1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victorium. Thanks so much for 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: listening to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: We believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: God bless you. Great to have you with us today, 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: and I hope you'll stay connected with us throughout the week. 7 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,159 Speaker 1: We have a daily podcast that you can download. You 8 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: can go to our YouTube channel and watch the messages anytime, 9 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: or of course, you can follow us on social media. 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: I'll promise you we'll keep you encouraged and inspired. Thanks 11 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: for tuning in. Thank you again for coming out today. 12 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: I like to start with something funny, and I heard 13 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: about this man. He was on vacation in Jerusalem with 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 1: his family when his mother in law suddenly died. He 15 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: went to make arrangements to get the body back home. 16 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: The consulate said it would cost five thousand dollars to 17 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: have the body shipped, but he could have her buried 18 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: right there in Jerusalem for just one hundred and fifty dollars. 19 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: The man thought about it a moment to now I'd 20 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: like to have her ship. The consulate said, Wow, you 21 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: must have really loved your mother in law. He said, no, 22 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: it's not so much that. I just remember a case 23 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: here years ago when they buried someone and on the 24 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: third day they arose, and I can't take that chance. 25 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: All right, y'all, I got a great mother in law. 26 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: Here we go. This is my Bible. I am what 27 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 28 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 29 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 30 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 31 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 32 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about the God 33 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: who stoops. We think if we can live good enough, 34 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: then God will bless us. If we can clean ourselves up, 35 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: get rid of this bad habit not fail anymore, then 36 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: God will show us favor. The problem is we can't 37 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: live that way. We all make mistakes, we all have 38 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: times we get into temptation. Let our emotions take over. 39 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: The condemning voice has come saying you blew it. It 40 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: was your own fault. God's never going to help you. 41 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: That's not the way our God is. When you can't 42 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: come up to his level. He says, don't worry, I'll 43 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: come down to yours. He's not so high that he 44 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: won't come low. And it's good to see him as 45 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: all powerful, holy, the creator of the universe. But if 46 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: you only see him that way, you'll be intimidated, overwhelmed. 47 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: I'll never measure up. You have to see him as 48 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: the god who stoops. He comes down to the messy places. 49 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: He's a god that will get his hands dirty when 50 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: you're falling, when you're broken, when you knew better, but 51 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: you did it anyway. You think you're far from God. No, 52 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: get ready, He's coming after you. The scripture says, he 53 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: leaves the ninety nine sheep and goes after the one 54 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: sheep that's lost. He could have stayed with the ninety 55 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 1: nine that our own. He could have been satisfied. I 56 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: don't want the trouble. That sheep shouldn't have wandered off 57 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: in the first place. But he goes to messy places. 58 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,839 Speaker 1: He went to the hog pen to get the prodigal sun. 59 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 1: He'll go into a club. He'll go into dysfunction, into failure, 60 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: into compromise. You can't get too far down, too far 61 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: off course, too many mistakes that God will leave you alone. 62 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: He'll come down to where you are. The beauty is 63 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: he comes not to condemn you, not to point out 64 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: all your mistakes. He comes to lift you, to restore you, 65 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: to free you, to set you on a new path. 66 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: Some On one thirteen says he stoops down from the 67 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: heavens to look at the earth. He lifts the poor 68 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: from the dirt, and the needy from the garbage dump. 69 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: He sets them among princes. He'll stoop all the way 70 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: to a garbage dump, all the way to the dirt. 71 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: Notice what he does. He doesn't just bring you out, 72 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: but he on He sets you among princes. He doesn't 73 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: hold our mistakes against us. He takes what was meant 74 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: for harm and uses it to our advantage. And I 75 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: thank God that he's all powerful. I thank him that 76 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: he's holy. But I also thank him that he's the 77 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: God who stoops, the God who picks me up when 78 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: I fall, the God who shows me mercy when I 79 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: get off course. The God who comes to messy places 80 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: and rescues me, restores me, sets me in a place 81 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: of honor. Where would we be without the God who stoops. 82 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: My father was a teenager growing up during the Great Depression. 