1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: listening to the podcast. 3 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 2: Did you know you can watch our weekend services live 4 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 2: online each week. 5 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: Of course, we'd love to have you in person if 6 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,319 Speaker 1: you're ever in the Houston area, but the next best 7 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: thing is our online services. Thanks for downloading the podcast 8 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: today and we hope you enjoy the message. Well, God 9 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: bless you. It is always a joy to come into 10 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: your homes. We loved you. We know God has good 11 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: things in store for you. He rewards people that seek 12 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: after him, and we just trust today you'll be blessed 13 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: and inspired, and just thank you for tuning in. If 14 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: you're ever out in our area, comebine and see us. 15 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. We'll make you feel right 16 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 1: at home. But again, thanks for watching today. And I 17 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: like to get started with something funny each week, so 18 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: listen to this one. A pastor decided to skip church 19 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: one Sunday and go play golf. He told his assistant 20 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: he wasn't feeling well and drove to a golf course 21 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: in the next city where no one would know him. 22 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: He teed off on the first hole and suddenly the 23 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: wind picked up the ball carried it an extra hundred 24 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: yards and blew it right into the hole for a 25 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: four hundred twenty yard hold in one. An angel said 26 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: to God, what'd you do that for? God smiled and said, 27 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: who's he gonna tell? All right, hold up your bibles, 28 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 1: say it like you mean it. Ready, this is my Bible. 29 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what 30 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says 31 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 32 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 33 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 34 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 35 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: about conceiving the good things God has in store. You 36 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: cannot give birth to something if you don't first conceive it. 37 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: And I believe that God is always trying to plant 38 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: new seeds in our heart, seeds of hope, seeds of increase, 39 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: seeds of change. But if the condition of our heart 40 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: is not right, even though the seed is there, we 41 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: still will not conceive it. And by conceive, I mean 42 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: you've got to make room for it in your thinking. 43 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: You've got to believe you can rise higher, believe you 44 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: can accomplish your dreams. Believe the marriage can be restored. 45 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: Believe you can live a healthy life. The seed has 46 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: to take root. Conception is the very first step. It 47 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: will not come to pass on the outside until you 48 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: conceive it on the inside. And every one of us 49 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: should be pregnant with our dreams. We should be pregnant 50 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: with the good things of God. The too many people 51 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: today are going around stuck in a rut. They think 52 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: they've reached their limits in life. They don't believe for 53 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: anything good. They don't expect things to change, and then 54 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: they wonder why nothing gets better. It's because their thinking 55 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: is limited. You cannot give birth to a baby if 56 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: you don't first conceive it. You've got to make room 57 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: for it in your own mind. You need to look 58 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: out through your eyes of faith and see that coming 59 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: to pass. And Jesus said here in Matthew nine, verse seventeen, 60 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: you cannot put new wine in old wine skins. And 61 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: back in those days, the wine skins were made out 62 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 1: of leather, and when the leather would get old, it 63 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: would become hard and stiff, and it couldn't expand anymore. 64 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: And so if you put the new wine in there, 65 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: it would burst and of course you'd lose that wine. 66 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: And one thing Jesus was saying through this passage is 67 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: you cannot have a new life with old thinking. And 68 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: many times, just like an old wine skin, we get 69 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 1: stuck in our ways, We get set in our attitudes, 70 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: we get set in our thinking. And here God is 71 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: trying to pour out the new wine. He's trying to 72 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: give us a new beginning, to increase us, to promote us. 73 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: But the real question is are we willing to get 74 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: rid of our old wine skins? Are we willing to 75 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: enlarge our vision? You cannot go through life thinking that 76 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: you've reached your limits in a negative frame of mind 77 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: and expect to have God's blessings. Well, Joe, my marriage, 78 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: You'll never get better, I'll never get out of debt, 79 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: I'll never go any further. Now, God has so much 80 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: more in store for every one of you. He wants 81 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: to take you to new levels. But you have to 82 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: do your part and let the seed take root. The 83 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: first step to change in your life is you've got 84 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: to change your thinking. You got to quit looking at 85 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: what you can't do and start looking at what you 86 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: can do. You and God are a majority. If God 87 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: be for you, who dare even be against you. If 88 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: you're ever going to rise up and be all God's 89 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: created you to be, you've got to get rid of 90 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 1: limited thinking, and you've got to start having possibility thinking. 