1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 2: blessing and share it with a friend. 5 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 6 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: your life. Well, God bless you. It is always our 7 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,639 Speaker 1: joy to come into your homes, and we know God 8 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: has great things in store. And you're ever in our area, 9 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: I hope you'll stop by and be a part of 10 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: one of our services. I promise you it will make 11 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: you feel right at home. But thanks so much for 12 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: tuning in today. I like to get started with something 13 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: funny each week, and I heard about this man named Bill. 14 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: He was a Southern Baptist and he loved to sneak 15 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 1: out to the horse races and bet. And one day, 16 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: after losing almost all of his money, he saw a 17 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: priest step out onto the tracks and bless a horse. 18 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: He watched closely, and sure enough the horse won first place. 19 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 1: The next race, the priest blessed another horse, once again 20 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: it won. Well, Bill ran down to the ATM machine 21 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: got all of his money out. This time he saw 22 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: the priest not only touched the horse's forehead, but he 23 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: touched his eyes, his ears, and all of his hoofs. 24 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: Feeling so confident, he bent all of his money. But 25 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: in the middle of that race, that horse fell over 26 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: and died. He couldn't believe it. He said to the priest, 27 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: what in the world happened. The priest said, that's the 28 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: problem with you Protestants. You don't know the difference between 29 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: a blessing and the last rites. All right, hold up 30 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: your Bible, say it like you mean it. This is 31 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 32 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: have what it says I have. I can do what 33 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: it says I can do. Today I will be taught 34 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 35 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 36 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 37 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: to you today about embracing change. One thing is certain. 38 00:01:54,640 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: Change is inevitable. People change, jobs, change, styles, change, even 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: seasons change. And God has designed us to need change. 40 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: But so many people fight it. They hold on to 41 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: the old because they're familiar. It's what they're used to. 42 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: They're comfortable. If we're not careful, we'll get stuck in 43 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 1: a rut to where we're not growing, we're not stretching, 44 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: not using the potential on the inside. That's one reason 45 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: God sends change. He won't allow us to stay stuck. 46 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: And sometimes the very things that we fight against, the 47 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: very things that we think are trying to pull us down, 48 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: is actually the hand of God trying to push us 49 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: into a new season. The way God works is he 50 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: will stir us out of comfortable situations and he'll put 51 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: us in situations that make us stretch, situations that force 52 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: us to use our faith. We may not like it, 53 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: it may be uncomfortable, but God loves us too much 54 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: to just leave us alone. Just as God can supernaturally 55 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: open doors, sometimes God will supernaturally close doors. And if 56 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: we can just realize nothing happens by accident, God is 57 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: directing every one of our steps. That means if a 58 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 1: friend does us wrong, if we go through a setback, 59 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: if we lose a loved one, we can either embrace 60 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: that change and God will use it to take us higher, 61 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: or we can resist it and we'll end up getting 62 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: stagnant and just settling for mediocrity. We have to stay 63 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: open for change, don't approach change from a negative point 64 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: of view to where you just automatically assume it's going 65 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: to be bad. It may be negative on the surface, 66 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: but remember God would not allow it if he didn't 67 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: have a purpose for it. He's going to use it 68 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: to stretch you and to somehow hopefully push you into 69 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: a new dimension. What may be a perfectly fine situation 70 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: for years, all of a sudden you see a stir 71 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: taken place. Maybe you thought you'd be at that job 72 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: for the next thirty years, but for some reason, the 73 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: people that were behind you are not behind you anymore. 74 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: You don't have the favor you used to have. There 75 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: seems like every day is an uphill battle. What is that? 76 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: That's God's stirring things up? It's easy to get negative. Better, God, 77 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,679 Speaker 1: why is this happening? I thought I had your favor? 78 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: But a much better approach is to just stay open 79 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: and know that God is still in control. If you 80 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: will embrace that change, the whims that you thought were 81 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: going to defeat you will actually be the winds that 82 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: push you into your divine destiny. Stay open for change. 