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Download the units stapp and use the 31 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 32 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: fifty dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code 33 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 3: iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 34 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 35 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: UNEs dot co. 36 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 37 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 5: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 38 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 5: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 39 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,559 Speaker 5: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 40 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 5: for God's very best in your life. 41 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 4: Well, I'll bless you. It's a joy to come into 42 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 4: your home, he said. 43 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 5: Ever in our area, please stop by be a part 44 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 5: of one of our services. 45 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 4: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 46 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 5: I like to start with something funny, and I heard 47 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 5: about this pastor. 48 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 4: He'd been out bear hunting all day long. 49 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 5: And he searched and searched through the woods with no 50 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 5: sign of a bear. Finally, in frustration, he threw his 51 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 5: gun on the ground and he went down to the 52 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 5: stream to cool off. About that time, he sees this 53 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 5: huge grizzly bear running toward him full speed, about one 54 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 5: hundred yards away. 55 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 4: He falls on his knees and. 56 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 5: Said, God, I need protection. Please convert this bear into 57 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 5: a Christian. Miraculously, the bear froze in his tracks, put 58 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 5: both paws up toward the heavens, and said, thank you 59 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 5: Lord for this food. 60 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 4: I'm about to eat it like you mean it. 61 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 5: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 62 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 5: I have what it says I have. I can do 63 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 5: what it says I can do. Today I will be 64 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 5: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 65 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 5: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 66 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 5: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 67 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 5: to talk to you today about stepping into the unknown. 68 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 5: When I type an address in my navigation system, there's 69 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 5: an option that comes up that says route overview. If 70 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 5: you click that, it will give you all the details 71 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 5: of your trip. There may be fifteen different instructions. Travel 72 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 5: six miles on this freeway, get off at exit forty three, 73 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 5: go four hundred feet, turn left on the intersection. 74 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 4: Your whole route is clearly laid out. 75 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 5: You know where you're going, how long it's going to take, 76 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 5: what to expect. Knowing these details makes us comfortable where 77 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 5: we can relax. And in the same way, God has 78 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 5: a route. 79 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 4: Overview for your life. 80 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 5: Before you were formed in your mother's womb, he laid 81 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 5: out your plan. He not only knows your final destination, 82 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,839 Speaker 5: but he knows the best way to get you there. 83 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 5: But one difference between God and a navigation system is 84 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 5: God doesn't show you. 85 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 4: The route overview. 86 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 5: He doesn't tell you how it's going to happen, how 87 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 5: long it's going to take, where the funds are going 88 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 5: to come from, who you're going to meet. 89 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 4: He leads you one step at a time. 90 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 5: If you'll trust him and take that step into the unknown, 91 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 5: not knowing how it's going to work out, then he'll 92 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 5: show you the next step. Step by step, he'll lead 93 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 5: you into your destiny. 94 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 4: The challenge is we like details. 95 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 5: We wouldn't have any problem taking that step of faith, 96 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 5: starting that new business, going back to school, moving to 97 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 5: that new location. If we knew where the money was 98 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 5: coming from, how long it was going to take, that 99 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 5: the right people would be there. We had all the details, 100 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 5: it'd be easy to step out. 101 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 4: Here's the key. God doesn't give us details. 102 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 5: He's not going to show you a blueprint for your 103 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,799 Speaker 5: whole life. If you had all the facts, you wouldn't 104 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 5: need any faith. He's going to send you out not 105 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 5: knowing everything. If you'll have the boldness to step into 106 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 5: the unknown, do what he's asking you to do, doors 107 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 5: will open that you could have never opened. 