1 00:00:00,970 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Hi, it's Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 2: What a joy to be with you today. 3 00:00:04,220 --> 00:00:05,700 Speaker 1: We always count it an honor. 4 00:00:05,780 --> 00:00:07,820 Speaker 2: Know that we're praying for you and your family. We 5 00:00:07,860 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 2: sure hope you enjoy this podcast today and we just 6 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,060 Speaker 2: are praying for you and know that God. 7 00:00:12,900 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: Is for you. 8 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:15,460 Speaker 2: So enjoy today's message. 9 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: Well, God bless you. Always a joy to come into 10 00:00:19,140 --> 00:00:20,829 Speaker 1: your homes. We love you. 11 00:00:20,930 --> 00:00:23,570 Speaker 2: We know God has something great in store. If you're 12 00:00:23,630 --> 00:00:25,890 Speaker 2: ever in our area, please stop by and be a 13 00:00:25,930 --> 00:00:28,290 Speaker 2: part of one of our services. I promise you we'll 14 00:00:28,310 --> 00:00:30,540 Speaker 2: make you feel right at home. But thanks for tuning 15 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,580 Speaker 2: in and thanks again for coming out today. I'd like 16 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: to start with something funny. I heard about this archaeologist 17 00:00:36,820 --> 00:00:40,620 Speaker 2: from New York. He dug down 10 feet and discovered 18 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:45,510 Speaker 2: traces of copper wiring dating back 100 years. He concluded 19 00:00:45,590 --> 00:00:49,270 Speaker 2: that New Yorkers had a telephone network over 100 years ago. 20 00:00:50,870 --> 00:00:55,190 Speaker 2: Not to be outdone, an archaeologist from California dug down 21 00:00:55,190 --> 00:00:59,870 Speaker 2: 20 feet and found traces of copper wiring 200 years old. 22 00:01:00,430 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: He concluded that Californians had a massive high-tech communications network 23 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:11,179 Speaker 2: over 100 years before the New Yorkers. Here in these reports, 24 00:01:11,660 --> 00:01:17,259 Speaker 2: Bubba from Texas dug down 30 feet on his farm 25 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,869 Speaker 2: and found absolutely nothing. He concluded that 300 years ago, 26 00:01:22,890 --> 00:01:29,940 Speaker 2: Texans had already gone wireless. Hold up your Bible. Say 27 00:01:29,980 --> 00:01:33,060 Speaker 2: it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 28 00:01:33,220 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 2: am what it says I am. I have what it 29 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:37,980 Speaker 2: says I have. I can do what it says I 30 00:01:38,020 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 2: can do. Today, I will be taught the word of God. 31 00:01:41,670 --> 00:01:46,050 Speaker 2: I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. 32 00:01:46,510 --> 00:01:50,130 Speaker 2: I will never be the same in Jesus name. God 33 00:01:50,170 --> 00:01:53,650 Speaker 2: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 34 00:01:53,710 --> 00:01:58,510 Speaker 2: being faithful in small things. When God has something great 35 00:01:58,590 --> 00:02:02,020 Speaker 2: for us to do, He often starts with something small. 36 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:07,580 Speaker 2: And how we handle the seemingly insignificant things will determine 37 00:02:07,860 --> 00:02:10,649 Speaker 2: whether or not we see God's blessings in a greater way. 38 00:02:11,700 --> 00:02:14,980 Speaker 2: Maybe you're working as an assistant at the office, but 39 00:02:15,020 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 2: you know you've got more in you. You could easily 40 00:02:17,820 --> 00:02:20,740 Speaker 2: run that whole office, but it's been a long time 41 00:02:20,780 --> 00:02:24,130 Speaker 2: and you're not seeing any new opportunities. You could easily 42 00:02:24,169 --> 00:02:27,870 Speaker 2: get discouraged and start slacking off, being less than your best. 43 00:02:28,610 --> 00:02:31,830 Speaker 2: But those years of doing what you might consider to 44 00:02:31,870 --> 00:02:35,330 Speaker 2: be an insignificant task where you're not making any progress, 45 00:02:35,930 --> 00:02:39,250 Speaker 2: that's what's getting you prepared for the great things God 46 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:39,910 Speaker 2: has in store. 47 00:02:40,530 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: That's a time of proving. 48 00:02:42,860 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: The road to greatness often goes through the road of smallness. 49 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 2: You have to show God you'll be faithful in the 50 00:02:50,419 --> 00:02:54,690 Speaker 2: wilderness before you'll get promoted to your promised land. But 51 00:02:54,730 --> 00:02:57,710 Speaker 2: if we have a sour attitude and we think, I'm 52 00:02:57,730 --> 00:03:00,970 Speaker 2: more talented than my supervisor, I should have their position. 53 00:03:01,590 --> 00:03:03,860 Speaker 2: I shouldn't have to clean up after these people. I've 54 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,900 Speaker 2: got more experience than them. Or Joel, I wanted to 55 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,220 Speaker 2: be in leadership and they put me in the nursery. 56 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 2: I thought I'd be praying for people. They've got me 57 00:03:11,940 --> 00:03:15,750 Speaker 2: changing diapers. No, if you're not faithful where you are, 58 00:03:16,110 --> 00:03:18,130 Speaker 2: you will never get to where God wants you to be. 59 00:03:19,070 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: My father started Lakewood with 90 people back in 1959. 60 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,700 Speaker 2: They were in a little abandoned feed store. It was 61 00:03:27,740 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: an old rundown building. My dad had just been the 62 00:03:31,050 --> 00:03:34,169 Speaker 2: pastor of a big, beautiful church. He had over a 63 00:03:34,570 --> 00:03:39,070 Speaker 2: thousand members. And for some reason, for 13 years, Lakewood 64 00:03:39,130 --> 00:03:42,030 Speaker 2: hardly grew at all. Here, my dad was giving it 65 00:03:42,210 --> 00:03:45,330 Speaker 2: his best. He knew God had put bigger things in 66 00:03:45,370 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 2: his heart. But even in spite of all that he did, 67 00:03:48,630 --> 00:03:51,540 Speaker 2: after 10 years, Lakewood still had less than 200 members. 68 00:03:52,930 --> 00:03:55,070 Speaker 2: My father could have thought, God, I must have heard 69 00:03:55,090 --> 00:03:57,830 Speaker 2: you wrong. I thought you said we'd have a ministry 70 00:03:57,870 --> 00:03:59,010 Speaker 2: that would touch the world. 