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Download the units stapp and use the 31 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 3: code iHeart fifty at sign up to receive a fifty 32 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 3: dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code iHeart 33 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: fifty when you sign up at unest dot co for 34 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 3: a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs 35 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: dot co. 36 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 37 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 4: We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 38 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 4: leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 39 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 4: every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 40 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 4: ministry going. Enjoy the message. Well, God bless you. It 41 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 4: is always a joy to come into your homes. We 42 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 4: love you and we know God has great things in 43 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 4: store for each one of you. If you're ever in 44 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 4: our area, I hope you'll stop by and see us. 45 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 4: We'd love to have you be a part of one 46 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 4: of our services. These are the finest people in all 47 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 4: of Houston, right here at Lakewood, So come on out sometime. 48 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 4: We'd love to have you. I like to get started 49 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 4: each week with something kind of funny. And I heard 50 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 4: about this couple. They'd been married for over sixty years. 51 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 4: They were at a church fellowship and somebody asked them 52 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 4: the secret of their success. The man told how he 53 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 4: always treated his wife with respect, and he took her 54 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 4: on trips all over the world. He said, in fact, 55 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 4: for our twenty fifth wedding anniversary, I took her to Beijing, China. 56 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 4: Everybody kind of clapped. Somebody spoke up and said, what'd 57 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 4: you do for your fiftieth anniversary? He said, I went 58 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 4: back and picked her up. All right, hold up your bible. 59 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 4: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 60 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 4: I am what it says I am. I have what 61 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 4: it says I have. I can do what it says 62 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 4: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 63 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 4: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 64 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 4: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' 65 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 4: name God bless you. I want to talk to you 66 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 4: today about how we are in a controlled environment. Sometimes 67 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 4: it may feel like life is out of control. Things 68 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 4: can get kind of hectic in our finances, in our 69 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 4: health with a family issue. But you have to remind 70 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 4: yourself even though my circumstances feel out of control, God 71 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 4: is still in control. I When things don't go our way, 72 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 4: the stock market goes down, the hurricane hits, you get 73 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 4: bad news concerning your health, understand none of that is 74 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 4: a surprise to God. God is still on the throne, 75 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 4: and we need to come back to this place of peace. 76 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 4: We don't have to live life stressed. We don't have 77 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 4: to go around worried because our plans didn't work out. 78 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 4: We went through a disappointment, now we're uncertain about the future. 79 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 4: Now we can stay in faith knowing that we are 80 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 4: in a controlled environment. That means nothing can happen to 81 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 4: us without God's permission. No sickness can end your life 82 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 4: before you fulfill your divine purpose. No financial difficulty can 83 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 4: keep you from your God given destiny. No person that's 84 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 4: hurt you in the past, or even someone that may 85 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 4: hurt you in the future, can keep you from becoming 86 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 4: all God's created you to be. God knew everything you 87 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 4: would go through. And the good news is he has 88 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,679 Speaker 4: already laid out a plan of victory. God knew every 89 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 4: person that would do you wrong. He's already laid out 90 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 4: your vindication. God knew every disappointment. He's already laid out 91 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 4: new opportunities. God knew everything that would be stolen. He 92 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 4: has already laid out your restoration. You're in a contry 93 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 4: controlled environment. I think about how when the disciples were 94 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 4: in a boat and a great storm arose, Jesus didn't panic. 95 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 4: He didn't get upset and think, what are we going 96 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 4: to do. No, he's the one that told them to 97 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 4: get on the boat. He knew the storm was coming, 98 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 4: he knew it was going to be difficult. What did 99 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 4: he do. He simply spoke to the storm. He said, peace, 100 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 4: be still. And here's the key. The storm obeyed him. 101 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 4: That tells me God is in control even of my storms. 