1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 2: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 2: God bless you the joy to come into your homes. 7 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop 8 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 2: by and be a part of one of our services. 9 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 1: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 10 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: But thank you so much for tuning in, and thank 11 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 2: you again for coming out today. I like to start 12 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 2: with something funny each week. 13 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: And don't get mad at me. These are just little jokes, y'all. 14 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: But I heard about this Sunday morning church service. It 15 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: was going just fine. All of a sudden, this lightning 16 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 2: bolt hit. When the smoke cleared, Satan himself was standing 17 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 2: behind the podium. People panicked and ran out of the building. 18 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: As fast as they could. 19 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: Satan stood there with glee, but suddenly his mood changed 20 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: when he noticed a woman sitting on the front road 21 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 2: just as calm as can be. He said, lady, do 22 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: you know who I am? She said, I sure, do. 23 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: He said, aren't you afraid of me? She said, no, 24 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 2: I'm not. He said, why not? She said, why should 25 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 2: I be? For thirty years I've been married to your brother. 26 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 2: All right, hold up your Bible. Say it like you 27 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 28 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 2: says I am. I have what it says I have. 29 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: I can do what it says I can do. Today 30 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 2: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 31 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 2: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 32 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 2: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 33 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about fulfilling God's 34 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 2: best plan for your life. 35 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: You are a person of destiny. 36 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: You didn't just happen to show up here on planet Earth. 37 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: God ordained before the foundation of the world that you 38 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: would be here at this particular time. There's no such 39 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: thing as a mistake. Sometimes we hear parers and say, 40 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 2: we weren't expecting this child. They were an accident, They 41 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 2: were a surprise. Well, they may have been a surprise 42 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,119 Speaker 2: to you, but they were not a surprise to Almighty God. 43 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 2: No child can be born without God breathing his life 44 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 2: into that child. You may think, well, Joel, I wasn't planned, 45 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: My mother wasn't married. I was an unwanted pregnancy. No, 46 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: you wouldn't be here if God didn't give life to 47 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 2: that sin. In God's eyes, there's no such thing as 48 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: being illegitimate. You didn't just happen to show up unannounced. 49 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: God had a plan for you long before you ever 50 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 2: got here, even before you were a thought in your. 51 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: Father or mother's mind. 52 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: God knew you, and he already planned out good things 53 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 2: for your life. That's what it says here in Jeremiah 54 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 2: twenty nine to eleven. These are the plans I have 55 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and 56 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and 57 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: the future. Notice God has already planned out ways to 58 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: prosper you. He's already pre arranged for you to live 59 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 2: a good life. But if these plans are going to 60 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: come to pass, we have to do our part and 61 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: know that we are people of destiny. We have to 62 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 2: believe that we have a bright future and that God 63 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: has great things in store. You may not have been 64 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 2: raised by loving parents. In the back of your mind, 65 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 2: you kind of think, well, Joel, I was a mistake 66 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: nobody wanted me. I was passed from home to home. 67 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: Know how you were raised. 68 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 2: What somebody did or didn't give you did not change 69 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: God's plan for your life. God said to Jeremiah, before 70 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: you were formed in your mother's womb, I knew you, 71 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: and I already planned for you to be a prophet 72 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: to the nations. Notice God had an assignment for him 73 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: before he ever got here. God was saying, in effect, Jeremiah, 74 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: you didn't just start when your mother gave birth to you. 75 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: Before you were in her womb, you were with me. 76 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: In other words, my past didn't start with my family. 77 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: It started with my God. And I didn't come from 78 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: my mother. 