1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Ah right, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: for listening to the podcast. Twenty twenty four is going 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: to be an amazing year for you and your family 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: though that we're praying for you, so get ready, keep 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: your expectations up. It's going to be a great year. 6 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: Hope you enjoyed today's message. Well, God bless you. It's 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: always a joy to come into your homes and spend 8 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: a few minutes with you. We love you, We know 9 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 1: God has great things in store. If you're ever in 10 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: our area, please stop buy and be a part of 11 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: one of our services. I promise you it will make 12 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: you feel right at home. But thanks so much for 13 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: tuning in, and thanks again for coming out today. I'd 14 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: like to start with something funny in I heard about 15 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: these two men named Archie and Jack. They argued their 16 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: whole life as to whether Jesus was white or whether 17 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: he was black. Jack was certain he was black, and 18 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: Archie was just as certain he was white. As fate 19 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:53,959 Speaker 1: would have it, they both died on the same day. 20 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: They rushed to the pearly gates and said, Saint Peter, please, 21 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: we've been arguing our whole life. Tell Us is Jesus 22 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: white or is he black? About that time, Jesus walked 23 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: up and said, Buenos dias, all right, hold up your bible. 24 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 25 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: I am what it says. I am. I have what 26 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 27 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 28 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 29 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 30 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 31 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: about putting action behind your faith. It's one thing to 32 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: pray about a situation. It's one thing to believe that 33 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: we're going to get better. And that's good praying, believing, hoping, 34 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: that's all a part of faith. But there's another step 35 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: that we so often leave out. Now. I believe it's 36 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: one of the keys to see in God do great things. 37 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: You have to put action behind your faith. You have 38 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: to do something and to show God that you're serious 39 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,639 Speaker 1: about what you're believing for. You can pray all day long, 40 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: God get me out of this problem, God give me 41 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: this promotion. God help me to get well. And that's fine, 42 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: But if you really want to get God's attention. If 43 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: you want to see God move in amazing ways, and 44 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,119 Speaker 1: take it one step further and do something to demonstrate 45 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: your faith. In other words, you may have an addiction, 46 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: but are you going to a recovery program? Are you 47 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: in a support group that's a faith that God can see. 48 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: Maybe you lost your job, do you have your resume? 49 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: Are you out knocking on new doors? Maybe your spouse 50 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: is not treating you right. Are you treating them the 51 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: same way or are you treating them the way you 52 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: want to be treated. That's what allows God to do 53 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: the extraordinary. Now I know people that are down in discourage. 54 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: They pray and pray, God, please get me out of 55 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: this discouragement. God give me my joy. God give me 56 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: a new beginning. It's good to pray, but what really 57 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: causes God to act is when you get back up again, 58 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: dust yourself off, put your shoulders back, and say, you 59 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 1: know what, I'm not going to stay down. This is 60 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: the day the Lord has made. I am going to 61 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: be happy and have a great day. That's putting action 62 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: behind your faith. I talked to a gentleman that had 63 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: struggled with smoking since he was in high school. He 64 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: looked to be in his mid forties. Every day for 65 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: the last ten years, he has smoked three packs of cigarettes, 66 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: just like clockwork, without even thinking about it, he would 67 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: go through the exact same amount he wanted to stop. 68 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: He had the desire, he'd been praying and believing. He 69 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: even had friends and family members praying and supporting him 70 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: as well, but he just couldn't seem to do it. 71 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: But one day he heard this principle that you have 72 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: to put action behind your faith, and he did something 73 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: extremely simple. Every time he opened a new pack of cigarettes, 74 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: he would immediately throw three away, just something to say, God, 75 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: I'm trying. I'm not just asking for your help. I'm 76 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: not just believing I'm gonna be free, not just hoping 77 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: that one day i'll quit. No, God, I'm gonna take 78 