1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 4 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 2: blessing and share it with a friend. 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 6 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: your line. No, bless you. It's great to be with 7 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with us 8 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: during the week through our daily podcast or YouTube channel 9 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: and social media, and you can come visit us in person. 10 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you be a part of one 11 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: of our services. I'd like to start with something funny 12 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: and I heard about this church and one Sunday morning, 13 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: everything was going great until a bolt of lightning hit 14 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: the sainctuary. When the smoke cleared, Satan himself was standing 15 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 1: behind the podium. People panicked and took off running as 16 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: fast as they could. Everyone that is, except one lady. 17 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: She sat on the front row as calm as can be, 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: and Satan was appalled. He said, lady, do you know 19 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: who I am? She said, I sure do. He said, well, 20 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: aren't you a f's fraid of me? She said not 21 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 1: in the least bit. He said why not? She said, 22 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 1: why should I be. I've been married to your brother 23 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: for thirty years. This is my Bible. I am what 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 25 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 26 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 27 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 28 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 29 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about the gracious 30 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 1: hand of God. We all face obstacles that look too 31 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: big to overcome and dreams that seem impossible to accomplish. 32 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's situations that are just complicated in a relationship 33 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: or health, a business. We tried our best, but we 34 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: don't see how it could ever work out. But when 35 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: you gave your life to Christ, God puts something on 36 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: you that gives you an advantage that'll cause you to 37 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: stand out, to accomplish dreams that seem over your head, 38 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: to overcome problems that look permanent. The scripture calls it 39 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: the gracious hand of God. It's his favor that will 40 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 1: open doors you couldn't open. It's a divine empowerment where 41 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: you have the strength the courage to overcome what should 42 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: stop you. It's supernatural provisions where you have the resources, 43 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: the funding, the right people, where you defy the odds, 44 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: you go where you've never dreamed, and you can look 45 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: back now and see the gracious hand of God. How 46 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: did you get promoted when you weren't the next in line, 47 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: You weren't the most qualified, but for some reason they 48 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: chose you. That was his gracious hand causing you to 49 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: stand out. The medical report said you wouldn't get wealth. 50 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: Experts said just learn to live with it. But somehow 51 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: it turned around and today you're healthy in home. That 52 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: wasn't luck, wasn't a coincidence. It was the gracious hand 53 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: of God. Or maybe there was dysfunction in your family 54 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,839 Speaker 1: growing up, addiction, compromise, people taking the easy way out. 55 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: That should have been you, But you're the exception. You 56 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: broke that generational limitation and now you're blessed, successful, living 57 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: a victorious life. You couldn't do that on your own. 58 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: It was the gracious hand of God empowering you, favoring you, 59 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: making ways where you didn't see a way. When you 60 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: understand that you have God's gracious hand, you won't live 61 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: intimidated thinking you're at a disadvantage, and man, this obstacle's 62 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: too big. I'll never get well. We'll always struggle and 63 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: not have enough. No, you'll put your shoulders back, You'll 64 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: pray bold prayers. You'll expect things to change in your favor. 65 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: Your attitude will be This may be too much for me, 66 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: but I know a s I have an advantage. There's 67 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: something on me that causes me to stand out, to overcome, 68 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: to defy the odds. The gracious hand of God is 69 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: on my life, David said in ps On forty one. 70 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: By this, I know you have favored me. My enemies 71 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: could not triumph over me. The favor of God will 72 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: keep your enemies from defeating you. That sickness should take 73 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: you out, should stop your destiny. But God steps in 74 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: and says, no, you don't have the final say I 75 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 1: do his favor, won't let it triumph over you. The 76 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: trouble at work should set you back. Those people that 77 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: are playing politics, pushing you down, trying to make you 78 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: look bad, seems like they have the advantage. Don't worry. 79 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: There is something on you they can't seize. There is 80 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: a favor that keeps you from being defeated. They may 81 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: push you down, But they can't keep you down. The 82 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: favor on your life will cause you to bounce right 83 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 1: back up. See when you honor God, you keep him first. 84 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,119 Speaker 1: You have his gracious hand on you that makes you unstoppable. 