1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is joelan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks. 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 2: For supporting the ministry. 4 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: We believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: and favor filled. 6 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 2: God bless you today and enjoy the message. God bless you. 7 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: It's great to have you with us today. 8 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: If you're ever in our area, please stop buying be 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: a part of one of our services. 10 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 2: We'd love to have you. 11 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week. 12 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: We have a daily podcast. You can download our YouTube channel, 13 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: watch the messages anytime. You can follow us on social media. 14 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. I like to start 15 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: with something funny and I heard about this. 16 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:41,639 Speaker 2: New police recruit. 17 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: He was taking his final exam in front of a 18 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: large classroom. The sergeant asked him, what would you do 19 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: if you had to arrest your own mother in law. 20 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: Without missing your beat? He said, call for back up. 21 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: All right, Joall, I got a great mother law. But 22 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: here we go. Ready, this is my I am what 23 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 24 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 2: I can do what it says I can do. 25 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: Today I will be taught the word of God, I 26 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 27 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 28 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 29 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: prosper where you're planted. It's easy to think when I 30 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: get out of this challenge, I'll be my best when 31 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: this pandemic is over, I'll pursue my dreams. When I 32 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: don't have this trouble at work, then I'll get my 33 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: passion back. But while you're waiting for things to change, 34 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: you're not supposed to put your dreams on hold. God 35 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: wants to prosper you in the difficulty. He wants to 36 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 1: show your favor in the famine. Don't wait for things 37 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: to turn around. Then you'll have a good attitude. You 38 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: have to be your best where you are. God doesn't 39 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: have to bring you out of the trouble. He can 40 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: cause you to flourish in the trouble. You may be 41 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: in a slow sea. You're waiting for doors to open, 42 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: hoping to meet the right person, looking for a new position, 43 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: but nothing's happening. It's tempting to get discouraged. God, when 44 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: are you going to do something while you're waiting you 45 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: need to take steps to grow, develop your skills, be 46 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: good to others. What you're doing while the situation is 47 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: not changing will determine whether you prosper where you're planted 48 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 1: or whether you just endure it. When God sees you 49 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: giving your all when things aren't improving, still pursuing your goals, 50 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: still serving, giving, excelling, He may not bring you out 51 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: of the challenge when you thought, but He will cause 52 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: you to prosper. 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: In the challenge. 54 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: What's a greater testimony that God brought you out of 55 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: the trouble, or that He calls you to flourish in 56 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: the trouble, That God stop the pandemic, or that you 57 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: prospered in the pandemic. Jeremiah twenty nine eleven is a 58 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: very well known scripture. It says, these are the plans 59 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: I have for you, says the Lord plans to prosper 60 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: you and not to harm you. Plans to give you 61 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: a future and a hope. It's interesting the context this 62 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: was written in. The people weren't in a good place, 63 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: It wasn't an uptime a joyful moment. King Nebukanezar had 64 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: just taken the Israelites out of Jerusalem, as captives and 65 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: sent them to Babylon. Now the Israelites were living there 66 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: in exile. Not able to go home. Was a great disappointment. 67 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: Their whole world was turned upside down. I'm sure they 68 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: were praying, God, deliver us, please get us out of here. 69 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: But the word of the Lord came saying that they 70 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: were going to be there another seventy years. You can 71 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: imagine how discouraged they were, thinking they had seen their 72 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: best days. God knew they were about to give up 73 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: on their dreams lose their passion. The prophet Jeremiah showed 74 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: up and told them to do something significant. He said 75 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: in verse five, build houses and live in them. Plant 76 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: gardens and eat the produce. Give your daughters in marriage. Increase, 77 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: do not decrease. Prosper in the land which you were 78 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: in is exile. God didn't say, I'm going to get 79 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: you out so I can prosper you. I'm going to 80 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: free you from this captivity so you can build dream 81 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: See increase. 