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: it one step further. I'm gonna show you I mean 79 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: business by putting actions behind what I'm believing. For doesn't 80 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: have to be something big, just something where God can 81 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: see your faith. He threw those three away, and a 82 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: couple of months he realized he didn't miss them. He 83 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: decided to double it. He started throwing away six. Eventually 84 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,559 Speaker 1: he got to where he could eliminate a whole pack 85 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: that was a little over three years ago. Today he 86 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: is completely free, he said, Joela, I haven't felt this 87 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: great in over thirty years. Here's my point. He could 88 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 1: have prayed twenty four hours a day, He could have 89 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: believed for a lifetime, But the power came when he 90 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: took it one step further and showed God he meant 91 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: business by putting actions behind what he was believing for 92 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: Are you doing anything to show God that you're serious. 93 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: God is not moved by our needs. He's concerned about 94 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: our needs, But God is moved by our faith. When 95 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: God sees you doing what you can to get well, 96 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: When he sees you getting to work a little earlier 97 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: because you really want that promotion. When he sees you 98 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: bypass the cookie jar because you've been believing to lose weight. 99 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: Now I'm getting down to business. When he sees you 100 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: bite your tongue to keep the peace in your house. 101 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: When he sees you help others when you really need 102 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: more help than them. When God sees your faith, that's 103 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: when extraordinary things will begin to happen. Like this man, 104 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: You'll have a strength to overcome things you couldn't overcome before. 105 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: In the scripture, there was this man that was paralyzed. 106 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: He couldn't walk, and he just lie in his bed 107 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 1: at home all day long. One day he heard that 108 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: Jesus was in town at another house teaching people. He 109 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: convinced four of his friends to carry him on his 110 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: bed over to that house. The problem was when they 111 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: got there, the place was packed. It was so crowded 112 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: that they couldn't get in here. They'd gone to great 113 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: links to get this man there. I'm sure these four 114 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,679 Speaker 1: men were tired. I'm sure their back was probably hurting, 115 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: their shoulders were sore. They went all that way to 116 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: no avail. What a disappointment, What a let down. They 117 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: could have easily gotten discouraged, thought, too bad, it's not 118 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: going to happen. But not this paralyzed man. He was determined. 119 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: I can see his four friends turn and start to 120 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: take him home. He says, no, no, we're not going 121 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: home just yet. I'm not leaving until I get my miracle. 122 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: This man understood, you are closest to your victory when 123 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: you faced the greatest opposition. A lot of people would 124 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: have given up. Joel. I tried, they told me no, 125 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 1: tried to get my degree. But the college was full. 126 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: Tried to get that new home, but they wouldn't give 127 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: me a loan. Tried to go to Lakewood. That parking 128 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: lot was just too crowded. You gotta be more determined 129 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: than that. You have to have a never say die attitude. 130 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: If you can't get in the door, why don't you 131 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: try the window. If you can't get through the window, 132 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: why don't you be bold and try to go through 133 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: the roof. That's what this man did. What am I saying? 134 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: Don't quit trying. You are close to your victory. He 135 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: said to his friends, I've got an idea. Take me 136 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: up on the roof, cut a hole in it, and 137 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: lower me down so I can have a front row 138 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: seat there in front of Jesus friends. Where there's a will, 139 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:49,559 Speaker 1: there's a way. I can imagine those four men saying, listen, brother, 140 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: we love you, you're our friend. But do you realize 141 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: there's not an elevator, there are no stairs. How can 142 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: we get you up there? That's impossible? He said, No, 143 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: You've got to do it for me. He talked him 144 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: into it. They finally hoisted this man up to the roof. 145 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: Jesus was in the middle of his sermon. All the sudden, 146 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: dust starts falling from the ceiling. People begin to look around, 147 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: thinking what in the world is going on. About that 148 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: time a tile comes off, and then another and another. 149 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: They lowered this paralyzed man down on his bed, all 150 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: curled up, and put him right in front of Jesus. 