83 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: So many people resistant. They try to hold on to 84 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: things that God's been done with for ten years maybe 85 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: in a relationship. Deep down, we know that friend is 86 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: not good for us. We know they're keeping us from 87 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: being our best, but we think, man, if we change, 88 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: we're not going to have friends. We're going to be 89 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: love only. We just don't want to rock the boat. 90 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 1: That's why sometimes God will turn the boat over. Sometimes 91 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: God will force us to move forward, not because he's mean, 92 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: not because he's trying to make our lives miserable, but 93 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: because he has such a great desire to see us 94 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: reach our full potential. So sometimes he may cause a 95 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: friend to walk away. He'll stir things up and maybe 96 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: even allow a friend to do us wrong because he 97 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: knows if he doesn't close that door, we would never 98 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 1: move ahead. Thirty years later, that friend would still be 99 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: dragging us down, keeping us from our destiny. Don't be 100 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: discouraged over the people that leave your life. You may 101 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: have had a friend, a coworker, an associate that walked 102 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: out of a relationship. You're kind of down thinking that 103 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: it was the end, but you need to realize it 104 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: is only the beginning. God would not have stirred it 105 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: up if he didn't have something better in store. And 106 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: you may think they were doing you wrong, but really 107 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: they were doing you a favor. You need to just 108 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: blow him a kiss, goodbye, wave at him, never look back, 109 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: keep moving forward. What I'm saying is when things start stirring, 110 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: that's a sign transition is coming. My father, for many 111 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: years pastored a denominational church. He was doing great, they 112 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: were growing. He thought he would be there the rest 113 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: of his life. But one day he began to feel 114 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: something on the inside, a desire to get to know 115 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: God better. It was about that time that my sister 116 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: Lisa was born with something like cerebral palsy. My parents 117 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: were forced to deal with that change. My father went 118 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: away for a few days and God alone, and he 119 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: began to search the scriptures. And he came back to 120 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: his congregation and begin to preach with a new fire, 121 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: a new enthusiasm, letting them know that God is a 122 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: good God, that he has an abundant life, and then 123 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: he could even still heal today. He thought everybody would 124 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: be excited, He thought they would all be behind him, 125 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: but it was just the opposite. They didn't understand it. 126 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: It didn't fit into their tradition. They thought he was 127 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: far out, and some of my mother and father's longtime friends, 128 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: people they had known for years, turned on them, started 129 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: talking behind their backs, started stirring up trouble, saying that 130 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: he needed to leave. My dad was devastated. He thought, God, here, 131 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: I've given my life for these people. Why is this happening? 132 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: But the fact is God was the one stirring it 133 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: all up. God knew my father would never reach his 134 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: full potential if he stayed in that limited environment. He 135 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: knew he would never be able to spread his wings 136 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: and soar if he stayed in those confines. And it 137 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,559 Speaker 1: looked like a big disappointment. It looked like the enemy 138 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: was getting the best of him. But the truth is, 139 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: behind the scenes, God was orchestrating at all. God could 140 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: see the big picture. My father left that church dejected, 141 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: feeling like his days of ministry may be over, feeling 142 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: like he was a big failure. But it was actually 143 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: that closed door that caused my dad to take a 144 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: step of faith and start Lakewood Church. That was on 145 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,239 Speaker 1: Mother's Day in nineteen fifty nine. Here we are today, 146 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: nearly fifty years later, still going strong. My sister Lisa 147 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: is perfectly normal, But I don't believe we would be 148 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: where we are right now if God had not stirred 149 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: it up, and if my father had not been open 150 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: for change. Moses said in Deuteronomy thirty two eleven, as 151 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: an eagle stirs up her nest, so God will stir 152 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: up his children. When you see things stirring in your life, 153 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: things are uncomfortable, changes are taking place, don't immediately think Wow, 154 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: why don't I always get these bad breaks? Nothing good 155 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: ever happens to me. No, just turn it around and say, God, 156 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: I know you're still in control, and I believe you're 157 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: stirring this up because you're about to open up a 158 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 1: new door and take me to a higher level. Stay 159 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 1: in faith. I read where people that live over one 160 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: hundred years, one of their common qualities is they are 161 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: able to accept change. They don't hold on to the old. 162 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: And that's one thing I love about my mother. She's 163 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: not quite a hundred yet. But when my father went 164 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: to be with the Lord, they had been married nearly 165 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: fifty years, and sure my mother was disappointed. She went 166 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: through a season of mourning, but she didn't stay in 167 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 1: that season. She dusted herself off, She put her shoulders 168 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: back and got ready for the new thing that God 169 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: was about to do. And when a season is over, 170 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: we've got to learn to accept it and get ready 171 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: to embrace the new. That means quit talking about the 172 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: job that you lost, Quit talking about the relationship that 173 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 1: didn't work out. We're even quit talking about how when 174 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 1: you were younger, you could run so fast and you 175 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: were so thin and you had all your hair. Now 176 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: this is a new day. You got to accept the 177 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 1: where you are right now, learn to embrace that change. 