1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 2: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Always a joy to come into your homes. 7 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 2: We loved you, and we know that God has great 8 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 2: things in store for each one of you. If you're 9 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 2: ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by be 10 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 2: a part of one of our services. I promise you 11 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: we'll make you feel right at home. But thank you 12 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: so much for tuning in. I like to get started 13 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 2: with something funny each week, and I heard about this 14 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: little girl. She was sitting on her grandfather's lap. She 15 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 2: noticed how wrinkled his face was, and she contemplated the 16 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:47,160 Speaker 2: difference between hers and his. She said, Grandaddy, did God 17 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: make you? He laughed and said, yes, honey, God made 18 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 2: me a long time ago. She said, well, did God 19 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 2: make me? He said yes, God made you just a 20 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 2: little while ago. She thought about it a moment and said, Grandaddy, 21 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: God's getting better. He all right, hold up your Bible, 22 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 2: say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 23 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: I am what it says I am. I have what 24 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: it says I have. I can do what it says 25 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 26 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 27 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 2: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I 28 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:30,919 Speaker 2: am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever living seed 29 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 2: of the Word of God. I'll never be the same, never, never, never, 30 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 2: I'll never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 31 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about how God 32 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 2: can make miracles out of our mistakes. Too many people 33 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: are sitting on the sidelines of life, feeling washed up. 34 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: They've made mistakes, gone through setbacks. 35 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: Now they don't feel like they have much of a future. 36 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: I hear it all the time, Joe, you don't know 37 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 2: what I've done. I have these addictions. I ruined my marriage, 38 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: I failed in business. No, God still has a great 39 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 2: plan for you. A negative past does not disqualify you 40 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: from having a bright future. No mistake you've made is 41 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,799 Speaker 2: too much for the mercy of God. But you've got 42 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: to get your fire back. You've got to stay filled 43 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 2: with hope. This is not going to happen. If you're 44 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 2: sitting around negative, condemned in self pity, all that's going 45 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: to do is keep you from the new. 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: Things God wants to do. 47 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: And it's so important to learn to receive God's mercy 48 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: when you make a mistake. Don't just ask for forgiveness. 49 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 2: Take it one step further and say, Father, I'm receiving 50 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 2: your mercy. What you're saying is God, I believe you're 51 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: not only forgive me, but you still have great things 52 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 2: in store. And you have to do this by faith 53 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: because everything in your mind is going. 54 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 1: To tell you you don't deserve it. You're a hypocrite. 55 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: You know what you did. God's not gonna bless you. 56 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 2: That's the enemy trying to deceive you into living guilty 57 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: and condemned. Now, how many people swallow his lies and 58 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 2: go through life with no enthusiasm, no excitement toward their future. 59 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: Please don't let that be you. 60 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 2: God is not looking for perfect people. If he was, 61 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: we'd all be disqualified. 62 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: He's looking for people that have a heart that's right. 63 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: And if you have a heart toward God and you 64 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: get up each day doing your best, you don't have 65 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 2: to live guilty and condemned, and when those old thoughts 66 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 2: come telling you you don't deserve God's blessings, just say 67 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: you're exactly right. I know I don't deserve it, but 68 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: that's what mercy is all about. 69 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: Let it reminds you of the goodness of God. 70 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: But some of you are going around so focused on 71 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: your mistakes and the opportunities if you've missed, you kind 72 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: of think, man, I could never have God's best for me. 73 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: But no, it's not as easy. 74 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: To mess up God's plan for your life as you 75 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: may think. Moses is listed as one of the heroes 76 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: of faith, but he made plenty of mistakes. 