82 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: He said, I'm going. 83 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: To prosper you where you're planted. I'm going to prosper 84 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,799 Speaker 1: you in exile. I'm going to show you my favor 85 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: while you're in Babylon. But notice they had to do something. 86 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: He said, build houses, plant gardens, marry, pursue goals. They 87 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: could have said, God, that doesn't make sense. This isn't 88 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: even our land. Once you free us, then we'll get 89 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: our passion back. No, in captivity, in disappointment, dealing with loss. 90 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 2: You have to take steps of faith. 91 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: You can't sit back and think about what didn't work out? 92 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 2: Why did this happen? 93 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: Be proactive, look for opportunities, shine at work, be a 94 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: blessing wherever you go. God was telling them, I'm not 95 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: going to turn this around immediately. You're going to be 96 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: here for a while. But while you're here, you don't 97 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: have to live defeated. You don't have to give up. 98 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 2: On your dreams. 99 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: My plans are to prosper you even while you're in captivity. 100 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to prosper you even though you're in exile. 101 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: We all have times where what we're hoping for is 102 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: not happening as fast as we would like. We're believing 103 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: for a breakthrough, to meet the right person, see our 104 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: family restored. 105 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 2: But it's been a long time. It's tempting to. 106 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: Get sour, lose our passion. But while you're waiting instead 107 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: of dragging through the day. If you'll start being productive, 108 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: building houses, so to speak, pursuing dreams, using your gifts, 109 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: God will cause you to prosper in exile. He'll prosper 110 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: you on the enemy's territory. He's not waiting to bring 111 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: you out. He'll prosper you in the pandemic. He'll show 112 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: you his goodness while you're in captivity. 113 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: Like the Israelites. 114 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: Life may have thrown you a cur you feel like 115 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: you're in exile, gone through a disappointment, break up, a 116 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: child's off course. You could settle where you are, accept 117 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: that it's not going to work out. No, get your 118 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: passion back. You're not in exile by yourself. You're not 119 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: alone in captivity. The creator of the universe is right 120 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: there with you. You may not understand it, but it's a 121 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: part of his plan. If you're going to reach your 122 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: highest potential, you have to keep doing the right thing 123 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: when the wrong thing is happening. Keep believing, keep dreaming, 124 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: keep growing. God didn't bring you this far to leave you. 125 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: It may not turn around as soon as you would like, 126 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: but how do you know God is not going to 127 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 1: prosper you in the difficulty cause you to flourish in 128 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: the fire, take you to new levels in the midst 129 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: of that challenge. 130 00:06:58,200 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: We've all seen this with the pandemic. 131 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: Seem like we was getting better and then another strain. 132 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: We see the conflicts in Afghanistan, the earthquakes, the hurricanes. 133 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: In one sense, we could say we're in Babylon. There 134 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: are difficulties, situations that are not changing. 135 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: Here's the key. 136 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: We're not supposed to surrender. Put our dreams on hold. 137 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: It's too much to overcome. Just endure till he comes. 138 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: God is saying to us what he said to the Israelites. 139 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: Build your houses, pursue. 140 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: Your dreams, go after your destiny. The situation around us 141 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: doesn't have to change. 142 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: God will prosper us in Babylon. 143 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: He'll prosper us despite what's happening around us. Don't live 144 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: with the survivor mentality. I can just make it through. 145 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: I'm on the enemy's territory. We may be on the 146 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: enemy's territory, but we are God's property. God controls the universe. 147 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: He doesn't need permission from anyone to bless you. When 148 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: it's your time to be promoted, to see, increase, to build, 149 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: to take new ground. 150 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: No person can stop him. 151 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: No bad break, no loss, no pandemic, all the forces 152 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: of darkness cannot stop what God has for you. The 153 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: scripture says, the darker it gets in the world, the 154 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: brighter is going to get in the church. You and 155 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: I are the church. The church is not a building, 156 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: it's people. The darker it gets around you, the more 157 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: you're going to shine, the more you're going to stand. 