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The units stap 26 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 3: makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to give 27 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 3: funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 28 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 3: Download the uns stap and use the code I heeart 29 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 3: fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 30 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 3: when you fund your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 31 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 3: you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 32 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 3: dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 33 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 34 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 5: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 35 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 3: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 36 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 3: blessing and share it with a friend. 37 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 5: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 38 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 5: your life. Well, God bless you. 39 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 4: It's always a joy to come into your homes. We 40 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 4: love you. 41 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 5: If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop 42 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 5: by and be a part of one of our services. 43 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 5: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 44 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 5: Thanks so much for tuning in, and thanks again for 45 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 5: coming out today. I like to start with something funny. 46 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 5: Each week, and I heard about this lady. She was 47 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 5: on an airplane reading her Bible. The man next to 48 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,679 Speaker 5: her said, you don't believe all that stuff in there, 49 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 5: do you? She said, of course I do. It's the Bible. 50 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 5: He said, well, what about that guy that got swallowed 51 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 5: by the well? 52 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,679 Speaker 4: She said, oh, you mean Jonah. I believe that too. 53 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 5: He said, well, how could he possibly live all that 54 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 5: time inside of a well? She thought about it a moment, 55 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 5: said I don't know. When I get to Heaven, I'll 56 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 5: have to ask him. He said, sarcastically, what if he's 57 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 5: not in heaven? She said, then you're going to have 58 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 5: to ask him. All right, hold up your Bible. Say 59 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 5: it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 60 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 5: am what it says I am. I have what it 61 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 5: says I have. I can do what it says I 62 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,959 Speaker 5: can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 63 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 5: I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 64 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 5: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 65 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 5: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 66 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 5: how Heaven is cheering you on. I grew up playing sports, 67 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 5: and I've experienced the difference it makes to have somebody 68 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 5: in the stands that's pulling for you. When you know 69 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 5: they're watching you, you hear them calling your name, you 70 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 5: see their hands up in the air. It does something 71 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 5: on the inside. Causes you to jump a little higher, 72 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 5: to run a little faster. You've got a greater determination 73 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 5: you know somebody is rooting for you. My parents traveled 74 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 5: a lot when I was growing up, and they couldn't 75 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 5: attend all of my ballgames. And of course I always 76 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 5: played hard, but when I knew they were there, when 77 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 5: they were watching, it gave me that extra boost. It 78 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 5: may be mental, but it affects the physical. It's proven 79 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 5: in sorts teams that have the home field advantage perform 80 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 5: better if you fall. 81 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 4: Of football. 82 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 5: Recently, the team that had the worst record to ever 83 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 5: make it to the playoffs. 84 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 4: They had home field advantage. 85 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 5: The crowd was going wild, and do you know, they 86 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 5: beat the world champions, an incredible upset. You never know 87 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 5: what you'll accomplish when you know you have people cheering 88 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 5: your own, people that are rooting for you. 89 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 4: And in the Book of Hebrews. 90 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 5: It talks about all these great heroes of faith and 91 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 5: the amazing things that they accomplished from Moses to Abraham, David, Sarah, Ruth, Estra, 92 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 5: on and on, people that were known and people that 93 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 5: were not known. 94 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 4: It tells how in chapter. 