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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 26 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: But he'll never forget how you invest it in his 27 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: future with the uns stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 33 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 34 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 3: iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 35 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 36 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: UNEs dot co. 37 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 39 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 4: enjoyed today's MESSI, why don't you be a blessing and 40 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 4: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 41 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 4: for God's very best in your life. Will God bless you? 42 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 4: It is always a joy to come into your homes. 43 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 4: We love you and we know God has great things 44 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 4: in store for each one of you. If you're ever 45 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 4: in our area, I hope you'll stop by and see us. 46 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 4: We'll love to have you be a part of one 47 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 4: of our services. These are the finest people in all 48 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 4: of Houston, right here at Lakewood, So come on out sometime. 49 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 4: We'd love to have you. I like to get started 50 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 4: each week with something kind of funny. And I heard 51 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 4: about this couple. They'd been married for over sixty years. 52 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 4: They were at a church fellowship and somebody asked them 53 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 4: the secret of their success. The man told how he 54 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 4: always treated his wife with respect, and he took her 55 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 4: on trips all over the world. He said, in fact, 56 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 4: for our twenty fifth wedding anniversary, I took her to Beijing, China. 57 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 4: Everybody kind of clapped. Somebody spoke up and said, what'd 58 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 4: you do for your fiftieth anniversary? He said, I went 59 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 4: back and picked her up. All right, hold up your bible. 60 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 4: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 61 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 4: I am what it says. I am. I have what 62 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 4: it says I have. I can do what it says 63 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 4: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 64 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 4: of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 65 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 4: heart is receptive. I will never be the same in Jesus' name, 66 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 4: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 67 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 4: about how we are in a controlled environment. Sometimes it 68 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 4: may feel like life is out of control. Things can 69 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 4: get kind of hectic in our finances, in our health 70 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 4: with a family issue. But you have to remind yourself 71 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 4: even though my circumstances feel out of control, God is 72 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 4: still in control. When things don't go our way, the 73 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 4: stock market goes down, the hurricane hits, you get bad 74 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 4: news concerning your health. Understand none of that is a 75 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 4: surprise to God. God is still on the throne, and 76 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 4: we need to come back to this place of peace. 77 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 4: We don't have to live life stressed. We don't have 78 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 4: to go around worried because our plans didn't work out. 79 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 4: We went through a disappointment, now we're uncertain about the future. 80 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 4: Now we can stay in faith knowing that we are 81 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 4: in a control prolled environment. That means nothing can happen 82 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 4: to us without God's permission. No sickness can end your 83 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 4: life before you fulfill your divine purpose. No financial difficulty 84 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 4: can keep you from your God given destiny. No person 85 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 4: that's hurt you in the past, or even someone that 86 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 4: may hurt you in the future can keep you from 87 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 4: becoming all God's created you to be. God knew everything 88 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 4: you would go through. And the good news is he 89 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 4: has already laid out a plan of victory. God knew 90 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 4: every person that would do you wrong. He's already laid 91 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 4: out your vindication. God knew every disappointment. He's already laid 92 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 4: out new opportunities. God knew everything that would be stolen. 93 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 4: He has already laid out your restoration. You're in a 94 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 4: controlled environment. I think about how when the Disciples were 95 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,679 Speaker 4: in a boat and a great storm arose, Jesus didn't panic. 96 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 4: He didn't get up and think, what are we going 97 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 4: to do? No, he's the one that told them to 98 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 4: get on the boat. He knew the storm was coming, 99 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 4: he knew it was going to be difficult. What did 100 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 4: he do. He simply spoke to the storm. He said, peace, 101 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 4: be still. And here's the key. The storm obeyed him. 102 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 4: That tells me God is in control even of my storms. 