1 00:00:00,530 --> 00:00:02,730 Speaker 1: It's another great day to be alive, and we are 2 00:00:02,770 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: so blessed to be here with you today, Victoria, my 3 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,020 Speaker 1: beautiful wife, and we're just praying for you guys to 4 00:00:08,060 --> 00:00:11,139 Speaker 1: have a blessed summer. I sure hope you enjoy the podcast. 5 00:00:11,300 --> 00:00:14,610 Speaker 1: I know I always enjoy these messages. They're so uplifting 6 00:00:14,650 --> 00:00:17,849 Speaker 1: and encouraging and inspiring, so we hope you enjoy the 7 00:00:17,910 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: message today. Thank you. God bless you. Always a joy 8 00:00:22,340 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: to come into your homes. We love you. We pray 9 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,820 Speaker 1: for you every single day. We're believing you're going to 10 00:00:27,860 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: have a blessed, prosperous, supernatural year. If you're ever in 11 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: our area, please stop by and be a part of 12 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:36,550 Speaker 1: our services. I tell you often, but these guys are 13 00:00:36,570 --> 00:00:39,350 Speaker 1: the finest people in all of Houston right here at Lakewood. 14 00:00:39,370 --> 00:00:42,089 Speaker 1: We'll make you feel right at home. Thanks for tuning 15 00:00:42,150 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: in today. I like to get started with something funny 16 00:00:45,380 --> 00:00:48,270 Speaker 1: and I heard about this kindergarten teacher. She was trying 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,809 Speaker 1: to explain to her students about self-esteem. So she said 18 00:00:51,850 --> 00:00:55,290 Speaker 1: to her class, anyone who feels like you're dumb, please 19 00:00:55,330 --> 00:00:58,490 Speaker 1: stand up. She didn't think anybody would stand and she'd 20 00:00:58,530 --> 00:01:01,210 Speaker 1: make the point how no one is dumb. But about 21 00:01:01,250 --> 00:01:04,130 Speaker 1: that time, little Johnny stood up. She thought, oh no, 22 00:01:04,170 --> 00:01:06,550 Speaker 1: now what am I gonna say? She said, now Johnny, 23 00:01:06,590 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: do you really feel like you're dumb? He said, no ma'am, 24 00:01:09,690 --> 00:01:12,020 Speaker 1: I just hate to see you standing there all by yourself. 25 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,420 Speaker 1: I don't know what you mean. All right, hold up 26 00:01:15,459 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This is 27 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,220 Speaker 1: my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 28 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,790 Speaker 1: have what it says I have. I can do what 29 00:01:23,850 --> 00:01:26,590 Speaker 1: it says I can do. Today, I will be taught 30 00:01:26,650 --> 00:01:30,789 Speaker 1: the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. 31 00:01:31,250 --> 00:01:34,290 Speaker 1: My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 32 00:01:34,770 --> 00:01:38,970 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 33 00:01:38,990 --> 00:01:43,020 Speaker 1: to you today about how Sunday is coming. As we 34 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: celebrate the resurrection of Christ, I think about how when 35 00:01:46,819 --> 00:01:50,570 Speaker 1: they crucified Jesus on that Friday, it was the darkest, 36 00:01:51,050 --> 00:01:54,790 Speaker 1: most painful, discouraging day of his life. In fact, it 37 00:01:54,830 --> 00:01:58,430 Speaker 1: was so bad earlier, he had sweat great drops of blood. 38 00:01:59,210 --> 00:02:01,710 Speaker 1: It looked like it was over. It looked like his 39 00:02:01,830 --> 00:02:04,750 Speaker 1: enemies had gotten the best of him, but God had 40 00:02:04,860 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: other plans. They put him in the grave on Friday, 41 00:02:08,860 --> 00:02:12,710 Speaker 1: celebrating their victory, But Sunday morning was a different story. 42 00:02:13,350 --> 00:02:16,850 Speaker 1: The grave could not hold him. Death couldn't contain him. 43 00:02:17,310 --> 00:02:20,710 Speaker 1: The forces of darkness couldn't stop him. On the third day, 44 00:02:21,050 --> 00:02:23,350 Speaker 1: he came out of the grave and he said, I 45 00:02:24,090 --> 00:02:29,380 Speaker 1: was dead, but now I am alive forevermore. One principle 46 00:02:29,660 --> 00:02:33,730 Speaker 1: that the resurrection teaches us is that God will always 47 00:02:33,930 --> 00:02:37,670 Speaker 1: finish what he started. No matter how dark it looks, 48 00:02:38,130 --> 00:02:40,730 Speaker 1: no matter how long it's been, no matter how many 49 00:02:40,810 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: people are trying to push us down, if we will 50 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,420 Speaker 1: stay in faith, God will always take us from Friday 51 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,669 Speaker 1: to Sunday. He will complete what he starts. You may 52 00:02:51,730 --> 00:02:54,650 Speaker 1: feel like it's Friday in your life right now. You 53 00:02:54,690 --> 00:02:57,529 Speaker 1: have some major obstacles in your path. You don't see 54 00:02:57,570 --> 00:03:00,450 Speaker 1: how you could ever accomplish your dreams or how you 55 00:03:00,470 --> 00:03:04,250 Speaker 1: could be well, how that legal situation would ever resolve. 56 00:03:04,790 --> 00:03:07,650 Speaker 1: And the negative thoughts are telling you it's over. Just 57 00:03:07,730 --> 00:03:10,590 Speaker 1: accept it. It's never gonna get any better. It may 58 00:03:10,690 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: feel like Friday, but my encouragement is Sunday is coming. 59 00:03:15,660 --> 00:03:19,300 Speaker 1: God is a faithful God. That promise he put in 60 00:03:19,340 --> 00:03:22,340 Speaker 1: your heart, that you're going to be well, that you're 61 00:03:22,380 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: coming out of debt, that your family will be restored, 62 00:03:25,430 --> 00:03:28,389 Speaker 1: that you're going to have a supernatural year. God has 63 00:03:28,630 --> 00:03:32,850 Speaker 1: every intention of bringing that promise to pass. He's called 64 00:03:32,889 --> 00:03:36,780 Speaker 1: the author and the finisher of our faith. God will 65 00:03:36,850 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: never start something that he cannot finish. When God put 66 00:03:40,860 --> 00:03:43,940 Speaker 1: the dream in your heart, a dream to write a book, 67 00:03:44,340 --> 00:03:47,380 Speaker 1: a dream to start a business, a dream to be 68 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:51,420 Speaker 1: in ministry. The good news is God already has a 69 00:03:51,460 --> 00:03:55,590 Speaker 1: completion date. God can already see it done. You may 70 00:03:55,620 --> 00:03:58,090 Speaker 1: not see how it can happen. It may be taking 71 00:03:58,110 --> 00:04:01,410 Speaker 1: a long time. All the odds are against you. But 72 00:04:01,450 --> 00:04:05,690 Speaker 1: if you'll just keep believing, keep praying, keep being your best, 73 00:04:05,950 --> 00:04:09,670 Speaker 1: then God promises He's going to finish what He started. 