WEBVTT - Pulled Strings | Joel Osteen 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.360 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. 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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.680 --> 0:01:03.440 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:03.480 --> 0:01:06.240 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:06.360 --> 0:01:08.720 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:08.720 --> 0:01:10.279 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:10.600 --> 0:01:13.319 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:13.360 --> 0:01:27.679 your life. Well, God bless you. It's a joy to 0:01:27.760 --> 0:01:30.600 come into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, 0:01:30.640 --> 0:01:33.399 please stop buying. Be a part of one of our services. 0:01:33.480 --> 0:01:35.920 I'll promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:01:36.680 --> 0:01:39.200 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:01:39.200 --> 0:01:40.800 about this airplane. 0:01:40.319 --> 0:01:42.000 That was about to crash. 0:01:42.080 --> 0:01:46.720 There were four passengers but only three parachutes. First passenger said, 0:01:46.959 --> 0:01:50.560 I'm a leading heart surgeon. My patients need me. Took 0:01:50.600 --> 0:01:54.120 the first parachute and jumped. Second passenger said, I'm a 0:01:54.240 --> 0:01:57.120 rocket scientist, one of the smartest men alive. 0:01:57.480 --> 0:01:58.560 My country needs me. 0:01:58.920 --> 0:02:02.840 Took the second parachute and jumped the third passenger. Pope 0:02:02.880 --> 0:02:06.160 John Paul said to the fourth passenger, a ten year 0:02:06.200 --> 0:02:09.560 old boy scout son, I'm old and frail. I don't 0:02:09.560 --> 0:02:12.320 have much time left. You can have the last parachute. 0:02:12.720 --> 0:02:15.720 The boy scout says, sir, don't worry, there are still 0:02:15.840 --> 0:02:19.720 two parachutes left. The smartest man alive. He just jumped 0:02:19.720 --> 0:02:24.000 out with my backpack. Say it like you mean it. 0:02:24.400 --> 0:02:27.160 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:02:27.680 --> 0:02:30.040 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:30.120 --> 0:02:32.720 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:32.800 --> 0:02:36.639 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:36.720 --> 0:02:40.000 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:40.120 --> 0:02:44.960 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:02:45.000 --> 0:02:47.760 to talk to you today about pulled strings. 0:02:48.440 --> 0:02:49.200 It's easy to. 0:02:49.200 --> 0:02:52.359 Go through life wondering how things are going to work out, 0:02:53.000 --> 0:02:57.760 hoping we make right decisions, stressed over our finances, concerned 0:02:57.800 --> 0:03:01.440 about a child. But you don't have to worry about 0:03:01.440 --> 0:03:06.880 your future. Your life has been divinely orchestrated. God has 0:03:07.000 --> 0:03:11.160 determined the end from the beginning. He's already laid out 0:03:11.200 --> 0:03:15.400 your plan, drawn up your blueprint. He knows everything that's 0:03:15.440 --> 0:03:19.920 going to happen. The scripture says God works all things 0:03:20.240 --> 0:03:24.040 according to his will. It's not according to who likes you, 0:03:24.520 --> 0:03:27.799 according to what family you come from, according to even 0:03:27.919 --> 0:03:31.720 how many mistakes you've made it's according to his will. 