103 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 4: And when times get tough, you lose money in the 104 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 4: stock market, you're struggling in a relationship, you have to 105 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 4: remind yourself. God is in control, not just of me, 106 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 4: but of even this storm. He's in control of my 107 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 4: financial difficulty. He's in control of my marriage problem. I 108 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 4: am in a controlled environment. It's very freeing when you realize, 109 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 4: no matter what comes against you, it's never going to 110 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 4: be too much. It may be a surprise to you, 111 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 4: but it is not a surprise to God. He has 112 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 4: already predestined you to overcome. God has solutions for problem 113 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 4: you haven't even had. All you've got to do is 114 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 4: stay in faith, and you're going to walk into your 115 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 4: divine destiny. Well, you say, Joel, it sure seems like 116 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 4: this sickness is in control. I got a bad report 117 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 4: from the doctor. It seems like that my enemies are 118 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 4: getting the best of me. They cheated me out of 119 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 4: a promotion at work. I don't see how I can 120 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 4: fulfill my dreams. I don't have the connections. Now, you've 121 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 4: got to get a new perspective. Do you know who's 122 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 4: backing you up? Do you realize who's on your side? 123 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 4: The all powerful, almighty creator of the universe is breathing 124 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 4: in your directions. God has surrounded you with his favor. 125 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 4: He has armed you with strength for every battle. He 126 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 4: has equipped you with talent, creativity, wisdom, strength, determination. You 127 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 4: have everything that you need. When you're tempted to get discouraged, 128 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 4: you need to remind yourself the forces of darkness have 129 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 4: never once stopped God's plan from coming to pass. And 130 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 4: let me assure you, it's not going to start with you. 131 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 4: You're going to fulfill your divine destiny. You're going to 132 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 4: overcome every obstacle. You're going to defeat that sickness. You're 133 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 4: going to beat that addiction. You're coming out of not 134 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 4: enough into the land of more than enough. Whatever you 135 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 4: touch is going to prosper and succeed. Because you honor God, 136 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 4: his blessings are going to chase you down and overtake you. 137 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 4: Why don't you let those seeds take root in your 138 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 4: heart today. I know some of you are facing things 139 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 4: that could easily steal your joy. You could easily go 140 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 4: round upset and worried. But God is saying, I've got 141 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 4: you in the palm of my hand. The storm may 142 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 4: be raging, the wind may be blowing, but I'm in 143 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 4: control of the storm. I'm not going to let it 144 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 4: overwhelm you. Everything is going to be all right. That's 145 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 4: what it says in Isaiah forty three. Too. You will 146 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 4: go through the flood, but you will not drown. You 147 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 4: will go through the river, but you will not go under. 148 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 4: Let me add one. You'll go through the hurricane, but 149 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 4: you'll come out alive. And well, how about one more. 150 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 4: You'll go through the fire, but one translation says you'll 151 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 4: come out without even the smell of smoke. And you 152 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 4: may feel like you're in the fire, but God's saying 153 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 4: you're coming out, and you're not gonna come out beat up, bedraggled, 154 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 4: half dead. You're gonna come out without a bruise, without 155 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 4: a blemish, better off than you were before. You need 156 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 4: to get your second wind. You need to dig your 157 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 4: heels in and say that's it. I'm done living depressed, discourage, worried. 158 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 4: I know I've got a provider. I've got a protector. 159 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 4: I've got a defender. I've got a deliver I've got 160 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 4: a waymaker. I'm in a controlled environment. I saw a 161 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 4: report on the news. This man was filming a movie. 162 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 4: He was in a helicopter over the ocean. He was 163 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 4: the lead actor, and in this particular scene, he was 164 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 4: supposed to hand something from the helicopter to the people 165 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 4: in the boat below, and so the helicopter got real 166 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 4: close to the water, and it hit an unusual burst 167 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 4: of wind and the pilot lost control. It started spinning 168 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 4: around and around, and finally crashed into the water, and 169 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 4: it quickly began to sink. After about thirty seconds, the 170 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 4: pilot's head popped up. He was okay. People were so 171 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 4: relieved that he was alive, but there was no sign 172 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 4: of this other man, the lead actor. A minute went by, 173 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 4: two minutes, three minutes, four minutes, still nothing. People were 174 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 4: fearing the worst. But about five minutes later, all of 175 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 4: a sudden, his head popped up out of the water, 176 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 4: and he too was perfectly fine. Later he told how 177 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 4: he had been knocked unconscious. When he came to, he 178 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 4: was very disoriented and couldn't find his way out, but 179 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 4: he said, I'd like to thank the rescuers, and especially 180 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 4: the man that grabbed the back of my neck and 181 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 4: maneuvered me through the helicopter and gave me that big 182 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 4: push up to the top of the water. The people 183 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 4: listening said, what are you talking about. There were no rescuers. 