1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. God bless you. 6 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: It's great to be with you today, and I hope 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 8 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: daily podcast, YouTube channel, social media, and you can come 9 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: visit us in person. We'd love to have you be 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: a part of one of our services highlights. To start 11 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: with something funny and I heard about this ninety two 12 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: year old man. He wasn't feeling up to par so 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: he went to the doctor. A few days later. The 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: doctor saw him out walking in the park with this 15 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: beautiful young lady by his side. He seemed as happy 16 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: as can be. Doctor said, Wow, you sure are feeling 17 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: a lot better, aren't you. He said, yes, Doctor, I'm 18 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: just following your orders. You said, get a hot mama 19 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: and stay cheerful. The doctor said, I didn't say that. 20 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: I said you got a heart murmer, be careful. 21 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: He heard what he wanted to hear. But here we go, y'all. 22 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 23 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: I have what it says I have. I can do 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 2: what it says I can do. Today I will be 25 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 26 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 27 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 2: the same. In Jesus's name, God bless you. 28 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about God given desires. 29 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: Sometimes life can be confusing. We think, how do I 30 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: know what my purpose is? What am I supposed to do? 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: There are so many roads we can take and so 32 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: many different paths we can go down. We have ideas, 33 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: goals we want to accomplish, but we're not sure. Is 34 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: this my plan or is this God's plan? Is this 35 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: just an idea I came up with or is it 36 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: something I should pursue. Is it a part of my destiny? 37 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: How do we know what's right for us? David said 38 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: in Psalm thirty seven, if you will commit your ways 39 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: to Lord, if you will trust him and do good, 40 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: then God will give you the desires of your heart. 41 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: We read that to mean that God will give us 42 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: whatever we want. But another perspective is when you honor God, 43 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: he will put the right desires in you. When you 44 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: have a heart to please God, when you've committed your 45 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: ways to him, then he will make sure you have 46 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 1: the right desires. You can trust that your will will 47 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: be aligned with His will. That means what you have 48 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: a desire to do, that open door you feel good about, 49 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: that position you want to take, that person you want 50 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: to get to know, you can act on it knowing 51 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: that God is putting his desires in you. Knowing our purpose, 52 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: knowing God's will for our life is not as difficult 53 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: as we make it. If you're keeping Him first, there 54 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: will be things that you're passionate about, things you're gifted at, 55 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: opportunity that excites you, dreams that motivate you. That's God 56 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: leading you into your destiny. When you've committed your ways 57 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: to him, you can be sure that God is watching 58 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: over your desires. He's going to override wrong desires. He's 59 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: going to close doors you're not supposed to go through. 60 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: He's going to mew people out that shouldn't be there. 61 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: And I'm not talking today about temptation carnal desires. We 62 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: all have to deal with that. I'm talking about when 63 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: it comes to your purpose to fulfilling your destiny. God 64 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: is going to make sure you have the right desires. 65 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: He said in Psalm thirty two, I will guide you 66 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: along the best path for your life. I will advise you, 67 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: watch over you, and instruct you along the way. Notice 68 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: how God takes you down the best path. He puts 69 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: desires in you. He advises you, he instructs you, he 70 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: watches over you. You don't have to worry about missing your destiny. 71 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: What am I supposed to do? What if this isn't 72 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: the right decision. Because you've committed your ways to God, 73 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: you can trust your desires. You can follow what He 74 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: put in your heart. He's watching over you. He's going 75 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: to put the right desires at the right time. In 76 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: the scripture, the prophet Samuel came to a young man 77 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: named Saul and said that he was going to be 78 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: the first king of Israel. You would think Saul would 79 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: be excited, what an honor. But Saul didn't want to 80 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: become king. He was afraid, intimidated. He didn't think he 81 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: had what it took. He told Samuel, I come from 82 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: the smallest tribe in Israel. My family is the least 83 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: important family in that tribe. I'm sorry Samuel, you have 84 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: the wrong person. I'm not about to step up and 85 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: lead these people. Samuel could have thought, God, you told 86 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: me to anoint him. I must have heard you wrong. 