79 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 2: Of course I love and respect my mother, but I 80 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 2: didn't come from her. 81 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: I came through her. I came from Almighty God. 82 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: He gave me life, he gave me breath, and certainly 83 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 2: God used our mothers to get us here. 84 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: But we came from God. 85 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: That means our assignment, our destiny, our purpose cannot be 86 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: messed up by who we came through. Because we came 87 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 2: from Almighty God. He has the final saying, nothing that 88 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 2: happens to us, God can't turn around and use four us. 89 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: He already has a plan. He knows the end from 90 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: the beginning. 91 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 2: Now, all through the scripture we can see how God 92 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: planned out each person's life. He told Elizabeth, you're going 93 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: to have a baby. You're to call him John. He'll 94 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 2: be a forerunner of Christ. 95 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: That was his assignment. 96 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: An angel appeared to Sampson's mother and told her she 97 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: was going. 98 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: To have a baby. He would be a deliverer. 99 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 2: The angel told how he was to be raised, and 100 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: how his hair was never to be cut on and 101 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: on a specific plan. Three hundred and seventy four years 102 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 2: before King Josiah was born, it was prophesied that one 103 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: day he would arrive, and it told how he would 104 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 2: help put an end to the wrong things that were happening. 105 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 2: Sure enough, three hundred and seventy four years later he 106 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: showed up at eight years old. 107 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: They made him king. One night he couldn't sleep. 108 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: He was reading the ancient passages of scripture, and he 109 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: came across that place that mentioned his name. 110 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: When he read that, he came alive. 111 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: All of a sudden, he knew he was a person 112 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 2: of destiny. God had something for him to do. He 113 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,359 Speaker 2: went out and did exactly that. I believe in the 114 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 2: same way. Hundreds of years ago, God was thinking about you. 115 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 2: He was planning out good things for your life, where 116 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 2: you would be, what assignment you would have, and what 117 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,559 Speaker 2: opportunities to bring across your path. 118 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: See, you didn't just start. 119 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: Thirty forty fifty sixty years ago when your mother gave 120 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: you birth. Long before that, God knew you. And the 121 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: good news is He's already planned out your days to 122 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: prosper you, to be good to you, to give you breaks. 123 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: Friends. You have a bright future in store. 124 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 2: Well, you say, jord if this is true, why am 125 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: I not seeing more of this happen? One reason is 126 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 2: the moment you were born, the enemy targets you to 127 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: try to pull you off of God's best path through discouragement, 128 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: through temptation, through wrong people. There's nothing he would love 129 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 2: anymore than for you to go through life and not fulfill. 130 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: Your God given destiny. 131 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 2: You have to stay focused and fight the good fight 132 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: of faith. You may have been raised in a negative environment, 133 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: but know this, nothing that you've been through can keep 134 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: you from becoming all God's created you. 135 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: To be. 136 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 2: Believe that you can overcome your past, believe that God 137 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 2: has great things in store. You have to know that 138 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: you know that you are a person of destiny. Now, 139 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: I hope you had loving parents like I did, But 140 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: unfortunately I realized not everybody did. I was talking to 141 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: a young man and he told how he was one 142 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: of these little cocaine babies. 143 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: His mother had all. 144 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: These addictions when he was born. He was addicted as well, 145 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: and she left him at an early age. Now he 146 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 2: struggles with other addictions. He's insecure in who he is. 147 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 2: And one day I was able to tell him what 148 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: I'm telling you. You came through your mother, love her, 149 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 2: respect her, but you did not come from her. 150 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: You came from Almighty God. 151 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: You are a person of destiny, don't you dare just 152 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 2: sit back and settle for mediocrity. God has not only 153 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: chosen you, he's not only called you, but he has 154 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 2: a q you. 155 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: He has empowered you. 156 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: You may have gotten off to a rough start in life, 157 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 2: but it's not how we start that counts as how 158 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: we finish. And today is a new day. And if 159 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 2: you'll start pressing forward, making good choices, believe in God 160 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 2: has good things in store, then you will see more 161 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: of God's goodness in your life. And understand nobody can 162 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 2: keep you from your destiny except yourself. Your parents can't 163 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 2: how you were raised negative circumstances. God has put into 164 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: you everything you need to fulfill his best path. 165 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: Be a believer. 