151 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: And the scripture says there in Mark two, verse five, 152 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: when Jesus saw their faith. That's my question for us today. 153 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: Do you have a faith that God can see? Are 154 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: you doing something out of the ordinary to show God 155 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: your believe in him. It's not enough to just pray. 156 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: It's not enough to just believe like this man. You 157 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: have to do something to demonstrate your faith. Jesus looked 158 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: at the man and said, rise, take up your bed, 159 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: and walk. And immediately the man got up, he picked 160 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: up his bed, he went home, perfectly home. But it 161 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: all started when he dared to do something where God 162 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: could see his faith. Don't you know there were other 163 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: people in the room that didn't get well, other people 164 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: that had the same opportunity. What was the difference this 165 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: man put action behind his faith. God is looking for 166 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: people that have a faith that he can see, not 167 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: just a faith he can hear not just a faith 168 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: that believes, but a faith that is visible, a faith 169 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: that is demonstrated. When my sister Lisa was a little girl, 170 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: about four years old, maybe one time, she wanted to 171 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: go to the office with my father. It was during 172 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: the week, and she heard my dad say how he 173 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: was coming down to the church, and she asked if 174 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: she could go. My father said, no, Lisa, today is 175 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: not a good day. I've got a lot of meetings. 176 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be real busy. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, 177 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: just not today. Well, Lisa didn't want to go some 178 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: other time. She wanted to go that particular day, and 179 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: she was so stubborn. I mean, she was so determined that, 180 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: in spite of what my father said, she ran back 181 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,959 Speaker 1: to her room and started getting dressed as quickly as 182 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: she could. She acted like she was going. You would 183 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: have thought she didn't even hear what my father said. 184 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: That negative report didn't even register in her mind. About 185 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: that time, she heard the back door open, she knew 186 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 1: my father was leaving. Lisa took off running full speed. 187 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,559 Speaker 1: For Lisa, that's a little faster than a walk. When 188 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: my father saw her coming, his little four year old 189 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: daughter fully dressed, struggling to get her last shoe on. 190 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: It melted his heart. Daddy couldn't say no. He said, Okay, 191 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: come on, Lisa, you can go with me today. What happened? 192 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: He saw her faith, when he saw how determined she was, 193 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: When he saw her doing everything she could do. That 194 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: spoke louder than her even asking him. That made a 195 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: bigger impact than if she were to beg and beg, 196 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: or if she were to sit in the corner and 197 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: pout and pout. Now, my father wouldn't be moved by pouting. 198 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: He wouldn't be moved by begging. He was moved when 199 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,839 Speaker 1: he saw her faith. God is the same way. Can 200 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: he see your faith? It's one thing to pray, it's 201 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: one thing to believe, But if you really want to 202 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: get God's attention, put actions behind what you're believing. For 203 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: I know this gentleman years ago, when he was a 204 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: young man, he knew God had called him to preach, 205 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: and he took a step of faith and rented a 206 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: small high school auditorium to have a meeting. He invited 207 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: his friends and family members to come. He even got 208 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: word out in the little local community newspaper. He was 209 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: so excited he was launching his new ministry. The night 210 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: of his big rolled around. It was supposed to start 211 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: at seven o'clock. Well at six point thirty, no one 212 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: was there. Six forty five, no one, six point fifty five, 213 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: no one. Seven o'clock. Still not one person in the seats, 214 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: just a sound man, a technician up in the sound booth. 215 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: This young man was so disheartened he was ready to 216 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: just give up and go home. But just before he 217 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: called it quince, he felt something rising up on the 218 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 1: inside so strongly, a holy determination. He said, I am 219 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: not going to go out of here like a failure. 220 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: I have prepared my message. I've rented this auditorium. I 221 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,319 Speaker 1: am going to give it my very best. He went 222 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: up on the platform and in spite of nobody being there, 223 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: he preached like the place was packed. He went on 224 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: for over an hour. At the end he even gave 225 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: an invitation for people to come forward and to receive Christ. 