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:36.960 He is working behind the scenes, not only directing your steps, 0:03:37.400 --> 0:03:39.480 but he's directing the steps of the. 0:03:39.400 --> 0:03:40.320 People you need. 0:03:40.960 --> 0:03:44.320 He's not just in control of you. He's in control 0:03:44.480 --> 0:03:49.600 of your circumstances. Nothing randomly happens. You're not at the 0:03:49.680 --> 0:03:52.880 mercy of bad breaks. You don't have to get upset 0:03:53.120 --> 0:03:56.560 because a door closed. Give up on a dream because 0:03:56.560 --> 0:04:00.000 you went through a loss. God knew about it will 0:04:00.120 --> 0:04:03.040 and have allowed it if it wasn't on your blueprint. 0:04:03.760 --> 0:04:07.400 We may not like it, we don't understand it, but God. 0:04:07.200 --> 0:04:08.200 Knows what he's doing. 0:04:08.720 --> 0:04:12.000 It's not keeping you from your purpose. It's leading you 0:04:12.080 --> 0:04:16.159 to your purpose. And sometimes the reason God closes a 0:04:16.200 --> 0:04:19.799 door is because he's about to open a bigger door. 0:04:20.440 --> 0:04:23.440 Where we were was too small. We couldn't see it. 0:04:23.839 --> 0:04:27.080 We were happy. But God loves you too much to 0:04:27.200 --> 0:04:30.599 let you miss your destiny. His dream for your life 0:04:30.720 --> 0:04:34.200 is bigger than your own. That friend that left you, 0:04:34.880 --> 0:04:38.360 they didn't walk away on their own accord. God directed 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:42.400 their steps. He moved them away because they were limiting 0:04:42.440 --> 0:04:45.680 your growth. They would have kept you from becoming who 0:04:45.760 --> 0:04:46.279 you were. 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:46.839 Created to be. 0:04:48.040 --> 0:04:52.320 When you know your life is divinely orchestrated that nothing 0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:56.960 happens without God's permission. Then you don't get discouraged when 0:04:57.000 --> 0:05:03.080 things don't go your way. You know, God is it work, controlling, manipulating, 0:05:03.440 --> 0:05:08.000 arranging things according to his will. Now this takes faith 0:05:08.480 --> 0:05:11.920 because we can't see the blueprint. We don't know what 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:15.120 God is up to. His ways are not our ways. 0:05:15.400 --> 0:05:18.359 All we know is the door closed. It wasn't fair. 0:05:18.640 --> 0:05:22.279 It set us back. What we can't see is really 0:05:22.600 --> 0:05:26.480 it's setting us up for something better. Or we were 0:05:26.560 --> 0:05:31.000 going along being our best, honoring God. Out of nowhere 0:05:31.160 --> 0:05:36.160 a promotion, a good break, a contract that catapults us ahead. 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:39.440 We didn't see it coming, but God did. 0:05:40.120 --> 0:05:41.360 It was on the blueprint. 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:45.560 You have no idea what God has in your future, 0:05:46.200 --> 0:05:49.159 the doors he's going to open, the people he's going 0:05:49.200 --> 0:05:52.560 to bring, the places he's going to take you. It 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:55.599 may seem like you've reached your limits. You could never 0:05:55.680 --> 0:05:58.880 accomplish a dream, never get out of debt, never meet 0:05:58.880 --> 0:05:59.719 the right person. 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:02.000 You don't know what God is up to. 0:06:02.800 --> 0:06:06.000 If he showed you the blueprint, if you could see 0:06:06.200 --> 0:06:08.840 into your future, it would amaze you. 0:06:09.320 --> 0:06:11.480 The good news is God. 0:06:11.240 --> 0:06:13.960 Is working it out You don't have to do this 0:06:14.400 --> 0:06:20.080 just in your own strength. Try to manipulate people, manipulate circumstances. 0:06:20.680 --> 0:06:26.000 You have someone manipulating things for you. It just so happens. 