74 00:04:09,910 --> 00:04:13,390 Speaker 1: He's going to take you from Friday to Sunday. That 75 00:04:13,470 --> 00:04:17,150 Speaker 1: means your children may have served God when they were younger, 76 00:04:17,570 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: but now they've gotten off course. They're not doing what's right. Well, 77 00:04:21,020 --> 00:04:24,300 Speaker 1: God is saying, get ready. They're coming back. It may 78 00:04:24,339 --> 00:04:27,850 Speaker 1: be today, maybe next month, maybe next year, but it 79 00:04:27,900 --> 00:04:32,060 Speaker 1: will happen. God finishes what he starts. Maybe you have 80 00:04:32,100 --> 00:04:34,580 Speaker 1: a dream to get out of debt, to pay off 81 00:04:34,620 --> 00:04:37,460 Speaker 1: your house, to be free from that burden of lack, 82 00:04:38,020 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: but it looks like it's impossible. Business is slow, the 83 00:04:41,820 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: economy's down, you've gone as far as your education allows, 84 00:04:46,020 --> 00:04:48,990 Speaker 1: but God is saying, I'm not limited by those things. 85 00:04:49,570 --> 00:04:53,169 Speaker 1: I've got resurrection power. I can give you one break 86 00:04:53,390 --> 00:04:55,690 Speaker 1: that will thrust you to a new level. I can 87 00:04:55,750 --> 00:04:58,570 Speaker 1: open up doors that no man can shut. I can 88 00:04:58,610 --> 00:05:00,930 Speaker 1: bring talent out of you that you didn't know you had. 89 00:05:01,589 --> 00:05:04,050 Speaker 1: I can cause people for no reason to go out 90 00:05:04,070 --> 00:05:05,830 Speaker 1: of their way to want to be good to you. 91 00:05:06,589 --> 00:05:08,650 Speaker 1: You keep believing and you're going to come in to 92 00:05:08,710 --> 00:05:12,850 Speaker 1: supernatural increase. Maybe you're single and you have a desire 93 00:05:12,890 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 1: to meet somebody. You've been through a couple relationships that 94 00:05:16,860 --> 00:05:19,940 Speaker 1: didn't work out. Now it's been a long time. The 95 00:05:19,980 --> 00:05:22,380 Speaker 1: thoughts are telling you, you're never going to meet anybody. 96 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,029 Speaker 1: You're washed up. You had your chance. No, God is saying, 97 00:05:26,390 --> 00:05:29,469 Speaker 1: I've already got the right person picked out. I'm lining 98 00:05:29,529 --> 00:05:31,910 Speaker 1: up things in your favor. I'm causing you to be 99 00:05:31,930 --> 00:05:34,870 Speaker 1: at the right place at the right time. You will 100 00:05:35,089 --> 00:05:39,210 Speaker 1: see that promise come to fulfillment. Friends, God finishes what 101 00:05:39,250 --> 00:05:42,669 Speaker 1: he starts. What is it in your life that you 102 00:05:42,770 --> 00:05:45,740 Speaker 1: used to be excited about? Are there dreams that you 103 00:05:45,750 --> 00:05:49,900 Speaker 1: push down, goals that you've let go of? Too often, 104 00:05:50,180 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: because it's taken a long time, we've been through some disappointments, 105 00:05:54,420 --> 00:05:57,779 Speaker 1: we become complacent, and we start accepting the fact that 106 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: it's probably not going to happen for me. First place 107 00:06:01,260 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: we lose the battle is in our own mind. We think, 108 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,099 Speaker 1: I could never start that business, Joel. I don't get 109 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,820 Speaker 1: any good breaks. I could never get a new house. 110 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: I can't even sell my old house. I'll never go 111 00:06:13,460 --> 00:06:16,460 Speaker 1: back to college. I don't have the funds. No, just 112 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,460 Speaker 1: because you gave up doesn't mean God gave up. God 113 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,470 Speaker 1: never aborts a dream. That dream he put in your 114 00:06:24,510 --> 00:06:29,870 Speaker 1: heart may be pushed down by disappointments, by setbacks, by failures, 115 00:06:30,210 --> 00:06:34,150 Speaker 1: by rejection. But know this, the seed is still alive. 116 00:06:34,710 --> 00:06:37,890 Speaker 1: The promise is still in you. You need to fan 117 00:06:37,930 --> 00:06:41,620 Speaker 1: that flame. Get your fire back. It may look like 118 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,660 Speaker 1: it's dead, but the fact is it's not buried, it's planted. 119 00:06:45,860 --> 00:06:49,180 Speaker 1: That means it's coming back. Our attitude should be, it 120 00:06:49,220 --> 00:06:52,429 Speaker 1: may be taking a long time, I had some bad breaks. 121 00:06:52,890 --> 00:06:55,270 Speaker 1: I don't see how it could happen, but I know 122 00:06:55,610 --> 00:06:58,530 Speaker 1: God already has the completion date. So I'm not going 123 00:06:58,550 --> 00:07:00,630 Speaker 1: to give up on my dreams. I'm not going to 124 00:07:00,670 --> 00:07:05,130 Speaker 1: go through life with no goals, no enthusiasm, no passion. No, 125 00:07:05,150 --> 00:07:07,490 Speaker 1: I'm getting my vision back. I'm going to get up 126 00:07:07,570 --> 00:07:11,390 Speaker 1: every morning with expectancy. It may be Friday, but this 127 00:07:11,510 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: I know Sunday is coming. It's interesting. The last thing 128 00:07:15,340 --> 00:07:19,790 Speaker 1: Jesus said on the cross was it is finished. It 129 00:07:19,830 --> 00:07:22,980 Speaker 1: certainly looked like the end. It looked like it was over. 130 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: But I believe that wasn't just a statement of fact. 131 00:07:27,300 --> 00:07:30,180 Speaker 1: It was a statement of faith. He was saying to 132 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,060 Speaker 1: his father, I've done my part. I fulfilled my destiny. 133 00:07:34,550 --> 00:07:38,570 Speaker 1: Now I've got total trust and confidence in you that 134 00:07:38,610 --> 00:07:41,670 Speaker 1: you're going to finish what you started. Even though it 135 00:07:41,730 --> 00:07:45,590 Speaker 1: looked like the end, in reality, it was only the beginning. 