108 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 4: The right people will show up. 109 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 5: You'll have the funds, the resources that you need. 110 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 4: The scripture puts it this way. 111 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 5: God's word is a lamp unto our feet, and the 112 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 5: light unto our path. A lamp implies you have just 113 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 5: enough to see in front of you. God is not 114 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 5: giving you the light for the next fifty years. It's 115 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 5: like the headlights on your car. When you're driving at night. 116 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 5: You can only see one hundred feet in front of you, 117 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 5: so you don't pull over because you can't see your 118 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 5: destination fifty miles away. You keep driving. As you go further, 119 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 5: then you will see more. Will you take that step 120 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 5: with the life that you have. If you're waiting for 121 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 5: all the details, you're going to be waiting your whole life. 122 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 5: We all want to be comfortable, but being in God's 123 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 5: perfect will will make. 124 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 4: You a little uncomfortable. 125 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 5: There's a healthy tension to where you have to stretch, 126 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 5: you have to pray, you have to believe, you're not 127 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 5: sure how it's going to work out. 128 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 4: That's when you're growing. 129 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 5: That's when you're learning to trust God in a greater way. 130 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 5: God is not just interested in the destination. He's teaching 131 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 5: you along the way. He's getting you prepared, growing you 132 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 5: up on purpose. God will put us in situations where 133 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 5: we're over our head, where our friends can't help us, 134 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 5: where we don't. 135 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 4: Have the experience. 136 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 5: Too often we swink back, think I'm not going there, 137 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 5: I'm not qualified, I'm too nervous. 138 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 4: What if it doesn't work out. God knew you would 139 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 4: be nervous. He knew you wouldn't feel qualified. That's a test. 140 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 5: Are you going to talk to yourself out of it? 141 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 5: Are you going to let the fear of what you 142 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 5: can't see. 143 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 4: Hold you back? 144 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 5: Or are you going to be bold and step in 145 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 5: to the unknown. In the unknown is where miracles happen. 146 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 5: In the unknown is where you discover ability that you 147 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 5: didn't know you had. In the unknown is where you'll 148 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 5: accomplish more than you ever dreamed. Just because you don't 149 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 5: have the details doesn't mean God doesn't have the details. 150 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 4: He has the route overview for your life. 151 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 5: He wouldn't be leading you there if he didn't have 152 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 5: the favor, the provision, everything you need to. 153 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 4: Go to the next level. 154 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 5: One thing I like about my navigation system is it 155 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 5: gives me exact details. Go nine point three miles down 156 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 5: this freeway, then it counts down the whole way, eight 157 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 5: miles left, seven miles, six miles. It's all right in 158 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 5: front of me. God is just the opposite. He'll tell 159 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 5: you go down this road. The first thing we do 160 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 5: is ask for details. How far do you want me 161 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 5: to go? 162 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 4: No answer? What do you want me to take? No answer? 163 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 4: Who's going to be there to meet me? No answer? 164 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 5: Can you endure the silence of not knowing everything? Will 165 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 5: you trust God even though you don't have all the details? 166 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 5: Will you take that step of faith, even when you're uncomfortable, 167 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 5: you're nervous, not sure how it's going to work out. 168 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 4: This is what Abraham did. 169 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 5: God told him to leave the place he was living, 170 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 5: pack up his family, his belongings, and head out to 171 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 5: the land that God was going to give him his inheritance. 172 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 5: The only problem was God didn't give him any details. 173 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 5: The scripture says Abraham went out not knowing where he 174 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 5: was going. I can imagine Abraham telling his wife Sarah, Honey, 175 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 5: I've got great news. 176 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 4: We're going to move. God promised me He's taking. 177 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 5: Us to a better land where we're going to be 178 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 5: blessed in a new way. 179 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 4: I can hear Sarah saying, that's so exciting. I can't wait. 180 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 4: Where are we going? Abraham says, I don't know. He 181 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 4: didn't tell me. She asked, well, what should I wear? 182 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 4: Will it be cold or hot? 183 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 5: He says, I'm not sure. Well, Abraham, are you sure God. 184 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 4: Told you this? How we going to provide for our family? 185 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 5: Where are we going to get food for our staff 186 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 5: and animals? 