1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jorlan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: So God bless you. It's a joy to come into 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: your homes. We love you, and we know God has 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: great things in store for each one of you. He 8 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: rewards people that seek after Him. And if you're ever 9 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: in our area, I hope you'll stop by and see us. 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: We give you a personal invitation. I promise you will 11 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: make you feel right at home, but come by and 12 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: be a part of one of our services. I like 13 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: to get started each week with something kind of funny, 14 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: and I heard about this mother. She was cooking pancakes 15 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: for her two young sons, Ryan was five and Kevin 16 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 1: was three. They begin to argue over who should get 17 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: the first pancake, and she saw this as an opportunity 18 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: to teach them a lesson. She said, boys, boys, if 19 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: Jesus were here, he would say, let my brother have 20 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: the first pancake. Ryan turned to his younger brother and said, okay, Kevin, 21 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: you be Jesus. 22 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: All right, hold up your bible. Say it like you 23 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 2: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 24 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 2: says I am. I have what it says I have. 25 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 2: I can do what it says I can do. Today 26 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 2: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 27 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 2: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 28 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 2: never be the same. 29 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 30 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: to you today about being seed oriented rather than need oriented. 31 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: Too often, when we have a need, we get focused 32 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: on it, and that's all we talk about. All we 33 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: think about my problems, my bills, my health, my hurt, 34 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: my pains. But as long as we are ingrown, as 35 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: long as we're only focused on ourselves, we're going to 36 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: live a very miserable life. God created us to be givers, 37 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: and in our time of need, we have to learn 38 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: to sow as seed. Rather than turning inward, we need 39 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: to turn outward. If you're in tough times today, don't 40 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: sit around depressed. Go help somebody else. If you want 41 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: God to solve your problems, go help solve somebody else's problems. 42 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: Sow that seed I found. If we'll make somebody else's day. 43 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: God will always make our own day. And the way 44 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: to really get what you want is by giving away 45 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: what you need. If you need happiness, go make somebody 46 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: else happy. If you need friends, go be a friend 47 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 1: to someone this lonely. If you're struggling in your finances, 48 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: it's not enough to just pray to just believe. You've 49 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: got to sow that seed. Buy somebody's dinner, help somebody 50 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: pay their rent, give a little extra in the offering. 51 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: When you reach out to others, that's the seed God 52 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: will use to bring a harvest into your own life. 53 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: We need to learn to be more seed minded rather 54 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: than need minded. How many times do we go before 55 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: God and give him our long list of needs? God, 56 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: I need healing from my back. I need my child 57 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: to straighten up. God, I need more money, And God, 58 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: I need some more friends. I'm lonely. No, God already 59 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: knows our needs. He's waiting on us to sow a 60 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: seed so he can begin to do something. Well, Joel, 61 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: as soon as I get out of these problems, I'll 62 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: go help somebody else. Soon as I get more money, 63 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: I'll be a giver. Soon as I get a better car, 64 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: I'll go give somebody a ride. Soon as my teenager 65 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: straightens up, then I'll go mentor these other young people. No, 66 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: you've got it backwards. You've got to help somebody else first. 67 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: Then God will begin to turn your situation around. Something 68 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: supernatural happens when we turn our attention away from our 69 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: own needs to the needs of those around us. When 70 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: we're in difficult times, first thing we should think about 71 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: is what kind of seed can I sow? Who can 72 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: I bless, who can I encourage? Where is a need 73 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: that I can meet today? This is what the people 74 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: did back in the Book of Corinthians were in tough times. 75 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: The scripture says they were in deep poverty and in 76 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: great trouble. In other words, they were struggling financially, had 77 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: all kinds of things coming against them. But what did 78 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: they do in their time of need? Did they complain God, 79 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: why is this happening? Did they sit back and wait 80 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: for somebody to come rescue them? No, the scripture goes 81 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: on to say, in the midst of their great trouble, 82 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: they stayed full of joy and they gave generously to others. 