1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: go back to school, but to come back and move 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 21 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 22 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 23 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 4: the ministry. 24 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 25 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with a friend. 26 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 4: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 27 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 4: your life. God bless you always a joy to come 28 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 4: into your homes. We love you, and we know God. 29 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 3: Rewards the people that seek after Him. 30 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 4: I believe that's you, or you wouldn't have tuned in today, 31 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 4: or you wouldn't have come out or just bless you. 32 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 4: And if you're ever in our area, I hope you'll 33 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 4: stop by and be a part of one of our services. 34 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 4: We would love to have you. But thanks for tuning 35 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 4: in today. I like to get started each week with 36 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 4: something kind of funny, and I heard about this old 37 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 4: country farmer. He was taking his nephew camping for the 38 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 4: first time. 39 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 3: His nephew had five. 40 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 4: Degrees and was one of the smartest men alive. They 41 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 4: set their tent up and quickly fell asleep. The middle 42 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 4: of the night, the farmer said to the nephew, look up, 43 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 4: what do you see. The nephew said, I see millions 44 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 4: of stars. He said, I know that, But what does 45 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 4: that tell you? He said, astronomically, that tells me there 46 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 4: are billions of galaxies. Meteorologically, that tells me is going 47 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 4: to be a beautiful day. Theologically, that tells me God 48 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 4: is a great creator. 49 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:14,119 Speaker 3: What does it tell you? 50 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 4: The old farmer shook his head, said, it tells me 51 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 4: somebody stole our tent. All right, hold up your bible. 52 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 4: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 53 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 4: I am what it says I am. I have what 54 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 4: it says I have. I can do what it says 55 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 4: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 56 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 4: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 57 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 4: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 58 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 4: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 59 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 4: about choosing faith instead of fear. Now, all through the day, 60 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 4: we have the choice to either believe that God is 61 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 4: in control, believe that He's taken care of us, believe 62 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 4: that good things are in store. Or we can go 63 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 4: around worried, expecting the worst, wondering if we're gonna make it. 64 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 4: I hear people say I'm afraid I'm gonna lose my job, 65 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 4: I'm afraid this marriage is not going to last, or 66 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 4: I'm afraid my child is gonna get mixed up with 67 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 4: the wrong crowd. They don't realize it, but they're choosing 68 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 4: fear instead of faith. Fear and faith have something in common. 69 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 4: They both ask us to believe something is going to 70 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 4: happen that we cannot see. 71 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: Fear says, believe the negative. 72 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 4: That pain in your side, that's the same thing your 73 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 4: grandmother died from, probably be the end of you. Faith 74 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 4: says that sickness is not permanent, it's only temporary. Fear 75 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 4: says business is slow, you're gonna go under. Faith says 76 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 4: God is supplying all of your needs. Fear says you've 77 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 4: been through too much. You're never gonna be happy. Faith 78 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 4: says your best days are still out in front of you. 79 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: Here's the key. 80 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 4: What we meditate on is what's gonna take root. If 81 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 4: we go around all day thinking about that fear, and 82 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 4: we let it play again and again, it can become 83 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 4: a reality. 84 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 3: That's what Job said. The thing I feared came upon me. 85 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 4: I had a man tell me not long ago how 86 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 4: everything was going great in his life. He'd recently gotten engaged, 87 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 4: his business was blessed, but instead of enjoying it, instead 88 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 4: of thanking God for it, he said, Joel, I'm afraid 89 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 4: it's not gonna last. I'm afraid it's too good to 90 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 4: be true. I told him what I'm telling you. When 91 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 4: you act on fear like that, you are drawing in 92 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 4: the negative. You are actually helping that fear come to pass. 93 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 4: When that thought comes saying you're doing good, but get ready, 94 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 4: it's going to come to an end, don't let it 95 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 4: take root. Just switch over into faith and say, Father, 96 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 4: you said your favor will last for a lifetime. You 97 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 4: said goodness and mercy will follow me all the days 98 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 4: of my life. 99 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: That's choosing faith instead of fear. I remember one. 100 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 4: Time I was facing a situation that had the potential 101 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 4: to turn out really bad, and it had gone on 102 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 4: for months and months. 