178 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 1: I think about how when Victoria and I took over 179 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: after my father went to be with the Lord, we 180 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: didn't do everything exactly like it had been done in 181 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: the past. While we always honor the past, and we 182 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 1: honor and respect my parents. They founded the ministry, but 183 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: God made us all individuals, and so we made some 184 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: slight changes in the services here and there how things operate. 185 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: But my mother never once came and said, Yoel, I 186 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: don't think we should do it that way. That's not 187 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: the way we've done it in the past. I don't 188 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 1: know if that's the way your father would do it. 189 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: She's very good at embracing the new. So often we 190 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: try to hold on to the old. I've had people 191 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: tell me, Joel, this is the way we did it 192 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: when I was growing up. These are the songs we 193 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: used to sing in church. This is how our minister 194 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: used to minister. We didn't have those guitars, we didn't 195 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: have those lights, especially the ones that move, and we 196 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 1: weren't in a basketball arena. I grew up in a 197 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: little church, Joel Well, I grew up in a little 198 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: church too. But it was God who moved us out 199 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: of the little church. It was God who opened up 200 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: this door. I stay open for change today. Were in 201 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: a big church. Understand, what was good in the past 202 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: was right for the past. It was right for that time. 203 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: But God is a progressive god. He likes to do 204 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: new things. And if you're going to be your best today, 205 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: you've got to learn to not only accept change, but 206 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: to embrace it. I say this respectfully, but I know 207 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: people that go to the same church year after year. 208 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: They don't enjoy it. They're not growing, they're not being challenged. 209 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: But they wouldn't dare try anything different because their family 210 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: has been in that church for four hundred and twenty 211 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: seven years. Great great great Granddaddy sat on this pew. 212 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 1: Great Grandmama said, on this pew, I sit on this pew. 213 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: My kids sit on this pew. This is our pew. 214 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: You'd be better off to fight a pit bull than 215 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: to try to get their pew. Have you noticed we 216 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: don't have any pews around here? What's the problem? They 217 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: are stuck in tradition, and tradition is not bad, but 218 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: tradition can change. Have you ever thought about how you 219 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: can start a new tradition for your family. You can 220 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: do something different, and if you do it in the 221 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: right spirit, in love, people will accept it. And I'm 222 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: all for being loyal and sticking with something, but I 223 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: also know you have to put yourself in a place 224 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: where you're going to grow, where you're going to be challenged, 225 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: not just in your church, but in your relationships, in 226 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: your job, in your career. Recognize what was good in 227 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: the past was right for the past, but we can't 228 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: try to hold on to something that was right at 229 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: one time but it's not right for us now. Maybe 230 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: that season is over and it's not that it was 231 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: a bad season. It's just a new day and God 232 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: wants to do a new thing. Just like it's great 233 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: to have organs in church. I like that, but it's 234 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: also great to have guitars it's great to sing the 235 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: old hymns. We still do that, but it's also great 236 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: to sing I am a friend of God. It's great 237 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: to have ministers that are more formal, that can explain 238 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: theology and doctrine. But it's also great to have people 239 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: that can make the scripture practical and people that can 240 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: teach us how to apply it to our own lives. 241 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: It's interesting in the Book of Acts, chapter two, the 242 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: disciples and some one hundred and twenty people were in 243 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,200 Speaker 1: the Upper Room. They're in Jerusalem waiting for the promise 244 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: of the Holy Spirit. It finally came. There was a 245 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 1: great outpouring of God's spirit, a big celebration. They were 246 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: all rejoicing. People heard it from all over and they 247 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: came to see what was happening. That day, three thousand 248 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: people were added to the church. It was the biggest 249 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: thing that had ever happened to the early Church. And 250 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 1: those disciples begin to stay around Jerusalem, after all, that's 251 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,599 Speaker 1: where it all got started. That's where they were comfortable. 