95 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 5: Eleven they dared to believe and God did incredible things 96 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 5: through them. That the first of chapter twelve, it says, 97 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 5: since we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses, 98 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 5: let us run our race. So this passage refers to 99 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 5: our life as a race, and it paints the picture 100 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 5: of this big stadium up in heaven. And now these 101 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 5: saints of old, the great cloud of witnesses, they're up 102 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 5: in the stands looking down at us, cheering us on. 103 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 5: What I want you to see today is you're not 104 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 5: running alone. You've got all of Heaven pulling for you, 105 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 5: from the great saints of old to your loved ones 106 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 5: that have gone to be with the Lord. They're in 107 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 5: those stands right now. They're watching you, saying, keep going, 108 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 5: keep running, don't give up. You may get tired, but 109 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 5: get your second wind. We did it and you can 110 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 5: do it too. You've got to realize you have home 111 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 5: field advantage in this stadium, in the grand stands of Heaven. 112 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 5: You don't have any critics. Nobody's throwing popcorn at you. 113 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 5: Nobody's heckling you. No, these people are one hundred percent 114 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 5: for you. They think that you're amazing. They know you've 115 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 5: got what it takes. They're standing up right now cheering 116 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 5: your own. Imagine Moses calling your name, saying, go, go, go. 117 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 4: You can accomplish your dreams. 118 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 5: David is saying the giants may be big, but don't 119 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 5: get discouraged. 120 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 4: I defeated them. You can too. 121 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 5: Esther is calling your name, saying you may be afraid, 122 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 5: but do it anyway. You've been raised up for such 123 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 5: a time as this. Get In is saying you may 124 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 5: feel weak and intimidated, but be strong and of good courage. 125 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 4: The Lord, your God is with you. 126 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 5: All of the saints of old are pulling for you. 127 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 5: By faith. You need to hear the roar of the crowd. 128 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 5: By faith, you need to see them standing up cheering 129 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 5: you on. They're saying, we did it without automobiles, without 130 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 5: air conditioning, without beautiful buildings, without technology, without computers and telephones. 131 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 5: Think about what you can do. You can go further, 132 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 5: You can accomplish your dreams. You can take new ground 133 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 5: for the kingdom. When you realize all of heaven is 134 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 5: pulling for you. It does something on the inside when 135 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 5: you know this great cloud of witnesses is calling your name, 136 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 5: cheering your on, It'll give you that boost to go. 137 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 4: Further, to accomplish more. 138 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 5: Twelve years ago today, my father went to be with 139 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 5: the Lord, and sure I miss my father, but I 140 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 5: know where he. 141 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 4: Is and I know what he's doing. 142 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 5: He's in the grand stands of Heaven with the saints 143 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 5: of old saying. 144 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 4: Joe, you're doing good. 145 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 5: Keep pressing forward. I'm watching you. I believe in you. 146 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 5: I'm proud of you. I know he's cheering me on. 147 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 5: He's saying to all of us here at Lakewood, you 148 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,119 Speaker 5: guys are amazing. You've taken it to a new level. 149 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 5: You've gone further than I've ever dreamed of. Now, don't 150 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 5: settle where you are, keep going, keep growing, keep making 151 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 5: a difference. 152 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 4: He's cheering us on. 153 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 5: I have people ask jee, do you think your dad 154 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 5: knows what's going on? Do you think he can see 155 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 5: the growth, the new facility, all the great things that 156 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 5: have happened. I answer them, I don't think so. 157 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 4: I know so. 158 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 5: I hear him cheering me on all the time, and 159 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 5: every one of you has loved ones that have gone 160 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 5: to be. 161 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 4: With the Lord. 162 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 5: They're not just up in heaven floating on a cloud 163 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 5: playing a harp singing lullabies. No, they're in the grand 164 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 5: stands cheering you on, saying you've got what it takes. 165 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 5: Don't stop believing, keep pushing forward. 166 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 4: Go further, dream bigger, make us proud. 167 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 5: I think about Victoria's grandmother on her mother's side. This 168 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 5: would be Georgine's mother. They called her me Ma. Me 169 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 5: Maw was an incredible woman. 170 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 4: She loved the Lord. She kept that family in church. Plus, 171 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:45,559 Speaker 4: she was a hard worker. 