1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 2: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: And if you're ever in our area, please stop by 8 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: and be a part of one of our services. I 9 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,159 Speaker 2: promise you we'll make you feel right at home. But 10 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: thanks so much for tuning in today, and thank you 11 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 2: again for coming out. And I like to start with 12 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 2: something funny and I heard about this pastor. He was 13 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 2: in the lobby after service, greeting people. He saw men 14 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 2: that he hadn't seen in a long long time, pulled 15 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: him to the side and said, brother, you need to 16 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: join the Army of the Lord. 17 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: The men said, what are you talking about. I'm in 18 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: the Army of the Lord. 19 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 2: Pastor said, well, how come I only see you at 20 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: Christmas and on Easter, He whispered back. 21 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: Because I'm in the secret Service. 22 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,279 Speaker 2: Hold up your Bible, say it like you mean it. 23 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: This is that's my Bible. I am what it says 24 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 2: I am. I have what it says I have. I 25 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 2: can do what it says I can do. Today I 26 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 2: will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 27 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 2: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 28 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 2: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 29 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about trusting God 30 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: to do it his way. We all have dreams that 31 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: we're believing for in situations we want to see turn around. 32 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 2: But too often we put God in a box and 33 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: tell him how to do it, when to do it, 34 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 2: and who to use to do it. The only problem 35 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: is God's ways are not our ways. God doesn't always 36 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 2: do things the logical way. 37 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: God uses unorthodox methods. 38 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,559 Speaker 2: He's unconventional may not always make sense to our mind. 39 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 2: And if you have these preconceived ideas of how you're 40 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: going to be promoted and how you're going to get well, 41 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: it will limit what God can do. You have to 42 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 2: stay open, let God out of your box. You may 43 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 2: only see one way that it could happen. It's obvious 44 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 2: you need to get that promotion so you'll have the 45 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: funds to accomplish your dreams. You've worked at the company 46 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: twenty years. You deserve it, but for no reason you 47 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 2: get passed over. If you're not careful, you'll get discouraged 48 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: and start thinking it's never going to happen. 49 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: I miss my opportunity. God is not fair. 50 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: Now. What you don't realize is God closed that door 51 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 2: on purpose because he has something much better in front 52 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 2: of you. Just because it's the logical way doesn't mean 53 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,399 Speaker 2: that it's God's way. Just because it happened that way 54 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: before doesn't mean it's going to happen that way next time. 55 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: Stay open. 56 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: If you're narrow minded, you can miss God's best. Our 57 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 2: attitude should be God, I'm letting you out of my box. 58 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: You can do anything in my life. You can do 59 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 2: at any time. You can use any person that you want. God, 60 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 2: I trust you to do it your way. When I 61 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,679 Speaker 2: look back over my life, I can see times where 62 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 2: God used people to help me that I never dreamed 63 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: he would use. When we were trying to acquire this place, 64 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 2: the former Compact Center, the city council members had to 65 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: vote on it, and there were two men that were 66 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 2: very influential, very well connected, but they didn't have any 67 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: kind of religious background. They loved to party loved to 68 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: have a good time. There were great people, they just 69 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 2: weren't on my list of who I thought God would 70 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: have chosen to help us. And what's interesting is we 71 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: didn't pursue them. They pursued us. One of the men 72 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 2: told me, Joel, this is my personal mission. I'm going 73 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: to do everything I can to make sure Linkwood gets 74 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: the compact Center. First thought was, God, is this right. 75 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: This is like oil and water. We don't come from 76 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: the same type of background. It's easy to make narrow 77 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: minded judgments and think God can't use her. 78 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: She's a sinner. God can't use him. He likes to party. 79 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 2: God can't use them. They don't even believe in God. Now, 80 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 2: the longer I live, the more I realize God can 81 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: use whoever he wants to use. God can save whoever 82 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: he wants to save. God can bring good out of 83 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 2: whomever he wants to bring good out of. In the 84 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 2: Old Testament, God use rehab the prostitute to save the 85 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 2: people of Israel. God used a donkey to speak to 86 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: the prophet. God used Pharaoh's daughter to take care of 87 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: baby Moses. In other words, God used the enemy to 88 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 2: take care of one of his children. Friends God is God, 89 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 2: he can do whatever he wants to do. Don't put 90 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: him in a box and miss your miracle. If it 91 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: had not been for those two men, we may not 92 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: be in our beautiful facility today. And I found a 93 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 2: lot of times God is answering our prayer. 