1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 1: God bless you always. Our joy to come into your homes. 6 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: We love you, We know God has great things in store. 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: And if you're ever in our area, I hope you'll 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: stop buy and be a part of one of our services. 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: I promise you this will make you feel right at home. 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: But thanks so much for tuning in today, and again 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: thank you for coming out. I'd like to start with 12 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: something funny and I heard about this elderly lady. She 13 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: went to church one Sunday morning and a friendly usher 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: met her at the back door and said, ma'am, where 15 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: would you like to sit? She said, I want to 16 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: sit on the very first row. Yes, you're said, oh no, ma'am, 17 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: you don't want to do that. Our pastor is very boring. 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: He'll put you to sleep. Let me seet you somewhere else. 19 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: She looked appalled. She said, sir, do you know who 20 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: I am? He said, no, ma'am. She said, I am 21 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: the pastor's mother. He hung his head in embarrassment, and 22 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: finally he looked up and he said, ma'am, do you 23 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: know who I am? She said no. He said, Thank God, 24 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: hold up your bible and say it like you mean it. 25 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 26 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 27 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be 28 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 29 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 30 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 31 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about staying open for God 32 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: to do it his way. So often we put God 33 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: in a box. We tell him how to meet our 34 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: needs and when to do it, and who he should use. 35 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: We've got all these preconceived ideas about how it's going 36 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: to happen. But it says in Isaiah fifty five, God's 37 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: ways are not our ways. They are higher and better 38 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: than our ways. The way God chooses to do something 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: may not be the way that you were expecting. If 40 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: you are set in your thinking with preconceived ideas of 41 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,359 Speaker 1: how God's going to do it and who he's going 42 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: to use. You might miss the answer that God is 43 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: sending you. You could overlook someone, not even give them 44 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: the time of day, Yet God sent them to be 45 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: instrumental in your life. You could pass on an opportunity 46 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: because it's not what you had in mind. Yet the 47 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: fact is God is sending it to try to take 48 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: you to a new level. What am I saying? When 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: the answer shows up, it may not look like the 50 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: answer you were expecting. One time, the Disciples were on 51 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: a boat. They were rowing across the lake in the 52 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: middle of the night, and the wind was blowing very 53 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: strongly against them, so much so it was almost impossible 54 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: to get to the other side and to keep going forward. 55 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: As they struggled and struggled, I can hear them say, 56 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: I wish you Jesus was here with us. He could 57 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: calm these winds down. If he was here, it would 58 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,839 Speaker 1: be so much easier. All of a sudden, Jesus came 59 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,239 Speaker 1: walking on the water beside the boat. The scripture says 60 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: the disciples screamed in terror. They thought it was a ghost. 61 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: What happened Jesus showed up a different way, and they 62 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: didn't recognize it. They had never seen him in that form. 63 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: They had seen him during the day teaching on the 64 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 1: Sea of Galilee. They had seen him feeding the five thousand, 65 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: healing the lepers. They knew what he looked like during 66 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: the daytime, but they had never seen him in the 67 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: middle of the night, during a great storm, walking on 68 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: the water. And sometimes when God shows up a different way, 69 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: we don't recognize it. You could have the answer God 70 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: is sending you right now, Jesus could be walking on 71 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: the water right beside your boat. But because the answer 72 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: is not what you thought it would look like, because 73 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: you have preconceived ideas, it could keep you from seeing 74 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: what God is sending you. My challenge is to stay open. 75 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: The answer may not come a familiar way. It may 76 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: not happen like it happened last time. God may show 77 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: up in another form. When I look back over my 78 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: own life, I can see where time and time again, 79 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: God blessed me through people that I never expected. God 80 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: brought me through things in ways that I never dreamed of. 81 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: He showed up in another form, in the form of 82 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: a friend that I never expected to be a friend. 