1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 2: We believe you're going to. 4 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: Have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: God bless you today and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 2: It's good to be in the house of the Lord. 7 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 2: We love you so much. You may be seated. Seven 8 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: billion people are estimated to be on this planet. Can 9 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: you believe that seven billion people? With seven billion people, 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: there's probably a lot of problems in the world, probably 11 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 2: a lot of issues going on. 12 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 3: You know. 13 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: I just want to tell you today there may be 14 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: seven billion people on this earth, but I want you 15 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 2: to know you are up close and personal with God today. 16 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: Don't feel like you're alone. Don't feel like that He 17 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 2: does not know where you are and what is going 18 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 2: on in your life, because the Bible tells us that 19 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 2: He's counted every hair on your head. Job said this, 20 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: he knows everywhere I go, He knows every step I take. 21 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,559 Speaker 2: The Scripture says that he knows every breath we take. 22 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: God is an ever present God. He is omnipresent, which 23 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 2: means he is everywhere, all the time. He is omnipotent 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: He is the creator of this universe and he controls 25 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,639 Speaker 2: it all. So often people feel like maybe God doesn't 26 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: know where they are. I'm in this big world all 27 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 2: by myself, but I'm here to announce today. God has 28 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: you in his sights and he knows exactly what's going 29 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 2: on in your life. I love the story found in 30 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: John four. It's about the Samaritan woman who came to 31 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: the well one afternoon and Jesus was there. Now, this 32 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 2: story has amazing revelations of all kind, but what I 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: want to look at today, when this woman came to 34 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: the well, Jesus was there all by himself. So she 35 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: came to the well at the hottest part of the day. 36 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 2: She was by herself. She was actually trying to avoid people. 37 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: She had quite the reputation, so it was her time 38 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: to slide in, get her water from the well, and 39 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: get out before anybody else could see her. But she 40 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 2: encountered Jesus that day. And when she came upon Jesus, 41 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: he drew near to her. He began to talk to her. 42 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 2: He began to ask her questions. Now, Jesus was a 43 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: Jew and she was a Samaritan, and the two didn't mix. 44 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 2: She was astounded that, first of all, this Jewish man 45 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 2: would talk to her, so she began to talk back 46 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: to him. She slowly but surely eased a little closer 47 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 2: and began to listen to what he said. Jesus was 48 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 2: offering her salvation that day. He began to ask her 49 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: about her life, and she answered a few questions. And 50 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: then at that moment, he wanted her to know something 51 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 2: very important. He wanted her to know that he knew 52 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: all about her. He began to tell her, yes, I 53 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: know that you have been married five times, and he said, 54 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 2: I know that the man you're with right now, he's 55 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: not your husband. She couldn't believe it. This man knew 56 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: everything about her. He was a Jew. He was still 57 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 2: talking to her. He was offering her living water. Even 58 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: though she didn't quite comprehend what he was saying, she 59 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 2: felt the closeness he was drawing her unto himself. He 60 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 2: was saying, I know all about you, and I still 61 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 2: love you, and I want to offer you something in 62 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: your life that will fix every problem you have or 63 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: you will ever have. She was so touch She was 64 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: so moved that she literally ran into town to tell 65 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: people about this man. She wanted to spread the news 66 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 2: if there is a man at Jacob's will that knows 67 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: everything about me. Now you have to understand this woman 68 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: was an outcast. People would have shunned her, they lay, 69 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 2: but she was so confident after speaking to Jesus that 70 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: she stripped off all those labels and she ran to 71 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: those people. She did not care. She said, I want 72 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: you to know there is a man who has drawn 73 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: me near with such love and affection. He knows everything 74 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,679 Speaker 2: about me, and he hasn't judged me. So I'm thirty 75 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 2: four eighteen. The Lord is near to the broken hearted, 76 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: and he saves those with crushed spirits. See, this woman 77 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 2: was broken hearted. She was crushed by the trials of life. 78 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 4: But Jesus said, you're the one I want to save. 79 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 4: You're the one I want to draw near to. You're 80 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 4: not alone, You're not too far from God. He's drawing 81 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 4: near to you even now. 82 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: We read a play a couple of years ago at 83 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: the Worthing Theater here in the city, and we had 84 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 2: okay seats. I couldn't see the stage very well, and 85 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 2: there were five of us, and as we sat down 86 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: and got all situated real there was only one set 87 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 2: of binoculars for all five of us. So I waited 88 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: patiently as the play began for the binoculars to make 89 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 2: their way down to me. And when they did, I 90 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: got those binoculars in my hand, and I was so excited. 91 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: I drew those binoculars up near my eyes and I 92 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: focused them just right. And do you know I got 93 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 2: so close to that stage. Where I was far away 94 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: from the stage, it now was right up close and personal. 95 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: I could literally see the expressions on the actor's faces. 96 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 2: I could hear them better because I knew which one 97 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 2: was talking. Now what was once far away had been 98 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: drawn close to me because I had these binoculars focused. 