1 00:00:00,750 --> 00:00:03,090 Speaker 1: I hope you and your family are having a great summer. 2 00:00:03,310 --> 00:00:05,689 Speaker 1: Victoria and I are praying for you, believing for God's 3 00:00:05,750 --> 00:00:08,590 Speaker 1: very best in your life. And it's always my pleasure 4 00:00:08,630 --> 00:00:10,490 Speaker 1: to be able to share a message with you. I 5 00:00:10,530 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: hope you're encouraged and inspired today. Well, God bless you. 6 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: It's always a joy to come into your homes and 7 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,540 Speaker 1: spend a few minutes with you. We love you. We 8 00:00:19,579 --> 00:00:22,180 Speaker 1: know God has great things in store. If you're ever 9 00:00:22,220 --> 00:00:24,579 Speaker 1: in our area, please stop by and be a part 10 00:00:24,620 --> 00:00:27,020 Speaker 1: of one of our services. I promise you, we'll make 11 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: you feel right at home. But thanks so much for 12 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:32,010 Speaker 1: tuning in and Thanks again for coming out today. I'd 13 00:00:32,030 --> 00:00:34,510 Speaker 1: like to start with something funny. I heard about these 14 00:00:34,590 --> 00:00:38,550 Speaker 1: two men named Archie and Jack. They argued their whole 15 00:00:38,610 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: life as to whether Jesus was white or whether he 16 00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:45,380 Speaker 1: was black. Jack was certain he was black and Archie 17 00:00:45,420 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: was just as certain he was white. As fate would 18 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: have it, they both died on the same day. They 19 00:00:50,620 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: rushed to the pearly gates and said, St. Peter, please, 20 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: we've been arguing our whole life. Tell us, is Jesus white? 21 00:00:57,550 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: Or is he black? About that time, Jesus walked up 22 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,030 Speaker 1: and said, Buenos dias. 23 00:01:04,430 --> 00:01:05,190 Speaker 2: All right. 24 00:01:05,850 --> 00:01:07,970 Speaker 1: Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 25 00:01:08,730 --> 00:01:11,750 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 26 00:01:12,350 --> 00:01:14,750 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 27 00:01:14,810 --> 00:01:17,350 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today, I will be 28 00:01:17,390 --> 00:01:21,229 Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind 29 00:01:21,310 --> 00:01:24,750 Speaker 1: is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be 30 00:01:24,790 --> 00:01:29,310 Speaker 1: the same in Jesus name. God bless you. I want 31 00:01:29,330 --> 00:01:32,830 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about putting action behind your faith. 32 00:01:33,690 --> 00:01:36,870 Speaker 1: It's one thing to pray about a situation. It's one 33 00:01:36,910 --> 00:01:38,929 Speaker 1: thing to believe that we're going to get better. And 34 00:01:38,950 --> 00:01:43,290 Speaker 1: that's good. Praying, believing, hoping, that's all a part of faith. 35 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:46,949 Speaker 1: But there's another step that we so often leave out. 36 00:01:47,470 --> 00:01:49,750 Speaker 1: And I believe it's one of the keys to seeing 37 00:01:49,790 --> 00:01:53,580 Speaker 1: God do great things. You have to put action behind 38 00:01:53,620 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: your faith. You have to do something to show God 39 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:01,300 Speaker 1: that you're serious about what you're believing for. You can 40 00:02:01,380 --> 00:02:04,340 Speaker 1: pray all day long, God get me out of this problem. 41 00:02:04,910 --> 00:02:07,730 Speaker 1: God give me this promotion. God help me to get well. 42 00:02:08,169 --> 00:02:11,029 Speaker 1: And that's fine. But if you really want to get 43 00:02:11,070 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: God's attention, if you want to see God move in 44 00:02:14,139 --> 00:02:18,460 Speaker 1: amazing ways, then take it one step further and do 45 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,770 Speaker 1: something to demonstrate your faith. In other words, you may 46 00:02:22,790 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: have an addiction, but are you going to a recovery program? 47 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: Are you in a support group? That's a faith that 48 00:02:29,620 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: God can see. Maybe you lost your job. Do you 49 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: have your resume? Are you out knocking on new doors? 50 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: Maybe your spouse is not treating you right. Are you 51 00:02:39,780 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: treating them the same way? Or are you treating them 52 00:02:43,380 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: the way you want to be treated? That's what allows 53 00:02:45,980 --> 00:02:49,170 Speaker 1: God to do the extraordinary. And I know people that 54 00:02:49,190 --> 00:02:52,750 Speaker 1: are down and discouraged and they pray and pray. God, 55 00:02:52,830 --> 00:02:55,570 Speaker 1: please get me out of this discouragement. God, give me 56 00:02:55,610 --> 00:02:58,470 Speaker 1: my joy back. God, give me a new beginning. It's 57 00:02:58,490 --> 00:03:01,739 Speaker 1: good to pray. But what really causes God to act 58 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: is when you get back up again, dust yourself off, 59 00:03:05,380 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: put your shoulders back and say, you know what? I'm 60 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: not gonna stay down. This is the day the Lord 61 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: has made. I'm gonna be happy and have a great day. 62 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,739 Speaker 1: That's putting action behind your faith. I talked to a 63 00:03:18,780 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: gentleman that had struggled with smoking since he was in 64 00:03:22,660 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: high school. He looked to be in his mid-40s. Every 65 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: day for the last 10 years, he has smoked three 66 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: packs of cigarettes. Just like clockwork, without even thinking about it, 67 00:03:33,020 --> 00:03:36,020 Speaker 1: he would go through the exact same amount. He wanted 68 00:03:36,060 --> 00:03:39,830 Speaker 1: to stop. He had the desire. He'd been praying and believing. 