1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: go back to school, but to come back and move 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 21 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 23 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 4: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 4: be a blessing and share it with a friend. 25 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 5: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 26 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 5: your life. 27 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 4: Well, God bless you. It's always our joy to come 28 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 4: into your homes. We love you, We know God has 29 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,919 Speaker 4: great things in store. And if you're ever in our area, 30 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 4: I hope you'll stop buying and be a part of 31 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:36,839 Speaker 4: one of our services. 32 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 3: I promise you this will make you feel right at home. 33 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 4: But thanks so much for tuning in today, and again 34 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 4: thank you for coming out. I'd like to start with 35 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 4: something funny, and I heard about this elderly lady. She 36 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 4: went to church one Sunday morning, and a friendly usher 37 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 4: met her at the back door and said, ma'am, where 38 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 4: would you. 39 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: Like to sit? 40 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 4: She said, I want to sit on the very first row. Yes, 41 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 4: you're said, oh no, ma'am, you don't want to do that. 42 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 4: Our pastor is very boring. 43 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 3: He'll put you to sleep. 44 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 4: Let me seet you somewhere else. She looked appalled. She said, sir, 45 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:07,559 Speaker 4: do you know who I am? 46 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 3: He said, no, ma'am. 47 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 4: She said, I am the pastor's mother. He hung his 48 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 4: head in embarrassment, And finally he looked up and. 49 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 3: He said, ma'am, do you know who I am? She 50 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: said no. 51 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 4: He said, thank God, hold up your bible and say 52 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 4: it like you mean it. 53 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 3: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 54 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 3: I have what it says I have. 55 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 4: I can do what it says I can do. Today 56 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 4: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 57 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 4: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 58 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 4: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 59 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 4: I want to talk to you today about staying open for. 60 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 3: God to do it his way. 61 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 4: So often we put God in a box. We tell 62 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 4: him how to meet our needs and when to do 63 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 4: it and. 64 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 3: Who he should use. 65 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 4: We've got all these preconceived ideas about how it's going 66 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 4: to happen. But it says in Isaiah fifty five, God's 67 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 4: ways are not our ways. They are higher and better 68 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 4: than our ways. The way God chooses to do something 69 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 4: may not be the way that you were expecting. If 70 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 4: you are set in your thinking with preconceived ideas of 71 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 4: how God's going to do it and who He's going 72 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 4: to use, you might miss the answer that God is 73 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 4: sending you. You could overlook someone, not even give them 74 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 4: the time of day, Yet God sent them to be 75 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 4: instrumental in your life. You could pass on an opportunity 76 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 4: because it's not what you had in mind. Yet the 77 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 4: fact is God is sending it to try to take 78 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 4: you to a new level. What am I saying? When 79 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 4: the answer shows up, it may not look like the 80 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 4: answer you were expecting. One time, the Disciples were on 81 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 4: a boat. They were rowing across the lake in the 82 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 4: middle of the night, and the wind was blowing very 83 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 4: strongly again then so much so it was almost impossible 84 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 4: to get to the other side and to keep going forward. 85 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 4: As they struggled and struggled, I can hear them say, 86 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 4: I wish Jesus was here with us. He could calm 87 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 4: these winds down. If he was here, it would be 88 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 4: so much easier. All of a sudden, Jesus came walking 89 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 4: on the water beside the boat. The scripture says. The 90 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 4: disciples screamed in terror. They thought it was a ghost. 91 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 3: What happened. 92 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 4: Jesus showed up a different way, and they didn't recognize it. 93 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 4: They had never seen him in that form. They had 94 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 4: seen him during the day teaching on the Sea of Galilee. 