158 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 2: Out, the more you're going to see favor. 159 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: Don't expect God to deliver you from every Babylon, but 160 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:40,959 Speaker 1: you can't expect him to cause you. 161 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 2: To prosper in every Babylon. He may not take you. 162 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: Out of that negative environment at work, but He will 163 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: promote you in the midst of it. And if God 164 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: is not delivering you from the difficulty, maybe that's a 165 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: sign that you're supposed to shine in the difficulty. His 166 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: plans are to for you. He didn't say that when 167 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: everything was going great. He said that when they were 168 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: in captivity. If you will have the right attitude, God's 169 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: going to cause you to prosper despite what's coming against you. 170 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: He's going to cause you to flourish on the enemy's territory, 171 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: not in Jerusalem, that's expected, but in Babylon, that way 172 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: people will know the favor of God is on your line. 173 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: My father went through a time when felt like he 174 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: was in Babylon. Back in the nineteen fifties. He had 175 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: been pastoring a successful church. They'd just built a new 176 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: auditorium held a thousand people. 177 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 2: His dreams were coming to pass. 178 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: Then my sister Lisa was born with something like cerebral palsy, 179 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: and my father went to a hotel for a few 180 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: days to be alone. 181 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 2: He read the scripture like he was reading it for. 182 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: The first time, and he saw how Jesus went about 183 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: healing people and performing miracles. He came back to his 184 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: church with a new passion. He thought they would be excited, 185 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: but they didn't like his new message of faith and victory. 186 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 2: It didn't fit their tradition. 187 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: There was so much contention he ended up having to 188 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: leave the church. He had spent years pouring into those people. 189 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: Now there was nothing to show for it. He was 190 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: in exile, so to speak. But I've learned nothing happens 191 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: without God's permission. We may not understand it, it may 192 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: not seem fair, but God knows what he's doing. He 193 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: wouldn't have allowed it if it was going to keep 194 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: you from your purpose. When you feel like you're in exile, 195 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: you've been pushed out, having to start over, gone through 196 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: a divorce, been betrayed, dealing with the loss, it's tempting 197 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: to settle. 198 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 2: Get discouraged, think you've seen your best days. 199 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: That's when you have to dig down deep, say God, 200 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: I don't understand it. It doesn't make sense to be 201 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 1: but I trust you. I know you're still on the throne. 202 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: You said your plans for me are for good. 203 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 2: While I'm in Babylon. 204 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: I'm still going to praise you, still going to be 205 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: my best, still going to pursue my dreams. 206 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 2: I'm still going to believe for your favor. 207 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: My father was disappointed because, like the wind was knocked 208 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: out of him, But he didn't sit around in self pity. 209 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: He didn't get bitter. God, why am I in exile? 210 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: Why did I get pushed out? He and my mother 211 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: went out and found an old rundown building used to 212 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: be a feed store. They started Lakewood with ninety people. 213 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: He had a thousand members before, now just a fraction. 214 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: He had a beautiful brick sanctuary. Now this little Wood building. 215 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: Sometimes to reach your destiny, you have to go backwards 216 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: so God can take you further forward. God doesn't always 217 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:47,839 Speaker 1: do things in a. 218 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 2: Straight line in what makes sense. 219 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: There will be closed doors, disappointments, people that walk away, 220 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 1: things you didn't see coming. 221 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 2: You look up and you're in Babylon. 222 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: You great in Jerusalem, but things unexpectedly changed in these times. 223 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 2: It don't make sense. 224 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: He came down with an illness, lost a main contract, 225 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: the friend betrayed you. You have to remind yourself that 226 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: God is still in control. Being in Babylon is not 227 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: a surprise to him. 228 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 2: Don't panic. 229 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: God knows how to take what was meant for harm 230 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: and turn it to your advantage. He may not deliver 231 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: you from it, but He will prosper. 