69 00:03:40,350 --> 00:03:43,390 Speaker 1: He even had friends and family members praying and supporting 70 00:03:43,430 --> 00:03:45,710 Speaker 1: him as well. But he just couldn't seem to do it. 71 00:03:46,290 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: But one day he heard this principle that you have 72 00:03:49,460 --> 00:03:52,740 Speaker 1: to put action behind your faith. And he did something 73 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:56,900 Speaker 1: extremely simple. Every time he opened a new pack of cigarettes, 74 00:03:57,380 --> 00:04:02,110 Speaker 1: he would immediately throw three away. Just something to say, God, 75 00:04:02,550 --> 00:04:06,090 Speaker 1: I'm trying. I'm not just asking for your help. I'm 76 00:04:06,110 --> 00:04:08,630 Speaker 1: not just believing I'm going to be free. Not just 77 00:04:08,770 --> 00:04:12,010 Speaker 1: hoping that one day I'll quit. No, God, I'm going 78 00:04:12,030 --> 00:04:14,430 Speaker 1: to take it one step further. I'm going to show 79 00:04:14,470 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: you I mean business by putting actions behind what I'm 80 00:04:18,260 --> 00:04:21,860 Speaker 1: believing for. It doesn't have to be something big. Just 81 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,570 Speaker 1: something where God can see your faith. He threw those 82 00:04:25,770 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: three away and a couple of months, he realized he 83 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: didn't miss them. He decided to double it. He started 84 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: throwing away six. Eventually, he got to where he could 85 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,339 Speaker 1: eliminate a whole pack. That was a little over three 86 00:04:38,380 --> 00:04:41,860 Speaker 1: years ago. Today, he is completely free. He said, Joel, 87 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,659 Speaker 1: I haven't felt this great in over 30 years. Here's 88 00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:48,860 Speaker 1: my point. He could have prayed 24 hours a day. 89 00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: He could have believed for a lifetime, but the power 90 00:04:52,820 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: came when he took it one step further and showed 91 00:04:56,510 --> 00:04:59,990 Speaker 1: God he meant business by putting actions behind what he 92 00:05:00,029 --> 00:05:03,950 Speaker 1: was believing for. Are you doing anything to show God 93 00:05:04,089 --> 00:05:07,750 Speaker 1: that you're serious? God is not moved by our needs. 94 00:05:08,310 --> 00:05:11,770 Speaker 1: He's concerned about our needs, but God is moved by 95 00:05:11,890 --> 00:05:15,729 Speaker 1: our faith. When God sees you doing what you can 96 00:05:15,770 --> 00:05:18,370 Speaker 1: to get well, when he sees you getting to work 97 00:05:18,410 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 1: a little earlier because you really want that promotion, when 98 00:05:21,540 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: he sees you bypass the cookie jar because you've been 99 00:05:24,700 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: believing to lose weight, now I'm getting down to business. 100 00:05:28,820 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: When he sees you bite your tongue to keep the 101 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,170 Speaker 1: peace in your house, when he sees you help others 102 00:05:35,470 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: when you really need more help than them, When God 103 00:05:38,420 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: sees your faith, that's when extraordinary things will begin to happen. 104 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:46,620 Speaker 1: Like this man, you'll have a strength to overcome things 105 00:05:46,660 --> 00:05:49,860 Speaker 1: you couldn't overcome before. In the scripture, there was this 106 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,260 Speaker 1: man that was paralyzed. He couldn't walk and he'd just 107 00:05:53,350 --> 00:05:56,090 Speaker 1: lie in his bed at home all day long. One 108 00:05:56,110 --> 00:05:59,290 Speaker 1: day he heard that Jesus was in town at another 109 00:05:59,330 --> 00:06:03,830 Speaker 1: house teaching people. He convinced four of his friends to 110 00:06:03,930 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: carry him on his bed over to that house. The 111 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,179 Speaker 1: problem was when they got there, the place was packed. 112 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,100 Speaker 1: It was so crowded that they couldn't get in. Here 113 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: they'd gone to great lengths to get this man there. 114 00:06:17,420 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: I'm sure these four men were tired. I'm sure their 115 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: back was probably hurting. Their shoulders were sore. They went 116 00:06:24,140 --> 00:06:27,490 Speaker 1: all that way to no avail. What a disappointment. What 117 00:06:27,500 --> 00:06:31,150 Speaker 1: a letdown. They could have easily gotten discouraged, thought too bad, 118 00:06:31,410 --> 00:06:34,430 Speaker 1: it's not going to happen. But not this paralyzed man. 119 00:06:34,810 --> 00:06:37,870 Speaker 1: He was determined. I can see his four friends turn 120 00:06:38,130 --> 00:06:40,110 Speaker 1: and start to take him home. He says, no, no, 121 00:06:40,470 --> 00:06:44,030 Speaker 1: we're not going home just yet. I'm not leaving until 122 00:06:44,089 --> 00:06:48,969 Speaker 1: I get my miracle. This man understood you are closest 123 00:06:49,089 --> 00:06:53,090 Speaker 1: to your victory when you face the greatest opposition. a 124 00:06:53,130 --> 00:06:55,870 Speaker 1: lot of people would have given up. Joel, I tried, 125 00:06:55,910 --> 00:06:58,770 Speaker 1: but they told me no. Tried to get my degree, 126 00:06:58,870 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: but the college was full. Tried to get that new home, 127 00:07:01,779 --> 00:07:03,820 Speaker 1: but they wouldn't give me a loan. Tried to go 128 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 1: to Lakewood, that parking lot was just too crowded. Listen, 129 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:09,620 Speaker 1: you gotta be more determined than that. You have to 130 00:07:09,660 --> 00:07:13,500 Speaker 1: have a never say die attitude. If you can't get 131 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,580 Speaker 1: in the door, why don't you try the window? If 132 00:07:16,620 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: you can't get through the window, why don't you be 133 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: bold and try to go through the roof? That's what 134 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,820 Speaker 1: this man did. What am I saying? Don't quit trying. 