83 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: Notice they sowed a seed in their time of need. 84 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: They knew if they would meet other people's needs, then 85 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: God would meet their own needs. We need to learn 86 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: to do the same thing in difficult times. Number one, 87 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,799 Speaker 1: let's stay full of joy, and number two, go out 88 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: and be a blessing to somebody else. If you lost 89 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,119 Speaker 1: your job, don't sit at home all day feeling sorry 90 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: for yourself. Go volunteer someplace while you're waiting for the 91 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: next thing to open up. If you're believing for a 92 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: better call, are instead of complaining about the one you've got, 93 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: go so as seded by giving somebody a ride. If 94 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: you want your business to increase, then so as seeded 95 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: by helping somebody else's business increase. And some of you 96 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: today you have major needs, You have big obstacles in 97 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 1: your path. The best thing you could do is get 98 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: your mind off yourself and go do something good for 99 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: somebody else. What you may happen for others, God will 100 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: make happen for you. If you want to see your 101 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: dreams come to pass, I challenge you so a seeded 102 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: by helping somebody else's dreams come to pass. For instance, 103 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: maybe you're skilled in a certain profession, Well take time 104 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: to mentor another young person that's trying to get to 105 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: where you are, Share your talents, share your time, share 106 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: what you know. Well, Joel, I'm so busy and I've 107 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: got so many problems of my own. I can't waste 108 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: by time helping everybody else. No, you're not wasting your time. 109 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: You're sowing a seed. And the scripture says here in 110 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: Ecclesiastes eleven, Verse one, give generously, for your gifts will 111 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: come back to you. When you give of your time, 112 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: your energy, your talents, your resources, someday, in some way, 113 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: shape or form, your gifts will come back to you. 114 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: You will reap what you sew when you need wisdom, 115 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: when you need a good break, when you need God's favor. 116 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: Because of the gifts you've given, God will make sure 117 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: you have everything that you need. Your gifts will come 118 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: back to you. I know when we were in the 119 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: first stages of raising funds to renovate this place, at 120 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: times it seemed kind of overwhelming. It was a one 121 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: hundred million dollar project. We had a huge need. We 122 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 1: were praying, believing, doing everything that we could, and one 123 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: day we got a call from another ministry. They were 124 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: good friends of ours, and they told how they were 125 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: trying to close on this piece of property and this 126 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: building that they were buying. This was their dream come true. 127 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: They had been working on it for over two years 128 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: and they had done very well, raised a lot of funds. 129 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: But at the last moment, something that they were counting 130 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: on didn't come together, and now it looked like they 131 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: were not going to be able to close. They were 132 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: still a significant amount short, and somebody was standing in 133 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: line waiting to take that property if they didn't get it. 134 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: As you can imagine, they were just devastated. Well, when 135 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: we heard that, I knew, deep down in here we 136 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: were supposed to help them. But in the natural I thought, God, 137 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: we need the money more than they do. We have 138 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: a bigger project. God, I want to see how we 139 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: can do this. But down in here I could not 140 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: get away from it. Something kept telling me, Joel, if 141 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: you'll take this step of faith, if you'll help make 142 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: their dreams come to pass, I'll make sure your dreams 143 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: come to pass. So we sacrificed, and we sowed that 144 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: sea into their ministry, and they were able to close 145 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: on that property and they got their new facility. Well, 146 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: two years later, when we were trying to acquire this place, 147 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: it came down to the final city council vote. Most 148 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: of you know how we needed ten votes, but the 149 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: night before we only had nine. It looked like it 150 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: was all over. But one of the council members, he 151 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: had been against us for two years for some reason, 152 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: he changed his mind and it was his vote that 153 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: gave us this facility. Leaving City Hall that day after 154 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: we'd just won the victory, I was so excited. I 155 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: was on cloud nine, and I began to reflect on 156 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: all the great things God had done, and my mind 157 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: immediately went back to that gift that we'd given that 158 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: other ministry. God reminded me how at the last minute 159 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: we helped make their dreams come to pass. And it 160 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: was as if God was saying, Joel, because you sowed 161 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: in your time of need, because you sacrificed and help 162 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: them accomplish their dreams, Now you're reaping this harvest. That's 163 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: why I cause that council member to change his mind. See, 164 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: when you make other people's dreams come to pass, God 165 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: will make sure your own dreams come to pass. Really, 166 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: we never know what we're so in a seed for. 167 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: You don't know what you're gonna need in the future. 