77 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: As a young man. 78 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 2: He knew that God wanted him to help deliver the 79 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: people of Israel. That dream was in his heart, but 80 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 2: he tried to do it in his own strength. He 81 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: went out and killed a man. He didn't think anybody 82 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 2: saw that. The next day, some of his own men 83 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,600 Speaker 2: came up to him and said, Moses, are you going 84 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 2: to do to us what. 85 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: You did to that other man. 86 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 2: He realized they did see him, and he had to 87 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: flee for his life. He ended up spending years on 88 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 2: the back side of the desert. 89 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: It looked like he messed up. God's plan. 90 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: Looked like God would just find somebody else, Let Moses 91 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: stay out there and defeat in mediocrity. 92 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: But no, God never gives up on us. 93 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 2: The scripture says God's callings are irrevocable. That means the dreams, 94 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: the desires, the calling God has on your life, he 95 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 2: will never take it back. We may slow it down, 96 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: we may make more difficult, but if we will stay 97 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 2: in faith and keep believing, we can still see God's 98 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: best plan come to pass. Forty years later, when God 99 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 2: was ready to deliver the people of Israel, he didn't 100 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 2: raise up a new leader. He didn't go find a 101 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 2: younger man, somebody that had made fewer mistakes. He went 102 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 2: right back to Moses here. Moses was eighty years old, 103 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 2: he had spent forty years out there. 104 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: I'm sure he must have felt like a failure. 105 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: I'm sure at times he told his family man, God 106 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: had a call on my life, but I made a mistake. 107 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: I blew it. No, God always gives us another opportunity. 108 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: God was saying, in effect, Moses, I haven't forgotten about you. 109 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 2: I'm the one that put the dream in your heart. 110 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: I'm going to give you another chance to see that 111 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 2: come to pass. This time Moses rose up and fulfilled 112 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 2: his calling. But see, it's much more difficult to mess 113 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: up God's plan for your life then you probably realize, 114 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:00,040 Speaker 2: because God's always going to give you another chance. Some 115 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: of you today you're just sitting on the sidelines, thinking 116 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 2: you've made too many mistakes. 117 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: Now you've given up on those dreams. 118 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 2: You can tell me, Joel, I did this, I did that. 119 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: It's been so many years now God is saying to you, 120 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: I still have another way to bring those dreams to pass. 121 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 2: I still have a great plan. 122 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: For your life. 123 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: But you've got to get your hopes up. Quit dragging 124 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: around focused on your mistakes and the opportunities that you've missed, 125 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 2: and how you didn't finish college and you didn't spend 126 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: enough time with your family. No, you can't do anything 127 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: about the past. Let that go and just be your 128 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: best today. And know this, nothing that's happened in your 129 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: past can disqualify you from the bright future. 130 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: God has in store. 131 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 2: Forty years later, Moses saw his dreams come to pass. 132 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: Why don't you start believing that some of the opportunities 133 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: you missed down through the years will come across your 134 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: path once again. God is a god of another chance. 135 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: If we'll stay in faith and keep our hopes up, 136 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: he can do for us what he did for Moses. 137 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: I have a navigation system in my car. I can 138 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: type in and address and it will automatically calculate the 139 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: fastest way to get there. It highlights it on the screen, 140 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 2: shows you the way to go, and I'll back out 141 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: of my driveway. But sometimes I don't take its advice 142 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: and I go a different way. 143 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: And what I like about. 144 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 2: It is the system doesn't stop just because I get 145 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: off course. It immediately updates and calculates a new route 146 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: from where I am. 147 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: It can still get me there. You have one, you 148 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: know what I mean. 149 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 2: You can drive one hundred miles in the wrong direction, 150 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 2: zigzag through the woods. The whole time is constantly making 151 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: adjustments telling you the fastest way to get to that 152 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: original location. That's the way God is. He didn't say 153 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: to Moses, you blew it. Turn a navigation system off. 154 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: He's done. 155 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 2: No. When we get off course, God immediately comes up 156 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: with another way. He finds another route to still bring 157 00:07:59,240 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 2: those dreams to. 158 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: And I'm not. 159 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: Saying that we can live sloppy lives and think, well, 160 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 2: Joel told me God so good, he'll get me there. 