166 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 2: Keep pressing forward and you'll see that come to pass. 167 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 2: I love the story of Nicki Cruz. He was raised 168 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: in a home with eighteen brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico. 169 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: His parents were heavily involved in witchcraft, and at the 170 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: age of three, his mother was in a trance and 171 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: she declared over Niki that he was the son of Satan. 172 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 2: Here he wasn't even old enough to know what was 173 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 2: going on. Imagine having that spoken over you. That seems unfair, 174 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 2: seems like a terrible disadvantage. 175 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: But no, God still has a plan. 176 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 2: He'll always give you opportunities to rise out of mediocrity. 177 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 2: The age of fifteen, Nicki moved to New York City 178 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 2: with one of his brothers. Soon after that, they were 179 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 2: living on the streets. About six months later, Nicki was 180 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: the leader of one of the most feared and violent 181 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: gangs in the area. Fighting and killing were a part 182 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 2: of his everyday life. At sixteen years of age, his 183 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 2: best friend was beaten and stabbed and died in Nicky's arms. 184 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: That got his attention. 185 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 2: One night, a young minister bravely came up to Nicki 186 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 2: and invited him to come to church where he was 187 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 2: having a meeting. Nicki mocked him and threatened to beat 188 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: him up. The minister left there dejected, feeling. 189 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: Like he had not done any good. 190 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 2: Little Diddy realized later that night, not only Nicky, but 191 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 2: the whole game showed up at the service. They were 192 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 2: there mainly to disrupted and to cause trouble, But as 193 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 2: Nicki heard about the love and forgiveness found in Christ Jesus, 194 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 2: his heart melted. Something happened on the inside. He had 195 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 2: never felt that before. All of a sudden, he realized 196 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 2: God had a purpose for his life. He realized he 197 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 2: was a person of destiny. He was made for. 198 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: More than just drifting around in defeat and failure. That 199 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: night was a turning point. 200 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 2: He recognized although he loved his mother, he came through 201 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 2: her and not from her. Her poor choices didn't have 202 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 2: to stop God's plan for his life. 203 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: He left there with the new beginning. 204 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,319 Speaker 2: Today, Nicki Cruz goes around the world sharing that message 205 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: of hope, fulfilling his destiny. No matter how you were raised, 206 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 2: no matter what somebody did or didn't give you, that 207 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: cannot stop God's plan from coming to pass. Rise up 208 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 2: and keep pressing forward. Don't settle for mediocrity. Don't blame 209 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: your parents, blame the past, blame how you were raise. 210 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 2: Just shake that off and start making good choices today, 211 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 2: and you too, can fulfill. 212 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 1: God's best plan for your life. 213 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 2: In nineteen forty three, a teenager here in Houston became 214 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 2: pregnant from a forced violent act. The young lady was 215 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 2: so distraught and so upset she had planned to abort 216 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 2: the child, but some friends talked her into having the 217 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 2: little baby and putting it up for adoption. 218 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: Not long after that. 219 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 2: A little boy was born in the charity ward of 220 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 2: Saint Joseph's Hospital. He grew up in extreme poverty. His 221 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 2: father was an alcoholic. More than once this father threatened 222 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: to kill his mother. Didn't look like the little boy 223 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 2: had much of a future. Didn't look like God had 224 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 2: a plan for his life. But God will not give 225 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 2: life to a person without giving that person a divine destiny. 226 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 2: With the help of some loving foster parents, this little 227 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 2: boy grew. 228 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: Up to become one of the great ministers of our. 229 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 2: Time Today, more than sixty years left later, James Robison 230 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 2: has touched people's lives around the world. 231 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: What's my point? 