184 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 4: You were down there by yourself. Big tears began to 185 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 4: come down his cheeks. He looked up to the heavens 186 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 4: and he said, then I want to thank God because 187 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:18,199 Speaker 4: it was his hand that lifted me up. What's my point. 188 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 4: If it's not your time to go, you're not gonna go. 189 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 4: All the forces of darkness cannot take your life. God 190 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 4: always has the final say. And it may look like 191 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 4: that cancer is gonna beat you, but you need to 192 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 4: keep telling yourself, No sickness is gonna take my life. 193 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 4: No accident is going to shorten my divine destiny by 194 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 4: a single second. I'm in the palm of God's hand. 195 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 4: I'm in a controlled environment. One time in the Old Testament, 196 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 4: a major army had come against the people of Israel. 197 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 4: They were much bigger, much more powerful in the natural 198 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 4: the Israelites didn't have a chance. But every time this 199 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 4: enemy army made any kind of move, the people of 200 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 4: Israel were already there waiting for them. If they decided 201 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 4: to attack from the north, the Israelites would beat them 202 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 4: there and cause them to change their plans. If they 203 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 4: decided to sneak up in the middle of the night, 204 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 4: the people of Israel were up ready waiting for that battle. 205 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 4: No matter how hard they tried, they could never get 206 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 4: the upper hand. And finally, the commander of that enemy 207 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 4: army said to his men, somebody is a trader. Somebody 208 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 4: is leaking valuable information. We're never going to defeat these people. 209 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 4: They know every move we're going to make before we 210 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 4: even make it. Now, who's the trader. One of the 211 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 4: captains spoke up, says, Sir, I don't know how to 212 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 4: tell you this, but it's none of us. There's a 213 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 4: prophet over in Israel, and what you whisper in secret, 214 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 4: he announces in public to the whole army. Friends, you 215 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 4: and I have an advantage. God is in control of 216 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 4: our enemies. He knows what they're planning, he knows their 217 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 4: next move. We don't have to be worried. We have 218 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 4: inside information. The commander of that army got so upset 219 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 4: he said, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna go 220 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 4: get that man. We're gonna go capture that prophet. Do 221 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 4: you know he sent thousands of troops and thousands of 222 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 4: horses all to capture one man filled with the spirit 223 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 4: of the living God. It's the same way the enemy 224 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 4: looks at you. When he sees you, he doesn't just 225 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 4: see you. He sees all the forces that are backing 226 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 4: you up. He sees the creator of the universe, standing 227 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 4: by your side. He sees his mighty angels guarding, protecting, defending. 228 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 4: He sees your crown of favor. He sees your robe 229 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 4: of righteousness. Don't ever be afraid of the enemy. He 230 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 4: scared the death of you. Somebody may be doing you 231 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 4: wrong today, and it looks like they have the upper hand. 232 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 4: It looks like it's never gonna change. You need to 233 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 4: keep reminding yourself. I have an advantage. God is in 234 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 4: control of my enemies. He's fighting my back for me. 235 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 4: He is my vindicator, and it's just a matter of 236 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 4: time before things change in my favor. I love the 237 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 4: scripture in Hebrews. It says don't cast away your confidence. 238 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 4: One translation says for payday is coming, and in the 239 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 4: difficult times, you have to remind yourself that payday is 240 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 4: on its way. God is a faithful God. If you'll 241 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 4: keep doing the right thing, honoring him, expecting his favor, 242 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 4: God is promised he will pay you back. In fact, 243 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 4: God said He'll make your enemies pay you back. It's 244 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 4: like this little old lady I heard about. She lived 245 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 4: way way out in the country. I mean, she was 246 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 4: so far out in the woods. The June bugs didn't 247 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 4: show up till August. Every morning she'd go out on 248 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 4: her front porch and she'd just thank God she was alive, 249 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 4: and thank God that he was supplying all of her needs. 250 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 4: Her neighbor thought she was a little off of her rocker. 