71 00:03:59,500 --> 00:04:01,300 Speaker 1: We're not even touching our own community. 72 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,380 Speaker 2: He could have gotten discouraged, but instead he just kept 73 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,460 Speaker 2: doing his best, being. 74 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,690 Speaker 1: Faithful day in and day out. He preached three. 75 00:04:11,490 --> 00:04:14,910 Speaker 2: Times a week, giving it his all, acting like there 76 00:04:14,930 --> 00:04:18,789 Speaker 2: were thousands. One day, it was like God opened up 77 00:04:18,830 --> 00:04:22,570 Speaker 2: a faucet. People began to come in droves from all 78 00:04:22,670 --> 00:04:23,190 Speaker 2: over town. 79 00:04:23,810 --> 00:04:25,410 Speaker 1: They grew out of that little building. 80 00:04:25,890 --> 00:04:28,469 Speaker 2: They had to build a place seating 1,000, then 2,000, 81 00:04:28,470 --> 00:04:30,990 Speaker 2: then 4,000, then 8,000. 82 00:04:30,990 --> 00:04:34,650 Speaker 1: My father saw that dream come to fulfillment. What happened? 83 00:04:35,190 --> 00:04:37,450 Speaker 1: He passed the test of smallness. 84 00:04:38,029 --> 00:04:41,210 Speaker 2: He proved he would be faithful in the wilderness and 85 00:04:41,250 --> 00:04:44,990 Speaker 2: God promoted him to his promised land. The scripture says 86 00:04:45,029 --> 00:04:49,570 Speaker 2: here in Zechariah, don't despise the day of small beginnings. 87 00:04:50,390 --> 00:04:54,060 Speaker 2: You may start small, but if you stay faithful, you're 88 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 2: not going to end small. Those 13 years that my 89 00:04:57,540 --> 00:05:02,659 Speaker 2: father had 90 members, those were extremely important years. They 90 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: were years of testing, years of proving. May have seemed 91 00:05:06,860 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: like they were insignificant, like he was just wasting his time. 92 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,780 Speaker 2: But the truth is, if it were not for those 93 00:05:13,779 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: 13 years, my father would not have had the success 94 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:18,419 Speaker 2: that he had. 95 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:20,460 Speaker 1: That's what got him prepared. 96 00:05:21,370 --> 00:05:25,130 Speaker 2: You may feel like you're doing something right now that's insignificant. 97 00:05:25,710 --> 00:05:28,650 Speaker 1: You're in the wilderness, so to speak. It's not growing. 98 00:05:29,070 --> 00:05:31,370 Speaker 2: You've got bigger things in your heart. Feels like a 99 00:05:31,430 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 2: waste of your time. You need to have a new perspective. 100 00:05:35,580 --> 00:05:39,300 Speaker 2: Just like my father, you're in a season of preparation. 101 00:05:39,980 --> 00:05:43,300 Speaker 2: That's a time of proving. When we do the right 102 00:05:43,380 --> 00:05:46,849 Speaker 2: thing and we're not seeing increase, we go the extra 103 00:05:46,890 --> 00:05:49,990 Speaker 2: mile and nobody says thanks. You get to work on 104 00:05:50,050 --> 00:05:52,870 Speaker 2: time and give it your best, even though you've got 105 00:05:52,950 --> 00:05:57,050 Speaker 2: bigger things in your heart. Something's happening on the inside. 106 00:05:57,610 --> 00:06:01,900 Speaker 2: That's building character. Your roots are going down deep. You're 107 00:06:01,940 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: developing strength, trust, confidence. You will only go as high 108 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,609 Speaker 2: as your roots go down deep. Don't despise the day 109 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:15,470 Speaker 2: of small beginnings. That's what's laying the foundation for how 110 00:06:15,570 --> 00:06:19,090 Speaker 2: far God's gonna take you. A lot of times we 111 00:06:19,130 --> 00:06:21,390 Speaker 2: get frustrated and we think, God, why is it taking 112 00:06:21,430 --> 00:06:24,670 Speaker 2: so long? I'm giving this business my best. When's it 113 00:06:24,710 --> 00:06:27,500 Speaker 2: gonna grow? God, I wanna get married. When am I 114 00:06:27,510 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 2: gonna meet someone? God, I wanna live in a nice house. 115 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 2: Why am I still stuck in this small apartment? No, 116 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:38,460 Speaker 2: don't underestimate the value of small things. You may feel 117 00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:42,260 Speaker 2: like nothing is happening, but God is closely watching you. 118 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,170 Speaker 2: He's seeing what kind of attitude you're gonna have when 119 00:06:46,190 --> 00:06:49,190 Speaker 2: you're not getting your way. How much effort are you 120 00:06:49,210 --> 00:06:50,810 Speaker 2: gonna put into it even. 121 00:06:50,670 --> 00:06:51,570 Speaker 1: When it's not growing? 122 00:06:52,330 --> 00:06:55,710 Speaker 2: How consistent are you going to be when it's taken 123 00:06:55,750 --> 00:06:59,630 Speaker 2: a long time? Are you going to pass the test? Friends, 124 00:06:59,810 --> 00:07:04,100 Speaker 2: harvest is not the only season. There are seasons of planting, 125 00:07:04,190 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: seasons of watering, seasons of fertilizing where we don't see 126 00:07:07,740 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 2: any growth. Doesn't look like we're making any progress, but 127 00:07:12,060 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: behind the scenes, God is getting us prepared. The scripture says, 128 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 2: don't get tired of doing what's right for in due season, 129 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,500 Speaker 2: you will reap if you don't give up. For some 130 00:07:25,540 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 2: of you, your due season is right around the corner. 131 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 2: You have been faithful. You've done the right thing. Now 132 00:07:32,460 --> 00:07:35,050 Speaker 2: is not the time to get discouraged. Now is not 133 00:07:35,090 --> 00:07:38,070 Speaker 2: the time to slack off. Now is the time more 134 00:07:38,130 --> 00:07:40,790 Speaker 2: than ever to dig your heels in and say, I 135 00:07:40,830 --> 00:07:43,650 Speaker 2: may not see anything happening, but I know God's getting 136 00:07:43,690 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: me prepared. 137 00:07:44,780 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna keep pressing. 