226 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: It looked like he was just going through the motions. 227 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,680 Speaker 1: He told how he felt like a total failure, He 228 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: felt like a fool. But just as he was finishing 229 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: up the invitation, all of a sudden, a side door 230 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: opened up and out walked an older gentleman. He was 231 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: a part of the cleaning crew. He came down to 232 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: the front, shook the young minister's hand and said, I 233 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:24,079 Speaker 1: want to make a decision for Christ tonight. He later said, 234 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: it wasn't so much your message that got to me, 235 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: but it was the fact that you preached your heart 236 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: out without one person in the room. A few minutes later, 237 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,079 Speaker 1: the technician came down from the sound booth and did 238 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: the same thing, I want to make a decision for Christ. 239 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: That night, the young man went home, not feeling like 240 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: a failure, but knowing that the hand of God was 241 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 1: upon his life. That was a turning point. After that, 242 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: all kinds of doors begin to open up. Today he 243 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: is a very successful minister. He has a church with 244 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: thousands of people, goes all over the world. Friends, when 245 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: God can see your faith, extraordinary things will begin to happen. 246 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: One time in the scripture, there were ten lepers that 247 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 1: saw Jesus coming through the city. They begin to holler out, Jesus, 248 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: have mercy on us and make us whole. And Jesus 249 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: could have just as easily healed them where they were, 250 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: but he asked them to do something to express their faith. 251 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: He said, go show yourself to the priest, and you 252 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: will be made whole. It's interesting those lepers were not 253 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: supposed to be around other people. They had a contagious disease. 254 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: They were considered unclean. They had to live in colonies 255 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: by themselves. I'm sure they debated, do you really think 256 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: we should go? I don't look any better. My skin 257 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: is not clear. This is going to be a waste 258 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: of my time. No, they dared to put action behind 259 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: their faith. He said, you know what, he said, if 260 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: we go, we would be well, let's go. Let's take 261 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: a step of faith. The scripture says as they went 262 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: they were made home. In other words, if they had 263 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: not had the courage to demonstrate their faith, they would 264 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: have never seen God's goodness. As they started down the road, 265 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: I can imagine every few blocks they said, look, my 266 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: skin's getting better. Another mile, one of them said, can 267 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: you see it? I think mine is clearing up. As 268 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: they kept walking, expressing their faith. By the time they 269 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: got to the priest, their skin was perfectly normal. But 270 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: a lot of times we want God to heal us, 271 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: and then we'll go. God give me a big crowd. 272 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: Then I'll launch my new ministry. God have my husband 273 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: to treat me better, then I'll start treating him better. 274 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: God helped me to break this addiction, and then I'll 275 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: cut back a little bit like the men Joel talked about. Now, 276 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: God says, you've got to go first. You got to 277 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: show me your faith, and then I'll give you exactly 278 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: what you need. I remember, back in nineteen seventy two, 279 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: Lakewood was still in its first small auditorium. It held 280 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: two hundred and seventy people. It was extremely crowded. We 281 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: needed a bigger place, so my father had plans drawn 282 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: for an auditorium that would seat a thousand. It was 283 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: going to cost two hundred thousand dollars to build. One day, 284 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: my dad presented the new vision to the church, took 285 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: up a special offering, and the people gave right at 286 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: twenty thousand dollars. Month after month, my dad was just 287 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: sitting back waiting for the rest of the funds to 288 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: come in. They'd get a few hundred dollars each week, 289 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: but at that pace it was going to take five 290 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: or ten years to have enough. One day, a friend 291 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: of my father's came by. He said, John, what do 292 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: you do instill in this same small auditorium. You need 293 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: a bigger place so you can continue to grow. My 294 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: dad said, well, I understand that, but we don't have 295 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: the money. He said, how much do you have? My 296 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: father said, all we have is twenty thousand dollars. That's 297 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 1: just enough for the foundation. The man looked at my 298 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:16,199 Speaker 1: father and said, very sternly, John, pour the foundation and 299 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: watch what God will do. He was saying, dared to 300 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: put action behind your faith. My father got his courage 301 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: up and he had them pour the foundation. It wasn't 302 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,479 Speaker 1: any time before the funds for the steel came in, 303 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: and then the funds for the wall, and then the 304 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: funds for the interior. Before long, the whole building was 305 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 1: up and totally paid for. What happened just like those leffers. 