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 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: share it with a friend, reappreciate you and pray for 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: God's very best in your line. Well, God bless you 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: always a joy to come into your homes, and we 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: love you and we believe you're going to have a blessed, 8 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: prosperous year. God honors the people that honor Him. If 9 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by 10 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: and be a part of one of our services. I 11 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: promise you will make you feel right at home. But 12 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: thanks for tuning in, thanks for coming out today. I 13 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: like to start with something funny and one day up 14 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: in heaven, God told the men, I want you to 15 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: form two lines. One line for the men who were 16 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: the head of the house and the other line for 17 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: the men who let the women be the head of 18 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: the house. The line where the woman ran the house 19 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: was one hundred miles long. There was only one man 20 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: in the other line. God said, men, I'm ashamed of you. 21 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: I created you to be the head, but you let 22 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: your wife dominate you. Only one man stood up to 23 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: make me proud. He turned to him and said, son, 24 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: tell him how you managed to be the only one 25 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: in this line. The man looked confused and said, I 26 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: don't know. My wife told me to stand here. All right, 27 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: hought off your bible, Say it like you mean it. 28 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 29 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 30 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be 31 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind 32 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 33 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,680 Speaker 1: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 34 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about living and overcoming life 35 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:45,759 Speaker 1: of victory. Every person has challenges and setbacks. We all 36 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: have things that come against us. But God never created 37 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: us to be overcome. He created us to be the overcomer, 38 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: and our attitude toward our problems is what's really important. 39 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: What do we do when a situation is not working out? 40 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: It's going on month after month. It's tempting to get sour, 41 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: to start expecting the worst. Or what if we get 42 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: a negative medical report, or our child gets into trouble 43 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,119 Speaker 1: and our mind starts going ninety to nothing, playing out 44 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: all the terrible scenarios. It's easy to get down and 45 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: discouraged if we go around thinking it's never going to 46 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: work out, it's never going to get better. That limits 47 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: what God can do. But when we face difficulties and 48 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 1: we dig our heels in knowing that God is bigger 49 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: than our problems and that he already has a way out, 50 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: and we fight the good fight of faith, that's what 51 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: allows God to show up and turn negative situations around. 52 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: And the scripture says here in Isaiah fifty four seventeen, 53 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: no weapon formed against you will prosper. This is your 54 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: heritage as children of the Lord. Notice you have a heritage. 55 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: You have rights and privileges because you belong to Christ. 56 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: When you chose him, God put a bloodline around you 57 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: that the enemy cannot cross as long as you're keeping 58 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: him first place. You have a hedge of protection, a 59 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: hedge of favor, a hedge of mercy. It's surrounding you 60 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: like a shield. When difficulties come. And at times it 61 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: looks like it's never going to get better, God is saying, 62 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: because you're his child, because you honor him, even though 63 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: that problem has formed in the end, it is not 64 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,119 Speaker 1: going to prosper. When it's all said and done, it's 65 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: not going to harm you. God is going to turn 66 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: it around and use it to your advantage. But it 67 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: doesn't say that if we stay in faith and we 68 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: do our best, we'll never have a problem. Now, life 69 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: is full of difficulties. The promise God is making us 70 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: here is when things do come against us. If our 71 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: child gets into trouble, if we get a negative medical report, 72 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: if people are talking behind our back, God says the 73 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: problem may form. You can't stop it from happening. But 74 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: because your in covenant relationship with him, you can stay 75 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: in peace knowing that it is not going to prosper. 76 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: This is a part of your heritage. The mistake we 77 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: make so often is we don't know who we are. 78 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: We don't know what really belongs to us. So when 79 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: a problem arises, we get down. We go around complaining, 80 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 1: expecting the worst. All that does is stop God from working. 81 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: You have to be in faith in order to activate 82 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 1: God's promises. When difficulties come and you're tempted to get upset, 83 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: you need to remind yourself this is not going to prosper. 