91 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,239 Speaker 1: You've got to enlarge your vision. You got to believe 92 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: that you can be all God's created you to be. 93 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: Act like it's true, Talk like it's true. Let that 94 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: seed take root. Now I can tell you we wouldn't 95 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: be moving into the Compact Center if we had not 96 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: done just that. We had to enlarge our vision. We 97 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: could have thought, man, that's too much money. There are 98 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: too many obstacles, it's too big, it's never gonna happen. No, 99 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: we simply said, God, not our will, but your will 100 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: be done. We're ready. We believe you can make a way. 101 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: We believe you can fight our battles for us. We 102 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: know that no man can stand against you. We got 103 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: an image of on the inside, and the seed began 104 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: to grow and grow, and today we're seeing it all 105 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: come to pass. Now I would challenge you as well, 106 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: have a big vision for your own life. Don't talk 107 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: yourself out of the new things that God is trying 108 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: to do. He wants to increase you. He wants to 109 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: restore what the enemy has stolen. Why don't you let 110 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: this new seed of hope take root in your heart today? 111 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: Why don't you dare to believe that God can and 112 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 1: will bring that to pass. You remember when God told 113 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: Abraham that his wife Sarah was going to have a child, 114 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: and they were both way up there in years. In fact, 115 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: they were close to eighty years old. And when Sarah 116 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 1: heard it, the first thing she did was laugh and laugh. 117 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: She said, Abraham, what are you talking about. I'm never 118 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: going to have a baby. I'm an old lady. See, 119 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: the condition of her heart was not right. God was 120 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: trying to plant that new seed, but her thinking kept 121 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 1: it from happening. She had to conceive it in her 122 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: heart before she could ever conceive it in her physical body, 123 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: and year after year went by no child. Finally, some 124 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: twenty years later, she gave birth to her son named Isaac. 125 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: But I believe one of the main reasons why it 126 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: took so long was because she wasn't willing to get 127 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: rid of her old wine skin. She couldn't conceive it 128 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: in her heart. Many of you today, you're looking for 129 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: something new in your life, a new beginning, a new season. 130 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: The only way that's gonna happen is for you to 131 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:28,559 Speaker 1: get rid of those old mindsets that are holding you back. Well, Joel, 132 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: I'll never lose this weight. This is the way I've 133 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: always been. My marriage'll never get better. You know, we've 134 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: always had problems. I'll never get out of debt. My 135 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: child will never change. Now you've got to get rid 136 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: of that defeated mentality. Our attitude should be I can 137 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 1: do all things through Christ. God is going before me, 138 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: making my crooked places straight. I know whatever I touch 139 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: is going to prosper and succeed. Well, Joe, you just 140 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: don't know my family, man, They're all negative. We've always 141 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: been defeated, discouraged. No, you can set a new standard. 142 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 1: You are not being limited by your environment. You're not 143 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: being limited by your past. What's gonna limit you is 144 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: your own thinking. You got to get rid of those 145 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: old wine skins, and you need to have a new 146 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: image of yourself rising higher, accomplish in your dreams. You 147 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: should see yourself setting new standards for your family to 148 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,679 Speaker 1: live by. This is just what my father did. Daddy 149 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: grew up in a very poor family. They were cotton farmers. 