85 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: Think about Joseph. His brothers were jealous and threw him 86 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: into a pit. That should have been the end. A 87 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: teenager in a pit, left there to die, no way 88 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: to get out. But then out of nowhere, a caravan 89 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 1: of Ishmaelites showed up, traveling through the desert. They got 90 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: there at just the right time, when the brothers were 91 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: about to leave. Instead, they sold Joseph as a slave, 92 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: and his life was spared. That caravan came from a 93 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: city hundreds of miles away. They had been traveling weeks 94 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: and weeks before Joseph was in the pit. They were 95 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: already on the way. God knows everything that's going to 96 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: happen to you. He's already arranged solutions to problems that 97 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: you haven't even had. It may look like that opposition 98 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: is going to get the best of you, but what 99 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: you can't see is a caravan is already on the way. 100 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: With your freedom, your breakthrough, your abundance, You're healing Why 101 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: is that the gracious hand of God is on your life? 102 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: You belong to the most high. You are his prize possession, 103 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: he said in Psalms. He has surrounded you with favor 104 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: like a shield. This favor is not just for good breaks, 105 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: not just to accomplish dreams, but it's to keep your 106 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: enemies from defeating you. Joseph was sold as a slave, 107 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: and he's taken to Egypt and worked for a high 108 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: ranking military official. He was so excellent the official put 109 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: him in charge of his whole householders. He ran all 110 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: the affairs, the staff, and the upkeep. But the official's 111 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: wife tried to seduce Joseph. She liked him, but he 112 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: wouldn't give in. He was a man of honor and integrity. 113 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: Even though he had been mistreated and betrayed. He's still 114 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: honored God. With this wife lied about Joseph said he 115 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 1: was trying to harm her, and of course her husband 116 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: was furious and had him put in prison. Nothing set back. 117 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: Now he's not only a slave in a foreign country, 118 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: but he's incarcerated. All the odds are against him. Having 119 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: God's favor doesn't mean we won't have difficulties, but it 120 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: does mean those enemies will not triumph over you. They 121 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: will have the last laugh. Breakthrough is coming. In prison, 122 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: Joseph was so excellent that the warden put him in 123 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: charge of the whole prison. You've heard that phrase, you 124 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: can't keep a good man down. The truth is you 125 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: can't keep a favored man down. When God's gracious hand 126 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: is on you, you keep rising to the top. Define 127 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: the odds. You keep succeeding despite what comes against you. 128 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: One day, Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh's dream the leader of 129 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: the country. The pharaoh was so impressed he made Joseph 130 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: the prime minister of Egypt. You too, may have had 131 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: some bad breaks and obstacles that look like you could 132 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: never overcome. If Joseph were here, he would tell you 133 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: don't ever rule out the favor of God. His gracious 134 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: hand on your life will cause you to rise out 135 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: of a pit to excel despite who did you wrong, 136 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: to shine in the midst of opposition. God is fighting 137 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: your battles. His favor doesn't keep us out of difficulty, 138 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: does it stop all the trouble, But it will keep 139 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: the trouble from stopping you. When you're in a pit, 140 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: you don't feel like there's any way out. Look up 141 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: for your redemption, draws knife. There is a God not 142 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: only watching over you, but his gracious hand is on 143 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 1: your life. His favor is surrounding you. What he has 144 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: purpose will come to pass. No person can stop us. 145 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: No sickness, no trouble, no addiction. The enemies you see 146 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: today you will see no more. And when you're in 147 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: a pit facing trouble, it's good to look back and 148 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: remember what God has done. Find some victories so you 149 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: can say, like David, by this, I know we have favor. 150 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: We're in the former compact center. The opposition was bigger, stronger, 151 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: they had more resources, but they couldn't keep us out. 152 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: By this, I know my family has favor. My mother 153 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 1: is still alive forty four years after being diagnosed with 154 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: terminal cancer. The cancer couldn't triumph over her. By this, 155 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: I know I have favor. The critics couldn't stop me. 156 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: The naysayers, the noise, the chatter. They tried their best, 157 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: but their best was not enough. The more they pushed down, 158 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: the more God pushed up. He's taken me further than 159 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: I've ever imagined. You don't have to fight all these battles. 160 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: You can stay in peace knowing that there's a force 161 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: for you that cannot be defeated, the gracious hand of 162 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: God protecting you, empowering you, favoring you, providing for you 163 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: when you attempting to get discouraged, and we all do, 164 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: Oh no, Joel, this enemy is too big, this opposition 165 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,719 Speaker 1: too strong. I don't see any way out of this problem. 