136 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,180 Speaker 1: When it looks dark in your own life, things aren't 137 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: going your way, dare to make that declaration of faith 138 00:07:52,740 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: just like Jesus. It is finished. What you're really saying is, God, 139 00:07:57,380 --> 00:08:00,170 Speaker 1: I know you're going to turn this situation around. I 140 00:08:00,230 --> 00:08:02,450 Speaker 1: know you're going to heal my body. I know you're 141 00:08:02,470 --> 00:08:05,170 Speaker 1: going to restore my family. I know you're going to 142 00:08:05,210 --> 00:08:08,610 Speaker 1: give me the breaks that I need. Don't go around complaining. 143 00:08:08,950 --> 00:08:13,030 Speaker 1: Speak victory over your circumstances. If you have a contract 144 00:08:13,070 --> 00:08:16,489 Speaker 1: that needs to close, doesn't look like it's going to happen. Father, 145 00:08:16,550 --> 00:08:19,770 Speaker 1: thank you. It is finished. This house is going to sell. 146 00:08:20,190 --> 00:08:22,790 Speaker 1: This agreement is going to go through. This new client 147 00:08:22,890 --> 00:08:25,690 Speaker 1: is going to be mine. If you have debt in 148 00:08:25,710 --> 00:08:28,650 Speaker 1: your life, you need to start announcing to that debt. 149 00:08:29,030 --> 00:08:32,650 Speaker 1: It is finished. Look at that house payment. It is finished. 150 00:08:33,030 --> 00:08:36,300 Speaker 1: Look at those college loans. It is finished. Look at 151 00:08:36,340 --> 00:08:40,090 Speaker 1: those unpaid bills. It is finished. Or maybe you're struggling 152 00:08:40,210 --> 00:08:44,250 Speaker 1: in a relationship, having difficulties at home. Well, don't go 153 00:08:44,270 --> 00:08:46,790 Speaker 1: around thinking, oh man, I'll never get out of this mess. 154 00:08:46,929 --> 00:08:49,460 Speaker 1: Why did these people treat me like this? No, go 155 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,860 Speaker 1: through the house saying it is finished. Your husband asked, 156 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:54,860 Speaker 1: what'd you say? I said, you are finished. I mean, 157 00:08:54,900 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: it is finished. Say it by faith. I heard a 158 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,710 Speaker 1: story about this young couple. They were Americans doing missionary 159 00:09:10,770 --> 00:09:14,890 Speaker 1: work in Mexico, 22 years old. Their dream was to 160 00:09:14,929 --> 00:09:17,870 Speaker 1: help the less fortunate, to bring God's message of hope 161 00:09:17,910 --> 00:09:20,980 Speaker 1: to the Mexican people. So they left the comforts of home. 162 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,719 Speaker 1: They were raising their three small boys in a foreign land. 163 00:09:25,220 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: This was back in the 1960s. One Sunday, while they 164 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,570 Speaker 1: were here in the States visiting family, they came to 165 00:09:31,610 --> 00:09:34,730 Speaker 1: a service at Lakewood. It was very small back then, 166 00:09:34,990 --> 00:09:38,370 Speaker 1: just a couple hundred people. Beforehand, they met my parents 167 00:09:38,450 --> 00:09:41,450 Speaker 1: and talked for a moment. During the service, my dad 168 00:09:41,510 --> 00:09:43,860 Speaker 1: told a little of their story. And at the end, 169 00:09:43,940 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: he received an offering for this young couple. And the 170 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,620 Speaker 1: first group there at Lakewood gave this couple a check 171 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:53,990 Speaker 1: for $ 600. They were so excited, so appreciative. They went 172 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,890 Speaker 1: back to Mexico and used that money to start a 173 00:09:56,950 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: Bible school. Two years later, the husband was tragically killed 174 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 1: when his small plane crashed. As you can imagine, it 175 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: was a dark day in this young lady's life. It 176 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: was definitely Friday. It looked like her dreams had died. 177 00:10:12,990 --> 00:10:17,210 Speaker 1: Now she was a 24-year-old widow raising three boys, all 178 00:10:17,309 --> 00:10:20,020 Speaker 1: under the age of four. She could have easily come 179 00:10:20,070 --> 00:10:22,610 Speaker 1: back to the States and given up on that dream. 180 00:10:22,890 --> 00:10:25,510 Speaker 1: People would have accepted that, but she didn't do that. 181 00:10:25,850 --> 00:10:30,830 Speaker 1: She understood this principle. She knew that God always finishes 182 00:10:30,990 --> 00:10:34,329 Speaker 1: what he starts. She knew that even though it was Friday, 183 00:10:34,770 --> 00:10:38,410 Speaker 1: Sunday was coming. So she stayed there and continued on 184 00:10:38,670 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: the Bible school. Over time, she noticed how one of 185 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:46,780 Speaker 1: her sons had an incredible gift for music. He could sing, 186 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: play the piano. He had a natural gift of communication. 187 00:10:51,350 --> 00:10:55,830 Speaker 1: Long story short, her son and our friend, our Spanish pastor, 188 00:10:55,910 --> 00:11:03,330 Speaker 1: Marcos Witt, went on to do great things. Marcos... Our 189 00:11:03,429 --> 00:11:06,950 Speaker 1: friend and her son, Marcos Witt, went on to touch 190 00:11:07,270 --> 00:11:10,670 Speaker 1: all of Latin America. He fills up these huge stadiums. 191 00:11:10,980 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: He's won multiple Grammy awards. What happened? Sunday came. God 192 00:11:15,940 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: completed what he started. That's what the scripture says. Philippians 193 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,699 Speaker 1: 1 verse 6. Be confident of this. He that began 194 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,939 Speaker 1: a good work in you will bring it to completion. 195 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,390 Speaker 1: Notice we're supposed to be confident. That means talk like 196 00:11:33,429 --> 00:11:35,830 Speaker 1: it's going to happen. Act like it's going to happen. 197 00:11:36,170 --> 00:11:38,470 Speaker 1: Plan like it's going to happen. Think like it's going 198 00:11:38,510 --> 00:11:41,130 Speaker 1: to happen. Not any of this, I don't know if 199 00:11:41,190 --> 00:11:43,819 Speaker 1: my son's ever going to straighten up. The more I pray, 200 00:11:43,860 --> 00:11:47,300 Speaker 1: the worse he gets, Joel. No, be confident. Yes, he's 201 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:50,460 Speaker 1: making poor choices right now, but I know he's going 202 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,540 Speaker 1: to turn around. I know it's just a matter of 203 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,459 Speaker 1: time before he gets back on the right track. That's confidence. 