168 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: But when you're a giver. When you take time to care, 169 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: when you help others accomplish their dreams, then when you 170 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: need God's favor, He'll make sure you have plenty of it. 171 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: Your gifts will come back to you. Now I've learned Now, 172 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: anytime I can use my influence, my favor to help 173 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: someone else come up higher, I gladly do it. I 174 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: realize I'm so in a seed, and I know in 175 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: the future I'm gonna need a good break. I'm gonna 176 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: need God's favor. So I want to make sure I 177 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,719 Speaker 1: have plenty of seed in the ground. I want to 178 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: have an abundant harvest that God can draw from. Couple 179 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: of years ago, I was talking to a young couple 180 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: and they were having terrible tax problems. Somebody had given 181 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: them poor advice, and now they were in a big mess. 182 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: They were so discouraged they didn't know what to do. 183 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: As we were praying, I remembered a man that owed 184 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: me a big favor. He was in the tax business, 185 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: very knowledgeable, very experienced, and I knew if they called 186 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: him as a favor to me, he would help them out. 187 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: But while we were praying, I kind of thought to myself, 188 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 1: do I want to use my favor this way. After all, 189 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: I don't even know this couple, and what if I 190 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: need this man in the future. This battle was going 191 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 1: on in my thoughts. But thank God, I've learned anytime 192 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: I can be a blessing, anytime you can do good 193 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 1: for somebody, you are so in a seed and your 194 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,079 Speaker 1: gifts will come back to you. So I said, hey, 195 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 1: you call this man, and I know he's going to 196 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: help you out. See, you know how to get favor 197 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: by giving favor. When you can do good for someone, 198 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: and you extend your hand of kindness when you need favor, 199 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 1: God will make sure that you have it. A friend 200 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 1: is about to move, Hey, you want to borrow my truck, 201 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: how about I help you Next weekend, somebody's going on 202 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: a trip. Hey, let me give you a ride to 203 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: the airport. Let me save you those parking fees. Just 204 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: little things. You know what you're doing, sowing seeds of favor. 205 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: But too many people have this attitude. I've got enough 206 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: problems on my own, don't bother me with yours. But 207 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: what a miserable way to live? Life is all about 208 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: giving some of you the reason you're not as happy 209 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: as you should be. The reason you're not as fulfilled 210 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:42,319 Speaker 1: as you should be is because you've gotten self centered. 211 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: You've got to get your mind off your own needs 212 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: and start sowing some seeds. If you want God to 213 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: solve your problems, I challenge you, go help solve somebody 214 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: else's problems. I was talking to a father the other 215 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: day and he told how for years he had struggle 216 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: with his teenage son. Seemed like they were on different wavelengths. 217 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: But this whole time, he was the coach of their 218 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: baseball team, and there was this other young man. He 219 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: just happened to come from a single parent family. He 220 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,959 Speaker 1: was having a lot of trouble in school. So many 221 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: times after practice or a ballgame, this father would bring 222 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: this other young man home with his son and he 223 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: would help him do his schoolwork. He tutored him, he 224 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: mentored him. He actually became the father figure in his life. 225 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,359 Speaker 1: And this single parent mom was so grateful, so appreciative. 226 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: And do you know, as this father reached out to 227 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: this other young man, his relationship with his own son 228 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: began to improve, got better and better. Today it is 229 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: totally turned around. They are the best of friends. And 230 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: he told me, Joel, I know God honored me because 231 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,959 Speaker 1: I sewed into this other young man. I found sometimes 232 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: God will enable us to solve somebody else's problem, even 233 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: when we're not able to solve our own. You have 234 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: the answer that somebody needs. Don't live in grown. A 235 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: lot of times, I know I've got wisdom, I know 236 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: just what to tell somebody to do, But then I 237 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 1: thank God, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. 