0:06:26.200 --> 0:06:27.640 He controls the universe. 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:31.719 Why are you worrying? Why are you live in stress? 0:06:32.320 --> 0:06:36.599 The most tighed God is directing your steps, moving the 0:06:36.640 --> 0:06:39.880 wrong people out of the way, lining up the breaks 0:06:39.920 --> 0:06:44.880 you need, turning negative situations around. You don't have to worry. 0:06:45.160 --> 0:06:50.360 It's on the blueprint, Jeremiah said. God's plans for you 0:06:50.839 --> 0:06:54.640 are for good, to bring you to an expected end. 0:06:55.520 --> 0:06:58.039 You are not going to come to a random end. 0:06:58.839 --> 0:07:01.520 God is not up in the heaven thinking I wonder 0:07:01.560 --> 0:07:04.599 what's going to happen in their life. God has already 0:07:04.920 --> 0:07:09.600 established your end. Your steps are being ordered, You are 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:12.119 at the right place at the right time. 0:07:12.720 --> 0:07:14.360 Everything is on schedule. 0:07:15.000 --> 0:07:18.640 All the details are coming together, and things may have 0:07:18.760 --> 0:07:20.640 happened that you don't understand. 0:07:20.960 --> 0:07:21.840 Stay in faith. 0:07:22.160 --> 0:07:25.800 It's on the plans. It may not make sense now, 0:07:26.120 --> 0:07:29.880 but when it comes together, it will make sense. His 0:07:30.040 --> 0:07:34.240 plan is in process. You don't have to be frustrated 0:07:34.560 --> 0:07:38.800 because it's not happening fast enough. Get upset because somebody 0:07:38.840 --> 0:07:42.640 did you wrong. The God who breathed life into you 0:07:43.280 --> 0:07:47.000 has not only established your end, but he is working 0:07:47.120 --> 0:07:50.800 all things according to his will. When I was a 0:07:50.840 --> 0:07:54.480 little boy, my father would travel overseas for a couple 0:07:54.520 --> 0:07:58.240 of weeks at a time to minister. When he returned home, 0:07:58.680 --> 0:08:02.400 my siblings and I were always so excited to see him, 0:08:02.840 --> 0:08:06.440 not just because we missed him, but because he always 0:08:06.520 --> 0:08:10.600 brought us a gift, something from that country. One trip, 0:08:10.720 --> 0:08:14.280 he opened his suitcase and he handed me a puppet. 0:08:14.520 --> 0:08:17.960 It was a cowboy made out of wood, had two 0:08:18.040 --> 0:08:21.440 gloves where you could put your fingers. All these strings 0:08:21.480 --> 0:08:24.400 were attached to different parts of the puppet. I could 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:28.400 move my little finger, make the puppet wave. Move another 0:08:28.440 --> 0:08:30.880 finger and cause him to shake his head, move them 0:08:30.920 --> 0:08:33.559 all together, make him run, make him dance, make him 0:08:33.559 --> 0:08:34.040 lie down. 0:08:34.600 --> 0:08:35.960 I love this puppet. 0:08:36.480 --> 0:08:39.040 I would put on puppet shows for my little sister. 0:08:39.880 --> 0:08:43.320 I was behind the curtain, hidden. All she could see 0:08:43.440 --> 0:08:46.840 was the puppet. She would laugh when the puppet danced, 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:51.080 wave when the puppet waved. She was so engrossed in 0:08:51.160 --> 0:08:55.160 the show she would forget I was pulling the strings. 0:08:55.760 --> 0:08:59.680 I was the one orchestrating his every move in the 0:08:59.679 --> 0:09:03.240 same way. You're not doing life on your own. God 0:09:03.400 --> 0:09:08.240 is behind the scenes, pulling the strings orchestrating your steps. 