102 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 4: And when times get tough, you lose money in the 103 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 4: stock market, you're struggling in a relationship, you have to 104 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 4: remind yourself. God is in control not just of me, 105 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,919 Speaker 4: but of even this storm. He's in control of my 106 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 4: financial difficulty. He's in control of my marriage problem. I'm 107 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 4: in a controlled environment. It's very freeing when you realize, 108 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:00,040 Speaker 4: no matter what comes against you, it's never going to 109 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 4: be too much. It may be a surprise to you, 110 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 4: but it is not a surprise to God. He has 111 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 4: already predestined you to overcome. God has solutions for problems 112 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 4: you haven't even had. All you've got to do is 113 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 4: stay in faith, and you're going to walk into your 114 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 4: divine destiny. Well, you say, Joel, it sure seems like 115 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 4: this sickness is in control. I got a bad report 116 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 4: from the doctor. It seems like that my enemies are 117 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 4: getting the best of me. They cheated me out of 118 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 4: a promotion at work. I don't see how I can 119 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 4: fulfill my dreams. I don't have the connections. Now, you've 120 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 4: got to get a new perspective. Do you know who's 121 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 4: backing you up? Do you realize who's on your side? 122 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 4: The all powerful, almighty creator of the universe is breathing 123 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:48,679 Speaker 4: in your direction. God has surrounded you with his favor. 124 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 4: He has armed you with strength for every battle. He 125 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 4: has equipped you with talent, creativity, wisdom, strength, determination. You 126 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 4: have everything that you need. When you're tempted to get discouraged, 127 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 4: you need to remind yourself the forces of darkness have 128 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 4: never once stopped God's plan from coming to pass. And 129 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 4: let me assure you, it's not going to start with you. 130 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 4: You're going to fulfill your divine destiny. You're going to 131 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 4: overcome every obstacle. You're going to defeat that sickness. You're 132 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 4: going to beat that addiction. You're coming out of not 133 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 4: enough into the land of more than enough. Whatever you 134 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 4: touch is going to prosper and succeed. Because you honor God, 135 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 4: his blessings are going to chase you down and overtake you. 136 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 4: Why don't you let those seeds take root in your 137 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 4: heart today. I know some of you are facing things 138 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 4: that could easily steal your joy. You could easily go 139 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 4: round upset and worried. But God is saying, I've got 140 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 4: you in the palm of my hand. The storm may 141 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 4: be raging, the wind may be blowing, but I'm in 142 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 4: control of the storm. I'm not going to let it 143 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 4: overwhelm you. Everything is gonna be all right. That's what 144 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 4: it says in Isaiah forty three to two. You will 145 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 4: go through the flood but you will not drown. You 146 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 4: will go through the river, but you will not go under. 147 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 4: Let me add one, you'll go through the hurricane, but 148 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 4: you'll come out alive. And well, how about one more. 149 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 4: You'll go through the fire, But one translation says you'll 150 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 4: come out without even the smell of smoke. And you 151 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 4: may feel like you're in the fire, but God's saying 152 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 4: you're coming out, and you're not gonna come out beat up, 153 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 4: be draggled, half dead. You're gonna come out without a bruise, 154 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 4: without a blemish, better off than you were before. You 155 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 4: need to get your second wind. You need to dig 156 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 4: your heels in and say that's it. I'm done living depressed, discourage, worried. 157 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 4: I know I've got a provider. I've got a protector. 158 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 4: I've got a defender. I've got a deliver, I've got 159 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 4: a waymaker. I'm in a controlled environment. I saw a 160 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 4: report on the news and this man was filming a movie. 161 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 4: He was in a helicopter over the ocean. He was 162 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,839 Speaker 4: the lead actor, and in this particular scene, he was 163 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 4: supposed to hand something from the helicopter to the people 164 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 4: in the boat below, and so the helicopter got real 165 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 4: close to the water, and it hit an unusual burst 166 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 4: of wind and the pilot lost control. It started spinning 167 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 4: around and around and finally crashed into the water, and 168 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 4: it quickly began to sink. After about thirty seconds, the 169 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 4: pilot's head popped up. He was okay. People were so 170 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 4: relieved that he was alive, but there was no sign 171 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 4: of this other man, the lead actor. A minute went by, 172 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 4: two minutes, three minutes, four minutes, still nothing. People were 173 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 4: fearing the worst, but about five minutes later, all of 174 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 4: a sudden, his head popped up out of the water 175 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 4: and he too, was perfectly fine. Later he told how 176 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 4: he had been knocked unconscious. When he came to, he 177 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 4: was very disoriented and couldn't find his way out, But 178 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 4: he said, I'd like to thank the rest, and especially 179 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 4: the man that grabbed the back of my neck and 180 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 4: maneuvered me through the helicopter and gave me that big 181 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 4: push up to the top of the water. The people 182 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 4: listening said, what are you talking about. There were no rescuers. 