252 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,119 Speaker 1: But understand where something starts is not always where it finishes. 253 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: And I can imagine those disciples anytime they had a problem, 254 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: anytime they got discouraged, they said, let's go back to 255 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: that upper room. Let's go back and sing those same 256 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: songs that we sang twenty years ago. What they were 257 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: saying is, let's see if we can get God to 258 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: do the same thing once again. Now I know people 259 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: that are sitting around waiting for God to do something 260 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: that he did fifty years ago. All the while God 261 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: is saying, come on, now, I want to do a 262 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: new thing. Don't get stuck in the old. It's easy 263 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: to take a treasure and try to turn it into 264 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: a tradition. Well, Joel, if it could just be like 265 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: it used to be, like the good old days. No, 266 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: God is saying, let go of the old. He's got 267 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: some good new days. What God is going to do 268 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: in your the future is gonna far supersede what he's 269 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: done in your past. But you cannot get stuck in tradition, 270 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: Stuck in a job that you're not growing, Stuck in 271 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 1: a relationship that you know god's stirring you out of, 272 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: stuck in a neighborhood that's hindering you, even stuck with 273 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: bad attitudes, wrong mindsets, limited thinking. It's time that we 274 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: get out of those ruts and don't be surprised in 275 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: the coming days if you don't see God stirring things up, persecution, 276 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: people talking about your unfair things happening. Instead of getting discouraged, 277 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: even though it looks like a bad break in reality, 278 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: that's God about to open up a door and take 279 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: you to a new level. Don't keep running back to 280 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: the old old friendships, old acquaintances, old attitudes, tradition. God 281 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: does things in seasons, and it's not that the old 282 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: was bad, not that the friend is not a great person, 283 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: but maybe that season is over. That job may have 284 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: been great for you for a time, but now God's 285 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: trying to push it into a new direction. Or that 286 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: church that your family grew up in, they're still great people, 287 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: but maybe it's a new season for you. God knows, 288 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: like with my father, we are not going to become 289 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: everything He's created us to be if we stay in 290 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: a limited environment. So He's going to do his best 291 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: to stir us out of those situations. Sometimes he will 292 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: even close the door and force us to make a change. 293 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: I have a good friend, and he knew down deep 294 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: that he was supposed to leave his job. He had 295 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: so much more in him, He had certainly outgrown it. 296 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: We talked about it several times, but he was just 297 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: playing it safe, staying where it was comfortable. And you've 298 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: got to know this man. He is the nicest person 299 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: in the world. He is a model employee, goes the 300 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: extra mile, gets there early, and stays late. But one 301 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: day he called and said, Joel, you'll never believe what happened. 302 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: I said what he said, I just got fire. I said, 303 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: you got fired. That's like saying, mother, Teresa just robbed 304 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: a bank. That's impossible. But sometimes if we don't take 305 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 1: the hint, God will close the door. God will force 306 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: us to move forward. Today, that gentleman is a vice 307 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:20,479 Speaker 1: president of a major corporation. He continues to rise higher, 308 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: reaching his full potential. But I wonder if God had 309 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: not been so good to close that door and to 310 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 1: push him forward, he would probably still be there today, 311 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: settling for mediocrity. Friends, you weren't created to be average. 312 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: You were created to excel. You were created to leave 313 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: you a mark on our generation. When things are stirring 314 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: in your life, when doors are closing, change is taking place, 315 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: don't get off into doubt and say, oh, man, another 316 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: problem I've got to deal with stay in faith, stay open. 317 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 1: It could be that's God trying to push you into 318 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: your divine destiny. The scripture says persecure USh arose in Jerusalem, 319 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: so Philip went down to Samaria. It didn't say that 320 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: Philip prayed about it. He decided to go to Samaria. 