238 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: The whole key is to keep sowing those seeds. As 239 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: long as you're reaching out to others, than when you 240 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: need wisdom in your time of need, God will make 241 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: sure somebody will be there for you. I think about Job. 242 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: He had all kinds of problems. He lost his health, 243 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: lost his business, and I'm sure he was tempted, like 244 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: we are, to sit around have a pity party. God 245 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: is not fair. Why did this happen to me? I'm 246 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: a good person. Now. Do you know what Job did 247 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: in the middle of his greatest adversity. The scripture says 248 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: he went out and prayed for his friends. Think about that. 249 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: He needed prayer more than any of them. What was 250 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: he doing so in a seed in his time of need? 251 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: And that's when his situation began to turn around, or 252 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: what do you need today? If you need encouragement, rather 253 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 1: than saying God, I need some joy, God, I need 254 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: you to cheer me up. I can't go on like this. No, 255 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: you're waiting on God. But God is waiting on you. 256 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: If you need to be encouraged, so a seed, pick 257 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: up the phone when you leave, and cheer somebody else up. 258 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: If you need healing, why don't you go pray for 259 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: somebody else that's not feeling well. That's what my mother 260 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: did back in nineteen eighty one when she was diagnosed 261 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: with cancer. Instead of just sitting at home feeling sorry 262 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: for herself all day, she would go out and pray 263 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: for other people that were sick. God used that seed 264 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: to bring healing into her own life. When you get 265 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: your mind off of yourself and you begin to reach 266 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: out to others, it's that act of faith that's the 267 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: seed God will use to meet your own needs. I 268 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: hear a lot of people saying, well, Joe White and 269 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: God doing anything in my life? Why don't I see 270 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: his blessings and faith? My question to you would be, 271 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: are you so in any seeds? Are you doing anything 272 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: good for anybody else? We cannot live ingrown, focused on 273 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: my wants and my needs and expect to live a happy, 274 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: fulfilled life. 275 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: Now. 276 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: I believe one of the main reasons people don't have 277 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: joy today is because they've become self centered. They've fallen 278 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: into this trap of me need me, and this is 279 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: so easy to do, especially when we're having difficulties. I've 280 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: known people that have gone through hurts in life. They've 281 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: had disappointments and had unfair things happen to them, and 282 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: the problem is they never really get over these hurts. 283 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: Ten years later, they're still talking about it, still thinking 284 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: about it, and it's because they're ingrown. They don't have 285 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: the joy and the victory that they should have. And 286 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: if you've been through tough times today, I'm not making 287 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: light of that, but one of the main ways to 288 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: overcome a hurt, the way to get the healing process started, 289 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: is to go out and help somebody else that's hurting. 290 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: This is what my sister Lisa did years ago. She 291 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: went through an unwanted divorce. She was in her early 292 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: twenties and she was devastated. She never dreamed her life 293 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: would turn out like that, and for months she just 294 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: sat in her room at home discouraged and depressed. She 295 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: didn't think it would ever get any better. In fact, 296 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: she thought she was having a nervous breakdown, and we 297 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: as her family, tried to cheer up, We tried to 298 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: encourage her. But at some point, every person has to 299 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: stand on their own two feet. Nobody can make you 300 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: be happy. You have to decide. You've got to draw 301 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: the line in the sand, say you know what, enough 302 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: is enough. I'm not living my life like this anymore. 303 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: And this is what Lisa began to do. She started 304 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: realizing sitting in that self pity wasn't gonna make anything better. 305 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: So one day she rose up and began to shake 306 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: that off. She shook off the defeat and discouragement. And 307 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: you know what she did, She's sowed a seed. She 308 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: started a class every week for people that were struggling 309 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: in their marriages, people just like her. Every week she 310 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: would give them hope, she would encourage them, she would 311 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: share the scriptures. She needed that that whole time, probably 312 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 1: just as much or more than they did. What was 313 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: she doing so in a seed in her time of need? 314 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: She stayed faithful year after year, and Lisa not only 315 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: came out of that healthy and home, But one day 316 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: God brought another fine man into her life, and today 317 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: she and Kevin have been happily married for many, many years. 