1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jorlan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: to the podcast, and thanks for. 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: Supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an. 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: Awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 2: God bless you today and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Well, God bless you for joy to come into your 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: homes and but here ever in our area. 8 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 2: I hope you'll stop by and see us. 9 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home 10 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: here at one of our services. 11 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 2: But thanks for tuning in. 12 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: I like to get started with something funny each week, 13 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,479 Speaker 1: and I heard about this minister. He was up in 14 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: the pulpit preaching away one Sunday morning, and he noticed 15 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: a man on the front row sound asleep. That made 16 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: him so aggravated. He started preaching louder and harder. But 17 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: it seemed like the louder he got, the sounder he slept. 18 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: And so he finally stopped right in the middle of 19 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: his sermon, and he said to the man sitting next 20 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: to him, would you please wake that man up? The 21 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: man said, wake him up yourself. You put him to sleep, 22 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,959 Speaker 1: all right, hold up your bibles say it like him. 23 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: I mean it. 24 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 25 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 26 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be 27 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 28 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 29 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 30 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about giving birth to the. 31 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 2: Promises that God has put in your heart. 32 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: We all have dreams and desires, things that we're believing 33 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: to come to pass. And these promises are like seeds 34 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: planted in the soil of our hearts, and most of 35 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: the time they don't happen overnight. There's a period of 36 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: waiting involved, and this is when it's so easy to 37 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: give up, seedy, to get discouraged, and if we're not careful, 38 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: we'll just end up settling for mediocrity. But we have 39 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: to understand God never aborts a dream once the seed 40 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: is played in it. Once the dream, the desire, the 41 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,559 Speaker 1: promise takes root, we may give up, but the fact 42 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: is the seed is still in us and some of 43 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: you today, because of the time that's passed, or because 44 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 1: of disappointments along the way, you've allowed that seed to 45 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: just lie dormant. You've lost your fire, lost your enthusiasm. 46 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: Maybe at one time you believe for a good marriage, 47 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: but now you've just settled for living together with no 48 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: real relationship. 49 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 2: Maybe in your. 50 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: Career, at one time you had a dream to go further, 51 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: to advance, to do great things, but you hit some setbacks. 52 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: Now you've gotten comfortable where you are. Or maybe in 53 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,399 Speaker 1: your health, you believe to overcome that illness, but now 54 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: it's been so long and you've had so many negative reports, 55 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: you're just learning. 56 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 2: To live with that. Well, these are all unborn promises. 57 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: But the good news is the seed is still in you, 58 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: and if you'll stir your faith up and start believing 59 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: once again, God can still bring that to pass. 60 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: It's not too late. 61 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: God doesn't abort the dreams. It depends though, on what 62 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: we're going to do with them. The reason many people 63 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: give up and they don't see that promise come to 64 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: fulfillment is because they're not watering their seed. And one 65 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: of the main ways we water our seed is by 66 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: giving God praise all through the day. We should be 67 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: thanking God that the answer is on the way. Whatever 68 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: you're believing for, Father, thank you that you're changing my child. 69 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: Thank you that you're bringing me a spouse, thank you 70 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: that you're restoring my marriage. 71 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: Praise is your faith at work. 72 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: Praise is what activates God's supernatural power. And really the 73 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: first place we lose the victory is in our thinking. 74 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: The battle is taking place in our mind. And when 75 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: those negative thoughts come telling you it's not going to happen, 76 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: you're never going to get well, you're. 77 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: Never going to that addiction. 78 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: Instead of dwelling on that and going around discouraged and complaining, 79 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: just use that as a reminder to thank God that 80 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: the answer is on the way. In other words, when 81 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: the negative thoughts come, turn it around and say, Father, 82 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: thank you that you're at work, thank you. 83 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: That you're changing things in my favor. 84 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: And let's understand, we don't have to pray about the 85 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: same thing over and over again. Once you pray, shift 86 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: into a different gear and get into praise. 87 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 2: Start thanking God. 88 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: I know people that practically beg God all day long. God, 89 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: please get me out of this trouble. God, please change 90 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: my child. God, Please I need a breakthrough. And of 91 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: course God sees your heart, he sees your sincerity, but 92 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: you don't have to be a beggar, be a believer. 