321 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: He didn't have a choice. The persecution forced him out 322 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 1: of Jerusalem. He got pushed out of his comfort zone. 323 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: Don't you know the same God that poured out his 324 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: spirit in Jerusalem could have stopped the persecution. God closed 325 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: the mouths of lions earlier. Surely God could have stopped 326 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: those people from talking about him. No, that persecution was 327 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 1: for a purpose. God used it to get Philip where 328 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: he wanted him to be. It was in Samaria that 329 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 1: Philip saw his greatest days of ministry. That's where he 330 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,439 Speaker 1: saw God do things that he had never seen before. 331 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: But I often wonder if Philip would have been a 332 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: little hard headed and thought, I'm not leaving Jerusalem. This 333 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 1: is where it started. I'm going to fight this opposition. Now. 334 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: I realize there are times we have to dig our 335 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: heels in, but sometimes we got to step back and 336 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 1: just say, God, what are you trying to do in 337 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: my life. I am not going to be hard headed 338 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: and hold on to this job, this relationship, this ministry, 339 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: this attitude. If I can clearly see that you are 340 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: trying to close the door, we have to stay open 341 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: for change. Job said, I thought I would die in 342 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: my nest. In other words, he got his nest all 343 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: fixed up, he got his house just like he wanted it, 344 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 1: had a successful business, everything was going great. He was 345 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: finally comfortable. In what happened, God stirred up his nest. 346 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: And no, God doesn't send the trouble, but he will 347 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: allow difficulty only if it can further us toward our 348 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: divine destiny, and if we can just keep the right perspective. 349 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: Some of you today, like Philip, you've been pushed out 350 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: of Jerusalem. You've had some closed doors, and you're kind 351 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 1: of down and discourage. You need to take heart because 352 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 1: Samaria is about to open up. God will never close 353 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: the door unless he's about to open up another door. 354 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: And if you stay in faith, it will be a 355 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: bigger and a better door. God never performs his greatest 356 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: feats in our yesterdays. Quit being discouraged over what didn't 357 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: work out. Somebody may lie about you. You lost a 358 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: loved one, lost a job. You got to shake that off. 359 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: You've been through the fire, been through the flood, been 360 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: through the famine. Now it's time for favor. It's time 361 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: for increase. It's time to see God do the new 362 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: thing He's about to do. That stirring is a sure 363 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: sign transition is coming. God is about to take you 364 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: to a new level. That's what happened in my own life. 365 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: When my father went to be with the Lord. That 366 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: was the most difficult thing that I'd ever faced, But 367 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: it was actually that difficulty that pushed me into my destiny. 368 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: I would not be up here today if my father 369 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: was still alive. It was too easy. Behind the scenes, 370 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,639 Speaker 1: I was comfortable. But when Daddy went to be with 371 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: the Lord, it was as if God just closed that door, 372 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 1: and I took that step of faith, and that's when 373 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: I discovered gifts and talents that I never knew I had. 374 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: We all love when God opens doors, but sometimes our 375 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: closed doors do us even more good, because if God 376 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: had not closed the door, we would have been satisfied 377 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 1: to just stay where we were. And sometimes the reason 378 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: God closes a door is so that we cannot go 379 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: back this is what happened with the Red Sea. God 380 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: opened it up and the people of Israel went through 381 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: on dry ground. Then Pharaoh and his army were drowned. 382 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: That was important, But what really mattered is when God 383 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: closed it up. The people knew they could not go back. 384 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: At times they wanted to, but they knew the door 385 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: had been closed. And some of you right now you 386 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: are fighting change, trying to hold on to the familiar. Well, Joel, 387 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: if it could just be like it used to be, 388 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: like the good old days. No, God is saying let 389 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: go of that. Maybe that season is over, and not 390 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: that it wasn't a good season. I have eight memories 391 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: with my dad, but we can't stay there forever. It's 392 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: time to start moving forward. This is a new day 393 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 1: and God has new victories in front of you. He 394 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 1: has new mountains to climb, new friendships to make, new 395 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: business is to start, and God's trying to stir you 396 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 1: out of your nest. As you begin to take these 397 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 1: steps of faith, you're gonna discover, like I did, you 398 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 1: have gifts and talents that you never knew you had. 399 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: You're gonna go places it's gonna amaze you. You're gonna 400 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: do things you never thought you could do. It's because 401 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: God's dream for your life is so much bigger than 402 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: your own. But so often we try to stay where 403 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: it's familiar. Especially when we're having difficulties, we run back 404 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: to where it's comfortable. There are even foods that are 405 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: called comfort foods. These are foods we eat when we 406 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: get stressed out. I can tell some of you have 407 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 1: been very stressed tomor I read where after nine to 408 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: eleven many Americans gain five to ten pounds. Why we 409 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 1: were stressed, and so we started eating these comfort foods. 