138 00:07:45,860 --> 00:07:49,300 Speaker 2: Forward, being my best. I'm gonna pass this test knowing 139 00:07:49,340 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: that my due. 140 00:07:49,940 --> 00:07:51,340 Speaker 1: Season is on its way. 141 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,580 Speaker 2: There's a certain kind of plant called the Chinese bamboo. 142 00:07:56,200 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: For the first four years, it barely grows above ground. 143 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,340 Speaker 1: You can hardly see anything happening. 144 00:08:02,940 --> 00:08:06,740 Speaker 2: Even though you're watering it Fertilizing it, making sure it 145 00:08:06,780 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 2: has the proper light. 146 00:08:08,380 --> 00:08:10,530 Speaker 1: It looks like that nothing is happening. 147 00:08:11,090 --> 00:08:16,310 Speaker 2: But underground, where you can't see, it's developing a massive 148 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:21,500 Speaker 2: root system. Those roots are spreading out in every possible direction. 149 00:08:22,290 --> 00:08:26,310 Speaker 2: And in the fifth year, once the roots are properly established, 150 00:08:26,650 --> 00:08:30,740 Speaker 2: that Chinese bamboo suddenly takes off and it will shoot 151 00:08:30,860 --> 00:08:34,540 Speaker 2: up as high as 80 feet in the air. From 152 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,470 Speaker 2: zero to 80 all in one year. So often we 153 00:08:39,510 --> 00:08:43,230 Speaker 2: want fifth year results without the four years of preparation. 154 00:08:43,950 --> 00:08:48,210 Speaker 2: But without the years of underground growth, there would not 155 00:08:48,270 --> 00:08:52,270 Speaker 2: be any above ground growth. Without the years of developing 156 00:08:52,330 --> 00:08:55,310 Speaker 2: our character and proving to God that we'll be faithful, 157 00:08:55,910 --> 00:08:58,650 Speaker 2: we won't see the increase in promotion that we should. 158 00:08:59,570 --> 00:09:02,590 Speaker 2: You may feel like that plant that nothing is happening. 159 00:09:03,070 --> 00:09:06,350 Speaker 2: You're wondering why God isn't doing anything. Even though you're 160 00:09:06,370 --> 00:09:11,070 Speaker 2: being your best, you're watering, you're fertilizing, you're planting, but 161 00:09:11,130 --> 00:09:12,670 Speaker 2: still the business isn't growing. 162 00:09:12,690 --> 00:09:14,209 Speaker 1: The marriage isn't getting any better. 163 00:09:14,710 --> 00:09:18,699 Speaker 2: But what you can't see is on the inside, God's 164 00:09:18,740 --> 00:09:21,500 Speaker 2: doing a work in you. Every day you get up 165 00:09:21,820 --> 00:09:25,309 Speaker 2: and give it your best with a good attitude, shaking 166 00:09:25,410 --> 00:09:29,830 Speaker 2: off discouragement, shaking off self-pity, your roots are going down deeper. 167 00:09:30,550 --> 00:09:33,630 Speaker 2: And at the right time, when God knows you're prepared, 168 00:09:33,890 --> 00:09:36,070 Speaker 2: just like that Chinese bamboo, you're going. 169 00:09:36,010 --> 00:09:36,530 Speaker 1: To shoot up. 170 00:09:36,950 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 2: God is going to thrust you to a new level. 171 00:09:40,100 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: But understand, the longer it takes, the bigger your future. 172 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:49,059 Speaker 2: Many of you have been faithful for years and years. 173 00:09:49,780 --> 00:09:52,900 Speaker 2: Even though you don't see anything changing, you just keep 174 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:57,069 Speaker 2: being your best, doing the right thing. That tells me 175 00:09:57,410 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 2: that God has incredible things in store. You are developing 176 00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:05,380 Speaker 2: a massive root system because God is about to shoot 177 00:10:05,420 --> 00:10:09,510 Speaker 2: you up higher than you've ever even imagined. Don't get discouraged. 178 00:10:10,330 --> 00:10:21,660 Speaker 2: You've come too far to stop now. When it's taken 179 00:10:21,710 --> 00:10:24,410 Speaker 2: a long time, those thoughts are telling you it's never 180 00:10:24,450 --> 00:10:27,110 Speaker 2: going to change. It's never going to get any better. No, 181 00:10:27,130 --> 00:10:30,590 Speaker 2: just keep reminding yourself my due season is on its way. 182 00:10:31,030 --> 00:10:33,750 Speaker 2: The reason it's taken a long time is because my 183 00:10:33,850 --> 00:10:37,140 Speaker 2: future is so big. My roots are having to spread 184 00:10:37,220 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 2: out wide because God is about to shoot me up high. 185 00:10:42,420 --> 00:10:45,700 Speaker 2: This is what happened to David. David spent years and 186 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,750 Speaker 2: years on the backside of the desert, taking care of 187 00:10:48,790 --> 00:10:52,930 Speaker 2: his father's sheep. His brothers were out having fun, doing 188 00:10:52,950 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 2: more exciting things. Here, David got stuck with something kind 189 00:10:57,059 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 2: of menial. He got the leftover job. David had big 190 00:11:00,620 --> 00:11:04,150 Speaker 2: things in his heart. Samuel had already anointed him to 191 00:11:04,190 --> 00:11:07,130 Speaker 2: be king. He knew God had something great for him 192 00:11:07,170 --> 00:11:09,630 Speaker 2: to do. He could have said, I'm not going to 193 00:11:09,670 --> 00:11:12,690 Speaker 2: stay out here with these sheep. I've got more in me. 194 00:11:12,770 --> 00:11:15,030 Speaker 2: I'm headed to the throne. This is a waste of 195 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:20,100 Speaker 2: my time. No, David understood this principle. He didn't despise 196 00:11:20,179 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 2: the day of small beginnings. He knew that was getting 197 00:11:23,059 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 2: him prepared. He knew his roots were going down deeper. 