1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: It's a joy to come into your homes. If you're 7 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: ever in our area, please stop buy and be a 8 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,119 Speaker 1: part of one of our services. I promise you we'll 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: make you feel right at home. I like to start 10 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: with something funny, and I heard about this man. He 11 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: was driving through an intersection that was monitored by cameras. 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: If he ran the light or broke the law in 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: any way, you'd receive a ticket in the mail. So 14 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: he made sure to go through it extra slowly. But 15 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: he noticed the camera flashed and took his picture. He thought, 16 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: that's not right. He turned around and drove through it 17 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: even more slowly. Once again, the camera flashed. He thought, 18 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: this thing is messed up. They cannot give me a ticket. 19 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Out of spite, he drove through it three more times, 20 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: each time, I'm waving at the camera with a big smile. 21 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: A week later, he received five tickets in the mail 22 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: for not wearing his seat belt. Say it like you 23 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 24 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: says I am. I have what it says I have. 25 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 26 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 27 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 28 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 29 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about prune for promotion. 30 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 1: We all go through times where it feels like we're 31 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 1: going backwards. We were doing so good. Business was strong, 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: our family was happy. We knew we had God's favor. 33 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: But then things turned. We lost a major client, our 34 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: child didn't get the scholarship, a friend walked away. We 35 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: wonder what happened? What did we do wrong. But just 36 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: because you're having difficulties things you don't understand, doesn't mean 37 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: you're not in God's will. God is ordering our steps. 38 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: Sometimes he will order a cutback. Just as there are 39 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: seasons of growth, there are seasons of pruning. Without the pruning, 40 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: we won't become all we were created to be. God 41 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: won't allow a cutback if it's not going to eventually work. 42 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: For your good. It may be uncomfortable. You don't understand it. 43 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: You lost a contract, you lost a relationship, lost an opportunity. 44 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: God wouldn't have let you lose that if he wasn't 45 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: going to give you something better. He may have pruned 46 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: a friend out of your life. There's a better friend coming. 47 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: You may have lost a job. There's a better job 48 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: on the way. You suffer a setback in your health, 49 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: Better health is in your future. Don't be discouraged by 50 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,959 Speaker 1: the cutback. It's a sign new growth is coming. Jesus 51 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: said in John fifteen, I am the vine. You are 52 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: the branches. My father is the gardener. Every branch that 53 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: doesn't produce fruit, he cuts away. This makes sense when 54 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: we have things in life that are not productive. A 55 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: friend pulling us down, a job not leading anywhere. He'll 56 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: cut those things away so we can put our attention 57 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: and focus on the things that are moving us forward. 58 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: We can understand losing something that's not adding value. But 59 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: he goes on to say, every branch that does bear fruit, 60 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: the gardener cuts back so it will bear more fruit. 61 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: The only way to go from fruit to more fruit 62 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: is to be cut back. There are times in life 63 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: where we will lose something that doesn't make sense. You're 64 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: going to work with a good attitude, helping others, faithfully 65 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: raising your ch children. You're doing the right thing, but 66 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: the wrong thing happens. Instead of being discouraged, slacking off, 67 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: having no passion, recognize it's a pruning season. Without that cutback, 68 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: you won't see new growth. You may be satisfied to 69 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: stay where you are, not be uncomfortable, not rock the boat. 70 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,119 Speaker 1: But God is not satisfied. He loves you too much 71 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: to let you miss your destiny. He has new levels 72 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: in front of you. Will you trust him in the 73 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: cutback seasons? Will you keep doing the right thing in 74 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: the times of pruning when things have gone backwards, when 75 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: you could be discouraged. Jesus said, if you abide in me, 76 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: you will bear much fruit. He talks in this passage 77 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: about fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. The way to 78 00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: increase is simply by abiding. He was saying, when things 79 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: happen you don't understand, things that don't make sense. When 80 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: you could be bitter, you could slack off instead. If 81 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: you'll trust me, if you'll believe I'm still directing your steps, 82 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: if you'll praise me even when it's not fair. If 83 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: you'll stay faithful when you could be frustrated, if you'll abide, 84 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: that means you keep doing the right thing. You keep 85 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: a smile on your face, you keep being good to people, 86 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: you keep expecting God's favor. Then you're passing the test. 87 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: You'll come into more fruit. When you prove to God 88 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 1: that you'll be faithful in the cutback seasons, he'll release 89 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: you into much fruit. He'll take you where you could 90 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: not go on your own. But we're not going to 91 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 1: see these new levels without going through seasons of losing things. 