93 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: A much better way is to say, Father, I know 94 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: you heard me the first time I prayed, and I 95 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: believe the answer is already on the way. May not 96 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: know when, I may not know how, but I know this, 97 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: You already have the solution. 98 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 2: So I just want to thank you that you're at 99 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 2: work in my life. 100 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: When you do that, you're not only watering your seed. 101 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: It's not only getting a little closer to coming to pass, 102 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: but something's happening on the inside of you. It's giving 103 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: you strength, it's keeping you encouraged. That's what's going to 104 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 1: help you to fight the good fight of faith. And 105 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: this is what Abraham did. God gave him a promise 106 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: that his wife Sarah was going to have a baby. 107 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: The seed was planted in his heart. It was an 108 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: unborn promise in the natural. It was impossible. They were 109 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: much too old, and Abraham had every reason to give up. 110 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: But the scripture says here in Romans four twenty, Abraham 111 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: did not waver in his faith, but he grew strong 112 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: by giving praise and thanksgiving to God. Notice when we 113 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: give God praise, that's what gives us strength. That's what 114 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: keeps us encouraged. We don't grow strong by. 115 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 2: Complaining and being negative. Well, I knew this would never work. 116 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 2: I thought God wanted me to prosper. 117 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: But I don't ever get any good breaks. Joel, I've 118 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: been praying for my child, but he keeps getting worse 119 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:16,679 Speaker 1: and worse. 120 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: Don't even verbalize that, even if it is true. 121 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: Don't use your words to describe your situations. Use your 122 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: words to change your situation. Don't talk to God about 123 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: how big your mountains are. Talk to your mountains about 124 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: how big your God is. Being negative, complaining, that's just 125 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: going to depress us and cause us to sink down. 126 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: The way we stay strong is to keep an attitude 127 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 1: of faith by giving God praise. I'm sure Abraham got 128 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 1: up many mornings and those negative thoughts bombarded his mind. 129 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: It's not going to happen. You're too old, it's been too. 130 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: Long, This is impossible, same kind of things that come 131 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: against us. 132 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 2: He had to make a decision. 133 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: Was he going to dwell on those lines and go 134 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: around negative and complaining, or was he going to stay 135 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: in faith and keep giving God praise. I believe he 136 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: did just what we're talking about. When the negative thoughts came, 137 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: he turned them around and just said, Father, thank. 138 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: You that you're working in my life. This may look impossible, 139 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: but I. 140 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: Know you're the God of the impossible, and at the 141 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: right time, you're going to bring this promise to pass. 142 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,239 Speaker 1: Day after day, even year after year, he just kept 143 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: thanking God. That's how we stay strong. Do you know 144 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: when we dwell on the wrong thoughts, it affects our moods, 145 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: We get down, discourage, to lose our hope. And some 146 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: of you today, the reason you don't have the joy 147 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: and the enthusiasm God wants you to have is because 148 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: you're constantly dwelling on the negative. 149 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 2: Well, Joel, you don't know my situation. 150 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: It's been so long and I prayed and prayed and 151 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: prayed and prayed and prayed, and I. 152 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: Don't see anything happening. Now here's the problem. You got 153 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 2: to switch over into praise. 154 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: When when you start thinking God, you're gonna have joy, 155 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: You're gonna be positive, you'll be hopeful. And the fact 156 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: is Abraham waited twenty four years to see his promise 157 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: come to pass. The only way he could do that 158 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: was by giving God praise. I'm asking you today to 159 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: stir your faith up. God doesn't abort any dreams. Quit 160 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: dwelling on the negative. It may have been a long time, 161 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: but the good news is the seed is still in you. 162 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: And every time you give God praise, every time you 163 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: have a good report, every time you have a smile 164 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: on your face, you are watering that seed. And it's 165 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: so important to stay on the offensive, stay proactive. I 166 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: found when we get lazy and passive in our thought 167 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: life and we let our guard down before long, what's 168 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: gonna happen. Doubt and unbelief will try to fill our mind, 169 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: and if we're not careful, we'll start talking defeat out 170 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: of the heart the mouth's fix. I'm convinced one reason 171 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: the scripture tells us to bless the Lord at all 172 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: times is because God knew in our times of difficulty. 173 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 1: He knew when we were holding on to a promise 174 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: and not seeing anything happening, we would all be saying 175 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: something and we can't praise and complain. 