232 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 2: You in it. 233 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: Being in Babylon is a test, going through things you 234 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: don't understand, things that are not fair. 235 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 2: That shows what your character is. 236 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: That shows what you're capable of handling, How much God 237 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: can trust you with, how much influence you can carry, 238 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: how much responsibility he can give you. What you do 239 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 1: in the tough times will determine how high you rise. 240 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,719 Speaker 1: My father could have slacked off. God, When you give 241 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: me a big church. I'll be my best again when 242 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: I have a thousand and members. Then i'll study, then 243 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: I'll prepare and do my best. No, my father preached 244 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: to those ninety people like he was preaching to thousands, 245 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: never missed a service. While he was waiting for promotion, 246 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: waiting for growth, waiting for favor. 247 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 2: He developed his gifts. He served, He visited people in 248 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 2: the hospital, He helped those in need. 249 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: Ten years went by, the church still had less than 250 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: two hundred people. Those were very important years, years of testing, 251 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: years of proving God was seeing what my father was 252 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: made of. 253 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 2: Daddy proved that he. 254 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: Would do the right thing when it was hard, that 255 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 1: he would be his best when things weren't growing, that 256 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 1: he would build dream plan even though he was in Babylon. 257 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:49,719 Speaker 1: Nineteen seventy two, it was like God opened up a fawcet. 258 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: People started coming to the church from all over the city. 259 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: It grew to a thousand, then two thousand, then four, 260 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: then eight. 261 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 2: Here we are today. 262 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: My father would have never reached his destiny without being 263 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: pushed out of that church. What was inside of him 264 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: was bigger than the denomination he was in. 265 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 2: Don't fight the closed. 266 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: Doors, the disappointments, the people that walk away. 267 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 2: You don't know what God is up to. 268 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: Sometimes he has to move you away from what you're 269 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: comfortable with. 270 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 2: You can't see it, but he knows something is limiting you. 271 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: You may go through these seasons of testing, seasons approving. 272 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 2: It's easy to get. 273 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: Discouraged slack off, but you need to keep being your best. 274 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: Nothing is changing, that's okay, keep doing the right thing. 275 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: God told the Israelites You're going to be in Babylon 276 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,239 Speaker 1: for some years. I'm not going to turn this around overnight. 277 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: But while you're here, don't put your life on hold. Build, plant, marry, increase. 278 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: We're all going to. 279 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: Have these Babylon seasons where nothing is improving. Like my father, 280 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: you being your best but not seeing growth. Keep building, 281 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: keep pursuing, keep serving, pass those tests. God may not 282 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: bring you out of Babylon, but at the right time, 283 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: he will cause you to prosper in Babylon. 284 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 2: This is what happened with Joseph in the Scripture. 285 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: At seventeen years old, God gave him a dream that 286 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: he would lead a nation and have great influence. He 287 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: was excited, but his brothers not so much. They didn't 288 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: like the fact that he had a big dream and 289 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: that there was favor on his life. They were taking 290 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: care of sheep in another city. His father asked Joseph 291 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: to go check on them. When they saw Joseph coming, 292 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: they thought this was their big chance to get rid 293 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: of him. 294 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 2: They threw him into a pit. 295 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: They were going to leave him there, but a caravan 296 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: of Ishmaelites came traveling through. 297 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 2: They ended up selling him as a slave. 298 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: Joseph was in a foreign country working for a high 299 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: ranking military officer named potterphar Here. 300 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: A few weeks earlier, his future looked so bright. 301 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: He was wearing the coat of many colors that his 302 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: father had given him, his father's favorite child. 303 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: But life has a way. 304 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: Of taking twist in turns things that we didn't see coming. 305 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: Now Joseph found himself in Babylon, so to speak, in exile, 306 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: in captivity, just like the people in Jeremiah's day. Joseph 307 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: had every right to be bitter discouraged. 308 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 2: He didn't do anything wrong. 309 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: But Joseph understood this principle that there are times we're 310 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: going to find ourselves in exile. Instead of sitting around 311 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: in self pity, he kept being his best, using his 312 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: gifts and talents. He served with such excellence that potterpher 313 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: noticed him. He stood out from among all the other staff. 