92 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: We don't understand, seasons that are uncomfortable, seasons where what 93 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: worked in the past is not working now. Don't be discouraged. 94 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: The cutback season is all a part of the process. 95 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: It's a sign that new growth is coming. I talked 96 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: to a man. The company he worked for sold. They 97 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: let all the employees go, and for the longest time 98 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: he couldn't find a new job. He ended up having 99 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: to move back home to another state. He was living 100 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: with his mother. He's in his fifties. He said, I 101 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: never dreamed I'd be here at my age. I don't 102 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: know what happened. I told him what I'm telling you. 103 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: You came into a cutback season. It's not a surprise 104 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: to God. Now whether you stay there or not depends 105 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: on what you do. If you get better, complain, talk 106 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: about how bad life is, then you'll get stuck. But 107 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: when you recognize that cutback is a sign that new 108 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: growth is coming, that more fruit is in your future, 109 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: that God is getting you prepared for new levels, you 110 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: make this decision to try rust him, to believe that 111 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: he's in control, then things are going to change in 112 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: your favor. You're going to see new doors begin to open. 113 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: I saw him about a year later. He had a 114 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: new job. He had just moved into a beautiful new house. 115 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: He said, Joel, I am happier and more fulfilled than 116 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: I've ever been. Don't let the cutback fool you. The 117 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,679 Speaker 1: enemy didn't get control of the pruning years. He didn't 118 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: overtake God, and now he's directing your steps. God is 119 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: still in control. You may not light the cutback, it 120 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: may not make sense. This is what faith is all about. God. 121 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: I don't understand it, but I trust you. I know 122 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: you wouldn't have allowed it if you didn't have a purpose. 123 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: I want to thank you that I'm not just going 124 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: to come out, but I'm going to come out better. 125 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: But I wonder how many times we're fighting what God 126 00:07:55,960 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: has ordained. Now, I believe in standing against sickness is addictions, dysfunction, 127 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: But every difficulty is not the enemy. It's the gardener. 128 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: God prunes us. He cuts things back, not to limit us, 129 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: but to get us prepared for new growth. Are you 130 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: discouraged over something you lost, something that didn't work out, 131 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: thinking the enemy is hindering you, when in fact it's 132 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: the hand of God. We give the enemy too much credit. 133 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: He can't touch you without God's permission. We believe that 134 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: God is directing our steps. When good things are happening, 135 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: it's easy to thank him in the harvest seasons, the 136 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: growing seasons, the promotion seasons. But in the pruning seasons 137 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: you have to dig down deep. Your praise in the 138 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: cutback seasons carries more weight than in the harvest seasons. 139 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: You're not only showing God that you trust him, but 140 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: God is doing a work in you. Your character is 141 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 1: being developed, your spiritual muscles are getting stronger. We may 142 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: not like the pruning seasons, but God is the gardener. 143 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: He knows when to cut something back or will get stuck. 144 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: He is not going to cut something back without giving 145 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 1: you more in return. Dare to trust him. A couple 146 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: of years ago, I planted some trees along my fence 147 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: in the backyard to help block the view. I bought 148 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: the biggest ones I could find. They were about fifteen 149 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: feet tall, and they're the type that form a thick 150 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: hedge that you can't see through. They're outside my kitchen window, 151 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: and I was constantly checking their growth. I could measure 152 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: how close they were getting to the telephone lines. They 153 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: were doing really good. About six months later, the man 154 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: that helps with my landscaping said it's time to trim 155 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: the bushes trim the trees and ask if it was okay. 156 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: I told him yes, but not to touch the tree 157 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: along the back fence. I wanted that thick hedge. He said, okay, 158 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: but they're not going to grow like they should. I said, 159 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: what do you mean? He said, When we prune them, 160 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: it stimulates new growth. If we don't cut them back, 161 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: they won't be as tall and thick as they should be. 162 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: I'm not a gardener. I thought, just the opposite. They're growing, 163 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: They're doing good. Don't bother them. The gardener knew if 164 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: he didn't bother them, if he didn't take them through 