232 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 2: What looked like a mistake was not a mistake at all. 233 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: Only God can give life to that seed. If you're 234 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 2: alive today, you are not an accident. Does it matter 235 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 2: how dysfunctional or functional your family is. God has a 236 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 2: plan to prosper you. 237 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: To give you hope, to give you a bright future. 238 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 2: Friends, you are a person of destiny. God has handpicked 239 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: you to be here, no matter how many setbacks you 240 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: faced in the past. God is saying, this is a 241 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 2: new day, and I've still got a bright future in 242 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 2: store for you. Why don't you let that seed take root? 243 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 2: Why don't you receive that down in here. You may 244 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 2: have had a negative past, but you don't have to 245 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 2: have a negative future. God has already planned for you 246 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,439 Speaker 2: to be a victory and not a victim. But you've 247 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 2: got to do your part and get a vision for it. 248 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 2: You've got to stay filled with hope. I found many times, 249 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 2: if we're not blaming the past, then we're blaming ourselves. 250 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 2: We go around thinking, man, I blew it. I've made 251 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 2: so many poor choices ruined my relationship failed over here. No, 252 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 2: understand that does not change God's plan. 253 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: For your life. 254 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 2: God didn't say, as long as you never make any mistakes, 255 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 2: then I've got a great plan for you. 256 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 1: God knew we weren't going to be perfect. 257 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 2: You may have missed Plan A for your life, but 258 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 2: the good news is God has a Plan B, A 259 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 2: Plan C, A Plan D, a Plan E. God knows 260 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 2: how to get you to your final destination. And just 261 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 2: because you miss Plan A doesn't mean you can't still 262 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 2: have God's best plan. God has a way of working 263 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: it all out. A lot of times we think, well, 264 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 2: I'll just survive. I've made so many mistakes. I know 265 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 2: I'll never really be happy. But somehow, some way, God 266 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 2: can still cause his original plan for your life to 267 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: come to pass. 268 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 1: This is what he did for Abraham. 269 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 2: You remember how God promised him that he was going 270 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 2: to be the father of many nations and he was 271 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 2: going to have a child in the natural. This was impossible. 272 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 2: He and his wife Sarah were much too old, and. 273 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: They made mistake after mistake. They tried to come up 274 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: with a plan to help God out. 275 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 2: Sarah told Abraham to sleep with one of her maids. 276 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 2: First mistake, Abraham agreed. Second mistake, They had this little child, 277 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: and Sarah and the maid started arguing. They let strife 278 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 2: come in another mistake. 279 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: On and on it went. 280 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 2: And sometimes we think we have dysfunctional families. But with 281 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 2: all due respect, some of the great people in the 282 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: Bible were about as dysfunctional as they come. 283 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: But here's the whole key. Their heart was right. 284 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 2: Abraham and Sarah had a desire to please God. They 285 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 2: knew they were people of destiny. They just made some 286 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 2: poor choices we all do. Sometimes God doesn't bless us 287 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 2: because were perfect. He blesses us because our heart is right. 288 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 2: In the end, after making mistake after mistake, some twenty 289 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 2: years later, God cast Sarah to conceive, and they gave 290 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 2: birth to that promised child the original plan. 291 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: They named him Isaac. 292 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 2: What I want you to see is even though they 293 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 2: blew it time and time again, God didn't say, too bad, Now, 294 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: my original plan is not gonna come to pass. 295 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: Just settle for second best. 296 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,359 Speaker 2: No, God is so good even when we make mistakes, 297 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: even when we blow it over and over, if we'll 298 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 2: keep our heart pure, God can still cause his original 299 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 2: plan to come to pass now. I don't know about you, 300 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 2: but that's good news for me. That gives me. 301 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: Hope because I know I've made mistakes. 