83 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: It's very poor. He knew nothing about God, no future 84 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: to speak of. He had to drop out of high 85 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 1: school to work on the farm to help try to 86 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: keep food on the table. His parents were good people, 87 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: but they didn't have any kind of faith, any kind 88 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: of spiritual awareness. Looked like my father would be the 89 00:04:55,600 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: same way, just struggle through life, mediocre, no purpose. But 90 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: at seventeen years old, he was walking home from a 91 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: nightclub at two o'clock in the morning. He looked up 92 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: at the stars and for some reason, he began to 93 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: think about God, what he was going to do with 94 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: his life. He felt this sense of destiny. On the 95 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: coffee table at home, there was a family Bible. He 96 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: was just there for decoration. They never read it. He 97 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: walked in that night he was drawn to it. He 98 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: went over it and opened it up. The pages fell 99 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: to a picture of Jesus standing at a door and knocking. 100 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 1: The caption read, if you'll open the door, I'll come in. 101 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: My father didn't understand religion, didn't understand theology, but he 102 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: did understand opening a door. The next day he went 103 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: to church for the first time with a friend. The 104 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: end of the service. The pastor invited people to the 105 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: altar that wanted to receive Christ. My father wouldn't go. 106 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: He was too afraid. His friend said, John, if you'll go, 107 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: I'll go with you. My father walked down the aisle, 108 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: gave his life to Christ. He went on to become 109 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 1: a minister and started Lakewood and did great things with 110 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: his life. Why did he feel that way coming home 111 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: from the nightclub? What was that? The God who stoops? 112 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: Sometimes we say we found God. The truth is God 113 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 1: wasn't lost. We didn't find him. He found us. He 114 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: chose you before you could choose him. Now. I love 115 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: the fact that you can never get so low that 116 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: God won't come down and pick you up. You're not 117 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: too far off course, you haven't failed too many times, 118 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: you haven't had too many bad breaks. God is coming 119 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 1: to you right now. He's breathing on your life in 120 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: a new way, with fresh vision, fresh passion. New doors 121 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: are going to open. The greatness God put in you 122 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: is about to come out. What He's destined for you 123 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: to accomplish will come to pass. Now. Don't write yourself off, 124 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: and don't anyone else off. Don't give up on your 125 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: child don't quit praying it for that loved one. The 126 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: Psalmist said, God, wherever I go, I can't get away 127 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: from your presence. If I go up to the heavens, 128 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: you are there. If I go down to the depths 129 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: of the ocean, You're still there. There is no depth 130 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: that God wants stoop to to free you, to restore 131 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: your family member, to bring your child back home. This 132 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: is what happened with Saul in the scripture. He was 133 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: the biggest enemy of the church. He was very educated 134 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: and influential leader, but he was against believers. He went 135 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: around having them arrested and put in prison. It looked 136 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: like he would be the last person that God would 137 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,119 Speaker 1: have anything to do with. He was creating habit, making 138 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: the disciples miserable. But God loves to redeem people that 139 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: we think are not redeemable. He loves to take people 140 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: that look too far gone, not a chance, and make 141 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: them into a chosen vessel, bring them into purpose and destiny. 142 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: On his way to arrest believers, Saul had letters in 143 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: hand from the council permission to put them in jail. Suddenly, 144 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: a bright light shine down from heaven knocked Saul off 145 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: his horse. A voice boomed out, Saul, why do you 146 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: persecute me? He said, who are you? Lord? The voice said, 147 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: I am Jesus. God was saying, you're against me now. 148 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: But that's not your purpose, that's not who I created 149 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 1: you to be. I love you too much to let 150 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 1: you miss your destiny. And even though I'm a God 151 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: that sits high, even though I'm all powerful, I'll stoop 152 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: low to get you into your calling. God will go 153 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: to great links to bring you into your destiny. You 154 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: may feel like you've missed it. You made too many mistakes, 155 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: you're too far off course. The good news is we 156 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: serve a God who stoops, the God that will reach 157 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: down to redeem, to restore, to set you among princess. 