83 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: He used people to help me that were not on 84 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: my list of who I thought God would use. I 85 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: remember when we were trying to acquire this facility, there 86 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: were two people that came in contact with us. They 87 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: were very influential, very well connected, but they didn't have 88 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: any kind of religious background. They were a little rough 89 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: around the edges. In other words, they loved to party, 90 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: They love to have a good time. They were good people, 91 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: but they were a little far out. And it's interesting 92 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: we didn't pursue them. They pursued us. One of them 93 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: told me, Joel, this is my personal mission. I'm gonna 94 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: do everything I can to make sure that you get 95 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: this facility. My first thought was, is this right? This 96 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: is like oil and water. It's not what I was expecting. 97 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: God showed up in another form. Was I going to 98 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: be open and recognized the answer God was sending us? 99 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: Or was I going to let preconceived ideas caused me 100 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: to miss it. I was smart enough to say, God, 101 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: do it your way. If you want to use these people, 102 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: more power to them. We'll use their help. But see 103 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: a lot of times we have God in this box 104 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: and we think God can't use that man. He's a sinner. 105 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 1: He can't use her. She likes to party, he's got 106 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: a bad attitude. She's sarcastic. He doesn't even believe in God. 107 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: And listen, the longer I live, the more I realize. 108 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: God can use who he wants to use. God can 109 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: bless who he wants to bless. God can bring good 110 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: out of who he wants to bring good out of. 111 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: And we got to quit putting God in our box, 112 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: telling him what to do and when to do it, 113 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: and making these narrow minded judgments of who's good and 114 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: who's not good, and who God can use and who 115 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: God can't use. Listen. In the scripture, God used Rahab 116 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: the prostitute, to save the people of Israel. God used 117 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: a donkey to speak to a prophet. God used mud 118 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: and spittle to heal a blind man's eyes. God used 119 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: a little boy to feed five thousand. God used Pharaoh's 120 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 1: daughter to take care of baby Moses. In other words, 121 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: God used the enemy to take care of his children. Friends, 122 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: God is God. He can do what he wants to do. 123 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: Don't put God in a box and miss your miracle. 124 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: He may show up in another form. And some of 125 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: you today are too narrow minded. You've seen God during 126 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: the day, so to speak like the disciples, But now 127 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: God's showing up in another form. Instead of being open 128 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: and being willing to try something new, becoming friends with 129 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: someone that's not like you, trying a new opportunity that 130 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: you've never done before, You've got God in this box 131 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: thinking this couldn't be for me. I know it'll never 132 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: happen this way. Now you may have the answer that 133 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: you've been praying about, you just don't recognize it. My 134 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: sister Tamram had her mind made up about what kind 135 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: of man she was going to marry. She had a 136 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: list in her mind of what he is going to 137 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: look like, what he was going to do, what kind 138 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: of family he was going to be from, all these 139 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: conditions very specific. Of course, there's nothing wrong with praying 140 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: and believing, having ideas and goals, but you have to 141 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: stay open. What you need more than you do, and 142 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: your idea may not be exactly God's idea, but I 143 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: can promise you this God's way will be better than 144 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: your way. Tamra went off to college and she met 145 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: this young man that got interested in her, but he 146 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: had red hair. Well, Tamra didn't want somebody with red hair. 147 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: Red hair was not on her list. Plus he was 148 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: way too tall. Tamra is about five feet This young 149 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: man was well over six feet, big, strong, athletic guy 150 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: played college baseball. Tambra would call home say, Hew, this 151 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: guy named Jim keeps calling me and calling me. I've 152 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: told him month after month, I don't want to go 153 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: out with him. I'm not interested in him. Well, Jim 154 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: finally wore Tamra down, and just to get him to 155 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: quit calling, she agreed to go out to dinner. One night. 