94 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: It's just not the way that we expected. 95 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: When our son Jonathan was about four years old, Victoria 96 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: started praying that God would bring a young boy into 97 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 2: his life so that they could be good friends. His 98 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 2: cousin used to live down the street from us. They 99 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 2: played practically every day together. When my dad went to 100 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: be with the Lord, they moved to another city, and 101 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 2: now Jonathan didn't have anybody close in the neighborhood to 102 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 2: play with, and Victoria prayed month after month, even year 103 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 2: after year, that God would send the right person. When 104 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 2: Jonathan was about twelve years old, one of our main 105 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 2: guitar players, a young man named Michael, took a great 106 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 2: interest in Jonathan and started teaching him how to play 107 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: the guitar. 108 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: They became good friends. 109 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: Michael was always mentoring Jonathan, pouring into him. 110 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: Jonathan is seventeen now. 111 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 2: A couple of years ago, Victoria said, Joel, I realize 112 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 2: now God did answer my prayer, he just didn't answer 113 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: it in the way I expected. I prayed for God 114 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 2: to send somebody into Jonathan's life. I thought it would 115 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 2: be a little boy, but instead God send a grown man. 116 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 2: My point is you have to stay open as to 117 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: how God answers your prayer. 118 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: It may not. 119 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: Be the way you had planned. God may not use 120 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 2: the people you were expecting. It may not happen on 121 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 2: your timetable. But this is what faith is all about. 122 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: God. 123 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 2: I trust you, you know what's best for me, you 124 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 2: know what I need, you know when I need it, 125 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 2: and you know who I need. And some of you 126 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 2: today are little discouraged because things haven't worked out the 127 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 2: way you had planned. 128 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: But you need to take another look. 129 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 2: Maybe God has answered your prayers, just not the way 130 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 2: you thought. Or maybe what you were asking for wasn't 131 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 2: God's best and God loves you too much to answer 132 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 2: that prayer. Or like in our case, maybe God has 133 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: given you something better, but because you're so set in 134 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: seeing it happen your way, you don't recognize it right now. 135 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: What if God knew that if he answered Victoria's prayer 136 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 2: and brought a little boy, that Jonathan would have been 137 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: so busy, so preoccupied, he had never developed that skill 138 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 2: of playing the guitar. God knows what he's doing. He 139 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: can see the big picture for your life. If you're 140 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: only going to be happy if God does it your way, 141 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 2: you're not really trusting. You've got to come to the 142 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 2: place where if it doesn't work out the way you 143 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 2: had it planned, you're still in peace. You know God 144 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 2: is still on the throne and he will still get 145 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 2: you to where you're supposed to be. John Chapter nine. 146 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: Jesus was traveling through a town. He noticed a man 147 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: that had been blind since his birth. 148 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: Never been able to see it. 149 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: Jesus went over to the man, and he was so excited. 150 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,239 Speaker 2: The blind man had heard that this healer was in town, 151 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: this man who could perform miracles, out of all the 152 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: people in the city. Now Jesus is standing before him, 153 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: no doubt, someone has told him how Jesus touched a 154 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: blind man's eyes and he could see, or how Jesus 155 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 2: has spoken the word and a little girl was healed, 156 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 2: or even how he commanded a dead man to come 157 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: back to life. There were many different methods Jesus used 158 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 2: to heal people. 159 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: And now I'm sure. 160 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: This blind man was expecting Jesus to do something like 161 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 2: he had done before. It was perfectly quiet. You could 162 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: hear a pin drop. Great anticipation. The blind man is 163 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 2: waiting to hear Jesus speak a word of healing, but 164 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 2: instead all he hears is Jesus spitting on the ground. 165 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 2: Imagine what was going on in his mind. I thought 166 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 2: he was going to pray for me. I thought he 167 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 2: was going to touch my eyes. Why is he spitting. 168 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 2: Jesus made mud out of the dirt and the spittle, 169 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 2: and he placed it on the man's eyes. He's already blind. 170 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 2: Now he's really not going to be able to see. 171 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: He's got mud in his eyes. 172 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: Jesus was unconventional. There was no precedent for this ever 173 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 2: happening before in the scripture. 174 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: Elijah never did it, Elisha Moses. 