84 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: They may be talking about me. It may look bad, 85 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: but I know God is my vindicator. He'll take care 86 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: of them. My child may be on the wrong path, 87 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: he's running with the wrong crowd. But let me tell you, 88 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 89 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: Or the medical report about me may look kind of discouraging, 90 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: but I'm not worried. I know God has me in 91 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: the palm of his hand. I know God created my 92 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: body and he said with long life he would satisfy me. 93 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: You have to keep reminding yourself. This problem didn't come 94 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: to stay, it came to pass. It may have formed. 95 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: I can't stop it from coming. But I don't have 96 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: to get worried. I know God is still on the throne, 97 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: and he's promised it is not going to prosper. I 98 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: love to think about how God is in control of everything. 99 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: He's even in control of our enemies. You remember the 100 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: story of Job. He had all kinds of adversity, all 101 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: kinds of tough times, but those difficulties were not a 102 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: surprise to God. That didn't catch God off guard. The 103 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: scripture says the enemy had to ask permission before he 104 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: could touch Job. He couldn't bring one thing against him 105 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: without God allowing him to. So when we face problems, 106 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: there's a real peace when we understand God is in 107 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: complete control, not just of me and my circums fancies, 108 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: but God is even in control of my enemies. That 109 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: means there's no person that can keep you down, no 110 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: sickness too great, no trouble, no calamity that can keep 111 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: you from ultimately living in victory. We are in a 112 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: fixed fight. The outcome has already been determined. God always 113 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: causes us to tryumph. He had the solution before we 114 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: ever had the problem. God had a way out before 115 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: we even encountered the difficulty. He has it all arranged. 116 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,679 Speaker 1: I may not understand the theology of it all. Sometimes 117 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: it may not seem fair, and we wonder why something 118 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: has happened. But bottom line is this, God is still 119 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: on the throne and he is promised if we will 120 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: stay in faith, no weapon formed against us is ever 121 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: going to prosper. And some of you right now, you're 122 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: in difficult times and you've just about convinced yourself that 123 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: it's never going to get better, it's never going to 124 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: work out. But if you could only see right up ahead, 125 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: God has great things in front of you, instead of 126 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: dragging around thinking I'll never get out of this mess. 127 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: You need to have the attitude this is my heritage. 128 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: I'm a child of the Most High God. This problem 129 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: may have formed, but it is not going to prosper. 130 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: If God be for me, who dare even be against me? 131 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: We have to have this attitude of faith. We got 132 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: to know deep down in here that ultimately it's going 133 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,679 Speaker 1: to work out for our advantage. It may take a month, 134 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: or a year, or twenty years, but when it's all 135 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: said and done, God has promised you're gonna come out 136 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: of it better off than you were before. And sometimes 137 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: we're having problems because we're doing something wrong, we're making 138 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: poor choices. But other times we're having difficulties because we're 139 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: doing something right. When you're determined to fulfill your god 140 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: given destiny, you're taking steps to improve your life and 141 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: make a difference in your family, in your community. Don't 142 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: be surprised if you face opposition to me. Is not 143 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: going to just roll out the red carpet and let 144 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: you fulfill your God given destiny. When you face difficulties, 145 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: don't automatically assume I must be doing something wrong. Get 146 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: all down and discourage. No, it could be very well 147 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: that you're doing something right. The apostle Paul said this, 148 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: a wide door of opportunity is open for me. And 149 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: there are many adversaries. I found any time we try 150 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: to go forward in life, anytime you try to make progress, 151 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: there will be opposition. I remember when we signed the 152 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: lease for this place, the former Compact Center, after working 153 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 1: on it for over three years. It was a great 154 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: day of victory. But immediately at that same time, a 155 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: large company filed a lawsuit against the city to try 156 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: to keep us from moving in. This company is the 157 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: largest taxpayer in Texas. They're a huge organization and they 158 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: wanted to build big office towers here and in the natural. 159 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: It didn't look like we had a chance. We were 160 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: tempted to think, maybe this isn't the right move for us. 161 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: I mean, everything's coming against us. We couldn't celebrate the victory. 