87 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,679 Speaker 1: But the scripture says as Saul turned to leave, God 88 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 1: changed his heart, and all that Samuel prophesied came to pass. No, 89 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: this one moment Saul didn't want to do it. The 90 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: next moment he did what happened. God put the desire 91 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: in him. God is not going to let you miss 92 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: your purpose. You may not want to do his will 93 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: at first. You may say, like Saul, that's too big. 94 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: I'm not that talented. That's not my thing. But when 95 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: God changes you want to, when He puts new desires 96 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 1: in you, it won't be a struggle you want to think, 97 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: Oh man, this is a pain. I don't want to lead, 98 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: I don't want to raise these children. I don't want 99 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: to run that business. There will be a passion, a grace, 100 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: the favor to do what God put in your heart. 101 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: I want you to have this confidence that because you're 102 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: committing your ways to God, He's going to put the 103 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: right desires in you. He's leading you down the best path. 104 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,799 Speaker 1: You're not going to have to worry, wonder which way 105 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: what should I do? You can relax knowing that God 106 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: is in control of your desires. He's not just opening 107 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: the right doors, not just bringing the right people, but 108 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: He's giving you the want to, the passion, the drive, 109 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: the wisdom to go down the best path for your line. 110 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: What's interesting is when the Israelites were in slavery, God 111 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 1: told Moses to go tell the Pharaoh to let the 112 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: people go. But the scripture says God caused Pharaoh to 113 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: harden his heart and he wouldn't let the people leave. 114 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: Pharaoh didn't harden his heart on his own. God put 115 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: the desire in him to be stubborn. God gave him 116 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: the desire to say no, It goes on to say, 117 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: so that God could get great glory at Pharaoh's expense. 118 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: God went on to perform all these great miracles so 119 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: everyone knew who the God of Israel was. It was 120 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: all a part of his plan so the Israelites could 121 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: fulfill their purpose. My point is, if God will put 122 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: desires in other people that don't know him, that are 123 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: not serving him to bring about his purpose, how much 124 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: more will God put the desires in you so you 125 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: can fulfill your destiny. You don't have to fear the future, 126 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: worry about what's ahead. How do I know if this 127 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: is the right choice. Just keep honoring God. Your part 128 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: is to commit your ways to him every morning. Lord, 129 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: let your will be done and not mine. I put 130 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: your first place. God's part is to put the right 131 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: desires in you. He's leading you into the best plan 132 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: that He's already laid out. You may not understand it 133 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: all right now, but you can stay in peace knowing 134 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: that you're not going to miss your destiny. God knows 135 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: how to make the desire strong enough to where you 136 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: step into his will. Think about with David. He was 137 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: delivering lunch to his brothers who were out on the 138 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: battlefield when he heard Goliath taunting the Israelites, making fun, 139 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: daring them to fight. All of a sudden, something rose 140 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: up in David. He said, who is this man that 141 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: he would defy the armies of the Living God? He 142 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: had this desire to take on Goliath. Well, there were 143 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: thousands of other Israeli soldiers, strong, brave, skilled, yet not 144 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: one of them wanted to fight Goliath. They hurt him 145 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: day after day, threatening them they would run and hide. 146 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: They were terrified here. David was a teenager, a shepherd. 147 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:31,679 Speaker 1: He didn't have the training, the experience, the size, Yet 148 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: suddenly he knew he was supposed to take on Goliath. 149 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: One thing we know about David is he had a 150 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: heart after God. He had committed his ways into God's hands. 151 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: In turn, God put this desire in his heart. If 152 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: it wasn't a God given desire, David would have talked 153 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: himself out of it. Man, I'd like to fight him, 154 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: but he's twice my size. I don't have a chance. 