172 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 5: She would make every week her daughter a new dress 173 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 5: to wear the church. She would design it and sew 174 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 5: it herself so Georgine would have something new to wear 175 00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 5: each Sunday. She poured into those children. When Victoria was 176 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 5: visiting during the holidays. As a little girl, victoried get 177 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 5: up early. She would always see her grandmother out kneeling 178 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 5: underneath the tree. That's where she started every day, her 179 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 5: special place of prayer. Today, me Mau is one of 180 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 5: the heroes of faith. She's in the grand stands of 181 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 5: heaven cheering us all on, saying to Victoria, Georgie, you 182 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 5: go girl, make me proud. 183 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 4: Do something great. 184 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 5: Run your race, friends, You're not running alone. Your loved 185 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 5: ones are cheering you on. They're saying, don't settle where 186 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 5: I was, go further, do more, learn more, love more, 187 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 5: give more, help others in a greater way. Well, you said, Joel, 188 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 5: I didn't have anybody in my family like me. Ma, 189 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 5: didn't have anybody like your dad. No, somebody in your 190 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 5: family honored God, or you wouldn't be here today. 191 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 4: You wouldn't be watching. 192 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 5: You may not have ever met them, but somebody in 193 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 5: your family is. 194 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 4: Rooting for you. 195 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 5: It's like a parent when your child is out on 196 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 5: the field playing in the ballgame. There may be twenty 197 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 5: other kids in the game, but you've got your eyes 198 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 5: on your child. You're watching them right now. There's a 199 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,959 Speaker 5: lot of people in the race, but somebody has their 200 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 5: eyes on you. Somebody has their hands up for you. 201 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 5: Somebody is saying, Wow, that's my great granddaughter, that's my relative, 202 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 5: that's my cousin. Look at them, they're amazing. I can 203 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 5: still hear my grandmother cheering me on. She's been gone 204 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 5: for twenty five years. My grandmother thought I was the 205 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 5: greatest thing in the world. In her eyes, I could 206 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 5: do no wrong. My sisters used to get aggravated. They 207 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 5: would do something wrong and they'd get in trouble. I 208 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 5: would do the same thing and they'd go tell my grandmother. 209 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 5: She'd say, oh, no, Joe didn't do that. I know, Joel, 210 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 5: you must be mistaken. It makes them so mad. My 211 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 5: grandmother thought I was a saint. Do me a favor. 212 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 4: Don't tell her any differently. 213 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 5: She's in the grandstands of Heaven, still cheering me on, saying, Joel, 214 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 5: keep going. I still think you're great. I still don't 215 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 5: think you can do any wrong. I still believe in you. 216 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 5: She's a part of the great cloud of witnesses. Last year, 217 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 5: I went to the Dallas Cowboys opening game at their 218 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 5: new stadium, and before the game, they had all these 219 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 5: Cowboy legends that had played years before come out on 220 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 5: the field and line up. There must have been fifteen 221 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,439 Speaker 5: or twenty of them. Being a sports fan seeing those 222 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 5: guys that were incredible during my day, it was just amazing. 223 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 5: After the pregame ceremony, the current players came out and 224 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 5: they were shaking hands with these legends of the game, 225 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 5: talking to them, getting advice and encouragement. You could tell 226 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 5: those current players were just soaking it up. I thought about, 227 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 5: in the grand stands of heaven, if we could pull 228 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 5: out a few of the heroes of faith and visit 229 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 5: with them for a few minutes. I wonder what they 230 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 5: would say. I wonder what kind of encouragement or advice 231 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 5: might give. And some of you have had unfair things happen. 232 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 5: Life hasn't turned out the way you had hoped, and 233 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 5: you could easily be bitter and give up on your dreams. 234 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 5: But imagine a young man steps out of the grand stands. 235 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 5: He says, don't get discouraged. I've been where you are. 236 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 5: My name is Joseph. I had a great dream. I 237 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 5: knew God's hand was upon me, but my brothers mistreated me. 238 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 5: They sold me into slavery. I spent years working for 239 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 5: this man, doing my best, but his wife lied about 240 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 5: me and had me put in prison. 241 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 4: It was unfair. 242 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 5: I spent thirteen years there. At times I felt like 243 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 5: God had forsaken me. I didn't see how I could 244 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 5: ever accomplish what was in my heart, but I just 245 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 5: kept being my best, knowing that God was in control. 