302 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 2: I know I've blown it, But I love the scripture 303 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 2: that says God is not holding anything against us. One 304 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 2: version says God will not hold a grudge when we 305 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 2: repent and go a new way. God doesn't even remember 306 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 2: our mistakes. The problem most people have today is they 307 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 2: don't know how to receive God's mercy. They go around 308 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 2: dwelling on their failures. I've been divorced, I went through bankruptcy, 309 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 2: I gave into this temptation over here. Now you've got 310 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 2: to get out of that negative frame of mind. You 311 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 2: may have made mistakes, but if you'll keep pressing forward, 312 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 2: keep doing your best, keep your heart pure, God can 313 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 2: still get you to your final destination. I want you 314 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 2: to get your fire back today. Some of you are 315 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 2: just coasting, feeling like you're washed up. You don't have 316 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 2: the enthusiasm and excitement that you should for your life. 317 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: And it's because you keep. 318 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 2: Dwelling on these lies, going around condemned. Well, Joel, I 319 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 2: blew it, messed up this relationship. I've made so many 320 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 2: poor choices. I'll probably never get out of debt. Now, 321 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 2: let me give you some good news. Your poor choices 322 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 2: are not too much for our God. He didn't bring 323 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 2: you here with just one plan. He has un limited 324 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 2: ways to get you to your final destination. 325 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: You've got to do your part and believe. 326 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 2: Get up every morning and say, Father, I want to 327 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 2: thank you that you have a bright future for me. 328 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 2: And even though I've made mistakes, I believe, because my 329 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 2: heart is right, you'll do for me what you did 330 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 2: for Abraham and cause me to still fulfill your original plan, 331 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 2: the best plan that. 332 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: You have for my life. 333 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 2: Well, you say, Joel, that's kind of bold to believe 334 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 2: that you're going to be blessed even when you've made mistakes. Yes, 335 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 2: that's true, But that's what faith is all about. You 336 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 2: got to come boldly to the throne of grace. You 337 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 2: got to believe that God has mercy for every mistake 338 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 2: you've ever made. So easy to live guilty and condemned. 339 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 2: It's easy to go around feeling like you're washed up, 340 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 2: you have no future. 341 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 1: You have to shake that off. You are a. 342 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 2: Child of the most High God, and hundreds of years ago, 343 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 2: just like with Josiah, just like with Sampson, just like 344 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 2: with you on the Baptist God planned for you to 345 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,439 Speaker 2: be here. He did not plan for you to be 346 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 2: dragging through life in mediocrity, feeling like a failure, negative, defeated. 347 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 2: Now let these words sink deep down on the inside. 348 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: God says, My plans for you are to prosper you, 349 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 2: to give you joy, to give you peace, to make you. 350 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: A victor and not a victim. 351 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 2: But if this is going to happen, you have to 352 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 2: press through past mistakes, press through disappointments, press through things 353 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 2: that didn't work out, living in regrets, focusing on the negative, 354 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 2: beating yourself up for mistakes you've made. All that's going 355 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: to do is keep you from God's best. Why don't 356 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 2: you let that go? Every morning, receive God's mercy, start 357 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 2: each day with a fresh new attitude, then go out 358 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 2: expecting the good things of God. I have some friends 359 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 2: that started a church several years ago, and then just 360 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 2: a few years time it grew to four or five 361 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 2: hundred people. They were so excited they were fulfilling their destiny. 362 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 2: But one day they had a misunderstanding with some people 363 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: and they didn't handle it very well. They allowed strife 364 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 2: to get in. To make a long story short, the 365 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 2: church started going down and down, and eventually it folded. 366 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: This couple was devastated. 367 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 2: They felt like total failures. Hear their dream had died 368 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 2: and now they were just sitting on the sidelines of life, 369 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 2: feeling washed up, no joy, no enthusiasm. They felt like 370 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 2: they were too old to start something new. One day 371 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 2: I told them what I'm telling you, that God has 372 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 2: another plan. Just because one door closes doesn't mean. 373 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: It's the end. God has a new beginning. 374 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 2: The truth is, like Abraham and Sarah, these people their 375 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 2: heart was right. They wanted to please God. They admitted 376 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 2: they handled it wrong. They admitted they. 377 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 1: Made poor choices. But God doesn't see us as failures. 378 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 2: He sees us as learners. He is full of mercy. 