155 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: I'll get out there and look like a fool. But 156 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: when God puts the desire are in you, He'll make 157 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: it stronger than all the negative voices, all the doubt 158 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: that tries to talk you out of it. When it's 159 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: a God given desire, you won't be moved by opposition, 160 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,959 Speaker 1: by how impossible it looks, by what people are telling you. 161 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: There will be a boldness, a confidence to do what 162 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: you know God put in your heart. Paul said in Philippians, 163 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: God is working in you to give you the desire 164 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: and the power to do what pleases him. It's one 165 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: thing to have the desire, that's great, But God doesn't 166 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: stop there. He says, I'm going to give you the 167 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: power to do it. I'm going to give you the favor. 168 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you the courage, the skill, the resources. 169 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: You're going to feel a strength that you've never felt, 170 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: ability that you've never had, favor like you've never seen. 171 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: God doesn't just give you the desire. He gives you 172 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: the ability to accomplish what he's put in your heart. 173 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: The scripture says David ran toward Goliath. All the other 174 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,839 Speaker 1: soldiers ran away from Goliath. They all ran in hid 175 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: But one teenager, with nothing but a slingshot and a 176 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: god given desire, took off running toward Goliath. He slung 177 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 1: that rock knocked him out. That day, he became a 178 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: national hero. But think about this. A few weeks earlier, 179 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: he was sitting in the shepherd's fields alone, nobody paying attention. 180 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: He had big dreams, but he didn't see how it 181 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: would ever happen. Then, in one moment, God dropped a 182 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: desire in his heart. That one victory catapulted David to 183 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: a new level. God has some of these destiny desires 184 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: lined up for you. Things He's going to drop in 185 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: your heart. Others will think it's too big doesn't make sense. 186 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:54,319 Speaker 1: They're intimidated. It's because God didn't put the desire in them. 187 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: That desire is leading you down the best path, a 188 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 1: path of abundance, a path of greater influence, a path 189 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: of helping more people, making a bigger difference, seeing your 190 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: gifts come out in greater ways. Well, Joel, I think 191 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: I may have missed my chance. There were some good 192 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: opportunities that I passed up. I was distracted. I was 193 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: afraid I didn't step out. Now, when God puts the 194 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: desire in you, it's going to be so strong you 195 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: can't pass it up. He's not going to let you 196 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: miss your purpose. God knows how to make you want 197 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: to do his will. He'll give you the power to 198 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: obey what he put in your heart. From the time 199 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: I was a little boy, I loved anything to do 200 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: with cameras and production editing. Twelve years old, I was 201 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: running camera at the old church during the services. I'd 202 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: come down on Saturdays as a teenager and play with 203 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: all the equipment. Graduated from high school, I went to 204 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: college to learn more about production. I knew that's what 205 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to do with my life. That first year, 206 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: I felt so strongly that I was supposed to come 207 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: back home and start a television outreach at Lakewood. My 208 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: father was fine with it, but my mother not so much. 209 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: So she said, Joel, I never wanted you to drop out, 210 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: said mother. I didn't drop out. I knocked it out. 211 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: I took the one year planned. My brother Paul went 212 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: eleven years to become a surgeon. But some of us 213 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: are more accelerated and we don't need that long. God 214 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: has a sense of humor. Twenty five years later, that 215 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: same university gave me an honorary doctorate degree. I didn't 216 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: tell them I don't even have my bachelor's degree yet. 217 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: But so seventeen years I worked behind the scenes here 218 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: at Lakewood doing the television production, and I was fulfilled. 219 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: I loved doing it, did my best to make my 220 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: father look good, represent the church with excellence. During those years, 221 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: my father would try to get me up to minister, said, Joel, 222 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: you'd be a great pastor. Why don't you start speaking 223 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: for me? But I had no desire. Not one part 224 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: of me wanted to get up in front of people. 225 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: Was it something I wrestled with, Maybe I should, maybe 226 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: I shouldn't. There was no question that wasn't for me. 227 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: But when my father passed in nineteen ninety nine, the 228 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: strangest thing happened. All of a sudden, I had the 229 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: desire to pasture the church. I had a desire to 230 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: get up in front of people. And yes, I was intimidated. 