183 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 4: You were down there by yourself. Big tears began to 184 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 4: come down his cheeks. He looked up to the heavens 185 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 4: and he said, then I want to thank God because 186 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 4: it was his hand that lifted me up. What's my point. 187 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 4: If it's not your time to go, You're not gonna go. 188 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 4: All the forces of darkness cannot take your life. God 189 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 4: always has the final say. And it may look like 190 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 4: that cancer is gonna beat you, but you need to 191 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 4: keep telling yourself, No sickness is gonna take my life. 192 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,719 Speaker 4: No accident is going to shorten my divine destiny by 193 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 4: a single second. I'm in the palm of God's hand. 194 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 4: I'm in a controlled environment. One time in the Old Testament, 195 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 4: a major army had come against the people of Israel, 196 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 4: much bigger, much more powerful in the natural. The Israelites 197 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,319 Speaker 4: didn't have a chance. But every time this enemy army 198 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 4: made any kind of move, the people of Israel were 199 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 4: already there waiting for them. If they decided to attack 200 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 4: from the north, the Israelites would beat them there and 201 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 4: cause them to change their plans. If they decided to 202 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 4: sneak up in the middle of the night, the people 203 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 4: of Israel were up ready waiting for that battle. No 204 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,839 Speaker 4: matter how hard they tried, they could never get the 205 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 4: upper hand. And finally, the commander of that enemy army 206 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 4: said to his men. Somebody is a trader. Somebody is 207 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 4: leaking valuable information. We're never going to defeat these people. 208 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 4: They know every move we're gonna make before we even 209 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 4: make it. Now, who's the trader? One of the captains 210 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 4: spoke up, says, Sir, I don't know how to tell 211 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 4: you this, but it's none of us. There's a prophet 212 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 4: over in Israel, and what you whisper in secret, he 213 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 4: announces in public to the whole army. Friends, you and 214 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 4: I have an advantage. God is in control of our enemies. 215 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 4: He knows what they're planning, he knows their next move. 216 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 4: We don't have to be worried. We have inside information. 217 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 4: The commander of that army got so upset he said, 218 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 4: here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna go get that man. 219 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 4: We're gonna go capture that prophet. Do you know he 220 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 4: sent thousands of troops and thousands of horses all to 221 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 4: capture one man filled with the spirit of the living God. 222 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 4: It's the same way the enemy looks at you. When 223 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 4: he sees you, he doesn't just see you. He sees 224 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 4: all the forces that are backing you up. He sees 225 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 4: the creator of the universe, standing by your side. He 226 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 4: sees his mighty angels guarding, protecting, defending. He sees your 227 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 4: crown of favor. He sees your robe of righteousness. Don't 228 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 4: ever be afraid of the enemy. He scared the death 229 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 4: of you. Somebody may be doing you wrong today, and 230 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 4: it looks like they have the upper hand. It looks 231 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 4: like it's never gonna change. You need to keep reminding yourself. 232 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 4: I have an advantage. God is in control of my enemies. 233 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 4: He's fighting my battles for me. He is my vindicator, 234 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 4: and it's just a matter of time before things change 235 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 4: in my favor. I love the scripture in Hebrews. It 236 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 4: says don't cast away your confidence. One translation says for 237 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 4: payday is coming, and in the difficult times, you have 238 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 4: to remind yourself that payday is on its way. God 239 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 4: is a faithful God. If you'll keep doing the right thing, 240 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:40,839 Speaker 4: honoring him, expecting his favor, God is promised he will 241 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 4: pay you back. In fact, God said He'll make your 242 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 4: enemies pay you back. It's like this little old lady 243 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 4: I heard about. She lived way way out in the country. 244 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 4: I mean, she was so far out in the woods. 