165 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: a cutback, it would actually limit their growth. Next year, 166 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: they wouldn't be where they should In the same way, 167 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: God is your gardener. He's not going to cut you 168 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: back without a purpose. He's not going to prune you 169 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: if it's not leading to more fruit. It may not 170 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: make sense to you. You feel like you're going the 171 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: wrong direction. God knows what he's doing. That landscaper said 172 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: to me, let me trim them and watch where they'll 173 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: be next time. You'll be surprised at how big and 174 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: full they are. You may have been cut back. God 175 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: is saying, watch where you're going to be next year. 176 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: Watch the people that are going to come into your life, 177 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: Watch the opportunities, the new doors that are about to open. 178 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: You won't be complaining about the cutback. You'll be saying, Lord, 179 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: thank you for pruning me, thank you for getting me prepared, 180 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: thank you for taking me to new levels. What I 181 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: want us to see is the pruning is not because 182 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: you've done something wrong. It's not because God has forgotten 183 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 1: about you. It's a test. Will you abide, will you 184 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: stay in faith? Yes, the pruning seasons are not comfortable. 185 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: We don't like it, but it's all a part of 186 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: the process. It's what leads to much fruit. But you 187 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 1: can't get too much without being cut back. If you 188 00:11:55,360 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: don't understand this, you'll be frustrated. Joel, I come every Sunday. 189 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: I volunteer at the hospital. I'm always cheering people up, 190 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: and now I'm the one that's down. I had a 191 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: bad break. That's not the enemy trying to stop you. 192 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: That's God getting you prepared for new levels. The apostle 193 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: Paul never prayed for God to remove his difficulties. He 194 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: prayed that God would give him strength to endure whatever 195 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: came his way. And if we could pray away the 196 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: cutback seasons, Jesus would have done it. The scripture says 197 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: he endured the pain of the cross looking forward to 198 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: the joy that was coming. Some things we have to endure. 199 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: The way to do it is to know that it's 200 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: not permanent, and to know that you're going to come 201 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: out better. Keep reminding yourself that cutback is leading to 202 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: new growth. And what's interesting is God cuts us back 203 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 1: when we're bearing fruit, not when we're off course doing 204 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: things wrong. But when we're doing things right, when good 205 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: things are happening. Now, I could have taken the pruning 206 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: shears and thought, I'm gonna save some money this year. 207 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna trim my own trees. The problem is I 208 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: don't know when to prune, and I don't know where 209 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: to prove. Some plants need to be cut back in 210 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: the spring, others cut back in the fall. Sometimes you 211 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: may skip a season. Pruning shears in the wrong hands 212 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: can be detrimental. I can have good intentions and cut 213 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: at the wrong time, at the wrong place and damage 214 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,079 Speaker 1: my trees. Do more harm than good. When Victoria and 215 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: I were first married, she said, Joel, let me put 216 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 1: some blonde highlights in your hair, just to lighten it 217 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: up and give you a new look. You know this 218 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: is not going to turn out good. I was so 219 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: in love and so dumb, I mean, so respectful. I 220 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: would let her do anything she asked. So she put 221 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: these blonde highlights in my I had foiled all through it. 222 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: We had to wait thirty minutes. When she took the 223 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: foil off, Victoria started laughing and laughing. Now, when Victoria 224 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: is nervous or afraid, she doesn't panic. She doesn't get upset. 225 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: She laughs. I knew this was not a good sign. 226 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: When I looked in the mirror, my hair was as 227 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: orange as can be. I said, Victoria, you have to 228 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: put it back. She laughed and said, I don't know how. 229 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: Here's my point. The right tools in the wrong hands 230 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: can be dangerous. The good news is God is your gardener. 231 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: He's the only one that can prune you. He's in 232 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: control of your cutbacks. When Satan wanted to test job, 233 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: he couldn't go in and get the pruning shears do 234 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: whatever he wanted. He had to ask God for permission. 235 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: When you go through a cutback, a loss, things you 236 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: don't understand, remind yourself, well, God has the pruning shears. 237 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: He is not going to prune you to where you 238 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: end up with less, less joy, less strength, less resources. 239 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: That may happen temporarily, but if you'll keep abiding, that 240 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: cutback is leading to more fruit. God wouldn't have allowed 241 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: it if he wasn't going to bring you out better, stronger, 242 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: wiser with new growth. You may be in a cutback 243 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: season now wondering how you went from doing great to 244 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: where you are. You were being your best looks like 245 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: you've lost ground, yes, but that loss is not permanent. 