1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 4 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 2: blessing and share it with a friend. 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: Reappreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. 7 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: We love you, and if you're ever in our area, 8 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: please stop by and be a part of one of 9 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: our services. I promise you we'll make you feel right 10 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: at home. But thanks so much for tuning in today, 11 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: and thank you again for coming out. I like to 12 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: start with something funny and I heard about this pastor 13 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: He found a dead mule on the church grounds. He 14 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: called the health department and they said they couldn't pick 15 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: it up without approval from the mayor. Well, the mayor 16 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: was known to be rude and hard to get along with. 17 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: When the pastor called, the mayor didn't disappoint. He began 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: to rant and rathe. He finally said to the pastor, 19 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: why are you even bothering me? Isn't it your job 20 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: to bury the dead? The pastor prayed and ask God 21 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: for the right place. Response, he said, yes, mayor. It 22 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: is my job to bury the dead, but I always 23 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: like to notify the next of ken. First, hold up 24 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: your Bible, say it with me today. This is my Bible. 25 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what 26 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 27 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught to word 28 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 29 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 30 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 31 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: about treating every person like a gatekeeper. A gatekeeper is 32 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: someone God has ordained to open a door for you. 33 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: They are linked to your destiny, to introduce you to someone, 34 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: to put in a good word, to give you wisdom 35 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: or advice that will thrust you forward. They didn't come 36 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: into your life by accident. God divinely orchestrated your past 37 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: across It's important to realize a gatekeeper may not be 38 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: who you would expect. May not be the boss. It 39 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: may be the intern that just started. May not be 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: the friend with all the connections, may be the lady 41 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: at the grocery store that you see each week. May 42 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: not be the head coach. It may be the young 43 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 1: man that cleans the locker room. Many times gatekeepers are disguised. 44 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: God uses people that we might consider to be less influential, 45 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: less important, somebody underneath you at the office. Don't write 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: them off, don't be too busy and not give them 47 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: the time of day. Treat every person with respect and honor. 48 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: Make them feel valuable and important. God brought them across 49 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: your path for a reason. They may have an idea 50 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: that will thrust you forward. They may introduce you to 51 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: someone that will open up a door, or they may 52 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: be just a test. God wants to see how you're 53 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: going to try to preach somebody that you don't think 54 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,839 Speaker 1: can do anything for you. Bottom line is this, If 55 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: you will treat every person like a gatekeeper to your destiny, 56 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: one of them will be God will open the right doors. 57 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: When I look back over my own life, I can 58 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: see time and again wasn't always the most influential, the 59 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: most important people that helped me to move forward. It 60 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: was ordinary people that God used to connect me with 61 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: people of influence. One summer on vacation, I asked the 62 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: hotel bellman for directions to a certain church. The bellman 63 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: was a young man in his early teens, happy go lucky, 64 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: working the weekend shift, probably not making much more than 65 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: minimum wage. He said, the church you want to go 66 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: to is way too far. You'll never get there in time. 67 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: But there's another church about ten minutes down the road. 68 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: I think you'll really like that. I could have thought, 69 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: how's he going to know what I'm going to like? 70 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: I'm the pastor of a big church. I know what 71 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: kind of church I'm going to like. No, we took 72 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: his suggestion and we went to that church. We ended 73 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: up meeting the pastor and developing a friendship. It was 74 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: a divine connection that pastor introduced me to a publisher 75 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: that he knew that offered me a contract to write 76 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: my first book. I wrote that book, and it thrust 77 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: me to a new level of my destiny. But it 78 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: all started back with that young man at the hotel, 79 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 1: parking cars, taking care of the luggage. Yet it was 80 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: his input that catapulted me further than I ever imagined. 