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No mistake 37 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 6: you've made is too much for the mercy of God. 38 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 6: Nothing you've done in the past has to keep you 39 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 6: from the bright future God has in store now. 40 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:45,479 Speaker 4: I believe what. 41 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 6: God promised that He's about to stoop down and lift 42 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 6: you out. 43 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 4: Of low places. Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 44 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 6: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 45 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 6: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 46 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 6: be a blessing and share it with a We appreciate 47 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 6: you and pray for God's very best in your life. 48 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 4: God bless you. Great to have you with us today. 49 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 6: I hope you'll stay connected with us throughout the week. 50 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 6: We have a daily podcast that you can download. You 51 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 6: can go to our YouTube channel and watch the messages anytime. 52 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 4: Or of course, you can follow us on social media. 53 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 4: I'll promise you. 54 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 6: We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. Thanks for tuning in. 55 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 6: Thank you again for coming out today. I'd like to 56 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 6: start with something funny, and I heard about this man. 57 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 6: He was on vacation in Jerusalem with his family when 58 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 6: his mother in law suddenly died. He went to make 59 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 6: arrangements to get the body back home. The consulate said 60 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 6: it would cost five thousand dollars to have the body shipped, 61 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 6: but he could have her buried right there in Jerusalem 62 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,679 Speaker 6: for just one hundred and fifty dollars. The man thought 63 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 6: about it a moment, said now I'd like to have 64 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 6: her ship. The consulate said, wow, you must have really. 65 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 4: Loved your mother in law. He said, no, it's it's 66 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 4: not so much that. 67 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 6: I just remember a case here years ago when they 68 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 6: buried someone and on the third day they arose, and 69 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 6: I can't take that chance. All right, y'all, I got 70 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 6: a great mother in law. 71 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 4: Here we go. 72 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 6: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 73 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 6: I have what it says I have. I can do 74 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 6: what it says I can do. Today I will be 75 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 6: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 76 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 6: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 77 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 6: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 78 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 6: to talk to you today about the God who stoops. 79 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 6: We think if we can live good enough, then God 80 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 6: will bless us. If we can clean ourselves up, get 81 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 6: rid of this bad habit not fail anymore, then God 82 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 6: will show us favor. 83 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 4: The problem is we can't live that way. 84 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 6: We all make mistakes. We all have times we give 85 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 6: into temptation. Let our emotions take over. The condemning voice 86 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 6: has come saying you blew it. It was your own fault. 87 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 6: God's never going to help you. That's not the way 88 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 6: our God is. When you can't come up to his level, 89 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 6: he says, don't worry, I'll come down to yours. 90 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 4: He's not so high that he won't come low. 91 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 6: And it's good to see him as all powerful, holy, 92 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 6: the creator of the universe. But if you only see 93 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 6: him that way, you'll be intimidating, overwhelmed. I'll never measure up. 94 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 6: You have to see him as the God who stoops. 95 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 6: He comes down to the messy places. He's a god 96 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 6: that will get his hands dirty when you're falling, when 97 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 6: you're broken, when you knew better, but you did it anyway. 98 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 6: You think you're far from God. No, get ready, He's 99 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 6: coming after you. 100 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 4: The scripture says, he leaves the. 101 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 6: Ninety nine sheep and goes after the one sheep that's lost. 102 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 6: He could have stayed with the ninety nine that her 103 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 6: own course. He could have been satisfied. I don't want 104 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 6: the trouble. That sheep shouldn't have wandered off in the 105 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 6: first place. But he goes to messy places. He went 106 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 6: to the hog pen to get the prodigal sun. He'll 107 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 6: go into a club. He'll go into dysfunction, into failure, 108 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 6: into compromise. 109 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 4: You can't get too far down, too far off course. 