150 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: They lost everything they had during the Great Depression, and 151 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: so Daddy went to high school with holes in his pants, 152 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: holes in his shoes. Didn't look like he had a 153 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: very bright future in front of him, and he could 154 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: have easily just settled in there for the status quo. No, 155 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: at the age of seventeen, Daddy gave his life to 156 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: the Lord, and God planted a new seed in his heart. 157 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: God gave him a dream that one day he would 158 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: pasture a church with thousands of people in it. Back then, 159 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: that was unheard of. Sixty or seventy years ago. There 160 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: weren't any big churches like there are today, and in 161 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: the natural that seemed impossible. He didn't have any education 162 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: to speak of, never been to seminary, they didn't have 163 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: any money. But my father didn't let any of that 164 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: stop him. He conceived that seed, he got a vision 165 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: of it on the inside, and Daddy began to see 166 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: himself rising up out of that environment. He began to 167 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: see himself doing great things for God, touching people all 168 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: over the world. And you know the story. He did 169 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: just that, he fulfilled his destiny, and every one of 170 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: you can do the same thing, no matter where you are, 171 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: no matter how many odds are against you. You can 172 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: rise higher, You can break out of the barriers of 173 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: the past. The seed is being planted. I don't know. 174 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: Maybe right now you can feel God speaking to you, 175 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: you can feel faith rising in your heart. But understand, 176 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: having the seed there is not enough. It's a two 177 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: way street. We have to conceive it. The seed can 178 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: be in you your whole lifetime, but until you believe 179 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 1: it and act on it, it's not gonna do you 180 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: any good. And God said in the Book of Isaiah 181 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: forty three, verse nineteen, Behold, I am doing a new thing. 182 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: Can you not perceive it? Notice? God is always trying 183 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: to do new things in our lives. He is always 184 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: trying to increase us, to give us better marriages, to 185 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: give us more influence. But isn't it interesting? God asked 186 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: the question can you perceive it? In other words, God 187 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: was saying, are you making room for it in your thinking? 188 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: Are you believing for a better marriage? Are you believing 189 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: to excel in your career? Or have you got stuck 190 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: in that rut like so many people today, thinking that 191 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: they've already reached their limits. Now, why don't you enlarge 192 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: your vision? You've got to learn to conceive the new 193 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: things that God is trying to do in your life. 194 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: I remember many years ago, Victoria and I used to 195 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 1: live in this older home. It was built way back 196 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: in the forties, and it had some foundation problems, so 197 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 1: some of the floors were crooked. It was in pretty 198 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: bad shape. But we really loved the neighborhood that it 199 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: was in. It was on a great piece of property, 200 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: and so we stretched and we spent everything we could 201 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: just to buy that place. And during the week, probably 202 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: several times a week, we'd go out and take a 203 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: walk through the neighborhood and there were all these new 204 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: homes being built and they were big, two story homes, 205 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: really beautiful, really nice. And one day, as we were walking, 206 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: we decided to go through this one house that was 207 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: just being finished up. Nobody lived there yet, of course, 208 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 1: and so we went in and like I said, it 209 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: was just so beautiful. I remember the living room was 210 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: two stories and had windows all the way up to 211 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: the top. It was just so inspiring. And as we 212 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: walked out, we were standing on the front porch and 213 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: I'll never forget what Victoria said, She said, Joel, one 214 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: day we're gonna live in a house just like this, 215 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: and she might as well said to me, Joel, one 216 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: day we're gonna live on Mars. I no more believe that, 217 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: I said, Victoria, what are you talking about? We could 218 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: never afford a place like this. We'd save up our 219 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: whole lifetime, and still not having that just went in 220 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: one ear and out the other ear. Didn't bother her 221 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: a bit. She said, no, Joel, I feel it right 222 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: down in here. One day we're gonna have a nice 223 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: house like this, do you know. We stood out there 224 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: on the sidewalk and debated that like thirty minutes. She 225 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: told me all the reasons why it could happen, and me, 226 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: being the great man of faith that I am, I 227 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: told her all the reasons why it would never happen. 