175 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 2: This was the first instance this method had ever been used. 176 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 2: The blind man could have said, get this off of 177 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 2: my eyes. This doesn't make sense. This isn't going to 178 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 2: do any good. No, he didn't have God in a box. 179 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 1: He stayed open. 180 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 2: Jesus instructed him to wash it off. When he did, 181 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 2: he could see perfectly clear for the first time. 182 00:09:59,000 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: My question to that. 183 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: Are you open for God to use a new method 184 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 2: to bring your dreams to pass? What if God answers 185 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 2: your prayers differently than you were expecting. What if He 186 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 2: doesn't use the people that you thought he would use. 187 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 2: Are you going to do like this blind man and 188 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 2: stay open and say God, I. 189 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: Trust you do it your way? 190 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: Or are you going to have God in a box 191 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:29,319 Speaker 2: and miss your miracle? What's interesting is Jesus did all 192 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 2: this on the Sabbath. He not only used an unconventional method, 193 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 2: but he broke one of their religious rules. The Pharisees, 194 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 2: the religious leaders, they were very upset when they heard 195 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: what had happened. They had the blind man brought before them, 196 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 2: and they questioned him again and again. Then they got 197 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 2: his parents and brought them in and said, hey, we 198 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 2: want you to tell us how can your son see? 199 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 2: We know he's been blind, We've seen him begging on 200 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 2: the street corner. Are you telling us this man Jesus 201 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 2: healed your son. They were afraid. They didn't want to 202 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: get in trouble. They said, we don't know how he 203 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 2: can see. He's a grown man, he's old enough. Don't 204 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: ask us ask him. They called the blind man back 205 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: in a second time and said, tell us what happened. 206 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 2: Don't you know this man, Jesus is a sinner. He said, 207 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 2: I don't understand all the doctrine, all your religious laws. 208 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 2: I don't even know much about Jesus. All I can 209 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 2: tell you is I was blind, but now I can see. 210 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 2: It's hard to argue with a changed life. 211 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: One reason God. 212 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 2: Does it his way and not our way is so 213 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 2: that he will get all the credit. The blind man 214 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 2: was saying, in effect, you can argue a doctrine, you 215 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 2: can debate whether or not he's a sinner. You can 216 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 2: try to deny it, dismiss it, discredit it. But I 217 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: am living proof of a good God. A God of 218 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 2: mercy can do the impossible. But it all started when 219 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 2: he was willing to let God do it his way. 220 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: He didn't have God in a box. 221 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 2: When my father went to be with the Lord back 222 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety nine after pastoring Lakewood for forty years, we. 223 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: Didn't know what was going to happen to the church. 224 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 2: We had, of course, prayed that God would send the 225 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 2: right person in the natural. That would be somebody that 226 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 2: had experienced pastoring a large church, somebody that had gone 227 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: to seminary, had a proven track record. But God doesn't 228 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 2: always choose the way we choose. Man looks on the outside. 229 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 2: God looks on the heart. And I knew, down deep 230 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,199 Speaker 2: I was supposed to step up and pastor the church. 231 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 2: But I thought, I've never ministered before, never been to seminary. 232 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 2: I don't have the training, the qualifications. I'm too young, 233 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 2: too quiet, too shy. Thought of all these reasons as 234 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 2: to why I must have heard God wrong. I had 235 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 2: to do what I'm asking you to do. I said, God, 236 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: this doesn't make sense to my mind. This seems way 237 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 2: far out. But God, I'm not going to put you 238 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 2: in a box. I know your ways are better than 239 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 2: my ways. You know what I can do and what 240 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 2: I can't do. I may not feel qualified, but when 241 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 2: you breathe your life into me, I know you equipped me, 242 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 2: empowered me, anointed me. I may feel weak, but with you, 243 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 2: I know I'm strong. 244 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: And I took that step of faith. 245 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: I never planned on being a minister, never knew that 246 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 2: this was even in me. This happened thirteen years ago. 247 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 2: The ministry has grown in ways that we never dreamed of. 248 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,439 Speaker 2: In fact, some people are still scratching their heads, thinking. 249 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: How in the world did that happen. 250 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 2: He doesn't have the training, the qualifications, the experience. I 251 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 2: can say, like the blind man, I don't understand it all. 252 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: I can't explain it. 253 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: I can only tell you I spent seventeen years behind 254 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 2: the scenes running the cameras. Now I'm in front of 255 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 2: the camera speaking to the world. It's the goodness of God, 256 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 2: and it's easy for me to give God credit. 