166 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: You're looking at it from a natural point of view. 167 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: God is supernatural. The favor he put on you goes 168 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: beyond your talent, your strength, your resources. It's not limited 169 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: to what you can do. It's his power. He created 170 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 1: the universe, He spoke worlds into existence. He parts red seas, 171 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 1: He multiplied two fish to feed five thousand. He calls 172 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: Sarah to have a baby at ninety years old. He 173 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: opened prison doors for Paul in silence. He used a 174 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: slingshot to bring down a giant. He is all powerful 175 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,599 Speaker 1: thing can stand against our God, and he is breathing 176 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: on your life. Right now, You're about to see his 177 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: gracious hand do something you've never seen like Joseph bring 178 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: you out of trouble into victory, out of sickness into health, 179 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: out of being lonely, to a great relationship out of 180 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:25,199 Speaker 1: struggling into abundance. Now you have to get in agreement 181 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: with God no more. I never get any good breaks. 182 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: I've had this addiction so long, and I don't have 183 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: the talent to accomplish my dream. Try a different approach. Father, 184 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: Thank you that your gracious hand is upon my life, 185 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 1: that your favor is keeping enemies from defeating me, opening 186 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: right doors, bringing the right people, causing me to go 187 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: further than I ever imagined. This is what Nehemiah did. 188 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: The Israelites had been in exile in Babylon for many years, 189 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: and some of them had returned home to Jerusalem. The 190 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: city was in ruins and the walls were broken down, 191 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: and there was no protection in it. Without the walls, 192 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: they were easy prayed to abandits well. Neamiah lived a 193 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: thousand miles away. He worked as a cupbearer for the 194 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: King of Persian. When he heard about how his people 195 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 1: in Jerusalem were in such need and the walls down, 196 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: they were so vulnerable. Verse four says he sat down 197 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: and wept. He was so burdened by it. For four 198 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: months he prayed and fasted, asking God to help. He 199 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 1: never dreamed that God would put the desire in him 200 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: to go back and rebuild those walls. He wasn't a builder. 201 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 1: He didn't have the funds, the materials, the crew. I'm 202 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: sure he thought, God, this is impossible. Yes, I'm concerned, 203 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: but I'm not the answer. You have to find someone 204 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: more qualified, more experienced. But God will ask you to 205 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: do things that seem over your head. Where like Neamiah, 206 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: you can find a thou reasons why you can't do it. 207 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 1: You won't have the talent, You're too young, too old, 208 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 1: too timid, wrong nationality. Here's the key. God wouldn't have 209 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: asked you if you didn't have everything you need. He'll 210 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: never ask you to do something and not give you 211 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: the ability to do it. It may be over your head, 212 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: but it's not over his head. You have to realize 213 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: His gracious hand is on you. It's a hand of favor. 214 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: Things will happen that you couldn't make happen. Don't talk 215 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: yourself out of it, or you'll miss the greatness God 216 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: put in you. Neemiah went to the king and asked 217 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: for permission to take a leave of absence to go 218 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: back home and rebuild the walls. Imagine the faith that 219 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: took he didn't have a high ranking position. He wasn't 220 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: in management. He's working in the kitchen, serving cleaning, running errands. 221 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: You would think he would be timid and shy. But 222 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: when you know the favor of God is your life, 223 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: you'll have a bondness, a courage to step out and 224 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: do what God has put in your heart. He asked 225 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 1: the king, and much to his surprise, the King said, yes, Niomiah, 226 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: you can go. He gave him permission. Neamiyah was grateful, 227 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: but he didn't stop there. He said, thank you so much. 228 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: But King, I don't have any materials. I don't have 229 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: any funds. Will you give me letters requiring the owners 230 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: of the lumber mills and the stone quarries to give 231 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 1: me the supplies. I need another bold request. Once again, 232 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: the king said yes. Now he has the time off, 233 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: he has the materials. But he said one more thing, King, 234 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: I need protection when I travel back home. It'll be dangerous. 235 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: I need letters to all the governors of the cities 236 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: I go through, telling them who I am and how 237 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: they need to watch after me. All these requests seemed 238 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: like he was pushing his luck. The king could have said, man, 239 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: Niomiah gave you time off, get out of here. But 240 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: Proverbs says God will turn the heart of a king. 241 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: God will cause the people you need to be good 242 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: to you. The king agreed to do it. That didn't 243 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: make sense. Why was he so good to Neomiah? Why 244 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: did he treat him with such kindness and generosities? Neimiah 245 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: said in verse eight, the king granted me these requests 246 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: because the gracious hand of God was on me. Neemiah 247 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: understood this secret, that there was a favor on him 248 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: that would cause him to accomplish what he couldn't accomplish 249 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: on his own. Doors would open that he couldn't open, 250 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: that would cause people to go out of their way 251 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: to be good to him. If he hadn't been aware 252 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: of the gracious hand of God, he would have never 253 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: had the boldness to ask the king and the courage 254 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: to leave that comfortable environment to take this step of faith. 