198 00:11:26,610 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 2: And so he stayed faithful and just kept being his best. 199 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 2: And one day, like that Chinese bamboo, suddenly he took off. 200 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:40,260 Speaker 2: When he defeated Goliath, suddenly he was thrust into his destiny. Overnight, 201 00:11:40,620 --> 00:11:44,230 Speaker 2: David became a national hero. All of Israel knew who 202 00:11:44,250 --> 00:11:48,709 Speaker 2: he was. He was highly esteemed. But in reality, it 203 00:11:48,770 --> 00:11:53,620 Speaker 2: didn't happen overnight. It happened because of years and years 204 00:11:53,820 --> 00:11:58,150 Speaker 2: of faithfulness. out there in the shepherd's fields when nobody 205 00:11:58,190 --> 00:12:01,550 Speaker 2: was cheering him on. When he felt alone and forgotten, 206 00:12:01,929 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 2: that's when he developed his massive root system. That's when 207 00:12:05,460 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: he proved to God that he would be faithful. The 208 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 2: scripture says, if you will be faithful in little, God 209 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: will trust you with much. And you may feel like 210 00:12:16,140 --> 00:12:19,470 Speaker 2: you're in the lonely shepherd fields right now. You're doing 211 00:12:19,530 --> 00:12:23,090 Speaker 2: something that really feels insignificant to you. You know you've 212 00:12:23,110 --> 00:12:26,410 Speaker 2: got more talent. You've got more on the inside. You 213 00:12:26,429 --> 00:12:29,770 Speaker 2: could easily kick back and slack off and be less 214 00:12:29,809 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 2: than your best. But I want to encourage you, you 215 00:12:32,650 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 2: are in a very critical season. Without this season, your 216 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:42,020 Speaker 2: roots will not develop properly. Without the underground growth, you'll 217 00:12:42,059 --> 00:12:44,340 Speaker 2: never experience the above ground growth. 218 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,860 Speaker 1: Our attitude should be, I may feel stuck. 219 00:12:48,610 --> 00:12:52,030 Speaker 2: This may feel mediocre, like less than I have to offer, 220 00:12:52,370 --> 00:12:54,939 Speaker 2: but I'm going to keep being my best. I know 221 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 2: my roots are spreading out. And at the right time, 222 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,459 Speaker 2: just like God did for David, he is going to 223 00:13:00,540 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 2: thrust me to a new level. He is going to 224 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,260 Speaker 2: get me to where he wants me to be. I 225 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 2: know this gentleman that has a degree in marketing. It's 226 00:13:09,340 --> 00:13:12,810 Speaker 2: very sharp, very talented. But right out of college, he 227 00:13:12,850 --> 00:13:16,420 Speaker 2: couldn't find a job anywhere. Month after month went by, 228 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,699 Speaker 2: and he kept interviewing, doing everything he could, but no 229 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 2: doors were opening up. 230 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,300 Speaker 1: Finally, a friend of his father's. 231 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,270 Speaker 2: Who worked at this huge global company, offered him a 232 00:13:27,309 --> 00:13:28,809 Speaker 2: position in the mailroom. 233 00:13:29,530 --> 00:13:31,770 Speaker 1: He couldn't find anything else. So he took it. 234 00:13:32,270 --> 00:13:35,500 Speaker 2: All during the day, even though he was way overqualified, 235 00:13:36,020 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: he would unload boxes, stock the shelves, ship out the product. 236 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,460 Speaker 1: He never complained. He didn't get sour. He just kept 237 00:13:43,540 --> 00:13:46,660 Speaker 1: thanking God that the right doors were going to open up. 238 00:13:47,690 --> 00:13:50,829 Speaker 2: Three years went by and he didn't see anything happening. 239 00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 2: He'd gone on many job interviews, but still no success. 240 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,700 Speaker 2: His attitude was, this is where I am, so I'm 241 00:13:58,740 --> 00:14:00,719 Speaker 2: going to be the best that I can be. I 242 00:14:00,780 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 2: know if I stay faithful, I'm going to come into 243 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 2: that fifth year. I'm going to see that unusual growth. 244 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,070 Speaker 2: One day, a position opened up in that same company 245 00:14:11,370 --> 00:14:12,550 Speaker 2: in the marketing department. 246 00:14:12,929 --> 00:14:14,709 Speaker 1: He applied and they hired him. 247 00:14:15,210 --> 00:14:17,630 Speaker 2: A couple of months later, the man in charge of 248 00:14:17,650 --> 00:14:22,010 Speaker 2: the department got transferred to another location. And against all 249 00:14:22,070 --> 00:14:25,810 Speaker 2: the odds, they promoted this young man even over. 250 00:14:25,790 --> 00:14:27,250 Speaker 1: Others that had more seniority. 251 00:14:27,910 --> 00:14:30,740 Speaker 2: He just recently told me how he was made a 252 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 2: vice president of all of marketing for that entire global corporation. 253 00:14:36,380 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: What happened? 254 00:14:38,530 --> 00:14:42,310 Speaker 2: He came in to his fifth year. He passed the test. 255 00:14:42,690 --> 00:14:46,030 Speaker 2: He didn't despise the day of small beginnings. He knew 256 00:14:46,150 --> 00:14:49,530 Speaker 2: his root system was being developed. He went through planting, 257 00:14:49,590 --> 00:14:53,770 Speaker 2: through watering, through fertilizing. One day like that Chinese bamboo, 258 00:14:54,050 --> 00:14:58,020 Speaker 2: God shot him up higher than he ever imagined. Here's 259 00:14:58,060 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 2: how Proverbs 28, 20 puts it. The faithful will abound 260 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:07,450 Speaker 2: with blessings. That word abound means to be catapulted, to 261 00:15:07,490 --> 00:15:08,730 Speaker 2: be thrust to a new level. 262 00:15:09,650 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: Many of you have been faithful. You have given. You 263 00:15:13,340 --> 00:15:14,140 Speaker 1: have served. 264 00:15:14,500 --> 00:15:16,820 Speaker 2: You've gone out of your way to help people. You 265 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 2: didn't complain when you didn't get the credit. You didn't 266 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,790 Speaker 2: get discouraged because it's taken the long time. You just 267 00:15:22,830 --> 00:15:25,860 Speaker 2: kept being your best day in and day out. Well, 268 00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:28,900 Speaker 2: you need to get ready. You are about to abound. 