257 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: I remember where I came from. 258 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: Every time I stand up to minister, I'm still amazed 259 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: at God's goodness. If you're going to reach your highest potential, 260 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 2: you have to stay open. Don't get stuck at a rut. 261 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 2: God is an out of the box god. His plan 262 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 2: for your life will not always be logical or reasonable 263 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 2: or what you had planned. But if you will stay open, 264 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 2: it will be much bigger, much better, much more rewarding 265 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: than you ever even imagined. God wants to thrust you 266 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 2: to new levels. He wants to not only bring you 267 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 2: out of that difficulty, he wants to catapult you out. 268 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: God is going to open doors for you that no 269 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: man can shut. 270 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 2: You have not touched the surface of what God has 271 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 2: in store, but here's the key. It's not going to 272 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: happen by traditional means. It's not going to happen by 273 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 2: logical ways. It's going to be supernatural. That way, God 274 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 2: will get all the credit. Nobody will be able to 275 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 2: doubt God's hand of favor and blessing on your life. 276 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 2: Now again, don't limit God by thinking it. 277 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: Can only happen this way or that way. 278 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 2: God has a thousand ways to do it. The question 279 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: is when they show up, are you going to be 280 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 2: open and say, God, this is not what I had planned, 281 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 2: This is not what I was expecting, This is not 282 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 2: who I thought you would use. But God, you know 283 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 2: what's best for me. You've opened this door. I'm going 284 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 2: to do my part and walk through it. Now, like 285 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: the blind man, you may be criticized, people may find fault, 286 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 2: they may not understand you. You may even break one 287 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 2: of their religious rules. But you've got to be more 288 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: interested in pleasing God than you are in pleasing people. 289 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 2: There will always be people that try to squeeze you 290 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 2: into their mold and tell you you're not enough of this, 291 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: or not enough of that, or too much of this, 292 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 2: not talented, not qualified. Let it go in one ear 293 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 2: and out the other. You are not who people say 294 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 2: you are. You are who God says you are. But 295 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 2: some of you today you have God in a little 296 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 2: bitty box. You don't see how you could ever send 297 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 2: your children to college, or how you could get out 298 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 2: of debt, how you could accomplish your dreams. Listen, Our 299 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 2: God is an all powerful God. Your job is not 300 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 2: your source. God is your source, and as long as 301 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 2: you stay connected to him, the supply line, everything is 302 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: going to be all right. He is Jehovah, Jirah, the Lord, 303 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 2: your provider. Now, don't get stuck in a rut. Don't 304 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: be narrow minded and miss what God wants to do. 305 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 2: My sister Lisa and her husband Kevin, tried for several 306 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 2: years to have a baby with no success. Lisa went 307 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: through all the FRATI treatments and different surgeries, still nothing 308 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 2: worked out. Finally, the doctor told her there was nothing 309 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 2: more that he could do and she wasn't going to 310 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 2: be able to have a baby. Lisa was very discouraged, 311 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 2: very heartbroken. She had prayed and believed, but still it 312 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 2: didn't work out. The truth is God is a sovereign God. 313 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 2: His plan for us is always good. But his plan 314 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 2: may be different than our own plan. 315 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: He is the potter, we are the clay. 316 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 2: You should pray, believe, stand in faith, but in the 317 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 2: end you have to be mature enough to accept what 318 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 2: God is destined for your life. Not defeat, not mediocrity. 319 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 2: I'm talking about staying open. Lisa told how she was 320 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 2: consumed with having this baby. That's all she thought about, 321 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: all she prayed about. She wasn't going to be happy 322 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 2: unless God did it her way. When you do that, 323 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 2: you're setting yourself up for disappointment. A much better approach 324 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 2: is to just be honest and say, God, this is 325 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 2: what I want, this is what i'm believing for. But God, 326 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 2: you know what's best for me. However it works out, God, 327 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 2: I trust you, I'm still going to be happy. You 328 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 2: have to put having to have it your way on 329 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 2: the altar. 330 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: That's what Lisa did. 331 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 2: She said, God, I'm not going to ask you for 332 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: this baby ever. 333 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: Again. You already know what I want. 334 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,239 Speaker 2: Instead of begging you, telling you how to do it 335 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 2: and when to do it, God, I just want to 336 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 2: thank you that your perfect plan for my life will 337 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 2: come to pass. 338 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: What did she do? 339 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: She let God out of her box. She got rid 340 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 2: of her preconceived ideas. About three months later, she received 341 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 2: a phone call from a friend of ours that runs 342 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,719 Speaker 2: a home for teenage girls that are in need, Nancy 343 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:01,439 Speaker 2: from Mercy Ministries. 