81 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: You never know who God has ordained to be a 82 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: gatekeeper in your life. Treat every person with respect. It's 83 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: easy to dismiss people, not give them the time of day, 84 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: especially people that we think are under us, not as important. 85 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: He's just parking cars, she's just answering the phone. I'm 86 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: in management, they're in maintenance. I'm staying at the hotel. 87 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: They're just working at the hotel. Know the very ones 88 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: that we dismiss, the ones we think, don't bother me. 89 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: I'm important, I'm educated, I'm busy. No, they could be 90 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: the link to you stepping into the fullness of your destiny. 91 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: Don't write people off. Don't judge by the outside and think, oh, 92 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: they don't have anything for me. You'll be amazed at 93 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: who God will use. In the Old Testament, God used 94 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: a donkey to speak to people. Stay open. God can 95 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: use anybody. It's like this eighteen wheeler I heard about. 96 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: It was carrying this large load of pipes and it 97 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 1: went under a bridge and the driver didn't realize the 98 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: load was too high and it got stuck under the bridge, 99 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,559 Speaker 1: wedged in there. Traffic was backed up for miles, people 100 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: barely getting through, and the city had a crew out 101 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: to jack up the bridge. I'm trying to get the 102 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: truck out with no success. As the crew say they're frustrated. 103 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: A man drove by with his ten year old son. 104 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: The boy rolled down the window and said to the crew, 105 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: why don't you let the air out of the truck tires. 106 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: They scratched their head and said, why didn't we think 107 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: of that? They deflated the truck tires and just drove 108 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: it out. Friends, God doesn't use just who we might expect. 109 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,559 Speaker 1: God uses the weak to confound the wise. Let's stay open. 110 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: Let's treat every person like a gatekeeper to our destiny. 111 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: Jesus said in Matthew twenty five. When you're faithful with 112 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: the small, God will make you ruler over much. I 113 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: believe this principle is true with people when you take 114 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: time for everyone. Now I say this respectfully, but even 115 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: people that you might see as small people under you 116 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: at the office, younger, not his experience. You don't think 117 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: they have much to offer. But when you show respect 118 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: and listen to what they have to say, value their opinion. 119 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: When you're faithful in the small, that could be the 120 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: link to you coming into much. I'm convinced there are 121 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: times that we miss opportunities for advancement because we don't 122 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: realize the lady at the grocery store, the young man 123 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: at the hotel, the new teacher that moved into the 124 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: school that we're not really paying any attention to. They 125 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: are divinely linked to our destiny. And if we will 126 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: tweet every person like a gatekeeper, God will get us 127 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: to where he wants us to be. We see this 128 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: principle in Second Kings, chapter five. There was a very 129 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: important man by the name of Naeman. He was the 130 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: captain of the Syrian army, very well respected, influential, one 131 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: of the great leaders of that day. But Naeman had 132 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: a problem. He had leprosy, a dreaded disease. You can imagine. 133 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: He'd gone to the best doctors, gotten the best treatment, 134 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: the best advice, nothing at help. He continued to go downhill. 135 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: But there was a young lady that worked at Naeman's 136 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: home as a maid. She had been captured from the Israelites. 137 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: During the day she would do the laundry, cook the food. 138 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: Compared to Naemen, what she was doing would have been 139 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: considered insignificant. But one day she said, Naeman, if you'll 140 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: go see the prophet Elisha over in Israel, he will 141 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: pray for you, and God will heal you of that leprosy. 142 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: Naeman could have said, who are you to tell me 143 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: what to do? I'm a captain, I've got influence. You're 144 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: a maid. You're not even my nationality. You're a part 145 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 1: of the enemy. He could have dismissed her and not 146 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: given her the time of day. But Naemen understood this 147 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: principle that you never know who a gatekeeper to your 148 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: destiny is going to be. He went to see Elisha, 149 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: traveled a great distance, knocked on the door. Elisha sent 150 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: his servant to the door. Elisha didn't even get up 151 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: off the chair. The servant said, Naeman. Elisha says, if 152 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: you'll go wash in the Jordan river seven times, you'll 153 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: be healed. It's not a coincidence that this powerful, influential, 