95 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 3: They had seen him. 96 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 4: Feeding the five thousand, healing the lepers. They knew what 97 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 4: he looked like during the daytime, but they had never 98 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 4: seen him in the middle of the night, during a 99 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 4: great storm, walking on the water. And sometimes when God 100 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 4: shows up a different way, we don't recognize it. You 101 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,359 Speaker 4: could have the answer God is sending you right now, 102 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 4: Jesus could be walking on the water right beside your boat. 103 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 4: But because the answer is not what you thought it 104 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 4: would look like, because you have preconceived ideas, it could 105 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 4: keep you from seeing what God is sending you. My 106 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 4: challenge is to stay open. The answer may not come 107 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 4: a familiar way. It may not happen like it happened 108 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 4: last time. God may show up in another form. When 109 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 4: I look back over my own life, I can see 110 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 4: where time and time again, God blessed me through people 111 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 4: that I never expected. 112 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 3: God brought me through things in ways that I never 113 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 3: dreamed of. 114 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 4: He showed up in another form, in the form of 115 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 4: a friend that I never expected to be a friend. 116 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 3: He used people to. 117 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 4: Help me that were not on my list of who 118 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 4: I thought God would use. I remember when we were 119 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 4: trying to acquire this facility. There were two people that 120 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 4: came in contact with us. They were very influential, very 121 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 4: well connected, but they didn't have any kind of religious background. 122 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,119 Speaker 4: They were a little rough around the edges. In other words, 123 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 4: they loved to party, they loved to have a good time. 124 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 4: They were good people, but they were a little far out. 125 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 4: And it's interesting we didn't pursue them. They pursued us. 126 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 4: One of them told me, Joel, this is my personal mission. 127 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 4: I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure that 128 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 4: you get this facility. 129 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 3: My first thought was, is this right? This is like 130 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 3: oil and water. It's not what I was expecting. God 131 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 3: showed up in another form. 132 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 4: Was I going to be open and recognized the answer 133 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 4: God was sending us? Or was I going to let 134 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 4: preconceived ideas caused me to miss it. I was smart 135 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 4: enough to say, God, do it your way. If you 136 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 4: want to use these people, more power to them. We'll 137 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 4: use their health. But see a lot of times we 138 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 4: have God in this box and we think God. 139 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 3: Can't use that man. He's a sinner. He can't use her. 140 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 4: She likes to party, he's got a bad attitude, she's sarcastic. 141 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 4: He doesn't even believe in God and listen. The longer 142 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 4: I live, the more I realize. God can use who. 143 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 3: He wants to use. God can bless who he wants 144 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 3: to bless. 145 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 4: God can bring good out of who he wants to 146 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 4: bring good out of. 147 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 3: And we got to quit putting God in. 148 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 4: Our box, telling him what to do and when to 149 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 4: do it, and making these narrow minded judgments of who's 150 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 4: good and who's not good, and who God can use 151 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 4: and who God can't use. 152 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 3: Listen. 153 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 4: In the scripture, God used Rahab, the prostitute, to save 154 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 4: the people of Israel. God used a donkey to speak 155 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 4: to a prophet. God used mud and spittle to heal 156 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 4: a blind man's eyes. God used a little boy to 157 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 4: feed five thousand. God used Pharaoh's daughter to take care 158 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 4: of baby most is. In other words, God used the 159 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 4: enemy to take care of his children. 160 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 3: Friends, God is God. 161 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 4: He can do what he wants to do. Don't put 162 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 4: God in a box and miss your miracle. He may 163 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 4: show up in another form. And some of you today 164 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 4: are too narrow minded. You've seen God during. 165 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 3: The day, so to speak, like the disciples, But. 166 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 4: Now God's showing up in another form instead of being 167 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,679 Speaker 4: open and being willing to try something new, becoming friends 168 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 4: with someone that's not like you, trying a new opportunity 169 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 4: that you've never done before. You've got God in this 170 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,319 Speaker 4: box thinking this couldn't be for me. I know it'll 171 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 4: never happen this way. Now you may have the answer 172 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 4: that you've been praying about, you just don't recognize it. 173 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 4: My sister Tamram had her mind made up about what 174 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 4: kind of man she was going to marry. 