1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 2: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 4 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 2: blessing and share it with a friend. 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 6 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: your life. 7 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 2: Your faith is amazing. Go out and tell people about 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: this saving power of Jesus Christ, Amen, and that he 9 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: can do what no one else can do. You are 10 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: his light in all the world. You see, we're all 11 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 2: on this journey of faith together, and if we're going 12 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 2: to experience the fullness of God's promises, we're going to 13 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 2: have to develop the ability to see beyond where we 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 2: are right now. See, it's so easy to get stuck 15 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 2: in a problem. It's so easy to see what didn't 16 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: work out, what didn't happen, the mistakes we've made, maybe 17 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: what someone else did to us, and then we think, 18 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: what's our next step? God, how are we going to 19 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: get out of this? It becomes difficult to see the 20 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 2: next step sometimes, But when we take our eyes off 21 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 2: of the circumstances, off of the problems that are trying 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 2: to weigh us down and hold us back, that's when 23 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 2: we can put our eyes on the promises of God, 24 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: not the problems. We can't set our eyes on the problems. 25 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 2: We have to set our eyes on the promises. That's 26 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 2: how we're going to rise above where we are. Right now, 27 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: we have to look beyond where we are and lift 28 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 2: our eyes. In the Book of Genesis, Abraham was called 29 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 2: by God to go on a journey of faith with him. 30 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 2: He spoke to Abraham and said, leave your father's house. 31 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 2: Abraham did. The Bible says he believed God, and it 32 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: was credited unto him as righteousness. He left his father's land. 33 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 2: He took his family and his nephew Lot, and they 34 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: went on this journey. But there was a point in 35 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: his journey where Lot, his nephew, and himself had acquired 36 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 2: so many possessions that they had to part ways. The 37 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: land could not sustain both of them. So Abraham looked 38 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 2: at Lot and said, you pick first. Which way do 39 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 2: you want to go? What direction do you want to go? Lot, 40 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 2: I'm giving you first choice. Well, Lot looked around and 41 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: he found a place that he thought would be perfect 42 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: for he and his family. The Bible calls it was east. 43 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: It was towards the Jordan. It was lush in foliage. 44 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 2: It was a city that was bustling. It was places 45 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 2: of opportunity. So Lot chose that part of the land. 46 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: When Abraham looked the other direction, what he saw was dirt. 47 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: He saw was. 48 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 2: Dust, no development, just land. And he thought to himself, Wow, 49 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 2: what in the world have I gotten myself into. But see, 50 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,119 Speaker 2: it was at that point that God spoke to Abraham 51 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: and he said, Abraham, lift up your eyes. Now, up 52 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:05,679 Speaker 2: your eyes. Now look out as far as you can see, 53 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: from the north, the south, the east, and the west. 54 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: He said, what you can see, the land that you 55 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:15,399 Speaker 2: can see, I will give it to you. I will 56 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,799 Speaker 2: give it to you. You see, it was this point 57 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: that Abraham had to lift his eyes. I love that phrase, 58 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: lift your eyes, because this lifted eyes became the theme 59 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: of Abraham's life. You see, God knew that Abraham could 60 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: easily get his eyes on the wrong thing. He could 61 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: have easily said, why did not choose first? Why did 62 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 2: he get the best? Now I'm just stuck in the 63 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 2: dirt and the dust, and he's over there prospering. Why 64 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: did I make that mistake? But see, God wanted him 65 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 2: to lift his eyes so he could see beyond the 66 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: dust and the dirt and begin to see his destiny unfold, 67 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: begin to see what God wanted to do in his life. 68 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: Do you know the name Lot means veil, And when 69 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: he separated from Lot, it was as if God lifted 70 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 2: the veil from his eyes and he was able to 71 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 2: see God in new ways. You see. God wanted to 72 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: reveal himself to Abraham in unseen ways. 73 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: You see. 74 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: It may have looked like Lot got paradise, but Abraham 75 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 2: he got the promise. And you do too. You have 76 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 2: the promises of God. In fact, the veil has been 77 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: lifted from your eyes. It has been torn into by 78 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 2: the power of Christ. And God wants to show you 79 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 2: along this journey things you haven't seen before. He wants 80 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: to reveal himself in powerful ways. 81 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: You see. 82 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: When God spoke to Abraham and told him that he 83 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: was going to be a father of many nations, said Abraham, 84 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: I want to show you this land that I'm taking you. 85 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 2: I want you to inhabit it, i want you to 86 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 2: possess it. I'm gonna make your seed great, and I'm 87 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: gonna bless people all over the earth. His name was Abram. 88 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 2: God hadn't changed his name, yet to the Father of 89 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: many nations, he was just Abram, a man that was 90 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: believing God going on this journey of faith. In fact, 91 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 2: he didn't look anything like what God was saying about him. 92 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 2: But God's promises are spoken in the unseen realm. God's 93 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: promises are spoken but not seen yet. That's why the 94 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: veil was lifted so that Abraham could see into the 95 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: supernatural realm, so Abraham could get a glimpse of what 96 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 2: God wanted to do. He wanted to take the veil 97 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 2: off of Abraham's eyes so that he could see what 98 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 2: God was doing. You see, God's promises are progressive. They 99 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: unfold in his head timing. They may not be seen yet, 100 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: but it's only a matter of time until God gets 101 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: you to where you need to be, until you start 102 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 2: looking like God says you're gonna look, until you start 103 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: having what God says you're gonna have. It's progressive and 104 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: it's in God's timing. I have these beautiful lemon trees 105 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 2: in my backyard. I have two of them, and they're 106 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: full of fruit right now. And a friend of mine, 107 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 2: we were in my backyard and we happened to be 108 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: walking by the lemon trees, and she stopped and she 109 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: paused for a minute because they're beautiful, full of fruit. 