103 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 3: And involved other people. 104 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 4: Every morning when I woke up, the first thought that 105 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 4: came to my mind was this is not going to 106 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 4: work out. It's going to cause you a lot of 107 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 4: heart ache. You might as well make plans for defeat. 108 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 4: That's the way fear is. It'll try to dominate your 109 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 4: thought life if you allow it. Fear will keep you 110 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 4: awake at night. Fear will steal your joy, steal your enthusiasm. 111 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 4: I was so tempted to be worried and go around 112 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 4: with that dark cloud following me around. But one day 113 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 4: I heard God say something to me, not out loud, 114 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 4: it was just an impression. 115 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: Down in here. 116 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 4: He said, Joel, if you worry about this and you 117 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 4: keep mulling over all the reasons why it's not going 118 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 4: to work out, then because of your worry, you're going 119 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 4: to allow that to come to pass. But if you 120 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 4: will trust me and use that same energy to believe 121 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 4: instead of worry, then I will turn around and cause 122 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 4: it to work out to your advantage. When I heard that, 123 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 4: I got a new perspective. I realized that worry fear wrong, 124 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 4: thinking that's not just a bad habit that is allowing 125 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 4: the negative to come to pass. I made a decision 126 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 4: from that moment on, I wasn't going to worry about 127 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 4: it anymore. When I was tempted to get discouraged, I 128 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 4: just used that as a reminder to thank God that 129 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 4: he was in control and to thank him that he 130 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 4: was fighting my battles for me. Several months later, that 131 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 4: situation not only resolved in my favor, but it turned 132 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 4: out better than I could even imagine. It was like 133 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 4: God was putting an exclamation point on it, saying, see, Joel, 134 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 4: if you'll just believe, if you'll just trust me, I'll 135 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 4: not only bring you out, but I'll bring you out 136 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 4: better off than you were before. And today we have 137 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 4: so many opportunities to worry and live in fear. People 138 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 4: are worried about the economy, worried about their health, worried 139 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 4: about their children. God is saying to you what he 140 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 4: said to me. Don't use your energy to worry, use 141 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 4: your energy to believe. It takes the same amount of 142 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 4: energy to believe as it does to worry. 143 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 3: It's just as easy to say God is. 144 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 4: Supplying all of my needs as it is to say 145 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 4: I'm never gonna make It takes the same amount of 146 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 4: effort to say I'm going to live a long, healthy 147 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 4: life as it does to say I don't think I'll 148 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 4: ever get well. I hear people say, well, George, I'm 149 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 4: afraid I'm gonna get laid off, and I understand what 150 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 4: they're saying. 151 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 3: They're concerned. 152 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 4: It may be valid, but you can't go around meditating 153 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 4: on that, expecting the worst, expecting to have a bad year. 154 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 4: When you do that, you're using your faith in reverse. 155 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 4: Instead of constantly worrying just say God, my life is 156 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 4: in your hands. I know you're guiding and directing my steps. 157 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 4: And I'm not expecting defeat. I'm not expecting failure. I'm 158 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 4: expecting to have a blessed year. I'm expecting to go 159 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 4: over and not under. Well, you say, Joe, what if 160 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 4: I do that and it doesn't happen. What if you 161 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 4: do it and it does happen. Even if you were 162 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 4: to get laid off, you don't have to get discouraged. 163 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 3: Think well, I knew it wouldn't work for me. 164 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 4: No, you can stay in faith knowing that when one 165 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 4: door closes, God's going to open up another door, and 166 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 4: if you'll keep the right attitude, he'll give you a 167 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 4: better job with better benefits, making better money. Let me 168 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 4: ask you today, are you using your energy to believe? 169 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 4: Or are you using your energy to worry? Are you 170 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 4: expecting God's favor or are you expecting to just barely 171 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 4: get by? Jesus said there in Matthew nine twenty nine, 172 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 4: have what your faith expects. When our son Jonathan was 173 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 4: just a little baby, I was holding him in a 174 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 4: restaurant as we were eating dinner. This couple came up 175 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 4: that we didn't know, just being friendly and started talking 176 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 4: to us, and they were complimenting us on how good 177 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 4: Jonathan was and how quiet he was being. But just 178 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 4: before they left the restaurant, they said, you just wait 179 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 4: till he gets to be about two years old. It's 180 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 4: like he'll turn into a different person. He's good now, 181 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 4: but those terrible twos are coming. I wanted to say 182 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 4: thank you so much for your encouragement. Boy, they really 183 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 4: lifted my spirits. But when we left there, I told Victoria, 184 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 4: I am not receiving that. 185 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 3: It is not going to be the terrible twos for us. 186 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 4: It's going to be the terrific tooths. And you know, 187 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 4: we didn't have a problem with Jonathan when he. 188 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 3: Was two or three or four. 189 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 4: He got to be about ten years old, people started saying, 190 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 4: just wait till he gets to be a teenager. You 191 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 4: talking about giving you problems, giving you a headaches. Well, 192 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 4: Jonathan's been a teenager for almost a year. Do you 193 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 4: know he still hadn't started cursing. He still hadn't gotten rebellious. 