410 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: These are the foods that we ate growing up that 411 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: make us feel secure, Foods that remind us of the 412 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: good old days growing up. Pizza, ice cream, nachos. Isn't 413 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: it funny how when we get stressed we never go 414 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 1: eat a salad that doesn't do it. Human nature always 415 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 1: likes to go back to the old I remember growing up, 416 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,919 Speaker 1: we had this dog by the name of Scooter. He 417 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: was a big german shepherd. After all of us kids 418 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: went off to college, he didn't have anybody to play with. 419 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: He started roaming around the neighborhood and getting in all 420 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 1: kinds of trouble, and so we decided to give him 421 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:43,719 Speaker 1: to a friend of ours that lived out on a 422 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: farm about ten miles away. They had fifteen twenty acres 423 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: plus there were a bunch of kids out there to 424 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 1: play with. And one day, about six months later, I 425 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:56,879 Speaker 1: was at home on break from college, and it had 426 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 1: been really storming, thundering on and off lightning for several hours. 427 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 1: And one thing Scooter never liked was thunder. That was 428 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: his pet peeve. Anytime it would thunder he would run 429 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: to the very back of the garage and hide in 430 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: a certain spot. That was his safe place. Nothing could 431 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: get in his way. And this day I just happened 432 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:20,400 Speaker 1: to be looking out the window, and as I said, 433 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: it had been storming, and I noticed, about a quarter 434 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: of a mile away this dog running full blast toward 435 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: our house. I thought to myself, that could not be Scootered. 436 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: He lives ten miles away. Sure enough, he got closer 437 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: and closer. It was Scooter. When he got to the house, 438 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 1: he ran right past me, didn't even stop to say hello. 439 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: He went right into the garage and got back in 440 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: that exact spot that he was used to. You know 441 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: what's funny is Scooter's new place, his new home was 442 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: a whole lot better than ours. He had twenty acres, 443 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,200 Speaker 1: he had a big barn to live in. All kinds 444 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: of kids matter. When it got difficult, when it got tough, 445 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: instead of embracing and accepting the new, he came running 446 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 1: back to the old, running back to what he was 447 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: familiar with. And I wonder how many times we do 448 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:16,160 Speaker 1: like old Scooter. God has opened up new doors, He's 449 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: given us new opportunities, but we're so focused on how 450 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,919 Speaker 1: it used to be and what we're familiar with, we 451 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: keep coming back to the old. No, it's time to 452 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:30,119 Speaker 1: accept change. Stay open. Once God has done with something, 453 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: it's never going to be like it was before. Well, 454 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: it sure was good back then, joy Yes, but let 455 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: me tell you it's going to be even better in 456 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 1: the days ahead. Don't keep going back in your thoughts, 457 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: in your attitudes. It's not healthy to constantly relive how 458 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 1: it used to be. If a door is closing, that 459 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 1: means God is giving you the grace to move forward. 460 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: I say this respectfully, but I've never been back to 461 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: my father's grave. I loved my dad, but I know 462 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: that season is over. He's not in the grave anyway. 463 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: He's in heaven. If you go back and you visit 464 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,400 Speaker 1: your loved one's grave and that's how you honor them, 465 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: that's fine as long as you're not living in the 466 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: past thinking it's never going to be as good as 467 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,360 Speaker 1: it used to be, trying to bring something back. Now, 468 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,639 Speaker 1: you've got to dust yourself off and get ready for 469 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: the new thing God's about to do. Friends, you were 470 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: created to soar. You have a set of eagles wings 471 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:32,160 Speaker 1: just waiting on you. Just like that mother eagle stirs 472 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 1: the babies out of the nest and forces them to 473 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 1: use their wings. God's going to stir us out of 474 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: our nest. When doors close, changes are taking place. Keep 475 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: it in the right perspective. That stirring is God getting 476 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: you prepared to go to a new level. That's God 477 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 1: trying to get you to spread your wings so you 478 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 1: too can begin to soar. Don't hold on to the old, 479 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: don't stay with the familiar. Be willing to get out 480 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: of your comfort zone. Be willing to try something new. 481 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 1: Or maybe you're at one of those places where the 482 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: door has completely closed you cannot go back. Don't get negative, 483 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: don't get bitter. This is a new season. Face it 484 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: in faith, Stay hopeful. Get up every day with enthusiasm, 485 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 1: knowing that God has you in the palm of his hand. 486 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: If you'll learn to not only accept a change, but 487 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 1: to embrace change, God promises he will do a new thing. 