255 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: My question for you is, do you realize what you have? 256 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: That you're not just ordinary doing life on your own, 257 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: limited by your environment, your education, your connections. No, the 258 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: gracious hand of God is on you, a favor that 259 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: empowers and inabls and opens doors and keeps enemies from 260 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: defeating you. When Neemiah arrived in Jerusalem and saw all 261 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: the ruins, it was much worse than he thought, and 262 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: logically speaking, he didn't know how he was going to 263 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: do it. And he found some men and told them 264 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: of his dream to rebuild the walls and ask if 265 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: they would help. I'm sure some of them said, Neemiah, 266 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: it's impossible. Look at this mess. We're not builders. We 267 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: don't have the equipment, the resources. Neamiah said in verse eighteen, 268 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: I told the people how the gracious hand of God 269 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 1: was on my life. They were trying to talk him 270 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: out of it. He said, in a fact, no, guys, 271 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: there's something on me. You can't I may look ordinary, yes, 272 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: I'm a cupbearer, but I have an advantage. The favor 273 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 1: of God is on my life. There is a force 274 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: for me greater than any force trying to stop me. 275 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: They said no at first, but then they all changed 276 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: their mind, said Nehemiah, we're in let's do this. The 277 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 1: favor of God will bring the people. You need to 278 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: get behind your vision to help you excel. You don't 279 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: have to beg people try to manipulate, convince them to 280 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: be for you. God will move on the right people. 281 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: They started rebuilding the wall and had all kinds of oppositions. 282 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: City leaders tried to stop them, and critics stirred up trouble, 283 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: and bandits came and tried to get them to fight. See, 284 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: just because you're having trouble doesn't mean you're not in 285 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: God's will. When you step out to do what He's 286 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: called you to do, and to take new ground and 287 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:03,360 Speaker 1: live with excellence and integrity, you're gonna have opposition, trouble, naysayers. 288 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: The enemy doesn't want you to move forward. The good 289 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: news is the favor on your life will keep those 290 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: enemies from defeating you. They may come, but if you'll 291 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: stay in faith, they will fail. No weapon formed against 292 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: you will prosper. When the enemy comes in like a flood. 293 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 1: The scripture says, the spirit of God will raise up 294 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: a barrier. The spirit of God is the favor of God. 295 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: Keep doing the right thing. Don't get distracted fighting battles 296 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,239 Speaker 1: that you're not supposed to fight. Neamiah had people at 297 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: the bottom of the mountain making fun of him, threatening 298 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: him all kinds of noise and negative chatter, But Niamiah 299 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 1: ignored it. He knew it was a distraction to try 300 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: to get him to lose focus, to come down from 301 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: building to fighting. Let God fight your battles. All the noise, 302 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: the chatter, people trying to make you look bad. They 303 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: cannot stop your destiny. So you have to let God 304 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: take care of it. Let him be your vindicator. If 305 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: you start fighting and trying to prove and defend and 306 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: pay them back, God's gonna step back. But if you'll 307 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: leave it alone, God will take care of what's trying 308 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: to stop you. God will vindicate you better than you 309 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: can vindicate yourselves. It looked like rebuilding the wall would 310 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: take years and years. I mean, it was a daunting task, 311 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: but Neamiah did it in just fifty two days. A 312 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: few months earlier, he is working as a cupbearer, just 313 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: minding his own business. Now he's known as one of 314 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: the heroes of faith. He helps save God's people. I 315 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: wonder how many of us are discounting ourselves. God put 316 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: the promise in our heart, but the dream looks too 317 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: big and the problem too great, and we're focused on 318 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,479 Speaker 1: what we don't have, what we can't do, When the 319 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 1: truth is, the g gracious hand of God is on 320 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: your life. Just like Neamiyah, there is a favor on you, 321 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: a divine empowerment, the blessing of the most time. But 322 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: this won't do you any good if you don't recognize it. 323 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: A key to Neamiyah fulfilling his purpose was he was 324 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: aware of the favor. He declared it to other people. 325 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 1: He wasn't bragging on himself, He was bragging on God. 326 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 1: His gracious hand is on me. See out of your heart, 327 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: your mouth speaks. You can tell what you believe by 328 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: what you're saying. I think this sickness is going to 329 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: be the end of me, or I'll never break this addiction. 