204 00:11:56,020 --> 00:12:00,179 Speaker 1: That's your faith speaking. Not, I thought I would get married. 205 00:12:00,870 --> 00:12:02,929 Speaker 1: I thought I'd meet someone, but it's been so long. 206 00:12:03,030 --> 00:12:05,750 Speaker 1: I don't know. Maybe I'm just supposed to be single. No, 207 00:12:05,770 --> 00:12:08,290 Speaker 1: you got to be confident that God's going to finish 208 00:12:08,390 --> 00:12:11,309 Speaker 1: what he started. Instead of speaking defeat, you need to 209 00:12:11,350 --> 00:12:14,510 Speaker 1: be saying, I know God's going to bring somebody great 210 00:12:14,570 --> 00:12:17,130 Speaker 1: into my life. I can't wait to meet them. They 211 00:12:17,150 --> 00:12:20,050 Speaker 1: may be in this building right now. Quit looking around. 212 00:12:22,750 --> 00:12:26,870 Speaker 1: One translation says, be confident God will bring you to 213 00:12:26,929 --> 00:12:30,410 Speaker 1: a flourishing finish. That means God's not only going to 214 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,100 Speaker 1: finish what he started, but it's going to turn out 215 00:12:33,179 --> 00:12:37,900 Speaker 1: bigger and better than you ever imagined. Marcos' mom had 216 00:12:37,940 --> 00:12:41,700 Speaker 1: a dream to touch her community, but now because Sunday 217 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: came through her son, she's touching the whole world. God 218 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,780 Speaker 1: didn't just complete the promise, but he brought his mom 219 00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:52,330 Speaker 1: out to a flourishing finish. I know a young lady 220 00:12:52,370 --> 00:12:55,050 Speaker 1: named Dawn. We grew up here together in the church 221 00:12:55,090 --> 00:12:58,170 Speaker 1: and after she and her husband got married, they had 222 00:12:58,210 --> 00:13:00,930 Speaker 1: a dream to have a baby. They tried and tried, 223 00:13:00,990 --> 00:13:04,790 Speaker 1: went through all the fertility treatments with no success. Year 224 00:13:04,910 --> 00:13:07,770 Speaker 1: after year went by. At that time, Dawn was the 225 00:13:07,790 --> 00:13:10,849 Speaker 1: head of our children's ministry. When my father went to 226 00:13:10,890 --> 00:13:13,330 Speaker 1: be with the Lord and I took over as pastor, 227 00:13:13,710 --> 00:13:16,510 Speaker 1: she had already been believing to have that baby for 228 00:13:16,610 --> 00:13:20,110 Speaker 1: over 20 years. I didn't talk to Dawn that much, 229 00:13:20,470 --> 00:13:22,750 Speaker 1: just hello every once in a while. But one day 230 00:13:22,790 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: we were in a meeting together about the children's ministry. 231 00:13:25,940 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: She made the comment, I've got a good assistant trained 232 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,380 Speaker 1: because when I go to have my baby, I'm going 233 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,100 Speaker 1: to be out for a little while. After the meeting, 234 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,380 Speaker 1: I asked my sister, Lisa, she was in it as well. 235 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: If Dawn was pregnant, I thought I had missed something. 236 00:13:40,179 --> 00:13:42,510 Speaker 1: Lisa kind of laughed and said, no, she just still 237 00:13:42,610 --> 00:13:45,850 Speaker 1: believing for this baby. And me being the great man 238 00:13:45,890 --> 00:13:49,430 Speaker 1: of faith that I am, I thought, Dawn, you have 239 00:13:49,470 --> 00:13:52,890 Speaker 1: been believing for this child forever. Maybe God wants to 240 00:13:52,929 --> 00:13:56,070 Speaker 1: do it another way. Maybe you should adopt children. No, 241 00:13:56,150 --> 00:13:59,429 Speaker 1: Dawn had a made up mind. The promise was in her. 242 00:13:59,740 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: She was confident that it was going to happen. That's 243 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,740 Speaker 1: why you should not let other people talk you out 244 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,860 Speaker 1: of your dreams. God didn't put the promise in them. 245 00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:13,250 Speaker 1: He put the promise in you. Only you really know 246 00:14:13,410 --> 00:14:16,970 Speaker 1: what God put in your heart. And instead of complaining, 247 00:14:17,010 --> 00:14:19,750 Speaker 1: Don would go around just thanking God that one day 248 00:14:20,030 --> 00:14:24,710 Speaker 1: that promise would come to pass. 29 years later, Don 249 00:14:24,770 --> 00:14:28,270 Speaker 1: went to the doctor for a checkup. He said, congratulations, 250 00:14:28,530 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: you're not gonna have one baby, you're gonna have twins. 251 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: God brought her to a flourishing finish. I know some 252 00:14:35,980 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: of you are thinking, God, please don't flourish me that way. Mm-hmm. 253 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,979 Speaker 1: But I love the fact that God does not abort dreams. 254 00:14:44,590 --> 00:14:47,510 Speaker 1: And some of you at one time, just like Dawn, 255 00:14:47,990 --> 00:14:50,130 Speaker 1: you knew you were going to get well. You knew 256 00:14:50,150 --> 00:14:51,970 Speaker 1: you were going to have that baby. You knew you 257 00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:54,850 Speaker 1: were going to overcome that problem. But now because it's 258 00:14:54,870 --> 00:14:57,510 Speaker 1: been a long time and you don't see anything changing, 259 00:14:58,070 --> 00:15:00,950 Speaker 1: you're tempted to think that it's not going to happen. No, 260 00:15:00,990 --> 00:15:04,690 Speaker 1: get back in agreement with God. Start thanking him that 261 00:15:04,750 --> 00:15:07,990 Speaker 1: he is bringing those promises to pass. And even when 262 00:15:08,030 --> 00:15:10,990 Speaker 1: it looks like a dream has died, know this, God 263 00:15:11,050 --> 00:15:14,670 Speaker 1: can resurrect dead dreams. Just like he raised Christ from 264 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,940 Speaker 1: the dead, God can breathe new life into your marriage, 265 00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: new life into your finances, new life into your health. 