161 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: I'll live however I want. 162 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: No, I'm talking about people that have a heart to 163 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 2: serve God, people that have a heart to do right. 164 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 2: You make mistakes once in a while, Well you don't 165 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: have to sit around feeling all washed up. God still 166 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: has a way to bring your dreams to pass. A 167 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: lot of people today they think God's mad at them, 168 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: and he's keeping a record of everything they've done wrong. 169 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: When they make poor choices, they wouldn't dare go to 170 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: God and ask him for his help. 171 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: They think they have to pay for their mistakes. 172 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 2: The way most people do it is they give up 173 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,719 Speaker 2: on their dreams, go around depressed and defeated, thinking that 174 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 2: they're paying God back. But the good news today is 175 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 2: the debt has already been paid. 176 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 1: Why don't you receive God's mercy? 177 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 2: Why don't you believe He still has great things in 178 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 2: store for you. You may have made mistakes, but nothing 179 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 2: you've done is too much for the mercy of God. 180 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 2: The scripture says here in James one, verse five, if 181 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: anyone needs wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously 182 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 2: to everyone. Without finding fault. Notice God is not a 183 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 2: fault finder. That means I may have made mistakes. I 184 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 2: may have gotten myself into trouble. 185 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: But if all be bold. 186 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: Enough to ask God, he will help me and not 187 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: condemn me and not find fault. But a lot of 188 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 2: times when we make mistakes, we wouldn't dare go to God. 189 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 2: We think, man, I got myself into this trouble too bad. 190 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 2: I got to get myself out. But this is what 191 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 2: mercy is all about. If we could just learn to 192 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: come to God and say, God, I blew it. I 193 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 2: admit I did wrong, but I believe because I'm your child, 194 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 2: and because you are full of mercy, you will still 195 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: give me wisdom and help. 196 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: Me to get out of this trouble. 197 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 2: When you come with that boldness, with that confidence, that's 198 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: what pleases God. I think about our son Jonathan, he's 199 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 2: eleven years old. If all of a sudden I heard 200 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 2: him screaming, Daddy, come help me. I look out the 201 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: window and I see he's hanging by a tree. He's 202 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 2: about to fall, he's about to get hurt. I wouldn't say, Well, 203 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 2: let me think about how good he's been lately. Victoria 204 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 2: has Jonathan been doing his chores and let me go 205 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 2: check his bedroom. The whole time he's screaming, Daddy, please 206 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,959 Speaker 2: help me. Hang on, Jonathan, I gotta check your report card. No, 207 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 2: those thoughts wouldn't even come into my mind. 208 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: He's my son. 209 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 2: Whenever he needs help, I'm gonna do whatever I can. 210 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 2: That's the way God is. He's not focused on your mistakes. 211 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 2: He's not looking for ways to make your life miserable. 212 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: God wants you to succeed. He created you to live 213 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: his abundant life. 214 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 2: Don't go around with that old nag and feeling. Man, 215 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 2: God's not please with me, Joel, I'd be a hypocrite 216 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 2: to ask for his help. All the mistakes I've made. 217 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 2: Know you are the apple of God's eye. You are 218 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 2: his most prized possession. Nothing you've done or never will do, 219 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 2: we'll keep God from wanting to be good to you. 220 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,599 Speaker 1: Dare to believe shake. 221 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 2: Off that old, guilty, unworthy feeling doesn't please God. For 222 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 2: us to drag around negative, defeated feeling like a failure, 223 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 2: thinking that we're paying God back for our wrong choices. 224 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,719 Speaker 2: Now you're a child of the most High God. What 225 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: pleases him is when you put your shoulders back, dust 226 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 2: yourself off, and say, I may have made mistakes, I 227 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 2: may have blown it, but I know God is full 228 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 2: of mercy and he still has. 229 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: A great plan for my life. 230 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 2: That's what it means to come boldly to the throne 231 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 2: of grace. 232 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 1: To receive mercy. You have to be determined. 