269 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 2: God is about to do something new. 270 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: In your life. 271 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 2: You are going to come into a new season. You 272 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 2: have been through planting. You've been through watering. You've been 273 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 2: through fertilizing. It's your time for harvest. Like that Chinese bamboo, 274 00:15:45,220 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 2: you're going to see explosive growth. You're going to see 275 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,500 Speaker 2: God do unusual things to where you look. 276 00:15:51,380 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: Up and think, how in the world did I end 277 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:53,700 Speaker 1: up here? 278 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 2: Here's how. 279 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:57,420 Speaker 1: Your years of faithfulness. 280 00:15:58,060 --> 00:16:01,500 Speaker 2: Your years of being your best when nobody gave you credit. 281 00:16:02,540 --> 00:16:06,780 Speaker 2: Your years of serving when nobody said thank you. Your 282 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 2: years of loving those people when they were not easy 283 00:16:09,700 --> 00:16:13,660 Speaker 2: to love. You developed a massive root system that can 284 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,860 Speaker 2: be promoted. That's what's going to allow God to catapult 285 00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:21,740 Speaker 2: you higher than you ever thought possible. I have a 286 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:26,940 Speaker 2: friend that comes every week to the services. His tithe, 10% 287 00:16:26,940 --> 00:16:30,110 Speaker 2: of the income that he gives, it is now more 288 00:16:30,410 --> 00:16:33,390 Speaker 2: than his yearly income used to be. In other words, 289 00:16:33,470 --> 00:16:36,750 Speaker 2: God has blessed him with 10 times more than. 290 00:16:36,670 --> 00:16:39,150 Speaker 1: He had just a few years ago. What's the secret? 291 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:43,900 Speaker 2: Years and years of giving when he didn't see anything happening. 292 00:16:44,390 --> 00:16:47,510 Speaker 2: When his mind was telling him, you are wasting these funds. 293 00:16:47,850 --> 00:16:50,850 Speaker 2: You could be putting this in savings. All these thoughts 294 00:16:50,890 --> 00:16:53,290 Speaker 2: trying to talk him out of it. He didn't get discouraged. 295 00:16:53,470 --> 00:16:56,630 Speaker 2: He just kept doing the right thing. Giving, serving, being 296 00:16:56,650 --> 00:17:00,260 Speaker 2: his best. One day, he hit that fifth year. God 297 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: thrust him higher than he ever even dreamed of. Maybe 298 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 2: you've been giving a long time and not seeing any increase. 299 00:17:08,290 --> 00:17:12,030 Speaker 2: That just means that your roots are developing. God is 300 00:17:12,090 --> 00:17:16,500 Speaker 2: getting you prepared for amazing things. Stay faithful and keep 301 00:17:16,540 --> 00:17:20,459 Speaker 2: passing that test. I'll never forget at our other location, 302 00:17:20,980 --> 00:17:23,139 Speaker 2: I was in the lobby one day during the week 303 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,220 Speaker 2: and I saw this gentleman pulling on the glass door 304 00:17:26,260 --> 00:17:28,700 Speaker 2: trying to get in. They were all locked and So 305 00:17:28,740 --> 00:17:31,510 Speaker 2: I walked over and opened it and asked him, how 306 00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:34,890 Speaker 2: could I help him? And he handed me a offering envelope. 307 00:17:35,369 --> 00:17:37,090 Speaker 2: He said, Joel, I'm going to be out of town 308 00:17:37,150 --> 00:17:39,990 Speaker 2: this weekend. So I just wanted to stop by and 309 00:17:40,340 --> 00:17:44,260 Speaker 2: drop my offering off. That's a faithful man. He wouldn't 310 00:17:44,300 --> 00:17:47,660 Speaker 2: even lead the city without giving God what belonged to him. 311 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 2: He can expect to abound sooner or later. The windows 312 00:17:52,270 --> 00:17:54,810 Speaker 2: of heaven are going to open up and pour out 313 00:17:54,850 --> 00:17:59,109 Speaker 2: blessings he cannot contain. Just a few weeks ago, I 314 00:17:59,190 --> 00:18:03,020 Speaker 2: saw one of our volunteers wearing a bracelet from the hospital. 315 00:18:03,410 --> 00:18:05,700 Speaker 1: I could tell she had been a patient. I asked 316 00:18:05,740 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: what was going on. She told how. 317 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 2: She'd had a fairly major surgery just four days before. 318 00:18:12,540 --> 00:18:15,090 Speaker 2: The doctor wanted her to stay in the hospital at 319 00:18:15,150 --> 00:18:16,770 Speaker 2: least for a week to fully recover. 320 00:18:17,340 --> 00:18:19,659 Speaker 1: But she said, doctor, I've got to go to church 321 00:18:19,850 --> 00:18:22,050 Speaker 1: on Sunday. I'm a volunteer. 322 00:18:22,390 --> 00:18:25,290 Speaker 2: I serve as a greeter. My team is expecting me. 323 00:18:25,609 --> 00:18:28,070 Speaker 2: He said, no, ma'am, you may not leave this hospital. 324 00:18:28,270 --> 00:18:30,649 Speaker 2: You are not going to church. She said, doctor, I 325 00:18:30,830 --> 00:18:34,070 Speaker 2: have to be at church. He looked at her and said, do. 326 00:18:34,050 --> 00:18:41,750 Speaker 1: You go to Lakewood? He ended up He ended up giving. 327 00:18:41,490 --> 00:18:45,210 Speaker 2: Her a three hour pass so she could leave the hospital. 328 00:18:45,850 --> 00:18:48,070 Speaker 2: He said, you can go, but you come right back 329 00:18:48,130 --> 00:18:50,170 Speaker 2: here and get in this bed so you can recover. 330 00:18:50,570 --> 00:18:53,369 Speaker 1: That's Lakewood people. You can't keep them out of church. 331 00:18:53,470 --> 00:18:54,430 Speaker 1: Faithful people. 332 00:18:57,090 --> 00:19:01,090 Speaker 2: Some people are always looking for an excuse not to come. Oh, 333 00:19:01,130 --> 00:19:04,530 Speaker 2: my big toes hurt and I can't go today. My 334 00:19:04,570 --> 00:19:07,250 Speaker 2: child has little league at seven tonight. We need 12 335 00:19:07,250 --> 00:19:12,190 Speaker 2: hours to prepare. not Lakewood people, the faithful will abound. 336 00:19:13,210 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 2: I remember the first little auditorium that Lakewood had, that 337 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:20,700 Speaker 2: little feed store that I talked about was so old 338 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 2: and run down, had two main doors, one in the 339 00:19:23,780 --> 00:19:26,179 Speaker 2: back and one over on the side. And the one 340 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,700 Speaker 2: on the side was so beat up and so old, 341 00:19:29,020 --> 00:19:30,180 Speaker 2: you could hardly get it open. 342 00:19:30,540 --> 00:19:32,889 Speaker 1: You'd have to struggle with it and finagle it. 343 00:19:33,490 --> 00:19:35,149 Speaker 2: Back then, we didn't have the money to buy a 344 00:19:35,170 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 2: new door, so we just left it closed. Nobody complained. 