318 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: And I know sometimes it's difficult, sometimes it's not fair, 319 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 1: but don't fall into that trap of staying focused on yourself. 320 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: That's when you have to dig your heels in and say, 321 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm hurting. This isn't fair, but I 322 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 1: am not going to live my life in self pity. 323 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: If it takes every ounce of strength I've got, I'm 324 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: gonna go out and encourage somebody else. I may be 325 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 1: having a bad day, but I'm gonna go make somebody 326 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: else's day. My future may not look too bright for me, 327 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna go give somebody else hope. So those 328 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: seeds says in the Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty eight, 329 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: when you feed the hungry, when you clothe the poor, 330 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 1: then your light will break forth like the dawn, and 331 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 1: your healing will quickly come. In other words, when you 332 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:27,959 Speaker 1: meet other people's needs, God will always meet your own needs. 333 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: And we all have difficult times, but you can let 334 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: your test become your testimony. The way you do that 335 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: is by reaching out to others right where you are 336 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: in Lisa's darkest hour, she reached out to other people 337 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: in her same situation. When you do that, God will 338 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: not only turn your situation around, but he'll use you 339 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: to be a blessing to others as well. I love 340 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: the story of my friend Dan. They're faithful members of 341 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 1: our church. In fact, he was one of my high 342 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: school baseball coaches. In a while, he lost his wife 343 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: of many, many years, and as you can imagine, he 344 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: was just devastated. In the natural, he didn't see much 345 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: of a future for his life. He could have easily 346 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: just kind of given up on life, going around depressed 347 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 1: and discouraged. But no, he decided to sow a seed 348 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: in his time of need. Rather than staying focused on 349 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 1: his own hurts and pains, he decided to go help 350 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 1: other people that were hurting. He didn't know exactly what 351 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: he could do. He's not a minister, he's retired from 352 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: the phone company. But he said, Joel, all I really 353 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: knew that I could do was comfort other people that 354 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: had been through some kind of loss. His attitude was, 355 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 1: I've been there, I know what they're going through. And 356 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 1: so he started showing up at the funerals where my 357 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: dad was doing the ceremony. Nobody asked him to, He 358 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: wasn't invited. He just showed up and he would minister 359 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: to the people, show them compassion, be a friend that 360 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: they could talk to. After a while, my dad started 361 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,880 Speaker 1: seeing him there all the time, and he invited him 362 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: to join the volunteer ministry team. Long story short, a 363 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,479 Speaker 1: few years back we put Daniel on staff and today 364 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: he's in charge of our comfort ministry that takes care 365 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: of all of our funerals. And the point I want 366 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: you to see is that Daniel didn't sit around focused 367 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: on his problems. He didn't stay ingrown with that attitude, 368 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: Who's gonna come make my life better, Who's gonna come 369 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: cheer me up today? No, he was on the offensive, 370 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: and as he began to help other people in need, 371 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,959 Speaker 1: that's when his own situation began to turn around. And 372 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: God not only brought him through that difficult time, but 373 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: several years back, God brought another beautiful lady into his life. 374 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: And today he and Shirley are happily married and they 375 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 1: still go around showing God's goodness everywhere they go. Now, 376 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: I love the fact that Daniel let his test become 377 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: his testimony the very thing that could have destroyed him, 378 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: the thing that could have brought him down, because he 379 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: reached out to others. That's the very area God's using 380 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: him in to make such a difference. When you're hurting, 381 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: one of the most powerful things you can ever do 382 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: is go out and be a blessing to somebody else. 383 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: Don't sit in that little box and think about me, 384 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: me me, No, rise up and say who can I 385 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: encourage today? Where is a need that I can meet? Yes, 386 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: I'm hurting, but I'm gonna go cheer somebody else up. 387 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 1: Yes I'm lonely, but I'm not sitting here. I'm going 388 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: up to the retirement home. I'm gonna be a friend 389 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: to some seniors. Yes, I feel kind of discouraged today, Joel, 390 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna shake it off and do something good anyway. 