231 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: I didn't feel qualified. Doubt. Negative voices tried to talk 232 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: me out of it. But what significant is the desire 233 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: was stronger than anything that was trying to hold me back. 234 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: God knows how to make his desires override all the 235 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: negative things that could keep you from doing it. He's 236 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: not only giving you the desire, but he's given you 237 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: the power to do it. That's why you don't have 238 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: to second guess. Man, did I miss my opportunity? You know, 239 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: when God puts the desire, he'll make sure it's strong 240 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: enough that you act on it. Proverb says a man 241 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: plans his ways, but God directs his steps. I had 242 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: my plan, I'm gonna work in television production. I'm gonna 243 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: stay behind the scenes. That was right for the time. 244 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: That was God leading me down the best path. But 245 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: then God changed my plan. I know this is what 246 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: God has called me to do. It's not a struggle. 247 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: I don't dread it, man, I have to get up 248 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: in front of people. This is a pain. I love 249 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: doing it. What changed the desire? God is going to 250 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: put the right desires at the right time. That's going 251 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: to lead you into the best path for your life. 252 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: You don't have to live stressed. Is this the right decision? 253 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: Should I go here? Is this my will? Or is 254 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: this God's will? You can stay in peace knowing that 255 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: because you've committed your waste to God, he's in control 256 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: of your desires. You wouldn't be feeling that impression, you 257 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: wouldn't have that longing if He wasn't leading you in 258 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: that direction. In the scripture, Nehemiah was working as a 259 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: cupbearer for the king. He was living in Persia, a 260 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: thousand miles away from his hometown of Jerusalem. His brother 261 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: came to visit and told how the people of Judah 262 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: were in great danger. The walls of Jerusalem had been 263 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: torn down, the gates pulled out. What could Neemiah do 264 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: about it? He is working in the kitchen. He could 265 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: have told his brother, and that's too bad. I hate 266 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: hearing that. But suddenly God dropped a desire in Nehemiah 267 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: to rebuild those walls didn't make sense to his mind. 268 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: He didn't have the staff, the resources, the influence. But 269 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: when it's a God given desire, you don't talk yourself 270 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: out of it. You don't come up with excuses. You 271 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: know God will make a way, So you take steps 272 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: of faith, You get out of your comfort zone and 273 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: do things you never thought you could do. That's God 274 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: not just giving you the desire, but the power to 275 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: do what pleases him. When it's a destiny desire, there's 276 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: a force breathing in your direction, pushing you forward, opening doors, 277 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: causing people to be good to you. You're not stressed 278 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: over how it's going to happen. You know it's going 279 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: to happen. Neemiah, he was quiet, reserved, he never made 280 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: any waves. But now there's this new boldness, a confidence, 281 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: the faith to believe for what seemed impossible. He went 282 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: to the king and asked if he could take time 283 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: off to go build the walls of Jerusalem. Imagine going 284 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: to your boss tomorrow saying, can I have a year 285 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: off to go home take care of some family business. 286 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: But when God puts the desire in you, you not 287 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: only have the want to, but God gives you the 288 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: favor to get it done. The king said, yes, Nehemiah, 289 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: you can have the time off. He said, thank you 290 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: so much. I'm very grateful, but I don't have any supplies, 291 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: any materials, any funds. The king said, don't worry. I'll 292 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: give you a letter requiring people to give you everything 293 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: that you need. The scripture says the king granted him 294 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: all his request because the gracious hand of God was 295 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: upon him. Notice God not only put the desire in him, 296 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: but God put the favor on him so he could 297 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: see that desire come to pass. God never gives you 298 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: the desire without the power, without the favor. You don't 299 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: have to make all this happen, try to force doors 300 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: to open, manipulate things, play up to people. Just keep 301 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: God first place, make pleasing him a priority, and God 