194 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 4: He's just as kind as respectful as he's always been. 195 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 4: Next thing people will say, well, just wait till he 196 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 4: turns eighteen gets out on his own. Wait till he 197 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 4: hits forty Joel, when he gets to be seventy. 198 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 3: Y five, I've made up my mind. 199 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 4: I am not gonna let people talk me into settling 200 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 4: for mediocrity. I'm not activating my fears. I'm activating my faith. 201 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 4: We're not expecting our children to cause us problems. We're 202 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 4: expecting them to excel. We're expecting them to do great 203 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 4: things in life. Your children are going to rise to 204 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 4: the level of your expectations. If you expect them to 205 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 4: give you trouble and cause your headaches and knot them 206 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 4: out too much because you're putting your faith in your fears, 207 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 4: you're allowing that to come to pass. Really, it's like 208 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 4: you're believing that in Too many people today are going 209 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 4: around expecting the worst. It's like this lady I heard 210 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 4: about practically every night for years she thought she heard 211 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 4: a burglar downstairs. She would make her husband get up 212 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 4: at least once a week, year after year, and go downstairs, 213 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 4: check it out, make sure everything was all right. Sure enough, 214 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 4: one day she thought she heard something. 215 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:00,040 Speaker 3: She told her. 216 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 4: Husband, get up, get up, somebody is downstairs. He got up, 217 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 4: went down so routinely like he had done a thousand 218 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 4: times before. This time, his eyes got so big he 219 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 4: was staring down the barrel of a gun. 220 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 3: The burglar said, don't make a sound, just. 221 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 4: Give me your valuables. He went and got the valuables, 222 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 4: handed them to the burglar. Burglar turned around, was about 223 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 4: to run off. He said, hey, wait a minute. You 224 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 4: can't leave yet. You got to come upstairs and meet 225 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 4: my wife. He said, she's been expecting you for thirty years. 226 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 4: We got to change what we're expecting, quit expecting the worst, 227 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 4: and start expecting God's favor. I know people that are 228 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 4: being talked in to heaven a bad year. They've listened 229 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 4: to the news report so long. They're expecting their finances 230 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 4: to go down. They're expecting to barely get by. No, 231 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 4: our attitude should be I'm expecting to have my best 232 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 4: year so far. I'm expecting God to prosper me in 233 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 4: the desert. I'm expecting every negative situation to turn around. 234 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 4: And if we're going to stay in faith, we've got 235 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 4: to be careful who our friends are. Be careful who 236 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 4: you associate with. Do you know fear is contagious, Worry 237 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 4: is contagious, Negativity is contagious, if you're around people that 238 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 4: are always complaining and discouraged, that spirit. 239 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 3: Can get off on you. 240 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 4: I read an article that talked about how we can 241 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 4: catch other people's emotions just like we can catch a cold. 242 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 4: They did a study where they gave a group of 243 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 4: people a mild electrical shock, and they measured their brain 244 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 4: waves from the time they heard they were going to 245 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 4: get the shock till the time that was over. What's 246 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 4: interesting is they had another group in the room that 247 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 4: were just there to watch. They measured their brain waves 248 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,680 Speaker 4: as well, and even though they were not getting the shock, 249 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 4: they experienced the same fears as. 250 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: The people that were getting the shock. 251 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 4: The research conclusion was just seeing other people's fears is 252 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 4: enough to make us afraid. If your friends are constantly complaining, 253 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 4: talking about how bad it is and how they're not 254 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 4: gonna make it, and they've got that report of doom 255 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 4: and gloom, let me give you some good advice. Find 256 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 4: some new friends that worry. That fear, that discouragement is contagious. 257 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 4: If you stay around them long enough, there's a good 258 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 4: chance you're gonna catch what they have. I know you 259 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 4: love your friends. You don't have to be rude, don't 260 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 4: go announce to them tomorrow morning. Joel told me you're contagious. Man, 261 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 4: I'm staying away from you. They'll be more tactful than that, 262 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 4: and do me a favor. Don't use my name either. 