246 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: What you can't see is that cutback is setting you 247 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: up for new levels. You're about to come into a 248 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: season of much fruit, a season where you see increase 249 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: like you've never seen, good breaks, promotions, relationships better than 250 00:15:55,640 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: you've imagined. A while back, a cable network that aired 251 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: our services on Sunday nights informed us that they were 252 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: going to start running movies. At that time, they had 253 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: to cancel our contract. We had been on this network 254 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: for thirty five years. We had a loyal audience, people 255 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: that watched us there faithfully each week. I thought, God, 256 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: I don't want to go backwards. I want to go forward. 257 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: That was one of our best outlets here. We were 258 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: doing the right thing. We were bearing fruit, people were 259 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: being helped. But sometimes God closes a door that we 260 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: don't understand. I've been buying airtime way back with my 261 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: father's ministry for many years. There's nothing available on Sunday nights, 262 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: especially commercial television. It looked like this cutback was permanent. 263 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: About six months later, a men we work with called 264 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: said Joel, I couldn't find another cable network on Sunday nights. 265 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: But I did get the broadcast networks like CBS and ABC. 266 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: They agreed to move their programming Sunday nights after the 267 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 1: news so they could er your program The audience on 268 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: the broadcast stations is three times what it was on 269 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: the cable network. I went from fruit to more fruit. 270 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: Notice how it happened. I was cut back. I didn't 271 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: understand it. It didn't seem like a good thing at 272 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 1: the time. But now I say, Lord, thank you for 273 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 1: cutting me back. Thank you for opening doors I never 274 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: dreamed would open. Thank you for ordering my steps. The 275 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:37,360 Speaker 1: cutback you're disappointed with now, if you'll keep abiding, thanking 276 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: God being your best, one day you'll look back and 277 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: say with me, Lord, thank you. Your ways are better 278 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: than my ways. You could see things that I couldn't see. 279 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: Trust him in the cutback seasons. Believe that he's still 280 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: directing your steps. Remember he has the pruning shears. The 281 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: enemy cannot cut you back. God has a hedge of 282 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: protection around you. In the Scripture of God told Abraham 283 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 1: to take his son Isaac on top of a mountain 284 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,439 Speaker 1: and sacrifice him. We think of Isaac as being a 285 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: little boy, but most scholars believe he was in his 286 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: late teams. The scripture says he carried a pile of 287 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: wood on his shoulders for the fire. He could have 288 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: resisted laying on the altar, resisted letting his father tie 289 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: him up, but he was willing to go through with it. 290 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 1: I believe one reason is because he knew the knife 291 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: was in the right hands. He knew he could trust 292 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 1: his father. When you understand the pruning shears are in 293 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 1: your heavenly father's hands, when you know he won't cut 294 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: you back without a purpose, that whatever he takes away 295 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: temporarily is so he can bring you out with more 296 00:18:55,400 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: than Like Isaac, you won't fight the cutback seasons, you 297 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: won't be better God, I was doing my best. Why 298 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: did this happen? You trust your father. You know he's 299 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: in control of the cutbacks. He wouldn't have taken you 300 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 1: backwards if he wasn't going to bring you out with 301 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,880 Speaker 1: much fruit. Now I've learned God's idea of much is 302 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: very different than our idea of much. You think you're 303 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 1: blessed now you haven't seen anything yet. You should see 304 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: what God has in store for you. I thought I 305 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 1: was doing good all those years, working behind the scenes 306 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: with my parents, putting my father's ministry on television. I 307 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: never dreamed one day I would be up here, people 308 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 1: would be watching all over the world. I went from 309 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: fruit to more fruit, to much fruit. But what brought 310 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: me here wasn't necessarily the good times, the times everything 311 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: fell into place. It was the cutbacks, the things I 312 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: didn't understand, the loss of my father. But in all 313 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: those times that didn't make make sense, I've learned I 314 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: can trust the one who has the crooning shares. I 315 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 1: know the enemy cannot cut me back. So I've done 316 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: my best to just keep abiding, being faithful when I 317 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: could be frustrated, doing the right thing when the wrong 318 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: thing was happening, Thanking God through the disappointments, through the laws, 319 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: through the times that didn't seem fair. If you'll keep abiding, 320 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: at one point you'll come out of the cutback season 321 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: into a growing season, out of not having enough into 322 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: having more than enough. Steve Jobs was one of the 323 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: most brilliant minds of our generation. He found an Apple computer. 