314 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: Potterphar put him in charge of his whole house. The 315 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: scripture says that Joseph became a favorite of Potterphar. It's 316 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: interesting seeing how Joseph was a favorite of his father. 317 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: That door closed he went into exile. But notice how 318 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 1: God works. If you keep using your gifts, keep being 319 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: your best, favor will follow you into exile. He became 320 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: the favorite of his boss. The favor didn't leave him 321 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 1: just because he changed locations. 322 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: Didn't leave him because. 323 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: People were jealous. He had a bad break, he was 324 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 1: in captivity. The favor on your life didn't leave you 325 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: because you're in a pandemic. Somebody walked away, you had 326 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: a disappointment. 327 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 2: It's still there. 328 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 1: Keep shining where you are, keep excelling, keep serving, keep giving. 329 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: The right people are going to be for you, The 330 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: right doors are going to open. Being in Babylon did 331 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: not stop the blessing God put on your life. Genesis 332 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: thirty nine says the Lord begin to bless Potterphar because 333 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: of Joseph. Potiphar was an influential, successful leader. You would 334 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: think Joseph would be blessed because he worked for Potterphar, 335 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: but it. 336 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 2: Was the other way around. 337 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: Potterphar was blessed because of Joseph, a slave, a foreigner 338 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: in captivity that had the favor of God. Wherever you go, 339 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: there is favor on your life. The location doesn't stop 340 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: the favor. Joseph was a handsome young man. Potterphar's wife 341 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: noticed how attractive he was, and she tried. 342 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 2: To seduce him. 343 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: Joseph could have let his guard down, thought big deal, 344 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 1: have nothing to lose, I'm a slave. But Joseph had 345 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: so much integrity, he was so honorable that he wouldn't 346 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 1: give in. She lied about Joseph, falsely accused him. 347 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 2: Poterphar was furious. He had Joseph put in prison. 348 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 1: Now he's not just a slave, not just in a 349 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: foreign country, but he's a prisoner on the way to 350 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: your destiny. Don't be surprised if there are two whist 351 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: people that lie about you, people that try to get 352 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: you to compromise, jealous family members, co workers that play politics. 353 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: How we handled these times will determine whether we prosper 354 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: where we are or whether we get stuck where we are. 355 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 1: Joseph was in prison, but he didn't get sour. He 356 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: didn't start complaining. He kept being his best, still serving, 357 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: still using his leadership skills. Verse twenty one says Joseph 358 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: had favor with the chief jailer. Before long he was 359 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 1: put in charge of all the other prisoners. And everything 360 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: that happened in the prison. God didn't deliver him out 361 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: of the trouble. He caused him to flourish in the trouble. 362 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: He prospered in the prison. His environment didn't change, but 363 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: he kept seeing favor promotion despite the bad breaks. One night, 364 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: one of the prisoners, Pharaoh's former butler, had a dream. 365 00:19:58,520 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 2: He didn't know what it meant. 366 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: Joseph had a gift of interpreting dreams. He could have thought, not. 367 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 2: Going to help. You have enough problems of my own. 368 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: He could have been bitter, but he used his gifts 369 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: to help the butler. He interpreted his dream. What's interesting 370 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: is that his gift worked in the prison. Your gifts 371 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: don't quit working because you had a bad break, You 372 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 1: went through a disappointment, you lost a loved one. You're 373 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: in Babylon. Use what God has given you be good 374 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: to others. Don't put your gifts on hold because things 375 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: haven't turned out the way you thought. Your gifts are 376 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: going to make room for you. Your gifts are going to 377 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 1: cause doors to open. Your gifts are a key to 378 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: you reaching your destiny. Joseph interpreted the butler's dream told 379 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: him that in two days he was going to get 380 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 1: out of prison. 