158 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: He's not going to just bring you out. He's going 159 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: to honor you, promote you, give you influence, cause you 160 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: to shine. That day was a turning point for Saul. 161 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: He became the apostle Paul and went on to write 162 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: over half of the New Testament. One verse he wrote 163 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: in Romans talks about the grace that God freely gives us. 164 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: If anyone understood grace, it would have been Paul, the 165 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: word he used for freely in the original language is promiscuous, 166 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: meaning that God's grace will go to anyone. If someone 167 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: is promiscuous, they're unrestrained. They're loose. That's the way God's 168 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: grace is. It's not looking for perfect people. You can 169 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: be struggling with an addiction and Grace will come looking 170 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: for you. You can be working in the wrong kind of 171 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: place and Grace will come knocking at your door. You 172 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: can be dishonest, manipulative, and Grace will show up at 173 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: your house. You can be discouraged, thinking you've messed up 174 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: too many times. You brought the trouble on yourself, like 175 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: the prodigal son, Grace will come into the hogpen. You 176 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: can't get so low that God won't stoop down. His 177 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: grace is unrestrained. It doesn't have limitations. It will go 178 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: after anyone. See, we look at people and make judgments 179 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: based on how we were raised and how we see things. 180 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: We think God wouldn't have anything to do with them. 181 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: They're not living right. They party too much. He's too dishonest, 182 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: her dress was too short, They used bad language. They 183 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,079 Speaker 1: come from a different religion. The longer I live, the 184 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: more I realize God will save who he wants to save. 185 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: He'll stoop down to people that don't have a good reputation, 186 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: just as zach kiss. He was dishonest, he cheated people. 187 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: Everyone knew he wasn't trustworthy. Yet Jesus called him out 188 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: of a huge group of people, said I want to 189 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: go to your house for dinner. The religious leaders, the priests, 190 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: the council members couldn't understand it. Why would Jesus go 191 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: to this guy's house. There were a lot of fine, 192 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: upstanding people in the crowd. Zachias was a notorious sinner. 193 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: It's because they knew God as being all powerful, holy, righteous, 194 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: but they didn't know him as the God who stoops. 195 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: If you only know him as this majestic creator of 196 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: the universe, then you can be judgmental write people off. 197 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: But when you realize even though he sits high, he 198 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: stoops low. He doesn't disqualify people because they're off course. 199 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: Now he knows they're a Saul. There is Zachias. He 200 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: comes down to redeem, to restore, to set among princes. 201 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: I was at one of our events several years ago, 202 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: and afterwards I was meeting people. This young man came 203 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: through the line and I could smell marijuana. It was 204 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: very strong. This was before it was legal anywhere. My 205 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: first thought was, man, this is a night of hope, 206 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: not a night of dope. After a couple of minutes, 207 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 1: I started feeling really good too. But it's easy to 208 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: judge people. Why do they do that? Why does she 209 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: go with him? Why isn't he more disciplined? But when 210 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: you know God as a god who stoops, a god 211 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: that comes down to lift people, that his grace is promiscuous, 212 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: he goes to anyone, then you can be a lifter. 213 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: You can be a healer, you can be a restorer. 214 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: Where would you be without the mercy of God? What 215 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: if God had not stooped down brought my father into 216 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 1: his purpose? Where would I be? How many times has 217 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: God stooped down to you shown you mercy when you 218 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: didn't deserve It got you out of a problem that 219 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: you got yourself into, lifted you out of the garbage, 220 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: so to speak. It would be one thing if God 221 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 1: did it, condemning, judging, berating. But God doesn't say a word, 222 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: He doesn't find fault. That's taught me not to judge 223 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: other people. If we walked in their shoes, if we 224 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: had their same experiences. We don't know what kind of 225 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: decisions we would make. Since God stooped down for you, 226 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: why don't you stoop down for someone else. You are 227 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: never more like God than when you're helping the hurting, 228 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: restoring the broken, lifting the falling. There's enough judgment in 229 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: our world today, there's enough criticism, fault finding. Let's be lifters, 230 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 1: let's be encouragers. Let's help someone else experience the God 231 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: who stoops. This young man told me how he had 232 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: never been to church and didn't have much guidance growing up. 233 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: He was passed from foster home to foster home, gotten 234 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: into trouble, struggling with substance abuse. A lot had come 235 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: against him, But he said, my girlfriend and I started 236 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: watching you on television. Here you speak, I feel something 237 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: on the inside that I've never felt. I told him 238 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: that your heavenly Father drawing you. That's God saying I 239 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: have a plan and purpose for your life. That's what 240 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 1: the psalmist meant. God stoops down from the heavens and 241 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: lifts those in the dirt, sets them among princes. You 242 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: too may have gone through disappointments, things that were unfair. 