324 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 1: It grew larger and larger, became very successful, but over 325 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: the years he had conflict with his board. Eventually they 326 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 1: voted him out. He was fired from the company that 327 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: he founded. It didn't seem fair. He could have lived 328 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: bitter upset. Instead out and started another company. It became 329 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: so successful. A few years later Apple bought his company, 330 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: brought him back, and put him in charge. He said, 331 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: if I had not been fired by Apple, I would 332 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: have never developed these skills that have made me into 333 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: who I am. God knows what he's doing. He's not 334 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: going to let you be cut back without a purpose. 335 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: It may look like a bad break, but if you'll 336 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: keep the right attitude, you'll see how it will all 337 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: work to your advantage. He knows when to take something away. 338 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: It is not to limit us, it's to promote us. 339 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: If that person left you, it wasn't an accident. Their 340 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: part in your story was over. God pruned them. Now 341 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 1: keep moving forward. If that project didn't last, it wasn't 342 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: supposed to. God closed the door. Don't sit around discourage 343 00:21:56,440 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: thinking poor old me Like Steve, you're being prone wound 344 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 1: to bear much fruit. Get ready for the new thing 345 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 1: God is about to do. Get ready for new levels 346 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: of favor, new levels of abundance. This is what my 347 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: father did. Back in the nineteen fifties. He was pastoring 348 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 1: a thriving church They had just built a beautiful new sanctuary. 349 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: He had seven hundred members. That was a big deal. 350 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: Back then, he was on the state board for his denomination. 351 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 1: His future looked very bright. My sister Lisa was born 352 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 1: with something like cerebral palsy. My father began to search 353 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: the scriptures in a new light. He saw how God 354 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: is a healer and how he wants us to live 355 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: a blessed, victorious life. He thought the congregation would be 356 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 1: excited about his new message of faith and victory. It 357 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: was just the opposite. It didn't fit into their denominational teaching, 358 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: and there was a lot of opposition. They ended up 359 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 1: asking my father to lead. He was devastated. Lifelong friends 360 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: never spoke to my mother again. Didn't make sense. It 361 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 1: didn't seem fair. He could have been bitter God, Why 362 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 1: did this happen? I was being my best? Why did 363 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: I go backwards? He understood every branch that bears fruit 364 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,120 Speaker 1: will be cut back, not to stay at a loss, 365 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 1: not to live defeated, but for one reason, to bear 366 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 1: much fruit. Sometimes the favor of God is disguised as 367 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: a cutback. It takes maturity to distinguish between the enemy 368 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: trying to stop you and the gardener at work. Too 369 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: often we're discouraged over what God has ordained instead of 370 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: being sour. My parents went out and started Lakewood. They 371 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: didn't have a beautiful new sanctuary. They had an old 372 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: Rundown feed store. They didn't have seven hundred people. They 373 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,959 Speaker 1: only had ninety. A cutback looked like they were going 374 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: in the wrong direction. There are times God will take 375 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: you backwards before he thrust you forward. The cutback season 376 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 1: is a test. He's seeing what are you going to 377 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: do when you have a bad break. It didn't work out. 378 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:19,479 Speaker 1: You worked hard, but the business didn't make it. You 379 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: were good to that person, but they walked away. What 380 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: you do in the pruning seasons will determine whether you 381 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 1: stay there or whether you come out better. My parents 382 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 1: just kept abiding, giving, serving, loving. They didn't focus on 383 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: what they didn't have. They thanked God for what they 384 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: did have. This didn't happen overnight, but like God promised, 385 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: they went from more fruit to much fruit. Lakewood grew 386 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 1: to a church of many thousands. We're still going strong today, 387 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: but we all want the much fruit. The question is 388 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: are we willing to go through the process, Will we 389 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: do the right things in the time of pony, when 390 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 1: things don't make sense. My father would have never come 391 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: into much without the cutback. He would have never become 392 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: all he was created to be in that limited environment. 393 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 1: That's why God pushed him out. And sometimes God will 394 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 1: close a door because where you are is too small. 