0:09:09.040 --> 0:09:12.719 Sometimes we think we got to where we are by ourselves, 0:09:13.240 --> 0:09:18.000 our talent, our strength, our determination. We don't realize God 0:09:18.080 --> 0:09:21.760 has been pulling strings our whole life, bringing talent out, 0:09:22.240 --> 0:09:26.200 giving us ability, causing us to shine. When we were tired, 0:09:26.360 --> 0:09:29.439 he pulled a string and lifted us. When we felt 0:09:29.440 --> 0:09:31.840 like quitting, he pulled a string and caused us to 0:09:31.880 --> 0:09:34.840 try again. When we didn't have the training, he pulled 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:38.199 a string and gave us the position. When we're tempted 0:09:38.240 --> 0:09:41.040 to take the credit, think we did it on our own. 0:09:41.520 --> 0:09:44.040 It's good to look up and say, Father, thank you 0:09:44.240 --> 0:09:49.640 for pulling strings. I realize you're giving me strength, You're 0:09:49.679 --> 0:09:53.360 making me dance, You're causing me to shine. The great 0:09:53.400 --> 0:09:56.680 thing about God is he doesn't just have a string 0:09:56.760 --> 0:09:59.760 on you. He has a string on all of your 0:09:59.760 --> 0:10:03.720 so circumstances. Like in a puppet show, there's a string 0:10:03.800 --> 0:10:06.720 on the curtain, a string on the door, a string 0:10:06.760 --> 0:10:10.600 on the table. The person running the show can control 0:10:10.760 --> 0:10:14.839 everything on the stage. That's the way it is with God. 0:10:14.960 --> 0:10:18.440 He has a string on all your props. A string 0:10:18.559 --> 0:10:22.040 on everything you need. When it's your time to shine, 0:10:22.240 --> 0:10:24.760 God has a string on the curtain. He'll open that 0:10:24.840 --> 0:10:27.720 door and there you are. When he's ready for you 0:10:27.800 --> 0:10:30.680 to be promoted, he has a string on that promotion. 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:34.520 He'll bring it to you. You're not feeling well, don't worry. 0:10:34.720 --> 0:10:38.200 God has a string on your healing. You've heard that 0:10:38.280 --> 0:10:41.440 phrase no strings attached with God. 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:42.800 It is just the opposite. 0:10:43.000 --> 0:10:46.760 He has a string on everything on your stage. How 0:10:46.760 --> 0:10:49.080 did you get to where you are? It's very simple. 0:10:49.360 --> 0:10:53.320 God pulled the strings. How did my father rise out 0:10:53.320 --> 0:10:57.920 of poverty, no future to speak of, very little education, 0:10:58.600 --> 0:11:02.080 Yet he was able to leave that limited environment, go 0:11:02.160 --> 0:11:05.400 on to pastor great churches and live an abundant life. 0:11:05.800 --> 0:11:09.720 God pulled the strings. There was no way in the natural. 0:11:10.360 --> 0:11:13.839 All the odds were against him. But the one who 0:11:13.880 --> 0:11:17.720 controls your strings is not limited by the natural. 0:11:18.040 --> 0:11:19.200 He's supernatural. 0:11:19.679 --> 0:11:23.080 You can't see him. He's behind the scenes, but he's 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:27.400 working all things according to his will. When God is 0:11:27.480 --> 0:11:30.760 ready to promote you, he doesn't check with your boss, 0:11:31.600 --> 0:11:34.800 he doesn't get approval from your family, he doesn't take 0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:38.520 a vote from your critics. He simply pulls the strings. 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:43.880 He controls what doors open, He controls what breaks come 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:47.839 your way. Don't be discouraged by your boss. God has 0:11:47.880 --> 0:11:51.440 a string on your boss. Don't lose sleep over those 0:11:51.480 --> 0:11:54.760 people who are against you. God has a string on 0:11:54.840 --> 0:11:58.200 who's trying to stop you. When it's time, he'll pull 0:11:58.280 --> 0:12:00.000 that string move them out of the way. 0:12:00.880 --> 0:12:01.880 You don't have to live. 