176 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: At the same time. 177 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: He knew we'd either be saying poor old me. I 178 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: knew I wouldn't qualify for that new home. 179 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: I knew my. 180 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: Marriage wouldn't last, or we'd be saying, Father, I thank 181 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: you that I'm a victor and not a victim. I 182 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: know no good thing will you withhold because I walk 183 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: up rightly, and because i'm the seat of Abraham. You 184 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: did it for him, and God, I know you'll do 185 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 1: it for me. See, don't be a complainer, be a praiser. 186 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: When you're full of praise, you're going to be strong. 187 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:44,959 Speaker 1: We need to make this a habit. Train your mind 188 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: to see the good and go around thanking God. I 189 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: know when I was growing up, we used to have 190 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: a conference every Thanksgiving here at Lakewood. People would come 191 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: from all over the world, and at that time we 192 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: would house the foreign guest at our other local and 193 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: we would provide. 194 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 2: Them meals as well well. One year, I remember, when 195 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 2: I was just. 196 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: A little boy, my father decided that he was going 197 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: to believe that somebody would give us two cows so 198 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: we could provide all the meat for our foreign guests. 199 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 1: God just dropped that into his heart. He felt very 200 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: strongly about it. Down in here the seed was planning. 201 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: He then announced it to the congregation. He said, I 202 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,439 Speaker 1: want you to set your faith in agreement with mine 203 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 1: that somebody will give us these two cows. 204 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 2: They were all excited. Everybody clapped. 205 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: In the first couple of weeks, my dad was so determined. 206 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: He went around saying, Father, thank you that you're supplying 207 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 1: all of our needs. Thank you that you're going to 208 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: give us these two cows. You know, in the beginning, 209 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: it's easy. We're excited, we're all fired up. But week 210 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: after week went by and there was no sign of 211 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: any cows. My father was so surprised. He had not 212 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: gotten one phone call, not one lead concerning those cows. Now, 213 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: the conference was just a couple of months away, and 214 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: the staff was beginning to ask about the food arrangements 215 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: and what they were supposed to do. That's when the 216 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 1: negative thoughts started whispering in his ears. What are you 217 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: going to do if you don't get these cows. Maybe 218 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: this wasn't God, Maybe you just made this up. After all, 219 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: you got enough money. Won't you go out and buy 220 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: the cows. You're wasting all your time and energy. My 221 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: dad did his best to stand against those negative thoughts. 222 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: He told the congregation again, let's keep believing for our cows. 223 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: And see the battle was taking place in his mind. 224 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: That's why it's so important to stay on guard. Well, 225 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: little by little, my father's faith began to weaken. Instead 226 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 1: of replacing the negative thoughts, he started dwelling on them. 227 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: He thought to himself, well, I guess we do have 228 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: enough money to buy the cows, and I am spending 229 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: a lot of time and energy on this. Maybe it 230 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: just wasn't meant to be. Maybe I just didn't hear 231 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: God right. Long story short, he gave. 232 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: Up and had somebody go out and buy two cows. 233 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: Deals. He just let it go, kept it quiet, didn't 234 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 1: say anything to anybody about it, and they had the conference. 235 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 2: Everything went great, But a. 236 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: Couple of weeks later, my dad told how he had 237 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: a dream one night, and in this dream, he was 238 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: in this big open field, acres and acres, and way 239 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: out in the distance he could see this huge snake, 240 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,959 Speaker 1: must have been one hundred feet long, and he noticed 241 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 1: something very odd about it. 242 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,199 Speaker 2: It had two big humps in it. 243 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: Now to curiosity, he walked toward it, and when he 244 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: got up closer, he could see the distinct outline of 245 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: two cows inside that snake. He could see the head, 246 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 1: the back, the legs. It was obvious the snake had 247 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: eaten those cows. Well, he woke up and he told 248 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: how God spoke to him, not out loud, but right 249 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: down in here. God said, I just want you to 250 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: know you let the enemy have your two cows. And 251 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: that's what happens when we give in to doubt and 252 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: un believe. There's no telling how many promises God has 253 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: placed in our hearts that we've allowed to be taken away. 254 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: I'm asking you today, don't give up on your two cows. 255 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: Don't give up on your seed. You've got to keep 256 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: watering that seed day in day out. 257 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 2: Some of you kind of like my father. 