175 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 3: She had a list in her. 176 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 4: Mind of what he is going to look like, what 177 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 4: he was going to do, what kind of family he 178 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 4: was going to be from these very specific Of course, 179 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 4: there's nothing wrong with praying and believing, having ideas and goals, 180 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 4: but you have to stay open. God knows what you 181 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 4: need more than you do, and your idea may not 182 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 4: be exactly God's idea, but I can promise you this 183 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 4: God's way will be better than your way. 184 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 3: And Tamor went. 185 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 4: Off to college and she met this young man that 186 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 4: got interested in her, but he had red hair. Well, 187 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 4: Tamra didn't want somebody with red hair. Red hair was 188 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 4: not on her list. Plus he was way too tall. 189 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 4: Tamra is about five feet. This young man was well 190 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 4: over six feet, big, strong, athletic guy played college baseball. 191 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 4: Tambra would call home say, well, this guy named Jim 192 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 4: keeps calling me and calling me. I've told him month 193 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 4: after month, I don't want to go out with him. 194 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 4: I'm not interested in him. Well, Jim finally wore Tamra down, 195 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 4: and just to get him to quit calling, she agreed 196 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 4: to go out to dinner. One night, they went out 197 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 4: and they just hit it off. Tamra called back and said, 198 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 4: you know what, I think I like this guy. He's friendly, 199 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 4: he's kind, he's loving, he's got a good personality, he 200 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 4: loves his family. 201 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 3: On and on. She couldn't quit talking about Jim. 202 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 4: Today, twenty five years later and four kids, Tamra and 203 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 4: Jim are still growing strong. They've passed her Faith Family 204 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 4: Church in Victoria, Texas, and Jim was recently voted one 205 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 4: of the most influential people in all those counties. 206 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 3: What am I saying? 207 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 4: Tamra had the answer God was sending her, but she 208 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 4: didn't recognize it. God showed up in another form. Are 209 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 4: there people in your life right now that you're writing 210 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 4: off because they don't meet the conditions on your list? 211 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 4: They don't have the right background, the right height, the 212 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 4: right job, the right personality, the right nationality. 213 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 3: How do you know you're not missing out. 214 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 4: On an incredible friendship because of preconceived ideas. Well, Joel, 215 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 4: I'd never be friends with them. They don't have my 216 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 4: same interest. They work in a different department. They don't 217 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 4: meet the one hundred and twenty seven conditions on the 218 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 4: list of who would be my friend. You need to 219 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 4: get out of that little narrow box. Tamra thought she 220 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 4: would never marry someone with red hair, But do you 221 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 4: know today Tamra loves red hair. 222 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 3: You'll be amazed at what you finds you love if 223 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 3: you just give it a chance. 224 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 4: Victoria always thought she would marry someone much taller than me. 225 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 3: But think about it, how could she resist this face? 226 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 3: And what are you laughing at? Some of you women? 227 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 4: You're praying for someone tall, dark, and handsome. Can I 228 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 4: be real truthful with you? They may show up short, 229 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 4: light and not so handsome, but there'll be somebody you 230 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 4: can't live without. After all, what's on the inside is 231 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 4: more important than what's on the outside. Looks can change. 232 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 4: I remember a whole high school buddy of mine. He 233 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 4: was the star football player. He was built with this 234 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 4: incredible physique. He had this thick, curly blonde hair. He 235 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,439 Speaker 4: looked like he was just out of a surfer magazine. 236 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:15,319 Speaker 4: All the girls were crazy about him. I saw him recently, 237 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 4: and it's funny. He still has that thick, curly hair. 238 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 4: The only difference now is he can take it off 239 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 4: and put it back on. 240 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 3: Stay open to. 241 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 4: The people God put in your life. Don't have a 242 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 4: narrow box to where everybody has to look like you 243 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 4: and think like you, or you write them off. I 244 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 4: saw recently where these baby tiger cubs lost their mother. 245 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 4: Normally they would never survive, but somehow this big mother 246 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 4: pig found them, took them in and nursed them and 247 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 4: cared for them and protected them. 248 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 3: It was the strangest thing. 249 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 4: They had a picture it showed all these baby tiger 250 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 4: cubs cuddled up to this big mother pig. You'll never 251 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 4: know what kind of friendships you could enjoy if you'll 252 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 4: just get outside of your box and stay open to 253 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 4: the people God brings across your path. I remember the 254 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 4: first time I ever met Marcos Wit, our Spanish pastor. 