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:05.840 Stressed out because you have opposition and things haven't worked out. 0:12:06.480 --> 0:12:10.559 You're still connected. God has a string on you and 0:12:10.679 --> 0:12:15.600 everything that's affecting you. The psalmist said, God's hand is 0:12:15.679 --> 0:12:19.960 outstretched toward you when you're tempted to get discouraged. 0:12:20.280 --> 0:12:21.920 I think it's never going to work out. 0:12:22.280 --> 0:12:27.680 Just imagine God's hand outstretched above you, pulling strings, directing 0:12:27.720 --> 0:12:31.960 your steps, orchestrating your life. He not only has a 0:12:32.000 --> 0:12:35.560 string on you, he has a string on your finances. 0:12:36.200 --> 0:12:39.840 He has a string on your opportunities, on your house, 0:12:40.280 --> 0:12:44.560 on your health, on your family, on your promotion. Get ready, 0:12:44.960 --> 0:12:48.240 God is about to pull some strings. He's about to 0:12:48.280 --> 0:12:51.760 make things happen that you couldn't make happen. You didn't 0:12:51.800 --> 0:12:55.480 see it coming. The opposition was bigger. But God pulled 0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:58.880 a string and you came out with the victory. The 0:12:58.920 --> 0:13:02.480 medical report didn't look good. God pulled a stream. Now 0:13:02.520 --> 0:13:05.800 you're healthy. In Hall, the school said they had no 0:13:05.880 --> 0:13:09.920 more funds. God pulled a string and you received a scholarship. 0:13:10.559 --> 0:13:13.320 You'd been lonely a long time. God pulled a string, 0:13:13.679 --> 0:13:18.200 brought a divine connection. The stream puller is about to show. 0:13:18.000 --> 0:13:18.880 Out in your life. 0:13:19.559 --> 0:13:22.079 You're going to look back and say, like me, how 0:13:22.080 --> 0:13:24.840 did I get up here? I didn't have the training, 0:13:25.320 --> 0:13:29.640 the experience. I wasn't next in line. God pulled my strings. 0:13:30.320 --> 0:13:32.600 He brought ability out of me that I didn't know 0:13:32.679 --> 0:13:37.400 I had. You see me up here speaking, moving my hands. 0:13:37.679 --> 0:13:41.439 I know it's the stream puller, God working out his purpose. 0:13:42.280 --> 0:13:43.599 How did I meet Victoria? 0:13:43.920 --> 0:13:47.760 God pulled some strings When I needed a battery for 0:13:47.880 --> 0:13:51.760 my watch. I could have chosen any jewelry store, there 0:13:51.760 --> 0:13:53.240 are hundreds in Houston. 0:13:53.600 --> 0:13:56.120 But I just so happened to walk into. 0:13:55.920 --> 0:14:00.439 Her mother's jewelry store and there was Victoria waiting for me. 0:14:00.440 --> 0:14:01.440 With open arms. 0:14:03.720 --> 0:14:06.680 God pulled my stream that I had to help God 0:14:06.760 --> 0:14:12.400 pull her stream? What am I saying? Nothing randomly happens. 0:14:12.760 --> 0:14:14.640 Your steps are being ordered. 0:14:15.640 --> 0:14:16.600 I talked to a lady. 0:14:16.920 --> 0:14:19.800 Her son was in a special program in high school 0:14:20.120 --> 0:14:23.440 that was a part of a very prestigious university. If 0:14:23.440 --> 0:14:26.160 he did well, there was a chance he would receive 0:14:26.200 --> 0:14:29.800 a scholarship. But his father came down with an illness. 0:14:30.320 --> 0:14:34.160 He was so distracted that his grades dropped. He was 0:14:34.240 --> 0:14:36.920 normally an excellent student, at the top of his class, 0:14:37.320 --> 0:14:39.840 but now he was in danger of failing and having 0:14:39.840 --> 0:14:41.080 to leave the program. 0:14:41.560 --> 0:14:43.880 His mother knew it was because. 