330 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: Joel the expert said, we can't have a baby. Negative 331 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: talk will bring a negative future. You are prophesying what's coming. 332 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: If you talk to theeet black can't do it too big, 333 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: You're going to see that. Why don't you do like 334 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: Namiah when it looks impossible, When you don't see a way, 335 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: you could be complaining. No, No, The gracious hand of 336 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 1: God is on my life. His favor keeps my enemies 337 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: from defeating me. His favor's taking me where I can't 338 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: go on my own I've seen in my own life. 339 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: The more I brag on the favor of God. The 340 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: more favor I see, the more I talk about God's goodness, 341 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: his provision, how He's opened doors, brought the right people, 342 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 1: giving us the compact center, heal my mom. The more 343 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: I see God show out in my life all through 344 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,439 Speaker 1: the day. Keep this down in your spirit. Lord, I 345 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: thank you that your gracious hand is upon me. I 346 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: think you that your favor is causing me to stand out, 347 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 1: that You're breathing on my health, my children, my finances, 348 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:50,159 Speaker 1: on my dreams. Neemiah's colleague was a priest named Ezra. 349 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 1: God put in his heart to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. 350 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: Neemiah rebuilt the walls, but Ezra was going to rebuild 351 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: the city. Six times in the scripture, Ezra mentions the 352 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: gracious hand of God. It's not a coincidence that both 353 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 1: he and Nehemiah did great things. Look at their mindset. 354 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: They could have been complaining, God, we don't have the supplies, 355 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: or God, i'm a minister, I can't rebuild the city. 356 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: They have plenty of reasons not to. But they weren't 357 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 1: focused on what they didn't have, what looked impossible. They 358 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: were focused on the favor God put on them. They 359 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: understood they weren't doing life by themselves. They had divine 360 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: enablement that the hand of God was on their life. 361 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: His hand is a hand of healing, it's a hand 362 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 1: of provision, it's a hand of deliverance, a hand of 363 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: acceleration where God speeds things up. When you look at 364 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: your situation, you may think, like they did, how can 365 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 1: I accomplish my dream, Joel, I don't have the funds, 366 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: the experience. How can I build that wall? I'll tell 367 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: you how the grace hand of God. Well, how's my 368 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 1: son going to get back on course? He's with the 369 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: wrong crowd. The gracious hand of God. How am I 370 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: gonna get well? You should see the medical report. The 371 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 1: gracious hand of God. There is a favor on you 372 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: that will cause you to overcome what should defeat you, 373 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: cause you to accomplish what looks too big. Nineteen ninety seven, 374 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 1: Victoria and I acquired a construction permit for the last 375 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: full power television station here in Houston. We knew God 376 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: opened the door, and we were so excited and couldn't 377 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:36,679 Speaker 1: wait to put the station on the air. And we 378 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: bought the transmitter and the antenna, a lot of the equipment, 379 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 1: but we couldn't find a place for the studio. What 380 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: made it difficult is it had to be close to 381 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: a cell tower so we could microwave the signal to 382 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: the main tower up north. We looked from monts and 383 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: gone to different places, and a couple of times we 384 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: found locations that we liked, but when we did the 385 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: research there was a tower close enough. We were tempted 386 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 1: to get discouraged. But my father always taught us about 387 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: the favor of God before we left for school. Every 388 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 1: morning as a child, my mother would pray, Lord, thank 389 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,880 Speaker 1: you that my children have your favor. It's always been 390 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: down in me well. Our real estate agent took us 391 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 1: to another office complex, and we like this one more 392 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 1: than any of the others. It seemed perfect. We went 393 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 1: up on the roof to look around, but there wasn't 394 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: a tower in sight. Another dead end. As we're about 395 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 1: to leave, I heard some bulldozers on the other side 396 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: of this wood fence where we had parked, and I 397 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: was curious about what they were building. I grabbed the 398 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: top of the fence and pulled myself off. They were 399 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 1: putting forms in for a foundation about fort by forty feet. 400 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,159 Speaker 1: I thought maybe a garage, or some kind of storage building. 401 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: The men saw me and stopped the tractor, and I 402 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: smiled and said, hey, what are you building? He said, 403 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 1: we're building a cell tower. It'll be up in two months. 404 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: Almost fell off that fence that was our favorite office building, 405 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: and the tower was going in right next door. That 406 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,439 Speaker 1: wasn't good luck. That was the gracious hand of God. 407 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: When you look back over your life, you can see 408 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: his hand of favor, his hand of blessing. Can I 409 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: encourage you? His gracious hand is still on you. There 410 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 1: is a favor that keeps your enemies from defeating you, 411 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: a power that will cause you to overcome, to withstand. 