251 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 4: He was always making fun of her, telling her she 252 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 4: was just wasting her time, giving her a hard time. 253 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 4: He didn't believe in the things of God. One morning 254 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 4: he heard her thanking God that he would provide groceries 255 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 4: for the week. He decided to play a trick on her. 256 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 4: He went to the grocery store got a few bags 257 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 4: of groceries. The next morning, early he snuck over there 258 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 4: and put them on her front porch, and then went 259 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 4: around the side of the house and hid. When the 260 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 4: lady came out and saw the groceries, she started rejoicing, saying, God, 261 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 4: you did it again. You brought me groceries for the week. 262 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 4: The man came out of hiding, and he laughed and laughed. 263 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 4: He said, I told you so, I told you you 264 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 4: were wasting your time. God didn't put those groceries there. 265 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 4: I did. The lady started rejoicing even louder. She said, God, 266 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 4: you not only brought me groceries, but you made the 267 00:14:49,720 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 4: devil pay for it. Friends, God is in control of 268 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 4: our enemies. You don't have to try to get even. 269 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 4: You don't have to try to pay people back. God 270 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 4: is your vindicator. If you'll stay on the high road, 271 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 4: God will even use your enemies to bless you. You 272 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 4: remember Mordecai in the scripture. He was the one that 273 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 4: encouraged Esther to rise up and take that step of faith. 274 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 4: There was another man by the name of Haman. He 275 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 4: worked to directly with the king, and Hayman did not 276 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 4: like Mordecai. He's always pushing him down, always trying to 277 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 4: make him look bad. But Mordecai understood this principle. He 278 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 4: knew he was in a controlled environment and as long 279 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 4: as he'd keep doing the right thing, being his best, 280 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 4: God would be his vindicator. And one night this king 281 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 4: couldn't sleep, so he asked an assistant to bring in 282 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 4: the records of everything that had happened in that city, 283 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 4: in other words, to bring in the history books. And 284 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 4: it just so happened. The king opened to the exact 285 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 4: page where it talked about where Mordecai had done a 286 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 4: great deed and had kept the city from harm. That 287 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 4: was not a coincidence. That was God causing the king 288 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 4: to see the right thing. And if you'll stay in faith, 289 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 4: God will cause the right people in your life, your boss, 290 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 4: your supervisor, your clients to see what He wants them 291 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 4: to see. God can make things happen that we can't 292 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 4: make happen on our own. It's called the favor of God. 293 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 4: And one touch of God's favor can thrust you years ahead. 294 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 4: One touch of his favor can take you from borrowing 295 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 4: to lending, or like Joseph, it can take you from 296 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 4: the prison to the palace. It can take you from 297 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 4: working at that business to own in your own business. 298 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 4: But God calls this king to see the exact page 299 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 4: where it talked about Mordecai's faithfulness. The next morning, the 300 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 4: king called Haman in said, Hayman, what do you suggest 301 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 4: we do to honor a person that has really pleased 302 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 4: the king, really done a great deed. Hayman was so 303 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 4: caught up in himself he thought the king was talking 304 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 4: about him, so he played it up real big. He said, King, 305 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 4: I think we ought to put a royal robe on him, 306 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,120 Speaker 4: put him in a chariot, parade him up and down 307 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 4: the streets, blowing trumpets, announcing to everyone about how great 308 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 4: he is. I mean, Haman could taste it. He thought 309 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 4: this was his lucky day. The king said, Hayman, I 310 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 4: like that. That's a great idea. I'm putting you in charge. 311 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 4: Now go get Mordecai and do exactly what you said. 312 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 4: You parade him up and down the streets, and you 313 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 4: announced how honored he is by the king. You talk 314 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 4: about being vindicated. God will not only pay you back, 315 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 4: He'll make your enemies pay you back. The very ones 316 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 4: that are talking about you at the office, the ones 317 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 4: that are trying to make you look bad, the ones 318 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 4: that kind of laugh when you make a mistake. God 319 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 4: will use them to help promote you. That's why you 320 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 4: don't have to try to get even. Don't try to 321 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 4: pay people back. Stay on the high road. Let God 322 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 4: to fight your battles for you, knowing that your payday 323 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 4: is on its way. What does it mean to be 324 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 4: in a controlled environment. It means that nothing in life 325 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 4: happens by accident. There are no coincidences, no random events. 