187 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 4: This seems like a mistake. 188 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 5: If you're going to step into the unknown, it's going 189 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 5: to take boldness. It's not always going to make sense. 190 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 5: People may not understand it. Your own thoughts will tell 191 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 5: you you better play it safe. 192 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 4: This is too big a risk. What if it doesn't 193 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 4: work out. 194 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 5: Abraham understood this principle that just because he didn't have 195 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 5: all the answers, just because he was nervous, didn't mean 196 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 5: he wasn't supposed to do it. The scripture says, the 197 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 5: steps of a good person or ordered by the Lord, 198 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 5: if you'll take the first step, not knowing all the details, 199 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 5: trusting that God knows what he's doing, then every step 200 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 5: of the way there will be provision, there will be favor, 201 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 5: there will be wisdom. 202 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 4: And yes it's uncomfortable not knowing. 203 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 5: You have to stretch, pray, believe, but each step you 204 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 5: not only have God's blessing, but you're. 205 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 4: Growing, You're getting stronger. 206 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 5: In the scripture, Peter was the only one that walked 207 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 5: on the water, and he was the only one willing 208 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 5: to get. 209 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 4: Out of the boat. 210 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 5: I'm sure the other disciple said, Peter, you better stay 211 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 5: in here with us. 212 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 4: Look at those waves. It's dangerous. You could drown. 213 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 5: But when Jesus asked him to come, he had the 214 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 5: courage to step into the unknown. And he walked on 215 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 5: the water well, Joe, but he sank. Yeah, but he 216 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 5: walked more than you. 217 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 4: He walked more than me. 218 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:04,679 Speaker 5: What's familiar staying in the boat. Although that's comfortable, Instead 219 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 5: of being a blessing, it can become a curse. 220 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 4: Familiarity can keep you from your destiny. 221 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 5: What you're used to, how you were raised, the job 222 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 5: you've been at for years. Don't let your comfort keep 223 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,719 Speaker 5: you from becoming all God created you to be. 224 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 4: If Abraham would have. 225 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 5: Put his comfort above fulfilling his purpose, we wouldn't be 226 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 5: talking about him. You cannot play it safe your whole 227 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 5: life and reach the fullness of your destiny. Don't let 228 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,439 Speaker 5: the what ifs talk you out of it. What if 229 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 5: I fail? What if they say no? What if I 230 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 5: don't have the funds? You'll never know unless you try. 231 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 5: When you come to the end of life, will you 232 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 5: have more regrets from the risks that you took or 233 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 5: from the risk that. 234 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 4: You didn't take. 235 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:56,719 Speaker 5: What if I get in this new relationship, John and 236 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 5: I get hurt again, That's what happened last time. What 237 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 5: if if you get in it and you're happier than 238 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 5: you've ever been. 239 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 4: What if it's a divine connection. What if I take 240 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 4: this position and I'm not good at it, I'm not successful. 241 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 4: What if you take it and you excel? 242 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 5: What if you discover talent you didn't know you had. 243 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 5: What if it opens doors to more opportunities. I can 244 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 5: tell you every significant accomplishment in my own life, every 245 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 5: major victory. I've had to step into the unknown. When 246 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 5: my dad went to be with the Lord. I had 247 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:35,079 Speaker 5: never ministered before I stepped up to pastor the church. 248 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 5: I didn't know how it was going to work out. 249 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 5: I didn't know if I could minister. I didn't know 250 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 5: if anybody listened to me. Every thought told me, Joel, 251 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 5: don't do it. It's a big mistake. You're going to 252 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 5: get up there and not know what to say. I 253 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 5: knew I was over my head. I knew I didn't 254 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 5: have the experience. But I also knew when we are weak, 255 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 5: God's power shows up the grain. I couldn't see way 256 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 5: down the road. I couldn't see any of this that 257 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 5: we're doing today. All I could see was right then, 258 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 5: step up and pastor the church. If God would have 259 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 5: shown me all of this, I'd have said, no way, 260 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 5: I can't do that. Sometimes the reason God doesn't tell 261 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 5: us what's in our future is because he knows we 262 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 5: would talk ourselves out of it. What God has in 263 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 5: store for you is going to boggle your mind. The 264 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 