255 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 4: Marcos is one of the most well known ministers and 256 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 4: worship leaders in all of Latin America. I had heard 257 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 4: a lot about him down through the years, but I'd 258 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 4: never met him, never even seen him. One day, his 259 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 4: office called and asked if he could rent our facility to. 260 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:36,679 Speaker 3: Have a Spanish concert. 261 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 4: Normally we don't do that, but I'd heard so much 262 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 4: good about him, we said yes. In the night of 263 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 4: the concert, I came down to meet him. I walked 264 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 4: in the back room and I saw this middle aged 265 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 4: Caucasian man over to one side, and I politely said hello, 266 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 4: and I kept walking. I wanted to meet Marcos. 267 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 3: I looked in another room. 268 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 4: In another room, nobody was there, and I came back 269 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 4: to that main room and he came up to me 270 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 4: and he put out his hand and he said, I've 271 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,719 Speaker 4: been wanting to meet you. My name is Marcus with 272 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 4: I nearly passed out here. 273 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 3: He's the leading Hispanic minister in all of Latin America. 274 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,319 Speaker 3: And I mean he is as white as me. God 275 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 3: has a sense of humor. I told him, Marcus, I 276 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 3: don't mean to sound. 277 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 4: Surprised, but I just thought you'd look like Julio Iglesias. 278 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 4: For what happened, God showed up in another form. It 279 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 4: wasn't what I was expecting. It's funny. I had prayed 280 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 4: about believed to have a Spanish service for a long time, 281 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 4: but I always thought it would at least be led 282 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 4: by someone that looked hispanic. 283 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 3: I almost missed Marcus. I passed right over. 284 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 4: Him because he didn't fit into my mold. Look around 285 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 4: in your life this week. Are there people God has 286 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 4: put there that you're writing off because they don't meet 287 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 4: your conditions. You've already pred judged them to not be 288 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 4: for you because of how they look, or what they wear, 289 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 4: or where they come from or what they do. 290 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 3: Now, you got to get out of that box. 291 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 4: If Timber would have done that, she would have missed 292 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 4: out on a great husband, Jim. If I would have 293 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 4: done that, we might have missed out on being blessed 294 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 4: by Marco's witt. We might not even have our Spanish 295 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 4: speaking service. Sometimes we allow tradition to keep us from 296 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 4: seeing the new thing God wants to do. Before my 297 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 4: father went to be with the Lord, I worked in 298 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 4: the television department here and we would broadcast the services 299 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 4: on Sunday, and I would work with the ushers to 300 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 4: seat the people properly. The old sanctuary held eight thousand people, 301 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 4: and at the time we would have about six thousand 302 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 4: come out on a Sunday morning. 303 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 3: One of the main ushers would. 304 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 4: Say to me time and time again, Joel, one day 305 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 4: this place is going to be filled to the top. 306 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 4: It's going to be packed full of people. I would 307 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 4: always say, I agree. I believe that too well. My 308 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 4: father went to be with the Lord in nineteen ninety 309 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 4: nine and stepped up to pasture the church, and I 310 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 4: didn't even know this was in me, But by the 311 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 4: end of that first year, the building was full to 312 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 4: the very top, just like he talked about, so much 313 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 4: so that we had to start a second Sunday morning 314 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 4: service and that filled up, and then we started a 315 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 4: Saturday night service. Whenever I would see that ushered, I 316 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 4: always think to myself, he must be so happy. It's 317 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 4: not only filled once, but it's filled twice. That's what 318 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 4: he talked about all those years. But what's interesting is 319 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 4: it didn't happen the way he thought it would happen. 320 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 4: I don't minister exactly like my father. My father was 321 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 4: more of a fireball. I'm more laid back. My dad's 322 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 4: mission was to bring down the denominational walls so that 323 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 4: God's people could all worship together, and we are. 324 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 3: We are living in the day my father dreamed of. 325 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 4: Most people now are not really concerned whether you're Baptist 326 00:16:58,320 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 4: or Methodist. 