246 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 5: One day, twenty three years after I had had that dream, 247 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 5: God turned it around and brought it to pass. If 248 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 5: Joseph were standing here today, he would say, don't give 249 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 5: up on the promise God put in your heart. People 250 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 5: may have done you wrong, you may have had some 251 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 5: bad breaks, but God is still on the throne. What 252 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 5: was meant for your harm, God's going to use to 253 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 5: your advantage. Joseph's encouragement is keep being your best, Keep 254 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,559 Speaker 5: doing the right thing when it's hard. Keep being good 255 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 5: to people even though they're not good to you. If 256 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,079 Speaker 5: you'll stay in faith, the same God that planted the 257 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 5: dream will help you give birth to the dream. Joseph 258 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 5: is in the stands cheering us on, reminding us that 259 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 5: our steps are ordained by Almighty God. If it had 260 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 5: not been for his brothers thrown him into the pit, 261 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 5: he would have never made it to the palace. If 262 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 5: it had not been for the lady lying about him 263 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 5: having him put in prison, he would have never seen 264 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 5: the dream come to fulfillment. God was ordering his steps 265 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 5: even when it was difficult. You may kind of feel 266 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 5: like God's forsaken you. Your life has turned out exactly 267 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 5: opposite of how you had it planned. But Joseph stands 268 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 5: before you and says don't give up. I've seen the 269 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 5: faithfulness of God. I've seen God turn it around. I've 270 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 5: seen God vindicate me. I've seen God bring justice. I'm 271 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 5: a living witness, a testimony of God's goodness. If God 272 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 5: did it for me, he can do it for you. 273 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 5: Joseph is cheering us on today. There's a young lady 274 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 5: in the stands. Her name is Rayhab. 275 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:35,359 Speaker 4: She was a prostitute. 276 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 5: She says, I'm here to cheer on all the people 277 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 5: that have made mistakes. You see, I didn't start out 278 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 5: good in life. I had a big dream. I wanted 279 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 5: to do the right thing, but I got mixed up 280 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 5: with the wrong crowd. I made some poor choices, ended 281 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 5: up doing something that I didn't like. I wasn't proud 282 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 5: of it. I was embarrassed, ashamed. But this felt trapped 283 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 5: like I couldn't get out. But one day I met 284 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 5: these people from out of town and they told me 285 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 5: about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and I 286 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 5: dared to believe. 287 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 4: I did them a favor. 288 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 5: I hid them in my home and they ended up 289 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 5: sparing my life and my family's life. From that day forward, 290 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 5: I was changed. I started off bad, but God not 291 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 5: only forgave me. He not only redeemed me, but he 292 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 5: put me in the family line of. 293 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 4: Jesus Christ. 294 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 5: Because of his mercy. Now I'm a part of the 295 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 5: heritage that brought about the Messiah. If Rayhab were standing here, 296 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 5: she would say, you may have gotten off to a 297 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 5: bad start, but that's okay. It's not too late to change. 298 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 5: You can begin again. God is a god of another chance. 299 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 5: It's not how you start that matters, it's how you finish. 300 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 5: You may have fallen down, but don't stay down. Get 301 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 5: back up again. Your life is not over. There's still 302 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 5: an amazing future in front of you. And if you 303 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 5: will receive God's forgiveness and start down a different path, 304 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 5: God will give you a new beginning and make the 305 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 5: rest of your life greater than you ever thought possible. 306 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 4: Think about it. 307 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 5: Only God has the audacity to take a former prostitute 308 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 5: and put her in the family line of Jesus Christ. Today, 309 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 5: Rehab is listed as one of the heroes of Faith. 310 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 5: She stands beside Moses and Abraham and David and Sarah 311 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 5: and Esther. God is saying, You're never too far gone. 312 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 5: Don't ever let anyone write you off. Don't let religion 313 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 5: push you down and make you think that you're all 314 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 5: washed up. Don't let your own thoughts convince you that 315 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 5: you've made too many mistakes. 316 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 4: God could never use you. 317 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 5: Rehab stands before you and says, no, no, look at me. 318 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 5: I'm a testimony of God's mercy. I started out bad, 319 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 5: but I it up as a trophy of God's grace. Rayhab, 320 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 5: It's cheering us on. 321 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 4: I talked to a. 322 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 5: Couple last week, and they've been members of our church 323 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 5: for a long time, and for many years they've lived 324 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 5: a very blessed life, successful business and happy, healthy family. 