233 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 2: If you give in to guilt and condemnation, you'll go 234 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 2: through life beaten down, feeling unworthy. No joy, no peace, 235 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 2: no victory. Well joy, you don't know what I've done. 236 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 2: Let me ask you, is it too much. 237 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: For the mercy of God? 238 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 2: Do you think your mistakes could somehow cancel out God's 239 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 2: plan for your life? 240 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 1: God created the whole universe. 241 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 2: The scripture says, God has already written down every day 242 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: that you would live in his book. I cannot fathom 243 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 2: the creator of the universe, hundreds, maybe millions of years 244 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 2: ago writing in his book on this day my son 245 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 2: or my daughter is going to make a mistake that's 246 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 2: too much for my mercy. Now where you are is 247 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 2: not a surprise to God. What you struggle with doesn't 248 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 2: have him baffled. God already knows he does not require 249 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 2: a perfect performance. He just asked that our heart would 250 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: be right now, I'm asking you today to get up 251 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 2: every morning knowing that God has a bright future in store. 252 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 2: Does it matter what you've done, does it matter what 253 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 2: somebody has done to you. Nobody or nothing can stop 254 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 2: God's plan from coming to. 255 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: Pass except you. 256 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: You have to shake off complacency and start believing that 257 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 2: every dream, every desire, every possibility God's put. 258 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: In your heart will come to pass. 259 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 2: When Jonathan was small, I had a sports car that 260 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 2: I took very good care of. I'd wash it once 261 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 2: or twice a week, sometimes by hand, and polish it 262 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 2: and make sure it was perfect. 263 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 1: And I had this. 264 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 2: Bucket that I kept all my sponges and towels in 265 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 2: that had used to clean the car up at the 266 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 2: front of the garage. And one day I'd spent a 267 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 2: couple of hours washing it, and I had buffed the paint, 268 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 2: made it look like glass. I could see my reflection, 269 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 2: so proud of it. 270 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 1: And a few hours. 271 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 2: Later, little Jonathan came in, he must have been about 272 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 2: three years old, and he smiled real big and said, Daddy, 273 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 2: I just washed your car for you. And I thought 274 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 2: to myself, surely you didn't. He said, do you want 275 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 2: to see. I thought, you, I do want to see. 276 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: So we went out there and I nearly passed out. 277 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 2: He had taken my dirtiest towel, the one I used 278 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 2: for my tires, and he had gone around my whole 279 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 2: car and just rubbed that in. I felt sick to 280 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 2: my stomach. He looked it up me so proud. He said, Daddy, 281 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 2: what do you think. I just said, oh, Jonathan, thank 282 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 2: you so much. I just flat lied. But he went 283 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: in to tell Victoria. I got the hose started over, 284 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 2: cleaned up the mess. What's my point? Jonathan's heart was right. 285 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 2: He thought he was doing good. He thought he was 286 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 2: doing me a favor. I've asked him since not to 287 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 2: do me any more favors. But I didn't get on 288 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 2: to him all Jonathan, why'd you do that? Now? 289 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: I got to spend all this time. 290 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 2: No, I just cleaned up the mess and didn't say 291 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 2: a word about it. I wonder how many times God 292 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 2: does that for us. 293 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: We make a. 294 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 2: Mess, we make some poor choices, but because our heart 295 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 2: is right, God causes it to work out. 296 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: He doesn't say anything about it. 297 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 2: We may never know that he changed something here, caused 298 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 2: the right people to come along. 299 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: There what would have been a big mess. 300 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 2: Because of his mercy, he cleaned it up and caused 301 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 2: it to work out for our good. 302 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: That's the way God is. When your heart is. 303 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 2: Right, he'll clean up the mess and not even condemn 304 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 2: you for it. There's a story in Luke chapter seven. 