266 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: Instead of being discouraged, go around all through the day saying, Father, 267 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: thank you that you're gonna finish what you started in 268 00:15:28,570 --> 00:15:31,950 Speaker 1: my life. This is one reason we miss God's best. 269 00:15:32,410 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: We give up on our promises too soon. We have 270 00:15:35,740 --> 00:15:39,850 Speaker 1: to learn to trust God's timing. Most often, it doesn't 271 00:15:39,910 --> 00:15:43,450 Speaker 1: happen as quickly as we would like. There's always going 272 00:15:43,490 --> 00:15:46,430 Speaker 1: to be a period of testing. Are we going to 273 00:15:46,470 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: get discouraged? Are we going to start complaining? Are we 274 00:15:50,130 --> 00:15:53,580 Speaker 1: going to make decisions that will hinder the promise? I 275 00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: think about David and how when he was 17 years old, 276 00:15:57,820 --> 00:16:01,060 Speaker 1: he was anointed to be king, but he did not 277 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: take the throne until he was 30. I'm sure during 278 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,260 Speaker 1: those 13 years, there were plenty of times he was 279 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,370 Speaker 1: tempted to think it wasn't going to happen. I'm sure 280 00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:15,110 Speaker 1: he was tempted to get frustrated, to even feel like 281 00:16:15,170 --> 00:16:19,210 Speaker 1: a failure, thinking, God, did I hear you wrong? I 282 00:16:19,270 --> 00:16:21,250 Speaker 1: thought you said you're going to do something great with 283 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,900 Speaker 1: my life, but nothing is going my way. Here he 284 00:16:24,940 --> 00:16:28,020 Speaker 1: was almost 30. Year after year had gone by. He 285 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,650 Speaker 1: saw no sign of the promise coming to pass. David 286 00:16:31,690 --> 00:16:33,830 Speaker 1: had to fight the same negative thoughts that we do, 287 00:16:34,370 --> 00:16:37,230 Speaker 1: thoughts that we're telling him, it's not going to happen. David, 288 00:16:37,250 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: you heard God wrong. Just accept it. Just settle where 289 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: you are. The battle was taking place in his mind. 290 00:16:43,260 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: To make matters worse, one day a man by the 291 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,420 Speaker 1: name of Nabal insulted David and his men. They had 292 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: been protecting Nabal's property. David told his men to go 293 00:16:54,340 --> 00:16:57,620 Speaker 1: ask Nabal for some food and water. And when they did, 294 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: Nabal was extremely rude. He said, I'm not going to 295 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: give you guys anything. I never asked you to protect me. 296 00:17:04,609 --> 00:17:08,489 Speaker 1: Just get off my property. When David heard this, it 297 00:17:08,550 --> 00:17:11,210 Speaker 1: set him off. He was ready to let Nabal have it. 298 00:17:11,690 --> 00:17:14,189 Speaker 1: He told his men, pack up. We're going to go 299 00:17:14,270 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: wipe out Nabal and everyone that's even halfway associated with him. 300 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,270 Speaker 1: I don't believe that it was so much what Nabal did. 301 00:17:22,290 --> 00:17:26,290 Speaker 1: That wasn't some huge offense, but it was magnified by 302 00:17:26,330 --> 00:17:30,649 Speaker 1: the fact that David was already frustrated that his promise 303 00:17:30,690 --> 00:17:33,169 Speaker 1: had not yet come to pass. He knew in his 304 00:17:33,230 --> 00:17:36,050 Speaker 1: heart he was chosen to be a king, but he's 305 00:17:36,130 --> 00:17:39,790 Speaker 1: out there living in the wilderness like a pauper. Now 306 00:17:39,869 --> 00:17:43,609 Speaker 1: he's distracted. He's lost his focus and he's about to 307 00:17:43,670 --> 00:17:47,220 Speaker 1: make a decision that will hinder his destiny. And as 308 00:17:47,260 --> 00:17:51,939 Speaker 1: he's headed toward Nabal's property, God sent a young lady 309 00:17:52,140 --> 00:17:56,169 Speaker 1: by the name of Abigail. Abigail was a wise woman. 310 00:17:56,609 --> 00:18:00,030 Speaker 1: She was Nabal's wife. She met David on the road, 311 00:18:00,270 --> 00:18:04,070 Speaker 1: had gifts in her hand. And she said, David, why 312 00:18:04,190 --> 00:18:07,210 Speaker 1: are you going to blow your whole kingdom on such 313 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,790 Speaker 1: a fool like my husband? Are you going to allow 314 00:18:10,890 --> 00:18:13,330 Speaker 1: him to stop you from doing what God wants you 315 00:18:13,350 --> 00:18:16,610 Speaker 1: to do? You are our next king. You are destined 316 00:18:16,630 --> 00:18:18,990 Speaker 1: to do great things. Are you going to blow it 317 00:18:19,410 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 1: on something so small such as this? She not only 318 00:18:23,420 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: talked sense into David, she spoke victory into his future. 319 00:18:28,420 --> 00:18:32,090 Speaker 1: She reminded him who he was and the promise God 320 00:18:32,150 --> 00:18:35,900 Speaker 1: put in him. At that moment, David turned around, said, 321 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,620 Speaker 1: you're right. I've got a destiny to fulfill. The promise 322 00:18:39,740 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: is still in me and I'm not going to get 323 00:18:41,980 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: frustrated and make decisions that I'm going to regret later 324 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:49,110 Speaker 1: on just because the promise has not yet come to pass. 325 00:18:49,740 --> 00:18:53,850 Speaker 1: David passed that test. And I've learned that God will 326 00:18:54,030 --> 00:18:57,070 Speaker 1: always send you an Abigail before you give up on 327 00:18:57,109 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: a dream. Many of you know that you've got the 328 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: promise in your heart. You know you've got a great future, 329 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: a future filled with hope, with faith, with blessings, with promotion. 330 00:19:09,420 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: But the problem is right now, you're not seeing any 331 00:19:12,180 --> 00:19:16,340 Speaker 1: of that. You're tempted to get discouraged, tempted to be frustrated, 332 00:19:16,900 --> 00:19:20,540 Speaker 1: maybe even tempted to make decisions like the dream is 333 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: never going to come to pass. But today, God sent 334 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,370 Speaker 1: me to be your Abigail, I want to remind you 335 00:19:27,750 --> 00:19:30,780 Speaker 1: of who you are and what you have on the inside. 