325 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 5: But they said, Joel, this last year, we've never had 326 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 5: so many things come against us and our health, our 327 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 5: finance is our family. Everything that could go wrong did. 328 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 5: The lady laughed and said, it's almost comical. Just when 329 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 5: we thought it couldn't get any worse, something else bad 330 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 5: would happen. I can see a gentleman step out of 331 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 5: the grand stands and say, I know just how you feel. 332 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 5: I went through a period in my life just like 333 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 5: you did, where the bottom fell out. 334 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 4: My name is Job. I was tempted to give up. 335 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 5: My wife told me to just curse God and die 336 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 5: I felt depressed, but I shook it off and dug 337 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 5: my hills in and chose to believe that God was 338 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 5: still on the throne. I said, though he slay me, yet, 339 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 5: will I trust him. I'm happy to report that God 340 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 5: didn't just bring me out of that difficulty, but he 341 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,719 Speaker 5: brought me out better off than I was before. I 342 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 5: came out with twice the cattle twice, the sheep twice, 343 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 5: the joy twice, the peace twice, the victory. 344 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 4: I got my health back, my business back, my dreams back. 345 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 5: Job stands on the balconies of heaven and says to 346 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 5: all who are in tough times, all who have gone 347 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 5: through setbacks and suffered loss in a family, a relationship, 348 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 5: in your finance, as your business. Job says, I'm here 349 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 5: to tell you that double is coming your way. God 350 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 5: is going to pay you back. It may look like 351 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 5: the end, but it's not a setback. It's a set up. 352 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 5: God's going to turn it around and make the enemy 353 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 5: pay for bringing that trouble into your life. Now, somebody's 354 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,479 Speaker 5: got to receive Job's encouragement. God has not brought you 355 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 5: this far to leave you where you are is a test. 356 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 4: It's not permanent. It's temporary. 357 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 5: It may look like it's out of control, but God 358 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 5: is in complete control. If job we're here today, he'd say, 359 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 5: let me leave you with one word of encouragement. Double double, 360 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 5: double double is coming your way. You need to let 361 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 5: that seed take root, and you need to start speaking 362 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 5: double over your situation. You lost your health, Father, I 363 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 5: want to thank you that I'm coming out twice as strongly, 364 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 5: twice as healthy. 365 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 4: Now I'm gonna have twice the inner. 366 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:38,159 Speaker 5: I'm gonna feel twice as good as I used to. 367 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:39,640 Speaker 4: You lost your job. 368 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 5: Don't go around complaining, go around saying, Father, I want 369 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 5: to thank you for a position with twice the benefits, 370 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:50,360 Speaker 5: twice the income, twice the friends, twice the fulfillment. Somebody 371 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 5: did you wrong in a relationship, betrayed. 372 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 4: You walked out on you. 373 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 5: Don't go through life in self pity, heartbroken, thinking poor 374 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 5: old me. No, if they left you, you didn't need them. 375 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 5: They were not a part of your divine destiny. This 376 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 5: may be hard to accept right now, but really they 377 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 5: did you a favor. They opened the door for who 378 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,120 Speaker 5: God wants to bring into your life. Now you got 379 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 5: to get an agreement and get a vision for it. Father, 380 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 5: I want to thank you for bringing somebody twice as 381 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 5: good as that old goat that walked out. I mean 382 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 5: that person that walked out, Somebody that's twice as fun, 383 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,359 Speaker 5: twice as friendly, twice as great to be around, twice 384 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 5: as well often twice as good looking. When you do that, 385 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 5: Job says yes, yes, Yes, that's what God did for me. 386 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 4: I know this young lady. 387 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 5: She's had seven miscarriages. She has not been able to 388 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 5: carry the baby. She heard me talking about how God 389 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 5: will pay you back when unfair things happening. She let 390 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 5: that seed take root. Several years ago she gave birth. 391 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 4: Not to one, but to two babies. She had twins. 392 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 5: She said, Joel, that seed was birthed in my space 393 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 5: when you talked about how. 394 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 4: Job came out with twice what he had before. 395 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 5: I'm trying to plant that same seed into your spirit today. 