306 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 1: As he went, he saw God's goodness as he demonstrated 307 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 1: his faith. He saw God show up in amazing ways. 308 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: And some of you today have a dream, but like 309 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: my father, it's on hold. You're waiting for everything to 310 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 1: come together, all the pieces to come together, and then 311 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: you'll stretch, then you'll make a move. And yes, it's 312 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: good to be wise, it's good to plan, but you 313 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: can't sit around your whole lifetime. At some point you 314 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: have to draw the line in the sand and say, God, 315 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna show you I mean business. I'm gonna show 316 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: you that I'm serious about seeing my dreams come to pass. 317 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to put actions behind what I'm believing for. 318 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: When I was growing up, my father used to travel 319 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 1: overseas for several weeks at a time, ministering in different countries, 320 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: and my mother would be at home with five children 321 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: to raise by herself, plus with my brother Paul, that 322 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: was like having an extra five. And invariably, as my 323 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: dad was gone on these long journeys, one of us 324 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: kids would either get sick or have some kind of 325 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,239 Speaker 1: accident something that would make it much more difficult on 326 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 1: my mother. One time, I hurt my leg playing the 327 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: Little egg and had to have a bunch of stitches. 328 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,640 Speaker 1: And it seemed like it was always when my dad 329 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 1: was away, and it got to the point where my 330 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: mom dreaded my father leaving, even a couple of days 331 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 1: before my dad was supposed to go, a lot of 332 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 1: times one of us kids would come down with a fever, 333 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: some kind of sniffles, and my mother would think, oh no, 334 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: here it goes again. Well, my father finally got fed up. 335 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: He thought, God, I'm going all over the world to 336 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,159 Speaker 1: help people, and my whole family is going downhill. And 337 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 1: you got to understand, my father was very bold. He 338 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 1: was not as quiet and reserved and dignified as I am. 339 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: And he decided he was going to make sure that 340 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: God could see his faith and instead of just praying, believing, 341 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: standing against that sickness and those accidents, my dad asked 342 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: the kids to come outside, all five of us. Paul 343 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 1: at that time was about thirteen, he was the oldest, 344 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:57,919 Speaker 1: all the way down to my little sister April, she 345 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: was about three. My dad lies us up from the 346 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: oldest to the youngest, and he had us put our 347 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: hands on the person's shoulder in front of us, kind 348 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,119 Speaker 1: of like a Chu Chu train, with him and my 349 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: father out in front, and with my dad leading, he 350 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: marched us around the perimeter of our property, saying, Father, 351 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 1: you said no weapon formed against my family is going 352 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: to prosper, So I want to thank you that no 353 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: sickness is going to come on this property. Father, you 354 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,120 Speaker 1: said your angels would protect us, So while I'm gone, 355 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: I want to thank you that no accidents will come 356 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: near my family. He had us repeated, no sickness, no disease, 357 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: no accidents. Well, we were in the backyard where we 358 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 1: had a fence, and I was sure hoping that my 359 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 1: father was not going to go out into the front yard. 360 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: The neighbors already thought we were crazy. Now they were 361 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: going to know we were crazy. But sure enough, my 362 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: father marched us right out into the front I was 363 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: so embarrassed. I had my head down. I saw friends 364 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: going by staring at us, neighbors looking out the windows, 365 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: cars slowing down. People asked me about it the next 366 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: day at school. I denied it. I felt like Peter, 367 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: that was not me out there. But do you know, 368 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: God is my witness. From that day forward, when my 369 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: father went away on those long journeys, we never had 370 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: a problem with that sickness, with those accidents. It was 371 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 1: like that curse had been broken off of our family. 