336 00:19:31,430 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: You are a child of the most high God. You 337 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:39,500 Speaker 1: have seeds of greatness on the inside of you. You 338 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,940 Speaker 1: have royal blood flowing through your veins. You have been 339 00:19:43,050 --> 00:19:47,410 Speaker 1: crowned with glory and honor. You are destined to leave 340 00:19:47,450 --> 00:19:50,899 Speaker 1: your mark on this generation. It may not have happened 341 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,950 Speaker 1: yet but the promise is still in you. Don't be 342 00:19:55,090 --> 00:19:59,209 Speaker 1: careless towards your future. Don't make decisions that you're going 343 00:19:59,230 --> 00:20:02,619 Speaker 1: to regret later on. It's easy in the heat of 344 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: the moment like David to want to blow somebody off. 345 00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:08,500 Speaker 1: It's easy to just want to walk out of a marriage. 346 00:20:09,140 --> 00:20:12,780 Speaker 1: It's easy on the Fridays of your life when business 347 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,380 Speaker 1: is slow, when it's taken a long time, when everybody's 348 00:20:16,420 --> 00:20:19,949 Speaker 1: promoted except you to just think, man, I'm never going 349 00:20:19,970 --> 00:20:22,250 Speaker 1: to get ahead. I'm just going to start goofing off 350 00:20:22,290 --> 00:20:25,050 Speaker 1: like everybody else at work. This marriage is never going 351 00:20:25,070 --> 00:20:27,770 Speaker 1: to last. I'm going to try something else. I'm never 352 00:20:27,810 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: going to get well, Joel. I'm just going to accept it. No, 353 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:33,859 Speaker 1: listen to the Abigail God sent you. You will get well. 354 00:20:34,369 --> 00:20:37,490 Speaker 1: You will be promoted. You will be restored. You will 355 00:20:37,530 --> 00:20:41,070 Speaker 1: be vindicated. You will see your dreams come to pass. 356 00:20:42,810 --> 00:20:46,629 Speaker 1: It may be Friday, but Sunday is coming. And when 357 00:20:46,670 --> 00:20:49,630 Speaker 1: it's time for God to promote you, to vindicate you, 358 00:20:49,670 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: to restore you, all the forces of darkness cannot stop 359 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: it from happening. God's looking for people that have a 360 00:20:56,390 --> 00:21:00,540 Speaker 1: made up mind, people that will trust his timing. It 361 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,940 Speaker 1: usually does not happen overnight, but it will happen. Abraham 362 00:21:05,010 --> 00:21:08,410 Speaker 1: waited 20 years. He saw that promise come to pass. 363 00:21:08,450 --> 00:21:12,190 Speaker 1: He had his son. Moses waited 40 years. He came 364 00:21:12,230 --> 00:21:16,380 Speaker 1: into his promise. He helped deliver God's people. You say, Joel, 365 00:21:16,420 --> 00:21:18,180 Speaker 1: I've been waiting for a year and I don't see 366 00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:22,780 Speaker 1: anything happening. No, something is happening right now. God is 367 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: working behind the scenes in your life. He is arranging 368 00:21:26,619 --> 00:21:30,609 Speaker 1: the right people, the right breaks, the right opportunities. And 369 00:21:30,650 --> 00:21:34,330 Speaker 1: sometimes the reason it's taken longer is because even though 370 00:21:34,390 --> 00:21:38,010 Speaker 1: you're ready, somebody else that's involved is not ready yet. 371 00:21:38,970 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: The scripture says at the appointed time, the promise will 372 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,220 Speaker 1: come to pass and it will not be one second late. 373 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,290 Speaker 1: When is the appointed time? It's when God knows it's 374 00:21:50,369 --> 00:21:54,470 Speaker 1: best for you. When you understand this principle, it takes 375 00:21:54,590 --> 00:21:57,710 Speaker 1: all the pressure off. It's a very freeing way to live, 376 00:21:58,070 --> 00:22:01,570 Speaker 1: knowing that as long as we stay in faith, God 377 00:22:01,609 --> 00:22:06,670 Speaker 1: will release his favor, his increase, his restoration, his healing 378 00:22:07,050 --> 00:22:10,530 Speaker 1: at exactly the right time in our lives. That means 379 00:22:11,030 --> 00:22:13,670 Speaker 1: I don't have to be frustrated because it's not happening 380 00:22:13,710 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 1: as fast as I would like. I don't have to 381 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: be worried because I don't see anything changing. I am 382 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,979 Speaker 1: confident that God will finish what he started. I may 383 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: not see it happening, but my report is it's on 384 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:29,740 Speaker 1: its way. It may be today, next week, next year, 385 00:22:30,140 --> 00:22:33,100 Speaker 1: five years, 25 years. That's okay. I'm staying in faith. 386 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 1: I know God is not only going to bring the 387 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,219 Speaker 1: promise to pass, but he's going to bring us out 388 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:42,400 Speaker 1: with a flourishing finish. I think about my brother, Paul. 389 00:22:42,940 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 1: He told how ever since he was a little boy, 390 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:49,369 Speaker 1: he had a desire to do medical missions in Africa. 391 00:22:50,170 --> 00:22:52,470 Speaker 1: He went there when he was 12 years old with 392 00:22:52,510 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: my father and it made such a lasting impression on him. 393 00:22:56,140 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: He went back again as a college student with a 394 00:22:58,619 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: group from the university and they spent a month there 395 00:23:01,380 --> 00:23:04,980 Speaker 1: in the summer helping the underprivileged people. Paul went on 396 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:09,830 Speaker 1: to graduate from medical school, become a surgeon. For 17 years, 397 00:23:09,869 --> 00:23:14,490 Speaker 1: he practiced surgery in Arkansas, very successful. He worked his 398 00:23:14,550 --> 00:23:16,330 Speaker 1: way all the way up to the chief of surgeries. 399 00:23:16,930 --> 00:23:20,790 Speaker 1: But still, he and my sister-in-law, Jennifer, had this overwhelming 400 00:23:20,850 --> 00:23:24,410 Speaker 1: desire to do medical missionary work. And so they sent 401 00:23:24,510 --> 00:23:28,690 Speaker 1: off for applications to different missions organizations. But every time 402 00:23:28,730 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: they went to fill them out, it just didn't feel right. 