396 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 5: You're not going to come out the same, You're gonna 397 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 5: come out increased. Your mind may tell you it's never 398 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 5: gonna happen, but Job stands before you and say, no, 399 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 5: get ready, it's on the way. God restored double back 400 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 5: to me, and he'll do the same thing for you. 401 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 5: Job is cheering us on too many people like job. 402 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 5: They've had unfair things happen, and now they're sitting around. 403 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 5: They've lost their joy, lost their enthusiasm. Kind of enduring life. 404 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 5: I think in one day when it gets better, then 405 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 5: I'll get happy. Then I'll believe again. But I see 406 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 5: two gentlemen step out of the grand stands. Their names 407 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 5: are Paul and Silas. They tell about how one night 408 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,479 Speaker 5: they were chained in prison. Earlier in the day, they 409 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 5: had been beaten with rods. Unfairly, they were not given 410 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 5: a trial. What was their charge? They had not stolen, 411 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 5: they had not heard anyone, they had not committed any crime. 412 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 5: Their big charge is they were spreading the good news. 413 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 5: But instead of complaining, getting depressed and God, it's not fair. 414 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 5: How could you let this happen? They knew God was 415 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 5: still in control. As they sat in prison, chained, beaten, bruised, 416 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 5: feeling bad, The scripture says, they begin to sing praises 417 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 5: to God. Can you imagine what the other prisoners must 418 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 5: have fought? Are these two guys crazy? Why are they singing? 419 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 5: They've just been beaten, they're in jail. What's wrong with them? 420 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 5: They must be going to Lakewood. The whole prison quiets 421 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 5: down to hear these two strange prisoners. What are they singing? 422 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 5: You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille, I 423 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 5: don't think so. All through the prison they hear I 424 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 5: am a friend of God, You are good all the time. 425 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 5: Or maybe they hear my chains are gone, I've been 426 00:22:58,119 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 5: set free. 427 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 3: Well. 428 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 5: A sudden at midnight, while they were still singing praises, 429 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 5: there was a great earthquake. The prison doors flung open, 430 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 5: the chains fell off, and Angel came by and said, 431 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 5: come on, let's get out of here. If that wasn't 432 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 5: good enough, the jailer, the one that had beaten them earlier, 433 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 5: he came and found them and began to bandage up 434 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:21,880 Speaker 5: their wounds. He said, what do I need to do 435 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 5: to serve this incredible God of yours? Today? Paul and 436 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 5: Silas are in the grand stands cheering us on. They're saying, 437 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,440 Speaker 5: when it looks dark, when all the odds are against you, 438 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 5: when it seems unfair, that's not the time to get depressed. 439 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 5: That's not the time to start complaining. That's the time 440 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 5: to turn up your praise. That's the time to say, Lord, 441 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 5: you are good, You're in control, you're bigger than my enemies. 442 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 4: Nothing can stand against you. Friends. 443 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 5: Praise can break the chains. Praise can bring down walls 444 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 5: that are locked. Praise can turn enemies into friends. Pray 445 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 5: can break addictions. Praise can bring healing. Praise activates God's favor. 446 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 5: Paul and Silas are rooting for us, saying, even when 447 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 5: it looks impossible, keep singing, keep praising, keep rejoicing, keep 448 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 5: that smile, and God will make a way. When it 449 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 5: looks like there is no way. Another man steps out 450 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 5: of the grand stands. He says, Paul and Silas, you 451 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 5: think you've got it bad. Joseph, you think it was unfair. Abraham, 452 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 5: you think your promise was impossible. David, you think your 453 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 5: giants were big. 454 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 4: I've got you all beat. I was dead. My name 455 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 4: is Lazarus. I was in the grave. 456 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 5: I was already starting to stink. 457 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 4: I was buried. 458 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 5: It was over, impossible, done finished. But I had two 459 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 5: sisters that would not give up. They dared to believe 460 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 5: that anything was possible. They rolled away the stone. Jesus 461 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 5: spoke life, and Lazarus. 462 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:59,959 Speaker 4: Came back from the dead. 463 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 5: Lazarus is saying to everyone that has situations that look dead, 464 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:05,640 Speaker 5: it's not too late. 465 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 4: It's not over. 466 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 5: God can still bring it back to life. God can 467 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 5: resurrect those dead dreams. Some of you have circumstances and 468 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:17,640 Speaker 5: promises that you kind of let go of and thought, 469 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 5: you know what, Joel, I'm too old. I've made too 470 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 5: many mistakes. I've missed too many good opportunities. Or maybe 471 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 5: in my health, Joel, I never had the energy to 472 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 5: do that. No, the same God that raised Lazarus is 473 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 5: about to bring back to life things that. 474 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 4: You've already given up on. 475 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 5: Listen, twenty eleven is gonna be a resurrection. 