258 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: You've gotten passive and you're not actively believing, you're not 259 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: actively stretching your faith. Well, the good news is you 260 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: can start right now. It's never too late. The seed 261 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: is still in. You get up every morning thanking God 262 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: that the answer is on the way, Thank him that 263 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: he's bringing your dreams to pass. 264 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 2: Dare to believe. You've got to keep your seed water. Friends. 265 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: God doesn't abort the dreams we do, as long as 266 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: you will keep believing. The seed is alive and well 267 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,319 Speaker 1: on the inside of you. Says about Abraham. In the natural, 268 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 1: he had no reason to have hope, but that didn't 269 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: bother him. 270 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 2: He just kept hoping on in faith. 271 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: Anyway, my father gave up when he started dwelling on 272 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: the negative thoughts. He lost the battle right here before 273 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: he ever lost it physically. And the fact is they 274 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: could have bought the meat for the convention. 275 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 2: That wasn't any big deal. 276 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 1: But God was trying to teach my father a principle 277 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: to stand strong in his faith, to not give in. 278 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 2: To doubt and unbelieve. The two cows were not a 279 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 2: big deal. 280 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: But nine years later, when my mother was diagnosed with 281 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: terminal cancer, that was a big deal. Now they weren't 282 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: believing for a couple of cows. They were believing from 283 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: my mother's life. And thank God, this time my parents 284 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: knew how to stand strong and fight the good fight 285 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: of faith. I would hear them all through the day, 286 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: especially my mother going through the house thanking the Lord 287 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: for her healing, thanking. 288 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 2: God that she would live a long, healthy life. 289 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: From morning to evening, my mother was constantly watering her seed. 290 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 2: She stayed on the offensive. 291 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: If she had gotten passive, she would have sunk down 292 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: into that deep hold of depression. 293 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: She probably wouldn't be here today. 294 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: The only way you can keep yourself strong, especially in 295 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: the dark times. 296 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: Is to keep thanking. 297 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: God that the answers on the way that seed begin 298 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: to grow. 299 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 2: Little by little, she got better and better. 300 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: That was twenty five years ago, this week and today 301 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: my mother is as. 302 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 2: Strong and as healthy as she could possibly do. 303 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: The scripture tells us in Hebrews, we have to hold fast. 304 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 2: The profession of your faith. 305 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: That means hold fast to what God's put in your heart, 306 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: hold on to your dreams. It indicates something's going to 307 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: try to take it away. That means you've got to 308 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: grip it tightly, stay determined, stay persistent, and don't dwell 309 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: on those lies. Win the battle in your mind. Some 310 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: of you, like my father, you're wondering, can God give 311 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: me these two cows? Can God really restore my marriage? 312 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: Can God really my situation around? Now you've got it backwards, 313 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: quit asking can God and start declaring God can, and 314 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: I know God will. You may not be feeling very 315 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: well those thoughts come telling you this is it men, 316 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: You're not going to make it. No, just turn it around. 317 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: Just like my mother. Father, thank you that you're restoring health, 318 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: and to me, thank you that I'll live a long 319 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: satisfied life. Your child may not be doing right. The 320 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: negative thoughts try to bombarde your mind. No, turn it around, Father, 321 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: thank you. As for me and my house, we will 322 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: serve the Lord. I thank you that my children will 323 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: fulfill their destiny. Maybe at the office, things are trying 324 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: to pull you down. 325 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 2: You've got some struggles. Don't dwell on that. Don't go 326 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 2: around well. I wonder when God's going to do something 327 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 2: in my life. Don't just turn it around. Father. 328 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: I thank you that right now you're working in my life. 329 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: I think that you always cause me to tryumph. I 330 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: think you that no weapon formed against me will ever prosper. 331 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: You start talking like that, you know what you're doing. 332 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: You're watering your sin. If you'll stay in faith, you'll 333 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 1: give birth to those promises. 334 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 2: You'll see God bring them to pass. I love what 335 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 2: a friend of mine did. Her name is. 336 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: Dawn, and she grew up here in the church. I've 337 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: known her as long as I can remember, since I 338 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: was a little boy. And after Dawn and her husband 339 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: got married, they had to desire to have a baby. 340 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 2: They tried and tried and went. 341 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: Through all these fertility treatments, did everything they could with 342 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: no success, and year after year went by, and at 343 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: this time Dawn was the head of our children's ministry. Well, 344 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: when my father went to be with the Lord and 345 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: I stepped up to pastor the church. She had been 346 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 1: believing to have that baby for over twenty years. And 347 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: one day we were in a meeting about the children's 348 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: ministry and Dawn said, Joel, I've got a real good 349 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: assistant trained, because when I go to have my baby, 350 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to be out for a few months. And 351 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: after the meeting, I got my sister Lisa aside. She 352 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: was in there with us, and. 353 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 2: I said, Lisa, did I miss it somewhere? 