403 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,500 Speaker 1: They just didn't think it was the right timing. And 404 00:23:34,540 --> 00:23:38,260 Speaker 1: so they put it off. They delayed it. 1999, our 405 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:42,100 Speaker 1: father went to be with the Lord. After daddy's memorial service, 406 00:23:42,500 --> 00:23:45,570 Speaker 1: Paul was driving back home to Little Rock and he 407 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:48,490 Speaker 1: heard God speak to him, not out loud, but an 408 00:23:48,530 --> 00:23:51,790 Speaker 1: impression right down in here. He said, Paul, I want 409 00:23:51,810 --> 00:23:54,550 Speaker 1: you to give up your medical practice and go back 410 00:23:54,590 --> 00:23:58,530 Speaker 1: to Lakewood and help your family with the ministry. In 411 00:23:58,570 --> 00:24:01,810 Speaker 1: the natural, it didn't make a lot of sense. Here 412 00:24:01,850 --> 00:24:04,830 Speaker 1: he had trained all those years in medicine. It looked 413 00:24:04,850 --> 00:24:07,030 Speaker 1: like it was just the opposite of what he had 414 00:24:07,070 --> 00:24:09,669 Speaker 1: in his heart. He was having to give up the 415 00:24:09,710 --> 00:24:12,550 Speaker 1: thing that he loved the most. He came back and 416 00:24:12,790 --> 00:24:16,130 Speaker 1: for 10 years, he's helped us pastor the church. Last year, 417 00:24:16,230 --> 00:24:18,790 Speaker 1: a group of doctors were going over to Africa from 418 00:24:18,830 --> 00:24:22,150 Speaker 1: the ministry. They invited Paul to go. He felt good 419 00:24:22,190 --> 00:24:24,850 Speaker 1: about it, so he went. He got to the little clinic. 420 00:24:25,350 --> 00:24:28,300 Speaker 1: They put him in the operating room. He hadn't done 421 00:24:28,380 --> 00:24:32,220 Speaker 1: surgery in nearly 10 years time, but he said it 422 00:24:32,260 --> 00:24:35,139 Speaker 1: was just like riding a bike. It came back to 423 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,859 Speaker 1: him like he'd never even stopped doing it. He was 424 00:24:37,900 --> 00:24:40,869 Speaker 1: so excited, he came back home and got his whole 425 00:24:40,970 --> 00:24:43,490 Speaker 1: family and went back over to the clinic and spent 426 00:24:43,530 --> 00:24:46,629 Speaker 1: three months there. This time he was doing surgeries that 427 00:24:46,650 --> 00:24:49,790 Speaker 1: he'd never even done before. The end of that three 428 00:24:49,830 --> 00:24:54,139 Speaker 1: month period, one night Paul went outside all alone. He 429 00:24:54,180 --> 00:24:56,740 Speaker 1: looked up in the African sky and all of a 430 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,629 Speaker 1: sudden it hit him. He was living his dream. He 431 00:25:00,690 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: was doing exactly what God put in his heart as 432 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,619 Speaker 1: a little boy. God brought that promise to pass. What 433 00:25:06,660 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: am I saying? You can trust God with your dreams. 434 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: Sometimes you may feel like you have to put the 435 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,929 Speaker 1: thing you love the most on the altar. Times you 436 00:25:15,970 --> 00:25:18,590 Speaker 1: may feel like you're taking a detour, going in the 437 00:25:18,730 --> 00:25:22,550 Speaker 1: opposite direction. But know this, God has a plan. He's 438 00:25:22,590 --> 00:25:26,150 Speaker 1: got it all figured out. Be patient. It may take 439 00:25:26,190 --> 00:25:29,830 Speaker 1: some time. Paul first felt that desire at 12 years old. 440 00:25:30,450 --> 00:25:33,140 Speaker 1: He felt it again at 22 when he went back 441 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,580 Speaker 1: as a college student. And today at 75, he's as 442 00:25:36,619 --> 00:25:42,860 Speaker 1: happy as can be. You remember I am his younger, 443 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:48,310 Speaker 1: better looking brother. But I know every one of us 444 00:25:48,810 --> 00:25:52,270 Speaker 1: has dreams and desires that have not yet come to pass. 445 00:25:52,950 --> 00:25:55,250 Speaker 1: Maybe there are things in your heart you've never told 446 00:25:55,410 --> 00:25:59,700 Speaker 1: anybody about. Know this, God knows. He's the one that 447 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,489 Speaker 1: put them there. Don't get discouraged because you don't see 448 00:26:02,530 --> 00:26:05,930 Speaker 1: anything happening. Just keep being your best each day. Keep 449 00:26:05,950 --> 00:26:09,270 Speaker 1: being a person of excellence and integrity. Keep being good 450 00:26:09,310 --> 00:26:12,270 Speaker 1: to other people. Every day you do that, you are 451 00:26:12,310 --> 00:26:15,290 Speaker 1: passing the test and you are one day closer to 452 00:26:15,330 --> 00:26:19,970 Speaker 1: seeing the promise come to fulfillment. It says in Psalm 106, 453 00:26:19,970 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: talking about the people of Israel, they did not wait 454 00:26:23,380 --> 00:26:27,030 Speaker 1: for God's plan to unfold. In other words, they missed 455 00:26:27,050 --> 00:26:31,290 Speaker 1: their promise because they got discouraged. They started complaining. They 456 00:26:31,310 --> 00:26:34,030 Speaker 1: didn't think it would ever happen. Don't let that be you. 457 00:26:34,609 --> 00:26:37,910 Speaker 1: Stay in faith. When it's taken a long time, know 458 00:26:37,950 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: that God's plan is going to unfold. It may look 459 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:44,460 Speaker 1: like the end. It may look like you've got to 460 00:26:44,500 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 1: give up the thing you love the most. But recognize 461 00:26:47,700 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 1: that is only a test. When you give it up, 462 00:26:50,420 --> 00:26:53,500 Speaker 1: God will always give you back something better. And on 463 00:26:53,540 --> 00:26:56,580 Speaker 1: the Fridays of your life, when things aren't going your way, 464 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,379 Speaker 1: you have to keep reminding yourself that Sunday is coming. 