156 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: They went out and they just hit it off. Tamra 157 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: called back and said, you know what, I think. I 158 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: like this guy. He's friendly, he's kind, he's loving, he's 159 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: got a good personality, loves his family. On and on. 160 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: She couldn't quit talking about Jim. Today, twenty five years 161 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: later and four kids, Tamra and Jim are still growing strong. 162 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: They've passed her Faith Family Church in Victoria, Texas, and 163 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 1: Jim was recently voted one of the most influential people 164 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: in all those counties. What am I saying? Tamra had 165 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: the answer God was sending her, but she didn't recognize it. 166 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: God showed up in another form. Are there people in 167 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: your life right now that you're writing off because they 168 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: don't meet the conditions on your list. They don't have 169 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: the right background, the right height, the right job, the 170 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: right personality, the right nationality. How do you know you're 171 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: not missing out on an incredible friendship because of preconceived ideas. Well, Joel, 172 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: I'd never be friends with them. They don't have my 173 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: same interest. They work in a different department. They don't 174 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: meet the one hundred and twenty seven conditions on the 175 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: list of who would be my friend. You need to 176 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: get out of that little narrow box. Tamra thought she 177 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: would never marry someone with red hair, But do you 178 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: know today Tamra loves red hair. You'll be amazed at 179 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: what you finds you love if you just give it 180 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: a chance. Victoria always thought she would marry someone much 181 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: taller than me. But think about it, how could she 182 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: resist this face? What are you laughing at? Some of 183 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 1: you women? You're praying for someone tall, dark, and handsome. 184 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: Can I be real truthful with you? They may show 185 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: up short, light and not so handsome, but there'll be 186 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: somebody you can't live without. After all, what's on the 187 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: inside is more important than what's on the outside. Looks 188 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: can change. I remember a whole high school buddy of mine. 189 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: He was the star football player. He was built with 190 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: this incredible physique. He had this thick, curly blonde hair. 191 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: He looked like he was just out of a surfer magazine. 192 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: All the girls were crazy about him. I saw him recently, 193 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 1: and it's funny. He still has that thick, curly hair. 194 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: The only difference now is he can take it off 195 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: and put it back on. Stay open to the people 196 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: God put in your life. Don't have a narrow box 197 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 1: to where everybody has to look like you and think 198 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 1: like you, or you write them off. I saw recently 199 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 1: where these baby tiger cubs lost their mother. Normally they 200 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: would never survive, but somehow this big mother pig found them, 201 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: took them in and nursed them and cared for them 202 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: and protected them. It was the strangest thing. They had 203 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: a picture it showed all these baby tiger cubs cuddled 204 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: up to this big mother pig. You'll never know what 205 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: kind of friendships you could enjoy if you'll just get 206 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: outside of your box and stay open to the people 207 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: God brings across your path. I remember the first time 208 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 1: I ever met Marcos Witt, our Spanish pastor Marcos is 209 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: one of the most well known ministers and worship leaders 210 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: in all of Latin America. I had heard a lot 211 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: about him down through the years, but I'd never met him, 212 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: never even seen him. And one day his office called 213 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: and asked if he could rent our facility to have 214 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: a Spanish concert. And normally we don't do that, but 215 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: I'd heard so much good about him, we said yes. 216 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: In the night of the concert, I came down to 217 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: meet him and I walked in the back room and 218 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: I saw this middle aged Caucasian man over to one side, 219 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: and I politely said hello, and I kept walking. I 220 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: wanted to meet Marcos. I looked in another room. In 221 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: another room, nobody was there, and I came back to 222 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: that main room and he came up to me and 223 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: he put out his hand and he said, I've been 224 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: wanting to meet you. My name is Marcos Witt. I 225 00:12:56,679 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: nearly passed out here. He's the Hispanic minister in all 226 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: of Latin America. And I mean, he is as white 227 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: as me. God has a sense of humor. I told him, Marcus, 228 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: I don't mean to sound surprised, but I just thought 229 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: you'd look like Julio Iglesias. For what happened. God showed 230 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: up in another form. It wasn't what I was expecting. 