263 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 4: You can be kind, you can be respectful, but just 264 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 4: gradually begin to pull back and don't spend as much 265 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 4: time with them. You shouldn't go to lunch every day 266 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 4: with somebody that's always crying the blues and talking about 267 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 4: how bad the economy is. You can't do that not 268 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 4: expect it to affect you. And I know some of 269 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 4: you may have to be around people like that. Maybe 270 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 4: a coworker's like that, and you don't have a choice. 271 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 4: Perhaps you married somebody like that. If that's the case, 272 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 4: God will give you the grace to overcome. But what 273 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 4: you need to do is when you're not around them, 274 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 4: you need to take heavy doses of faith, heavy doses 275 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 4: of hope, filled your mind with victory. I heard about 276 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 4: this man. His friends decided to play a trick on him. 277 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 4: He went to work one morning feeling great, just as 278 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 4: happy as can be. When he walked in, the receptionist said, 279 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 4: are you feeling okay today? 280 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: He said, yeah, I feel great. 281 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 4: Why, She said, I don't know. You just look a 282 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 4: little different. You look a little bit pale. He didn't 283 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 4: think about anything about it and went to his office. 284 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 4: Ten minutes later, a coworker came in and said, are 285 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 4: you real tired? 286 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 3: You don't look up to. 287 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 4: Par He said, no, I feel fine. A few minutes 288 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 4: he started thinking maybe I am a little tired. A 289 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 4: now the man came by. They talked for a moment, 290 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 4: then he said, do you have a fever? You really 291 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 4: look warm. The guy began to loosen his tie. He says, 292 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 4: you know what, I am feeling kind of hot. Another 293 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 4: man came by and said, you look terrible today. 294 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 3: What's wrong with you? 295 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 4: By ten o'clock in the morning, the man had gone 296 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 4: home sick. That is the power of suggestion. If we 297 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 4: don't guard our mind and be careful about what we 298 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 4: allow in, we. 299 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 3: Can be talked into a whole lot of things. 300 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 4: If you get up in the morning, first thing, turn 301 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 4: the news on, hear how bad it is driving to work. 302 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 4: You put on more doom and gloom. At lunch, you 303 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 4: go to people that talk about how bad it is. 304 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 4: You can be talked in to live in a defeated life. 305 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 4: You can be talked into dragging through the day. The 306 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 4: funny thing is, just like with this man, there's nothing 307 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 4: really wrong with you. Just because they said it doesn't 308 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 4: mean that it's true. Just because a so called expert 309 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 4: predicts it doesn't mean we have to swallow it and 310 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 4: live our life by. 311 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 3: Have you ever thought about the experts could be wrong? 312 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 4: Well, the next three years are going to be dreadful 313 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 4: and disastrous. 314 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 3: Just make plans to get by. 315 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 2: Now. 316 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 4: We can either start loosening our tie and say, you 317 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 4: know what, I am feeling a little bad, or we 318 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 4: can say you know what I feel just great. I 319 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 4: know God is still on the throne. He is Jehovah, Jirah, 320 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 4: the Lord, my provider. I am stronger than ever. I'm 321 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 4: asking you today to not go homesick, don't give up 322 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 4: on your dreams, and make plans to survive just because 323 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 4: somebody talked you out of it. That's one report. But 324 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 4: I've got another report. It says you are blessed, you 325 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 4: are prosperous, you are talented, you are creative, you are 326 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 4: well able to. 327 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 3: Do what God has called you to do. 328 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 4: And I know I like to watch the news. I 329 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 4: like to know what's going on. But I'm careful to 330 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 4: recognize when I've got the information I've needed and when 331 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 4: it's just redundant doom and gloom that I don't. 332 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 3: Need to be hearing again and again. 333 00:16:55,440 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 4: With today's technology, twenty four hour cable, internet radio, some 334 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 4: days the same bleak picture is told one hundred different 335 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 4: ways every hour. 336 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 3: It looks like a new headline, but really. 