110 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 6: Too many mistakes, that God will leave you alone. He'll 111 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 6: come down to where you are. The beauty is He 112 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 6: comes not to condemn you, not to point out all 113 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 6: your mistakes. He comes to lift you, to restore you, 114 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 6: to free you, to set. 115 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 4: You on a new path. 116 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 6: So one thirteen says, he stoops down from the heavens 117 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 6: to look at the earth. 118 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 4: He lifts the. 119 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 6: Poor from the dirt, and the needy from the garbage dump. 120 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 4: He sets them among princes. 121 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 6: He'll stoop all the way to a garbage dump, all 122 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 6: the way to the dirt. Notice what he does. He 123 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 6: doesn't just bring you out, but he honors you. He 124 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 6: sets you among princes. He doesn't hold our mistakes against us. 125 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 6: He takes what was meant for harm and uses it 126 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 6: to our advantage. And I thank God that he's all powerful. 127 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 6: I thank him that he's holy. But I also thank 128 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 6: him that he's the God who stoops, the God who 129 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 6: picks me up when I fall, The God who shows 130 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 6: me mercy when I get off course, The God who 131 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 6: comes to messy places and rescues me, restores me, sets 132 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 6: me in a place of honor. Where would we be 133 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 6: without the God who stoops. My father was a teenager 134 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 6: growing up during the Great Depression. 135 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 4: It's very poor. 136 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 6: He knew nothing about God, no future to speak of. 137 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 6: He had to drop out of high school to work 138 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 6: on the farm to help try to keep food on 139 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 6: the table. His parents were good people, but they didn't 140 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 6: have any kind of faith, any kind. 141 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 4: Of spiritual awareness. 142 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 6: Looked like my father would be the same way, just 143 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 6: struggle through life, mediocre, no purpose. But at seventeen years old, 144 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 6: he was walking home from a nightclub at two o'clock 145 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 6: in the morning. He looked up at the star and 146 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 6: for some reason, he began to think about God, what 147 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 6: he was going to do with his life. He felt 148 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 6: this sense of destiny. On the coffee table at home, 149 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 6: there was a family Bible. He was just there for decoration. 150 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 6: They never read it. He walked in that night he 151 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 6: was drawn to it. He went over it and opened 152 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 6: it up. The pages fell to a picture of Jesus 153 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 6: standing at a door and knocking. The caption read, if 154 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 6: you'll open the door, I'll come in. My father didn't 155 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 6: understand religion, didn't understand theology, but he did understand opening 156 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 6: a door. The next day he went to church for 157 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 6: the first time with a friend. The end of the service, 158 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 6: the pastor invited people to the altar that wanted to 159 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 6: receive Christ. 160 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 4: My father wouldn't go. He was too afraid. 161 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 6: His friend said, John, if you'll go, I'll go with you. 162 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 6: My father walked down the aisle, gave his life to Christ. 163 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 6: He went on to become a minister and started wood, 164 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 6: did great things with his life. Why did he feel 165 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 6: that way coming home from the nightclub? 166 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 4: What was that? 167 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 6: The God who stoops? Sometimes we say we found God. 168 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 6: The truth is God wasn't lost. We didn't find him. 169 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 6: He found us. He chose you before you could choose him. 170 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 4: Now. 171 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 6: I love the fact that you can never get so 172 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 6: low that God won't come down and pick you up. 173 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 4: You're not too far off course. 174 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 6: You haven't failed too many times, you haven't had too 175 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 6: many bad breaks. God is coming to you right now. 176 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 6: He's breathing on your life in a new way, with 177 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 6: fresh vision, fresh passion. 178 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 4: New doors are going to open. The greatness God put 179 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 4: in you is about to come out. 180 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 6: What He's destined for you to accomplish will come to pass. 181 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 4: Now. 182 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 6: Don't write yourself off, and don't write anyone else off. 183 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 6: Don't give up on your child, don't quit praying it 184 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 6: for that loved one. The Psalmist said, God, wherever I go, 185 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 6: I can't get away from your presence. If I go 186 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 6: up to the heavens, you are there. If I go 187 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 6: down to the depths of the ocean, You're still there. 188 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 6: There is no depth that God won't stoop to to 189 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 6: free you, to restore your family member, to bring your 190 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 6: child back home. This is what happened with Saul in 191 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 6: the scripture. He was the biggest enemy of the church. 