327 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 3: Or church God. 328 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 4: I mean, you may be here today a Catholic sitting 329 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 4: by a Pentecostal, sitting by a Presbyterian sitting by someone 330 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 4: that doesn't even know what those names mean. The walls 331 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 4: have come down, But this usher was so set on 332 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 4: it happening a certain way the way my father did 333 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 4: it that when I came along and did it a 334 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 4: little bit different, even though it. 335 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 3: Was filled up twice, he couldn't accept it. He moved on. 336 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 4: What was the problem? God showed up in another form. 337 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 4: He didn't recognize it. He was stuck in tradition. He 338 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 4: had God in this little bitty box, thinking, if it's 339 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 4: going to happen, Joel's got to be just like his dad. 340 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 3: No, God is doing. 341 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 4: A new thing, and the new thing is not going 342 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 4: to look like the old thing. Stay open, don't get 343 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 4: stuck in tradition. God is a progressive God. I really 344 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 4: believe one reason that some churches are not growing today, 345 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 4: they're even going down, is because they're stuck in what 346 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 4: God was doing forty years ago, trying to. 347 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 3: Make it happen today. There's no anoying on it. 348 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 4: What God did back then was the right thing for then, 349 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 4: and what God is doing now is the right thing 350 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 4: for now. And if you're going to be blessed, you're 351 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 4: going to experience God's best, you've got to let go 352 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 4: of the traditions of yesterday and come over into the 353 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 4: God of the now and say, what God did back 354 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 4: then is great. We celebrate what my father did. We 355 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 4: celebrate the message of power to the denominational world. But 356 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 4: we can't get stuck there. This is a new day 357 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 4: and God's doing a new thing. We see this even 358 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 4: in the scripture. John the Baptist showed up wearing camel skin, 359 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 4: eating locust and wild honey, preaching like no one had 360 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 4: ever heard before. He was different. He didn't wear robes 361 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 4: and stay in the syn of God. What did the 362 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 4: religious leaders say, He's got a demon, There's something wrong 363 00:18:58,440 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 4: with him. 364 00:18:58,960 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 3: He couldn't be right. 365 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 4: God showed up in another form. They didn't recognize him, 366 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 4: even Jesus. They were waiting for the Messiah. But because 367 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 4: he showed up as a baby, many people didn't recognize 368 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 4: him because he came in a manger through a young 369 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 4: teenage girl born in a stable. Many people didn't even 370 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 4: pay attention. Jesus grew up and went about healing the sick, 371 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 4: bringing hope to the fallen, lifting the hurting. He wasn't 372 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,199 Speaker 4: like the other religious leaders. He didn't spend all of 373 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 4: his time in the temple in synagogues. He spent his 374 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 4: time among the people. But instead of celebrating him and 375 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 4: being happy for the good he was doing, the Scripture says. 376 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 3: They despised him. 377 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 4: They called him a friend of sinners, a friend of 378 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 4: tax collectors. What was the problem? They didn't recognize the 379 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 4: new thing God was doing. They had God in a 380 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 4: little bitty box. Don't let that be You stay open 381 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 4: for something new. God did twenty thirty forty years ago. 382 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 4: That was great, But what God is doing today is 383 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 4: not going to look like what God did back then. 384 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 3: Don't get stuck in tradition. 385 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 4: If you do, you'll develop a critical spirit, and you'll 386 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 4: start to find fault with everybody that's different than you, 387 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 4: and you'll go find your own group so you can 388 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 4: sit around and complain and criticize and talk about the 389 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 4: way it used to be well, Joel, this is not 390 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 4: the way my great grandmother had church. 391 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 3: With all due respect, your. 392 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,680 Speaker 4: Great grandmother is in heaven. This is not your great 393 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 4: grandmother's day. This is your day, well, Joel, these are 394 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 4: not the songs that we sung when I was growing 395 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 4: up in church, and we sure didn't have those electric guitars, 396 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 4: and we didn't have those lights that move around and 397 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 4: change colors. 398 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 3: Yes, but this is a new day. 399 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 4: It's the same God, but he showed up in a 400 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 4: different form. 401 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 3: Can you recognize it? 402 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 4: Well, Joel, you don't use as many scriptures as your 403 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 4: father did. You don't teach line by line, verse by verse. No, 404 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 4: that's because I'm not my father. If God wanted us 405 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 4: to be like somebody else, he would have made us 406 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,919 Speaker 4: as clones. Now, quit trying to make what happened yesterday 407 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 4: happened today and just enjoy what God is doing right now. 408 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 3: This is an awesome day to be alive. 