245 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 4: The june bugs didn't show up till August. Every morning 246 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 4: she'd go out on her front porch and she just 247 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 4: thanked God she was alive and thanked God that he 248 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 4: was supplying all of her needs. Her neighbor thought she 249 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 4: was a little off of her rocker. He was always 250 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 4: making fun of her, telling her she was just wasting 251 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 4: her time, giving her a hard time. He didn't believe 252 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 4: in the things of God. One morning he heard her 253 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 4: thanking God that he would provide groceries for the week. 254 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 4: He decided to play a trick on her. He went 255 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 4: to the grocery store got a few bags of groceries. 256 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 4: The next morning, early he snuck over there and put 257 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 4: them on her front porch and then went around the 258 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 4: side of the house and hid. When the lady came 259 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 4: out and saw the groceries, she started rejoicing, saying, God, 260 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 4: you did it again. You brought me groceries for the week. 261 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 4: The man came out of hiding, and he laughed and laughed. 262 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 4: He said, I told you so, I told you you 263 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 4: were wasting your time. God didn't put those groceries there. 264 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 4: I did. The lady started rejoicing even louder. She said, God, 265 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 4: you not only brought me groceries, but you made the day. 266 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 4: I'll pay for it. Friends, God is in control of 267 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 4: our enemies. You don't have to try to get even. 268 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 4: You don't have to try to pay people back. God 269 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 4: is your vindicator. If you'll stay on the high road, 270 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 4: God will even use your enemies to bless you. You 271 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 4: remember Mordecai in the scripture. He was the one that 272 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 4: encouraged Esther to rise up and take that step of faith. 273 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 4: There was another man by the name of Hayman. He 274 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 4: worked to directly with the king, and Hayman did not 275 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 4: like Mordecai. He's always pushing him down, always trying to 276 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 4: make him look bad. But Mordecai understood this principle. He 277 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 4: knew he was in a controlled environment and as long 278 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 4: as he'd keep doing the right thing, being his best, 279 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 4: God would be his vindicator. And one night this king 280 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 4: couldn't sleep, so he asked an assistant to bring in 281 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 4: the records of everything that had happened in that city, 282 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 4: in other words, to bring in the history books. And 283 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 4: it just so happened. The king opened to the exact 284 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 4: page where it talked about where Mordecai had done a 285 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 4: great deed. And had kept the city from harm. That 286 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 4: was not a coincidence. That was God causing the king 287 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 4: to see the right thing. And if you'll stay in faith, 288 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 4: God will cause the right people in your life, your boss, 289 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 4: your supervisor, your clients to see what He wants them 290 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 4: to see. God can make things happen that we can't 291 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 4: make happen on our own. It's called the favor of God. 292 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 4: And one touch of God's favor can thrust you years ahead. 293 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 4: One touch of his favor can take you from borrowing 294 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 4: to lending, or like Joseph, it can take you from 295 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 4: the prison to the palace. It can take you from 296 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 4: working at that business to own in your own business. 297 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 4: But God calls this king to see the exact page 298 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 4: where it talked about Mordecai's faithfulness. The next morning, the 299 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 4: king called Hayman in said, Hayman, what do you suggest 300 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 4: we do to honor a person that has really pleased 301 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 4: the king, really done a great deed. Hamon was so 302 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 4: caught up in himself he thought the king was talking 303 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 4: about him, so he played it up real big. He said, King, 304 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 4: I think we ought to put a royal robe on him, 305 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 4: put him in a chariot, parade him up and down 306 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 4: the streets, blowing trumpets, announcing to everyone about how great 307 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 4: he is. I mean, Haman could taste it. He thought 308 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 4: this was his lucky day. The king said, Haymen, I 309 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 4: like that. That's a great idea. I'm putting you in charge. 310 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 4: Now go get Mordecai and do exactly what you said. 311 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 4: You parade him up and down the streets, and you 312 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 4: announced how honored he is by the king. You talk 313 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 4: about being vindicated. God will not only pay you back, 314 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 4: He'll make your enemies pay you back. The very ones 315 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 4: that are talking about you at the office, the ones 316 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 4: that are trying to make you look bad, the ones 317 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 4: that kind of laugh when when you make a mistake. 