192 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 6: He was very educated and influential leader, but he was 193 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 6: against believers. He went around having them arrested and put 194 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 6: in prison. It looked like he would be the last 195 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,839 Speaker 6: person that God would have anything to do with. He 196 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 6: was creating habit, making the disciples miserable. But God loves 197 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 6: to redeem people that we think are not redeemable. 198 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 4: He loves to take people that look too. 199 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 6: Far gone, not a chance, and make them into a 200 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 6: chosen vessel, bring them into purpose and destiny. On his 201 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 6: way to arrest believers, Saul had letters in hand from 202 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 6: the counsel permission to put them in jail. Suddenly, a 203 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 6: bright light shine down from heaven knocked Saul off his horse. 204 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 6: A voice boomed out, Saul, why do you persecute me? 205 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 4: He said, who are you? Lord? 206 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 6: The voice said, I am Jesus, God was saying, you're 207 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 6: against me now, but that's not your purpose, that's not 208 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 6: who I created you to be. I love you too 209 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 6: much to let you miss your destiny. And even though 210 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 6: I'm a God that sits high, even though I'm all powerful, 211 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 6: I'll stoop low to get you into your calling. God 212 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 6: will go to great links to bring you into your destiny. 213 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 6: You may feel like you've missed it, you made too 214 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 6: many mistakes, you're too. 215 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 4: Far off course. 216 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 6: The good news is we serve a God who stoops, 217 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,319 Speaker 6: the God that will reach down to redeem, to restore, 218 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 6: to set you among princes. He's not going to just 219 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 6: bring you out. He's going to honor you, promote you, 220 00:10:58,040 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 6: give your influence, cause you to share. 221 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 4: That day was a turning point for Saul. 222 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 6: He became the apostle Paul and went on to write 223 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 6: over half of the New Testament. One verse he wrote 224 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 6: in Romans talks about the grace that God freely gives us, 225 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 6: and if anyone understood grace, it would have been Paul. 226 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 6: The word he used for freely in the original language 227 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 6: is promiscuous, meaning that God's grace will go to anyone. 228 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 6: If someone is promiscuous, they're unrestrained. 229 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 4: They're loose. 230 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 6: That's the way God's grace is. It's not looking for 231 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:40,239 Speaker 6: perfect people. You can be struggling with an addiction and Grace. 232 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 4: Will come looking for you. 233 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 6: You can be working in the wrong kind of place 234 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 6: and Grace will come knocking at your door. You can 235 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 6: be dishonest, manipulative, and Grace will show up at your house. 236 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 6: You can be discouraged, thinking you've messed up too many times. 237 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 6: You brought the trouble on yourself, like the prodigal son, 238 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 6: Grace will come into the hogpen. 239 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 4: You can't get so low that God won't stoop down. 240 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 6: His grace is unrestrained. It doesn't have limitations. It will 241 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 6: go after anyone. See, we look at people and make 242 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 6: judgments based on how we were raised and how we 243 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 6: see things. We think God wouldn't have anything to do 244 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 6: with them. They're not living right. They party too much. 245 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 6: He's too dishonest. Her dress was too short, they used 246 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 6: bad language, they come from a different religion. The longer 247 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 6: I live, the more I realize God will save who 248 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 6: he wants to save. He'll stoop down to people that 249 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 6: don't have a good reputation, just as zach Kiss. 250 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 4: He was dishonest, He cheated people. Everyone knew he wasn't trustworthy. 251 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 6: Yet Jesus called him out of a huge group of people, 252 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 6: said I want to go to your house for dinner. 253 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 4: The religious leaders, the priests, the council members couldn't understand it. 254 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 4: Why would Jesus go to this guy's house. 255 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 6: There were a lot of fine, upstanding people in the crowd. 256 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 4: Zachias was a notorious sinner. 257 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 6: It's because they knew God as being all powerful, holy, righteous, 258 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 6: but they didn't know him as the God who stoops. 259 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 6: If you only know him as this majestic creator of 260 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 6: the universe, then you can be judgmental write people off. 261 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 6: But when you realize even though he sits high, he 262 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 6: stoops low. He doesn't disqualify people because they're off course. 