344 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 1: Nancy told how there. 345 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 2: Was a teenager about to give birth to twins and 346 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 2: wanted to know if Lisa and Kevin would be interested 347 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 2: in adopting those babies. When they heard that something came 348 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 2: alive on the inside, they said absolutely Yes. Today Lisa 349 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 2: and Kevin have three beautiful children, as happy as conven But. 350 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: Here's the point. 351 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 2: God did what he promised, but he did it in 352 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 2: an unconventional way, not the way Lisa had planned. Now, 353 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: I'd love to tell you God will always do it 354 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,640 Speaker 2: your way, but that's not reality. But I can promise 355 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:42,439 Speaker 2: you God's way will always be the best way. You 356 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 2: may not understand it, it may not seem fair, but 357 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 2: God knows what he's doing. 358 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: I'm asking you to trust him. 359 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 2: Quit being frustrated because it didn't work out your way. 360 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 2: What if you knew if God answered your prayer the 361 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 2: way you wanted, that it wouldn't be his best, or 362 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 2: that it wouldn't last, or that it wouldn't be healthy, 363 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 2: you would gladly let God do it his way, and 364 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 2: some of you would enjoy life a whole lot more if, 365 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 2: like Lisa, you would put that dream on the altar 366 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 2: and say, God, I'm tired of fighting it, tired of 367 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 2: trying to make it happen my way, living frustrated God, 368 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 2: I trust you, knowing that at the right time, your 369 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: plan for my life will come to pass. See it 370 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 2: says in Psalms, Delight yourself in the Lord, and God. 371 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: Will give you the desires of your heart. 372 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 2: When you're trusting God to do it his way, there's 373 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 2: a rest. You're not struggling, fighting upset. 374 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: You're at peace. 375 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 2: You know God's way is the best way, so you 376 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 2: can relax and enjoy your life while God is in 377 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 2: the process of bringing those promises to pass. Second Kings, 378 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 2: Chapter five, there's the story of a man named Naeman. 379 00:20:56,119 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 2: He was a captain in the Syrian army, very influential man, 380 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 2: but he had leprosy. One day, a young lady that 381 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 2: worked for him, a maid at his house, said Naemen, 382 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 2: if you'll travel to Israel and see the prophet Elisha, 383 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 2: he'll pray for you and I know you'll be healed. 384 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 2: He took her advice, And when a great distance all 385 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 2: the way to Israel, showed up at Elisha's house. But 386 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 2: when he got there, Elisha didn't even get up and 387 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 2: go to the door to meet him. Elisha sent his 388 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 2: assistant and said, go tell Naeman, if he'll go wash 389 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 2: in the Jordan river seven times, he'll be healed of 390 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 2: that leprosy. 391 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 1: Well, Naeman was offended. 392 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 2: He traveled all this way, He's an important military man, 393 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 2: and Elisha didn't even have the courtesy to come to 394 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 2: the door to speak with him. Plus he didn't want 395 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,360 Speaker 2: to go wash in the Jordan river. That was a 396 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 2: dirty river. Naemen had his own plan, he said in 397 00:21:58,680 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 2: verse eleven. 398 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: I thought Elisha. 399 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 2: Would come out and wave his hand over me and 400 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 2: cure me of my leprosy, two words that almost kept 401 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 2: him from his miracle. I thought he had a preconceived 402 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 2: idea of how it was going to happen. The young 403 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 2: girl said, Nam, and if he'd ask you to do 404 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 2: something difficult, you would do it. Why don't you do 405 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 2: this simple thing? She talked him into it. He went 406 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 2: and washed in the Jordan river. When he came up 407 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 2: the seventh time, his skin was perfectly clean. I was 408 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 2: wondering how many of us missed God's best because. 409 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,120 Speaker 1: We thought it would happen another way. 410 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 2: I thought I would give birth to my children, not 411 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 2: adopt them. I thought I would get well without the treatment. 412 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 2: I thought I'd get that promotion. That's how I'd be blessed. Now, 413 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 2: stay open and let God do it his way. When 414 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 2: Victoria and I were first married, we lived in this 415 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 2: town home. It's a very beautiful place. We bought it 416 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 2: for a great price and felt very blessed. A couple 417 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 2: of years later, we had a desire to buy a house. 418 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 2: We put the town home on the market. It sold 419 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 2: very quickly and we found this nice house that we 420 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,239 Speaker 2: really wanted. It was in our price range, and we 421 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,440 Speaker 2: thought this is the perfect house for us. We made 422 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 2: an offer on it and didn't hear anything back. A 423 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 2: couple of weeks later, they responded and didn't accept it, 424 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,439 Speaker 2: so we made a better offer very close, just a 425 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 2: few thousand dollars off. Victoria and I were praying and 426 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 2: believing our heart was set. We knew this was the 427 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 2: right house for us. Months later, our realtor called back 428 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 2: and said they had sold the property to somebody else. 429 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: We were so discouraged. We thought, God, how could that happen? 