135 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,070 Speaker 1: You are close to your victory. He said to his friends, 136 00:07:29,150 --> 00:07:32,230 Speaker 1: I've got an idea. Take me up on the roof, 137 00:07:32,870 --> 00:07:36,110 Speaker 1: cut a hole in it and lower me down so 138 00:07:36,170 --> 00:07:38,610 Speaker 1: I can have a front row seat there in front 139 00:07:38,650 --> 00:07:41,750 Speaker 1: of Jesus. Friends, where there's a will, there's a way. 140 00:07:42,750 --> 00:07:46,300 Speaker 1: I can imagine those four men saying, listen, brother, we 141 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,620 Speaker 1: love you. You're our friend. But do you realize there's 142 00:07:49,660 --> 00:07:52,820 Speaker 1: not an elevator? There are no stairs. How can we 143 00:07:52,860 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: get you up there? That's impossible. He said, no, you've 144 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,390 Speaker 1: got to do it for me. He talked them into it. 145 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,900 Speaker 1: They finally hoisted this man up to the roof. Jesus 146 00:08:03,020 --> 00:08:05,770 Speaker 1: was in the middle of his sermon. All of a sudden, 147 00:08:06,210 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: dust starts falling from the ceilings. People begin to look 148 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: around thinking, what in the world is going on? About 149 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,370 Speaker 1: that time, a towel comes off. And then another and another. 150 00:08:16,910 --> 00:08:20,310 Speaker 1: They lower this paralyzed man down on his bed, all 151 00:08:20,370 --> 00:08:23,250 Speaker 1: curled up, and put him right in front of Jesus. 152 00:08:23,910 --> 00:08:27,340 Speaker 1: And the scripture says there in Mark 2, verse 5, 153 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:32,650 Speaker 1: when Jesus saw their faith. That's my question for us today. 154 00:08:33,390 --> 00:08:36,870 Speaker 1: Do you have a faith that God can see? Are 155 00:08:36,910 --> 00:08:40,250 Speaker 1: you doing something out of the ordinary to show God 156 00:08:40,420 --> 00:08:43,359 Speaker 1: you believe in him? It's not enough to just pray. 157 00:08:43,740 --> 00:08:47,100 Speaker 1: It's not enough to just believe. Like this man, you 158 00:08:47,140 --> 00:08:51,610 Speaker 1: have to do something to demonstrate your faith. Jesus looked 159 00:08:51,650 --> 00:08:54,929 Speaker 1: at the man and said, rise, take up your bed 160 00:08:55,090 --> 00:08:58,689 Speaker 1: and walk. Immediately, the man got up. He picked up 161 00:08:58,750 --> 00:09:02,670 Speaker 1: his bed. He went home perfectly whole. But it all 162 00:09:02,750 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: started when he dared to do something where God could 163 00:09:07,020 --> 00:09:10,540 Speaker 1: see his faith. Don't you know there were other people 164 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 1: in the room that didn't get well? Other people that 165 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: had the same opportunity. What was the difference? This man 166 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:22,620 Speaker 1: put action behind his faith. God is looking for people 167 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: that have a faith that He can see. Not just 168 00:09:26,340 --> 00:09:29,219 Speaker 1: a faith He can hear. Not just a faith that believes, 169 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,620 Speaker 1: but a faith that is visible. A faith that is demonstrated. 170 00:09:41,770 --> 00:09:44,929 Speaker 1: When my sister Lisa was a little girl, about four 171 00:09:44,970 --> 00:09:47,290 Speaker 1: years old maybe, one time she wanted to go to 172 00:09:47,330 --> 00:09:50,270 Speaker 1: the office with my father. It was during the week 173 00:09:50,330 --> 00:09:52,610 Speaker 1: and she heard my dad say how he was coming 174 00:09:52,630 --> 00:09:55,010 Speaker 1: down to the church and she asked if she could go. 175 00:09:55,410 --> 00:09:58,170 Speaker 1: My father said, no Lisa, today is not a good day. 176 00:09:58,590 --> 00:10:00,130 Speaker 1: I've got a lot of meetings. I'm going to be 177 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,859 Speaker 1: real busy. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, just not today. Well, 178 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: Lisa didn't want to go some other time. She wanted 179 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: to go that particular day. And she was so stubborn. 180 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:15,210 Speaker 1: I mean, she was so determined. That in spite of 181 00:10:15,290 --> 00:10:18,750 Speaker 1: what my father said, she ran back to her room 182 00:10:19,350 --> 00:10:22,969 Speaker 1: and started getting dressed as quickly as she could. She 183 00:10:23,150 --> 00:10:25,850 Speaker 1: acted like she was going. You would have thought she 184 00:10:25,870 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: didn't even hear what my father said. That negative report 185 00:10:29,270 --> 00:10:32,780 Speaker 1: didn't even register in her mind. About that time, she 186 00:10:32,820 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: heard the back door open. She knew my father was leaving. 187 00:10:35,940 --> 00:10:39,599 Speaker 1: Lisa took off running full speed. For Lisa, that's a 188 00:10:39,620 --> 00:10:44,460 Speaker 1: little faster than a walk. When my father saw her coming, 189 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,450 Speaker 1: his little four-year-old daughter, fully dressed, struggling to get her 190 00:10:48,500 --> 00:10:52,770 Speaker 1: last shoe on, it melted his heart. Daddy couldn't say no. 191 00:10:52,830 --> 00:10:55,090 Speaker 1: He said, okay, come on, Lisa, you can go with 192 00:10:55,130 --> 00:10:59,590 Speaker 1: me today. What happened? He saw her faith. When he 193 00:10:59,710 --> 00:11:02,790 Speaker 1: saw how determined she was, when he saw her doing 194 00:11:02,970 --> 00:11:07,470 Speaker 1: everything she could do, that spoke louder than her even 195 00:11:07,710 --> 00:11:11,329 Speaker 1: asking him. That made a bigger impact than if she 196 00:11:11,370 --> 00:11:14,290 Speaker 1: were to beg and beg, or if she were to 197 00:11:14,350 --> 00:11:17,230 Speaker 1: sit in the corner and pout and pout. No, my 198 00:11:17,270 --> 00:11:20,450 Speaker 1: father wouldn't be moved by pouting. He wouldn't be moved 199 00:11:20,490 --> 00:11:23,750 Speaker 1: by begging. He was moved when he saw her faith. 