263 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:36,199 Speaker 6: Now he knows they're a saul. There is Zachias. He 264 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 6: comes down to redeem, to restore, to set among princes. 265 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 6: I was at one of our events several years ago, 266 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 6: and afterwards I was meeting people. This young man came 267 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,959 Speaker 6: through the line and I could smell marijuana. 268 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 4: It was very strong. 269 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 6: This was before it was legal anywhere. My first thought was, man, 270 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 6: this is a night of hope. Not a night of dope. 271 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 6: After a couple of minutes, I started feeling really good too. 272 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 4: But it's easy to judge people. 273 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 6: Why do they do that? Why does she go with him? 274 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 6: Why isn't he more disciplined? But when you know God 275 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 6: as a god who stoops, a God that comes down 276 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 6: to lift people, that his grace is promiscuous, he goes 277 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 6: to anyone, then you can be a lifter. 278 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 4: You can be a healer, you can be a restorer. 279 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 4: Where would you. 280 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 6: Be without the mercy of God? What if God had 281 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 6: not stooped down brought my father into his purpose? 282 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 4: Where would I be? How many times has God stooped 283 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 4: down to you shown. 284 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 6: You mercy when you didn't deserve it, got you out 285 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 6: of a problem that you got yourself into, lifted you 286 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 6: out of. 287 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 4: The garbage, so to speak. It would be one. 288 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 6: Thing if God did it, condemning, judging, berating. But God 289 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 6: doesn't say a word, He doesn't find fault. That's taught 290 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 6: me not to judge other people. If we walked in 291 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 6: their shoes, if we had their same experiences, we don't 292 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 6: know what kind of decisions we would make. 293 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 4: Since God stooped down for you, why don't you stoop 294 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 4: down for someone else. 295 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 6: You are never more like God than when you're helping 296 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 6: the hurting, restoring the broken, lifting the falling. There's enough 297 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 6: judgment in our world today, there's enough criticism, fault finding. 298 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 4: Let's be lifters, Let's be encouragers. 299 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 6: Let's help someone else experience the God who stoops. This 300 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 6: young man told me how he had never been to 301 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 6: church and didn't have much guidance growing up. He was 302 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 6: passed from foster home to foster home, gotten into trouble, 303 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 6: struggling with substance abuse. A lot had come against him, 304 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 6: but he said, my girlfriend and I started watching you 305 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 6: on television. When I hear you speak, I feel something 306 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 6: on the inside that I've never felt. I told him 307 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 6: that your heavenly father. That's God saying I have a 308 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 6: plan and purpose for your life. 309 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 4: That's what the Psalmist meant. 310 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 6: God stoops down from the heavens and lifts those in 311 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 6: the dirt, sets them among princes. You too may have 312 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 6: gone through disappointments, things that were unfair. You couldn't do 313 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 6: anything about it. You never thought you'd be where you 314 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 6: are be encouraged today. He's a God who stoops. He 315 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 6: comes to the messy places. Not with judgment, not with condemnation, 316 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 6: but with hope, with new beginnings, with fresh vision. God 317 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 6: won't let you get in a problem that he can't 318 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 6: get you out of. You're not too far gone, hasn't 319 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 6: been too long, You haven't missed your destiny. 320 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 4: God is about to do a new thing. Dreams are coming. 321 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 6: Back to life, promises that you've let go of, or 322 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 6: on the way what God started, he's going to finish. 323 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 4: John chapter eight. 324 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 6: The religious leaders caught a woman in the act of adultery. 325 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 6: Jesus was teaching in the sinng They came dragging her in. 326 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 6: All this commotion disrupted the meeting. They threw her on 327 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 6: the ground in front of the whole crowd. She was humiliated, 328 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 6: close torn, people shouting insults, Shame on. 329 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 4: You, You're a disgrace. Two things I find interesting. First off, 330 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 4: where is the man? 331 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 6: If you're called in the act, that means there were two, 332 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 6: But they let the man off, not this lady. The 333 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 6: second thing is what were the religious leaders doing spying 334 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 6: on people, doing surveillance, hanging out at their house. They 335 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 6: should have been focused on their assignment, on helping others, 336 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 6: but some people are looking to catch you in a mistake, 337 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 6: hoping you'll fail. They're ready to exploit, expose any mishap 338 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 6: you have. 339 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 4: Don't be like them. 340 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 6: The mercy you show others is the mercy God is 341 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 6: going to show you. 342 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 2: Love. 343 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:55,439 Speaker 4: Covers for people. 