412 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: God is going before you right now, making cooking places strength, 413 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: lining up the right people the breaks you need. Don't 414 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: live intimidated thinking you had a disadvantaged man, this problem's 415 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: too big. Instead of living problem minded, live favor minded. 416 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: Do like Nehemiah and keep declaring the gracious hand of 417 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 1: God is on my life. Keep bragging on his goodness, 418 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: talking about his favor. Sure you may have big obstacles, 419 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: but we serve a big God. Your dream may look impossible. 420 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: One touch of his favor and doors will open that 421 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: you've never dreamed but open. He wouldn't have given you 422 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: that promise if he wasn't going to bring it to pass. 423 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: I believe and declare light Nehemiah. God is about to 424 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: show out in your life, cause people to be good 425 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: to you. Like Joseph, You're gonna rise up despite what 426 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: tried to push you down. Promotion, breakthroughs, healing, the fullness 427 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: of your destiny in Jesus's name, and if you receive it, 428 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,159 Speaker 1: can you say amen? I'd like to give you an 429 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would 430 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent 431 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 1: of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you 432 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:48,479 Speaker 1: my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 433 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again. We'd love to send 434 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. 435 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: You can text the number on the screen or go 436 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,199 Speaker 1: to the website. But I hope you'll get into a 437 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 1: good Bible based church and keep God first place. It's 438 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: easy to get stuck in life because of fear and 439 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 1: lack of confidence. We've been through disappointments, but I'm excited 440 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: about Victoria's new book, Grace to Go. It'll help you 441 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:17,959 Speaker 1: move past what's holding you back and step into new 442 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: levels of your destiny. 443 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 2: My heart for this book is that you will discover 444 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 2: the courage, the gifts, and the faith that God has 445 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:27,479 Speaker 2: put in you so that you can see your dreams 446 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 2: come to pass. It's not too late, the obstacles are 447 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 2: not too big. The grace of God equips you to 448 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 2: go beyond your comfort zone and overcome what looks impossible. 449 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 2: You are stronger than you think. You are not alone. 450 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 2: You are Grace to Go. 451 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 452 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,120 Speaker 3: of any amount, this month, we'll send you Victoria Ostein's 453 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 3: brand new book, Grace to Go. Step onto the bigger, 454 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 3: bolder life that belongs to you. This inspiring resource will 455 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 3: help you break through fear, insecurity, or regret and activate 456 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 3: the faith to move forward. Each chapter will stir your spirit, 457 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 3: renew your perspective, and empower you to live boldly. You 458 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 3: don't have to wait for perfect conditions. God's grace meets 459 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 3: you where you are and propels you into a future 460 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 3: full of purpose and peace. With an additional gift, we'll 461 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 3: send you the Grace to Go Bold Bundle featuring Grace 462 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 3: to Go by Victoria Ostein and Pray Bold by Diolo Stein. 463 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 3: These two powerful books will stir your faith, break hesitation, 464 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 3: and help you believe big again. 465 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 2: Grace is power. When you receive it by faith, it 466 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 2: enables you to take the next step so you can 467 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 2: become all you are created to be. 468 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: Victor and are so grateful to spend this time with you. 469 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 1: We pray for you and your family every day. Thank 470 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity 471 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: is helping people around the world. Special thank you to 472 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly thank you. 473 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 474 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 475 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube the new Joelosting 476 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: Network social media. Of course, listen on Serious XM twenty 477 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: four to seven. We'll help you stay encouraged and inspired. 478 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: If you're a pastor, we'd like to invite you to 479 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: our Pastor's gathering. We'd be honored to spend the day 480 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 1: with you here at Lakewood. We'll share some of the 481 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: things we've learned, insights and behind the scenes. Be a 482 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: time of inspiration and encouragement. We'd love to meet you. 483 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 3: These two powerful books will stir your faith, break hesitation, 484 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 3: and help you believe big again. Be sure to request 485 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 3: your copy of these powerful resources today for an additional donation. 486 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 3: This month, we are also offering the NLT Large Print 487 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 3: Thinline Reference Bible. This Bible also enables you to connect 488 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 3: through your smartphone or tablet to a vast, power packed 489 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 3: array study notes, devotionals, interactive maps, videos, worship music. You 490 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 3: can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight 491 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 3: five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelosin dot 492 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 3: com today. Call or click anytime, twenty four hours a day, 493 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 3: Start fresh, step forward. You are graced to go. Request 494 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 3: your copies today