154 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: respected man was greeted by another servant. God is showing 155 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: us you never know who the gatekeepers will be. This time, 156 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: Naeman got kind of upset. He said to his men, 157 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: traveled a long way. I thought at least Elisha would 158 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: come out here and say hello. Doesn't he know who 159 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 1: I am? Besides, I don't want to wash in the 160 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: Jordan River. That river's dirty. We have much cleaner rivers 161 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: back at home. He almost talked himself out of it, 162 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: but one of his servants said, Naeman, if he'd asked 163 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: you to do something hard, you would have done it. 164 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: Why don't you do this easy thing? Is it an 165 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: interesting that was the third servant that spoke to him. 166 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: God didn't use the powerful, the most influential. God used 167 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: people that he might consider to be less significant. Naeman 168 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,439 Speaker 1: finally swallowed his pride and went and washed in the 169 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 1: Jordan river. When he came up the seventh time, his 170 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: skin was just as clean as a little baby. But 171 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: it all went back to that first young lady that 172 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: made she was a gatekeeper. If Naeman would have blown 173 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: her off, not given her the time of day, he 174 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: would have missed his miracle. In the same way, you 175 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: don't know who your gatekeepers are going to be. God 176 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: will bring people across your path that may seem insignificant, 177 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: people that are under you, but they are divinely linked 178 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: to your destiny. They hold the key to promotion and increase. Really, 179 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: what that is is a test God wants to see. 180 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: Are we going to treat all people with respect and 181 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: honor or only those that we think can do something 182 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: for us. A lot of times the people that were 183 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: playing up to trying to win their favor, maybe they'll 184 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: open a door. The fact is. They're not a gatekeeper. 185 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: They don't hold the key. Promotion doesn't come from them. 186 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: Promotion comes from God, and God will use the most 187 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: unlikely people. A hotel bellman, a maid, an intern, and 188 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,680 Speaker 1: unpopular kid at school. Let's pass the test and treat 189 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,559 Speaker 1: everyone like a gatekeeper. When I was in my early twenties, 190 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: I was in the airport traveling back home to Houston, 191 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: and I'd had a real long week. Very tired. I 192 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: couldn't wait to get on the plane and just lay 193 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: my head back and relax. They finally allowed us to board, 194 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: and I had a whole road to myself. But right 195 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: before they closed the door, this elderly gentleman got on 196 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,719 Speaker 1: and came over and sat down next to me. He 197 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 1: was the friendliest, kindest, most talkative person in the world. 198 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: In fact, all he wanted to do was talk. And 199 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: normally I enjoyed visiting, but this day I didn't feel 200 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: like it. I was tired, so every opportunity I could, 201 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: I tried to end the conversation. I got my magazine out, 202 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: acted like I was reading, hoping he'd take the hint. 203 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: He kept talking, closed my eyes, laid my head back 204 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: like I wanted to sleep. He kept talking, started to 205 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: watch the movie. He kept talking. This was twenty years ago. 206 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: I think he's still probably talking. And I wasn't rude. 207 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: I wasn't disrespectful, but I wasn't very friendly. I didn't 208 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: engage in the conversation. I just nodded my head every 209 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: once in a while. The plane had to stop in Dallas. 210 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: He said, well, I surely enjoyed talking to you, but 211 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to get off here. I said, oh, 212 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: I'm so sorry to hear that, and I repented later, 213 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: but I thought I could finally get some rest. Right 214 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: before they closed the door to continue on to Houston, 215 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: one of the most famous basketball players in the world 216 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: got on the place. He's in the Hall of Fame, 217 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: one of my favorite players, and he came over and 218 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: sat right in that same seat, right next to me. 219 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: It's funny, all of a sudden, I wasn't sleepy anymore. 220 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: I was wide awake and ready to talk. I smiled 221 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: at him, said how's it going. He didn't say a word. 222 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: I thought he didn't hear me. I smiled bigger and 223 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: said it louder. How's it going. He looked at me 224 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: and said, with the biggest snarl. Not very good. He 225 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: might as well said, kid, you bother me in, I'm 226 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: gonna punch your lights out that next hour. He never 227 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 1: said a word, never gave me the time of day, 228 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: didn't even look in my direction. When we got off 229 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 1: the plane, I thought, fine, I never did like you anyway. 