200 00:11:24,510 --> 00:11:28,050 Speaker 1: God is the same way. Can he see your faith? 201 00:11:28,710 --> 00:11:31,410 Speaker 1: It's one thing to pray. It's one thing to believe. 202 00:11:31,809 --> 00:11:34,770 Speaker 1: But if you really want to get God's attention, put 203 00:11:34,990 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: actions behind what you're believing for. I know this gentleman 204 00:11:39,580 --> 00:11:42,140 Speaker 1: years ago when he was a young man, he knew 205 00:11:42,380 --> 00:11:45,140 Speaker 1: God had called him to preach. He took a step 206 00:11:45,210 --> 00:11:48,890 Speaker 1: of faith and rented a small high school auditorium to 207 00:11:48,929 --> 00:11:52,189 Speaker 1: have a meeting. He invited his friends and family members 208 00:11:52,230 --> 00:11:55,250 Speaker 1: to come. He even got word out in the little 209 00:11:55,429 --> 00:11:59,589 Speaker 1: local community newspaper. He was so excited, he was launching 210 00:11:59,750 --> 00:12:03,730 Speaker 1: his new ministry. The night of his big event rolled around. 211 00:12:04,150 --> 00:12:07,730 Speaker 1: It was supposed to start at seven o'clock. Well, at 6.30, 212 00:12:07,730 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: no one was there. 6.45, no one. 6.55, no one. 213 00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: Seven o'clock, still not one person in the seats. Just 214 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,670 Speaker 1: a sound man, a technician up in the sound booth. 215 00:12:20,309 --> 00:12:23,330 Speaker 1: This young man was so disheartened. He was ready to 216 00:12:23,370 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: just give up and go home. But just before he 217 00:12:27,020 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: called it quits, he felt something rising up on the 218 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:35,610 Speaker 1: inside so strongly, a holy determination. He said, I am 219 00:12:35,670 --> 00:12:37,970 Speaker 1: not going to go out of here like a failure. 220 00:12:38,450 --> 00:12:42,069 Speaker 1: I have prepared my message. I've rented this auditorium. I 221 00:12:42,130 --> 00:12:45,130 Speaker 1: am going to give it my very best. He went 222 00:12:45,210 --> 00:12:49,170 Speaker 1: up on the platform and in spite of nobody being there, 223 00:12:49,530 --> 00:12:53,030 Speaker 1: he preached like the place was packed. He went on 224 00:12:53,090 --> 00:12:56,300 Speaker 1: for over an hour. At the end, he even gave 225 00:12:56,340 --> 00:13:00,479 Speaker 1: an invitation for people to come forward and to receive Christ. 226 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: It looked like he was just going through the motions. 227 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,510 Speaker 1: He told how he felt like a total failure. He 228 00:13:07,590 --> 00:13:10,839 Speaker 1: felt like a fool. But just as he was finishing 229 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,100 Speaker 1: up the invitation, all of a sudden a side door 230 00:13:14,260 --> 00:13:17,540 Speaker 1: opened up and out walked an older gentleman. He was 231 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,300 Speaker 1: a part of the cleaning crew. He came down to 232 00:13:20,340 --> 00:13:23,230 Speaker 1: the front, shook the young minister's hand and said, I 233 00:13:23,270 --> 00:13:26,850 Speaker 1: want to make a decision for Christ tonight. He later said, 234 00:13:26,870 --> 00:13:32,609 Speaker 1: it wasn't so much your message that got to me, 235 00:13:33,090 --> 00:13:35,750 Speaker 1: but it was the fact that you preached your heart out. 236 00:13:36,140 --> 00:13:39,510 Speaker 1: without one person in the room. A few minutes later, 237 00:13:39,790 --> 00:13:42,830 Speaker 1: the technician came down from the sound booth and did 238 00:13:42,870 --> 00:13:45,410 Speaker 1: the same thing. I want to make a decision for Christ. 239 00:13:46,150 --> 00:13:49,370 Speaker 1: That night, the young man went home, not feeling like 240 00:13:49,410 --> 00:13:52,670 Speaker 1: a failure, but knowing that the hand of God was 241 00:13:52,730 --> 00:13:57,189 Speaker 1: upon his life. That was a turning point. After that, 242 00:13:57,970 --> 00:14:01,550 Speaker 1: all kinds of doors began to open up. Today, he 243 00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:04,819 Speaker 1: is a very successful minister. He has a church with 244 00:14:04,860 --> 00:14:08,579 Speaker 1: thousands of people, goes all over the world. Friends, when 245 00:14:08,620 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: God can see your faith, extraordinary things will begin to happen. 246 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,819 Speaker 1: One time in the scripture, there were 10 lepers that 247 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: saw Jesus coming through the city. They begin to holler out, Jesus, 248 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,170 Speaker 1: have mercy on us and make us whole. And Jesus 249 00:14:25,230 --> 00:14:27,750 Speaker 1: could have just as easily healed them where they were. 250 00:14:28,390 --> 00:14:31,890 Speaker 1: but he asked them to do something to express their faith. 251 00:14:32,610 --> 00:14:36,130 Speaker 1: He said, go show yourself to the priest and you 252 00:14:36,170 --> 00:14:40,270 Speaker 1: will be made whole. It's interesting. Those lepers were not 253 00:14:40,340 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: supposed to be around other people. They had a contagious disease. 254 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: They were considered unclean. They had to live in colonies 255 00:14:48,020 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: by themselves. I'm sure they debated. Do you really think 256 00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: we should go? I don't look any better. My skin 257 00:14:55,580 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: is not clear. It's just going to be a waste 258 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:01,620 Speaker 1: of my time. No, they dared to put action behind 259 00:15:01,660 --> 00:15:04,770 Speaker 1: their faith. They said, you know what? He said, if 260 00:15:04,830 --> 00:15:07,430 Speaker 1: we go, we would be well. Let's go. Let's take 261 00:15:07,470 --> 00:15:11,890 Speaker 1: a step of faith. The scripture says, as they went, 262 00:15:12,510 --> 00:15:16,190 Speaker 1: they were made whole. In other words, if they had 263 00:15:16,250 --> 00:15:19,790 Speaker 1: not had the courage to demonstrate their faith, they would 264 00:15:19,810 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: have never seen God's goodness. As they started down the road, 265 00:15:24,180 --> 00:15:26,940 Speaker 1: I can imagine every few blocks, they said, look, my 266 00:15:26,980 --> 00:15:30,950 Speaker 1: skin's getting better. Another mile, one of them said, can 267 00:15:30,970 --> 