488 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: Now I've discovered God's new is always much better than 489 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 1: the old. You may have had great victories in your past, 490 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: but your greatest victories are still in your future. You 491 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: have not laughed your best laugh yet. You've not lived 492 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: your best year yet. You've not played your best ball 493 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: game yet. You've not closed your best deal yet. You're 494 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: gonna rise higher and higher. The winds you thought were 495 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: gonna destroy you are gonna be the winds that push 496 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: you to a new level. You gonna see God take 497 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: your places that you've never even dreamed of. Amen, do 498 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,959 Speaker 1: you receive that today? We never like to close our 499 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 500 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 1: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 501 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 1: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll 502 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 1: make you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 503 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 504 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church, keep God in first place. 505 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 506 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 3: What if every plan you set, every habit you formed, 507 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 3: and every decision you made became a pathway to see 508 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 3: God move in your life. 509 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: We all have hopes and dreams, things we're believing for. 510 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: When you start the year in faith, expecting God's goodness, 511 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: you are setting the tone for a blessed new year. 512 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: And we'd love to send you our twenty twenty six 513 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: Faith for the Day Planner. You can write down your 514 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: dreams and goals and plus use it for your everyday 515 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 1: activities and reminders. 516 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 2: It's important to feed your faith on a daily basis. 517 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 2: This planner it's not just a calendar. It's filled with 518 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 2: scriptures and inspiration to help you stay encouraged and keep 519 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 2: believing for what God has put in your heart. 520 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty six is your year to see the goodness 521 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,800 Speaker 1: of God in greater ways, let go of what didn't 522 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: work out, and get ready for the new things God 523 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: has in store. 524 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 525 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 3: of any amount this month, we would like to send 526 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 3: you a copy of the twenty twenty six Faith for 527 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 3: Today Planner each month features a fresh theme of encouragement, 528 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 3: a guiding scripture to stand on, room to write your goals, prayers, 529 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 3: and vision space for faith steps. Because faith isn't passive, 530 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 3: it's active. A monthly QR code linking to a message 531 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 3: or video to keep your spirit lifted. With a twenty 532 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:51,239 Speaker 3: twenty six Faith for Today's Planner, you'll be reminded that 533 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 3: living by faith makes room for God to do what 534 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 3: only He can do. Break through in your business, God's 535 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 3: healing touch. Loved ones returning to faith. Request your copy 536 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 3: of the planner and step into the new year with 537 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 3: bold faith, fresh hope, and daily encouragement. To strengthen your 538 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 3: spirit and face every challenge with confidence. 539 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 1: No matter what's happening around you, faith can rise up 540 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 1: in you. Keep believing and expecting a blessed twenty twenty 541 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 1: six Victoria and I pray for you and your family 542 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: every day. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. 543 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: Your generosity is helping people around the world. As we 544 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: finish this year, I hope you'll consider making a special 545 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 1: year in gift to help keep the ministry strong. We 546 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: so appreciate all the Champion of Hope partners for your 547 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 1: monthly support. We wish you and your family a very 548 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: merry Christmas. Until we see you next time. May the 549 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you. 550 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 551 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 3: six Faith for Today Planner. Visit Joelostein dot com or 552 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 3: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for a 553 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 3: special year end gift. This month, we are also offering 554 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 3: the Faith to Share Bundle, Keep One, Give One, Give 555 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:11,719 Speaker 3: the gift of faith, focus and fresh hope for someone 556 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 3: special in your life. You can also request the God's 557 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 3: Word Work Study Collection. This empowering collection includes the NIV, 558 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 3: the Message, Parallel Bible, a beautifully crafted leather bookmark and pen, 559 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 3: and how to read your Bible and enjoy it, along 560 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 3: with two planners. You can request these inspiring resources by 561 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:36,479 Speaker 3: calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel or logging 562 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 3: on to Joelostein dot com today, call or click anytime 563 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 3: twenty four hours a day, stay organized, encouraged, and full 564 00:31:45,360 --> 00:32:07,960 Speaker 3: of faith all year long. Request these resources today