162 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: Twenty four hours before we had another major obstacle in 163 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: our path. We had to do just what I'm asking 164 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: you to do. We had to shake that off and say, no, 165 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 1: this is our heritage. God, you promised even though this 166 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: problem has formed, it is not going to prosper. We 167 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: stayed in faith month after month. When it looked impossible. 168 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: We just kept believing. When we didn't see anything happening, 169 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: we kept reminding ourselves that God was working behind the scenes. 170 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: When it looked like they had the upper hand, we'd say, Father, 171 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: we thank you that you're in control, even of our enemies. 172 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: A year and a half later, we got a phone 173 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: call out of the blue from the other side saying 174 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: they wanted to talk. Long story short, God supernaturally turned 175 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: it around, worked it out in our favor. Here we 176 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: are today. But what am I saying, Don't get discouraged 177 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: by opposition. Don't give up on your dreams because things 178 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: are coming against you and it's taking a long time. 179 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 1: Stay in faith. It's not over until God says it's over. 180 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: And the good news is God is still on the throne. 181 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: And even when it looks impossible, God can still make 182 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: a way. And the fact is the difficult times are 183 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: times of testing. That's when we're showing God what we're 184 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: made of. That's when our character is being developed. Anybody 185 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: can get discouraged, anybody can give up and quit believing. 186 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: But if you're going to become everything that God's created 187 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: you to be You've got to have a deep resolve. 188 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: You can't be moved by every criticism, every disappointment, every 189 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: unfair situation. You've got to make up your mind. You 190 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: are in it for the long haul. If it takes 191 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: a year, or five years or thirty years, you're going 192 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: to stick with it and see your dreams come to pass. 193 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: And even when we make mistakes, even when we bring 194 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: trouble on ourselves, God God is so merciful, He'll still 195 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: bring us out. I think about Jonah. God told him 196 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: to go to a certain city, but he didn't want 197 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: to go, and he went in just the opposite direction. 198 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: He totally disobeyed. He got on a big ship and 199 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,719 Speaker 1: they got into a storm. They ended up throwing Jonah overboard. 200 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 1: He should have drowned, he should have been killed. It 201 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: would have been his own fault, his own poor choices. 202 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: But God is so good. He had a well sitting 203 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: there waiting for him. Jonah was swallowed by that well. 204 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: He spent three days in the belly of the fish. 205 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: The problem had definitely formed, but thank God, it still 206 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: was not going to prosper. The scripture says in the 207 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: New Testament, as Jonah was in the belly of the 208 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: fish for three days, So will the Son of God 209 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: be in the heart of the earth for three days. 210 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: God not only turned that around for Jonah and gave 211 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 1: him another chance, but God used Jonah as an example 212 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: to show how prophecy would be fulfilled. In other words, 213 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: even when Jonah went wrong, God turned it around and 214 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: still made it right. You may have made poor choices. 215 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 1: You don't feel like you deserve God's goodness. You think 216 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: you're supposed to suffer through life. Just endure that problem 217 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 1: and just kind of barely make it through. But friends, 218 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,239 Speaker 1: this is what mercy is all about. We've all made mistakes, 219 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: We've all made choices like Jonah, but that doesn't change 220 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: our heritage. God doesn't kick us out of the kingdom 221 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: because we're not perfect. You are still the apple of 222 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: God's eye. You are still his most prized possession. You 223 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: know how you activate God's promises by believing You need 224 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: to shake off the guilt and condemnation. Put your shoulders 225 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: back and say, I refuse to live below my privileges. 226 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: I may not be perfect, but I am forgiven. I 227 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: may have made mistakes, but God knows my heart is 228 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: to please him. Even though I may have brought this 229 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: trouble on myself day in faith and expect God to 230 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: turn it around. You say, Joel, you don't know the 231 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: mistakes I've made. You don't know the things that are 232 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: coming against me. You don't know how in debt I am. 233 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: I may not know any of that, but I do 234 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: know our God, and he's bigger than anything that you're facing. 