243 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: You couldn't do anything about it. You never thought you'd 244 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: be where you are. Be encouraged today. He's a God 245 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: who stoops. He comes to the messy places not with judgment, 246 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: not with condemnation, but with hope, with new beginnings, with 247 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: fresh vision. God won't let you get in a problem 248 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: that he can't get you out of. You're not too 249 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: far gone. Has it been too long, You haven't missed 250 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: your destiny. God is about to do a new thing. 251 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: Dreams are coming back to life, promises that you've let 252 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: go of, or on the way. What God started, he's 253 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: going to finish. John chapter eight. The religious leaders caught 254 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: a woman in the act of adultery. Jesus was teaching 255 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: in the synagogue, and they came dragging her in. All 256 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: this commotion disrupted the meeting. They threw her on the 257 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: ground in front of the whole crowd. She was humiliated, 258 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: close torn, people shouting insults, Shame on you, You're a disgrace. 259 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: Two things I find interesting. First off, where is the man? 260 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: If you're called in the act, that means there were two, 261 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: but they let the man off, not this lady. The 262 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: second thing is what were the religious leaders doing spying 263 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: on people, doing surveillance, hanging out at their house. They 264 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: should have been focused on their assignment, on helping others. 265 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: But some people are looking to catch you in a mistake, 266 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: hoping you'll fail. They're ready to exploit, expose any mishap 267 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: you have. Don't be like them. The mercy you show 268 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: others is the mercy God is going to sh show 269 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: you love. Covers for people. I don't mean cover wrongdoing, 270 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: but you should cover them with prayer, Help them to heal, 271 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: help them be restored, They said Jesus, The law says 272 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: to stoner, what do you say that we should do this? 273 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: Lady had no defense. She couldn't say they were wrong. 274 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: They don't have the right person. It wasn't me. I 275 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: didn't do it. She was guilty. She knew she was wrong. 276 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: Lying on the ground, afraid, embarrassed, shaking, she had no 277 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: one to stand up for her. But the scripture says 278 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: Jesus stooped to the ground and wrote in the dust 279 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: with his finger. He came down to her level. He 280 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: could have stood up taller, got on the platform to 281 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: a position of more authority, but he stooped. Everyone else 282 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: was standing just he and the woman were looking eye 283 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: to eye. I can imagine some of them thought he 284 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: was stooping down to pick up a rock and throw 285 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: it at the lady. Instead, he stooped down and threw 286 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: He said to the crowd, you who are without sin, 287 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,719 Speaker 1: go ahead, throw the first stone. Dead silence, nobody moved. 288 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 1: Finally a man walked out, then another, and another. From 289 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: the oldest to the youngest, they all left. The whole 290 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 1: time Jesus was stooping down writing in the dirt that 291 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: was signifying how God will get dirty to rescue you. 292 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: He's not a god that just stays behind stained glass windows, 293 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: or even a god that just stays into heavens. He's 294 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: a god that will stoop down to a hogpen to 295 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: rescue the prodigal son. He'll stoop down to the dirt 296 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: to restore a lady called into adultery. A god who 297 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: will stoop down and say that one last sheep wasn't 298 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: until all the men left, Jesus stood up. He said 299 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: to the lady, woman, where are your accusers? Hasn't anyone 300 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: accused you? She looked around and said no one. Lord, 301 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: He said, neither do I condemn you. Now go and 302 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: sin no more. Stooping is nothing new to our god. 303 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: That's what he did two thousand years ago. He stooped 304 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 1: down from heaven and came to earth. He stooped down 305 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: from being worshiped by angels to being born in a manger. 306 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 1: He stooped down to be mocked, betrayed, beaten, and even crucified. 307 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: He didn't have to. He could have said, Father, I'll 308 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: pass on this assignment. Let me stay up here on high. 309 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: But for your sake and mine, he said, I'll stoop. 310 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: I'll go low, so low that I'll be buried in 311 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: a grave. So low the enemy will think that I'm defeated, 312 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 1: so low forces of darkness will have a celebration. The 313 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: good news is he didn't stay stooped. He stooped for 314 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: a moment, but he got back up again. He defeated death, hell, 315 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: and the grave for you and for me. Now he's 316 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 1: not only the all powerful, resurrected Savior, but he's the 317 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:02,640 Speaker 1: God who stoops. He still comes to messy places. He'll 318 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,479 Speaker 1: still meet you where you are. He'll still rescue you 319 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: when it was your fault. He'll still defend you when 320 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: you knew better. Where would we be without the God 321 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: who stoops? When we didn't deserve it. When we couldn't 322 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 1: measure up, we made mistakes. We had no defense. He 323 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: had every right to stay on the throng, be the 324 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: god that he is. But in his mercy, he stooped down. 325 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: He came after the one lost sheep. Years ago, a 326 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: friend of mine received a phone call from his uncle. 