326 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 4: You didn't just happen to get that job and happen 327 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 4: to marry that person happened to be here today. Know 328 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 4: the creator of the universe was directing your steps all 329 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 4: along the way. God was carefully orchestrating every detail of 330 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 4: your life. If we could pull the curtain back and 331 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 4: look behind the scenes, we would see God pulling the 332 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 4: strings just like a puppet, manipulating things, arranging events, strategically 333 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 4: causing you to be at the right place at the 334 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 4: right time. You're not just randomly going to work each day, 335 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 4: coming home doing your thing. You are a person of destiny. 336 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 4: Before you were born, God laid out a plan for 337 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 4: your life. He has an assignment for you to fulfill. 338 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 4: The good news is God has already lined up the 339 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 4: right people, the right breaks, the right opportunities. You are 340 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 4: meeting people now that very well may somehow, some way 341 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 4: be instrumental in your life even twenty or thirty years 342 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 4: from now. I remember when I was in my mid twenties, 343 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 4: there was this situation in a business dealing that looked 344 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 4: like he's going to take a lot of time and 345 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 4: energy and resources to get corrected. And I knew I 346 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,400 Speaker 4: was in the right but it seemed like he's going 347 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:34,679 Speaker 4: to be months and months for it ever to be 348 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 4: straightened out, and I sure wasn't looking forward to it. 349 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 4: But one day out of the blue, I got a 350 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 4: call from this gentleman that was in charge and he 351 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 4: told how he had straightened everything out. It was over, 352 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 4: and I was so relieved, And of course I thanked 353 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 4: him and told him how much I appreciated him taking 354 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 4: the time to see it my way. And he said, Joel, 355 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 4: what really did it for me was my grandmother's best 356 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 4: friend down the street from where your family lived when 357 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 4: you were growing up, and she told my grandmother one time, 358 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 4: when you were about ten years old, you were riding 359 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 4: your bike down the street and she was struggling to 360 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,239 Speaker 4: get her garbage cans out, and you got off your 361 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 4: bike and you went over and helped her. And that 362 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 4: made a big impression on me. And as he was 363 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:22,959 Speaker 4: telling me this, I thought to myself, I don't know 364 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 4: what you're talking about. I don't even know if I'm 365 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 4: the right person, but I'll definitely take credit for it. 366 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 4: But the truth is I did not even remember that 367 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 4: yet a simple act of kindness was still making an 368 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 4: impact in my life some twenty years later. That was 369 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 4: not a coincidence. God knows the end. From the beginning. 370 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 4: He knows what we're going to need in the future. 371 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 4: And God had to have that lady coming down the 372 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 4: driveway at the exact right time. I had to be 373 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 4: riding my bike at the exact right moment. If I'd 374 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 4: gone back to get a drink of water, if she'd 375 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 4: gone in to answer the telephone, we wouldn't be talking 376 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 4: about it. That was the creator of the universe, directing 377 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 4: my steps down to the minute details. I thought it 378 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 4: was just a random event, but I've since learned that 379 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 4: nothing in life happens by chance. We are in a 380 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 4: controlled environment. That means I'm not meeting you by accident. 381 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 4: You didn't come across my path by happenstance. God ordained 382 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 4: before the foundation of time that our lives would intersect. 383 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,959 Speaker 4: My life will be better off because of spending this 384 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 4: time with you. I'm drawing strength, I'm drawing encouragement. Who 385 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 4: knows you may hear something today, or even have some 386 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 4: kind of feeling, some kind of impression that will affect 387 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 4: you years from now, something that will give you encouragement, 388 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 4: something that will give you insight. Maybe you'll be going 389 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 4: through a difficult time and all of a sudden, God 390 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 4: brings this up out of your spirit, and you realize 391 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 4: it's exactly what you needed to keep pressing forward. I 392 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 4: received the letter from a lady that went to one 393 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 4: of our events in New York City. She told how 394 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 4: a couple of years later, one morning, she woke up 395 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 4: early before her alarm went off, and when she awakened, 396 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 4: she could hear our little daughter singing the song that 397 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 4: she sings at the end of these events. It's a 398 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 4: simple little song. It says, come just as you are, Come, Believe, come, receive, 399 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 4: Come and live forever. And it was so clear in 400 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 4: her mind she could see us standing on the platform together. 