235 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: He can turn any situation around. One angel in the 236 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: Old Testament destroyed one hundred and eighty thousand of the 237 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: enemies of God, and right now there's a whole army 238 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: of the most powerful forces in the universe that are 239 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: backing you up. When you release your faith by believing, 240 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: by expecting, by calling on the name of the Lord, 241 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: all the forces of Heaven come to attention. Not because 242 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: of how perfect we've lived. It's not because of who 243 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: we are. It's because of whose we are, children of 244 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: the Most High God. I read a story about a 245 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 1: little bear, little baby cub. He was out in the 246 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: woods playing one day, just having a great time. All 247 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: of the sudden, this huge lion approached from a distance 248 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: and started slowly walking toward him. The little cub was terrified. 249 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: He couldn't even move. He just stood there, staring at 250 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: the line. When that line got about twenty feet away, 251 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: just when he was about to attack, suddenly the lion 252 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: froze in its tracks. He started backing up, and eventually 253 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: he turned around and ran away. The little cub thought 254 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: to himself, I must be pretty powerful. I must look 255 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: pretty impressive to scare away a big lion like that. 256 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: What the cub didn't realize was Mama Bear had walked 257 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: up behind the cub. The line wasn't afraid of the cub. 258 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: It was afraid of who was backing him up. We 259 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: all know don't mess with Mama, but we need to 260 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: realize who's backing us up. The creator of the universe 261 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: is on our side, the god who spoke the worlds 262 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: into existence. He's called the Great. I am, he's saying today, 263 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: I am everything you need. I am your strength. I 264 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: am your wisdom. I am your protection. I am your provider, 265 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: I am your waymaker. I am your problem solver, I 266 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: am your dream giver. I am your victory. David put 267 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: it this way and saw one thirty eight. Though I 268 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: am surrounded by troubles, you will bring me safely through. 269 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: Your fist is cleansed against my enemies. Your power will 270 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: save me. Some of you feel like David. You're surrounded 271 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: by all kinds of difficulties. You're tempted to just settle 272 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: right where you are, but you need to get your fireback, 273 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: get your enthusiasm back. Even though that problem may have formed, 274 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: even though it looks impossible, you need to start declaring 275 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: all through the day. This problem is not going to 276 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: prosper God is bringing me safely through His fists are 277 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: cleansed against my enemies. You got to have an attitude 278 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: of faith. Now I've learned to not get discouraged by opposition. 279 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: Don't get discouraged when you have difficultyalties. When everything comes 280 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: against you, very often, that's because God has something great 281 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: in store. You think about the three Hebrew teenagers, Chadrack, Mejiak, 282 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: and abed Nego. They refuse to bow down to the 283 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: king's golden idol. He got so furious he had them 284 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: heat up the furnace seven times hotter than normal. That's 285 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: what happens when you're close to a great victory. The 286 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: fire gets turned up. People start talking about you. Unfair 287 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: situations come. You get past one obstacle and something else 288 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: pops up. Why is that the enemy knows you're close 289 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: to your victory? And this is when many people give 290 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: up and get sour, quit coming to church, go around complaining. 291 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: Why is that they don't know who they are? They 292 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: don't know their heritage. The scripture says, when the enemy 293 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: comes in like a flood, the spirit of God will 294 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: be there to raise up a barrier. And part of 295 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: our privilege is as children of the most time is 296 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: when problems come, when life feels overwhelming. God has promised 297 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: he will always be right there to show up and 298 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: to safely bring us through. Now, I love the fact 299 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: about these three teenage boys. They weren't panicked, they weren't 300 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: full of anxiety. They were in peace. It's because they 301 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 1: understood this principle. They knew God was still on the throne. 302 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: They knew he was still in control, and nothing was 303 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: going to happen to them that was not a part 304 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: of God's plan. Those officials tied them up and threw 305 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: them into the furnace seven times hotter than normal. In 306 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,120 Speaker 1: a few minutes, the king came to check on them. 307 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: He was confused. He said, didn't we throw three men 308 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 1: in here? Bound? I see four men loosed, and one 309 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 1: looks like the son of the Living God. The scripture 310 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: says God brought them through the fire without even having 311 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: the smell of smoke. You may feel like you're in 312 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: the fire today, the heats being turned up, everything's coming 313 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: against you. Let me encourage you. It's because there's something 314 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: great in store. When the heat gets turned up, it 315 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: means you're very close to your breakthrough. If you will 316 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,479 Speaker 1: stay in faith, God will do for you what he 317 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: did for them. He'll bring you through the fire without 318 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: even having the smell of smoke. This can sound kind 319 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: of odd, but you can get to the point where 320 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: when opposition comes and difficulties arise, instead of being discouraged 321 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: by it, you're encouraged by it. You just turn it 322 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: around and say, God's taken me to new levels. I 323 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:37,239 Speaker 1: know favor, increased promotion must be on their way. I 324 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: like the way the Message translation puts this passage in Isaiah. 