent, the plumber, anybody 377 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 1: he could think of. And we knew we had done 378 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 1: nothing wrong. We didn't build a house. The plumbing had 379 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 1: worked fine for us. But for six months practically while 380 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: I was in that lawsuit, I was sick to my stomach. 381 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 1: I was so worried. I thought it was the worst 382 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 1: thing that could have ever happened to me. I let 383 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: it steal my joy and caused me to live all 384 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: stressed out. At one point, several weeks ahead, I was 385 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 1: going to have to give my deposition, my testimony. I 386 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: started preparing and studying and getting all my documents out 387 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: and thinking about what I was going to say. Went 388 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: in and gave my testimony at the lawyer's office. When 389 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: I got finished, I was so nauseated I couldn't drive home. 390 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 1: I had to have somebody come pick me up. Long 391 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: story short, several months later, the lawsuit was thrown out. 392 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 1: We were totally cleared and very grateful. But here's the 393 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: point I'm making. The lawsuit in itself didn't seem like 394 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 1: it was working for my good. It seemed like it 395 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,199 Speaker 1: was a waste of a lot of energy and just 396 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: unnecessary stress and heartache. I didn't see how anything would 397 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:50,120 Speaker 1: ever come out of that productive No. Remember, God will 398 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: not allow a difficulty unless he has a divine purpose. 399 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: Some fifteen years later, when we acquired this place, the 400 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: form of compact said a company filed a lawsuit to 401 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: try to keep us from moving in this time, when 402 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: I went to give my deposition, I wouldn't the least 403 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: bit nervous. I knew exactly what to expect. I had 404 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: been through that process before I gave my testimony, just 405 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: as calm, clear and effective as conven Leaving the lawyer's 406 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: office that day after giving my testimony, I realized that 407 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: first lawsuit, the one I couldn't stand, the one I 408 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: thought was the worst thing in the world, that was 409 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: God getting me prepared for the lawsuit with the compact center. 410 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: Had it not been for that man suing us over 411 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: the plumbing, I would have never had the confidence the 412 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,479 Speaker 1: experience when it came to a lawsuit that really mattered, 413 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:48,879 Speaker 1: a lawsuit between me and my destiny. Here's what I'm saying, 414 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: nothing in life is wasted, even your ten minutes of turbulence. 415 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: God's going to use it to your advantage. The enemy 416 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 1: may have sown some seeds weeds in your life today, 417 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,719 Speaker 1: and you're thinking this doesn't make sense. Where did this 418 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: trouble come from? No, it may not make sense by itself, 419 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: but I believe one day, when it all comes together, 420 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,360 Speaker 1: you will say, like me, if it had not been 421 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: for the man suing me over the plumbing, I might 422 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: not have made it to the compact center. Like Joseph, 423 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: if it had not been for my brothers thrown me 424 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: into the pit, I may not have ever made it 425 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: to the palace. In other words, if it had not 426 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: been for that turbulence, I may not have fulfilled my 427 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: divine destiny. We've all heard the saying bad things happen 428 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: to good people. That is true, but it's also true 429 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: that good people overcome bad things and come out better 430 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: off than they were before. Friends, I'm here to tell 431 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,880 Speaker 1: you God is going to turn your test into a testimony. 432 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: That difficulty that you think is so bad it's not 433 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: working against you. It is working for you. The creator 434 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,360 Speaker 1: of the universe is going to use it to your advantage. 435 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: Weeds may have popped up in your field today, don't 436 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: be discouraged by it. Be encouraged. That trouble is a 437 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: sure sign that God has something amazing in your future. 438 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 1: And yes, the enemy has unexpected trouble, but remember our 439 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 1: God has unexpected favor, unexpected breakthroughs, unexpected promotion. So let 440 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: me challenge you. Don't be surprised by the fiery trials. 441 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:31,640 Speaker 1: The forces of darkness would not be fighting you if 442 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: they didn't know God had something amazing in your future. 443 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: So the next time you face an unexpected challenge, had 444 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: the idea, no big deal. This is just a part 445 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: of my ten minutes of turbulence. God has brought me 446 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: through before, and I know God will bring me through again. 447 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 1: If you'll have that kind of attitude. Here's the promise, 448 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 1: no weapon formed against you will ever prosper. Here's what 449 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 1: that means. You'll overcome every obstacle. You'll defeat every enemy. Now, 450 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: I believe and declare you will become everything God's created 451 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: you to be, and you will have everything God intended 452 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: for you to have. Amen. Do you receive it today? Well, 453 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: we never like to close our broadcast without giving you 454 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 455 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 456 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 457 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 458 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 459 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 460 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 461 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 462 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have I can do. 463 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: This is the first Bible that my parents gave me 464 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: I was six years old. They taught me the importance 465 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,159 Speaker 1: of believing what God says about you and letting that 466 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: determine your self image. How through the Scripture you can 467 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: learn to handle challenges and pursue your dream Some people 468 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: tell me that the Bible's not practical for them. How 469 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 1: they don't understand it. We've created a new resource called 470 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 1: how to Read Your Bible and Enjoy It. It provides 471 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,479 Speaker 1: twelve distinct lenses that will help you see the Bible 472 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: with fresh eyes, so you can discover the hidden treasures 473 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 1: that increase your faith, practical truths that will help you 474 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: in your everyday life. When you tap into the power 475 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: of God's word, there's no limit to where He'll take you. 476 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 477 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 2: of any size to the ministry this month, Joel would 478 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 2: like to send you this inspiring new resource. Sometimes reading 479 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 2: the Bible can feel confusing, out of touch, or even 480 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 2: produce more fear than faith. But now with this new resource, 481 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: how to Read your Bible and Enjoy It, it will 482 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 2: make the Word of God come alive in new ways. 483 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 2: You'll discover fresh inspiration on every page of your Bible. 484 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: The twelve lenses give you the power to see the 485 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,719 Speaker 2: Scripture in a whole new life. When you experience the 486 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 2: right way to approach God's Word, it will ignite renewed 487 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 2: passion in your life. 488 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: When you get God's Word down in you, it brings 489 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 1: life and victory. This has a great Bible reading plan 490 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: plus introductions to each book. It'll help you enjoy reading 491 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: the Bible. Thanks so much for being a part of 492 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: the ministry. Victoria and I pray for you and your 493 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: family every day and we appreciate your prayers and support. 494 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 495 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube, or we have 496 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: a new Joel Ostin Television network twenty four hours a day, 497 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 1: and of course syrixxm as well. Until we see you 498 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: next time, May the Lord bless you and keep you. 499 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,680 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of How to Read 500 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 2: Your Bible and Enjoy It today. Visit Joelostin dot com 501 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 2: or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel call 502 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 2: or click anytime twenty four hours a day.