00:15:34,090 Speaker 1: you see it? I think mine is clearing up. As 268 00:15:34,150 --> 00:15:38,430 Speaker 1: they kept walking, expressing their faith, by the time they 269 00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:42,510 Speaker 1: got to the priest, their skin was perfectly normal. But 270 00:15:42,550 --> 00:15:44,990 Speaker 1: a lot of times, we want God to heal us 271 00:15:45,330 --> 00:15:48,330 Speaker 1: and then we'll go. God, give me a big crowd, 272 00:15:48,550 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: then I'll launch my new ministry. God, have my husband 273 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,180 Speaker 1: to treat me better, then I'll start treating him better. God, 274 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: help me to break this addiction, and then I'll cut 275 00:15:58,210 --> 00:16:01,250 Speaker 1: back a little bit, like the man Joel talked about. No, 276 00:16:01,270 --> 00:16:04,750 Speaker 1: God says, you gotta go first. You gotta show me 277 00:16:04,810 --> 00:16:07,930 Speaker 1: your faith, and then I'll give you exactly what you need. 278 00:16:09,110 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: I remember back in 1972, Lakewood was still in its 279 00:16:13,420 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: first small auditorium. It held 270 people. It was extremely crowded. 280 00:16:19,710 --> 00:16:22,870 Speaker 1: We needed a bigger place. So my father had plans 281 00:16:22,930 --> 00:16:26,790 Speaker 1: drawn for an auditorium that would seat 1,000. It was 282 00:16:26,820 --> 00:16:31,660 Speaker 1: gonna cost $ 200, 000 to build. One day, my dad presented 283 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:34,700 Speaker 1: the new vision to the church, took up a special offering, 284 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:39,380 Speaker 1: and the people gave right at $ 20, 000. Month after month, 285 00:16:39,420 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: my dad was just sitting back, waiting for the rest 286 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,300 Speaker 1: of the funds to come in. They'd get a few 287 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: hundred dollars each week, but at that pace, it was 288 00:16:47,020 --> 00:16:50,630 Speaker 1: gonna take five or 10 years to have enough. One day, 289 00:16:50,650 --> 00:16:53,670 Speaker 1: a friend of my father's came by. He said, John, 290 00:16:54,230 --> 00:16:57,270 Speaker 1: what are you doing still in this same small auditorium? 291 00:16:57,590 --> 00:17:00,350 Speaker 1: You need a bigger place so you can continue to grow. 292 00:17:00,370 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: My dad said, well, I understand that, but we don't 293 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: have the money. He said, how much do you have? 294 00:17:06,820 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: My father said, all we have is $ 20, 000. That's just 295 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,940 Speaker 1: enough for the foundation. The man looked at my father 296 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: and and said very sternly, John, pour the foundation and 297 00:17:19,100 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: watch what God will do. He was saying, dare to 298 00:17:22,140 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: put action behind your faith. My father got his courage 299 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,190 Speaker 1: up and he had them pour the foundation. It wasn't 300 00:17:30,290 --> 00:17:33,310 Speaker 1: any time before the funds for the steel came in 301 00:17:33,830 --> 00:17:36,129 Speaker 1: and then the funds for the wall and then the 302 00:17:36,170 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: funds for the interior came Before long, the whole building 303 00:17:39,619 --> 00:17:44,060 Speaker 1: was up and totally paid for. What happened? Just like 304 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:49,969 Speaker 1: those lepers, as he went, he saw God's goodness. As 305 00:17:50,050 --> 00:17:53,830 Speaker 1: he demonstrated his faith, he saw God show up in 306 00:17:53,869 --> 00:17:57,690 Speaker 1: amazing ways. And some of you today have a dream, 307 00:17:57,869 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: but like my father, it's on hold. You're waiting for 308 00:18:01,340 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 1: everything to come together, all the pieces to come together, 309 00:18:05,780 --> 00:18:09,540 Speaker 1: and then you'll stretch. Then you'll make a move. And yes, 310 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,659 Speaker 1: it's good to be wise. It's good to plan. But 311 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,850 Speaker 1: you can't sit around your whole lifetime. At some point, 312 00:18:16,230 --> 00:18:19,210 Speaker 1: you have to draw the line in the sand and say, God, 313 00:18:19,350 --> 00:18:22,590 Speaker 1: I'm going to show you I mean business. I'm going 314 00:18:22,609 --> 00:18:26,169 Speaker 1: to show you that I'm serious about seeing my dreams 315 00:18:26,230 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: come to pass. I'm going to put actions behind what 316 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,260 Speaker 1: I'm believing for. When I was growing up, my father 317 00:18:32,340 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: used to travel overseas for several weeks at a time, 318 00:18:36,020 --> 00:18:39,500 Speaker 1: ministering in different countries. My mother would be at home 319 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:43,810 Speaker 1: with five children to raise by herself. Plus with my 320 00:18:43,850 --> 00:18:48,780 Speaker 1: brother Paul, that was like having an extra five. And invariably, 321 00:18:48,940 --> 00:18:51,810 Speaker 1: as my dad was gone on these long journeys, one 322 00:18:51,850 --> 00:18:54,430 Speaker 1: of us kids would either get sick or have some 323 00:18:54,470 --> 00:18:57,250 Speaker 1: kind of accident, something that would make it much more 324 00:18:57,290 --> 00:19:00,130 Speaker 1: difficult on my mother. One time I hurt my leg 325 00:19:00,170 --> 00:19:03,010 Speaker 1: playing little league and had to have a bunch of stitches. 