228 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: But see, God was trying to plant a new seed 229 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: in my heart. God was trying to use her to 230 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: get me to enlarge my vision, to believe for the extraordinary. 231 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: But like many people, I just looked at the natural. 232 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: I tried to figure it out in my own thinking, 233 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: and every time I did, my mind said tilt till 234 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: it is not gonna happen. This is impossible. But we 235 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,559 Speaker 1: have to understand God's ways are not our ways. We 236 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: think naturally, but God thinks supernaturally. And Jesus said, if 237 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,439 Speaker 1: you can believe, then all things are possible. In other words, 238 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: if you'll just let the seed take root, there's no 239 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: limit to what God can do in your life. You 240 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: may not be able to figure out how your business 241 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,839 Speaker 1: is ever gonna grow. Looks like you plateaued, It looks 242 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: like you're having a lot of problems. But don't do 243 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: like me. Let the seed take root. God can give 244 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: you one new idea, or he can give you one 245 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: new client that could turn everything around. God could cause 246 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: you to bump into somebody, to be at the right 247 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: place at the right time, and somebody offer you a 248 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: brand new opportunity. Conceive it on the inside. Let hope 249 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: fill your heart. Or maybe you're here today and you 250 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,959 Speaker 1: don't see how your health could ever get better. Every doctor, 251 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: every specialist has told you it's just too bad. You've 252 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: got to learn to live with it. Nothing they can do. 253 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: But now God made your body. God can supernaturally fix 254 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: what's wrong. God can create what you need. Why don't 255 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: you let a new seed of hope take root? Why 256 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: don't you start declaring every day God is restoring health back. 257 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: Unto me, I am getting better and better with long life. 258 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: He's gonna satisfy me. See, you got to get rid 259 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: of those old mindsets, old wine skins, in larger vision 260 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: and take the limits off of God. Several months went by, 261 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: and every time we went out to walk, Victoria did 262 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: the same thing. One day, we're going to have one 263 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: of these houses. Well, finally, I had heard that so much. 264 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,719 Speaker 1: I gave in. I let her convince me, and I 265 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: let that seed take root. I thought, after all, what's 266 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: he gonna hurt to put my faith out there? What's 267 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 1: it gonna hurt to get my hopes up? What's it 268 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: gonna hurt to believe? I'd rather believe for something great 269 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: and get half of it rather than believe for nothing 270 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: and get all of it. And so we went out there, 271 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: and every day we walked, we just kept on thanking 272 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: God for his goodness. Father, thank you that you're causing 273 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: people to want to be good to us. Thank you 274 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: that You're hand of favors upon us. Thank you that 275 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: you're gonna show your goodness in our lives. We just 276 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: kept watering that seed, and do you know, one day 277 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: out of the clear blue a builder knocked on our door, 278 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: and he offered to buy half of our property for 279 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: more money than we'd paid for the whole thing. He 280 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: eventually ended up building two houses there, one for us 281 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: and one for somebody else, and we sold ours and 282 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: long story shorts. Several years later we were living in 283 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: a house just like Victoria had said. I've learned now 284 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: to listen to her more often, you know. But I 285 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: don't believe that any of that would have happened if 286 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: I had not first conceived it on the inside. I 287 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: had to enlarge my vision. I had to see it 288 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: through my eyes of faith. And some of you today, 289 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: God has been trying and trying to plant new seeds 290 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: in you, but like me, you keep thinking, Man, that's 291 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: never gonna happen. I've got too many odds against me. 292 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: I'll never get promoted, I've gone as far as my 293 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: education allows. Or I'll never get married. Joe, I've been 294 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: single so long now, why don't you let a new 295 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: seed take root? As I said, you can't give birth 296 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: to something if you don't conceive it. You've got to 297 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: change your thinking, change your attitude, Start believe in God 298 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: for more, start expecting his favor God to make room 299 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: for it in your own mind. I like to think 300 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: about it like a couple that's expecting a baby. Once 301 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: they find out that they're pregnant, they start making preparations 302 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: for that child. And the fact is they've never physically 303 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: seen their baby. The only proof they have probably is 304 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: a doctor's report or some kind of test. But yet 305 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: they'll go out and buy baby clothes and baby furniture 306 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: and get the house all baby proof. See, they're making plans. 