327 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 1: He lived in another state. He told my friend there 328 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,479 Speaker 1: was a classmate he went to high school with he 329 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: hadn't seen in forty years, but he couldn't get him 330 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: off his mind. This classmate lived in the city where 331 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: my friend lives. It was so strong. His uncle felt 332 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: like he had to reach out to him, but he 333 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: had no number, no contact. His name was very common, 334 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: there would be thousands of people with the same name. 335 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: But he asked his nephew if he would try to 336 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: locate him. He kind of laughed and thought, there are 337 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: seven million people in this city, what are my chances 338 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 1: of finding him. The next day, my friend went to 339 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: his mailbox. There was an advertisement for a business. He 340 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: noticed the man's name was the same his uncle mentioned. 341 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 1: He thought, what do I have to lose? He called 342 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: the number, said, I know this is odd, but I 343 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: have an uncle by the name of so and so, 344 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 1: and I'm wondering if you went to high school with him. 345 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: The man couldn't believe it and said that he did. 346 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: My friend said, my uncle is very concerned about you. 347 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: I wanted to know if there's anything I can pray 348 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 1: with you about. The phone went silent. In a few seconds, 349 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: he began to hear the man solve. He said, I'm 350 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: out in the woods about to end my life. He 351 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: had all the tools to do it. Everything said up. 352 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: My friend began to encourage him and let him know 353 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: that God still had a plan and purpose for his life. 354 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: Men changed his mind, and today he and his family 355 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: are back in church. His business is being blessed more 356 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: than ever. He's fulfilling his purpose. That's God stooping down. 357 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: He'll come right where you are, into the lions den, 358 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 1: into the fiery furnace, into the accusing voices, into the club, 359 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: into the hospital, like the psalm is said, to lift 360 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 1: you out of the dirt, out of the messy places, 361 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: and to set you among princes. And it's good to 362 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: thank God for promotion and thank him for favor, But 363 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 1: how we should thank him for stooping down. Lord, Thank 364 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: you for getting your hands dirty. Thank you for coming 365 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: to the messy places of my life. Thank you for 366 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: restoring me when I was broken, redeeming me when I felled, 367 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: healing me when I was hurting. There was a young 368 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: prophet in the Old Testament named Hoseiah. He was very 369 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: well respected. People came from all around to get his advice. 370 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,199 Speaker 1: He was single. He knew God would bring him a wife, 371 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: but it wasn't what he thought. God told him to 372 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,200 Speaker 1: marry a young lady named Gomer. She was a former prostitute, 373 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: didn't have a good reputation. You can imagine what Joseah thought, God, 374 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: do you know who she is? I'm a respected prophet. 375 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: What are people going to think? He could have talked 376 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 1: himself out of it, but he knew to obey. Things 377 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 1: started off well, they were in love, they had a baby, 378 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: Then things went downhill. Hoseiah would go out ministering. Gomer 379 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: slipped back into her old ways. He was heartbroken. He 380 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: knew she wasn't being faithful. To make matters worse, she 381 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: was the talk of the town. Everyone knew about Gomer's affairs. 382 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: One morning, Joseah woke up and Gomer was gone. She 383 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: abandoned him and the children. I can hear Hoseiah's friends saying, 384 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 1: it's about time you need to be finished with that woman. 385 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 1: She's brought you nothing but heartache and pain. That sounded good, 386 00:22:55,520 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: but deep down Hoseiah still loved Gomer. Years later, he 387 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: overheard the town gossip saying that Gomer was still alive. 388 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: She had been deserted by all the men that said 389 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 1: they loved her. She was about to be sold off 390 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: as a slave. The scripture says the Lord said to Joseah, 391 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: go get your wife and bring her back home. After 392 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: all the pain she had caused, all the rejection he 393 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,880 Speaker 1: would think, he would say, no way, I'm done. I'm 394 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 1: over it. But we serve a god who stoops, a 395 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: god that comes to the messy places. Joseah went to 396 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 1: the city and found her in the red light district 397 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: on the auction block, about to be sold. She was 398 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: beaten down, dirty clothes torn. He got close and whispered Gomer. 