305 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 2: Jesus is at the home of a Pharisee about to 306 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 2: have dinner. This lady comes in. 307 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: Her name is Mary. 308 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 2: The scripture says she is a notorious sinner. Everyone there 309 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 2: knows that she spends all of her time in the 310 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 2: red light district. That's the kind of lady she is. 311 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 2: That's how she makes her money. And she's got this 312 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 2: jar of perfume, and she pours it on Jesus's feet. 313 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 2: She begins to wash them and dry them with her 314 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 2: own hair. And the Pharisees, they were the religious leader, 315 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 2: they begin to complain. They said, if Jesus were really 316 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: a prophet, he would know what this lady's profession is. 317 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 2: He would know she's got a terrible reputation around here. 318 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 2: Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he answered them 319 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 2: back with a story. He said, suppose a lender has 320 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 2: two people that owe him money, one five dollars and 321 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 2: one five hundred dollars, and this lender forgives both of 322 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 2: their debts. Which one would love the most? They answered 323 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 2: back the one that he forgave the most. He turned 324 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 2: to the woman and said, you see this, lady, when 325 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 2: I came into your house, you didn't greet me with 326 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 2: a kiss on the cheek. You didn't offer me a drink, 327 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 2: you didn't offer to. 328 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: Wash my feet. 329 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: Yet she has not stopped doing so. Though her sins 330 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 2: be many, they are now forgiven you. 331 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: Think about it. 332 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: Mary had had a rough past, but because her heart 333 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 2: was right, she. 334 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: Didn't have to have a rough future. God had a 335 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: plan here. 336 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: She had spent years making wrong choices. She had spent 337 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 2: years going down the wrong path. Most people in her 338 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 2: shoes wouldn't dare go to God. They'd feel too guilty, 339 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 2: too condemned. But somehow Mary understood the mercy of God. 340 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 2: She understood where she was was not where she had 341 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 2: to end up. She knew God still had a bright future, 342 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 2: and her negative past didn't have to disqualify her from 343 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 2: having God's best plan. That day, she left there a 344 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 2: changed woman. Years later, when Jesus was crucified and rose 345 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 2: from the grave. The first person the Angel spoke to 346 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 2: was not one of the religions leaders. Wasn't one of 347 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 2: the disciples, wasn't the apostle Paul. 348 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: The first person the Angel. 349 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 2: Spoke to tell that Jesus was alive was this lady Mary. 350 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 2: She seemed like an unusual choice. She had a negative past. 351 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:20,479 Speaker 2: She was considered a social outcast, called a notorious sinner. Friends, 352 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 2: God is not near as concerned about your past. 353 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 1: As he is your future. 354 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 2: Where you've been is not near as important as where 355 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 2: you're going. The whole key was Mary's heart was right. 356 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 2: If God can cause her to fulfill her destiny and 357 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 2: play such an important role in history, surely God can 358 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 2: make miracles out of our mistakes. 359 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: Surely God still has. 360 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 2: Great things in store for each one of us. I 361 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 2: love the scripture in Zephini three nineteen. God is gathering 362 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 2: together the outcast and the limping ones. That means the 363 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 2: people that society has written off, the people that have 364 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 2: had a negative past. And you may feel like you 365 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 2: are as far from God as you possibly can be. 366 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 2: You've missed up, made mistakes, people have written you off. 367 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: But I can tell you with. 368 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: Confidence God still has a great plan for your life. 369 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: He did it for Mary. 370 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 2: He can do it for you if you'll just dare 371 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 2: come to God and say, God, I messed up. I 372 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 2: know I haven't lived like I should have, but I 373 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 2: believe your mercy is bigger. 374 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: Than any mistake that I've ever made. 375 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 2: When you come with that kind of boldness, that opens 376 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 2: the door for God to do great things in your life. 377 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: See. God will never write you off. 378 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 2: He doesn't see you like other people see you. Sometimes 379 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 2: people may look down on you, think that you don't 380 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 2: have much to offer. You've got these addictions, you've had 381 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 2: a rough past. But God doesn't look at what you are. 382 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 2: He looks at what you can become. He sees your potential. 383 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 2: One thing I love when I look out here at Lakewood, 384 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 2: I see all different types of people. Some of you 385 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 2: grew up in church like I did. Others of you 386 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 2: grew up in the bars and the clubs. 