372 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: When God saw my father's faith, it activated his healing, 373 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 1: his protection, his favor in a greater way. And it's funny, 374 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:53,880 Speaker 1: even though I was embarrassed by that. Years later, when 375 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: we were trying to acquire this facility, Victoria and I 376 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 1: would come down here at night when nobody could see us, 377 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 1: and we would march around the building, sayd Father, thank 378 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: you that this building is hard. Thank you that you're 379 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 1: fighting our battles. Thank you that you're giving us the 380 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: favor we need. I tried to get Victoria to hold 381 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: on like a cheoch you trained, but you wouldn't do it. 382 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: It's still works. Friends, Can God see your faith? The 383 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: scripture says faith without actions backing it up is dead. 384 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: It's an amazing statement. It's saying we can have dead faith. 385 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 2: Now. 386 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: I know people that love God. They're good people, but 387 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:40,120 Speaker 1: they're not living the abundant life. They're not overcoming their obstacles, 388 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: they're not accomplishing their God given dreams. Why is that 389 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: their faith is dead. They're not putting any actions behind it. 390 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: So it's not activating God's power. It's not activating his favor. 391 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: It doesn't have to be something big. When you go 392 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: to work every day and give it one hundred percent, 393 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: you are demonstrating your faith. Sometimes just putting a smile 394 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 1: on your face when you feel like being discouraged. That's 395 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: putting action behind your faith. Just the fact that you 396 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: came to church today. That is a faith that God 397 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: can see. You could be home resting, you could be 398 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: running errands, you could be working, but you took time 399 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: to honor God. Know this. God saw you get in 400 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: your car. God saw you make the journey over here. 401 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,880 Speaker 1: God saw you turn the television on. He saw you 402 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: flip off a wheel of fortune and come over to me. 403 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: Right now, you are putting action behind your faith. That 404 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: tells me your faith is not dead. Your faith is alive. 405 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 1: Your faith is activating God's power. Your faith is allowing 406 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 1: God to fight your battles for you. Your faith is 407 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: opening the door for the extraordinary. I heard a story 408 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: about this lady. She was diagnosed with ovarian care Answer. 409 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: She was doing her best to stay positive and hopeful, 410 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 1: but it's very difficult. She was very afraid. She had 411 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: two children. The doctors had only given her a fifteen 412 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: percent chance of surviving. She had prayed, She'd believed she 413 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: had good friends and family supporting her. One day, someone 414 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: gave her a small gray rock that had the words 415 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: written on it, expect a miracle. When she got that rock, 416 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: it was like something leaped on the inside. It ignited 417 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 1: her faith. She knew right then and there that was 418 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 1: for her. She was going to be well. From that 419 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: day forward, she carried that simple little rock with her 420 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: everywhere she went. All through the day, she had it 421 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: in her pocket or in her purse. At night, she 422 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: put it on the little table beside the bed. It 423 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: was a reminder to thank God that he's in control, 424 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: and thank God that he's restoring health back into me. 425 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 1: The rock in itself wasn't anything special. It was just 426 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: another way that she could demonstrate her faith. She went 427 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: through all the chemotherapy, through several major surgeries. After months 428 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: of fighting the good fight of faith, it was time 429 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 1: for the big conclusion, time to see if all that 430 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: treatment had helped. The doctors were going to take a 431 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 1: biopsy at one hundred different places where they thought the 432 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 1: cancer could have spread. They had already told her to 433 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:27,159 Speaker 1: not get her hopes up. There was little or no 434 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:30,400 Speaker 1: chance that they would all be cancer free, and so 435 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: she went into the surgery with her little rock right 436 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,439 Speaker 1: by her side. When she woke up, she saw this 437 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: beautiful older woman dressed in a very bright white dress. 