1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. So God bless you. 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: It's the joy to come into your homes. We love you, 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: We know God has great things in store. And if 8 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: you're ever in our area, please stop buying. Be a 9 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: part of one of our services. I promise you we'll 10 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: make you feel right at home. But thanks so much 11 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: for tuning in and thank you again for coming out today. 12 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: And I like to start with something funny, and I 13 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: heard about this groom at the wedding rehearsal. He said 14 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: to the minister during the vows, if you'll leave out 15 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 1: all that honor, love and obey stuff, I'll give you 16 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars. He pressed one hundred dollars into the 17 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: minister's hand and walked away with a smile. The next day, 18 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: during the ceremony, the minister said, do you promise to 19 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: bow down before your wife to take her breakfast in 20 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: bed every day to fulfill her every desire? He gulfed 21 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: in astonishment, said in a weak voice, I do. He 22 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: then whispered, I thought we had a deal. The minister 23 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: handed him the money back and said, your wife made 24 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 1: me a much better offering. Hold up your Bible, say 25 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 26 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: am what it says I am. I have what it 27 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: says I have. I can do what it says I 28 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 29 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,199 Speaker 1: I'll boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 30 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 31 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 32 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: going beyond invisible walls. An invisible wall is something very subtle. 33 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: It's an attitude that says we don't associate with those people. 34 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: They're not like us. They don't dress like us, they 35 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: don't live in our neighborhood, they don't worship the way 36 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: we do. They're not our same nationality. So we just 37 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: very quietly keep our distance. We can smile, we can 38 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: say hello, but they're this unseen barrier that separates us. 39 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: But if all your friends look like you, and dress 40 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: like you, and live in your same neighborhood, can I 41 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: tell you you're missing out. You're experiencing a small portion of 42 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: what God really wants you to enjoy. And if you 43 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: don't broaden your life and go beyond your tradition and 44 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 1: get rid of little prejudices, then those invisible walls can 45 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: keep you from your destiny. The very people you're avoiding, 46 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: the ones you're saying they're not from my camp, they're 47 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: not for me. They could be the divine connection that 48 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: hold the key to your dreams coming to pass. I've 49 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: learned God doesn't use people to help me that just 50 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: look like me and dress like me and come from 51 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: my same background. God likes variety, but sometimes we get 52 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: stuck in our little box. I call it a prison 53 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: of prejudice. Doesn't mean that we're bad peace people, but 54 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: we have these attitudes. They're Baptist and I'm Catholic. I'm 55 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,119 Speaker 1: staying away from them. They're Democrat and I'm a Republican. 56 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: They're unclean, they're an aggie, I'm a longhorn. That's a 57 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: major issue. Or more seriously, they're black and I'm white. 58 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: They're Hispanic, I'm Asian. They're a blue collar and I'm 59 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: white collar. Big deal. God chooses all people, every person 60 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: that has breath to Breathe was created in the image 61 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: of God. Who are we to judge and think you're 62 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: not for me? You're the wrong skin color, you're the 63 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: wrong nationality. No nobody chose their skin color. None of 64 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: us could choose who our parents would be, what country 65 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: we be born in. God chooses that if we look 66 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: down on people and refuse to associate with them, we're 67 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: not really doing it to them, We're doing it to 68 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: our creator. He holds the key to blessing, to favor, 69 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: to honor. You cannot leus respect God's children and expect 70 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: him to bless you at the same time. We may 71 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: be black, white, brown, yellow, American, African, European, Hispanic, but 72 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: one thing we have in common is we all bleed red. 73 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: No matter what you look like, no matter where you 74 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: come from, As long as your blood is red, you're 75 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: my brother, you're my sister. Do you know skin color 76 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: is less than one sixteenth of an inch deep. I'm 77 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: not going to be so petty to let us sixteenth 78 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: of an inch come between us. I need your friendship, 79 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: I need your wisdom, I need your encouragement, I need 80 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: your blessing. We may be different cultures, nationalities, different skin colors, 81 