387 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: Some of you went to. 388 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 2: Ivy League schools. Some of you spent time in prison. 389 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 2: Some of you come from well to do, loving families. 390 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 2: Others of you come from negative, dysfunctional families. Somebody told 391 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 2: me last week, Joel, my family put the funk in dysfunction. 392 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 2: You may feel like that's you, but you know what, 393 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 2: none of that matters to God. He knew you before 394 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 2: you were born, and he already has a great plan 395 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 2: for your life. First step. The first step is doing 396 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 2: what Mary did and coming to God. Receive his forgiveness, 397 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 2: receive his mercy, Let him give you a new beginning. 398 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: I had a friend that grew up. 399 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 2: In church, but he got off course, started making poor choices, 400 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 2: and he ended up the leader of an outlaw motorcycle game. 401 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 2: They were constantly in trouble with the law. This friend 402 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: had all kinds of addictions. When he got up in 403 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 2: the morning, the first thing he would do was get high. 404 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 2: His life was totally out of control. One day he 405 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 2: he hit rock bottom. He was going to end it 406 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 2: all by taking a whole bottle of pills, but something 407 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 2: down in here told him to go to church one 408 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 2: more time. 409 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: On Mother's Day, he showed up. 410 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 2: To Lakewood higher than a kite, had that long beard, 411 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 2: long hair, tattoos, leather all over him, and normally the 412 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 2: first couple of rows are reserved for some staff, but 413 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 2: for some reason that day, the usher took him all 414 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 2: the way down to the front and sat him on 415 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 2: the very first row. He said he was so high 416 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 2: he couldn't remember anything that was said. 417 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: All he could remember was the love that he felt. 418 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: That's the mercy of God. 419 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 2: You take one step toward God, He'll come running towards you. 420 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 2: That day, he left the service, went out to the 421 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 2: parking lot, and on his knees, he asked Jesus to 422 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,360 Speaker 2: come into his life, right in front of his motorcycle. 423 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 2: That was a turning point. Today, that gentleman is a 424 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 2: pastor of a church. He started a new motorcycle group, 425 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 2: and now he goes all over sharing with other bikers 426 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 2: what God has done for him. See, God can take 427 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 2: your mess and turn it into your message. He can 428 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 2: use you to help other people in that same situation. 429 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 2: This young man got off the right track, but notice 430 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 2: God gave him another opportunity to get back on track. 431 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 2: He was considered a social outcast. People look down on him. 432 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 2: But see, God looks at you differently. He looks at 433 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 2: the heart. You may be thinking, man, I've blown it. 434 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: I'm so far from where I should be, But I. 435 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 2: Believe like him. Deep down, you have a tender heart 436 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 2: toward God. Deep down you want to do what's right 437 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 2: beyond the hard outer shell, beyond the facade that everybody 438 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 2: else sees. You have a desire to get back on 439 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 2: to God's best path. The good news is your negative 440 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 2: past doesn't disqualify. 441 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 1: You from having a bright future. 442 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 2: God still has a plan. You're never too far gone 443 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 2: with our God. Society may write you off, but God 444 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 2: wants to gather up the outcast. 445 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: The limping ones. He can still make something great out 446 00:21:58,560 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: of your life. 447 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 2: One thing I find interesting about this man is he 448 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 2: had a mother at home that was always praying. 449 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 1: That reminds me. 450 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 2: Moms and dads, let's never quit praying for our children. 451 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 2: Does it matter where they are, what it looks like. 452 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 2: Nothing's too hard for our God. All it takes is 453 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: one touch of his favor. He can turn any life around. 454 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 2: In John chapter six, Jesus had just fed the multitudes 455 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 2: with the little boy's lunch. When they got finished, they 456 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 2: had more left over than when they started. That's what 457 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 2: happens when you give your life to God. He'll always 458 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 2: make so much more. 459 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: Out of it. 460 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 2: Afterwards, Jesus said to the disciples, gather up the fragments 461 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 2: so that nothing will be wasted. 462 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: Notice God never waste anything. 