325 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: If anyone attacks you, nothing will come of it. I 326 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: create the blacksmith that fires up his forge, and nothing 327 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: that can harm you has ever been forged. What's God 328 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: saying He's in complete control and there's nothing that's ever 329 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: been created that He's not bigger than No problem too large, 330 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: no sickness too great, no enemy too powerful. So when 331 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: difficulties come your way, don't get discouraged, don't go around 332 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: complaining expecting the worst. God has you in the palm 333 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: of his hand. And some of you right now are 334 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 1: so concerned about a situation. But if you will come 335 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: back to that place of peace, if you'll get back 336 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: to that place of faith, God is saying nothing is 337 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: going to come of that. He always causes you to triumph. 338 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: When I look back over my own life, I can 339 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: see how every obstacle, every adversity, God has always brought 340 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: me safely through. Even with the death of my father, 341 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: probably the most difficult thing that I'd ever faced, God 342 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,199 Speaker 1: gave me a peace that only he could give. I 343 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: felt a strength and a resolve like I'd never had before. 344 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: What is that. It's a part of our heritage. It's 345 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: what belongs to us as children of Almighty God. God 346 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: goes on to say, I will see to it that 347 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: everything will work out for the best. This is what 348 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: you can expect as my children. Notice what are we 349 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: as supposed to be expecting in times of difficulty? Oh man, 350 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,640 Speaker 1: this is never gonna work out. My family's never gonna 351 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,959 Speaker 1: be restored. I don't think I'm gonna have a very 352 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 1: good year this year. Joel, No, get in agreement with God. 353 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: Start expecting God to change things in your favor. Start 354 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: expecting him to show up and fight your battles for 355 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: you when difficulties come my way. I like to quote 356 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: the Psalms. God, you said, you oppose those that oppose me. 357 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: You said the trap the enemy set for me, they 358 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: would fall in themselves. You said, touch not. You're anointed. 359 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: And God, I know you've anointed me. And even though 360 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: this problem has formed, I believe it is not going 361 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 1: to prosper. Even though it looks impossible, I know you 362 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 1: can do the impossible. So I'm not gonna sit around 363 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: worried in defeat. I'm gonna stay in faith and keep 364 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: believing that my best day are still out in front 365 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: of me. We have to have an attitude of an overcomer, 366 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: says in Psalm ninety one. If we dwell in the 367 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: secret place of the Most High, we will abide under 368 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: the shadow of the Almighty. Then it goes on to 369 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: list all these promises, all these benefits we can expect 370 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 1: if we stay in the secret place. No harm will 371 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: come near your dwelling. God will command his angels to 372 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: watch after you. It says God will guard you, he 373 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 1: will protect you, he will rescue you, he will show 374 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: you his favor. On and on. But the whole key 375 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: is to stay in the secret place. What does that mean? 376 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: Stay close to God, keep him first place in your 377 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: life all through the day. Acknowledge Him when you get 378 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: up in the morning, Think him that you're alive and healthy. 379 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: Drive into work, Meditate on his promises. When you have 380 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 1: an important decision to make, take time to get quiet 381 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: and ask God for his help. Learn to be still 382 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: and listen to that still small voice. When you live 383 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: a life of excellence and integrity that honors God, you're 384 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: in the secret Place. That's when you can expect God's favor, 385 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: his blessing, his protection, his victory. As long as we're 386 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: in the secret Place, we're connected to a supply line 387 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: that will never run dry. When we're under the shadow 388 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: of the Almighty, we have a hedge of protection, a 389 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 1: hedge of favor that's constantly surrounding us. It'll give you 390 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: a tremendous advantage. David understood what it meant to stay 391 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: in the Secret Place when he went out to face Goliath. 