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: but let's remember really we're only one sixteenth of an 82 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: inch different. They say that Sunday morning is still the 83 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: most segregated time of the week. I'm happy to report 84 00:04:55,560 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: that's not the case here at Lakewood. A well known 85 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: reporter called us the most diverse church in America. The 86 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: amazing thing is we never tried to do it. Experts 87 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: have come from all over the world to try to 88 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: figure out how this has happened. They used to ask 89 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: my father, did you bust people in Did you have 90 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 1: a big diversity campaign, Did you have specialist design a plan. No, 91 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: we didn't do anything except love people and share good 92 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: news and speak faith and victory. When you go beyond 93 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: invisible walls, God blesses you. When you treat all people 94 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: with respect and honor. That pleases God. When you're just 95 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: as kind and considerate to the people that don't look 96 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: like you as you are to the ones that do, 97 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: then you're positioning yourself to go higher. And that's what 98 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: I love about Lakewood. It's all races, all colors, all nationalities, 99 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: all walks of life. This is what heaven is going 100 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: to be like. And if you're only comfortable being around 101 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: people like your own, if you have these hidden prejudices, 102 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: then now it's a good time to deal with it, 103 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 1: because if not, when you get to heaven, you're gonna 104 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: be in for a rude awakening. There's gonna be black, white, yellow, red. 105 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: You might as well get used to it. That group 106 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: that you're avoiding, the people you don't like to be around. 107 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: God will make sure your mansion is right next door 108 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: to theirs. Raleigh Washington is an African American minister, and 109 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: he said something that I really like. He said, when 110 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: I was born, I was black. When I grew up, 111 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: I was black. When I go out in the cold, 112 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 1: I'm black. When I go out in the sun, I 113 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: get more black. When I'm sick, i'm black. And when 114 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: I die, I'm sure I'll still be black. But what 115 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: I found is when white people are born, you're pink. 116 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: When you grow up, you become white. When you go 117 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: out in the cold, you turn blue. When you go 118 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: out in the sun, you turn red. When you're sick. 119 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: They say he looks green. When you die, you turn purple. Now, 120 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: what I want to know is why are blacks called 121 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: colored people. I have a friend. He's a Hispanic police officer. 122 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: He said, Joel, what do you call two Hispanics playing 123 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: each other in basketball? One on one? Colossians three eleven. 124 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: In Christ, there's neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, 125 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: black nor white, no difference between any nationality. Notice, God 126 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: doesn't see us as different races. God doesn't see us 127 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: as different social standings. Our tradition magnifies that what we wear, 128 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: what we drive, what our skin color is. God looks 129 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: past all the superficial things and he sees us all 130 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: the same, not black or white, just his children, not 131 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: upper class or lower class, just one big family. Sometimes 132 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: we make the mistake of judging a whole race by 133 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: a few people. We make sweeping generalizations, and it keeps 134 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: us from enjoying who God puts in our life. In 135 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: high school, I had a good friend that was from Mexico. 136 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: He was one of the kindest, most respectful, most fun 137 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: people you could ever hope to be around. We had 138 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: a great time together. But I had another friend, a 139 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: young white guy like myself, and I noticed that every 140 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: time I hung out with my Hispanic friend that he 141 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: wouldn't come around. One day, I asked him about it 142 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: and Please don't be offended. This is what he said. 143 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: He said, Joe, you're right, I don't trust Mexicans. I said, 144 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: you don't trust them? Why? He said, because my father 145 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: told me a long time ago they stole something from us, 146 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: and you just can't trust them. I said, you mean 147 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:48,199 Speaker 1: you're going to judge a whole race and stay away 148 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 1: from them and live in your little box because of 149 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: one person that did something wrong years ago that you 150 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: heard about. He talked about a narrow point of view, 151 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: but his father had ingrained this in him. Just stay 152 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: with your own kind. Don't associate with those people invisible 153 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: walls that were holding him back. I wonder how many 154 