399 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: She looked up and couldn't believe it. He smiled and said, 400 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: don't worry, I'm gonna get you out of here. He 401 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 1: went to the man in charge and said, that's my wife. 402 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: I'm taking her with me. He said you're not taking 403 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: her anywhere. She's for sale. You'll have to buy her. 404 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: Hooseiah took his wallet out and gave him fifteen shekels, 405 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:07,120 Speaker 1: five barley lows. He bought back what should have been 406 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: already his. Joseiah is a picture of God. Gomer represents 407 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: you and me. We've all made mistakes. We all went 408 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: our own way. But God, who is rich in mercy, 409 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: when we turned our back on him, he had every 410 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: right to walk away, but he didn't turn his back 411 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: on us. He stooped down to the messy places, to 412 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 1: where we failed, to where we should have been finished, 413 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,919 Speaker 1: and brought us back, not with fifteen shekels, but with 414 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: his son. Now you have to do your part and 415 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: receive his mercy, receive his forgiveness. Quit beating yourself up, 416 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: living guilty, believing the lies that you've seen your best days. 417 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 1: You could never measure up. You don't have to. When 418 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: you can't get up to his level, God stoops down 419 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: to yours. He knew we wouldn't perform perfectly. He knew 420 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: we'd fail, get knocked down, make mistakes. That's when the 421 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: accuser works overtime trying to convince you it's too late man. 422 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: You missed your chance. You'll never get out of this challenge. No, 423 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: you have a defender. You have someone that won't just 424 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: stand up for you. He'll stoop down for you. He'll 425 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 1: come down to your level, not with judgment, but with mercy. Well, Joel, 426 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: sounds good today, But you don't know where I am. 427 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: You don't know what I've done. I don't know any 428 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: of that. But I do know this. His grace is promiscuous, 429 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: it's unrestrained. It will go to anyone. God doesn't disqualify, 430 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: He doesn't write people all. No mistake you've made is 431 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: too much for the mercy of God. Nothing you've done 432 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: in the past has to keep you from the bright 433 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: future God has in store now. I believe what God 434 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: promised that He's about to stoop down and lift you 435 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: out of low places. Negative situations are about to turn around. 436 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 1: Addictions are being broken, Strongholds that have held you back 437 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,959 Speaker 1: are coming down, like with my father. God is going 438 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 1: to bring you out of lack and mediocrity into abundance, influence, 439 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,439 Speaker 1: and purpose like the woman with the accuser. God is 440 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 1: freeing you from guilt, releasing you from condemnation. I believe 441 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:23,959 Speaker 1: and declare you are redeemed, you are restored. Your past 442 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: is not dictating your future. Get ready. New doors are 443 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: about to open, new levels of joy, favor, breakthroughs, the 444 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: fullness of your destiny. In Jesus's name, I'd like to 445 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of 446 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 447 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:50,120 Speaker 1: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll 448 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: make you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that 449 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd love 450 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: to send you some free information on your new walk 451 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: with the Lord. Just text the number on the screen, 452 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,399 Speaker 1: go to the website. I hope you'll get into a 453 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: good Bible based church and keep God first place. It's January. 454 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: Time to renew my faith. It's January. It's time to 455 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: start a new season. It's January. There is no better 456 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: time than now to set the course of our year ahead. 457 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 1: The beginning of the year is a great time to 458 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,440 Speaker 1: start afresh and a new to let go of negative 459 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 1: things of the past and to get ready for the 460 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,640 Speaker 1: new things God has in store. Every January we create 461 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:39,120 Speaker 1: a new devotional calendar that will help you throughout the year. 462 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: When you start the day off in faith, grateful for 463 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:47,160 Speaker 1: what God's done, making positive declarations over your future, You're 464 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. 465 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: This devotional will help you get your mind going in 466 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 1: the right direction so you can go out each day 467 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: in faith knowing that God is in control, that His 468 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,640 Speaker 1: place for you are for good. I'd love to send 469 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:05,679 Speaker 1: you a copy as our way of saying thank you 470 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 1: for your gift of any amount this first month of 471 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: the year. We would like to send you a copy 472 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: of our brand new twenty twenty four three hundred and 473 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 1: sixty five day devotional calendar. Do you want to set 474 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 1: a faith course for your life in twenty twenty four? 475 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,800 Speaker 1: Do you want to see your life take off in 476 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,719 Speaker 1: new directions of influence, favor, and provision in the year ahead? 477 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two, three. 478 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: One wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two 479 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 480 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: Three capture God's promises to you on journaling lines for 481 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: writing and reflection. Be sure to request your copy of 482 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty four devotional calendar available this month by 483 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: simply visiting us at joelostein dot com or calling eight 484 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 1: eight eight five six seven Joel