0:14:43.400 --> 0:14:46.560 Of the situation with his father, so she went to 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:49.960 the school to explain what was going on. She was 0:14:50.080 --> 0:14:53.920 very concerned about how they would respond. They could have said, 0:14:54.000 --> 0:14:56.960 we have rules if he doesn't make the grades too bad, 0:14:57.680 --> 0:15:00.960 but the man in charge was his as can be. 0:15:01.640 --> 0:15:05.400 He said, we'll give your son free tutoring to help 0:15:05.440 --> 0:15:09.240 him get back on course. Should have cost thousands of dollars, 0:15:09.600 --> 0:15:12.520 but God pulled a stream caused that man to be 0:15:12.560 --> 0:15:15.720 good to them. The young man's grades came back up. 0:15:16.160 --> 0:15:20.400 He applied for college and was accepted into six universities. 0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:24.360 These were partial scholarships. He had not heard back from 0:15:24.360 --> 0:15:27.800 the school he really wanted to attend, been so long 0:15:28.240 --> 0:15:31.040 they thought that door had closed. But while he was 0:15:31.080 --> 0:15:35.480 making plans to attend another university, the main One emailed 0:15:35.520 --> 0:15:38.960 back and said that they were not only accepting him 0:15:39.160 --> 0:15:42.760 into their engineering school that was his dream, but they 0:15:42.760 --> 0:15:43.720 were giving him. 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:44.840 A full scholarship. 0:15:46.080 --> 0:15:50.040 God knows how to pull the strings. You may not 0:15:50.240 --> 0:15:54.160 see how it can happen. Don't get discouraged. The string 0:15:54.320 --> 0:15:58.000 puller is at work. He has a string on all 0:15:58.080 --> 0:16:00.920 the doors you need to be opened, a string on 0:16:01.040 --> 0:16:03.200 all the people that need to be good to you. 0:16:03.600 --> 0:16:07.440 He's working out his purpose. Live from a place of peace, 0:16:07.880 --> 0:16:11.280 a place of rest. You don't have to manipulate things. 0:16:11.640 --> 0:16:15.600 God is manipulating them for you. Our job is to 0:16:15.680 --> 0:16:19.520 trust him. God, you're in control of my life. I 0:16:19.600 --> 0:16:23.240 know you're pulling the strings. You're opening doors no man 0:16:23.280 --> 0:16:26.720 can shut. You're bringing the right people, taking me to 0:16:26.800 --> 0:16:29.680 where I'm supposed to be. Well, Joel, I've had a 0:16:29.720 --> 0:16:33.200 lot of bad breaks, a lot of unfair situations. Haven't 0:16:33.200 --> 0:16:36.360 seen God pulling any strings for me. This is what 0:16:36.480 --> 0:16:40.760 happened with job. He was doing the right thing, honoring God. 0:16:41.080 --> 0:16:44.720 When the bottom fell out. He lost his health, lost 0:16:44.720 --> 0:16:46.320 his business, lost his family. 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:48.400 Everything that could go wrong did. 0:16:49.120 --> 0:16:52.240 But life is not always fair, and on the way 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:56.480 to our destiny there will be twist and turns things 0:16:56.520 --> 0:17:00.640 we don't understand. God doesn't send the trouble, but he 0:17:00.720 --> 0:17:04.800 allows things. You may get thrown into the fiery furnace, 0:17:05.200 --> 0:17:09.080 but God controls the thermostaff He won't let it take 0:17:09.119 --> 0:17:12.320 your life before your time. He has a string on 0:17:12.400 --> 0:17:16.439 the trouble, a string on the opposition. The scripture says 0:17:16.760 --> 0:17:20.480 Satan had to ask God for permission to test Joe. 0:17:21.240 --> 0:17:23.679 God told him yes, but he could only take it 0:17:23.760 --> 0:17:27.439 so far. This tells me God is not just in 0:17:27.480 --> 0:17:31.120 control of your life. He's in control of your enemies. 