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: of us have little prejudices that have been passed down, 155 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: just subtleties. Stay away from that group, they're dishonest. Don't 156 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: associate with those people they think they're too good. Don't 157 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: hang out with that group. They're far below you. I 158 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: said to this friend, do you realize there are dishonest 159 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 1: white people, just like dishonest people from other races. Plus 160 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: there are also some incredibly kind, caring, friendly, honest, genuine 161 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: white people, Black people, Hispanic people, Asian people. Stop judging 162 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: a whole race by a few people. Don't let statistics 163 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: form your opinion before you even meet the people. If 164 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: you do, like my friend, these prejudices will get passed 165 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: from generation to generation. We end up not liking somebody 166 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 1: and we don't even know why. It's just what we've heard. 167 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 1: I saw on the news these little four and five 168 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: year old boys, which was in another country, that were 169 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: on a dirt road and they were throwing rocks at 170 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: these men that were passing by. There's been a lot 171 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: of fighting in this country. A reporter went over and 172 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: asked one of the little boys, why are you so angry? 173 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: Why are you throwing rocks? He said, because these people 174 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: are bad. They're mean, they're evil. We hate them. The 175 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: reporter said, how do you know. Have you ever met them? 176 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: A little boy said, no, have you ever talked with them? No? 177 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: Have you ever played with their children? No? Then, how 178 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: do you know that they're so bad? The little boy 179 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: thought for a moment. He said, because mommy and daddy 180 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: told me they were bad. Think about it, five years 181 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: old and all this hate being ingrained in his heart. 182 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 1: If he doesn't break that cycle, he will grow up 183 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: hating people that he's never met, angry with people, that 184 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: he's never been to dinner with, avoiding someone that he's 185 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: never taken time to know. Could it be that we 186 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: do the same thing. We avoid certain groups of people 187 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: because of what we've been told, or because of what 188 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: we saw model growing up. Some people have never had 189 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: a friend outside their own race. They've never had a 190 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: black friend, a white friend, an Asian friend. All they 191 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: know is what they've been told, that all white people 192 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: are this, All Hispanic people are this, All black people 193 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: are this. You better stay away, you'll get hurt. They're 194 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: not for you. Now. My prayer is, God, make us colorblind. 195 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: God help us to not look on the outside superficial things. 196 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: But God help us to see people for who they 197 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: really are, their gifts, their talents, their strengths, their personalities, 198 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: their uniqueness. The Living Translation says, in this new life, 199 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: one's race and nationality and social standing is not important. 200 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: What matters is that we are in Christ and He 201 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: is equally available to all. We got to look past 202 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: the surface. I didn't do anything to get my skin color. 203 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: This is what God chose to give me. This suit. 204 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: My dress is not who I am, where I live, 205 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: what I do, That's not the real me. The real 206 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 1: me is on the inside. The word prejudice means to prejudge. 207 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: When I'm prejudiced, I judge you without even knowing you. 208 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: I form an opinion based on superficial things based on 209 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: the outside. You can't really know somebody by the outside. 210 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: This is simply the house that we live in. The 211 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: real me is on the inside. You can't really know 212 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: me by just looking at me and thinking, well, he's 213 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: white and good looking. That's true. But the way you 214 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: really know me, the way you really know me, is 215 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: by spending time with me, by going to dinner with me, 216 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: by hanging out together. Don't make the mistake of judging 217 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 1: people by the surface. I talked to a lady about 218 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: a year ago after the service, and she was an 219 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: African American woman, probably in her early sixties, and I 220 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:08,839 Speaker 1: could tell that she did not want to be here 221 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: and she did not like me. A friend talked her 222 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: into coming. In fact, this was the first time she 223 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: had ever been at a church with a white minister. 224 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: She had been raised by very angry, bitter, hateful people. 