230 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 1: Here's my point. I was ready to talk because there 231 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: was somebody I thought was important, somebody that I was 232 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: interested in. Had no problem giving him time and energy 233 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: because of who he was. He's in the Hall of Fame. 234 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 1: But the fact is he wasn't a gatekeeper to my destiny. 235 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,839 Speaker 1: He just a sour Hall of famer with no personality. 236 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: I wonder what would have happened if I'd have given 237 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: that elderly gentleman the same time and energy and enthusiasm. Friends, 238 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: the gatekeepers God brings across our path may not look 239 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: like we would expect. They may not be a Hall 240 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: of Famer. They may be disguised as an elderly gentleman 241 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: sitting by the plane wanting to talk. I don't know. 242 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: Maybe God was going to have him open a door, 243 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: or to connect me with someone he knew, or to 244 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: give me invaluable advice or even bigger than all of that. 245 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: Maybe God just wanted me to make him feel loved 246 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 1: and valuable and respected and important. Maybe it wasn't about 247 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: what he could do for me, but what I could 248 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: do for him. Instead of being concerned about what I 249 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: could get, I should have been more concerned about what 250 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: I ca give, how I could make a deposit into 251 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: his life. The way you can tell how mature you 252 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: are is how do you treat people that you don't 253 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: think can do anything for you. We can all be 254 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: kind to the boss, he may give us a promotion. 255 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: We can all be friendly to the cheerleader at school, 256 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: to the guy that plays on the football team. If 257 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: they like us, everybody will be our friend. That's easy. 258 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: But if we're going to pass the test and come 259 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: across our true gatekeepers, we better learn to be good 260 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: to everyone. Jesus said, when you do good to the 261 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: least of these, you're doing it unto me. When you 262 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: go out of your way to befriend that unpopular kid 263 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: at school, the ones nobody hangs out with, Jesus said, 264 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: it's like you're doing it unto me. Instead of rushing 265 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: by the parking lot attended you see at work each day. 266 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: You take time to see how they're doing. You bring 267 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: them a cup of coffee in the morning, doing it 268 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: to your heavenly father. That person at the office that 269 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: others may see as second class. They don't know much, 270 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: they don't have any good ideas, yet you take time 271 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: to listen to what they have to say. You invite 272 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: them to meetings, You help them get more experience. Then 273 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: as you help others, it's just like a boomerang that 274 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: help is going to come right back to you. I 275 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: love the story my friend Phil Munsey told. He's the 276 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: pastor of the Life Church in southern California. He was 277 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: at a gas station filling up his car and this 278 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: man pulled up in a fairly nice car, got out 279 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: and started going around asking people for money for gas. 280 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: Phil could see that he was coming in his direction, 281 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: and Phil loves to be good to people. And when 282 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: he came over, Phil said, Hey, don't say a word. 283 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: I've got you covered. I'm going to fill your car 284 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: up with gas. And he only wanted five dollars, but 285 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: Phil put nearly fifty dollars worth of gas in his car. 286 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: He was so appreciative. Before Phil left, he reached in 287 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: his car and handed him a copy of his book 288 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: and said, here, take this and read it. As Phil 289 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: was pulling away, he noticed that man was showing it 290 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: to another man that had pulled up on a motorcycle. 291 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: He was explaining how this total stranger just filled up 292 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: his car with gas. He was so excited. Well about 293 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: a year later, Phil was in a car dealership getting 294 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: his daughter's car fixed and just passing the time. He 295 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: walked over to the showroom to look at the new cars. 296 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: This man walked out that worked there. Come to find 297 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: out he was the general manager in charge of the 298 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: whole place. Phil said, Hey, tell me about this new car. 299 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: He looked at Phil and his eyes got real big. 300 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 1: He said, I know who you are. You're the man 301 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: that filled up a total stranger's car with gas. A 302 