307 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: A baby has been conceived, a child is on its way. Well, 308 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: we should do the same thing once the seed takes root. 309 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: Not only make preparations in your mind, but you need 310 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: to take some steps to show your faith. For instance, 311 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: I know this couple that had a son that was 312 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: on drugs. He was in his mid twenties, and he 313 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: had been running with the wrong crowd, living on his own, 314 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: just living a very rebellious life. And we'd prayed together 315 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: here at this altar many many times. That young man 316 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: was just breaking his parents heart, but they refused to 317 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: give up on him. They refused to accept that as 318 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: the way it always had to be. They had a 319 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: seed of hope in their heart and they let it 320 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: take root, and they believe that one day he would 321 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: be in here with them serving God. They believed that 322 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: he would be productive and fulfilling his destiny, and they 323 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: made preparations for him to turn his life around. They 324 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: went out and bought a Bible and had his name 325 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: engraved on it. This young man would never come home, 326 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: hardly even spoke to the parents, very much at odds 327 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: with them, but they just put that Bible on their 328 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: coffee table, and every time they walked by and saw 329 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: his name, they just used that as a reminder to 330 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: thank God that their child was going to come back home, 331 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: to thank God that one day their family would be reunited. 332 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: Do you know seven years went by, they never saw 333 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: any sign of change. The sun hardly even spoke to them. 334 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: But one Friday night they told for no apparent reason, 335 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: he knocked on the door, said Mom and Dad, I 336 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: want to come back home. I want to get my 337 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 1: life straightened out. And just like the prodigal son, they 338 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: received him back with open arms and got in the 339 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: help that he needed. And now almost every time I 340 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: see that young man, he's holding that Bible that his 341 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: parents had bought for him over seven years before. It's 342 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: always got it with him to see the seed took root, 343 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: and they showed their faith by making some preparations. I 344 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: know this other couple, they'd tried for several years to 345 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: have a baby, but with no success, gone through all 346 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: the fertility treatments and didn't look like anything was happening. 347 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: But one day they decided to take it a step further, 348 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: and just to show their faith, they went out and 349 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 1: bought a little baby outfit, just a little set of clothes, 350 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: and they put it there in their kitchen so that 351 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: they could see it every time they were in there. 352 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,719 Speaker 1: It helps to keep the vision in front of you, 353 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: says in a back to write your vision down, do 354 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: something to help you keep your faith up. Well, just 355 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 1: several months after she had taken that step of faith 356 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: and bought those clothes, that young lady conceived, and not 357 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: too long ago we dedicated their little child here at 358 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: the altar. And you know what, that baby was wearing 359 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 1: those very clothes that they had bought for her. And 360 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: the truth is that was not the first time they 361 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: had seen their baby wearing those clothes. They had seen 362 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: him many times through their eyes of faith. See the 363 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 1: seed took root. They made preparations they showed their faith. 364 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: Maybe you're here today and you've gone through some kind 365 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: of disappointments, a marriage, a relationship didn't work out, some 366 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: kind of dream has died. But I would just encourage 367 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 1: you that that is not the end. God still has 368 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: a great plan for your life. And when one door closes, 369 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: I know God will always open up another door. No 370 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: waller around in self pity. Don't go around thinking, man, 371 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: I've blown it. Life's all downhill from here. No. God 372 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: wants to take the negative things that have happened to 373 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: you and turn them around and use them to your advantage. 