379 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 2: And finally they got their fire back and they went 380 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 2: out and started another work, and little by little it 381 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 2: began to grow. 382 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: God began to bless them. 383 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 2: They had favor with the city they were in, and 384 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 2: just recently they opened up a new facility and today 385 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,239 Speaker 2: they are reaching almost twice as many people as they 386 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 2: were before. It says in Zachariah nine to twelve, if 387 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 2: you will be a prisoner of hope. God will restore 388 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 2: back to you double what you've lost. Some of you 389 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 2: today you need to just get your hopes up. You 390 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 2: may have been through disappointments, and it may have even 391 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,479 Speaker 2: been your fault. But why don't you believe God has 392 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 2: another plan? Why don't you believe that your best days 393 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 2: are still out in front of you. If you will 394 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 2: be a prisoner of hope, There's no limit to what 395 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 2: God will do. I love what it says in Psalm 396 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 2: thirty seven twenty three the steps of a good man 397 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 2: are ordered by the Lord. Though he fall, he will 398 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 2: not be destroyed, for the Lord grasp. 399 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: His hands and holds him. 400 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 2: Notice what it's saying is sometimes, even when God's directing 401 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 2: our steps, we may fall, we may make a mistake, 402 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: but thank goodness, it doesn't end there. God will be 403 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 2: right there to pick us up and put us back 404 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 2: on our feet. 405 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: But too many people. 406 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 2: Today go around being hard on themselves. They live guilty 407 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 2: and condemned. Got that nagging feeling on the inside, I've 408 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 2: blown it. 409 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: I'm never going to be blessed. 410 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 2: Now, those are lies that will keep you from God's best. 411 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 2: You need to shake that off all through the day, 412 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 2: you should have this scripture playing in your mind. I 413 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 2: have a bright future. God has plans to prosper me. 414 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: Good things are in store. The best is still yet 415 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 2: to come. If you will stay in that positive, hopeful 416 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 2: frame of mind, you'll not only enjoy life more, but 417 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 2: you will see more of God's blessings and favor. 418 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: I think about Jonah. 419 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 2: God told him to go to a certain set the 420 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 2: ministered to the people. 421 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: But he didn't want to. 422 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 2: He knew what was right, he just didn't obey. He 423 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,399 Speaker 2: wanted to do his own thing. And of course at 424 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 2: times we've all done something like that. 425 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 1: We've known down and here what we should do. We 426 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: just ignored it. We did our own thing. 427 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 2: But the great thing about God is he always gives 428 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 2: you another chance. You don't just get one opportunity and 429 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: then you're done. Throughout life, God will constantly give you 430 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 2: opportunities to get onto his best path. God never gives 431 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 2: up on you. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. 432 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: And so Jonah went against. 433 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 2: What he knew he should do, and he had all 434 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 2: these negative consequences, ended up in the belly of the well. 435 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,880 Speaker 2: Looked like he was all washed up, and even if 436 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 2: he did survive, surely God would be done with him. 437 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: Surely God would say, Jonah, just sit on the sidelines 438 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 2: of life. No, the scripture says, and the word of 439 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 2: the Lord came to Jonah a second time. That's just 440 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 2: the way God is. He always gives you another chance. 441 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 2: Even if you're blown it, You're still not washed up. 442 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 2: You may be thinking, jel if I could just do 443 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: it over again, I'd make better choices. I'd invest in 444 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 2: my relationships, I'd be more disciplined in my thought life 445 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 2: if I just had another chance. Now, God is saying 446 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 2: to you today, you have another chance. 447 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: Start right where you are. You may not be able 448 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 1: to undo the past. 449 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 2: But you can start making good choices today. Be that 450 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 2: prisoner of hope. Know that God can turn any situation around. 451 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 2: It may look like your dreams have died, but God 452 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 2: can resurrect those dead dreams. He knows how to get 453 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: you to your final destination. And sometimes, like Jonah, because 454 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 2: of the choices we've made, it may take a little longer, 455 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 2: it may be a little more difficult. But if you'll 456 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 2: keep your heart purer and keep pressing forward, God will 457 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 2: get you to exactly where he wants you to be. 458 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 2: That's what he did for Jonah. 