302 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,479 Speaker 1: will put the right desires in you. He'll lead you 303 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: down the best path. The best path is something you've 304 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 1: never imagined. You have your plans, but you should see 305 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: God's plans. His ways are better than our ways. He 306 00:17:54,920 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: has exceedingly abundantly above and beyond in your future. I 307 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: never thought I'd be doing this In David's plan, he 308 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: never thought he'd be defeating a giant, become the king 309 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: Neemiah's plan. He never thought he'd rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 310 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: Who knows where God is taking you. There are desires 311 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: He's going to put in your heart that are gonna 312 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 1: boggle your mind. The beauty is you won't be talked 313 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: out of it. He'll make it strong enough to override 314 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 1: the doubt, the naysayers, the fear. You'll step into levels 315 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 1: greater than you've ever imagined. A friend of mine grew 316 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: up in a very dysfunctional home. There was a lot 317 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: of strife. They were very poor. As a young boy, 318 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: there were knights, he'd have to get out of the 319 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: house afraid of all the violence. He could have grown 320 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: up bitter and angry, but his attitude was I'm not 321 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 1: gonna live like this. I'm gonna break this negative cycle 322 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: and do something productive with my life. There was a 323 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: doctor in the small town in Alabama where they lived. 324 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: He was the only man he saw that was successful 325 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,239 Speaker 1: and always happy. He made up his mind as a 326 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 1: young boy that he was going to become a doctor 327 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: just like that man. He loved playing football. Sixteen years old, 328 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 1: a friend invited him to a fellowship of Christian athletes meeting, 329 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: he felt something that he had never felt. His family 330 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: didn't know anything about God, but that night he gave 331 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: his life to Christ. He went to the University of 332 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 1: Alabama hoping to play football. They let him try out 333 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 1: for the team. Against all odds, he made it. They 334 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: gave him a full scholarship. His senior year, he was 335 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: finishing up his pre med classes, still planning to become 336 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: a doctor. But he thought, I'm not passionate about medicine anymore. 337 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: I don't want to become a doctor, and he decided 338 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: to go into health management. Graduated from college, had a 339 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: job lined up when his football coach called him and said, 340 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: I want you to come and work for me, be 341 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: my assistant. He never thought about coaching. That wasn't even 342 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 1: on his radar. He went to check it out, see 343 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: what it was like, and he fell in love with it. 344 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 1: He said, this is what I was born to do. 345 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: When you keep God first, he'll guide you down the 346 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: best path. He thought he wanted to become a doctor 347 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: at the time. That's what he needed, that vision to 348 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: go to school to break out of the dysfunction. But 349 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: God knows how to change your desires. He's doing this 350 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,679 Speaker 1: to align your will with his will. Had he not 351 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: seen that doctor growing up, he'd never had a desire 352 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: to go to college. Had he never gone to college, 353 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: he had never played for Alabama. Had he never played football, 354 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: he'd never become an assistant coach. Had he never become 355 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: an assistant, he would have never become the head coach 356 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: of Clemson University, coach Dabo Sweeney, who's won two national championships, 357 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: one of the greatest college coaches of our day. He 358 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: had his plan, but God had another plan. I can 359 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: assure you God's plan is better than your plan. The 360 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: beauty is you don't have to figure it all out. 361 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: All you have to do is commit your ways to God. 362 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: Keep him first place. He'll put the right desires in you. 363 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: He'll guide you down the best path for your life. Well, Joel, 364 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 1: I've had a lot of these desires a long time. 365 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,120 Speaker 1: Something I've been dreaming about, something I want to become. 366 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: But it hasn't happened. It either hasn't been the right time, 367 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: or God has something better. Trust him, believe what he 368 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: promised that He's giving you the right desires and the 369 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: power to do what pleases him. Now, great prayer is Lord, 370 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: thank you that my will is aligning with your will. 371 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: Thank you that you're in control of my desires. You 372 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: know what's best for me. God, I trust you with 373 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: my life. Elisha was out working in the field, plowing 374 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: with a bunch of his staff. There were eleven teams 375 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: of oxen in front of him. He was leading the 376 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: twelfth team. He was a part of the family business. 