337 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 4: It's just the same old news being repackaged. And if 338 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 4: we're not careful, we'll get worn down and we'll start 339 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 4: to accept it. We'll begin to think that it's okay 340 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 4: to fail. It's happening to everybody, just a matter of 341 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 4: time before I lose my house. I wonder when I'm 342 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 4: gonna get laid off, Wonder when my health is gonna 343 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 4: go down. No, turn that off and keep your mind 344 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 4: filled with thoughts of victory. Now I've learned, just as 345 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 4: you can be talked into having a bad year, you 346 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 4: can be talked into having a great year. Yes, fear 347 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 4: is contagious, but the good news is faith is contagious, 348 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 4: Victory is contagious. 349 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 3: Joy is contagious. 350 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 4: That's why it's so important to come out to a 351 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 4: place like Lakewood. You need to get around other people 352 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 4: of faith on a regular basis. You know what's happening today. 353 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 4: You're not catching a cold, You're catching healing. You're not 354 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 4: catching defeat. You're catching victory. You're not catching doom and gloom. 355 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 4: You're catching hope. You're catching a bigger vision. You're catching 356 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 4: God's favor. I've got to warn you. We are contagious. 357 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 4: Whether you realize it or not. You are getting stronger, 358 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 4: You're getting more joy, you're getting. 359 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,959 Speaker 3: More peace, your faith is increasing. 360 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 4: When you get around other people that are blessed and 361 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 4: happy and prosperous and full of faith, they are making 362 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 4: you better. And I know sometimes you may not feel 363 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 4: like coming to church. You had a long week, you're tired, discouraged, 364 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 4: or maybe you don't feel like turning the television on 365 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 4: early in the morning. 366 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 3: But that's when you need to do it. More than ever. 367 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 4: You need somebody speaking faith into you. 368 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 3: You need to be. 369 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 4: Around other believers that will lift your spirits. We are 370 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 4: drawing strength from each other. You may not know that 371 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 4: person sitting on your left or your right, but their faith, 372 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 4: their joy, their peace, their victory, they're. 373 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 3: Making you better. 374 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 4: You're gonna go out of here today, you know, stronger 375 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 4: than you were before, in part because of them. 376 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 3: They are highly contagious. But when we give. 377 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 4: Into these thoughts of fear, it distorts our perspective. Fear 378 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 4: is like a fog. It obscures our vision. It makes 379 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 4: things look worse than they really are. And I read 380 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 4: where a dense fog that covers seven city blocks and 381 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 4: is one hundred feet thick can be contained in less 382 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 4: than one glass of water. In other words, it looks big, 383 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 4: it looks intimidating, but the fact is there's nothing really 384 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 4: to it. It's just a bunch of vapors that can 385 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 4: fit in a small glass. And when that fear comes 386 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 4: against your mind, saying you're not gonna make it, that 387 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 4: sickness is going to be the end of you, your marriage, 388 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 4: your family, you're not gonna stay together. Just look at 389 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 4: that fear and say, you look big, you sound impressive, 390 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 4: but I know better, there's nothing really to you. You're 391 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 4: just like a fog. We were flying out of Calgary, Canada, 392 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 4: earlier this week. Our plane was delayed an hour or 393 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 4: so because of the fog, and when we were finally 394 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 4: able to take off, I was amazed. We weren't in 395 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,959 Speaker 4: the air fifteen seconds before we broke through that fog, 396 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 4: and you could look down and see it was just 397 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 4: a small pocket of fog, probably didn't cover more than 398 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 4: a quarter of a mile area. What's funny is when 399 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 4: we were at the airport, we thought the whole city 400 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 4: was fogged in. We thought everything must be shut down, 401 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 4: But in reality, it was just. 402 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 3: A tiny pocket of fog. 403 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 4: And that's the way fear is. It looks much bigger 404 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 4: than it is. It looks much more intimidating. It'll tell 405 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 4: you you're never gonna get well. That child is never 406 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 4: gonna change, Your finances are going to keep getting worse 407 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 4: and worse. You need to look at that fear and say, 408 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 4: you sound impressive, you look tough, but I know the truth. 409 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 3: There's nothing really to you. 410 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 4: You may talk a good talk, but I know your 411 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 4: bite is not near as big as your bark. 412 00:20:58,800 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 3: You may look. 413 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 4: Permanent, but I know you're only temporary. And things in 414 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 4: my life may be a little dark and cloudy. Right 415 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 4: now looks like it's never gonna change, but I've got 416 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 4: inside information. I know the sun is still shining and 417 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 4: it's just a matter of time before this fog dissipates, 418 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 4: and it's going to be just as clear and beautiful 419 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 4: as it's always been. 420 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 3: Don't give into that fear. 421 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 4: It's just a fog. It's not near as bad as 422 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,719 Speaker 4: it's telling you. But when we make the mistake of 423 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 4: dwelling on it, those fears turn into imaginations. Our mind 424 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 4: will start playing out every worst case scenario, just like 425 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 4: you're watching a movie. Negative thoughts turn into negative imaginations 426 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 4: if you allow it, a small fear can multiply and 427 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 4: get blown way out of proportion. For instance, you have 428 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 4: that pain in your side, it's nothing, you just had 429 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 4: too much for dinner. But that thought will come that's cancer. 