374 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: If one dream dies, you've got to dream another dream. 375 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 1: If you get knocked down, get back up again. God 376 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: is still in control. But don't let the enemy convince 377 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: you that all it's never gonna get any better and 378 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,919 Speaker 1: you're never gonna get well. When Joel, those are great stories, 379 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 1: but I know I'll never have a nice house, My 380 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: family will never be restored. No, you've got to get 381 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: rid of that old wine skin. God does have good 382 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 1: things in store for you, And no matter what you've 383 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: been through, no matter how impossible it looks, it's not 384 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: too difficult for our God. God created the whole universe, 385 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: and He's got you in the palm of his hands. 386 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: And if you'll just dare to believe, if you'll dare 387 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: to get your hopes of you can rise higher. You 388 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: can break out of the bondages of the past, and 389 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 1: you can see a new beginning in your life. And 390 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: some of you are so focused on your faults, everything 391 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: that you've done wrong, and you're just convinced that God 392 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: is finished with you and you just need to sit 393 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 1: on the sidelines of life. But that could not be 394 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: further from the truth. Why don't you receive God's mercy? 395 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: Why don't you learn to forgive yourself and start expecting 396 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 1: God's blessings in his favor. I know too many people 397 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: they're only focused on their faults and weaknesses. You've got 398 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: to quit looking at what you are not and start 399 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 1: looking at what you can be. You may have some 400 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: habits today that you're not proud of, or maybe you 401 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 1: struggle with some addictions. Let me tell you, if you 402 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: go around always feeling bad about yourself, guilty and condemned, 403 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: that new seed of change will never take root. And 404 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: one of my favorite scriptures is Philippians one six. You 405 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: all know it be confident of this. He that began 406 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: a good work in you will continue to perform it 407 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: until it's perfectly complete. That means I may not be 408 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,439 Speaker 1: all I want to be. But the good news is 409 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: God is not through working on me. I am not 410 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: a finished product. If we're ever going to rise higher, 411 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: we have to have the right image on the inside. 412 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 1: You got to quit looking at what you're not, what 413 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: you don't have, and what you can't do. Listen, you 414 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,719 Speaker 1: are a child of the most tied God. You have 415 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: his power on the inside of you. You can do 416 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 1: whatever you need to do. You can accomplish things that 417 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: you never even thought possible. When you're up against obstacles 418 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: or maybe some opportunities come your way, don't you dare 419 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: shrink back in fear, learn to rise up and become 420 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: all God has created you to be. I know, I 421 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 1: never dreamed that I would be up here. I never 422 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,719 Speaker 1: dreamed this was even in me. But when Daddy went 423 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: to be with the Lord, I felt that I was 424 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: supposed to step up and pastor this church. But the 425 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: first thing I thought of were all the reasons why 426 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: I couldn't do it. I thought, you know what I've 427 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: never spoken before and I'm not a preacher, and I 428 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: don't feel qualified. There was this battle taking place on 429 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: the inside. God was trying to plan a new seed 430 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: in me. He was trying to promote me and take 431 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: me into my divine destiny. But I had to make 432 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: a decision. Was I going to conceive the seed and hey, 433 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: believe that I can do this and take that step 434 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: of faith. Or was I going to do like I 435 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: did with that first house and keep my old wine 436 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: skin and say, man, I can't do that. I'm too nervous, 437 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: I'm too shy. I don't have what it takes. Now, 438 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 1: Thank God, this time I had learned. I let the 439 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: seed take root. The first thing I did is I 440 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 1: begin to see myself up here ministering to people. I 441 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: begin to see the building full. I begin to see 442 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: myself succeeding. I had it on the inside. And sure 443 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: there were nights where I woke up in the middle 444 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: of the night with a cold sweat, thinking what have 445 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,679 Speaker 1: I done? Nobody's ever gonna show up. But no, I 446 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: learned to get rid of those thoughts of defeat, and 