344 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 6: I don't mean cover wrongdoing, but you should cover them 345 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 6: with prayer. Help them to heal, help them be restored, 346 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,959 Speaker 6: They said Jesus, the law says to Stoner, what do 347 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 6: you say that we should do this? Lady had no defense. 348 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 6: She couldn't say they were wrong. They don't have the 349 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 6: right person. It wasn't me. I didn't do it. 350 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 4: She was guilty. She knew she was wrong. 351 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 6: Lying on the ground, afraid, embarrassed, shaking, she had no 352 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 6: one to stand up for her. But the scripture says 353 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 6: Jesus stooped to the ground and wrote in the dust 354 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 6: with his finger. He came down to her level. He 355 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 6: could have stood up taller, got on the platform, to 356 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 6: a position of. 357 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 4: More authority, but he stooped. 358 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 6: Everyone else was standing just he and the woman were 359 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 6: looking eye to eye. I can imagine some of them 360 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 6: thought he was stooping down to pick up a rock 361 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 6: and throw it at the lady. Instead, he stooped down, 362 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 6: and through mercy, he said to the crowd, you who 363 00:18:55,960 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 6: are without sin, go ahead, throw the first stone dead silence. 364 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 4: Nobody moved. 365 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 6: Finally a man walked out, then another and another. From 366 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 6: the oldest to the youngest, they all left. The whole 367 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 6: time Jesus was stooping down, writing in the dirt that 368 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 6: was signifying how God will get dirty to rescue you. 369 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 6: He's not a god that just stays behind stained glass windows, 370 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 6: or even a god that just stays into heavens. 371 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:26,959 Speaker 4: He's a god that will stoop down to a hogpen 372 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 4: to rescue the prodigal son. 373 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 6: He'll stoop down to the dirt to restore a lady 374 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 6: called into adultery. A god who will stoop down and 375 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 6: say that one last sheep wasn't until all the men left, 376 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 6: Jesus stood up. He said to the lady woman, where 377 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 6: are your accusers? Hasn't anyone accused you? She looked around 378 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 6: and said no one. Lord, he said, neither do I 379 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 6: condemn you. Now go and sin no more. Stooping is 380 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 6: nothing new to our God. That's what he did two 381 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 6: thousand years ago. He stooped down from heaven and came 382 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 6: to earth. He stooped down. From being worshiped by angels 383 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 6: to being born in a manger. He stooped down to 384 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 6: be mocked, betrayed, beaten, and even crucified. 385 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 4: He didn't have to. 386 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 6: He could have said, Father, i'll pass on this assignment. 387 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 6: Let me stay up here on high. 388 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 4: But for your sake and mine, he said, I'll stoop. 389 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 4: I'll go low, so low that i'll be. 390 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 6: Buried in a grave, so low the enemy will think 391 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 6: that I'm defeated, so low forces of darkness will have 392 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 6: a celebration. 393 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 4: The good news is he didn't stay stooped. 394 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 6: He stooped for a moment, but he got back up again. 395 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 6: He defeated death, hell, and the grave for you and 396 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 6: for me. Now he's not only the all powerful, resurrected Savior, 397 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 6: but he's the god. 398 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 4: He stoops. 399 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 6: He still comes to messy places. He'll still meet you 400 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 6: where you are. He'll still rescue you when it was 401 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 6: your fault. He'll still defend you when you knew better. 402 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 4: Where would we be without the god who stoops? 403 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 6: When we didn't deserve it, when we couldn't measure up, 404 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 6: we made mistakes, we had no defense. He had every 405 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 6: right to stay on the throng be the god that 406 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 6: he is, But in his mercy, he stooped down. 407 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 4: He came after the one lost sheep. 408 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 6: Years ago, a friend of mine received a phone call 409 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 6: from his uncle. He lived in another state. He told 410 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 6: my friend there was a classmate he went to high 411 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 6: school with he hadn't seen in forty years, but he 412 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 6: couldn't get him off his mind. This classmate lived in 413 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 6: the city where my friend lives. 