225 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: It was being passed from generation to generation. She made 226 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: no bones about it. She said, Joel, I don't like 227 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: white people. I resent the way we've been treated. It 228 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: wasn't fair, and on and on. And I'm not making 229 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: light of anything that's happened in the past, because there 230 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: were some terrible injustices, but we cannot undo the past. 231 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: Hating a group of people now because it's something that 232 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: happened years ago is not going to make it any better. 233 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: You've got to move forward with your life and trust 234 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: God to restore and repay what's owed you. And I 235 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: asked her, have you ever had a white friend? She said, no, never, 236 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: and I don't want a white friend. All white people 237 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: are bad. She started into it again. She was very bold, 238 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: and I was bold right back with her. I said, listen, 239 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,319 Speaker 1: if you got to know me, you would like me. 240 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: I mean, look at this smile. Could you resist this? 241 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: And she didn't smile. I thought, oh lord, it didn't work. 242 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: This one's gonna take prayer and fasting. I called one 243 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: of our volunteers over, a young white girl. I looked 244 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: at that lady and I said, I dare you to 245 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: get to know her. I dare you to spend time 246 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: with her. I dare you to be open minded and 247 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: find out what she's really like. She reluctantly agreed. I 248 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: was surprised today a year later. Do you know who's 249 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: here at every one of our services, sitting by her 250 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: new best friend, This lady. You can hardly pull them apart. 251 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: Sixty years she let an invisible wall keep her back. 252 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: Sixty years she let hatred, in bitterness and anger that 253 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: had been ingrained in her by hateful people keep her 254 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: from God's best. Don't let that be you. I don't 255 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: know what wrongs may have been done in the past, 256 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: maybe in the natural. You have a valid reason to 257 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: be angry, to be bitter, to not like certain people, 258 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: or a whole group of people. But I'm asking you 259 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: to let it go. This is a new day. One 260 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: bad experience doesn't mean the whole group is bad. Get 261 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: out of your comfort zone, be open minded, get to 262 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: know somebody that's not like you. Find out for yourself 263 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: what they're really like. Like this lady, I believe you'll 264 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 1: be surprised. I saw a commercial on television. It had 265 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: this little white girl out in the park swinging on 266 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: a swing set. In a few seconds, a little black 267 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: girl came in and joined her, then a Hispanic girl, 268 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: an Asian girl, an Indian girl, on and on until 269 00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: there were fifteen or twenty different nationalities represented. With the 270 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:05,119 Speaker 1: little white girl walking off holding her mother's hand. Intrigued 271 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: by all the different nationalities, she said, Mommy, what color 272 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: is Jesus? The mother said, honey, Jesus is called the 273 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: Light of the world, and pure light is made up 274 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: of every color of the rainbow. You asked me, Joel, 275 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: what color is God? He's every color. He's not just 276 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: a white God, just a black God, just a brown God. 277 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: Not just an American God, African God, Hispanic God. He's 278 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: the God of all flesh. God put a part of 279 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: himself into every one of us. That's why every person 280 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: can say he's my God. He's my savior, he's my redeemer. Now, 281 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: some of you, you need to let God out of 282 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: your box. He's not just a Baptist God, just a 283 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: Catholic God, just a Pentecostal God. God is bigger than 284 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: any one group. He's bigger than any one denomination. He 285 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 1: is not an exclusive God. He's an inclusive God. This 286 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: God of ours, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 287 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: He loves the Muslims just as much as he loves 288 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: the Christians. He loves the atheists, just as much as 289 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: he loves the believers. And God will save who he 290 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: wants to save. He will bless who he wants to bless. 291 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: Sometimes we look at groups and think, well, God will 292 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: never save them. They don't worship the right way, they 293 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: don't believe like we do. Know I've learned, don't ever 294 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: write anybody off. In the Scripture, Saul of Tarsus hated Christians. 295 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: He was the one leading the opposition, having them put 296 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: in prison, But in a split second, God turned his 297 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: life around. He became the apostle Paul and ended up 298 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,640 Speaker 1: writing over half of the New Testament. Friends, God will 299 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: save who he wants to save. Quit writing off big groups. 