377 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: They were successful, had plenty of resources, and he was 378 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: next in line to run it all. One day, the 379 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 1: prophet Elijah came by, threw his jacket on him and said, 380 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: come work from me. Why would Elisha want to leave? 381 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,360 Speaker 1: His future is set. He has all these resources, a staff, 382 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: nice place to live. But suddenly God dropped the desire 383 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: in Elisha. He felt it so strongly. This is a 384 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: part of your destiny. It's time to step out. The 385 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 1: scripture says, Elisha burned the plows, sacrificed the oxen, and 386 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: went with Elijah to be his assistant. Sometimes what God 387 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: puts in your heart doesn't make sense to other people. 388 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure he was the talk of the town. Can 389 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: you believe Elishah left everything to follow that old man? 390 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 1: That prophet is kind of crazy. But God won't move 391 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 1: you out unless he has something better. Not long after that, 392 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: Elijah was taken to heaven and Elishah received a double 393 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: portion of his spirits. He performed twice as many miracles 394 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: as Elijah. God is going to put desires in you 395 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: that are going to take you further than you can imagine. 396 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 1: You think you've reached your limits, gone as far as 397 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 1: you can according to your education, your family, your income. 398 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: But God is not limited by any of that because 399 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: you keep him first. He's going to open doors you 400 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: never dream would open, bring opportunity, influence, favor resources. The 401 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: best path is an abundant path, a favor filled path, 402 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: a bountiful path. How do you get there? Commit your 403 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 1: ways to the Lord. He'll not only put the right 404 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 1: desires in you, he'll make sure you have the power 405 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: to do what pleases in But what about when we're 406 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: not putting God first? What about family loved ones that 407 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: are not committing their ways to him? How are they 408 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: ever going to make right choices? God is so merciful, 409 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: he'll still put desires in you. The scripture says He 410 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: chose us before we could choose him. Seventeen years old, 411 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: my father was coming home from a nightclub two o'clock 412 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: in the morning. He didn't know anything about God. His 413 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: family were good people, but they didn't have any kind 414 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 1: of faith. Looked like my father would continue down that 415 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: same path. But for some reason that night he looked 416 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: up at the stars and begin to think about God 417 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: what he was going to do with his life. That 418 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 1: was God drawing my father in, giving him the desire 419 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 1: to think about his creator. He got home and saw 420 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: the family Bible on the coffee table. He was just 421 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: there for decoration. Something said to him, open it up. 422 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: He opened it. It fell to a picture of Jesus 423 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 1: standing at a door and knocking. The caption read, if 424 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: you'll open the door, I'll come in. The Next day 425 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: he went to church with a friend and gave his 426 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: life to Christ. He felt this calling to become a minister. 427 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 1: He told his family that he was going to leave 428 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,479 Speaker 1: the farm and go out and start ministering. Nobody had 429 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: left the farm. Where did this come from? That was 430 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 1: God putting desires in my father, choosing him when he 431 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: didn't know how to choose. Where would we be without 432 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: the mercy of God when we didn't keep him first, 433 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 1: When we didn't listen to his voice. He still guided us, 434 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 1: He still protected us. Parents. You may have children that 435 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: are off course, doesn't look good. You keep praying, keep 436 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: loving them, and at the right time, God is going 437 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 1: to give them new desires, His desires, desires that moved 438 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: them into their destiny. I know today you have a 439 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: heart after God, or you wouldn't be here. You want 440 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 1: to do the right thing, or you wouldn't have tuned in. 441 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: My encouragement is you can trust God with your desires. 