0:17:31.800 --> 0:17:35.800 Everything on your stage is on a stream. Not just 0:17:35.880 --> 0:17:40.080 the good things, the promotion, the blessings, the favor, but 0:17:40.200 --> 0:17:44.919 even the sickness, the betrayal, the bad breaks. They don't 0:17:44.920 --> 0:17:48.480 have total access in your life. They can't do whatever 0:17:48.520 --> 0:17:52.520 they want. They couldn't even be on your stage without permission. 0:17:53.440 --> 0:17:57.240 In difficult times, you have to remind yourself God is 0:17:57.280 --> 0:18:01.480 still working all things according to his will. The enemy 0:18:01.520 --> 0:18:04.440 didn't come in and somehow get a hold of your strings. 0:18:05.040 --> 0:18:08.320 He didn't wrestle away control. And now God is on 0:18:08.359 --> 0:18:12.480 the sidelines watching what's happening. Know your steps are still 0:18:12.520 --> 0:18:17.080 being ordered, and in the middle of this difficulty, Job said, 0:18:17.560 --> 0:18:22.920 I know my redeemer lives. He could have been complaining. Instead, 0:18:23.160 --> 0:18:26.400 he was saying, God, I know you're still on the throne. 0:18:26.960 --> 0:18:27.800 I know your. 0:18:27.640 --> 0:18:31.280 Hand is still outstretched toward me. I don't understand this, 0:18:31.480 --> 0:18:35.080 but I know you're still working all things according to 0:18:35.119 --> 0:18:38.919 your will. It's easy to give God thanks for pulling 0:18:38.960 --> 0:18:40.920 strings when things are going our way. 0:18:41.200 --> 0:18:43.480 It's easy to have a good attitude. 0:18:43.600 --> 0:18:47.520 But the real test comes in these tough times, when 0:18:47.560 --> 0:18:50.960 it feels like God has forgotten about you. That's when 0:18:51.000 --> 0:18:53.760 you have to dig your heels in and do like Job, 0:18:54.240 --> 0:18:58.040 I know my Redeemer lives. I know this didn't come 0:18:58.080 --> 0:19:01.919 to stay. It came to pass. When you stay in faith, 0:19:02.440 --> 0:19:05.480 God will not only pull your strings, but he'll pull 0:19:05.520 --> 0:19:08.240 the strings of that sickness, the strings. 0:19:07.800 --> 0:19:08.639 Of the opposition. 0:19:08.920 --> 0:19:13.760 He'll pull back what's hindering you. Nine months later, Job 0:19:13.920 --> 0:19:18.080 came out of that difficulty, not beat up and bedraggled. 0:19:18.680 --> 0:19:21.240 He didn't even come out the same. He came out 0:19:21.400 --> 0:19:25.080 with twice what he had before. When it was all over, 0:19:25.480 --> 0:19:30.320 Job said, I am convinced that nothing and no one 0:19:30.840 --> 0:19:34.920 can stop God's plan. You may be in a difficult time, 0:19:35.240 --> 0:19:38.440 but If Job were here now, he would tell you 0:19:38.840 --> 0:19:42.160 stay in peace. Nothing can stop God's plan. 0:19:42.840 --> 0:19:44.200 He has a string. 0:19:43.880 --> 0:19:47.159 On you, a string on the sickness, a string on 0:19:47.240 --> 0:19:51.240 the opposition life with Job. You're about to see God 0:19:51.520 --> 0:19:55.560 pull some strings. That sickness is about to turn around, 0:19:56.280 --> 0:19:58.240 That trouble at work is about to. 0:19:58.280 --> 0:19:59.760 Resolve in your favor. 0:20:00.480 --> 0:20:03.040 Those forces that are trying to stop you, I can 0:20:03.080 --> 0:20:06.840 see by faith God pulling them back and pulling healing 0:20:06.880 --> 0:20:08.320 to you, promotion to. 0:20:08.320 --> 0:20:09.520 You, favor to you. 0:20:09.880 --> 0:20:13.959 Get ready for some pulled strings, things that you couldn't 0:20:14.000 --> 0:20:19.160 make happen. It's the outstretched hand of God working all things, 0:20:19.760 --> 0:20:23.439 not according to your circumstances, but according to his will. 0:20:23.880 --> 0:20:27.080 His will is that you be healthy. His will is 0:20:27.080 --> 0:20:30.080 that you break the addiction. His will as you be 0:20:30.200 --> 0:20:33.680 free from the depression, His will as you rise higher, 0:20:34.040 --> 0:20:36.280 come out of debt, accomplish your dreams. 