430 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 3: Your mother had it, your grandmother had it, Now. 431 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 4: It's your If you swallow that lie, go around worried 432 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 4: and discouraged. Before long, you'll start to see yourself in 433 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 4: the hospital. You'll see yourself not able to take care 434 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 4: of your children. You'll see yourself at your own funeral. No, 435 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 4: you've got to cast. 436 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 3: Down those wrong imaginations. 437 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 4: Don't let negative pictures play on the movie screen of 438 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 4: your mind. You are the owner. You've got the remote control. 439 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:30,439 Speaker 4: Change the channel. If you're gonna let your imagination run wild, 440 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 4: let it run wild in the right direction. Put on 441 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 4: the movie of you accomplish in your dreams. Show the 442 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:41,680 Speaker 4: scene of you overcoming that obstacle. See yourself healthy, prosperous, 443 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 4: rising higher. 444 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 3: You've got to do it by faith in the natural. 445 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 4: It may look like your family is never gonna stay together, 446 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 4: but your attitude should be I'm changing the channel. I'm 447 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 4: not watching that movie. I see my family restored, I 448 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 4: see my children excelling. I see us fulfilling our destiny. 449 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 4: You've got to choose the right channel. Some of you 450 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 4: today you would go to a new level if you'd 451 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 4: just be more disciplined in your thought life and not 452 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 4: allow those negative images to constantly play. I heard about 453 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 4: this twenty three year old woman. She went to the 454 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 4: grocery store and got some groceries, and she got back 455 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 4: in her car and sat down, and she heard a 456 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 4: loud noise and felt something hit the back of her head. 457 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 3: She thought she had been shot. She reached up and. 458 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 4: Felt what she thought were her brains coming out. She 459 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 4: initially passed out. She woke up a few minutes later 460 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,439 Speaker 4: and sat there motionless for over an hour, holding the 461 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 4: back of her head. A gentleman walked by and noticed 462 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 4: that something was wrong. He called the police. The police 463 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 4: showed up and asked her to open the car door. 464 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 4: She said she couldn't. She had been shot and she 465 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 4: was holding her brains in. The police broke open the 466 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 4: window and they discovered a can of Pillsbury biscuits had exploded. 467 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 4: That dough had hit the back of her head. That's 468 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 4: what she thought was her brains. Don't let your imagination 469 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 4: run wild in the wrong direction. That is a true story. 470 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 4: And I've got to tell you she was blonde. But 471 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 4: some of us today, you are not even listening to me. 472 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 3: Now. 473 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,119 Speaker 4: Some of us today kind of feel like we've been shot. 474 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 4: The economy's bad, we've got a health issue, got this 475 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 4: big problem. God is saying you're fine. It's not what 476 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 4: you think. It's just a loud noise. But this too 477 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 4: shall pass. Put on the right channel. Don't allow those 478 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 4: negative images to play in your mind. I remember about 479 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 4: a year after I first started ministering, the church was 480 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 4: really growing, and we decided to take a step of 481 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 4: faith and start a second Sunday morning service. And so 482 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 4: I announced that on the first Sunday of the year 483 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 4: two thousand, we were going to start this new morning service, 484 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 4: and that was in October, and so I had several 485 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 4: months to think about it. 486 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 3: And during that time I had all. 487 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 4: These negative thoughts come telling me that it was a 488 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 4: big mistake, nobody was gonna come, and I was gonna 489 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 4: get there and. 490 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 3: Look like a fool. 491 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,399 Speaker 4: All these fears were coming against my mind, and I 492 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 4: did my best to stay in faith. But one night 493 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 4: I had a dream. A better description would be a nightmare. 494 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 3: And in this dream, it was that first Sunday of 495 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:30,640 Speaker 3: the new service. 