476 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 4: Year for you. 477 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 5: It's gonna be a year where opportunities that you've missed 478 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 5: come back across your path. 479 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:45,640 Speaker 4: You need to get ready. 480 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:47,639 Speaker 5: You're gonna see some of those no I has seen, 481 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 5: heard or imagine blessings. That's God bringing back to life, 482 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 5: resurrecting what you thought was dead. One final man steps 483 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 5: out of the grand stands. He's a little smaller than 484 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 5: the others, five at seven. He says, I'm here to 485 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 5: encourage everyone that you can overcome any obstacle. You see. 486 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 4: I came from the poorest of the poor families. 487 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 5: I had no future to speak of, I had no money, 488 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 5: no education. But at seventeen I gave my life to 489 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 5: Christ and God took me places that I've never dreamed of. 490 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 5: That man is my father, the founder of our church. 491 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 4: I mentioned earlier. 492 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 5: How twelve years ago today Daddy went to heaven and 493 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 5: he's saying to all of us, you're not limited by 494 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 5: your education, or your family, your background, your environment. You 495 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 5: can rise higher, you can go further. It may look 496 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 5: impossible with men, but it is still possible with God. 497 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 5: I can hear my father encourage us with that same 498 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 5: poem that he quoted so many times. 499 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 4: Great it is to. 500 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 5: Dream the dream when you stand in youth by the 501 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 5: story stream, but a greater thing. It's a fright fight fight, fight, 502 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 5: fight like through and shay a then the dreaming. 503 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 4: It's true. 504 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 5: Hol all right, all right, VC in just a moment. 505 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 5: My encouragement to us today is we're not running alone. 506 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 5: All the saints of old are cheering for you, your 507 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 5: loved ones that have gone to be with the Lord. 508 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 5: They're watching you. They believe in you. They know you've 509 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 5: got what it takes. Now put your shoulders back, hold 510 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 5: your head up high, get a fresh new vision. If 511 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 5: they could accomplish great things without the modern conveniences that 512 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 5: we have. Think about how much more we can do. 513 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 5: Let's make them proud. Let's give Heaven something to cheer about. 514 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 5: Don't get stuck in a rut. Rise higher, go further 515 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 5: than your relatives did. You may have had some bad breaks, 516 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 5: but don't let that ruin your life. Stay in faith 517 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 5: and that double is coming. And remember, like Rahab, you 518 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 5: have not made too many mistakes. You can begin again 519 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 5: and still do something great. And if you will live 520 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 5: life knowing that all of Heaven is cheering you on, 521 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 5: you'll run faster, go further, accomplish more, and you will 522 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 5: make Heaven proud. And I believe and declare one day 523 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,360 Speaker 5: you'll be in the grand stands cheering others on as 524 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 5: one of those heroes of faith. 525 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 4: Amen. 526 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 5: Do you receive it today? We never like to close 527 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 5: our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus. 528 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 4: The lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 529 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 5: Just say Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 530 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 5: into my heart. 531 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 4: I make you my Lord and savior. 532 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 5: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 533 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 5: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 534 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 5: Keep God first place. 535 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 4: He'll take your places that you've never dreamed of. 536 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to the Jewelus Dean. Help us 537 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 3: continue to share the message of hope with those all 538 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 3: over the world. Visit joelostein dot com slash give Hope 539 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 3: to give a gift today. 540 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 5: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 541 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 5: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep. 542 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 4: You inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 543 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:22,479 Speaker 5: I know God's best is still ahead. 544 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 4: We'll see you next time.