318 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 4: God will use them to help promote you. And that's 319 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 4: why you don't have to try to get even. Don't 320 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 4: try to pay people back. Stay on the high road. 321 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,479 Speaker 4: Let God fight your battles for you, knowing that your 322 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 4: payday is on its way. What does it mean to 323 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,400 Speaker 4: be in a controlled environment. It means that nothing in 324 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 4: life happens by accident. There are no coincidences, no random events. 325 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 4: You didn't just happen to get that job and happen 326 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 4: to marry that person happen to be here today. Know 327 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 4: the creator of the universe was directing your steps all 328 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 4: along the way. God was carefully orchestrating every detail of 329 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,919 Speaker 4: your life. If we could pull the curtain back and 330 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 4: look behind the scenes, we would see God pulling the 331 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 4: strings just like a puppet, manipulating things, arranging events, strategically 332 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 4: causing you to be at the right place at the 333 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 4: right time. You're not just randomly going to work each day, 334 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 4: coming home doing your thing. You are a person of destiny. 335 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 4: Before you were born, God laid out a plan for 336 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 4: your life. He has an assignment for you to fulfill. 337 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 4: The good news is God has already lined up the 338 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 4: right people, the right breaks, the right opportunities. You are 339 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 4: meeting people now that very well may somehow, some way 340 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 4: be instrumental in your life even twenty or thirty years 341 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 4: from now. I remember when I was in my mid twenties, 342 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 4: there was this situation in a business dealing that looked 343 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 4: like he's going to take a lot of time and 344 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 4: energy and resources to get corrected. And I knew I 345 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 4: was in the right but it seemed like he's going 346 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 4: to be months and months for it ever to be 347 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 4: straightened out, and I sure wasn't looking forward to it. 348 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 4: But one day out of the blue, I got a 349 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,679 Speaker 4: call from this gentleman that was in charge, and he 350 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 4: told how he had straightened everything out. It was over, 351 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 4: and I was so relieved, And of course I thanked 352 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 4: him and told him how much I appreciated him taking 353 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 4: the time to see it my way. He said, Joel, 354 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 4: what really did it for me was my grandmother's best 355 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 4: friend lived down the street from where your family lived 356 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 4: when you were growing up, and she told my grandmother 357 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 4: one time, when you were about ten years old, you 358 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 4: were riding your bike down the street and she was 359 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 4: struggling to get her garbage cans out, and you got 360 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 4: off your bike and you went over and helped her. 361 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,360 Speaker 4: And that made a big impression on me. And as 362 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 4: he was telling me this, I thought to myself, I 363 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,719 Speaker 4: don't know what you're talking about. I don't even know 364 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 4: if I'm the right person, but I'll definitely take credit 365 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 4: for it. But the truth is I did not even 366 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 4: remember that yet a simple act of kindness was still 367 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 4: making an impact in my life some twenty years later. 368 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 4: That was not a coincidence. God knows the end From 369 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 4: the beginning. He knows what we're going to need in 370 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 4: the future. And God had to have that lay coming 371 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 4: down the driveway at the exact right time. I had 372 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 4: to be riding my bike at the exact right moment. 373 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 4: If I'd gone back to get a drink of water, 374 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 4: if she'd gone in to answer the telephone, we wouldn't 375 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 4: be talking about it. That was the creator of the universe, 376 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 4: directing my steps down to the minute details. I thought 377 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 4: it was just a random event, but I've since learned 378 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 4: that nothing in life happens by chance. We are in 379 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 4: a controlled environment. That means I'm not meeting you by accident. 380 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 4: You didn't come across my path by happenstance. God ordained 381 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 4: before the foundation of time that our lives would intersect. 382 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 4: My life will be better off because of spending this 383 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 4: time with you. I'm drawing strength, I'm drawing encouragement. Who 384 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 4: knows you may hear something today, or even have some 385 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 4: kind of feeling, some kind of impression that will affect 386 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 4: you years from now, something that will give you encouragement, 387 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 4: something that will give you insight. Maybe you'll be going 388 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 4: through a difficult time and all of a sudden, God 389 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 4: brings this up out of your spirit, and you realize 390 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 4: it's exactly what you needed to keep pressing forward. I 391 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 4: received a letter from a lady that went to one 392 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 4: of our events in New York City. She told how 393 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 4: a couple of years later, one morning, she woke up 394 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 4: early before her alarm went off, and when she awakened, 395 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 4: she could hear our little daughter singing the song that 396 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 4: she sings at the end of these events. It's a 397 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 4: simple little song. It says, come just as you are, Come, Believe, come, receive, 398 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 4: Come and live forever. And it was so clear in 399 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 4: her mind she could see us standing on the platform together. 