496 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 4: When I walked out to minister, there was not one 497 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 4: person in the auditorium, not Victoria, not my mother, not 498 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 4: one choir member, not one usher, nobody. I woke up 499 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 4: in a cold sweat. The enemy was working overtime on 500 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 4: my mind. He said, Joel, there's still time to cancel it. 501 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 4: You can still call it off and maybe halfway save face. 502 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 4: It was very difficult to get that image of an 503 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 4: empty auditorium out of my mind. I didn't tell anybody 504 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 4: about the dream, but I'm a little bit worried about it. 505 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 4: The week of that first service, I saw my mother. 506 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 4: I was talking to her and just kind of asked 507 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 4: her nonchalockly, trying to get some information out of her. 508 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 4: I said, mother, are you coming to the new service 509 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 4: this weekend? She said, Joel, does it start this week? 510 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 4: I thought, dear God, that dream might have been a prophecy. 511 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 4: I said, yes, it starts this week, mother, and you 512 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 4: need to. 513 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 3: Bring your friends, enemies. 514 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 4: Cousins, relatives, and ancestors. I had to do what I'm 515 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 4: asking you to do. When those negative images came up, 516 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 4: I kept changing the channel. 517 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 3: I made up my mind. 518 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 4: I wasn't going to watch the empty auditorium channel. I 519 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 4: wasn't going to watch the defeat channel. I wasn't choosing 520 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 4: the fear channel. I put on a different movie. Through 521 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 4: my eyes of faith, I saw that place full. I 522 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 4: kept telling myself, this fear is just a fog. It's 523 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 4: trying to intimidate me. But I know there's nothing really 524 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,679 Speaker 4: to it. I pulled up the first Sunday of the 525 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 4: year two thousand. I got there like an hour early. 526 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 4: I'll never forget. When I pulled in, one parking lot 527 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 4: was already totally full. There were over six thousand people 528 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 4: at that new service. They've been coming ever since then. 529 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 4: What am I saying? 530 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 3: You've got to. 531 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 4: Cast down those wrong imaginations. Do not let those negative 532 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:23,640 Speaker 4: pictures play. 533 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 3: On the movie screen of your mind. 534 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 4: You've got the remote control, change the channel. Don't be 535 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 4: talked into having a down year. I'm trying to talk 536 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 4: you into having a great year. There is no obstacle 537 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 4: too big for you, no enemy too powerful. Our God 538 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 4: is all powerful, and you may not see how it 539 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 4: can happen. But don't use your energy to worry. Use 540 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 4: your energy to believe. God has brought you through in 541 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,120 Speaker 4: the past, and he is going to bring you through 542 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 4: in the future. Surround yourself with people of faith, people 543 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 4: that speak. 544 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 3: Victory into you. 545 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 4: If you'll be disciplined in your thought life and learn 546 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 4: to choose faith instead of fear, let me just declare it. 547 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 3: You're gonna overcome every obstacle. 548 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 4: You're gonna defeat every enemy, and you're gonna see every dream, 549 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 4: every promise God put in your heart, it will come 550 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 4: to pass. 551 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 3: Amen. Do you receive that today? I know you do. 552 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 3: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you. 553 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 4: An opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 554 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 3: Would you pray with me? 555 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 4: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 556 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 4: into my heart. 557 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 3: I make you my lord. And Savior. 558 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 4: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 559 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 4: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 560 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 4: Keep God first place. 561 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 3: He's gonna take your places that you've never dreamed of. 562 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 563 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 564 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 4: keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. Help 565 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 4: us to continue to share the message of hope with 566 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 4: those all around the world. 567 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 5: Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 568 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 5: description to partner with us today. 569 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 4: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 570 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 4: be sure to follow. 571 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 3: Us on social media. We're praying for you. I know 572 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 3: God's best is still ahead. 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Did you learn anything 582 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 5: fun today? Yeah, I've been to the jungle and learn 583 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 5: a bunch of new words from an iguana. That's cool. 584 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 5: And that I went to a farm and got to 585 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 5: read with some pigs. 586 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: Sounds like you're learning a lot. 587 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 4: Watch your child's reading skills sore. 588 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 5: This summer when you use the good and the beautiful 589 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 5: all in one Reading Booster Kids for kids kindergarten through 590 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 5: second grade. Reading cards, books, games, and a free compatible 591 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 5: app are all included. 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