392 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: It's interesting he never called Goliath a giant. Everyone around 393 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: him did, his brothers, King Saul. They were all talking 394 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: about his size and how powerful he was. But David 395 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 1: didn't acknowledge any of that. He didn't want to give 396 00:22:54,920 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 1: him any extra credit. He said, who is this uncircumcised philistine? 397 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: He was saying, this man is not in covenant relationship 398 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: with our God. He's not living in the Secret Place. 399 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: He doesn't have the advantages that we have. David's attitude was, 400 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: I know who I am, a child of the Most hie, 401 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: I've got a hedge of protection or surrounding me. I 402 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: know when I call on the name of the Lord, 403 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: all the forces of heaven are backing me up. David 404 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: knew it wasn't the size of the enemy that matters. 405 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: It's the size of our God, and he is all 406 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: powerful and in our times of difficulty is extremely important. 407 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 1: What we're saying when we're in the Secret Place. It 408 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,679 Speaker 1: goes on to say, I will say of the Lord, 409 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,880 Speaker 1: he is my refuge, my fortress, my God in him, 410 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: will I trust? Notice it doesn't say we should say 411 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 1: of our problems. Don't go around saying, all my arthritis 412 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: is really acting up. No, it's not your arthritis. Don't 413 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 1: take ownership of it all my child, he's really doing bad. No, 414 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: don't talk about the size of your problem. Talk about 415 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: the size of your God. David looked at Goliath and said, 416 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: this day I will defeat you and feed your head 417 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: to the birds of the air. He was saying, you 418 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: may be big, but I know my God is bigger. 419 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: David reached down and picked up five smooth stones. Somebody said, 420 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: if he was so confident, if he had so much faith, 421 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 1: why didn't he just get one stone. Now, David was smart. 422 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: He knew Goliath had four brothers. He came prepared. I 423 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: want us to have the right attitude concerning the things 424 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: that come against us. It may be difficult, but God 425 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: never promised us a problem free life. The key is 426 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: in the tough times when difficulties arise. Don't expect it 427 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: to defeat you. Don't expect the worst. Keep reminding yourself 428 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: this problem may have formed, but it is not going 429 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:57,160 Speaker 1: to prosper. I read an article about scientists that were 430 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: researching Alzheimer's disease. These older people that had died, both 431 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 1: people that had the disease and people that didn't have it, 432 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 1: And they carefully studied their brains, and they found that 433 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: many people had lesions on their brains that technically qualified 434 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: them as having Alzheimer's. But the interesting thing is when 435 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: these people were alive, they didn't show any signs of 436 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: the disease. In other words, medically and scientifically, they had Alzheimer's, 437 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 1: but the symptoms never showed up. Their minds were sharp, 438 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: their memory was clear, their reasoning was excellent. The common 439 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: denominator they found in these people was that they were positive, 440 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 1: they were hopeful, and they stayed productive. Really, that's what 441 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. Just because of problem forms doesn't mean 442 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: it has to prosper. I don't know about you, but 443 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: I won't believe that no matter what happens to my 444 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: physical body, God can override it. After all, he's the 445 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: one that created us. We may have things, we may 446 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: have things that formed because of our natural genetics, our 447 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 1: natural heritage, but if we'll stay in faith, we can 448 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: tap into our spiritual heritage, and the spiritual always overrides 449 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: the natural. Psalm ninety one goes on to say, if 450 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: you will stay in the Secret Place, God will honor you. 451 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: He will set you on high and give you a 452 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 1: long satisfied life. That's my prayer for each one of you, 453 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:26,439 Speaker 1: that you will overcome every obstacle, that you will defeat 454 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: every enemy, and that you will live a long satisfied life. Now, 455 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: I know some of you have had more than your 456 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 1: share of difficulties, but you need to get a fresh 457 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: vision for your life. You need to start seeing yourself 458 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 1: set on high. The forces that are for you are 459 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: greater than the forces that are against you. Because you're 460 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 1: living in the Secret Place, you have an advantage. Almighty 461 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: God is on your side right now. He's protecting you. 462 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: Right now. He's going before you, making crooked places straight. 463 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: His favor is surrounding you like a shield. That problem 464 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: may have formed, but I declare it by faith, it 465 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 1: is not going to prosper. In the end. You're gonna 466 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: come out better off than you were before. You need 467 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,679 Speaker 1: to start saying of the Lord. He is my provider, 468 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 1: he is my protector, he is my wisdom, he is 469 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 1: my strength, he is my victory. Let me speak it 470 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,879 Speaker 1: over each one of you. I declare it by faith, 471 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: you will overcome every obstacle. You will defeat every enemy, 472 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: every dream, every desire that God's placed in your heart. 