400 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 4: She was just reliving it. She could hear Alexander's little voice, 401 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 4: so innocent, so pure, and it really ministered to her 402 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 4: that night, and as she lay there in bed, she 403 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 4: felt an overwhelming sense of peace and just an extraordinary 404 00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 4: sense of God's presence. About thirty minutes later, the phone. 405 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 4: It was her father. She was kind of startled because 406 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,239 Speaker 4: nobody called that early normally. Her dad said, I just 407 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 4: want to remind you it was three years ago today 408 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 4: that mother went to be with the Lord. The exact 409 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 4: time of her death was five point thirty in the morning. 410 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 4: That was the exact moment that she woke up with 411 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 4: that song playing in her spirit. What am I saying? 412 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 4: God is depositing in you everything you need for now 413 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 4: and everything you're going to need in the future. You 414 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 4: may just be listening to a song, you may be 415 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 4: just talking to a friend, you may just be reading 416 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 4: a scripture. You don't think twice about it. But the 417 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 4: fact is God is depositing that in your spirit because 418 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 4: he knows it's going to strengthen you in the days ahead. 419 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 4: There are no coincidences with our God. I read an 420 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 4: article in the newspaper about this mail carrier. She was 421 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 4: out delivering the mail one day, like she always did, 422 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 4: but she noticed a package that needed to be at 423 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 4: a certain address by noon, and typically she wasn't in 424 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 4: that neighborhood until after two o'clock, so she had to 425 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 4: change her route. And when she got to this address, 426 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 4: it was a two story apartment building. She rang the doorbell, 427 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 4: stepped back waiting for somebody to answer, and all of 428 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 4: a sudden, out of her peripheral vision, she noticed something 429 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 4: falling from above, and just intuitively, she reached out her 430 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 4: arms and believe it or not, she caught a one 431 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 4: year old baby. This little baby was in an apartment upstairs. 432 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 4: The window was open on the mother's bed. The mother 433 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 4: turned away, and the baby rolled out the window. The 434 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 4: mom came running downstairs hysterical, screaming. The postal worker calmed 435 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 4: her down and said, don't worry, I caught your little baby. 436 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 4: There was not a scratch on that baby, not a blemish. 437 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 4: The little child was perfectly fine. They interviewed the postal worker. 438 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 4: She said, all I can tell you is God had 439 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 4: me at the right place at the right time. She 440 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 4: was exactly right. Only God could orchestrate that. Think of 441 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 4: all the things that had to fall into place, what 442 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,679 Speaker 4: are the chances of her being right there when the 443 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 4: baby fell out the window. If she hadn't had that package, 444 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 4: she wouldn't have even been in that neighborhood. Or what 445 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 4: is the likelihood that she would be quick enough and 446 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 4: sharp enough to reach out and grab that little baby? Man, 447 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 4: I wanted to sign her up for the Texans football team. 448 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 4: We need some of that kind of favor. But I 449 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 4: want you to have this assurance today, this confidence that 450 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 4: wherever you are, God is directing your steps, no matter 451 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 4: what it looks like. In life. No matter how out 452 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 4: of control it seems to be, know this God is 453 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 4: still in control. During World War II, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's 454 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 4: plane crashed into the ocean. He ejected right before impact, 455 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 4: splashed into the water. When he came up, he found 456 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 4: a piece of the wreckage so he could stay afloat. 457 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 4: Day after day went by with no signs of hope. 458 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 4: He hadn't eaten in so long that his strength began 459 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,719 Speaker 4: to wane. He didn't think he could carry on. Just 460 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 4: when he was about to give up, out of nowhere, 461 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 4: a seagull came and landed on his arm. He grabbed 462 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,719 Speaker 4: it and ate the whole thing, bones and awe. It 463 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 4: not only strengthened him physically, it strengthened him spiritually. At 464 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 4: that moment, he knew God was still in control. Wasn't 465 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 4: long after that that he was rescued and brought back 466 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 4: home to a hero's welcome. He told everyone how God 467 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:39,679 Speaker 4: had used that seagull to spare his life. Come to 468 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 4: find out, it was a much bigger miracle than he thought. 