447 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: I just speak to myself, Joe, you can do all 448 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: things through Christ. You are strong in the Lord and 449 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: the power of his life. I tell myself I am 450 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: well able to fulfill my destiny. What was happening is 451 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: the seed was taking root and growing and growing. I'm 452 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: seeing it come to pass. I'm seeing God do more 453 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: than I could even ask or think. You can do 454 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: the same thing. You have so much more in you. 455 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: God has planted seeds of greatness. He wants you to 456 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: excel at whatever He's called you to do. Why don't 457 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 1: you take the limits off of him today? Why don't 458 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: you start enlarge in your vision. You can be happier, 459 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 1: you can be healthier, you can be more fulfilled. But 460 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: I can tell you it all starts by conceiving it 461 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,479 Speaker 1: on the inside. In other words, you need to get 462 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 1: a picture of it. You need to have an image 463 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: of it. What you see is so very important. And 464 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: some people, when they look out into the future, all 465 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: they see is more of the same, mediocrity, defeat, failure. 466 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: The whole problem is they're conceiving the wrong seeds. You've 467 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 1: got to get rid of that junk and start seeing 468 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: yourself rising higher, start seeing yourself healthier and happier and 469 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: fulfilling your God given destiny. That's the only way the 470 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: seed is going to take root, you've got to keep 471 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: seeing it through your eyes of faith. In Genesis chapter thirty, 472 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: story about Jacob and his uncle Laban. Jacob had worked 473 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: for Laban for many, many years, but it wasn't a 474 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: very good relationship. Laban had not treated him fairly, and 475 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: so Jacob was ready to go out on his own 476 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: and do his own thing. But he said, Laban, I'll 477 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: continue to take care of your flocks if you'd like 478 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: me to. And Laban said that'd be great, But what 479 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,479 Speaker 1: do you want me to pay you for? And Jacob said, well, 480 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 1: I'll make a deal with you. If you'll give me 481 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 1: all the spotted and streaked sheep and goats, that'll be 482 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 1: my pay, and you can keep all the solid colored ones. 483 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 1: They're more valuable anyway, and that way we'll always know 484 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: the difference. Yours are solid minor streaked and spotted. Laban 485 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: said that sounds fine. But Laban was so dishonest. He 486 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: went out during the night and he took practically all 487 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 1: the animals that should have been Jacob's and gave him 488 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: to one of his sons. And then he made sure 489 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: he took all the mail spotted and streaked animals. And 490 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: so Jacob not only didn't get what he was supposed to, 491 00:23:57,119 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: he didn't have any way for his flocks to reproduce. 492 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: But in verse thirty seven, Jacob did something so interesting. 493 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: It says that he cut fresh cut branches off the tree, 494 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: and he peeled the bark off of them in certain 495 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: places to make them look spotted and streaked. I guess 496 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: the branches were kind of brown, and when he pulled 497 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: the bark off, it was white. And so now he's 498 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 1: got all these spotted and streaked branches, and he put 499 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 1: them in front of the watering troughs where the animals 500 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,919 Speaker 1: would come to drink water. And not only would they 501 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 1: drink water there, but that's where they made it. That's 502 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: where they bred and conceived. And so imagine, as these 503 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: animals are breeding, they are staring at these spotted and 504 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: streaked rods. And do you know the Bible says that 505 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: when Laban's animals gave birth, even though they were solid 506 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: in color, their babies that were born were spotted and strengtd. 507 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: God supernaturally made it up to Jacob. He ended up 508 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: having twice as many blocks as his uncle Laban. But 509 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 1: the point I want you to see is I believe 510 00:24:57,119 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: one reason that Jacob put the spotted and streaked branches 511 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 1: in front of those animals is because he knew they 512 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,440 Speaker 1: would produce what they saw. And really it's the same 513 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,399 Speaker 1: principle with us today. We are going to produce what 514 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: we're continually looking at. You are a child of the 515 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: most High God. You were created to live in victory, 516 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: in health, in abundance. But do you know if you 517 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: stay focused on the wrong things, if you have the 518 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: wrong image on the inside, you will not produce what 519 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 1: you should. The seed will not take root. And some 520 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: of you today you need to peel some new branches. 