0:20:37.080 --> 0:20:38.560 What can stop our God? 0:20:39.280 --> 0:20:42.159 Do you think the trouble at work is bigger, the 0:20:42.240 --> 0:20:46.159 sickness is stronger, Those people are more powerful. They are 0:20:46.400 --> 0:20:49.320 palms in the hands of God. He has a string 0:20:49.400 --> 0:20:54.040 on them. That car that almost hits you, they swerved 0:20:54.080 --> 0:20:56.480 at the last moment. You don't know how they missed you. 0:20:56.920 --> 0:21:01.800 God pulled a string. He controls the universe. Moses asked 0:21:01.800 --> 0:21:05.320 God his name. He said, my name is I Am. 0:21:06.119 --> 0:21:10.679 He was saying, I am anything you need. I am protection, 0:21:11.119 --> 0:21:15.280 I am provision, I am healing, I am strength, I am. 0:21:15.280 --> 0:21:16.600 Favor, I am deliverance. 0:21:17.640 --> 0:21:22.280 Nothing can stand against our God, the most powerful force 0:21:22.359 --> 0:21:26.720 in the universe has a string on you. You are connected 0:21:26.840 --> 0:21:27.720 to the Creator. 0:21:28.200 --> 0:21:30.560 He's working out his purpose for your life. 0:21:31.200 --> 0:21:34.920 Quit worrying, think it is not going to happen, talking 0:21:34.960 --> 0:21:38.400 about how big the problem is. Start talking about how 0:21:38.400 --> 0:21:41.640 big your God is. When the thoughts say it's never 0:21:41.680 --> 0:21:43.640 going to work out, turn it around. 0:21:44.160 --> 0:21:45.800 Father. I want to thank you. 0:21:45.960 --> 0:21:48.399 That you're about to pull some strings in my life. 0:21:48.640 --> 0:21:50.960 Thank you that you're taking me where I could not 0:21:51.160 --> 0:21:54.159 go on my own. Joe, I don't think it's going 0:21:54.240 --> 0:21:57.560 to happen for me. I've made too many mistakes. I've 0:21:57.600 --> 0:22:02.399 gotten way off course. You think your mistakes can override 0:22:02.520 --> 0:22:06.679 God's will, that what you've done can cancel your blueprint, 0:22:07.119 --> 0:22:11.280 that somehow you can disconnect from this string. I say 0:22:11.320 --> 0:22:16.520 this respectfully. You're not that powerful. Just ask Jonah. God 0:22:16.560 --> 0:22:19.160 told him to go to the City of Nineveh and minister. 0:22:19.720 --> 0:22:21.800 He didn't want to go there. He got on a 0:22:21.840 --> 0:22:25.680 boat go in the other direction. A huge storm arose. 0:22:26.160 --> 0:22:27.879 He told the crew it was his fault. 0:22:28.080 --> 0:22:31.320 They threw him overboard. Should have been the end. But 0:22:31.480 --> 0:22:33.040 God had a string. 0:22:32.920 --> 0:22:35.879 On a big fish. Just so happened. The fish was 0:22:35.920 --> 0:22:39.320 waiting swallowed Jonah. He spent three days in the belly 0:22:39.320 --> 0:22:41.280 of the fish, the bottom of the ocean. 0:22:41.800 --> 0:22:45.320 Third day, the fish came up spit Jonah on dry ground. 0:22:46.000 --> 0:22:49.160 First thing, God said, Jonah go to Nineveh. Gave him 0:22:49.160 --> 0:22:49.919 another chance. 0:22:50.680 --> 0:22:53.600 But I love that God not only had a string 0:22:53.640 --> 0:22:56.560 on Jonah, not only wouldn't let him go too far, 0:22:57.080 --> 0:22:58.959 but he had a string on the fish. 0:23:00.119 --> 0:23:03.720 God has a string on everything you need to fulfill 0:23:03.800 --> 0:23:04.440 your purpose. 0:23:05.119 --> 0:23:08.320 You may run, but you'll never get away from the string. 0:23:08.760 --> 0:23:10.160 It'll always pull you aback. 0:23:10.280 --> 0:23:13.640 God will have somebody or someone to keep you from 0:23:13.640 --> 0:23:19.199