414 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 4: It was so strong. 415 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 6: His uncle felt like he had to reach out to him, 416 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 6: but he had no number, no contact. His name was 417 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 6: very common, there would be thousands of people with the 418 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 6: same name. But he asked my friend his nephew, if 419 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 6: he would try to locate him. He kind of laughed 420 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,120 Speaker 6: and thought, there are seven million people in this city. 421 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 6: What are my chances of finding him? The next day, 422 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 6: my friend went to his mailbox. There was an advertisement 423 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 6: for a business. He noticed the man's name was the 424 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 6: same his uncle mentioned. 425 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:13,959 Speaker 4: He thought, what do I have to lose? 426 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 6: He called the number, said I know this is odd, 427 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 6: but I have an uncle by the name of so 428 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 6: and so, and I'm wondering if you went to high 429 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 6: school with him. The man couldn't believe it and said 430 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,400 Speaker 6: that he did. My friend said, my uncle is very 431 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 6: concerned about you. I wanted to know if there's anything 432 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 6: I can pray with you about. The phone went silent. 433 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 6: In a few seconds, he began to hear the man soft. 434 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 6: He said, I'm out in the woods about to end 435 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 6: my life. 436 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,120 Speaker 4: He had all the tools to do it. Everything said up. 437 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 6: My friend began to encourage him and let him know 438 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 6: that God still had a. 439 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 4: Plan and purpose for his life. 440 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,479 Speaker 6: Men changed his mind, and today he and his family 441 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 6: are back in church. His business is being blessed more 442 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 6: than ever. He's fulfilling his purpose. That's God stooping down. 443 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 6: He'll come right where you are, into the lion's den, 444 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 6: into the fiery furnace, into the accusing voices, into the club, 445 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 6: into the hospital, like the Psalmist said, to lift you 446 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 6: out of the dirt, out of the messy places, and 447 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 6: to set you among princes. And it's good to thank 448 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 6: God for promotion and thank him for favor. 449 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 4: But how we. 450 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 6: Should thank him for stooping down. Lord, Thank you for 451 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 6: getting your hands dirty, thank you for coming. 452 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 4: To the messy places of my life. 453 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 6: Thank you for restoring me when I was broken, redeeming 454 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 6: me when I fell, healing me when I was hurting. 455 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 6: There was a young prophet in the Old Testament named Hoseah. 456 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 6: He was very well respected. People came from all around 457 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 6: to get his advice. 458 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 4: He was single. He knew God would bring. 459 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 6: Him a wife, but it wasn't what he thought. God 460 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 6: told him to marry a young lady named Gomer. 461 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 4: She was a former prostitute, didn't have a good reputation. 462 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 4: You can imagine what Joseiah thought, God, do you know 463 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 4: who she is? I'm a respected prophet. What are people 464 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 4: going to think? 465 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 6: He could have talked himself out of it, but he 466 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 6: knew to obey. Things started off well, they were in love, 467 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:18,400 Speaker 6: they had a baby, then things went downhill. Hoseiah would 468 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:22,199 Speaker 6: go out ministering. Gomer slipped back into her old ways. 469 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 6: He was heartbroken. He knew she wasn't being faithful. To 470 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 6: make matters worse, she was the talk of the town. 471 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 6: Everyone knew about Gomer's affairs. One morning, Joseah woke up 472 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 6: and Gomer was gone. She abandoned him and the children. 473 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 6: I can hear Hoseiah's friend saying, it's about time you 474 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 6: need to be finished with that woman. She's brought you 475 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,640 Speaker 6: nothing but heartache and pain. That sounded good, but deep 476 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 6: down Joseiah still loved Gomer. Years later, he overheard the 477 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 6: town gossip saying that Gomer was still alive. She had 478 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 6: been deserted by all the men that said they loved 479 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 6: her her. She was about to be sold off as 480 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 6: a slave. The scripture says the Lord said to Joseah, 481 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 6: go get your wife and bring her back home. After 482 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 6: all the pain she had caused, all the rejection he 483 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 6: would think, he would. 