110 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: And she said, those are the most amazing lime trees 111 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 2: I have ever seen. And I started to laugh and 112 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 2: I said, those aren't lime trees, those are lemon trees. 113 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 2: She said, those are lime trees. They look like limes 114 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: to me, and I said, oh, okay, I said, the 115 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 2: fruit on those trees are still in process. They're not 116 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 2: fit is shit. They don't look right now the way 117 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 2: they're going to look. They're green now, Yeah, they look 118 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: like limes, but they're gonna turn yellow in just a 119 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: matter of time. You see, Hebrews eleven says we inherit 120 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: the promises of God through faith and patience. You, just 121 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: like those lemons, are in process. You are becoming everything 122 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 2: God wants you to be. You may not look like 123 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: you want to look, you may not be where you 124 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 2: want to be, but don't devalue your journey. Don't start 125 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: thinking that the journey isn't worth it. The process is 126 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 2: what builds your strength. The process is what develops you. 127 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: The process is what makes you become what God's called 128 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: you to be. You see, Abraham didn't despise the process. 129 00:07:55,680 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 2: He proved God to be faithful and true. Abraham from 130 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: tests to test to test of his faith, he went 131 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: through challenges. He didn't even have his promised child till 132 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 2: he was one hundred years old. But he saw the 133 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: character of God. You see, someone else may look like 134 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 2: they have paradise, but don't forget you have the promise. 135 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 2: You're in the process, and you are becoming everything God 136 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: wants you to be. If you find yourself consumed with 137 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: a problem today, you're going through a transition in your life. 138 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 2: You're wondering, how is this going to work out? It's time. 139 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: It's time. It's time to lift your eyes from the 140 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: problem and set your eyes on the promises. You got 141 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 2: to realize beyond this place is greater heights, greater victories, 142 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,199 Speaker 2: greater strength, greater anointing. It is time to shift your 143 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: perspective to God's promises. Listen, I believe if you won't 144 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 2: get stuck, if you won't settle where you are, if 145 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 2: you'll continue the process, you will become just like Abraham, 146 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 2: and you will see God's faithfulness. You will see his provision, 147 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 2: you will see his promises, and you will become everything 148 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: that God intended you to be amen. He's a faithful God. 149 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 2: He's a faithful God. 150 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: When was the last time you asked God to do 151 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: something that seemed impossible? If you only pray small, ordinary prayers, 152 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: you live a small, ordinary lie. I have a new 153 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: book called Pray Bold. I'll challenge you to stretch your 154 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: faith and believe for the big things God puts in 155 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 1: your heart. Victoria and I used to have season tickets 156 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: to watch the Rockets play basketball here. We never dreamed 157 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: it could be ours when they moved out. Somehow we 158 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: had the faith to pray a bold prayer. God made 159 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: things happen that we could never make happen. It's the 160 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: same for you, who knows what God will do in 161 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 1: your life. If you'll dare to pray bold, ask him 162 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: for your dreams, ask for your healing, for you your freedom, 163 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: That's when God will show up and do more than 164 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: you could ever imagine. 165 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 166 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 3: of any amount this month, we would like to send 167 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 3: you a copy of Joel's brand new book, Pray Bold. 168 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 3: Dare to ask and believe big. Joel shares that when 169 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 3: we pray, we can tap into God's creative awesome power, 170 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 3: something bigger than we have ever imagined. God doesn't want 171 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 3: us to just pray in our comfort zones. No, God 172 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 3: loves when we pray big, believe big, expect him to 173 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 3: do the unexpected. There are inspiring stories from the Bible, 174 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 3: from history, and personal testimonies of people who dared to 175 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 3: believe God in extraordinary ways. You'll learn how to practically 176 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 3: expand your prayers and watch your life move from the 177 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: common to the extraordinary, from less than to overflowing. Be 178 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 3: sure to request your copy of Pray Bold Today, visit 179 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 3: Joe's Com or call us toll Free. 180 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: God has put dreams in your heart, things He's whispered 181 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: in the night that seem impossible. But as you pray 182 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: these bold prayers, you're gonna see the goodness of God 183 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: in ways you've never seen victor in our belief, and 184 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: you're gonna have a great twenty twenty five. We pray 185 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: for you and your family every day for God's very best. 186 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: We want to thank you for your prayer and your support. 187 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: You're impacting people all over the world. 188 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of pre Bold Today, 189 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 3: Visit Joe Loustein dot com or call us toll free. 190 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 3: Finally elevates your personal time with God by requesting the 191 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 3: My Time with God Collection. This beautiful collection contains the 192 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 3: Prebold new release, plus the new Living Translation, one year 193 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 3: Chronological Study Bible, and a beautiful glass mug and throw 194 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 3: blanket based around the inspiring scripture from Psalm forty six 195 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 3: to ten be Still and Know that I Am God. 196 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 3: You can learn more about this unique new gift collection 197 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 3: by calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel. We're 198 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 3: logging onto Joeloustein dot com today. 199 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 200 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on Sirius XM, watch on YouTube, 201 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: and now the new Joel Ostin Network streaming on television 202 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: twenty four hours a day. If you've never been to Lakewood, 203 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 1: we have a great opportunity. We called it Homecoming Weekend. 204 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: We love to meet you and your family. You can 205 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: see the building and attend one of the services. It's 206 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: a great time to be a part of the Lakewood family. 207 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: Looking forward to seeing your Homecoming Weekend.