381 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: All Joseph asked for. 382 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: In return was for the butler to put in a 383 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:55,679 Speaker 1: good word for him. The butler agreed, got out of 384 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: prison for good all about Joseph. Two more years passed 385 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: another opportunity for Joseph to be discouraged, but Joseph wouldn't 386 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 1: take the bait. He just kept being his best, being 387 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: good to people that were not good to him, serving 388 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,959 Speaker 1: in a country that he didn't want to be in. 389 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: When you pass these tests, like Joseph, you're not only 390 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 1: going to prosper each step of the way, but God 391 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: is going to do some unusual things. 392 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 2: He's preparing you to go where you've never dreamed. 393 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: As you keep doing the right thing, you're proving to 394 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: God that he can trust you. 395 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: We always want God to deliver us from the challenge. 396 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 2: I'm uncomfortable. 397 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 1: I don't like the opposition. These people aren't treating me right. 398 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: But if you will do like Joseph and say God, 399 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: even if you don't deliver me right now. 400 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 2: I'm gonna keep shining. I'm gonna keep. 401 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: Praising, keep using my gifts, keep being my best. Then 402 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 1: you'll not only see God's goodness along the way, but 403 00:21:55,760 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: you'll come into some explosive blessings, blessings that can pulch 404 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: you ahead where suddenly you're promoted, suddenly you get well, 405 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: suddenly you meet the right person, Suddenly you're thrust to a. 406 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 2: New level of your destiny. 407 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: One night, the pharaoh had a dream the leader of 408 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: the country, and he didn't understand what it meant. The 409 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: butler suddenly remembered Joseph. Two years after he interpreted his dream, 410 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: he said to the Pharaoh, there's a young man in prison, 411 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: a slave named Joseph. 412 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,640 Speaker 2: He can interpret your dream. Think about this. 413 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,479 Speaker 1: If Joseph had not used his gift to interpret the 414 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: butler's dream, if he had been upset in self pity, 415 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: we wouldn't be talking about him. That's what Jeremiah was 416 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: saying to the Israelites. While you're in Babylon. Don't waste 417 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,239 Speaker 1: these years being discouraged, thinking of all the reasons it 418 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: hadn't worked out. 419 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 2: No build dream, plant, increase. 420 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: He was saying, use your gifts, stretch your faith, and 421 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: you'll prosper in Babylon. You'll see faith in captivity, the 422 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,199 Speaker 1: scripture says the Pharaoh sent word for Joseph, and he 423 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: was quickly brought from the prison to stand before Pharaoh. 424 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: He had been in captivity thirteen years. It seemed like 425 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: that was his destiny. But God knows how to quickly 426 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: turn things around. He can quickly turn your business around, 427 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: quickly turn your health around, quickly turn your family around. 428 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 1: Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh's dream. He was so impressed he 429 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: made Joseph the prime Minister of Egypt, second in command 430 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: only to the Pharaoh. 431 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 2: Looking back, we can see how. 432 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: All those steps were necessary for Joseph to get to 433 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 1: the throne. The bad breaks, the betrayals, delays, disappointments, they 434 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: were all a part of God's plan. Had Joseph not 435 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: kept a good attitude, not used his gifts, not bit 436 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: his best, he would have gotten stuck. 437 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 2: God is going to the dots in your life. 438 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: You may not understand everything along the way, but you 439 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: can be sure that God knows what he's doing. He 440 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: may not deliver you out of every situation on your timetable, 441 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: but if you'll stay in faith, he'll cause you to 442 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: flourish at every step of the way. He'll prosper you 443 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: wherever you're planted. A few years later, Joseph had a 444 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 1: son that he named Ephrium. Ephrium means productive, fruitful. He 445 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: said in verse fifty two, I've named him this because 446 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: the Lord has made me prosper us in the land 447 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: of my suffering. He was saying, I had bad breaks, 448 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 1: things weren't fair, but God caused. 449 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:46,199 Speaker 2: Me to prosper despite what tried to stop me. 450 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: If you're going to have an Ephrium, if you're going 451 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: to see God prosper you in the midst of the difficulty, 452 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: you have to stay productive, keep using your gifts, keep stretching, 453 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,439 Speaker 1: keep being good to people. Don't put your dream on 454 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: hold because you're in Babylon. Like Joseph, God can make 455 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: you prosperous in the affliction, not when you get out, 456 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,920 Speaker 1: but in the pandemic, in the trouble, in the disappointment, 457 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: you can shine. You can still build, still see great relationships. 458 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 2: Still accomplish your dreams. This is what the apostle Paul did. 459 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: He spent the last few years of his life in prison. 