300 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: We're not called to judge people, We're called to love people. Well, 301 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: you say, Joel, what group are you in? What group 302 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 1: is Lakewood? Are y'all Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Charismatics, independence, evangelical? 303 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,479 Speaker 1: Who are you? We're just a group of believers that 304 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: love the Lord and are excited about life. I don't 305 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: want any labels. If you draw a circle and shut 306 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: me out, I'm gonna draw a bigger circle and shut 307 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: you in. We may not agree on everything, but that's 308 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 1: not gonna keep me from loving you. We may not 309 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: see eye to eye, but as long as your blood 310 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: is red, I'm gonna be kind and respectful and treat 311 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 1: you like my brother. I'm not gonna focus on what 312 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,479 Speaker 1: we don't agree on. I'm gonna focus on what we 313 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: do agree on. So often we get focused on our 314 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: groups and our denominations, and we think we're the only 315 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: ones that are right, and nobody else we can associate 316 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: with them. It's funny the church that Victoria grew up been, 317 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 1: They thought they were the only ones going to heaven. 318 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: When we got married, I said, Victoria, would you go 319 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: ask them if I could please go to heaven too. 320 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: I never heard back. But whether they like it or not, 321 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be up there with them. We have to 322 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: realize when we get to heaven, there's not gonna be 323 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: a Baptists section over here, Catholic session over here. You 324 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 1: Pentecosters are so loud, go back there in the very back, 325 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,479 Speaker 1: and a black section, a white section. No, we're all 326 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,919 Speaker 1: gonna be up there together, side by side. Might as 327 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: well learn to enjoy each other down here. A lot 328 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: of times we think, well, they're Baptist and I'm Episcopalian. 329 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: I don't have anything to do with them. This happened 330 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: back in Jesus' day. They said I'm of Paul, I'm 331 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: of Apolus. They were saying, I belong to this group, 332 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: and we don't associate with this other group. No, go 333 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: beyond that wall. We can all learn from each other. 334 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: One thing I'm sure of is I don't know everything. 335 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: I'll be the first to admit I don't have God 336 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: all figured out. I stay open. I constantly am listening 337 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: to people that are outside my camp, that didn't grow 338 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: up like me, that don't think exactly like I do. 339 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: You have to get past that wall of tradition that 340 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 1: says this is the way I was raised and this 341 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: is the only right way. This is the way we 342 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: worship Joel. This is the church my family's been in 343 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: for four hundred and twenty seven years. If I even 344 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: thought about going to a place like Lakewood, my relatives 345 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: would turn over in their graves. Now, if your relatives 346 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: were alive today, they'd probably be over here at Lakewood. 347 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: They'd be celebrating God's goodness. This is a new day. 348 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: Go beyond the walls of tradition. Some people are stuck 349 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: in a church where they're not growing, not being fed, 350 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 1: no life, no victory, But it's tradition that keeps them there. Listen, 351 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 1: life is too short to live that way. It's time 352 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: to break free. It's time to get out of a 353 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: limited environment and go someplace where they lift you up 354 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: and not push you down, someplace where you're challenged to 355 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: dream bigger, to go further, to become all God's created 356 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: you to be. This is how Lakewood got started. My 357 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: dad went beyond an invisible wall. You see. My father 358 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: was raised Southern Baptist. It was bred all throughout him. 359 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 1: Daddy's barber was Baptist, his banker was Baptist, his grocer 360 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: was Baptist. Even his dogs were Baptists. He was so 361 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,439 Speaker 1: steeped in tradition, and it wasn't said, but it was 362 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: certainly felt that everybody else was just a little below par, 363 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: not quite up to their standards. One day in the 364 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: late nineteen fifties, some of his staff told my father 365 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: about this woman that was holding a revival in town 366 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: and was shaking the whole city, and they wanted my 367 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: dad to go hear her. It was a big deal. 368 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: First off, she was a lady. There weren't many women 369 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: ministers back then, and secondly, she was Pentecostal. Back then, 370 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: the Pentecostals and the Baptists wouldn't have anything to do 371 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: with each other. Third thing is when she ministered, she 372 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 1: took her shoes off and ministered barefoot. My father was 373 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: a distinguished pastor the first Baptist church. He said to 374 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 1: his staff, are you kidding? You want me to go 375 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: here a barefoot woman preacher? I've got a reputation, he 376 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 1: was saying. She doesn't belong to our group, She's not 377 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: in our camp an invisible wall. They finally talked him 378 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: into going. As the lady began to minister, she talked 379 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: about the love and the goodness of God, and big 380 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: tears started flowing down her cheeks, and my father felt 381 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: something that night that he had never felt before. He 382 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: left there determined to become everything God created him to be. 383 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: Years later, my dad couldn't even call the lady's name, 384 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: yet he would still credit her with giving him the 385 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: courage to step out and start Lakewood Church. And when 386 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 1: you go beyond invisible walls, you never know what's on 387 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:00,040 Speaker 1: the other side. When you break free from tradition, we 388 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: have rid of prejudice. You will step into favor and 389 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: increase like you've never seen before. In the scripture, there 390 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: was a man by the name of Cornelius. He was 391 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: an Italian soldier, very faithful, very generous. One day God 392 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 1: spoke to him and said, Cornelius, send men down to 393 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: Joppa to Simon's house. Peter will be staying there as 394 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 1: a guest. And they were to invite Peter to come 395 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: back to Cornelius's home. When these Italian men went to 396 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: Joppa to get Peter, a Jewish man, that could have 397 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: easily started a conflict. They were two different cultures, different races, 398 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 1: different faiths even. But while they were traveling, Peter had 399 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 1: a dream, and in this dream he saw meat coming 400 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: down from the four corners of the earth. This meat 401 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 1: was considered unclean and was forbidden by the Jewish law 402 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: to eat. Anyone that was serious about their Jewish faith, 403 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: like Peter would never eat this meat. But in the dream, 404 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: God said, Peter, rise up and eat. Peter said, not so, Lord, 405 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: it's unclean. God said no, no, Peter, don't call unclean 406 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: what I've cleansed. Go ahead and need it. Peter said again, no, Lord, 407 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna eat it. It's not clean. Happened three times. 408 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: It's interesting. Even though God was the one asking him 409 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 1: to change, Peter wasn't willing to do it. God was 410 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: the one that made the laws. You could say that 411 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: Peter loved his tradition more than he loved God. This 412 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,880 Speaker 1: dream was about food, but really it represented people. When 413 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: Peter woke up, there was a knock on the door. 414 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: It was the Italian soldiers inviting him to Cornelius's home. Understand, 415 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: Cornelius was a gentile. Gentiles back then were considered unclean. 416 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: Up to this point, the Gospel had only been preached 417 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: to the Jews. Now Peter had to make a decision. 418 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: Was he going to let his culture, his tradition, his 419 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: keep him from associating with people that were not like him. 420 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: Now Peter was bold enough, He was radical enough to 421 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 1: go beyond the invisible walls. Now at Cornelius's house, out 422 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: of his comfort zones, out of his culture, he began 423 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: to share the good news. Acts ten forty four says 424 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 1: that while he was still ministering, the Holy Spirit fell 425 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,640 Speaker 1: on all of them, and those that were with Peter, 426 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: the other Jews. They were astonished because on the Gentiles 427 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: for the first time, the Holy Spirit was poured out. 428 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: Today you and I are enjoying God's goodness. We have salvation. 429 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: It's come to our house. Because Peter was willing to 430 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 1: go beyond tradition, culture, races, even religion, and share with 431 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: people that were not like him. From that day forward, 432 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: the church exploded. It went into all races, all cultures, 433 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 1: all over the world. But had God not prepared Peter's 434 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 1: heart by giving him that dream, I doubt that Peter 435 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 1: would have ever gone to see Cornelius. He probably would 436 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: have never broken free from that tradition. I believe today 437 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: God is preparing our hearts to go beyond invisible walls, 438 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 1: beyond tradition, beyond what we're used to. God is saying, 439 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: broaden your life, get to know people that are not 440 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:25,120 Speaker 1: just like you, get rid of tradition, and don't let 441 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: prejudices that have been passed down keep you from the 442 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: fullness of what God has in store. Remember, our skin 443 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 1: color is only a sixteenth of an inch deep. Don't 444 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: judge by the outside, find out what's on the inside. Friends, 445 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,239 Speaker 1: invisible walls have held us back long enough. Let's go 446 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: out this week and get out of our comfort zones. 