354 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 1: Is on pregnant LISTA said, no, Joe, she's still believing 355 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: to have that baby. Let me tell you, Dawn talked 356 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 1: like she was pregnant. She talked like she was gonna 357 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 1: have it next week. And I have to admit in 358 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: the natural. And I didn't certainly tell anybody this, but 359 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 1: I kind of thought to myself, Dawn, you have been 360 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: believing to have this baby for as long as I've 361 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 1: practically known you. Maybe God wants to do something different, 362 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: Maybe you should make some other plans. But let me 363 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: tell you, Dawn had her mind made up. The promise 364 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: was in her. That's why you should not let other 365 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: people talk you out of your dreams. They don't know 366 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 1: the seed that God's put in you. 367 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 2: And Dawn did just like Abraham. 368 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:43,120 Speaker 1: She kept thinking God that one day she'd have that baby, 369 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: that one day. 370 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,360 Speaker 2: She would see her dreams come to pass. 371 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: Well, twenty nine years later, Dawn went to the doctor 372 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: to have a check up. He said, congratulations, Dawn, You're 373 00:18:54,560 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: not only gonna have one child, You're gonna have twins today. 374 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: Those little babies today are about six months old, and 375 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: Dawn is just as happy as can be. She hasn't 376 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: slept in six months, but she's happy by faith. But 377 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: I love the fact that God does not abort the dreams. 378 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: Some of you think you could never be well, you 379 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: could never have a baby, you could never get out 380 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: of debt. Don't give up. Keep giving God praise, keep believing, 381 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,679 Speaker 1: get up every morning, thanking Him that the answers on 382 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: the way, and even when it looks impossible, learn to 383 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 1: speak words of faith. You may not be able to 384 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 1: see a way out, but know this, Our God. 385 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 2: Is the way maker. 386 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,719 Speaker 1: Just like he parted the Red Sea for the children 387 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 1: of Israel. He can make a way in your life. 388 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: Don't get negative, don't start complaining. Keep the song of 389 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: praise in your heart. Remember, praise always precedes the victory. 390 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: The mistake we make a lot of times is we're 391 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,239 Speaker 1: waiting for our situations to change, and as soon as 392 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: the promise comes to pass, then we're going to be happy. 393 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: But God says, you got to get happy first. You've 394 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: got to give me praise first. Then I'll begin to 395 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: turn things around. You remember when Joshua and the people 396 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:12,239 Speaker 1: were marching around the walls of Jericho. They had to 397 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: shout before the walls came down. 398 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 2: That seems kind of odd. 399 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: Seems like God would want them to shout and be 400 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: happy after the victory, after the walls have fallen. 401 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 2: But no, that doesn't take any faith. 402 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: We can all sing and give God praise when we're 403 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: on the mountaintop, but God wants us to learn to 404 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: give him praise even when we're in the. 405 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 2: Valley and we don't thank God for the problem. 406 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: We think him that we're coming out, We think him 407 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: that victory is on its way. This is what David did. 408 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: He had all kinds of challenges. People were lying about 409 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 1: him doing him wrong, trying to kill him. 410 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 2: He said in song fifty. 411 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: Nine, my enemies are coming against me like vicious dogs, 412 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: trying to destroy me. 413 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 2: But as for me, what am I going to do? 414 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: I will sing about your power, and I will shout 415 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: for Jillel Boy, for you are my refuge, my place 416 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: of safety in my day of distress. Notice in David's 417 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: time of need, he wasn't sitting around having a pity 418 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: party complaining. 419 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: He was sining about the greatness of God. 420 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: He was saying, in effect, my enemies may be powerful, 421 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: but I know my God is all powerful. My obstacles 422 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: may be high, but I know my God is the 423 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: most time. He wasn't talking to God about how big 424 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 1: his problems were. He was talking to his problems about 425 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,199 Speaker 1: how big his God was. And some of you today, 426 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: if you just start singing a new song instead of 427 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: complaining and thinking about what you're not, you need to 428 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: start thanking God for what you're going to become. Our 429 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: attitude should be I've come too far to stop. 430 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 2: Now. 431 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: I've got dreams, I've got promises. I'm going to stay 432 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,360 Speaker 1: in faith and give birth to everything that God's put 433 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: in my heart. 