463 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 2: People today have been abused, been divorced, been through other failures, 464 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: and it's easy to just settle for mediocrity and think, man, 465 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 2: I've blown it so many times. 466 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: But no, God still has a plan. 467 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 2: You can come to him with nothing but broken pieces, 468 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 2: broken dreams, a broken marriage, a messed up life. God 469 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 2: can still make something great out of it. 470 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: When you say, Joel, I was abused growing up. Wasn't fair. 471 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 2: That's why I'm angry, That's why I'm bitter. Now give 472 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 2: that fragment to God. 473 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 1: He still has a plan. 474 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 2: He can use you to help other hurting people. Well, 475 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 2: my spouse walked out on me, left me for somebody else. 476 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 2: Stay filled with hope. God still has a good future. 477 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 2: He can bring somebody new into your life. Or maybe 478 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 2: you think, Jeel, I am so far from where I 479 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 2: should be. I've made so many mistakes, I have so 480 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 2: many failures. 481 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,679 Speaker 1: Now you have to receive God's mercy and keep pressing forward. 482 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 2: If you'll keep your heart pure and stay filled with hope, 483 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 2: God will never waste anything. 484 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: That you go through. 485 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 2: Somehow He'll use it to still get some good out 486 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 2: of it. In Jeremiah chapter eighteen, it talks about a 487 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 2: potter sitting at the will working on a vessel, some 488 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 2: kind of pot of clay, and it says the vessel 489 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 2: becomes marred in the potter's hands. That means it's messed up, 490 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 2: it's broken, it's got cracks and defects. But the potter 491 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 2: doesn't just throw it away and say too bad, let 492 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 2: me get something else, It says, the potter remakes the 493 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 2: vessel once again. When it's all said and done, the 494 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 2: vessel is stronger and more beautiful than it ever was before. 495 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 2: And of course the potter represents God and all of 496 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 2: us in life go through failures, disappointments, things where people 497 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 2: didn't treat us right. We end up hurt, broken, maybe 498 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:30,640 Speaker 2: feeling like we don't have much of a future. 499 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:31,639 Speaker 1: But God is. 500 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 2: Saying through this passage, if you'll just stay filled with hope, 501 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 2: I'll tape your broken pieces, the hurts, the failures, the disappointments, 502 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,679 Speaker 2: and I'll use them not just to put you back together, 503 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 2: but I'll bring you out better off than had that 504 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 2: not ever even have happened to you. There's a famous 505 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 2: poem that talks about how a bird with a broken 506 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 2: wing will. 507 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: Never fly again. 508 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 2: It's a very sad, depressing poem. But one day somebody 509 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 2: took it and put a new end on it. They 510 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 2: told how when God gets a hold of the bird, 511 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 2: he begins to heal it and restore it and breathe 512 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 2: new life back into it. And it ended up by 513 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:12,160 Speaker 2: saying the bird with the broken wing will fly twice 514 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 2: as high again. 515 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 1: That's what God wants to do for every one of us. 516 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:18,880 Speaker 2: For some of you today, you've just about written yourself off, 517 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,160 Speaker 2: living guilty and condemned. You've got to get a new 518 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 2: vision for your life. God is full of mercy. He 519 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 2: doesn't want you to stay where you are. He wants 520 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 2: to restore. 521 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: And breathe new life back into you. 522 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 2: His dream is to take your broken pieces and bring you. 523 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: Out better off than you were before. 524 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 2: You've got to shake off that old, negative, defeated, guilty spirit. 525 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 1: This is a new day. 526 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 2: Nothing that you've done is too much for the mercy 527 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 2: of God. Give him those fragments, give him the broken pieces, 528 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 2: and just say, God, I've made a mess of my life, 529 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 2: but I believe that you are good enough. 530 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: To still make miracles out of my mistakes. 531 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,959 Speaker 2: God, I'm just bold enough to believe even though I 532 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 2: don't deserve it. 533 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:03,400 Speaker 1: Because of your mercy. 534 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 2: You still have good things in store when you come 535 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 2: with that boldness, with that confidence, believe in the goodness 536 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 2: of God that allows. 