231 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: It's funny. I had prayed about believed to have a 232 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: Spanish service for a long time, but I always thought 233 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: it would at least be led by someone that looked Hispanic. 234 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: But I almost missed Marcus. I passed right over him 235 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: because he didn't fit into my mold. Look around in 236 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: your life this week. Are there people God has put 237 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: there that you're writing off because they don't meet your conditions. 238 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: You've already prejudged them to not be for you because 239 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: of how they look, or what they wear, or where 240 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 1: they come from or what they do. You got to 241 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,199 Speaker 1: get out of that box. If tamer would have done that, 242 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: she would have missed out on a great husband, Jim. 243 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:03,839 Speaker 1: If I would have done that, we might have missed 244 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: out on being blessed by Marco's wit. We might not 245 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: even have our Spanish speaking service. Sometimes we allow tradition 246 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: to keep us from seeing the new thing God wants 247 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: to do. Before my father went to be with the Lord, 248 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: I worked in the television department here and we would 249 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: broadcast the services on Sunday, and I would work with 250 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: the ushers to seat the people properly. The old sanctuary 251 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: held eight thousand people, and at the time we would 252 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: have about six thousand come out on a Sunday morning. 253 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: One of the main ushers would say to me time 254 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: and time again, Joel, one day this place is going 255 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: to be filled to the top. It's going to be 256 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: packed full of people. I would always say, I agree. 257 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: I believe that too well. My father went to be 258 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: with the Lord in nineteen ninety nine and I stepped 259 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: up to pasture the church, and I didn't even know 260 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: this was in me. But by the end of that 261 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: first year, the building was full to the very top, 262 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: just like he talked about, so much so that we 263 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: had to start a second Sunday morning service and that 264 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: filled up, and then we started a Saturday night service. 265 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: Whenever I would see that ushered, I always think to myself, 266 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: he must be so happy. It's not only filled once, 267 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: but it's filled twice. That's what he talked about all 268 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: those years. But what's interesting is it didn't happen the 269 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: way he thought it would happen. I don't minister exactly 270 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: like my father. My father was more of a fireball. 271 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: I'm more laid back. My Dad's mission was to bring 272 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: down the denominational walls so that God's people could all 273 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: worship together. We are we are living in the day 274 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: my father dreamed of. Most people now are not really 275 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: concerned whether you're Baptist or Methodist or Church of God. 276 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you may be here today a Catholic sitting 277 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: by a Pentecostal, sitting by a Presbyterian sitting by someone 278 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: that doesn't even know what those names mean. The walls 279 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: have come down, But this usher was so set on 280 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: it happening a certain way the way my father did 281 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: it that when I came along and did it a 282 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: little bit different, even though it was filled up twice, 283 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: he couldn't accept it. He moved on. What was the problem? 284 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: God showed up in another form. He didn't recognize it. 285 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: He was stuck in tradition. He had God in this 286 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: little bitty box, thinking, if it's going to happen, Joel's 287 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: got to be just like his dad. No, God is 288 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: doing a new thing, and the new thing is not 289 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: going to look like the old thing. Stay open, don't 290 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: get stuck in tradition. God is a progressive God. I 291 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: really believe. One reason that some churches are not growing today. 292 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: They're even going down. Is because they're stuck in what 293 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: God was doing forty years ago, trying to make it 294 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: happen today. There's no anoying on it. What God did 295 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: back then was the right thing for then, and what 296 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: God is doing now is the right thing for now. 297 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 1: And if you're going to be blessed, you're going to 298 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: experience God's best, you've got to let go of the 299 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: traditions of yesterday and come over into the God of 300 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: the now and say, what God did back then is great. 301 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,880 Speaker 1: We celebrate what my father did. We celebrate the message 302 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: of power to the denominational world. But we can't get 303 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: stuck there. This is a new day and God's doing 304 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 1: a new thing. We see this even in the scripture. 