391 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna bake a cake and take it to my 392 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: neighbor this afternoon. See, in our tough times, we have 393 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 1: to be aggressive. We have to dig our heels in 394 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 1: and make a decision. No, I'm not gonna stay in 395 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: this self pity. I'm gonna go out and be a 396 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: blessing to somebody anyway. And I know sometimes life is 397 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: not fair. Sometimes people do us wrong. But the way 398 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 1: to overcome a hurt, the way to overcome evil is 399 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: by doing good. You don't overcome a hurt by staying 400 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: hurt and nursing your wounds. You don't overcome an injustice 401 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: by trying to pay people back and trying to get even. 402 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 1: The way to really overcome is to go out and 403 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: be a blessing to somebody else. The Scripture says this 404 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: in Psalm thirty seven. In our times of trouble, trust 405 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: in the Lord and do good. Notice it's not enough 406 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: to just trust in the Lord. Of course that's important, 407 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: but we need to take it one step further and 408 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 1: do good. That means go help somebody else. Well, Joel, 409 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: I'm kind of lonely today, I'm kind of depressed. I 410 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: want somebody to cheer me up. No so is se. 411 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: As you help others, then God will help you. And 412 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 1: it's a powerful thing to have an attitude that, no 413 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: matter what comes against me, I'm gonna keep being a giver. 414 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 1: My child may not be doing right, but I'm gonna 415 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: keep serving in the children's ministry. My teenager it may 416 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,400 Speaker 1: be off course, but I'm gonna keep sewing into these 417 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: other teenagers or my finances have gone down a little bit, Joel. 418 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 1: But I'm gonna keep on giving. I'm gonna keep being 419 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: a blessing everywhere I go. When you do that, you're 420 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: sowing seeds. When you meet other people's needs, God will 421 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: meet your needs. He'll make sure that your gifts come 422 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 1: back to you. I remember back in the early nineteen sixties, 423 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: Lakewood was just a few years old. In fact, I 424 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 1: wasn't even born yet, and they were in need of 425 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: renovating their little building. My parents started the church in 426 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty nine in an abandoned feed store, was very 427 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 1: run down, had holes in the floor, really needed repair, 428 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: and so they were saving up money to make these renovations. 429 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: One day, a young couple came through visiting. They were 430 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 1: missionaries in Mexico, and my father called them up on 431 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 1: the platform and had them share a few words, like 432 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,479 Speaker 1: he did so often. At the end of the service, 433 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: Daddy said, I think we should take an offering for 434 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: this young missionary couple. In the natural, Lakewood needed the 435 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: money more than they did, but my father understood this 436 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: principle of sowing a seed in your time of need. 437 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 1: That little congregation probably not more than a hundred of 438 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: them took up an offering of six hundred dollars that 439 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: was huge back then, and they gave it to this 440 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,360 Speaker 1: missionary couple. They were so excited they took it back 441 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: to Mexico and used that money to start a Bible school. Well, 442 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 1: some forty years later, a young man came across our path. 443 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: He was going to hold a concert in Spanish on 444 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: a Sunday night at our other location. His name was 445 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: Marcos Whitt, and we had We had never met before, 446 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 1: but I knew he was well known throughout Latin America 447 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: and how he filled up stadiums everywhere he went down there. 448 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 1: And I got to meet him that night, and we 449 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 1: invited he and his wife, Miriam out to dinner. A 450 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: few nights later, we were talking. I didn't even plan 451 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: on saying it. Just out of the blue, I said, Marcos, 452 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,440 Speaker 1: why don't you come back to Lakewood and start a 453 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 1: Spanish speaking service. I never dreamed he would. He was 454 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: busy traveling all over the world. But things begin to 455 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: fall into place. Long story short, A few years back 456 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: we started the Spanish service and today every Sunday afternoon 457 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 1: we have thousands of Spanish speaking people that come out 458 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: and enjoy that service. But what I didn't know until 459 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: just maybe a year or two ago, was that young 460 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:36,159 Speaker 1: missionary couple that my parents in the first little congregation 461 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: gave that six hundred dollars to. Do you know who 462 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:44,919 Speaker 1: that was? That was Marcos WIT's parents. See, when you 463 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 1: give your gifts will always come back to you. That 464 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: little congregation so to seed in their time of need. Now, 465 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: I believe Marcus is with us here today because of 466 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: their active faith. And sometimes when you do good for 467 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: your children are going to reap the hardest. But I 468 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: know I'm reaping a lot of benefits today because of 469 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 1: the seeds that my barrass upsong. I'm reaping the rewards 470 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:18,400 Speaker 1: of the seeds that first little Congregations has sown. Sometimes 471 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: maybe your grandchildren are going to see the harvest that 472 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: you've sown, but your acts of kindness do not go unnoticed. 