430 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 2: We prayed, we believed. A few months later, we were 431 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:53,719 Speaker 2: out looking around. We found this old rundown beat up house. 432 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 2: But it was in a nice neighborhood close into the city. 433 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 2: It's in a beautiful lot with big trees. But the 434 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 2: house had been abandoned for a couple of years. Windows 435 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 2: were broken out, no doors on. It had a leak 436 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 2: in the kitchen, foundation problems, floors as crooked as can be. 437 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 2: It didn't make sense to our mind, but in our 438 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 2: spirit we felt an incredible peace. Victoria looked at me 439 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 2: and said, Joel, this is the house for us. Let's 440 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,719 Speaker 2: buy it, fix it up, and live in it. It 441 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 2: didn't seem logical here. We had just come out of 442 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 2: a beautiful townhouse. This was just the opposite, not a 443 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: step up. It looked like a step down. But God's 444 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 2: ways are not our ways. We could have been narrow 445 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 2: minded and thought, we are not even going to entertain 446 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 2: this old piece of jump. After all, Victoria comes from 447 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 2: a well to do family. They have a high end 448 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 2: jewelry store. When Victoria was for it. 449 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: I knew that was a sign from Almighty God. 450 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 2: Plus it saved me a lot of money. We bought 451 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 2: the house, fixed it up, living in it. Six months later, 452 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 2: men knocked on our door unannounced a builder. He said, 453 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 2: I'd like to buy this property and build two houses 454 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 2: on it. 455 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 1: He said, I'm sorry, property is not for sales. He said, 456 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: let me ask you how much did you pay for it? 457 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 2: I told him what we paid. He said, how about 458 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 2: I pay you double? I said, like I said, we 459 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 2: love to sell it. We sold that old rundown beat 460 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 2: up house and got a brand new house on the 461 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 2: same piece of property. Friends, God knows what he's doing. 462 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 2: Trust him. Let him do it his way. You may 463 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 2: not understand it at the time. It may not make sense, 464 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: but one day you will see what God was doing. 465 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 2: His plan will be better than your plan. When I 466 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,639 Speaker 2: look back over my life, like Nielman, I have a 467 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 2: lot of I thoughts. I thought we would buy a 468 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 2: new house, not an old rundown beat up one. I 469 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 2: thought I would be behind the scenes my whole life, 470 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 2: not out here in front of people. Thought we would 471 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 2: build a new sanctuary when Lakewood needed more room, not 472 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 2: move into the former Compact Center where the Rockets used 473 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 2: to play. The common denominator in all of my eye 474 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 2: thoughts is that God's plan was much better than my plan. 475 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 2: What God had in mind was much bigger, much more 476 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 2: rewarding than anything I dreamed of. I'm asking you to 477 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 2: trust him. Our attitude should be God. I'm wide open 478 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 2: do anything you want, any time you want, use anyone 479 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 2: you want. 480 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,199 Speaker 1: I'm not set on having it my way. God. I 481 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: know your plan is the best plan. 482 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,239 Speaker 2: If you will stay open and let God do it 483 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 2: his way, God will open doors for you that no. 484 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 1: Man can shut. 485 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 2: His favor is going to thrust you years ahead. You 486 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 2: will see promises, fulfilled, dreams come to pass. I believe 487 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: in declare you will overcome every obstacle, defeat every enemy, 488 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 2: and become everything God's. 489 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: Created you to me. If you receive it, can you 490 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: say amen? Today? 491 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 492 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 2: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 493 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? 494 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 2: Just say Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins, Come 495 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 2: into my heart, wash me clean. 496 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:22,120 Speaker 1: I make you my Lord and savior. 497 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 2: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 498 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 2: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church, 499 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 2: Keep God first place. He's going to take you places 500 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 2: that you've never dreamed of. 501 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 502 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 2: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 503 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 2: podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 504 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 2: Help us to continue to share the message of hope 505 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 2: with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 506 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 2: or click the link in the description to partner with 507 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 2: us today. We hope you'll share this message with a 508 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 2: friend and be sure to follow us on social media. 509 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 1: We're praying for you. 510 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 2: I know God's best is still ahead and we'll see 511 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 2: you next time. MHM.