537 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: Him to do great things in your life. 538 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 2: If you will stay in faith, keep your hopes up, 539 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 2: keep your heart pure. I know that God will remake 540 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,360 Speaker 2: your life into something more beautiful and more rewarding than 541 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: you ever thought possible. 542 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 1: Amen, do you receive it this morning? 543 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 544 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 2: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 545 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 546 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 2: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 547 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 2: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 548 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 2: simple prayer, we believe you God born again. Get in 549 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 2: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 550 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 2: going to take your. 551 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: Places that you've never dreamed of. 552 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,400 Speaker 2: When was the last time you asked God to do 553 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 2: something seemed impossible? If you only pray small, ordinary prayers, 554 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 2: you live a small ordinary lie. I have a new 555 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,719 Speaker 2: book called Pray Bold. I'll challenge you to stretch your 556 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 2: faith and believe for the big things God puts in 557 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 2: your heart. Victoria and I used to have seasoned tickets 558 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:20,119 Speaker 2: to watch the Rockets play basketball here. We never dreamed 559 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: it could be ours When they moved out. Somehow we 560 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 2: had the faith to pray a bold prayer. God made 561 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 2: things happen that we could never make happen. It's the 562 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 2: same for you, who knows what God will do in 563 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 2: your life. If you'll dare to pray bold, ask him 564 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 2: for your dreams, ask for your healing, as for your freedom. 565 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: That's when God will show up and do more than 566 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:42,640 Speaker 1: you could ever imagine. 567 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 568 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 3: of any amount, this month, we would like to send 569 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,479 Speaker 3: you a copy of Jewel's brand new book, Pray Bold, 570 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 3: Dare to Ask and Believe Big. Jewel shares that when 571 00:27:56,240 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 3: we pray, we can tap into God's creative, awesome, something 572 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 3: bigger than we have ever imagined. God doesn't want us 573 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,439 Speaker 3: to just pray in our comfort zones. No, God loves 574 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,439 Speaker 3: when we pray big, believe big, expect him to do 575 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:17,400 Speaker 3: the unexpected. There are inspiring stories from the Bible, from history, 576 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,160 Speaker 3: and personal testimonies of people who dared to believe God 577 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:25,360 Speaker 3: in extraordinary ways. You'll learn how to practically expand your 578 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 3: prayers and watch your life move from the common to 579 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 3: the extraordinary, from less than to overflowing. 580 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: Be sure to. 581 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 3: Request your copy of Pray Bold Today, visit Joelstein dot 582 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 3: com or call us toll free. 583 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 2: God has put dreams in your heart, things he's whispered 584 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 2: in denied that seem impossible. But as you pray these 585 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 2: bold prayers, you're going to see the goodness of God 586 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 2: in ways you've never seen victor in our belief, and 587 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 2: you're going to have a great twenty twenty five. We 588 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 2: pray for you and your family every day, but God's 589 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 2: very best want to thank you for your prayer and 590 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 2: your support. You're impacting people all over the world. 591 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Prebold Today visit 592 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 3: Joelostein dot com or call us tool free. Finally, elevates 593 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 3: your personal time with God by requesting the My Time 594 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 3: with God Collection. This beautiful collection contains the Prebold new release, 595 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 3: plus the new Living Translation, one year Chronological Study Bible, 596 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 3: and a beautiful glass mug and throw blanket based around 597 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 3: the inspiring scripture from Psalm forty six to ten. Be 598 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,120 Speaker 3: still and know that I Am God. You can learn 599 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 3: more about this unique new gift collection by calling eight 600 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 3: eight eight five six seven Joel or logging on too 601 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 3: Joelostein dot com today. 602 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 2: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 603 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 2: download our daily podcast Misten on Sirius XM, watch on YouTube, 604 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 2: and now the new Joelostein network streaming on television twenty 605 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 2: four hours a day. If you've never been to Lakewood, 606 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 2: we have a great opportunity. We called it Homecoming Weekend. 607 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 2: We love to meet you and your family. You can 608 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 2: see the building and attend one of the services. It's 609 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 2: a great time to be a part of the Lakewood family. 610 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 2: Looking forward to seeing your Homecoming Weekend.