459 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 1: He ended up in the right city. But think about it. 460 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 2: He could have said, Jonah, fine, if you don't want 461 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 2: to go, I'll find somebody else. 462 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: I'm God. 463 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 2: But thank goodness, God is not like that. He never 464 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 2: gives up on you. You can turn away from him 465 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 2: a thousand times, you can ignore his call year after year, 466 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 2: but God will never leave you alone. 467 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: He's always going to give you one more chance. He 468 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 1: is full of mercy. Friends. God wants you to fulfill 469 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 1: your destiny. He wants you to prosper. 470 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 2: When you succeed and you see the dreams He's put 471 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 2: in your heart come to pass, that puts a smile 472 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 2: on God's face. It honors him when you live his 473 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 2: life of victory. I love the story of Sampson. He 474 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 2: had a supernatural birth. God gave him strength and wisdom, 475 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 2: had so much going for him, But Sampson made poor choices. 476 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: He gave into temptation. 477 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 2: Little by little he got off of God's best plan. 478 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 2: And of course, the secret of his strength was in 479 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 2: his hair. He was told to never tell that, but 480 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 2: one day, in a moment of weakness, he let his 481 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 2: guard down. 482 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: That was the beginning of his demise. 483 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 2: And where he was once a strong, powerful man, he 484 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,880 Speaker 2: ended up chained by his enemies. They were so afraid 485 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 2: of him they not only shaved his hair, but they 486 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 2: gouged out his eyes. Now he was spending his days 487 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 2: as a slave, grinding at the mill. But I love 488 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 2: what the scripture says. It shows us the goodness of God. 489 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 2: After making wrong choices his whole life, after wasting the 490 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,400 Speaker 2: anoying and the strength God had given him, you would 491 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 2: think God would be done with him and that he 492 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 2: would just die and that would be the end of 493 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 2: his story. But no, I love what the scripture says. 494 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 2: God's so good. It says Sampson's hair begin to grow 495 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 2: one more time. In other words, in spite of all 496 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 2: those wrong choices, God was saying, Sampson, I'm not gonna 497 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 2: let you endu your life in defeat. I've got one 498 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 2: more victory. I'm gonna let you finish your race with 499 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 2: one more big bang. The enemy had him the temple. 500 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 2: He was there so they could make fun of him, 501 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 2: mock him, ridicule him. Sampson asked one of the little 502 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 2: boys if he had help him to put his arms 503 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 2: on the columns of the temple so he can rest. 504 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 2: The Bible says, the spirit of the Lord came on 505 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 2: Sampson one more time. He was able to push those 506 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 2: columns over, and the whole building came tumbling down. Do 507 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 2: you know Sampson destroyed more enemies in his death than 508 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 2: he did in his whole lifetime. 509 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: God let him go out in a blaze of glory. 510 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 2: Maybe, like Sampson, you've blown some good opportunities, You've made 511 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 2: a mess of your life. Well, God is saying it's 512 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 2: not too late. I've still got another victory. I've still 513 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 2: got another dream for you to accomplish. 514 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 1: I've got other mountains for you to climb. I've still 515 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 1: got great things in store. 516 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 2: Why don't you put your shoulders back, dig your heels in, 517 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: and say God, if you did it for Samson, I 518 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 2: know you can do it for me. I refuse to 519 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 2: live my life washed up, negative, condemned defeat. I will believe, 520 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: like Sampson, my end is going to be better than 521 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:07,199 Speaker 2: my beginning, that my best days are not behind me. 522 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:11,160 Speaker 2: But you've got great victories in front of me. Friends, 523 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:15,199 Speaker 2: God still has a plan. If you're alive, you're a 524 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 2: person of destiny. Why don't you be a prisoner of 525 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 2: hope get your dreams back today. 