305 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: John the Baptist showed up wearing camel skin, eating locust 306 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: and wild honey, preaching like no one had ever heard before. 307 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: He was different. He didn't wear robes and stay in 308 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: the synagod. What did the religious leaders say, He's got 309 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 1: a demon, there's something wrong with him. He couldn't be right. 310 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: God showed up in another form. They didn't recognize it, 311 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: even Jesus. They were waiting for the Messiah. But because 312 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: he showed up as a baby, many people didn't recognize him. 313 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: Because he came in a manger, through a young teenage 314 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:10,479 Speaker 1: girl born in a stable, many people didn't even pay attention. 315 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: Jesus grew up and went about healing the sick, bringing 316 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: hope to the fallen, lifting the hurting. He wasn't like 317 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 1: the other religious leaders. He didn't spend all of his 318 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 1: time in the temple in synagogues. He spent his time 319 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 1: among the people. But instead of celebrating him and being 320 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 1: happy for the good he was doing, the Scripture says, 321 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: they despised him. They called him a friend of sinners, 322 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: a friend of tax collectors. What was the problem. They 323 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 1: didn't recognize the new thing God was doing. They had 324 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: God in a little bitty box. Don't let that be 325 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 1: You stay open for something new. What God did twenty 326 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: thirty forty years ago, that was great, But what God 327 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 1: is doing today is not going to look like what 328 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: God did back then. Don't get stuck in tradition. If 329 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: you do, you'll develop a critical spirit, and you'll start 330 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: to find fault with everybody that's different than you, and 331 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: you'll go find your own group so you can sit 332 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: around and complain and criticize and talk about the way 333 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: it used to be. Well, Joel, this is not the 334 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: way my great grandmother had church. With all due respect, 335 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,400 Speaker 1: your great grandmother is in heaven. This is not your 336 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: great grandmother's day. This is your day. Well, Joel, these 337 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: are not the songs that we sung when I was 338 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: growing up in church, And we sure didn't have those 339 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,440 Speaker 1: electric guitars, and we didn't have those lights that move 340 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: around and change colors. Yes, but this is a new day. 341 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: It's the same God, but he showed up in a 342 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: different form. Can you recognize it? Well, Joel, you don't 343 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: use as many scriptures as your father did. You don't 344 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 1: teach line by line, verse by verse. No, that's because 345 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: I'm not my father. If God wanted us to be 346 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 1: like somebody else, he would have made it us as clones. Now, 347 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: quit trying to make what happened yesterday happen today, and 348 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,439 Speaker 1: just enjoy what God is doing right now. This is 349 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: an awesome day to be alive. Would you ever dream 350 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: that we would be having church in a former basketball arena. 351 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: I grew up watching the Rockets play basketball here. I 352 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: had season tickets right back over there. In fact, somebody's 353 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: sitting in my seats every time I come in here. 354 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: I'm still amazed at God's goodness. When I was growing up, 355 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: a church of a thousand people was a big deal. 356 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: Now there are churches all over with thousands and thousands 357 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: of people. The scripture says this, the glory of the 358 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: latter House will be greater than the glory of the 359 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: former house. That means what God is doing today in 360 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: your life is going to be greater and more powerful, 361 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: and more exciting, and more effective and more influential than 362 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: what God did in the past. But if you get 363 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 1: stuck in yesterday and you refuse to let go of tradition, 364 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: you will miss the greater glory, the greater influence, the 365 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: greater favor. We don't serve a God of yesterday. We 366 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: serve a God of right now. And what God is 367 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: doing right now is going to far supersede anything God 368 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:24,160 Speaker 1: has done in the past. I hear people say, well, Joel, 369 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: I'm just praying for revival. I've heard that since I 370 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: was a little boy. I'm praying for a move of 371 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: God's spirit and understand what they mean, But I don't 372 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: think they realize that we are living in revival. If 373 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: some thirty forty thousand people come out each week and 374 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: churches around the globe are impacting their community, God's favor 375 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: is on his people like never before. This is the 376 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: best time to be alive. Sometimes we think, well, if 377 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: I could have just lived back there in Bible days 378 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: with Moses and Abraham and David and Estra and Sarah 379 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: and Ruth. You know what those people are saying up 380 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: in heaven. If I could just lived down there with 381 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: Joel and Susan and Maria and Chris. They've got all 382 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: kinds of technology. They've got basketball arenas, they've got satellites, 383 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: they've got all kinds of ways to advance the kingdom. 