5: places he's going to take you, the people you're going 265 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 5: to influence, the dreams you're going to accomplish. It's going 266 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,199 Speaker 5: to be bigger than you've imagined. You know where it is. 267 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 5: It's in the unknown. It's in what you can't see 268 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 5: right now. It's in what you don't feel qualified for. 269 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 5: When you find yourself in a situation where you're over 270 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 5: your head. 271 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 4: You don't think you have what it takes. That's God 272 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 4: stretching you. 273 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 5: He can see things in you that you can't see 274 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 5: in yourself. It may be uncomfortable, but don't shrink back. 275 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 5: Keep stretching, keep believing, keep dreaming. Step by step, God 276 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 5: is leading here. Some of you are about to step 277 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 5: in to the next level. You've been on that step 278 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 5: long enough. You passed the test. Now the next step 279 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 5: is coming. It's going to be a new level of influence, 280 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 5: a new level of talent, a new level of creativity, 281 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 5: a new level of your destiny. Victoria and I were 282 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 5: driving to another city the other day and had my 283 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 5: navigation system on, and at one point we were on 284 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 5: this country road for about one hundred miles stretch, and 285 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 5: there were all these intersections and different roads that veered off, 286 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 5: and I kept thinking that I had missed my turn, 287 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 5: and I had to keep looking at the navigation system. 288 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 5: I noticed that as long as I was on the 289 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 5: right path, the lady on the GPS system didn't say anything. 290 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 5: I wish you had come on, said you're doing good, John, 291 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 5: keep going forward. But she never said a thing until 292 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 5: it was time to do something different. 293 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 4: Sometimes God is silent. 294 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 5: You don't hear him saying anything, and see easy to 295 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 5: think I must be off course, something must be wrong. 296 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 4: He's not talking. 297 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 5: But like the lady on the GPS system, that means 298 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 5: you're on the right course. Keep doing the right thing, 299 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 5: keep praying, believe in stretching. The next step is coming, 300 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 5: but you have to pass the test of being faithful 301 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 5: where you are. 302 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 4: Being your best with what you have. 303 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 5: Then the next step will be a favor step, a 304 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 5: promotion step, a healing step, a breakthrough step. When Joshua 305 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 5: and the Israelites came to the Jordan River, there was 306 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 5: no way to get across. They had heard how Moses 307 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 5: held up his rod and the Red Sea parted. I'm 308 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 5: sure Joshua thought the same thing would happen for him. 309 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 5: But God had a different plan. He told Joshua to go, 310 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 5: tell the priest to walk into the river, and then 311 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 5: the waters would part. I'm sure the priest thought, Joshua, 312 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 5: that doesn't make sense. 313 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 4: You want us to walk into the water. We could drown. 314 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 5: The priest got up to the shore and nothing happened 315 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 5: to the water. 316 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 4: They got a couple feet from the bank. Still nothing. 317 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 5: Thoughts started telling them what if it doesn't part, What 318 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 5: if Joshua made a mistake. 319 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 4: What if you get out there and you can't come back. 320 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 4: They could have talked themselves out of it. Instead, they 321 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 4: dared to step into the unknown. 322 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 5: The scripture says the moment their feet touched the water, 323 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 5: the waters upstream began to pile up. On the other 324 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 5: side it flowed downstream. Before long, the whole river bed 325 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 5: was empty. They were able to walk across on dry ground. 326 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 4: Notice the miracle happened along the way. We think God 327 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 4: part the river and. 328 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 5: Then I'll go, God says, go, then I'll part the river. 329 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 5: If you we will step into the unknown. Along the way, 330 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 5: you'll see miracles. Along the way. The right people will 331 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 5: show up. Along the way. Doors will open that you 332 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 5: could have never opened. God could have just as easily 333 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 5: parted the waters before they stepped in. 334 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 4: He was showing us this principle. 