99 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: And do you know, sometimes in life we feel so 100 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: far away from God. But can I tell you? In 101 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 2: Ephesians too, it says, but now in Christ, you who 102 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 2: were far away, have been brought near the blood of 103 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. See, you may have been far away and 104 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 2: distant in your life, but God has got you in 105 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: his sights. He has put his god binoculars and he 106 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: has focused you in. You are right there, up close 107 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 2: and personal to your God. Today. Don't get a distorted 108 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: view of a person who cannot be seen and who 109 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 2: cannot be felt by God. You are not just one 110 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 2: of seven billion. You are God's chosen vessel. You are 111 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: his child. He has handpicked you. He wants to offer 112 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 2: you something every single day that will take care of 113 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 2: every problem you have or every problem you will ever have. 114 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 2: He wants to spill your thirsty soul. He doesn't care 115 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 2: where you've been, he doesn't care what you've done. He 116 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 2: just wants you to know I'm right here. I'm an 117 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: up close and personal God. See, when you have children, 118 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: you get a little better understanding of God's power love 119 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: towards you. Joel, and I have two children. They are 120 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 2: my children. Okay, I carry them for nine months, I 121 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: delivered them. They are my children. Everything good about those 122 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 2: children are me everything not so good? Joel, those are 123 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: my kids. And can I tell you I'm thinking of 124 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 2: them all the time, no matter where they are. I 125 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: am thinking about those kids. Whether they call me or 126 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 2: text me, I love to hear from them. I find 127 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 2: joy if they call me wanting something like they usually do. 128 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: That's okay, because they're my kids. Do I agree with everything? No, 129 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: I don't. But let me tell you something. I am 130 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: committed to those kids. I will draw close to those 131 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: kids all the days of their life, because they are mine. 132 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: They belong to me, and I'm committed to them. I 133 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: will never throw my hands up no matter what and 134 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: say I'm done. I will never turn my back on 135 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 2: them and say whenever you get it right, then you 136 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 2: can come close to me. No, I will always run 137 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: to them no matter what, because they are mine. And 138 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 2: that's exactly what our heavenly Father does. He doesn't judge us, 139 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 2: he doesn't criticize us. He doesn't always look at what 140 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: we're doing wrong. He has not thrown his hands up 141 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: and taken his face away. No, he is drawn near. 142 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 2: Even in the worst of your times, you get the 143 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: best of your God, he says, when you are weak, 144 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: I'll be strong through you. I'll never retract my love. 145 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 2: I will never be distant from you, but I will 146 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 2: always be that up close and personal God. Can I 147 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 2: tell you today to whatever you're facing, God sees it. 148 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 2: He sees the expression on your face, he feels the 149 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 2: pain in your heart, and it's only a matter of 150 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: time before he helps you and change just a situation. 151 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: But you cannot think that you are not important to God. 152 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 2: You've got to grab hold of what he is offering 153 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 2: you today. Have confidence today that no matter what messure in, 154 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 2: whether you caused it, whether someone else caused it, have 155 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 2: confidence that God is going to help you. Just like 156 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 2: that woman at the well, listen, she erased every label 157 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: when she realized this Messiah, this God, the one we 158 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: have always been longing for, is standing in front of 159 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: me and willing to draw near to me. God is 160 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 2: an amazing God. He loves you no matter what's going 161 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 2: on in your life. Grab hold of him, respond to 162 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: him in faith. Get this image of him looking through 163 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 2: his binoculars keeping you close, and I believe things will 164 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: turn around in your life. You'll become stronger and more 165 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 2: confident to face every challenge and every problem you ever encounter. Amen. Amen, 166 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 2: this is my Bible. 167 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: I am what it says, I am, I have. 168 00:09:59,600 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 2: What it is. 169 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: As I have, I can do this. As the first 170 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: Bible that my parents gave me I was six years old, 171 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:08,959 Speaker 1: they taught me the importance of believing what God says 172 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: about you and letting that determine your self image to 173 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: how through the Scripture you can learn to handle challenges 174 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: and pursue your dreams. 175 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 2: Some people tell me. 176 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: That the Bible's not practical for them. How they don't 177 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: understand it. We've created a new resource called how to 178 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: Read Your Bible and Enjoy It. It provides twelve distinct 179 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 1: lenses that will help you see the Bible with fresh eyes, 180 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: so you can discover the hidden treasures that increase your faith, 181 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: practical truths. 182 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 2: That will help you in your everyday life. 183 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: When you tap into the power of God's Word, there's 184 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: no limit to where He'll take you. 185 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 3: As are way of saying thank you for your gift 186 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 3: of any size to the ministry this month, Joel would 187 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 3: like to send you this inspiring new resource. Sometimes reading 188 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 3: the Bible can feel confusing, out of touch, or even 189 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 3: produce more fear than faith. But now with this new resource, 190 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 3: how to Read your Bible and Enjoy It, it will 191 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 3: make the Word of God come alive in new ways. 192 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 3: You'll discover fresh inspiration on every page of your Bible. 193 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 3: The twelve lenses give you the power to see the 194 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 3: Scripture in a whole new light. When you experience the 195 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 3: right way to approach God's word, it will ignite renewed 196 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 3: passion in your life. 197 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: When you get God's Word down in you, it brings 198 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: life and Victory. This has a great Bible reading plan 199 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: plus introductions to each book. It'll help you enjoy reading 200 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: the Bible. Thanks so much for being a part of 201 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: the ministry. Victoria and I pray for you and your 202 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: family every day, and we appreciate your prayers and support. 203 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 204 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube, or we have 205 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: a new Joel Osting television network twenty four hours a day, 206 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: and of course SYRIXXM as well. Until we see you 207 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: next time, May the Lord bless you and keep you. 208 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of How to Read 209 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 3: Your Bible and Enjoy It today. Visit joelostein dot com 210 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 3: or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel call 211 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 3: or click anytime, twenty four hours a day.