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: year ago. I was on a motorcycle and I saw 303 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 1: the whole thing take place. He was so impressed with 304 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: what Phil did. He was so moved. He said to Phil, 305 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: whatever you need, I want to help you. I'll fix 306 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: your daughter's car for you. I'll make you a deal. 307 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: You can't fuse anything you want. You've got it. Now. 308 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: When Phil goes into that car dealership, they treat him 309 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: like a king. Here's my point. When you do good, 310 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: God not only sees it, he'll cause other people to 311 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: see it. That man saw Phil being good, he ended 312 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 1: up being a gatekeeper. He opened a door of favor 313 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: and increase that Phil would have never experienced. When you 314 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: do it to the least of these, you're doing it 315 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: under God. I wonder how many good breaks we miss 316 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: out on because we're not treating every person like a gatekeeper. 317 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 1: So often we tend to categorize people. We think, Okay, 318 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: they're important, they've got something I want. I've got to 319 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: be good to them. No, God's ways are not our ways. 320 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: When you realize God has ordained every person that comes 321 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 1: across your path, then you'll go out of your way 322 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: to make them feel respected, make them feel honored, not 323 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: only because it's the right thing to do because they're 324 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: God's children, but know one as well that they are 325 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: divinely linked to your destiny. Either that act of obedience 326 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: in treating them right is passing the test and will 327 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: lead to something greater, or they may be a gatekeeper 328 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,120 Speaker 1: that will open the door to favor and promotion. Pay 329 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 1: more attention to who God brings across your path. Sometimes 330 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: All it takes is holding the door open for a 331 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:31,360 Speaker 1: stranger to make their day, just giving a smile, just 332 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: making the person at the grocery store feel welcome, just 333 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: reaching out to that person at the office that nobody 334 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: pays attention to. It not only lets them know that 335 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: somebody cares, but you don't know they may be a 336 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: gatekeeper in your own life. That's what happened to a 337 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: friend of mine. We played baseball together, and after high 338 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: school he joined this team that traveled all around. Most 339 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 1: of the young men were college level players, very talented. 340 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: They had all grown up to knew each other very well. 341 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 1: My friend was not only new, but he wasn't quite 342 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: as talented as those other players. During the season, coach 343 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: would hardly ever put him in. He'd go four or 344 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: five games, never playing even in any the other young 345 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: men they were good people, but they sort of treated 346 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: him as second class, really didn't give him the time 347 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: of day. But there was one young player he was 348 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: the star pitcher. He went out of his way to 349 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: include my friend, to make him feel welcomed and appreciated. 350 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: And one day my friend invited this picture over to 351 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: his house just to hang out, and it just so 352 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 1: happened that his sister was there. His sister is very beautiful, 353 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: very talented, and the pitcher and the sister met and 354 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: they ended up going out on a date. Long story 355 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: short today that picture is not his friend, it's his 356 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: brother in law. He ended up marrying his sister. You 357 00:20:56,520 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: never know who the gatekeepers are going to be. Don't 358 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: overlook the people God's put in your life. Others may 359 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: see them as second class, not as talent, and not 360 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: up to par. No, treat every person with respect. Go 361 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: out of your way to make them feel valuable and important. 362 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: They are divinely linked to your destiny. You don't know, 363 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 1: like in this case, they may open a door that 364 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: nobody else could open. That's what we see with Joseph. 365 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: He was in prison for something that he didn't do. 366 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 1: There were two people in the prison with him, Frohs 367 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: Butler and Farro's baker. One night, they both had a 368 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 1: dream and they didn't understand what it meant. The next morning, 369 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: Joseph saw that they were worried and frustrated. He asked 370 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: them what was wrong. They said, we had this dream 371 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: but were troubled by it. We don't understand what it means. 