335 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 5: When you don't see how it can work out, every 336 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 5: voice says you better play it safe. But you take 337 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 5: that step of faith and do what God's asking you 338 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 5: to do, you too will see Jordan Rivers part and 339 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 5: God on purpose puts us in situations where we can't 340 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 5: do it on our own. It looks impossible. That's a 341 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 5: test of our faith. If we stay in the boat, 342 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 5: we'll never walk on water. We'll never see the fullness 343 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 5: of our destiny. And if God would have parted the 344 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 5: water first, that would have been a lot less stressful 345 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 5: for them. They wouldn't have had to stretch and pray 346 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 5: and believe. 347 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 4: But here's the key. 348 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 5: God uses the journey to get us prepared for where 349 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 5: we're going. When you have to stretch your faith, believe 350 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 5: that He's making a way, and think him that things 351 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 5: are changing in your favor. Your spiritual muscles are getting stronger, 352 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 5: You're developing a greater trust, a greater confidence in God. 353 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 5: When we received word that this place, the form of 354 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 5: compact center where the Rockets used to play basketball, was 355 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 5: coming available, something came alive on the inside of me. 356 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 5: I knew this was supposed to be ours. What I 357 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 5: didn't know was how complicated it would be trying to 358 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 5: acquire it. God will give you the first step, but 359 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 5: he won't tell you everything. I was excited about the 360 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 5: possibility of moving Lakewood here. 361 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 4: This was more than I could ask or think. But 362 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 4: what I didn't know. 363 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 5: Was it was going to cost one hundred million dollars 364 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 5: to renovate. I didn't know a company would file a 365 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 5: lawsuit to try to stop us. 366 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 4: Sometimes it's good to be. 367 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 5: Naive, called having childlike faith. All I knew was that 368 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 5: dream was alive in my spirit, and. 369 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 4: I did what I'm asking you to do. I stepped 370 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 4: in to the unknown. 371 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 5: This facility was owned by the City of Houston, my 372 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 5: parents and our family. 373 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 4: We knew the mayor. 374 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 5: I called him, and the Mayor was in favor of 375 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 5: Lakewood having it. The first miracle, we needed ten votes 376 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 5: from city council members. We only had nine, but the 377 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:32,120 Speaker 5: night before the main vote, a council member, after being 378 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 5: against us for two years, suddenly changed his mind and 379 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 5: voted for us, and we got the building. 380 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 4: Another miracle. 381 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 5: A week later, a large company filed a lawsuit to 382 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 5: try to keep us. 383 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 4: From moving in. 384 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 5: We were told it could be tied up in the 385 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 5: court system for up to ten years. Here I had 386 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 5: already announced it to the church, people had given funds. 387 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 5: I would wake up in the middle of the night 388 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 5: sweating thoughts, telling me, Joe, you're going to look like 389 00:19:59,520 --> 00:19:59,959 Speaker 5: a fool. 390 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 4: This is going to be a big mess when you 391 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 4: have to give it all back. 392 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 5: But like Joshua, along the way, miracles kept happening. The 393 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 5: CEO of this large company flew in from out of 394 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 5: town to meet with us. We were told by our 395 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 5: attorneys that it was a ploy, just to confuse things. 396 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 5: But he said, Joel, I watch you on television. My 397 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 5: son in law is a youth pastor. Let's work something out. 398 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 5: Two days later we had an agreement. 399 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 4: The lawsuit was dropped. We were on our way. 400 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 5: When you go out not knowing, you'll see Jordan Rivers Park, 401 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 5: You'll see compact centers fall into place. God will make 402 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 5: things happen that you could never make happen. Don't get 403 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 5: stuck in the boat. Don't let the fear that you 404 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 5: can't see all the details. 405 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 4: Hold you back. 406 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 5: You're not supposed to see everything. God's leading you step 407 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 5: by step. When you're in the unknown, you're having to stretch, 408 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 5: pray and believe. 409 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:57,479 Speaker 4: That's when you're really growing. 410 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 5: Those three years we were in the battle over this place, 411 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 5: that's when I learned to pray like I had never prayed. 412 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 5: If I'd known how long it was going to take, 413 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 5: how much it was going to cost, I just said, no, 414 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 5: thanks God, I don't want that responsibility. I'm too young, 415 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 5: I don't have the experience. God knows what's in you. 416 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 5: He uses these steps to stretch you, to develop you, 417 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 5: to get you. 418 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 4: Prepared for the next level. 