434 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 2: I think about Elijah one Kings, chapter eighteen. 435 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: There was a great drought in the land, been going 436 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: on for several years, and the people were in desperate 437 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 1: need of water. And one day God dropped the promise 438 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: in Elijah's heart that it was going to rain. 439 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 2: So he went and announced. 440 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,919 Speaker 1: It to Ahab, the leader. And it's interesting how he 441 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: did it. He said, Ahab, I hear the sound of 442 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: abundance of rain. And I'm sure Ahab thought naturally, like 443 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: maybe he heard some thunder or maybe heard rain often 444 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,719 Speaker 1: the distance. But no, Elijah didn't hear it physically. 445 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 2: He heard it down in here. 446 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: And I love the fact that Elijah announced his dream. 447 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 2: He spoke it out. Words give life to our faith. 448 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's good for you to tell somebody else what 449 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: God has put in your heart. 450 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 2: Words have creative power. 451 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,719 Speaker 1: That's why I'm constantly telling you your best days are 452 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 1: still out in front of you, and two thousand and 453 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: seven is going to be better than two thousand and six. 454 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: You can profit your future and your child may not 455 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: be doing right, but it do you good to tell 456 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: your friends next time you see them, Hey, you know what, 457 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:09,959 Speaker 1: my child's turning around. 458 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 2: My child's going to do great things. Your finances may 459 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 2: be kind of low. 460 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: You need to make some new announcements. I am blessed. 461 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: I have the favor of God. Whatever I touch prospers. 462 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: My best days are out in front of any somebody say, 463 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: how do you know that? 464 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 2: Just tell him I heard it on the inside. I 465 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 2: heard it down in here. That's what Elijah did. He 466 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 2: heard it. 467 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: Then he announced his dream. Then he took it one 468 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: step further, very important. He went to the top of 469 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:40,160 Speaker 1: Mount Carmel and he began to worship God. He did 470 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: just what I'm talking about. I believe he went up 471 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: there and said, God, thank you that it's going to rain, 472 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: thank you that this drought is ending. 473 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 2: Thank you that you're changing things. 474 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: He sent one of his servants out to the other 475 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: side of the mountain to see if he could see 476 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: anything up in the sky, any sign of rain. That 477 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: young man came back a few minutes later and said, Elisha, 478 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,439 Speaker 1: there's not a cloud in the sky. Well did Elijah 479 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: get discouraged? Did he say, God, I thought you told 480 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: me was gonna rain. I thought I heard the sound 481 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: of abundance. No, he just kept worshiping. He kept thanking 482 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 1: God that the answer was on the way. The servant 483 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: went out six more times came back with the same 484 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:19,679 Speaker 1: negative report. 485 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 2: Nothing didn't bother Elijah. He just kept thanking God. 486 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 1: Finally, on the seventh time, the servant said, I saw 487 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,120 Speaker 1: a little cloud up in the sky. It wasn't long 488 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 1: after that before the heavens opened up and Elijah saw 489 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: the abundance of rain. But think about this, he heard 490 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: it down in here before he ever saw it out 491 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 1: in here. Let me ask you today, what do you hear? 492 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: Can you hear the sound of abundance over your own life? 493 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: Can you hear the sound of God's blessings and favor. 494 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 1: Can you hear the sound of increase? Can you hear 495 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: the sound of divine health? Some of you need to 496 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: start hearing some new sounds. I don't know what that 497 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: preacher is talking about. I don't hear anything. No, I'm 498 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: talking about down in here. By faith, you need to 499 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: hear it, and then you need to speak it out. 500 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: You need to declare it, and then take the third step, 501 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:14,360 Speaker 1: get over into your position of praise, and you think 502 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: about Elijah. He didn't pay a lot of attention to 503 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: the negative reports. Six times that young man told him 504 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: something bad. 505 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 2: He just kept worshiping. 506 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,680 Speaker 1: Maybe you've had some bad reports concerning your health, Well, 507 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: you don't need to read that thing twenty times a day. 508 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: Put it away and start thanking God that he's restoring health. 509 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 2: Maybe your business is slow, your. 510 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 1: Checking account doesn't look good, Well, you don't need to 511 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: read the numbers all day. Put that away and just 512 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: thank God that increase is on the way. You've got 513 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 1: to hear the sound of abundance over your own life, 514 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 1: it says in Isaiah fifty four. Sing old bearing woman, 515 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: you who never bore a child, break forth into song. 516 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 2: And shout for joy. 517 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: It's interesting this passage was written to women that didn't 518 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 1: have any children. 