401 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 4: She was just reliving it. She could hear Alexander's little voice, 402 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 4: so innocent, so pure, and it really ministered to her 403 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 4: that night, and as she lay there in bed, she 404 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 4: felt an overwhelming sense of peace and just an extraordinary 405 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 4: sense of God's presence. About thirty minutes later, the phone rang. 406 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,120 Speaker 4: It was her father. She was kind of startled because 407 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 4: nobody called that early normally. Her dad said, I just 408 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,040 Speaker 4: want to remind you it was three years ago to 409 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 4: day that mother went to be with the Lord. The 410 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 4: exact time of her death was five point thirty in 411 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 4: the morning. That was the exact moment that she woke 412 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 4: up with that song playing in her spirit. What am 413 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 4: I saying? God is depositing in you everything you need 414 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 4: for now and everything you're going to need in the future. 415 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 4: You may just be listening to a song, you may 416 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 4: be just talking to a friend, you may just be 417 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 4: reading a scripture. You don't think twice about it. But 418 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 4: the fact is God is depositing that in your spirit 419 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 4: because he knows it's going to strengthen you in the 420 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 4: days ahead. There are no coincidences with our God. I 421 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 4: read an article in the newspaper about this mail carrier. 422 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 4: She was out delivering the mail one day, like she 423 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 4: always did, but she noticed a package that needed to 424 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 4: be at a certain address by noon, and typically she 425 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 4: wasn't in that neighborhood until after two o'clock, so she 426 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 4: had to change her route. And when she got to 427 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 4: this address, it was a two apartment building, she rang 428 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 4: the doorbell, stepped back waiting for somebody to answer, and 429 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 4: all of a sudden, out of her peripheral vision, she 430 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 4: noticed something falling from above, and just intuitively, she reached 431 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,439 Speaker 4: out her arms and believe it or not, she caught 432 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 4: a one year old baby. This little baby was in 433 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 4: an apartment upstairs. The window was open on the mother's bed. 434 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 4: The mother turned away, and the baby rolled out the window. 435 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 4: The mom came running downstairs hysterical, screaming. The postal worker 436 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 4: calmed her down and said, don't worry, I caught your 437 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 4: little baby. There was not a scratch on that baby, 438 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 4: not a blemish. The little child was perfectly fine. They 439 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 4: interviewed the postal worker. She said, all I can tell 440 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 4: you is God had me at the right place at 441 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 4: the right time. She was exactly right. Only God could 442 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 4: orchestrate that. Think of all the things that had to 443 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 4: fall into place, what are the chances of her being 444 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,160 Speaker 4: right there when the baby fell out the window. If 445 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 4: she hadn't had that package, she wouldn't have even been 446 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 4: in that neighborhood. Or what is the likelihood that she 447 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,240 Speaker 4: would be quick enough and sharp enough to reach out 448 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 4: and grab that little baby? Man, I wanted to sign 449 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 4: her up for the Texans football team. We need some 450 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 4: of that kind of favor. But I want you to 451 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 4: have this assurance today, this confidence that wherever you are, 452 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 4: God is directing your steps, no matter what it looks 453 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 4: like in life, no matter how out of control it 454 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 4: seems to be, no this God is still in control. 455 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 4: During World War Two, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's plane crashed into 456 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:46,160 Speaker 4: the ocean. He ejected right before impact, splashed into the water. 457 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 4: When he came up, he found a piece of the 458 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 4: wreckage so he could stay afloat. Day after day went 459 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 4: by with no signs of hope. He hadn't eaten in 460 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 4: so long that his strength began to wane. He didn't 461 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 4: think he could carry on. Just when he was about 462 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 4: to give up, out of nowhere, a seagull came and 463 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 4: landed on his arm. He grabbed it and ate the 464 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 4: whole thing, bones and awe. It not only strengthened him physically, 465 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 4: it strengthened him spiritually. At that moment, he knew God 466 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 4: was still in control. Wasn't long after that that he 467 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 4: was rescued and brought back home to a hero's welcome. 