419 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 5: The journey is more important than the destination, because if 420 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 5: you don't get prepared on the journey, if you don't 421 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 5: learn what you're supposed to learn along the way, you 422 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 5: won't be able to handle where God has taken you. See, 423 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 5: God could have given us the compact center the first 424 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 5: week we prayed, or at least the first month we prayed. 425 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 5: That would have saved me a lot of stress. I 426 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 5: wouldn't have had to stretch, pray, believe why d wait 427 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 5: three years? 428 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 4: He was getting me prepared. I was learning to trust him. 429 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 5: My faith was being increased, my character was being developed. 430 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 5: What's interesting in those three years, Like the lady on 431 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 5: the GPS, I never heard anything new. I never heard 432 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 5: God say, don't worry, Joel, I got you covered. It's 433 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 5: all gonna work out. I had to trust him when 434 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 5: he was silent. I had to believe he was in 435 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 5: control when I didn't see any sign of it. I 436 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 5: had to keep reminding myself the steps of a good 437 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 5: person are ordered by the Lord. I took that step 438 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 5: knowing that God put the dream in my heart. I 439 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 5: didn't know how it would turn out. I didn't know 440 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 5: if we'd be successful, but I believed I was doing 441 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 5: what God asked me to do. And here's the key. 442 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 5: Even if you miss it, even if it doesn't turn 443 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 5: out the way you. 444 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 4: Thought, God knows how to use it for your good. 445 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 4: God would rather. 446 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 5: You take a step of faith and miss it every 447 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 5: once in a while than to play it safe your 448 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 5: whole life and never make a mistake. In the times 449 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 5: we make mistakes, miss it, we get off course. The 450 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 5: closed doors. That's all a part of God's plan. That's 451 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 5: getting us prepared for the open doors. But if you're 452 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 5: so concerned you're going to miss it, you'll never get 453 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 5: off a dead sinner. 454 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 4: I like what my friend Joyce Myers says. She was praying. 455 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 4: She said, God, what if I miss you? 456 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 5: God said, Joyce, don't worry if you miss me, I'll 457 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 5: find you. But sometimes we let the fear of the 458 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 5: unknown hold us back. Being in God's will, there will 459 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 5: be a not knowing factor. You're not going to know 460 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 5: all the details how it's going to work out. 461 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 4: You have to have this boldness to step in to 462 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 4: the unknown. This is what my brother Paul, did you know. 463 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 4: He's a medical doctor. 464 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 5: For thirteen years, he was the chief of surgery at 465 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 5: a hospital in Arkansas. He had a successful practice. Look 466 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 5: like that's how he would spend his life. But when 467 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 5: Daddy died in nineteen ninety nine, Paul felt the Lord 468 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 5: leading him to come back home to Houston to help 469 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 5: us pastor the church. His colleagues thought he was having 470 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 5: a midlife crisis. 471 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:08,439 Speaker 4: They told him to. 472 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 5: Wait at least a couple of years, get over my 473 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 5: father's death. Not make an emotional decision, but deep down. 474 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 5: Paul knew that's what he was supposed to do. In 475 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 5: his mind, it didn't make sense leaving your medical practice, 476 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 5: giving up all that training. 477 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 4: Thoughts started telling him what if it doesn't work out, 478 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 4: What if you don't like it, What if they don't 479 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 4: like you? 480 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 5: What if you get down there and Joel makes fun 481 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 5: of you all the time? In the natural, it seemed 482 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 5: like he was making a mistake. But like Abraham, Paul 483 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,120 Speaker 5: went out not knowing how it was going to work out. 484 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 5: He didn't have all the details. We didn't have a 485 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 5: ten year strategy. All he knew was the first step, 486 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 5: go back home and help your family. What Paul didn't 487 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,239 Speaker 5: know was how the ministry was going to grow. He 488 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 5: didn't know that after eight years of helping us faithfully 489 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 5: past to the church, God would open the door for 490 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 5: him to go to Africa several months at a time 491 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 5: and operate on less fortunate people. That was his dream, 492 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 5: to do medical missions. He thought he was walking away 493 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 5: from medicine. What he couldn't see. 494 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 4: It was all a part of God's plan. 495 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 5: If he had not stepped into the unknown, he wouldn't 496 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 5: have reached the fullness of his destiny. When you have 497 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 5: this boldness to go out not knowing your life will 498 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 5: be more rewarding, more fulfilling than you could ever imagine. 