442 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: He's not going to let you miss your destiny. Live 443 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 1: from a place of peace knowing that God is giving 444 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 1: you the right desires and the power to do what 445 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 1: pleases him. If you'll do this, I believe and declare, 446 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: you're going to see the best path for your life, 447 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: like with Elijah, something you've never imagined, Like with Nehemiah, 448 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,479 Speaker 1: favor that you've never seen. New doors are about to open. 449 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 1: The right people that are going to show up, healing, breakthroughs, 450 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, And if 451 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:42,879 Speaker 1: you receive it, can you say amen, I'd like to 452 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 1: give you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of 453 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: your life. Would you pray with me. Just say, Lord Jesus, 454 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 1: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 455 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: make you my Lord and Savior. If you've prayed that 456 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd love 457 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 1: to send you some information on your new walk with 458 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: the Lord. You can text the number on the screen 459 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 1: or go to the website. I hope you'll get into 460 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church and keep God first place. 461 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: When was the last time you asked God to do 462 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 1: something that seemed impossible? If you only pray small, ordinary prayers, 463 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: you live a small, ordinary life. I have a new 464 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 1: book called Pray Bold. I'll challenge you to stretch your 465 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: faith and believe for the big things God puts in 466 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 1: your heart. Victoria and I used to have seasoned tickets 467 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: to watch the Rockets play basketball here. We never dreamed 468 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: it could be ours when they moved out. Somehow we 469 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,120 Speaker 1: had the faith to pray a bold prayer. God made 470 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 1: things happen that we could never make happen. It's the 471 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,719 Speaker 1: same for you. Who knows what God will do in 472 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 1: your life. If you'll dare to pray bold, ask Him 473 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: for your dreams, ask for your healing, as for your freedom, 474 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,160 Speaker 1: that's when God will show up and do more than 475 00:27:58,200 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: you could ever imagine. 476 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 477 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 3: of any amount this month, we would like to send 478 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 3: you a copy of Joel's brand new book, Pray Bold, 479 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:13,160 Speaker 3: Dare to Ask and Believe Big. Joel shares that when 480 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 3: we pray, we can tap into God's creative, awesome power, 481 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 3: something bigger than we have ever imagined. God doesn't want 482 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 3: us to just pray in our comfort zones. No, God 483 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:29,199 Speaker 3: loves when we pray big, believe big, expect him to 484 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 3: do the unexpected. There are inspiring stories from the Bible, 485 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 3: from history, and personal testimonies of people who dared to 486 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 3: believe God in extraordinary ways. You'll learn how to practically 487 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 3: expand your prayers and watch your life move from the 488 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 3: common to the extraordinary, from less than to overflowing. Be 489 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 3: sure to request your copy of Pray Bold today, visit 490 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 3: joelostein dot com, or call us toll free. 491 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: God has put dreams in your hearts, whispered in the 492 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 1: night that seem impossible. But as you pray these bold prayers, 493 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: you're going to see the goodness of God in ways 494 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: you've never seen victor in our belief, and you're gonna 495 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: have a great twenty twenty five. We pray for you 496 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: and your family every day for God's very best. We 497 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: want to thank you for your prayer and your support. 498 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: You're impacting people all over the world. 499 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of pre Bold today, 500 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 3: visit Joeloustein dot com or call us tool free. Finally, 501 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 3: elevates your personal time with God by requesting the My 502 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 3: Time with God collection. This beautiful collection contains the pre 503 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 3: Bold new release, plus the new Living Translation, one year 504 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 3: Chronological Study Bible, and a beautiful glass mug and throw 505 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,719 Speaker 3: blanket based around the inspiring scripture from Psalm forty six 506 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 3: to ten. Be Still and Know that I Am God. 507 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 3: You can learn more about this unique new gift collection 508 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 3: by calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel or 509 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 3: love to Joeloustein dot com today. 510 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: Remember, you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 511 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on Sirius XM, watch on YouTube, 512 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: and now the new Joelostin Network streaming on television twenty 513 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,880 Speaker 1: four hours a day. If you've never been to Lakewood, 514 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: we have a great opportunity. We call it Homecoming Weekend 515 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 1: We love to meet you and your family. You can 516 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: see the building and attend one of the services. It's 517 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: a great time to be a part of the Lakewood family. 518 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: Looking forward to seeing your homecoming weekend