519 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 2: Notice what it's saying. 520 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 1: If your dreams have not come to pass, if you've 521 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: got unborn promises, if you don't have that baby yet, 522 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 1: don't just sit around in the feet, don't just give 523 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: up and say too bad for me. No, God says, 524 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: when you're bearing, the first thing you need to do 525 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: is sing a. 526 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 2: Song of praise. 527 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: Well, Joel, I'm kind of depressed today, man. I'll sing 528 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,719 Speaker 1: after I have my baby. No, this passage wasn't written 529 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: to people that were holding their baby. It was written 530 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 1: to empty armed people. To people who did not have. 531 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 2: What they were believing. For. 532 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 1: One principle we can see through this scripture is that 533 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 1: singing is the birth position. When you're giving God praise, 534 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 1: when you're giving Him thanks, you know what you're doing 535 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: putting yourself in a position to give birth to that promise. 536 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: This is exactly what Elijah did. He kept worshiping God 537 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,159 Speaker 1: and eventually he saw the abundance of rain. Let me 538 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,719 Speaker 1: challenge you today, get into the birth position, have a 539 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: song of praise. Remember God doesn't abort any dreams. You 540 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: may not see anything happening, but you've got to hold 541 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: on to your promise. When the negative thoughts come, turn 542 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 1: it around. 543 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 2: And thank God that the answers on the way. 544 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:15,719 Speaker 1: Stay in the birth position, keep a song of praise 545 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 1: coming out of your heart. If you do this, I 546 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 1: know you won't die with any unborn promises. 547 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 2: You'll give birth. 548 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:25,119 Speaker 1: God will bring your dreams to pass. You'll live the 549 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: life of victory He has in story. 550 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 2: Do you receive it today? 551 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 1: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 552 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,159 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 553 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me? 554 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord Jesus come into my heart. I repent 555 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 1: of my sins. I make you my Lord and Savior. Friends, 556 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 557 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 558 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take your places you've 559 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 1: never dreamed of. 560 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 3: It's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. 561 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 3: It's a new year, time to forget the struggles of 562 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,439 Speaker 3: the past and make room for new blessings. It's a 563 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 3: new year, the perfect time to build expectation and faith 564 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 3: for an amazing new season. 565 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: The beginning of the year is a great time to 566 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,120 Speaker 1: start afresh and a new to let go of negative 567 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: things of the past and to get ready for the 568 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: new things God has in store. Every January we create 569 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: a new devotional calendar. When you start off each day 570 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: in faith, grateful for what God has done, making positive 571 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: declarations over your future, you're setting the tone for a 572 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: blessed day and a victorious year. This devotional calendar will 573 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: help you get your mind going in the right direction 574 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: so you can live in faith expecting the goodness of God. 575 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 576 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 3: of any amount, this first month of the year, we 577 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 3: would like to send you a copy of our brand 578 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 3: new twenty twenty five and sixty five day devotional calendar. 579 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 3: Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two three. 580 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 3: One wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two 581 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 3: reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 582 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 3: Three capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines 583 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 3: for writing and reflection. 584 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 2: This is going to be one of your best years. 585 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: Our twenty twenty five devotional calendar is going to help 586 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: you stay in faith and see the goodness of God 587 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: in ways you've never seen. Victoria and I pray for 588 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: you and your family every day, and thank you so 589 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting 590 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: lives around the world. 591 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 2: And a special thank. 592 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: You to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. 593 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 594 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, 595 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube now the new 596 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: Jewelosting Network twenty four hours a day. Of course, listen 597 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: live on Sirius XM as well. But until we meet again, 598 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: met the Lord, bless you and keep you may show 599 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 1: you his favor and watch over you. 600 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 601 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 3: five devotional Calendar today. Visit joelostein dot com or call 602 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 3: us toll free