384 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,640 Speaker 1: What a great day to be alive. Don't miss what 385 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: God is doing. The opportunities around us, the solutions to 386 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: our problems, they're all there. We just have to stay 387 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: open and get God out of our little box. There's 388 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: a man in the scripture by the name of Naeman. 389 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 1: He was a captain in the army, a very important person, 390 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: but he had a problem. He had leprosy. He went 391 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 1: to the prophet Elijah and asked him to pray that 392 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: God would heal him and Elijah said, yes, God will 393 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 1: heal you. But here's what you have to do. Go 394 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: down to the Jordan River and wash seven times and 395 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: you'll be made whole. Well, Naeman had these preconceived ideas 396 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: about how it was all going to happen that struck 397 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:01,719 Speaker 1: him as being odd. He said, Elijah thought two words 398 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:05,239 Speaker 1: that almost kept him from his miracle. I thought you 399 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: would just speak to me and make me whole, like 400 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 1: you've done for so many others. I thought you would 401 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: just lay hands on me. I thought it would happen 402 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 1: like it happened for my great grandmother. Naeman had to 403 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,439 Speaker 1: make a decision. Was he going to stay stuck in 404 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: tradition and miss his miracle or was he going to 405 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: take a step of faith and recognize that God was 406 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 1: doing a new thing. He finally convinced himself to go 407 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: down to the Jordan River, and when he came up 408 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,479 Speaker 1: the seventh time, he was perfectly whole. But here's my point. 409 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: He had the answer that he needed, but he almost 410 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: didn't recognize it because it was not what he was expecting. 411 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: Could it be that you had the answer you need today, 412 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 1: but because it's not how you thought it would happen, 413 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: or who you thought God would use. You're not pursuing it, 414 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 1: you're not moving forward. I think about my father as 415 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: a young man. He had a dream to pastor a 416 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: church with thousands of people in it. In the early 417 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: nineteen sixties, that seemed impossible. There weren't any big churches 418 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 1: back then. My dad was pastoring a small church. He 419 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: was on the state board for his denomination. Everything was 420 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 1: going great. But what my father had on the inside 421 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: was bigger than anything he saw in his denomination. He 422 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: prayed for God to open up new doors and give 423 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: him more influence. He started preaching to his congregation with 424 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: a new fire, telling them that God was a good God, 425 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 1: that he could do miracles, that they could live a 426 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 1: life of victory. It's this message of faith that we 427 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: have today. He thought the congregation would be excited and 428 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: that's how God would increase him. But it was just 429 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: the opposite. They didn't like his new message of faith. 430 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 1: It didn't fit in their denominational mold. They were steeped 431 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 1: in tradition. Down deep, my father knew he was supposed 432 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:02,479 Speaker 1: to leave that church. Looked like a setback, but really 433 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: it was a set up. It looked like the end 434 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: of a dream. But really it was a new beginning. 435 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: He didn't realize it at the time, but that was 436 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 1: God showing up in another form. He could stay there 437 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: and play it safe and let traditions set the limits 438 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: for his life, or he could take a step of faith, 439 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 1: recognizing God was doing a new thing. He took that 440 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: step of faith, and that's when he started Lakewood Church 441 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 1: in nineteen fifty nine with ninety people in an abandoned 442 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: feed store. All the critics said it won't last, it'll 443 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 1: blow over, and sure enough it did. It blew over 444 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: the whole city. Here we are today, still going strong, 445 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: fifty one years later. Here's my point. The answer didn't 446 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: look like what he thought it would look