526 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: It's not over until God says it's over. 527 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 2: Remember, no person, no obstacle, no circumstance can keep you 528 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 2: from your call. If you fall down, don't stay down 529 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 2: and get back up again. God has another plan. If 530 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,879 Speaker 2: you'll keep pressing forward, keep believing, keep your heart pure, 531 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 2: You're going to see God's blessings and favor in a 532 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 2: greater way. And I believe you will fulfill the best 533 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 2: plan that God has for your life. 534 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: Amen, do you receive it today? 535 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 536 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 2: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 537 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll 538 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 539 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 540 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 541 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 2: Get in a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. 542 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 543 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:17,400 Speaker 2: When was the last time you asked God to do 544 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 2: something that seemed impossible? If you only pray small, ordinary prayers, 545 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 2: you live a small, ordinary life. 546 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: I have a new book called Pray Bone. I'll challenge 547 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:28,880 Speaker 1: you to stretch. 548 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 2: Your faith and believe for the big things God puts 549 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 2: in your heart. Victoria and I used to have season 550 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 2: tickets to watch the Rockets play basketball here. We never 551 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 2: dreamed it could be ours when they moved out. Somehow 552 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 2: we had the faith to pray a bold prayer. God 553 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 2: made things happen that we could never make happen. It's 554 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 2: the same for you, who knows what God will do 555 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 2: in your life. If you'll dare to pray bone, ask 556 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 2: him for your dreams, ask for your healing, as for 557 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 2: your freedom. That's when God will show up and do 558 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 2: more than you could ever imagine. 559 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 560 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 3: of any amount this month, we would like to send 561 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 3: you a copy of Joel's brand new book, Pray Bold. 562 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 3: Dare to ask and Believe Big. Joel shares that when 563 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 3: we pray, we can tap into God's creative, awesome power, 564 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 3: something bigger than we have ever imagined. God doesn't want 565 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 3: us to just pray in our comfort zones. 566 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 2: Now. 567 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 3: God loves when we pray big, believe big, expect him 568 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 3: to do the unexpected. There are inspiring stories from the Bible, 569 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 3: from history, and personal testimonies of people who dared to 570 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 3: believe God in extraordinary ways. You'll learn how to practically 571 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 3: expand your prayers and watch your life move from the 572 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 3: common to the extraordinary, from less than to overflowing. Be 573 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 3: sure to request your copy of Pray Bold Today, visit 574 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 3: Joelostein dot com or call us toll free. 575 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,720 Speaker 2: God has put dreams in your heart, things He's whispered 576 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 2: in the Nied that seem impossible. But as you pray 577 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,239 Speaker 2: these bold prayers, you're going to see the goodness of 578 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 2: God in ways you've never seen victor in our belief, 579 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 2: and you're gonna have a great twenty twenty five. We 580 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 2: pray for you and your family every day for God's 581 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 2: very best. 582 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: We want to. 583 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 2: Thank you for your prayer and your support. You're impacting 584 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 2: people all over the world. 585 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of pre Bold Today, 586 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:30,480 Speaker 3: visit Joe Lostein dot com or call us tool free. Finally, 587 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 3: elevates your personal time with God by requesting the My 588 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 3: Time with God Collection. This beautiful collection contains the pre 589 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 3: Bold new release, plus the new Living Translation, one year 590 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 3: Chronological Study Bible, and a beautiful glass mug and throw 591 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 3: blanket based around the inspiring scripture from Psalm forty six 592 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 3: to ten, be still and know that I Am God. 593 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 3: You can learn more about this unique new gift collection 594 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 3: by calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel. We're 595 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 3: logging onto Joeloustein dot com today. 596 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 2: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 597 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 2: download our daily podcast listening on Sirius XM, watch on YouTube, 598 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 2: and now the new Joel Ostin Network streaming on television 599 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 2: twenty four hours a day. If you've never been to Lakewood, 600 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 2: we have a great opportunity. We called it Homecoming Weekend. 601 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 2: We love to meet you and your family. You can 602 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 2: see the building and attend one of the services. It's 603 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 2: a great time to be a part of the Lakewood family. 604 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 2: Looking forward to seeing your Homecoming Weekend.