372 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: Joseph said, no problem, I can help. I can interpret dreams, 373 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 1: tell me what they are. Notice Joseph went out of 374 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: his way to help them. Joseph could have had a 375 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: chip on his shoulders. He could have said, don't bother me. 376 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: I've got enough problems of my own. Do you know 377 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: my story? I was betrayed by my brothers. I was 378 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: sold into slavery. No, Joseph understood this principle to treat 379 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: every person like a gatekeeper. He interpreted that dream, and 380 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: eventually the butler was released from prison. Two years later, 381 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: Pharaoh had a dream that he didn't understand. He was 382 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: upset and worried. The butler said to him, I know 383 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: somebody that can interpret dreams. His name is Joseph. He's 384 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: in prison. They brought Joseph out of prison. Joseph interpreted 385 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: Pharaoh's dream, and Pharaoh put him in charge over all 386 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: of Egypt. But had Joseph not taken time for the 387 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: butler and been good to him, he might not have 388 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 1: ever gotten out of prison. See, your destiny is not 389 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,959 Speaker 1: just between you and God. It is connected to certain 390 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: people that God has ordained to come across your path. 391 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: When you realize that every person could be a gatekeeper. 392 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: Every person is divinely linked. Then it's easy to take 393 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 1: time for people and to treat everyone with respect and honor. 394 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: Back in the early nineteen eighties, there was a young 395 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: African American police chief brought into our city. His name 396 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: was Lee Brown. My parents reached out to him to 397 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: welcome him to town, let him know that the people 398 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: of lake would loved him. We were praying for him 399 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: behind him. We believed in him. He would come out 400 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,719 Speaker 1: to the church and we would pray over him, and 401 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: over the years, he would invite my parents to go 402 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: pray at different police and city functions. They developed this friendship. 403 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: My parents weren't trying to get anything. They didn't have 404 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: any ulterior motives. They were just being good to somebody 405 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: that God brought across their path. Later, he went from 406 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,719 Speaker 1: Chief Brown to Mayor Brown. He serves six years as 407 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: our city's mayor. In two thousand and one, Lakewood was 408 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: out of room. We needed a larger facility. I was 409 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: at lunch with a friend. He told how the Houston 410 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 1: Rockets basketball team was going to move out of the 411 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: Compact Center and this place was going to become available. 412 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: At that time, it was a city owned facility. When 413 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: I heard that, something leaped on the inside. And I 414 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: got back from lunch and I immediately called the mayor. 415 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: It happened to be Mayor Lee Brown. I asked him 416 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:35,120 Speaker 1: about the possibility of Lakewood getting the Compact Center. I'll 417 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:39,360 Speaker 1: never forget what he said. Without missing a beat, he said, Joel, 418 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: I think Lakewood having the Compact Center would be great 419 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: not only for Lakewood, but I think it would be 420 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:52,439 Speaker 1: great for the city of Houston as well. When I 421 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 1: heard that, I could only think back to all those 422 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: seeds of kindness and respect and honor that my parents 423 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: had sown down through the years toward Mayor Brown. Mayor 424 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: Brown was a gatekeeper that God had ordained to open 425 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: up a door to something that we could never open 426 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 1: without his health. He returned the favor by being so 427 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 1: gracious and kind as we work together to make this happen. 428 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: When you're good to people, you are sowing seeds. When 429 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: you make people feel loved and welcomed and appreciated, you're 430 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: going to come across your gatekeepers that person you're being 431 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: good to. They may do you a favor, or they 432 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 1: may end up doing your children a favor. They may 433 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 1: open the door for one of your grandchildren. You never 434 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 1: know who's gonna benefit because of your seeds of kindness. 435 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: My challenge today is to treat every person like a gatekeeper. 436 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: When you take time to help others, really you're helping 437 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: yourself because every seed you sow, you're going to reap 438 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 1: a harvest the good deeds you do. Every time you 439 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: go out of your way to make someone feel special, 440 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: God sees it. He will make sure that the right 441 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: people come across your path. Remember, the gatekeepers may not 442 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: look like you would expect. God used a maid with Naemen, 443 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: a hotel bellman with me, a man in prison with Joseph. 