465 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: Your resurrection is on its way. And I want you 466 00:27:03,340 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 1: to be confident of this. not wondering, thinking, well, maybe 467 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:09,609 Speaker 1: this will happen for me, Joel. I don't know. I've 468 00:27:09,630 --> 00:27:12,010 Speaker 1: made a lot of mistakes. It's been a long time. No, 469 00:27:12,030 --> 00:27:14,530 Speaker 1: you got to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, 470 00:27:14,830 --> 00:27:17,050 Speaker 1: no matter what it looks like, no matter how many 471 00:27:17,210 --> 00:27:20,250 Speaker 1: odds are against you, God is going to finish what 472 00:27:20,290 --> 00:27:23,020 Speaker 1: he started in your life. That dream he put on 473 00:27:23,060 --> 00:27:26,060 Speaker 1: the inside, the promise that's in your heart, it is 474 00:27:26,100 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: still alive and well. If you'll get up each day 475 00:27:29,060 --> 00:27:33,020 Speaker 1: in faith, live with expectancy, then I believe and declare 476 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: you're not only going to see your dreams and promises 477 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: come to pass, but it's going to be better than 478 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:42,940 Speaker 1: you expected. God's going to bring you to a flourishing finish. Amen. 479 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 1: Do you receive that today? I know you do. We 480 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: never like to close our broadcast without giving you an 481 00:27:50,380 --> 00:27:53,500 Speaker 1: opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would 482 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:57,429 Speaker 1: you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus. I repent 483 00:27:57,450 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you 484 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:05,659 Speaker 1: my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 485 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again. Get in a good 486 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,330 Speaker 1: Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take 487 00:28:11,369 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: you places you've never dreamed of. If you want to 488 00:28:21,460 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: know what you're going to be like in five years, 489 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,300 Speaker 1: listen to what you're saying about yourself. You are prophesying 490 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:29,900 Speaker 1: your future. I'd love to send you my new book, 491 00:28:30,070 --> 00:28:33,970 Speaker 1: Your Words, Your Reality. I'll show you how to speak positive, 492 00:28:34,109 --> 00:28:37,350 Speaker 1: faith-filled words that agree with what God says about you. 493 00:28:37,990 --> 00:28:40,290 Speaker 1: You'll learn how to use your words not to describe 494 00:28:40,350 --> 00:28:44,140 Speaker 1: the situation, but to change the situation. When you speak 495 00:28:44,180 --> 00:28:47,540 Speaker 1: words of health, favor, and victory, you are setting the 496 00:28:47,580 --> 00:28:51,300 Speaker 1: direction for your life. That's how you'll break negative cycles, 497 00:28:51,580 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: develop a healthier mindset, and see more of the goodness 498 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 1: of God in your life. 499 00:28:57,550 --> 00:29:01,470 Speaker 2: Your Words Equal Your Reality is a powerful new guidebook 500 00:29:01,610 --> 00:29:05,190 Speaker 2: designed to help you speak God's promises over every area 501 00:29:05,230 --> 00:29:09,690 Speaker 2: of your life. Inside, you'll find scripture-filled declarations for your health, 502 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 2: Your relationships, your finances, and your future. Plus, real guidance 503 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 2: for wherever you are right now. Whether you're facing a challenge, 504 00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:23,100 Speaker 2: walking in breakthrough, or somewhere in between, each page will 505 00:29:23,140 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 2: help you align your words with what God says and 506 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,490 Speaker 2: step into the very best He has for you. It's 507 00:29:29,510 --> 00:29:31,580 Speaker 2: yours as a thank you for your gift to the 508 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,020 Speaker 2: ministry today. Be sure to request your copy of Your 509 00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:39,130 Speaker 2: Words Equal Your Reality, available this month by visiting us 510 00:29:39,410 --> 00:29:39,930 Speaker 2: at jolos.org. 511 00:29:41,220 --> 00:29:46,690 Speaker 1: Or call 888-567-JOEL. You can change what you're seeing by 512 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:50,959 Speaker 1: changing what you're saying. Speak life, declare His promises, and 513 00:29:51,020 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: watch what God does. Victoria, I want you to know 514 00:29:54,030 --> 00:29:56,690 Speaker 1: that we pray for you and your family every day. 515 00:29:56,710 --> 00:30:00,670 Speaker 1: Thank you for your prayer and support. Your generosity helps 516 00:30:00,750 --> 00:30:03,780 Speaker 1: us take this message of hope around the world. Thanks 517 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: so much for helping us finish the summer strong. A 518 00:30:06,980 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 1: special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for 519 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: all you do to make the ministry possible. Until we 520 00:30:12,610 --> 00:30:15,390 Speaker 1: meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. 521 00:30:16,330 --> 00:30:19,410 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of Your Words Equal 522 00:30:19,450 --> 00:30:24,430 Speaker 2: Your Reality, available this month by visiting us at joelostein.com 523 00:30:24,710 --> 00:30:30,170 Speaker 2: or call 888-567-JOEL. With an additional gift, you can also 524 00:30:30,250 --> 00:30:35,810 Speaker 2: receive the 3-Minute Promise, Power, and Authority Collection, featuring abundance, assurance, 525 00:30:35,950 --> 00:30:40,710 Speaker 2: and authority. A rich, empowering study drawn from the Passion Translation. 526 00:30:41,290 --> 00:30:44,450 Speaker 2: It opens up who you already are in Christ, what's 527 00:30:44,570 --> 00:30:48,790 Speaker 2: already yours, and the authority you already carry. Because your 528 00:30:48,890 --> 00:30:53,290 Speaker 2: next moment with God could change everything. Know who you are. 529 00:30:53,900 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: Walk in what's yours. 530 00:30:55,420 --> 00:30:59,220 Speaker 2: Step into every moment with confidence. You can request these 531 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:06,750 Speaker 2: inspiring resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging on to joelostein.com today. 532 00:31:07,370 --> 00:31:09,350 Speaker 2: Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day.