447 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: Let's be willing to be a friend to someone that 448 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:52,640 Speaker 1: we might normally stay away from. If you do, their 449 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 1: life will not only be fuller, your life will be fuller. 450 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: God will be pleased. He'll pour out his blessings in favor. 451 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: You'll rise high and hire and I believe and declare 452 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: you'll live that life of victory he has in story. Amen, 453 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: do you receive it today? Well? We never like to 454 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 1: close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make 455 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 456 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:19,400 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 457 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 458 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 1: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 459 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 460 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take your places that 461 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: you've never dreamed of. 462 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 2: We all carry a mental picture of what our life 463 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 2: can be. Is yours limited? Do you picture yourself stuck, inadequate, defeated? 464 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 2: Are you willing to change your mindset in order to 465 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 2: experience a life of blessing and abundance. 466 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: We all have a picture in our mind of ourself, 467 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: our family, our future. And if that picture is negative, 468 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 1: you see yourself at a disadvanta. Your problems too big, 469 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,359 Speaker 1: it's gonna limit your life. My new book, The Abundance 470 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,719 Speaker 1: Mindset will help you see yourself the right way. If 471 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: you'll change those negative pictures, start seeing yourself blessed, healthy, 472 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: rising high, or accomplishing dreams, then things will begin to 473 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: shift in your favor. You have to see it on 474 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: the inside before it'll come to pass on the outside. 475 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 1: We'll send you the Mindset Journal too. These tools will 476 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: help you get your inner vision in the right place 477 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: so you can move into the favor and blessing that 478 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: God has for you. 479 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 480 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 2: of any amount this month, we would like to send 481 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 2: you a copy of Joel's book The Abundance Mindset and 482 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 2: this inspiring Mindset Journal. Joel shares powerful scriptures and encouraging 483 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 2: thoughts about how to move from fairly enough to more 484 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 2: than enough, how to be someone else's miracle and experience 485 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 2: miracles in your own life. As you make the book 486 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 2: and journal a part of your daily life walk, you'll 487 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 2: be built up every day regarding how to tap into 488 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 2: God's favor and blessing. How not to talk yourself out 489 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 2: of the dreams and opportunities He has already prepared for you. 490 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 2: How to experience life to the fullest. Request your coffees 491 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 2: today and begin to see a new mental picture of 492 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 2: yourself that will lead to new measures of blessing, favor, promotion, 493 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:24,320 Speaker 2: and abundance. 494 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: Let's go into twenty twenty five with an abundant mindset. 495 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 1: I believe you're going to see the goodness of God 496 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: in new ways. Victory and I want you to know 497 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: we pray for you and your family every day for 498 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 1: God's very best. We want to thank you for your 499 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 1: prayer and support. You are impacting people all over the world. 500 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: A special thank you to our Championhip Hope Partners for 501 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: your monthly support. If you're not a partner, I hope 502 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: you'll consider becoming one. Remember you can watch the services 503 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, listen on 504 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: Serious Exam, watch on YouTube. Also the new joelostein network 505 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: streaming on television twenty four hours a day. Until we 506 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: see you again, May the Lord bless you and keep you. 507 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of the Abundance Mindset 508 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 2: Book and Mindset Journal. Today, visit Joelostein dot com or 509 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 2: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for an 510 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 2: additional donation. This month, we are also offering His Goodness 511 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 2: Abundance Boom. You can request this inspiring resource by calling 512 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 2: eight eight eight five six seven Joel. We're logging on 513 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 2: to Joelostein dot com today. 514 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 1: If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great opportunity. 515 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: We call it Homecoming Weekend. We'd love to meet you 516 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 1: and your family. You can see the building and attend 517 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: one of the services. It's a great time to be 518 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 1: a part of the Lakewood family. Looking forward to seeing 519 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 1: you Homecoming Weekend.