409 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 4: Would you ever dream that we would be having church 410 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 4: in a former basketball arena. I grew up watching the 411 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 4: Rockets play basketball here. 412 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 3: I had season tickets right back over there. In fact, 413 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 3: somebody's sitting in my seats every time I come in here. 414 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 3: I'm still amazed at God's goodness. 415 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 4: When I was growing up, a church of a thousand 416 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 4: people was a big deal. Now there are churches all 417 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 4: over with thousands and thousands of people. The scripture says this, 418 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 4: the glory of the latter House will be greater than. 419 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 3: The glory of the former House. 420 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 4: That means what God is doing today in your life 421 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 4: is going to be greater and more powerful and more exciting, 422 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 4: and more effective and more influential than what God did 423 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 4: in the past. But if you get stuck in yesterday 424 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 4: and you refuse to let go of tradition, you will 425 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 4: miss the greater glory, the greater influence, the greater favor. 426 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 3: We don't serve a God of yesterday. 427 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 4: We serve a God a right now, and what God 428 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 4: is doing right now is going to far supersede anything 429 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 4: God has done in the past. I hear people say, well, Joel, 430 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 4: I'm just praying for revival. I've heard that since I 431 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 4: was a little boy. 432 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 3: I'm praying for a move of God's spirit. 433 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 4: And I understand what they mean, But I don't think 434 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 4: they realize that we are living in revival. If some 435 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 4: thirty forty thousand people come out each week, and churches 436 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:53,199 Speaker 4: around the globe are impacting their community. God's favor is 437 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 4: on his people like never before. This is the best 438 00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 4: time to be alive. Sometimes we think, well, if I 439 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 4: could have just lived back there in Bible days with 440 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 4: Moses and Abraham and David and Estra and Sarah and Ruth. 441 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 4: You know what those people are saying up in heaven. 442 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 4: If I could just live down there with Joel and 443 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 4: Susan and Maria and Chris. They've got all kinds of technology. 444 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 4: They've got basketball arenas, they've got satellites, they've got all 445 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 4: kinds of ways to advance the kingdom. What a great 446 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 4: day to be alive. Don't miss what God is doing. 447 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 4: The opportunities around us, the solutions to our problems, they're 448 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 4: all there. We just have to stay open and get 449 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 4: God out of our little box. There's a man in 450 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 4: the scripture by the name of Naeman. He was a 451 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 4: captain in the army, a very important person. But he 452 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 4: had a problem. He had leprosy. He went to the 453 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 4: prophet Elijah and asked him to pray that God would 454 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 4: heal him. And Elijah said, yes, God will heal you. 455 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 4: But here's what you have to do go down to 456 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 4: the Jordan River and wash seven times, and you be 457 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 4: made whole. Well, Naoman had these preconceived ideas about how 458 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 4: it was all going to happen that struck him as 459 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 4: being odd. He said, Elijah, I thought two words that 460 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 4: almost kept him from his miracle. I thought you would 461 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 4: just speak to me and make me whole, like you've 462 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 4: done for so many others. I thought you would just 463 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 4: lay hands on me. I thought it would happen like 464 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 4: it happened. 465 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 3: For my great grandmother. Naeman had to make a decision. 466 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 4: Was he going to stay stuck in tradition and miss 467 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,920 Speaker 4: his miracle or was he going to take a step 468 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 4: of faith and recognize that God was doing a new thing. 469 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 4: He finally convinced himself to go down to the Jordan River, 470 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 4: and when he came up the seventh time, he was 471 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 4: perfectly whole. 472 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 3: But here's my point. 473 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 4: He had the answer that he needed, but he almost 474 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 4: didn't recognize it because it was not what he was expecting. 475 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 4: Could it be that you had the answer you need today, 476 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,199 Speaker 4: But because it's not how you thought it would happen 477 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 4: or who you thought God would use, you're not pursuing it. 478 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 4: You're not moving forward. I think about my father as 479 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 4: a young man. He had a dream to pastor a 480 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 4: church with thousands. 