473 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: It will come to pass. You walk in divine health. 474 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:38,440 Speaker 1: You have the favor of God. Whatever you touch will 475 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: prosper as for you and your family. You will serve 476 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 1: the Lord. I declare in the name of Jesus. You 477 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 1: will see God honor you. He will set you on high, 478 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: and you will live a long, satisfied life if you 479 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: receive it. Can you say amen? We never like to 480 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,199 Speaker 1: close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make 481 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 1: Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 482 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:09,120 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 483 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 484 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 1: if you pray that simple prayer, we believe you got 485 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 486 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,199 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take your places that 487 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:24,199 Speaker 1: you've never dreamed of. 488 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 2: God's healing isn't earned, it's received, and you can discover 489 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,439 Speaker 2: how in the next thirty one days. 490 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 1: Life has a way of wearing us down physically, mentally, emotionally. 491 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: But God didn't create us to just survive, but to thrive. 492 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: I'm excited about our new devotional, Happy Healthy and Free. 493 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: For thirty one days, I'll take you on a wellness 494 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: journey for your spirit, body, and soul. It's filled with 495 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:57,480 Speaker 1: daily declarations, scriptures, encouragement. As you get your mind in 496 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 1: tune with what God says, you'll experience a refreshing, a revitalization. 497 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: You are created to be strong, to be passionate, to live, happy, 498 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: healthy and free. 499 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 2: When you contact us today, we'll send you Happy, Healthy 500 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 2: and Free a thirty one day wellness journey as our 501 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 2: way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount. 502 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 2: This devotional will help you strengthen your faith, declare God's promises, 503 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 2: and receive the healing He's already made available to you spirit, soul, 504 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 2: and body. God wants you whole, and this resource will 505 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 2: help you experience His peace from the inside out. Please 506 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 2: request your copy today begin a life receiving, life giving 507 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 2: journey that will transform your spirit, mind, and body. In 508 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 2: just thirty one days. 509 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 1: God is going to restore what the enemy tried to steal, 510 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 1: your joy, your peace, your hell. Detoy and I pray 511 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: for you and your family every day. Thanks so much 512 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: for your prayer and support. Your generosity is bringing home 513 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: to people around the world. Special thank you to our 514 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 1: champion of Whole partners for your monthly gifts. If you're 515 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 1: not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember 516 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, download 517 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: our daily podcast, watch on YouTube the new Joel Ostein 518 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: network social media. You can listen on Serious XM twenty 519 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:25,280 Speaker 1: four hours a day. We'll keep you encouraged and inspired 520 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: until we see you next time. Mad The Lord bless 521 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: you and keep you. 522 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of Happy, Healthy and Free, 523 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 2: a thirty one day wellness journey. Visit Joelostein dot com 524 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 2: or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for 525 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 2: an additional gift. This month, we are also offering the 526 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 2: Wholeness and Promise Bundle, which includes the Happy, Healthy and 527 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 2: Free book plus the Words of Promise Journal, a beautifully 528 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 2: designed journal where you can reflect, record prayers, and speak life. 529 00:30:57,960 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 1: Over your future. 530 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 2: You can also request the Happy, Healthy and Free Collection, 531 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 2: featuring the devotional, the journal, and a beautifully crafted set 532 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 2: of three desktop encouragement blocks. Each whitewashed wooden block displays 533 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 2: one powerful word happy, Healthy, and Free, along with a 534 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 2: carefully chosen scripture. Place them in your home or workspace 535 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 2: as daily reminders of God's promises for your life. You 536 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 2: can request these life changing resources by calling eight eight 537 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 2: eight five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelostein 538 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 2: dot com today. Call or click anytime twenty four hours 539 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 2: a day. This is your season to rise stronger, live later, 540 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 2: and walk daily in God's healing and peace. Request your 541 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 2: copies today. 542 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: If you're a pastor, we'd like to invite you to 543 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 1: our Pastor's gathering. We'd be honored to spend the day 544 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: with you here at Lakewood. We'll share some of the 545 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: things we've learned, insights behind the scenes, be a time 546 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: of inspiration and encouragement. We'd love to meet you