like. He 447 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 1: prayed for increase. At first, he got decrease. He prayed 448 00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: for more influence. At first, he got less influence. God 449 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: knows what he's doing. If you'll stay in faith, it 450 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: may look like a setback, but it'll turn out to 451 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:07,959 Speaker 1: be a set up to take you to a new 452 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: level of your destiny. And some of you today you 453 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: have the answer that you need. You don't recognize it. 454 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 1: My challenge is to stay open, don't be set in 455 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 1: your thinking. To where it can only happen one way, 456 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: and you've told God how to do it and who 457 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: to use and when it could happen. Let God out 458 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: of your box. He may not use somebody that's on 459 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: your approved to use list. He may take you in 460 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: a way that you've never thought possible. That's God showing 461 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,719 Speaker 1: up in another form. Don't live narrow minded, get rid 462 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: of preconceived ideas. God's ways are not our ways. They 463 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: are better and higher than our ways. And if you 464 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 1: will stay open and let God do it his way, 465 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: then like Naiemen, you'll get your miracle. Like my father, 466 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: you'll see promotion, Like my sister, you'll discover lasting relationships. 467 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: I believe in declare you will overcome every obstacle, defeat 468 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: every enemy, and you'll become everything that God's created you 469 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: to be a man. Do you receive it today? We 470 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: never like to close our broadcast without giving you an 471 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 1: opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would 472 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent 473 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you 474 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 475 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again, Get in a good 476 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 1: Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's going to 477 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: take your places that you've never dreamed of. 478 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 2: What if what you imagine came to pass. What if 479 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 2: what you asked for turned out greater than what you 480 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 2: can see? What if you could plan for God's best 481 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 2: in your life. 482 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: We all have hopes and dreams and things were believing for. 483 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: But what God has in store for you is more 484 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,640 Speaker 1: than you can imagine. When you start the year off 485 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 1: in faith, believe in for greater things, that's when God 486 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: will exceed your expectations. We love to send you our 487 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:11,160 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five More to Imagine planner. You can write 488 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: down your dreams and goals, plus use it for your 489 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: everyday activity and reminders. 490 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 3: It is so important to feed yourself out and faith 491 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 3: on a daily basis. This planner is not only a calendar, 492 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 3: but it's filled with inspiration and scripture to help you 493 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 3: stay encouraged and keep believing for what God has put 494 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 3: in your heart. 495 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: He sees your faithfulness, how you being your best each day. 496 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 1: You're going to see the goodness of God in new 497 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: ways in twenty twenty. 498 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 2: Five as you support the ministry this month with a 499 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 2: special year end gift of any amount. We would like 500 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 2: to bless you with the More to Imagine twenty twenty 501 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 2: five planner. With the new planner, you can start each 502 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 2: day writing down the fresh vision God gives you, whether 503 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 2: it's appointments, daily tasks, or long term desires in your heart. 504 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 2: Let each note be a testament to your faith. Included 505 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 2: are hand picked scriptures and uplifting reflections to empower you 506 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 2: as you walk this faith journey with Jesus one day 507 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 2: at a time. 508 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 3: Joel and I are standing in faith with you that 509 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five will be a year of far and 510 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 3: beyond favor for you and your family. 511 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: We pray for you every day for God's very best, 512 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: and we want to thank you for your prayer and support, 513 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: especially your year end gifts. You are impacting people all 514 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: over the world. Remember you can watch the services online 515 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:33,880 Speaker 1: every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, listen on SERIOUSXM. 516 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: We'll watch our YouTube channel and the new Joel Ostein 517 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: streaming television network twenty four hours a day until we 518 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 1: see you next time. Have a very merry Christmas. 519 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of the More to 520 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 2: Imagine twenty twenty five Planner Today, Visit Joeloustein dot com 521 00:29:52,320 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 2: or call us toll free