521 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: You need to start looking at some better things. Get 522 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: a bigger vision for your life. What kind of image 523 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: do you have in yourself? If you see yourself not 524 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 1: able to, then you will never be able to. If 525 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: you see yourself defeated and lonely, then you're going to 526 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,479 Speaker 1: live that kind of life. You've got to change what 527 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,639 Speaker 1: you're seeing. Why don't you peel some new branches. You 528 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 1: ought to put scripture verses up all over your house, 529 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 1: at the desk, in your car, everywhere you go. You 530 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: should see I can do all things through Christ I 531 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: am more than a common I'm the head and not 532 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: the tail. Everything I touch prospers and succeeds. If you 533 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 1: start looking at that day in and day out, you'll 534 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: create a new image on the inside. That seed will 535 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 1: take root, and you'll begin to rise to new levels 536 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: of God's victory. So I just challenge you again today, 537 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,680 Speaker 1: have a big vision for your life. Get rid of 538 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: those old wine skins, go beyond the barriers of the past, 539 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 1: and start expecting God to do great things in your life. 540 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: You can rise higher, you can go further. Learn to 541 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: conceive the good things of God. Let those seeds of 542 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: faith and hope and victory really take root. Remember, you've 543 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 1: got to conceive it on the inside before it's ever 544 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: going to come to pass on the outside. And I 545 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: can tell you God has so much more in store 546 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 1: for every one of you. He wants to take you 547 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: places that you've never even dreamed of. If you'll just 548 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: dare to believe, dare to take the limits off of God. 549 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: I can tell you firsthand there's no limit to what 550 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 1: God will do in your own life. He'll pour out 551 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,679 Speaker 1: his blessings in favor and you'll live the life of victory. 552 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,439 Speaker 1: He has story. Amen, how many of you receive it today? 553 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 1: We never like to close all broadcast without giving you 554 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,360 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 555 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll 556 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 557 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 558 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 559 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,400 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 560 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 561 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 2: Sometimes life can make you feel like you are just 562 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 2: living in the dark. Even your prayers don't feel like 563 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 2: they are making it to heaven. 564 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: But God is. 565 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 2: Listening and his light is about to shine. 566 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: We know God is all powerful that he can answer 567 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,399 Speaker 1: any prayer, but sometimes we don't know what to pray. 568 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 1: We don't think we deserve God's goodness. Maybe we're inconveniencing him, 569 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 1: or he has more important things to deal with. But 570 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 1: God is concerned about every detail of your life. He's 571 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:06,160 Speaker 1: waiting to hear your prayers. I have a new resource 572 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 1: called Praying with Confidence, guided prayers for life's moments. When 573 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: you face challenges or obstacles that seem too big. You'll 574 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: find prayers that will build your faith, prayers that will 575 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:20,239 Speaker 1: move the hands of God. There are prayers you can 576 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 1: pray for peace and comfort, prayers for your family and hell, 577 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: prayers for your dreams and goals. As you make these 578 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: prayers your own, pray with confidence, that's when you'll see 579 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: the creator of the universe go to work. I hope 580 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: you'll request your copy today. 581 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 2: With a gift of any amount this month, we would 582 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 2: like to immediately send you a copy of Praying with 583 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 2: Confidence Guided Prayers for Life's Moments. In this new resource, 584 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 2: Joel shares how to pray when you need a breakthrough, 585 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 2: when you need strength. Yes, when life's moments happen and 586 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 2: you're not sure how to pray. Praying confident prayers will 587 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 2: put you on the right path. You'll enter new seasons 588 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 2: in your prayer life that will turn challenges to victories, 589 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 2: heartache to hope, frustration to new found favor. Be sure 590 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 2: to request your copy of Praying with Confidence Guided Prayers 591 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 2: for Life's Moments today. Visit Joeloustein dot com or call 592 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 2: eighty eight five six seven. 593 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: Joel