469 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,360 Speaker 4: He was hundreds of miles from the nearest land. There 470 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,120 Speaker 4: are no seagulls out there. Seagulls don't fly that far out. 471 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 4: They would never be able to survive. How could that happen? 472 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,880 Speaker 4: God simply spoke to the seagull and said, head out, 473 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 4: I've got an assignment for you. What am I saying? 474 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 4: We're in a controlled environment. Even if you're stranded in 475 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 4: the middle of the ocean. God has a plan. Let 476 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 4: me make it more practical. If the stock market goes 477 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 4: down forty percent, if gas is four dollars a gallon, 478 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 4: if you lose your biggest client, God still has a 479 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 4: way to supply your needs. God said he would prosper 480 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 4: you even in the desert. He said you would flourish 481 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 4: even in a famine. He's called El Shadai, the God 482 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 4: who is more than enough. David said, I was young, 483 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 4: now I'm old, but I've never once seen the righteous forsaken. 484 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 4: When times get tough, don't get discouraged and think, all men, 485 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 4: what am I going to do? Stay in faith. Your 486 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 4: heavenly Father has not run out of options. When you fall. 487 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 4: He's already arranged for the mail carrier to catch you 488 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 4: when you're in need. He's already spoken to the seagull. 489 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 4: When somebody does you're wrong, He's already lined up your 490 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 4: vindication when you're having a setback. He's already planned your comeback. 491 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,400 Speaker 4: He's already he positive the right song on the inside. 492 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 4: He's already told the angel to protect you in the accident. 493 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 4: When you realize you're in this controlled environment, takes all 494 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 4: the pressure off of you. You can relax and enjoy 495 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 4: your life knowing that nothing can happen to you without 496 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,199 Speaker 4: God's permission. Now, I know some of you today have 497 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 4: a lot of things going on. You could easily be 498 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 4: upset and worried, but I'm asking you to come back 499 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 4: to that place of peace. The storm may be raging, 500 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 4: the winds may be blowing, but God is saying, I've 501 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 4: got you in the palm of my hand. Everything is 502 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 4: going to. 503 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 2: Be all right. 504 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 4: It may get a little rocky, it may get a 505 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 4: little bumpy, but God has the final say, and he's saying, 506 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 4: I always cause you to triumph. What was meant for 507 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 4: your harm I'm going to use to your advantage. And 508 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 4: my prayer today is that you would know, beyond a 509 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 4: shadow of a doubt, that the creator of the universe 510 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 4: is directing your steps down to the minute details in 511 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 4: your future. He's already lined up favor good brain solutions 512 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 4: to problems. He's gonna be your vindicator, your provider, your waymaker. 513 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 4: As you go out each day in faith, knowing that 514 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 4: you're in this controlled environment, let me just declare what's 515 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 4: gonna happen. You're gonna see God's favor in a greater way. 516 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 4: You're gonna rise higher. You're gonna overcome every obstacle. You're 517 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 4: gonna defeat every enemy. You're gonna see every dream, every 518 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 4: desire God's put in your heart is going to come 519 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 4: to pass. In the name of Jesus. Amen, do you 520 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 4: receive it today. We never like to close our broadcast 521 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 4: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 522 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 4: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 523 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 4: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 524 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 4: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 525 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 4: that simple prayer, we believe you God born again. Get 526 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 4: in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 527 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 4: He's gonna take your places that you've never dreamed of. 528 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the Jewels Podcast. Help us 529 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 5: continue to share the message of hope with those all 530 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 5: over the world. Visit joelostein dot com slash give hope 531 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 5: to give a gift today. 532 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 533 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 534 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 4: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 535 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 4: I know God's best is still ahead. 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