499 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 4: There was a young Jewish girl in the scripture named Esther. 500 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 5: She was an orphan, didn't come from an influential family, 501 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 5: but God raised her up. Now she was the queen 502 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 5: living in the palace. A man named Hayman tried to 503 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 5: secretly pass a law to get rid of all the 504 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 5: Jewish people. 505 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 4: Esther's uncle came to the palace and told her of 506 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 4: the ploy. 507 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 5: Said, you've got to go in and tell the king 508 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 5: what's going on. Problem was in those days if you 509 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 5: approached the king without him holding up his golden rod, 510 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 5: then you could be killed. 511 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,640 Speaker 4: Esther said, I can't do that. What if he doesn't 512 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 4: hold it up, that would be the end of me. 513 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:13,680 Speaker 4: God was asking. 514 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 5: Her to step into the unknown, but the what if 515 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 5: started coming. 516 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 4: What if he doesn't hold it up. 517 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 5: What if he's in a bad mood, what if he 518 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 5: gets upset. Just when she was about to talk herself 519 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 5: out of it, her uncle said, Esther, if you remain silent, 520 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 5: deliverance for the Jews will come from someone else, but 521 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 5: you and your family will. 522 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 4: Perish and who knows, but that. 523 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 5: You've come to the kingdom for such a time as this. 524 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 5: God was saying Esther, if you don't want to do it, 525 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 5: that's fine, I'll get somebody else. But the problem is, Esther, 526 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 5: you will miss your destiny. This opportunity will not come 527 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 5: your way again. This was her chance to leave her mark. 528 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 5: It was a now or never moment. I love what 529 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 5: Esther did. She said, I will go before the King. 530 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 5: If I perish, I perish, But I will not let. 531 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 4: This moment pass. Esther stepped into the unknown. 532 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 5: She not only had favor with the king, but she 533 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 5: was able to deliver her people. She became one of 534 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 5: the heroes of faith. Like Esther, we all have opportunities. 535 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 4: That won't pass our way again. 536 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 5: When my dad went to be with the Lord, I 537 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 5: had to make the choice to step up or play 538 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 5: it safe. That was one of those now or never 539 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 5: moments when they come your way. Don't shrink back, don't 540 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 5: let fear talk you out of it, don't let the 541 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 5: whatifs keep you in the boat. Be bold, be courageous, 542 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 5: step into the unknown. You may not have all the details, 543 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 5: you're not sure how it's going to work out. But 544 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,959 Speaker 5: like with Joshua. Along the way, miracles will happen. 545 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 4: God will open doors that no man can shut. 546 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 5: If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're about 547 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 5: to step in to a new level of faith, a 548 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 5: new level of influence. 549 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 4: Like Esther, You're going to. 550 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 5: Leave your mark, accomplish your dreams, and reach the fullness 551 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 5: of your destiny in Jesus's name. 552 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 4: If you receive it today, can you say amen? 553 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 5: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 554 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 5: the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 555 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:25,400 Speaker 5: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 556 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 5: into my heart. I make you my Lord and save you. 557 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 4: Friends. 558 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 5: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 559 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 5: born again. Get in a good Bible based church, keep 560 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 5: God first place. 561 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 6: Thank you for listening to the Jolus Deine podcast. Help 562 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 6: us continue to share the message of hope with those 563 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 6: all over the world. Visit Joelustin dot com slash give 564 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 6: Hope to give a gift today. 565 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 566 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 567 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 5: podcast to keep you. 568 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,959 Speaker 4: Inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. I 569 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 4: know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time. 570 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 7: More than ever before, people are turning to the church 571 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 7: for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 572 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 7: been ill equipped to help. That is until now. 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