438 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: She thought she was a nurse. This older woman said, 439 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: in a very kind voice, are you the lady that's 440 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: expecting a miracle? The lady was kind of groggy from 441 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: the surgery, and she thought, how does this lady know 442 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: anything about me? She said, yes, I am, and the 443 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,919 Speaker 1: lady in the white dress her a small plaque that 444 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: had a saying on it, Miracles happen every day. When 445 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 1: the lady took that plaque, she told how she felt 446 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: God's presence like never before. She felt a warmness, a tingling, 447 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: flowing all through her. The next thing she remembers is 448 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: waking up and seeing her husband standing over her with 449 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: a big smile. He said, honey, the results are in. 450 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: The doctors have not found any cancer in your body. 451 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 1: That lady, that lady never found out who the woman 452 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: in the bright white dress was, but she still has 453 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: the plaque on her wall at home. Miracles happen every day. Friends, 454 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: Do you have a faith that God can see? Are 455 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: you putting actions behind what you're believing? For it's not 456 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: enough to just pray, not enough to just believe. Take 457 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 1: it one step further and do something to demonstrate your faith. 458 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: You may not see how it could ever happen, but 459 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: just like those lepers, as you take steps of faith, 460 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: God will begin to open up the right doors. You 461 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: will have a strength to do what you couldn't do before. 462 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: And some of you have a dream that you've been 463 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: praying about for a long time. You've had promises that 464 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 1: you've been standing on for many, many years, and that's great, 465 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: but it's time to take it to the next level 466 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 1: and do something to demonstrate your faith. Do something out 467 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 1: of the ordinary, to show God you're serious about accomplishing 468 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 1: your dreams. If you will learn to put actions behind 469 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: your faith, then God's going to show up and show 470 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 1: out in unusual ways. I just believe and declare that 471 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: you will overcome every obstacle. You will defeat every enemy, 472 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 1: and you will see every dream, every promise God put 473 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,639 Speaker 1: in your heart, it will come to pass. Amen. Do 474 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: you receive it today? We never like to close our 475 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 476 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 1: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 477 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: I repent on my sins. Come into my heart. I 478 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,160 Speaker 1: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you played 479 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 480 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: into good church, keep God first place. He'll take your 481 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: places that you've never dreamed of. It's January. Time to 482 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 1: renew my faith. It's January. It's time to start a 483 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: new season. It's January. 484 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 2: There is no better time than now to set the 485 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 2: course of our year ahead. 486 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 1: The beginning of the year is a great time to 487 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: start afresh and a new to let go of negative 488 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: things of the past, and to get ready for the 489 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: new things God has in store. Every January we create 490 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: a new devotional calendar that will help you throughout the year. 491 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: When you start the day off in faith, grateful for 492 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: what God's done, making positive declarations over your future, You're 493 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 1: setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. 494 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: This devotional will help you get your mind going in 495 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: the right so you can go out each day in 496 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: faith knowing that God is in control, that His plans 497 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: for you are for good. I'd love to send you. 498 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 2: A copy as our way of saying thank you for 499 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 2: your gift of any amount this first month of the year. 500 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 2: We would like to send you a copy of our 501 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 2: brand new twenty twenty four three hundred and sixty five 502 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 2: day devotional calendar. Do you want to set a faith 503 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 2: course for your life in twenty twenty four? Do you 504 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 2: want to see your life take off in new directions 505 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 2: of influence, favor and pro vision in the year ahead. 506 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 2: Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two three. 507 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 2: One wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two 508 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 2: reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 509 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 2: Three Capture God's promises to you on journaling lines for 510 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 2: writing and reflection. Be sure to request your copy of 511 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty four devotional calendar available this month by 512 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 2: simply visiting us at jolostein dot com or calling eight 513 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 2: eight eight five six seven Joel 514 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: YEAHM.