473 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: God is keeping the records. When you sow, you'll always 474 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: make sure that harvest comes back to you. I was 475 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 1: thinking about how God has taken care of us here 476 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: at Lakewood. We not only renovated the little feed store, 477 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: but now we've renovated the Compact Center we come a 478 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 1: long way, haven't we. So my challenge to you today 479 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: is to be more seed minded rather than need minded. 480 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: When you have difficulties, don't being grown. Get your mind 481 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: off yourself and go do something good for somebody else. 482 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: As you meet their needs. God's going to meet your needs. Remember, 483 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: the way you get favor is by giving away favor. 484 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: Be good to people, live generously. Look for ways you 485 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 1: can be a blessing, especially in your times of need. 486 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 1: If you do this, God promises your gifts will come 487 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: back to you. He'll not only meet your needs, but 488 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: he'll fight your battles for you. And I found God 489 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: will take you places that you've never even dreamed of. Amen. 490 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: Do you receive it today? I know you do. We've 491 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: never liked to close our broadcast without giving you an 492 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 1: opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would 493 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:36,919 Speaker 1: you pray with me, say Lord, Jesus, I repent of 494 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my 495 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 496 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again. Get in a good 497 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: Bible based church, Keep God first place. He's going to 498 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: take your places that you've never dreamed of. This is 499 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: my Bible. 500 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 2: I am what it says I am, I have what 501 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 2: it says I have do. 502 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: This is the first Bible that my parents gave me 503 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 1: I was six years old. They taught me the importance 504 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: of believing what God says about you and letting that 505 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: determine your self image, and how through the Scripture you 506 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: can learn to handle challenges and pursue your dreams. Some 507 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 1: people tell me that the Bible's not practical for them. 508 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: How they don't understand it. We've created a new resource 509 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: called how to Read Your Bible and Enjoy It. It 510 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 1: provides twelve distinct lenses that will help you see the 511 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: Bible with fresh eyes so you can discover the hidden 512 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: treasures that increase your faith, practical truths that will help 513 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,239 Speaker 1: you in your everyday life. When you tap into the 514 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 1: power of God's word, there's no limit to where He'll 515 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 1: take you. 516 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 517 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 3: of any size to the ministry this month, Joel would 518 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 3: like to send you this inspiring new resource. Sometimes reading 519 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 3: the Bible can feel confusing, out of touch, or even 520 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 3: produce more fear than faith. But now with this new 521 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 3: how To read your Bible and enjoy it. It will 522 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,479 Speaker 3: make the Word of God come alive in new ways. 523 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 3: You'll discover fresh inspiration on every page of your Bible. 524 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 3: The twelve lenses give you the power to see the 525 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 3: scripture in a whole new light. When you experience the 526 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 3: right way to approach God's Word, it will ignite renewed 527 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 3: passion in your life. 528 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: When you get God's Word down in you, it brings 529 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: life and victory. This has a great Bible reading plan 530 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: plus introductions to each book. It'll help you enjoy reading 531 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: the Bible. Thanks so much for being a part of 532 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: the ministry. Victoria and I pray for you and your 533 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 1: family every day and we appreciate your prayers and support. 534 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 535 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube, or we have 536 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 1: a new Joel Osting Television network twenty four hours a day. 537 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: And of course Syrix ExM as well. Until we see 538 00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: you next time, May the Lord bless you and keep you. 539 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of How to Read 540 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 3: Your Bible and Enjoy It today. Visit joelostein dot com 541 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 3: or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel Call 542 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 3: or click anytime, twenty four hours a day,