395 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 1: You may not be able to see it. It's big 396 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: to you, it's fulfilling. But God's dream for your life 397 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: is much bigger than yours. His idea of much is 398 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: very different than our idea. I'm asking you to trust 399 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 1: him in the cutback seasons. We're not going to understand 400 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: everything that happens along the way. God knows what's best 401 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: for us. That's why the scripture says His ways are 402 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: not our ways. You may be in a time of pruning. 403 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: You've had some cutbacks, You've gone the wrong direction. Now 404 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 1: you're kind of discourage. Recognize God is getting you in 405 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: position for new growth. He wouldn't have pruned you if 406 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 1: he didn't have something better. Now do your part, keep abiding, 407 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: keep thanking him, keep trusting him, keep staying faithful. If 408 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 1: you will do this, I believe and declare that cutback 409 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: is not permanent. Like my father, you're about to come 410 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:23,879 Speaker 1: in to much fruit. Abundance is coming, Promotion is coming, 411 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: breakthroughs are coming. The fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, 412 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: And if you receive it, can you say him in today? 413 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 1: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 414 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 415 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 416 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 1: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 417 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 418 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 419 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: God first place. 420 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 2: We all carry a mental picture of what our life 421 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 2: can be. Is yours limited? Do you picture yourself stuck? Inadequate, defeated? 422 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:12,719 Speaker 2: Are you willing to change your mindset in order to 423 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 2: experience a life of blessing and abundance. 424 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 1: We all have a picture in our mind of ourself, 425 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: our family, our future. And if that picture is negative, 426 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: you see yourself at a disadvantage. Your problem's too big, 427 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: it's gonna limit your life. A new book, The Abundance Mindset, 428 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: will help you see yourself the right way if you'll 429 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: change those negative pictures, start seeing yourself blessed, healthy, rising, high, 430 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,520 Speaker 1: or accomplishing dreams. Then things will begin to shift in 431 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: your favor. You have to see it on the inside 432 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: before it'll come to pass on the outside. We'll send 433 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: to the Mindset Journal too. These tools will help you 434 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: get your inner vision in the right place so you 435 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: can move into the favor and blessing that God has 436 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: for you. 437 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,200 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 438 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 2: of any amount this month, we would like to send 439 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 2: you a copy of Joel's book The Abundance Mindset and 440 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 2: this inspiring Mindset Journal. Joel shares powerful scriptures and encouraging 441 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 2: thoughts about how to move from fairly enough to more 442 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 2: than enough, how to be someone else's miracle and experience 443 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 2: miracles in your own life. As you make the book 444 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 2: and journal a part of your daily walk, you'll be 445 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 2: built up every day regarding how to tap into God's 446 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 2: favor and blessing, how not to talk yourself out of 447 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 2: the dreams and opportunities He has already prepared for you, 448 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 2: how to experience life to the fullest. Request your copies 449 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 2: today and begin to see a new mental picture of 450 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 2: yourself that will lead to new measures of blessing, favor, promotion, 451 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 2: and abundance. 452 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: Let's go into twenty twenty five with an abundant mindset. 453 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: I'll believe you're going to see the goodness of God 454 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 1: in new ways. Victory and I want you to know 455 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 1: we pray for you and your family every day for 456 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: God's very best. We want to thank you for your 457 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: prayer and support. You are impacting people all over the world. 458 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners 459 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: for your monthly support. If you're not a partner, I 460 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember you can watch the 461 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: services online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, listen 462 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: on Serious Exam, watch on YouTube. Also the new Joelostein 463 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: Network streaming on television twenty four hours a day. Until 464 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: we see you again. May the Lord bless you and 465 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: keep you. 466 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of the Abundance Mindset 467 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 2: Book and Mindset Journal today. Visit Joelostein dot com or 468 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 2: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for an 469 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 2: additional donation. This month, we are also offering His Goodness 470 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 2: Abundance Bowl. You can request this inspiring resource by calling 471 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 2: eight eight eight five six seven Joel. We're logging on 472 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 2: to joelostein dot com Today. 473 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great opportunity. 474 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: We called it Homecoming Weekend. We love to meet you 475 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: and your family. You can see the building and attend 476 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: one of the services. It's a great time to be 477 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 1: a part of the Lakewood family. Looking forward to seeing 478 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: your Homecoming Weekend.