484 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 4: Say, no way, I'm done. I'm over it. 485 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 6: But we serve a god who stoops, a god that 486 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 6: comes to the messy places. Hoseah went to the city 487 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 6: and found her in the red light district on the 488 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 6: auction block, about to be sold. She was beaten down, 489 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 6: dirty clothes torn. He got close and whispered Gomer. She 490 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,120 Speaker 6: looked up and couldn't believe it. He smiled and said. 491 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 4: Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out of here. 492 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 6: He went to the man in charge and said, that's 493 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 6: my wife. I'm taking her with me. He said, you're 494 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 6: not taking her anywhere. 495 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 4: She's for sale. You'll have to buy her. 496 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 6: Joseah took his wallet out and gave him fifteen shekels, 497 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 6: five barley loves. He bought back what should have been already. 498 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 6: His Hoseiah is a picture of God. Gomer represents you 499 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 6: and me. We've all made mistakes, we. 500 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 4: All went our own way. 501 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 6: But God, who is rich in mercy, when we turned 502 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 6: our back on him, he had every right to walk away, 503 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 6: but he didn't turn his back on us. He stooped 504 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 6: down to the messy places, to where we failed, to 505 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 6: where we should have been finished, and brought us back, 506 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:31,199 Speaker 6: not with fifteen shekels, but with his son. Now you 507 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 6: have to do your part and receive his mercy, receive 508 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 6: his forgiveness. Quit beating yourself up, living guilty, believing the 509 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 6: lies that you've seen your best days. You could never 510 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 6: measure up. You don't have to. 511 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 4: When you can't get up to his level, God stoops 512 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:48,959 Speaker 4: down to yours. 513 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 6: He knew we wouldn't perform perfectly. He knew we'd fail, 514 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 6: get knocked down, make mistakes. That's when the accuser works 515 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 6: overtime trying to convince you, man, you missed your chance. 516 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 6: You'll never get out of this challenge. No, you have 517 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:08,719 Speaker 6: a defender. You have someone that won't just stand up 518 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,880 Speaker 6: for you. He'll stoop down for you. He'll come down 519 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 6: to your level, not with judgment, but with mercy. Well, Joel, 520 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 6: sounds good today, But you don't know where I am. 521 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 6: You don't know what I've done. I don't know any 522 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 6: of that. But I do know this. His grace is promiscuous, 523 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 6: it's unrestrained. 524 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 4: It will go to anyone. 525 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 6: God doesn't disqualify, He doesn't write people all. No mistake 526 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 6: you've made is too much for the mercy of God. 527 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 6: Nothing you've done in the past has to keep you 528 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 6: from the bright future God has in store now. I 529 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 6: believe what God promised that He's about to stoop down 530 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 6: and lift you out of low places. Negative situations are 531 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 6: about to turn around. 532 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,119 Speaker 4: Addictions are being broken. Strongholds that have held you back 533 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,679 Speaker 4: are coming down, like with my father. 534 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:00,359 Speaker 6: God is going to bring you out of lack and 535 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 6: mediocrity into abundance, influence, and purpose Like the woman with 536 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 6: the accuser. God is freeing you from guilt, releasing you 537 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 6: from condemnation. I believe and declare you are redeemed, You 538 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 6: are restored. Your past is not dictating your future. Get ready, 539 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 6: New doors are about to open. New levels of joy, favor, 540 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 6: breakthroughs the fullness of your destiny. In Jesus' name, I'd 541 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 6: like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the 542 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 6: Lord of your life. 543 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 4: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll 544 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 4: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll make 545 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 4: you my Lord and savior. 546 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 6: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 547 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 6: born again. We'd love to send you some free information 548 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 6: on your new walk with the Lord. Just text the 549 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 6: number on the screen, go to the website. I hope 550 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 6: you'll get into a good Bible based church and keep 551 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 6: God first place. 552 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 553 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 6: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 554 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 6: podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 555 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 5: Help us to continue to share the message of hope 556 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 5: with those all around the world. 557 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 2: Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 558 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:18,719 Speaker 2: description to partner with us today. 559 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 6: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 560 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:23,479 Speaker 6: be sure to follow us on social media. 561 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 4: We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 562 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 4: We'll see you next time.