345 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 2: We didn't despise the day of small beginnings. We just 346 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,220 Speaker 2: kept having services week after week, year after year. 347 00:19:45,890 --> 00:19:49,969 Speaker 1: One day, we hit that fifth year, saw that explosive growth. 348 00:19:50,780 --> 00:19:54,270 Speaker 2: I was thinking about today how blessed we are, but 349 00:19:54,330 --> 00:19:57,390 Speaker 2: a lot of it is because of the faithful people 350 00:19:57,450 --> 00:20:00,820 Speaker 2: from years ago. That first group of 90, they couldn't 351 00:20:00,859 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 2: afford one new door, but the faithful will abound. Do 352 00:20:05,180 --> 00:20:09,859 Speaker 2: you realize in this building, there are 287 doors? God 353 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,060 Speaker 2: has shot us up higher than we ever even dreamed of. 354 00:20:14,550 --> 00:20:17,129 Speaker 2: You may feel like you're stuck and you're not making 355 00:20:17,190 --> 00:20:18,130 Speaker 2: any progress. 356 00:20:18,530 --> 00:20:20,729 Speaker 1: Where you are is a waste of your time. No, 357 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:21,260 Speaker 1: I want you to. 358 00:20:21,230 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 2: Have this new perspective. You are not stuck. God is 359 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 2: getting you prepared. That's a part of the process. Your 360 00:20:29,380 --> 00:20:32,530 Speaker 2: roots are growing down deep. If you will keep the 361 00:20:32,590 --> 00:20:36,959 Speaker 2: right attitude. at the right time, you will see increase 362 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,740 Speaker 2: that doesn't just affect you, it will affect your children 363 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:46,210 Speaker 2: and your grandchildren. You are laying the foundation for future generations. 364 00:20:46,770 --> 00:20:50,330 Speaker 2: Your faithfulness is gonna cause not only you to abound, 365 00:20:50,850 --> 00:20:53,190 Speaker 2: but you're gonna pass it down to those that come 366 00:20:53,270 --> 00:20:57,850 Speaker 2: after you. Keep being your best. Don't complain when it's hard. 367 00:20:58,450 --> 00:21:01,430 Speaker 2: Don't quit because it's taken a long time. Don't give 368 00:21:01,470 --> 00:21:06,230 Speaker 2: it a half-hearted effort because it seems small, seems insignificant. 369 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 2: You have to go through a season of smallness before you. 370 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: Ever see God do great things. 371 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 2: Most of you know how for 17 years, I worked 372 00:21:15,859 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 2: behind the scenes here at the ministry doing the television production. 373 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,470 Speaker 2: And every Saturday night, I would go over to my 374 00:21:22,530 --> 00:21:26,410 Speaker 2: father's house and pick out his suit and his tie 375 00:21:26,710 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 2: to wear on television the next morning. My mother used 376 00:21:29,780 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 2: to say, Joel, you do not need to come over here. 377 00:21:32,300 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 2: Daddy is a grown man. He can pick out his 378 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 2: own clothes. The problem was I had seen what my father. 379 00:21:39,140 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: Had picked out before. 380 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 2: Daddy liked loud colors. You may remember the old campus. 381 00:21:46,270 --> 00:21:49,530 Speaker 2: One time he had the Sunday school buildings painted bright red, 382 00:21:49,950 --> 00:21:52,410 Speaker 2: lime green, orange, purple, yellow. 383 00:21:52,590 --> 00:21:53,990 Speaker 1: Looked more like the Disney Channel. 384 00:21:55,010 --> 00:21:57,389 Speaker 2: So I'd go by without fail every Saturday night and 385 00:21:57,410 --> 00:21:59,630 Speaker 2: pick him out something to wear. I wrote it down 386 00:21:59,730 --> 00:22:02,330 Speaker 2: on a chart that I would keep. Just a small thing. 387 00:22:02,850 --> 00:22:03,390 Speaker 1: Some of my. 388 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:05,950 Speaker 2: Friends would give me a hard time. Joel, you pick 389 00:22:05,990 --> 00:22:08,149 Speaker 2: out your dad's ties. You got better things to do 390 00:22:08,190 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 2: than that. No, I wanted the broadcast to be the 391 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 2: best it possibly could be. I never dreamed one day 392 00:22:14,460 --> 00:22:16,700 Speaker 2: I would be picking out ties for me to wear 393 00:22:16,780 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 2: on television. I never dreamed I would be the one 394 00:22:20,660 --> 00:22:24,230 Speaker 2: in front of the camera. I know now it was 395 00:22:24,650 --> 00:22:27,890 Speaker 2: all those years of faithfulness that were getting me prepared. 396 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,220 Speaker 1: I had to show that I would be faithful. 397 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 2: In the small things before God could trust me with much. 398 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,100 Speaker 2: When my father went to be with the Lord and 399 00:22:37,140 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 2: I took over, people would say, well, Joel came out 400 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,180 Speaker 2: of nowhere. Suddenly he was thrust on the scene. And yes, 401 00:22:44,420 --> 00:22:48,010 Speaker 2: it was suddenly in one sense, but the suddenly only 402 00:22:48,070 --> 00:22:52,469 Speaker 2: happened because of the 17 years before that I had 403 00:22:52,510 --> 00:22:56,900 Speaker 2: done my best. They said I came out of nowhere, 404 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 2: but really I came out of somewhere. They just didn't 405 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:04,290 Speaker 2: see the years of preparation, the years of picking out ties, 406 00:23:04,510 --> 00:23:07,109 Speaker 2: the years of traveling with my father, doing my best 407 00:23:07,190 --> 00:23:09,409 Speaker 2: to make him look good. And I'm not trying to 408 00:23:09,430 --> 00:23:11,970 Speaker 2: brag on me. I'm just making the point. If you're 409 00:23:12,050 --> 00:23:15,470 Speaker 2: faithful in the small, when you're not getting the credit, 410 00:23:15,830 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 2: when it's not exciting, when you've got bigger things in you, 411 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 2: but you just keep being your best, staying under that authority, 412 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:27,350 Speaker 2: then at the right time, like that Chinese bamboo, suddenly 413 00:23:27,550 --> 00:23:29,270 Speaker 2: God is going to thrust you to a new level. 