481 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 3: Of people in it. 482 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 4: In the early nineteen sixties, that seemed impossible. There weren't 483 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 4: any big churches back then. My dad was pastoring a 484 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 4: small church. He was on the state board for his denomination. 485 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 4: Everything was going great. But what my father had on 486 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 4: the inside was bigger than anything he saw in his denomination. 487 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,439 Speaker 4: He prayed for God to open up new doors and 488 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 4: give him more influence. He started preaching to his congregation 489 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 4: with a new fire, telling them that God was a 490 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 4: good God, that he could do miracles, that they could 491 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 4: live a life of victory. 492 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 3: It's this message of faith that we have today. 493 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 4: He thought the congregation would be excited and that's how 494 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 4: God would increase him. But it was just the opposite. 495 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 4: They didn't like his new message of faith. It didn't 496 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 4: fit in their denominational mold. They were steeped in tradition 497 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 4: down deep. My father knew he was supposed to leave 498 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 4: that church. Looked like a setback, but really it was 499 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 4: a set up. It looked like the end of a dream, 500 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 4: but really it was a new beginning. He didn't realize 501 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 4: it at the time, but that was God showing up 502 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 4: in another form. He could stay there and play it 503 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,200 Speaker 4: safe and let traditions set the limits for his life, 504 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 4: or he could take a step of faith, recognizing God 505 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 4: was doing a new thing. He took that step of faith, 506 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 4: and that's when he started Lakewood Church in nineteen fifty 507 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:44,120 Speaker 4: nine with ninety people in an abandoned feed store. All 508 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 4: the critics said it won't last, it'll blow over. 509 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 3: And sure enough it did. It blew over the whole city. 510 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 4: Here we are today, still going strong, fifty one years later. 511 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 3: Here's my point. 512 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 4: The answer didn't look like what he thought it would 513 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 4: look like. He prayed for increase. At first, he got decrease. 514 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 4: He prayed for more influence. At first, he got less influence. Friends, 515 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 4: God knows what he's doing. If you'll stay in faith, 516 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 4: it may look like a setback, but it'll turn out 517 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 4: to be a set up to take you to a 518 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 4: new level of your destiny. And some of you today 519 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 4: you have the answer that you need, you don't recognize it. 520 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 3: My challenge is to stay open. 521 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 4: Don't be set in your thinking to where it can 522 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,159 Speaker 4: only happen one way. And you've told God how to 523 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 4: do it and who to use and when it could happen. 524 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 4: Let God out of your box. He may not use 525 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 4: somebody that's on your approved to use list. He may 526 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 4: take you in a way that you never thought possible. 527 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 4: That's God's showing up in another form. Don't live narrow minded, 528 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 4: get rid of preconceived ideas. God's ways are not our ways. 529 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 4: They are better and higher than our ways. And if 530 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 4: you will stay open and let God do it his way, 531 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 4: then like Naeman, you'll get your miracle. Like my father, 532 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 4: you'll see promotion. Like my sister, you'll discover lasting relationships. 533 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 4: I believe and declare you will overcome every obstacle, defeat 534 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 4: every enemy, and you'll become everything that God's created you 535 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 4: to be. 536 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:17,719 Speaker 3: Amen. Do you receive it today? 537 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 4: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 538 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 4: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 539 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 4: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll 540 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:30,360 Speaker 4: repent of my sins. 541 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:35,120 Speaker 3: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 542 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 4: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 543 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 4: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 544 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 4: Keep God first place. 545 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 3: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 546 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 6: Thank you for listening to the joel OUs Deine podcast. 547 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 6: Help us continue to share the message of hope with 548 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 6: those all over the world. Visit joelus deine dot com 549 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 6: slash give Hope to give a gift today. 550 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 551 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 4: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 552 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 4: podcast to keep. 553 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 3: You inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 554 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 3: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 555 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 3: next time. 556 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 7: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 557 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 7: for everyone. 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