326 00:19:03,270 --> 00:19:05,890 Speaker 1: It seemed like it was always when my dad was away. 327 00:19:06,740 --> 00:19:09,340 Speaker 1: And it got to the point where my mom dreaded 328 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,550 Speaker 1: my father leaving. Even a couple of days before my 329 00:19:12,590 --> 00:19:14,770 Speaker 1: dad was supposed to go, a lot of times one 330 00:19:14,790 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: of us kids would come down with a fever, some 331 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: kind of sniffles, and my mother would think, oh no, 332 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,419 Speaker 1: here it goes again. Well, my father finally got fed up. 333 00:19:24,020 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: He thought, God, I'm going all over the world to 334 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:30,100 Speaker 1: help people and my whole family is going downhill. You 335 00:19:30,140 --> 00:19:34,580 Speaker 1: got to understand, my father was very bold. He was 336 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:38,930 Speaker 1: not as quiet and reserved and dignified as I am. 337 00:19:40,230 --> 00:19:43,850 Speaker 1: He decided he was going to make sure that God 338 00:19:43,910 --> 00:19:47,850 Speaker 1: could see his faith. And instead of just praying, believing, 339 00:19:47,970 --> 00:19:51,690 Speaker 1: standing against that sickness and those accidents, my dad asked 340 00:19:51,790 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: the kids to come outside. All five of us. Paul 341 00:19:55,820 --> 00:19:58,060 Speaker 1: at that time was about 13. He was the oldest 342 00:19:58,380 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: all the way down to my little sister, April. She 343 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,629 Speaker 1: was about three. My dad lined us up from the 344 00:20:03,830 --> 00:20:06,650 Speaker 1: oldest to the youngest, and he had us put our 345 00:20:06,750 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: hands on the person's shoulder in front of us, kind 346 00:20:10,420 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: of like a choo-choo train, with him and my father 347 00:20:13,420 --> 00:20:17,060 Speaker 1: out in front. And with my dad leading, he marched 348 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:21,790 Speaker 1: us around the perimeter of our property, saying, Father, you 349 00:20:21,869 --> 00:20:25,570 Speaker 1: said no weapon formed against my family is going to prosper, 350 00:20:26,030 --> 00:20:30,419 Speaker 1: so I want to thank you. That no sickness is 351 00:20:30,460 --> 00:20:33,220 Speaker 1: going to come on this property. Father, you said your 352 00:20:33,540 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: angels would protect us. So while I'm gone, I want 353 00:20:36,220 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: to thank you that no accidents will come near my family. 354 00:20:40,380 --> 00:20:44,330 Speaker 1: He had us repeat it. No sickness, no disease, no accidents. Well, 355 00:20:44,350 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 1: we were in the backyard where we had a fence 356 00:20:46,990 --> 00:20:49,610 Speaker 1: and I was sure hoping that my father was not 357 00:20:49,650 --> 00:20:52,869 Speaker 1: going to go out into the front yard. The neighbors 358 00:20:53,210 --> 00:20:57,010 Speaker 1: already thought we were crazy. Now they were going to 359 00:20:57,150 --> 00:21:01,070 Speaker 1: know we were crazy. But sure enough, my father marched 360 00:21:01,170 --> 00:21:05,770 Speaker 1: us right out into the front yard. I was so embarrassed. 361 00:21:05,830 --> 00:21:09,590 Speaker 1: I had my head down. I saw friends going by 362 00:21:09,750 --> 00:21:14,590 Speaker 1: staring at us, neighbors looking out the windows, cars slowing down. 363 00:21:15,290 --> 00:21:17,850 Speaker 1: People asked me about it the next day at school. 364 00:21:18,910 --> 00:21:24,170 Speaker 1: I denied it. I felt like Peter, that was not 365 00:21:24,210 --> 00:21:28,770 Speaker 1: me out there. But do you know, God is my 366 00:21:28,810 --> 00:21:32,350 Speaker 1: witness from that day forward. When my father went away 367 00:21:32,390 --> 00:21:35,330 Speaker 1: on those long journeys, we never had a problem with 368 00:21:35,369 --> 00:21:41,410 Speaker 1: that sickness, with those accidents. It was like that curse 369 00:21:41,690 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: had been broken off of our family. When God saw 370 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: my father's faith. it activated his healing, his protection, his 371 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: favor in a greater way. And it's funny, even though 372 00:21:53,420 --> 00:21:56,959 Speaker 1: I was embarrassed by that, years later, when we were 373 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: trying to acquire this facility, Victoria and I would come 374 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,780 Speaker 1: down here at night when nobody could see us and 375 00:22:03,820 --> 00:22:08,070 Speaker 1: we would march around the building saying, Father, thank you 376 00:22:08,090 --> 00:22:11,350 Speaker 1: that this building is ours. Thank you that you're fighting 377 00:22:11,410 --> 00:22:14,470 Speaker 1: our battles. Thank you that you're giving us the favor 378 00:22:14,510 --> 00:22:17,270 Speaker 1: we need. I tried to get Victoria to hold on 379 00:22:17,310 --> 00:22:20,510 Speaker 1: like a choo-choo train, but she wouldn't do it. It 380 00:22:20,530 --> 00:22:25,590 Speaker 1: still worked. Friends, can God see your faith? The scripture 381 00:22:25,650 --> 00:22:31,479 Speaker 1: says faith without actions backing it up is dead. It's 382 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:34,300 Speaker 1: an amazing statement. It's saying we can have dead faith. 383 00:22:35,030 --> 00:22:37,970 Speaker 1: And I know people that love God. They're good people, 384 00:22:38,330 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 1: but they're not living the abundant life. They're not overcoming 385 00:22:41,980 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 1: their obstacles. They're not accomplishing their God-given dreams. Why is that? 386 00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:50,710 Speaker 1: Their faith is dead. They're not putting any actions behind it. 387 00:22:51,180 --> 00:22:54,810 Speaker 1: So it's not activating God's power. It's not activating his favor. 388 00:22:55,630 --> 00:22:58,250 Speaker 1: It doesn't have to be something big. When you go 389 00:22:58,310 --> 00:23:00,209 Speaker 1: to work every day and give it 100%, you are 390 00:23:00,250 --> 00:23:06,470 Speaker 1: demonstrating your faith. Sometimes just putting a smile on your 391 00:23:06,530 --> 00:23:10,550 Speaker 1: face when you feel like being discouraged, that's putting action 392 00:23:10,650 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: behind your faith. Just the fact that you came to 393 00:23:14,060 --> 00:23:17,660 Speaker 1: church today, that is a faith that God can see. 394 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: You could be home resting, you could be running errands, 395 00:23:21,660 --> 00:23:24,980 Speaker 1: you could be working, but you took time to honor God. 396 00:23:25,510 --> 00:23:28,910 Speaker 1: Know this, God saw you get in your car. God 397 00:23:29,010 --> 00:23:32,170 Speaker 1: saw you make the journey over here. God saw you 398 00:23:32,210 --> 00:23:35,260 Speaker 1: turn the television on. He saw you flip off a 399 00:23:35,300 --> 00:23:39,139 Speaker 1: wheel of fortune and come over to me. Right now, 400 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,890 Speaker 1: you are putting action behind your faith. That tells me 401 00:23:43,230 --> 00:23:47,290 Speaker 1: your faith is not dead. Your faith is alive. Your 402 00:23:47,410 --> 00:23:51,850 Speaker 1: faith is activating God's power. Your faith is allowing God 403 00:23:51,890 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: to fight your battles for you. Your faith is opening 404 00:23:55,619 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 1: the door for the extraordinary. I heard a story about 405 00:23:59,660 --> 00:24:03,780 Speaker 1: this lady. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was 406 00:24:03,820 --> 00:24:06,899 Speaker 1: doing her best to stay positive and hopeful, but it's 407 00:24:06,940 --> 00:24:10,670 Speaker 1: very difficult. She was very afraid. She had two children. 408 00:24:11,210 --> 00:24:14,669 Speaker 1: The doctors had only given her a 15% chance of surviving. 409 00:24:15,190 --> 00:24:17,810 Speaker 1: She had prayed. She had believed. She had good friends 410 00:24:17,869 --> 00:24:21,389 Speaker 1: and family supporting her. One day, someone gave her a 411 00:24:21,510 --> 00:24:24,889 Speaker 1: small gray rock that had the words written on it, 412 00:24:25,340 --> 00:24:29,459 Speaker 1: expect a miracle. When she got that rock, it was 413 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: like something leaked on the inside. It ignited her faith. 414 00:24:33,940 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: She knew right then and there that was for her. 415 00:24:36,780 --> 00:24:39,820 Speaker 1: She was going to be well. From that day forward, 416 00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:43,780 Speaker 1: she carried that simple little rock with her everywhere she went. 417 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: All through the day, she had it in her pocket 418 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: or in her purse. At night, she put it on 419 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,340 Speaker 1: the little table beside the bed. It was a reminder 420 00:24:52,660 --> 00:24:55,810 Speaker 1: to thank God that he's in control and thank God 421 00:24:55,869 --> 00:24:59,220 Speaker 1: that he's restoring health back unto me. The rock in 422 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:03,260 Speaker 1: itself wasn't anything special. It was just another way that 423 00:25:03,300 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 1: she could demonstrate her faith. She went through all the chemotherapy, 424 00:25:08,060 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: through several major surgeries. After months of fighting the good 425 00:25:11,820 --> 00:25:14,710 Speaker 1: fight of faith, it was time for the big conclusion, 426 00:25:15,170 --> 00:25:18,490 Speaker 1: time to see if all that treatment had helped. The 427 00:25:18,530 --> 00:25:22,429 Speaker 1: doctors were going to take a biopsy at 100 different 428 00:25:22,490 --> 00:25:26,020 Speaker 1: places where they thought the cancer could have spread. They 429 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 1: had already told her to not get her hopes up. 430 00:25:28,859 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 1: There was little or no chance that they would all 431 00:25:31,500 --> 00:25:34,420 Speaker 1: be cancer free. And so she went into the surgery 432 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,670 Speaker 1: with her little rock right by her side. When she 433 00:25:37,730 --> 00:25:42,149 Speaker 1: woke up, she saw this beautiful older woman dressed in 434 00:25:42,190 --> 00:25:46,290 Speaker 1: a very bright white dress. She thought she was a nurse. 435 00:25:46,869 --> 00:25:50,270 Speaker 1: This older woman said in a very kind voice, are 436 00:25:50,330 --> 00:25:54,340 Speaker 1: you the lady that's expecting a miracle? The lady was 437 00:25:54,380 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: kind of groggy from the surgery and she thought, how 438 00:25:56,900 --> 00:26:00,060 Speaker 1: does this lady know anything about me? She said, yes, 439 00:26:00,220 --> 00:26:03,230 Speaker 1: I am. The lady in the white dress handed her 440 00:26:03,330 --> 00:26:07,210 Speaker 1: a small plaque that had a saying on it, miracles 441 00:26:07,450 --> 00:26:12,010 Speaker 1: happen every day. When the lady took that plaque, she 442 00:26:12,109 --> 00:26:15,899 Speaker 1: told how she felt God's presence like never before. She 443 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:20,219 Speaker 1: felt a warmness, a tingling flowing all through her. The 444 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:23,989 Speaker 1: next thing she remembers is waking up and seeing her 445 00:26:24,070 --> 00:26:27,830 Speaker 1: husband standing over her with a big smile. He said, honey, 446 00:26:28,070 --> 00:26:31,350 Speaker 1: the results are in. The doctors have not found any 447 00:26:31,430 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: cancer in your body. That lady, that lady never found 448 00:26:37,980 --> 00:26:40,959 Speaker 1: out who the woman in the bright white dress was, 449 00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: but she still has the plaque on her wall at home. 450 00:26:44,890 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 1: Miracles happen every day. Friends, do you have a faith 451 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: that God can see? Are you putting actions behind what 452 00:26:52,580 --> 00:26:55,860 Speaker 1: you're believing for? It's not enough to just pray, not 453 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,980 Speaker 1: enough to just believe. Take it one step further and 454 00:26:59,020 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: do something to demonstrate your faith. You may not see 455 00:27:02,300 --> 00:27:05,330 Speaker 1: how it could ever happen. But just like those lepers, 456 00:27:05,690 --> 00:27:08,369 Speaker 1: as you take steps of faith, God will begin to 457 00:27:08,490 --> 00:27:11,090 Speaker 1: open up the right doors. You'll have a strength to 458 00:27:11,150 --> 00:27:13,619 Speaker 1: do what you couldn't do before. And some of you 459 00:27:13,630 --> 00:27:15,980 Speaker 1: have a dream that you've been praying about for a 460 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,540 Speaker 1: long time. You've had promises that you've been standing on 461 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,260 Speaker 1: for many, many years, and that's great. But it's time 462 00:27:22,300 --> 00:27:24,900 Speaker 1: to take it to the next level and do something 463 00:27:24,940 --> 00:27:28,270 Speaker 1: to demonstrate your faith. Do something out of the