414 00:23:29,790 --> 00:23:33,610 Speaker 2: Suddenly a new door will open. Suddenly a position will 415 00:23:33,690 --> 00:23:36,450 Speaker 2: open up. Suddenly you'll get the break you need. Suddenly 416 00:23:36,510 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 2: you'll meet the person of your dreams. It'll happen quickly, 417 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 2: but you'll know the reason you got promoted was because 418 00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 2: all the years that you stayed faithful and did the 419 00:23:47,140 --> 00:23:51,010 Speaker 2: right thing when you didn't see anything happening. Whenever you 420 00:23:51,070 --> 00:23:54,770 Speaker 2: see someone that's blessed, someone in leadership, someone living an 421 00:23:54,810 --> 00:23:58,430 Speaker 2: abundant life, you can be assured they went through a 422 00:23:58,770 --> 00:24:03,369 Speaker 2: season of preparation. They passed the test of being faithful 423 00:24:03,510 --> 00:24:07,090 Speaker 2: in small things. There are no shortcuts. We have to 424 00:24:07,150 --> 00:24:12,189 Speaker 2: be prepared before we're promoted. I think about how even Victoria, 425 00:24:12,390 --> 00:24:15,490 Speaker 2: she used to do my father's hair. She wasn't trained 426 00:24:15,540 --> 00:24:18,899 Speaker 2: in that. Her background is in the jewelry business. Her 427 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,630 Speaker 2: family owns a store and She was raised selling diamonds 428 00:24:22,690 --> 00:24:26,979 Speaker 2: and jewels, a sophisticated business. One day, the lady that 429 00:24:27,020 --> 00:24:29,820 Speaker 2: normally would do my father's hair and put some powder 430 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,660 Speaker 2: on him for television, she couldn't be there. And Victoria 431 00:24:32,700 --> 00:24:35,650 Speaker 2: stepped up. We never asked her to do it. She said, hey, 432 00:24:35,710 --> 00:24:38,810 Speaker 2: how about I'll do it today? My father liked how 433 00:24:38,869 --> 00:24:40,770 Speaker 2: she did it so much, he asked her to do 434 00:24:40,810 --> 00:24:43,860 Speaker 2: it on an ongoing basis. So Victoria would swing by 435 00:24:43,930 --> 00:24:46,580 Speaker 2: every Sunday morning, pick my dad up and bring him 436 00:24:46,619 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 2: to church and put that powder on him, make sure 437 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 2: he looked good. Here, Victoria has sold jewelry to some 438 00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:55,449 Speaker 2: of the most wealthy, influential people around. She's traveled the 439 00:24:55,510 --> 00:24:59,530 Speaker 2: world buying diamonds and jewels. In a sense, she could 440 00:24:59,570 --> 00:25:02,449 Speaker 2: have seen that as being a little insignificant. Why did 441 00:25:02,510 --> 00:25:05,100 Speaker 2: I volunteer? I asked for one week. I didn't know 442 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:06,859 Speaker 2: it was going to be every week. No, she was 443 00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:09,420 Speaker 2: just as happy as could be. She just kept being 444 00:25:09,460 --> 00:25:12,380 Speaker 2: her best right where she was. And I really believe 445 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 2: it was these years of serving behind the scenes that 446 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:19,850 Speaker 2: got us prepared for where we are today. The scripture says, 447 00:25:20,230 --> 00:25:25,330 Speaker 2: though your beginning was small, your latter end will greatly increase. Amen. 448 00:25:27,550 --> 00:25:30,990 Speaker 2: You may feel like you're in a small season today. 449 00:25:31,290 --> 00:25:32,870 Speaker 2: You're not seeing a lot of growth. 450 00:25:33,210 --> 00:25:34,430 Speaker 1: Not much is changing. 451 00:25:34,770 --> 00:25:38,450 Speaker 2: But if you will be faithful where you are, increase 452 00:25:38,630 --> 00:25:42,310 Speaker 2: is coming your way. Your latter days will be greater 453 00:25:42,510 --> 00:25:45,590 Speaker 2: than your former days. Some of you think that you've 454 00:25:45,650 --> 00:25:47,129 Speaker 2: already seen God's best. 455 00:25:47,750 --> 00:25:48,430 Speaker 1: You're blessed. 456 00:25:48,930 --> 00:25:51,990 Speaker 2: Your family is prosperous. You're living out your dreams. And 457 00:25:52,010 --> 00:25:55,470 Speaker 2: that's great. But God is saying here, you haven't seen 458 00:25:55,550 --> 00:25:59,869 Speaker 2: anything yet. The victories you've experienced in your past are 459 00:25:59,890 --> 00:26:02,770 Speaker 2: going to pale in comparison to what God has in 460 00:26:02,790 --> 00:26:05,830 Speaker 2: your future. You may think you're far down the road, 461 00:26:06,150 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 2: but in God's eyes, where you are right now is 462 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 2: just the starting point. You haven't touched the surface of 463 00:26:12,220 --> 00:26:15,020 Speaker 2: what God has in store. If 10 is the highest 464 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 2: and zero is the starting point, God is saying, you're 465 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:18,400 Speaker 2: just coming. 466 00:26:18,220 --> 00:26:19,050 Speaker 1: Up to zero. 467 00:26:19,530 --> 00:26:22,290 Speaker 2: You think you've done well. You think your business has grown. 468 00:26:22,350 --> 00:26:24,850 Speaker 2: You think your family's been blessed. No, you need to 469 00:26:24,910 --> 00:26:29,190 Speaker 2: get ready to abound. Get ready to be catapulted. When 470 00:26:29,230 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 2: you abound, your income now will become your tithe. God 471 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 2: has explosive blessings coming your way. 472 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,210 Speaker 1: You have not entered in to your fifth year yet. 473 00:26:42,250 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 2: What you've seen God do in the past is just 474 00:26:44,890 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 2: a spillover from your roots developing. But when you really 475 00:26:47,859 --> 00:26:50,340 Speaker 2: hit your fifth year, God is going to shoot you 476 00:26:50,420 --> 00:26:52,619 Speaker 2: up to a level that you never even dreamed of. 477 00:26:53,180 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 2: Keep being your best. Don't despise the day of small beginnings. 