460 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 1: He could have been sour, thinking man, this is how 461 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:31,639 Speaker 1: it's going to end in Babylon, in exile. But Paul 462 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,160 Speaker 1: knew that those prison bars couldn't keep his gifts from 463 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,959 Speaker 1: coming out. While he was in prison, he wrote books 464 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 1: of the Bible scriptures that we all quote today. I 465 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: can do all things through Christ, God will do exceedingly, 466 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: abundantly above what we ask. Be strong in the Lord 467 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: and the power of his mind. He wasn't complaining in 468 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: the prison. He was flourishing in the prison. While he 469 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: was in captivity, he was writing books that would encourage 470 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 1: us two thousand years later. 471 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 2: If Paul were here, he would. 472 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: Tell you can prosper wherever you're planet. You don't have 473 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: to wait till everything is perfect. You can flourish in 474 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 1: the trouble, see favor in the famine, be promoted in 475 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:19,120 Speaker 1: the pandemic. My challenge today is do what Paul did, 476 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: Do what Joseph did. 477 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 2: Keep being your best where you are. 478 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: I can't promise you that you're going to come out 479 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: of every Babylon overnight. But I can promise you that 480 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:33,719 Speaker 1: God will prosper you in Babylon. He'll show you favor 481 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: on the enemy's territory. 482 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 2: His plans for you are for good. 483 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,400 Speaker 1: He sees your commitment. He sees you doing the right 484 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: thing when it's hard. He sees you being. 485 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 2: Your best when you're not getting the credit. Your time 486 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:48,439 Speaker 2: is coming. 487 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 1: I believe and declare you're about to see God prosper 488 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: you despite what's trying to stop you. You're going to 489 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:00,639 Speaker 1: see uncommon favor, favor that catapults you ahead come in 490 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:05,719 Speaker 1: to pass negative situations, turning around new levels of your destiny. 491 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 2: In Jesus' name, and if you receive it, can you 492 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 2: say him in Today? 493 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 494 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 495 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 496 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 1: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 497 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 1: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 498 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: born again. We'd love to send you some information on 499 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: your new walk with the Lord. Just text the number 500 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: on the screen, or you can go to the website. 501 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 502 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: and keep God first place. 503 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 3: Three minutes can such a small amount of time make 504 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 3: a big difference to your day to turn worry into confidence, 505 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 3: frustration to hope, defeat to victory. Maybe you just need 506 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 3: a boost of faith. 507 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 1: When we put God first place, get our thinking in 508 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 1: line with his, Even a small seed of time. 509 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 2: Can make a huge difference. 510 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,080 Speaker 1: We have a new resource called three minute Mornings. Start 511 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: your day the blessed way. My challenge is when you 512 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 1: wake up, before you leave the house, take three minutes 513 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: to speak blessings over your life and to declare God's favor. 514 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: Get your mind going in the right direction. When you 515 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 1: do that, you're setting yourself up for a blessed, victorious day. 516 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 517 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 3: of any size to the ministry, this month, Joel and 518 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 3: Victoria would like to send you this just released, life 519 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 3: giving new daily devotional. Before your feet hit the ground 520 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 3: or go out the door, have your heart experience a 521 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 3: bit of heaven. Set your mind on the things above 522 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 3: with our new three minute Mornings devotional. With this new 523 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 3: three hundred and sixty five day devotional, three Minute Mornings 524 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 3: You'll experience God showering down his favor like never before. 525 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 3: You'll focus on the better that is coming and fully 526 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 3: realize the freedom of not worrying about tomorrow. 527 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: Victoria, I pray for you and your family every day. 528 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your prayer and support. You're 529 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: making a difference all over the world. Remember you can 530 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: watch the services online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, 531 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: listen on Sirius XM. 532 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 2: But until we meet again, mid the Lord bless you 533 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 2: and keep you. 534 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Three Minute Mornings today. 535 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 3: Visit Joelostein dot com or call eighty eight five six 536 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 3: seven Joel