ordinary 464 00:27:28,490 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 1: to show God you're serious about accomplishing your dreams. If 465 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,530 Speaker 1: you will learn to put actions behind your faith, then 466 00:27:35,570 --> 00:27:39,010 Speaker 1: God's going to show up and show out in unusual ways. 467 00:27:39,450 --> 00:27:42,750 Speaker 1: I just believe and declare that you will overcome every obstacle, 468 00:27:43,010 --> 00:27:45,740 Speaker 1: you will defeat every enemy, and you will see every dream, 469 00:27:45,900 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: every promise God put in your heart. It will come 470 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,140 Speaker 1: to pass. Amen. Do you receive it today? We never 471 00:27:52,180 --> 00:27:55,100 Speaker 1: like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity 472 00:27:55,180 --> 00:27:57,550 Speaker 1: to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you 473 00:27:57,590 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 1: pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus. I repent of 474 00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my 475 00:28:05,859 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 1: Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, 476 00:28:09,859 --> 00:28:12,490 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again. Get in a good church. 477 00:28:12,590 --> 00:28:15,450 Speaker 1: Keep God first place. He'll take you places that you've 478 00:28:15,490 --> 00:28:16,149 Speaker 1: never dreamed of. 479 00:28:24,650 --> 00:28:27,980 Speaker 2: Don't wait for the perfect time. Don't wait for things 480 00:28:28,020 --> 00:28:32,929 Speaker 2: to change. Don't wait another day. Start believing and taking 481 00:28:33,030 --> 00:28:33,690 Speaker 2: action now. 482 00:28:34,550 --> 00:28:37,530 Speaker 1: The scripture says, write the vision and make it plain 483 00:28:37,590 --> 00:28:41,130 Speaker 1: to see. There's something powerful about writing down what you're 484 00:28:41,150 --> 00:28:43,710 Speaker 1: believing for. That's why I'd love to send you my 485 00:28:43,750 --> 00:28:46,860 Speaker 1: new I Believe Planner. It's a place to write down 486 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 1: your dreams, your prayers, and the promises you're standing on. 487 00:28:51,010 --> 00:28:53,810 Speaker 1: What stays before your eyes has a way of staying 488 00:28:53,850 --> 00:28:56,730 Speaker 1: in your heart. Every time you see what you've written, 489 00:28:57,070 --> 00:28:59,290 Speaker 1: let it be a reminder to thank God that it's 490 00:28:59,350 --> 00:29:02,210 Speaker 1: already at work behind the scenes, even when you can't 491 00:29:02,290 --> 00:29:04,590 Speaker 1: see it. As you keep your faith in front of 492 00:29:04,630 --> 00:29:08,770 Speaker 1: you day after day, you'll be encouraged, your expectation will grow, 493 00:29:09,270 --> 00:29:12,030 Speaker 1: and you'll begin to see God bring those dreams to pass. 494 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:16,260 Speaker 2: The I Believe Planner is a beautiful new resource designed 495 00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:19,260 Speaker 2: to help you believe God for more in your health, 496 00:29:19,540 --> 00:29:23,460 Speaker 2: your family, your future. Inside, you'll find a weekly I 497 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:27,350 Speaker 2: Believe Declaration to frame your mindset and shift the atmosphere 498 00:29:27,420 --> 00:29:31,690 Speaker 2: with God's Word, daily planning, to-dos, and prayer prompts, and 499 00:29:31,770 --> 00:29:35,230 Speaker 2: space to reflect and record God's faithfulness in your life. 500 00:29:35,730 --> 00:29:38,550 Speaker 2: Each month brings a fresh scripture and theme, plus a 501 00:29:38,570 --> 00:29:41,820 Speaker 2: QR code linking to... to an exclusive message from Joel 502 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,810 Speaker 2: to keep you encouraged all year long. This 15 month 503 00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:48,550 Speaker 2: planner will inspire you for the rest of this year 504 00:29:48,850 --> 00:29:53,190 Speaker 2: and set you on a course for breakthrough throughout 2027. 505 00:29:53,190 --> 00:29:55,450 Speaker 2: It's yours as a thank you for your gift to 506 00:29:55,490 --> 00:29:58,860 Speaker 2: the ministry today. Be sure to request your copy of 507 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 2: The I Believe Planner, available this month by visiting us 508 00:30:02,870 --> 00:30:07,610 Speaker 2: at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 509 00:30:08,410 --> 00:30:10,890 Speaker 1: Don't just carry your dreams in your heart. Put them 510 00:30:10,970 --> 00:30:13,710 Speaker 1: on paper. And as you read them each day, keep 511 00:30:13,770 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 1: thanking God that He's working. Victoria and I are praying 512 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,940 Speaker 1: for you and your family every day. Thanks so much 513 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,790 Speaker 1: for your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take 514 00:30:23,850 --> 00:30:26,890 Speaker 1: this message of hope to people around the world. A 515 00:30:26,910 --> 00:30:29,670 Speaker 1: special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for 516 00:30:29,750 --> 00:30:32,930 Speaker 1: all you do to make the ministry possible. Until we 517 00:30:32,970 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 1: meet again, may the Lord keep you and bless you. 518 00:30:36,780 --> 00:30:40,100 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of The I Believe Planner, 519 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:47,350 Speaker 2: available this month by visiting us at joelosteen.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 520 00:30:47,750 --> 00:30:50,650 Speaker 2: With an additional gift, you can also receive the I 521 00:30:50,710 --> 00:30:54,810 Speaker 2: Believe in His Word collection, featuring the Passion Translation New 522 00:30:54,850 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 2: Testament Reader's Edition, alongside the I Believe Planner, so you 523 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:02,780 Speaker 2: can carry God's Word with you every single day, right 524 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:07,540 Speaker 2: alongside the promises you're standing on. Don't wait until 2027 525 00:31:07,540 --> 00:31:11,200 Speaker 2: to believe God for more. This is your moment. You 526 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:17,209 Speaker 2: can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging 527 00:31:17,310 --> 00:31:19,550 Speaker 2: on to joelosteen.com today. 528 00:31:20,050 --> 00:31:21,890 Speaker 1: Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day.