444 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: Treat everyone with respect, not just the people that you 445 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: think are important. When you're faithful with the small God 446 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: will make your ruler over much. In the coming days, 447 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,120 Speaker 1: people are going to come across your path that God 448 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 1: has ordained. They are divinely linked to your destiny. They 449 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: hold the key to promotion and increase. Don't overlook them. 450 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: Go out this week and be good to the people 451 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,439 Speaker 1: that are in your life. If you'll learn to treat 452 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: everyone like a gatekeeper to your destiny, God will open 453 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,360 Speaker 1: up the right doors. You will come into favor, promotion 454 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: and increase, and I believe and declare you will become 455 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: everything God's created you to be. Amen. Do you receive 456 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 1: it today? We never like to close on broadcast without 457 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of 458 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, 459 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 1: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 460 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:22,680 Speaker 1: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you pray 461 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 462 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 463 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 1: He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed of. 464 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 1: It's easy to get stuck in life because of fear 465 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 1: and lack of confidence. We've been through disappointments, but I'm 466 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 1: excited about Victoria's new book, Grace to Go. It'll help 467 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: you move past what's holding you back and step into 468 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 1: new levels of your destiny. 469 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 2: My heart for this book is that you will discover 470 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 2: the courage, the gifts, and the faith that God has 471 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,479 Speaker 2: put in you so that you can see your dreams 472 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 2: come to pass. It's not too late, the obstacles are 473 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 2: not too big. The grace of God equips you to 474 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 2: go beyond your comfort zone and overcome what looks impossible. 475 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 2: You are stronger than you think. You are not alone. 476 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 2: You are Grace to Go. 477 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 478 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 3: of any amount, this month will send you Victoria Ostein's 479 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 3: brand new book, Grace to Go. Step onto the bigger, 480 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 3: bolder life that belongs to you. This inspiring resource will 481 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 3: help you break through fear, insecurity, or regret and activate 482 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:33,880 Speaker 3: the faith to move forward. Each chapter will stir your spirit, 483 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 3: renew your perspective, and empower you to live boldly. You 484 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 3: don't have to wait for perfect conditions. God's grace meets 485 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 3: you where you are and propels you into a future 486 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 3: full of purpose and peace. With an additional gift, will 487 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 3: send you the Grace to Go Bold bundle featuring Grace 488 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 3: to Go by Victoria Ostein and Pray Bold by Jolo Stein. 489 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 3: These two powerful books will stir your faith, break hesitation, 490 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 3: and help you believe big again. 491 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 2: Grace is power when you receive it by faith, it 492 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 2: enables you to take the next step so you can 493 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 2: become all you are created to be. 494 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: Victory and I are so grateful to spend this time 495 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: with you We pray for you and your family every day, 496 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: and thank you so much for your prayer and support. 497 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: Your generosity is helping people around the world. Special thank 498 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. 499 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 500 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 501 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, watch you on YouTube the new 502 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: Joel Osting Network social media. Of course, listen on Serious 503 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,959 Speaker 1: XM twenty four to seven. We'll help you stay encouraged 504 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: and inspired. If you're a pastor, we'd like to invite 505 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: you to our pastors Gathering. We'd be honored to spend 506 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: the day with you here at Lakewood. We'll share some 507 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: of the things we've learned, insights and behind the scenes. 508 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: Be a time of inspiration and encouragement. We love to 509 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: meet you. 510 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 3: These two powerful books will stir your faith, break hesitation, 511 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 3: and help you believe big again. Be sure to request 512 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 3: your copy of these powerful resources today for an additional donation. 513 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 3: This month, we are also offering the NLT Large Print 514 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 3: Thin Line Reference Bible. This Bible also enables you to 515 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 3: connect through your smartphone or tablet to a vast, power 516 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 3: packed array of study notes, devotionals, interactive maps, videos, worship music. 517 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 3: You can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight 518 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 3: eight five six seven Joel or logging on to joeloceine 519 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 3: dot com today. Call or click anytime, twenty four hours 520 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 3: a day, Start fresh, step forward. You are graced to go. 521 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:55,239 Speaker 3: Request your copies today