468 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 4: He told everyone how God had used that seagull to 469 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 4: spare his life. Come to find out, it was a 470 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,719 Speaker 4: much bigger miracle than he thought. He was hundreds of 471 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 4: miles from the nearest land. There are no seagulls out there. 472 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 4: Seagulls don't fly that far out. They would never be 473 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 4: able to survive. How could that happen? God simply spoke 474 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 4: to the seagull and said, head out, I've got an 475 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,679 Speaker 4: assignment for you. What am I saying? We're in a 476 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 4: controlled environment. Even if you're stranded in the middle of 477 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 4: the ocean. God has a plan. Let me make it 478 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,479 Speaker 4: more practical. If the stock market goes down forty percent, 479 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 4: if gas is four dollars a gallon, if you lose 480 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 4: your biggest client, God still has a way to supply 481 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 4: your needs. God said he would prosper you even in 482 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 4: the desert. He said you would flourish even in a famine. 483 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 4: He's called El Shadai, the God who is more than enough. 484 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,640 Speaker 4: David said, I was young, now I'm old, but I've 485 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 4: never once seen the righteous forsaken. When times get tough, 486 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 4: don't get discouraged and think, ah, man, what am I 487 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 4: going to do? Stay in faith. Your heavenly Father has 488 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 4: not run out of options. When you fall. He's already 489 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 4: arranged for the mail carrier to catch you when you're 490 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 4: in need. He's already spoken to the seagull. When somebody 491 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 4: does you're wrong He's already lined up your vindication. When 492 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 4: you're having a setback, He's already planned your comeback. He's 493 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 4: already deposited the right song on the inside. He's already 494 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 4: told the angel to protect you in the accident. When 495 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 4: you realize you're in this controlled environment, takes all the 496 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 4: pressure off of you. You can relax and enjoy your 497 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 4: life knowing that nothing can happen to you without God's permission. Now, 498 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 4: I know some of you today have a lot of 499 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,719 Speaker 4: things going on. You could easily be upset and worried, 500 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 4: but I'm asking you to come back to that place 501 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 4: of peace. The storm may be raging, the winds may 502 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 4: be blowing, but God is saying, I've got you in 503 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,439 Speaker 4: the palm of my hand. Everything is going to be 504 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 4: all right. It may get a little rocky, it may 505 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 4: get a little bumpy, but God has the final say, 506 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 4: and he's saying, I always cause you to triumph. What 507 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,679 Speaker 4: was meant for your harm, I'm going to use to 508 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 4: your advantage. And my prayer today is that you would know, 509 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 4: beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the creator of 510 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,200 Speaker 4: the universe is directing your steps down to the minute 511 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 4: details in your future He's already lined up favor, good breaks, 512 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 4: solutions to problems. He's going to be your vindicator, your provider, 513 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 4: your waymaker. As you go out each day in faith, 514 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 4: knowing that you're in this control old environment, let me 515 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 4: just declare what's gonna happen. You're gonna see God's favor 516 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 4: in a greater way. You're gonna rise higher. You're gonna 517 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 4: overcome every obstacle. You're gonna defeat every enemy. You're gonna 518 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 4: see every dream, every desire God's put in your heart 519 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 4: is gonna come to pass. In the name of Jesus. Amen, 520 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 4: do you receive it today? We never like to close 521 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 4: our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus 522 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 4: the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 523 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 4: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 524 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 4: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 525 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 4: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 526 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 4: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 527 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 4: God first place. He's gonna take your places that you've 528 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 4: never dreamed of. Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 529 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 4: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 530 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 4: podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 531 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 3: Help us to continue to share the message of hope 532 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 3: with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 533 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 3: or click the link in the description to partner with 534 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 3: us today. 535 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 4: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 536 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 4: be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 537 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 4: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 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