478 00:26:57,310 --> 00:26:59,810 Speaker 2: Every day you get up and are faithful, your roots 479 00:26:59,850 --> 00:27:02,430 Speaker 2: are going down deeper. If it's taken a long time, 480 00:27:02,630 --> 00:27:05,210 Speaker 2: that just means you've got a big future. When you 481 00:27:05,250 --> 00:27:08,230 Speaker 2: don't see anything happening, instead of getting discouraged, no, just 482 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,580 Speaker 2: keep reminding yourself, I'm not stuck. My roots are going 483 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:15,460 Speaker 2: down deeper. I'm getting prepared for increase. I want to 484 00:27:15,500 --> 00:27:19,340 Speaker 2: declare this over each one of you. Because you are faithful, 485 00:27:19,940 --> 00:27:23,540 Speaker 2: you will abound. You will see God's blessings and favor 486 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:27,620 Speaker 2: in greater ways. New doors are going to open, new opportunities, 487 00:27:27,980 --> 00:27:33,190 Speaker 2: new victories, new relationships. Because you are faithful, your roots 488 00:27:33,230 --> 00:27:37,170 Speaker 2: are going down deeper. No storm can topple you. No 489 00:27:37,250 --> 00:27:41,490 Speaker 2: adversity can stop you. No enemy can defeat you. Because 490 00:27:41,550 --> 00:27:46,410 Speaker 2: you are faithful, your latter days will greatly increase. Your 491 00:27:46,510 --> 00:27:49,590 Speaker 2: future will be brighter than your past. You will see 492 00:27:49,690 --> 00:27:53,070 Speaker 2: every dream, every desire, every promise God put in your heart. 493 00:27:53,310 --> 00:27:56,169 Speaker 2: I believe and declare you will see that come to pass. 494 00:27:56,500 --> 00:27:57,859 Speaker 1: Amen. Do you receive that today? 495 00:28:06,460 --> 00:28:09,439 Speaker 2: The scripture says, write the vision and make it plain 496 00:28:09,500 --> 00:28:12,940 Speaker 2: to see. There's something powerful about writing down. 497 00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:13,820 Speaker 1: What you're believing for. 498 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,379 Speaker 2: That's why I'd love to send you my new I 499 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,510 Speaker 2: Believe Planner. It's a place to write down your dreams, 500 00:28:19,750 --> 00:28:23,470 Speaker 2: your prayers, and the promises you're standing on. What stays 501 00:28:23,530 --> 00:28:26,389 Speaker 2: before your eyes has a way of staying in your heart. 502 00:28:26,990 --> 00:28:29,389 Speaker 2: Every time you see what you've written, let it be 503 00:28:29,410 --> 00:28:31,910 Speaker 2: a reminder to thank God that it's already at work 504 00:28:31,970 --> 00:28:33,700 Speaker 2: behind the scenes, even. 505 00:28:33,580 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: When you can't see it. 506 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:36,900 Speaker 2: As you keep your faith in front of you day 507 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:41,260 Speaker 2: after day, you'll be encouraged, your expectation will grow, and 508 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,060 Speaker 2: you'll begin to see God bring those dreams to pass. 509 00:28:44,780 --> 00:28:48,180 Speaker 3: The I Believe Planner is a beautiful new resource designed 510 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,180 Speaker 3: to help you believe God for more in your health, 511 00:28:51,460 --> 00:28:55,380 Speaker 3: your family, your future. Inside, you'll find a weekly I 512 00:28:55,420 --> 00:28:59,270 Speaker 3: Believe Declaration to frame your mindset and shift the atmosphere 513 00:28:59,330 --> 00:29:03,610 Speaker 3: with God's Word. daily planning, to-dos, and prayer prompts, and 514 00:29:03,690 --> 00:29:07,130 Speaker 3: space to reflect and record God's faithfulness in your life. 515 00:29:07,650 --> 00:29:10,469 Speaker 3: Each month brings a fresh scripture and theme, plus a 516 00:29:10,590 --> 00:29:14,190 Speaker 3: QR code linking to an exclusive message from Joel to 517 00:29:14,260 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 3: keep you encouraged all year long. This 15-month planner will 518 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,140 Speaker 3: inspire you for the rest of this year and set 519 00:29:21,180 --> 00:29:25,620 Speaker 3: you on a course for breakthrough throughout 2027. It's yours 520 00:29:25,700 --> 00:29:28,310 Speaker 3: as a thank you for your gift to the ministry today. 521 00:29:28,930 --> 00:29:32,270 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of The I Believe Planner, 522 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:39,540 Speaker 3: available this month by visiting us at joelosteen.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 523 00:29:40,340 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: Don't just carry your dreams in your heart. Put them 524 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: on paper. 525 00:29:43,870 --> 00:29:46,410 Speaker 2: And as you read them each day, keep thanking God 526 00:29:46,470 --> 00:29:49,300 Speaker 2: that He's working. Victoria and I are praying for you 527 00:29:49,340 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 2: and your family every day. Thanks so much for your 528 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 2: prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this message 529 00:29:56,340 --> 00:29:59,460 Speaker 2: of hope to people around the world. A special thank 530 00:29:59,500 --> 00:30:01,980 Speaker 2: you to our Champion of Hope partners for all you 531 00:30:02,030 --> 00:30:05,430 Speaker 2: do to make the ministry possible. Until we meet again, 532 00:30:05,730 --> 00:30:07,770 Speaker 2: may the Lord keep you and bless you. 533 00:30:08,700 --> 00:30:12,020 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of The I Believe Planner, 534 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:19,260 Speaker 3: available this month by visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 535 00:30:19,660 --> 00:30:22,570 Speaker 3: With an additional gift, you can also receive the I 536 00:30:22,620 --> 00:30:26,710 Speaker 3: Believe in His Word collection, featuring the Passion Translation New 537 00:30:26,770 --> 00:30:30,969 Speaker 3: Testament Reader's Edition, alongside the I Believe Planner, so you 538 00:30:31,010 --> 00:30:34,670 Speaker 3: can carry God's Word with you every single day, right 539 00:30:34,730 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 3: alongside the promises you're standing on. Don't wait until 2027 540 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:43,120 Speaker 3: to believe God for more. This is your moment. You 541 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:49,130 Speaker 3: can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging 542 00:30:49,230 --> 00:30:53,610 Speaker 3: on to joelostein.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 hours 543 00:30:53,670 --> 00:30:53,810 Speaker 3: a day.