1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 2: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 2: appreciate you and pray for God's very fast in your life. Well, 6 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 2: God bless you, and welcome to Lakewood. It's a joy 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 2: to come into your homes each week. Thanks so much 8 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 2: for being with us, and if you're ever in our area, 9 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: please stop by and be a part of one of 10 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: our services. 11 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 12 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: But thank you for tuning in and thanks again for 13 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 2: coming out. I like to start with something funny, and 14 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: I heard about this older woman. She came to church 15 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 2: one Sunday morning and a friendly usher met her in 16 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 2: the back and said, ma'am, where would you like to sit? 17 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 2: She said, I'd like to sit on the very front road. 18 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 2: He said, oh, no, ma'am, you don't want to do that. 19 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: Our pastor's very boring. He'll put you to sleep. Let 20 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: me seet you somewhere else. She looked appalled. She said, sir, 21 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: do you know who I am? He said no, ma'am. 22 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: She said, I am the pastor's mother. He hung his 23 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: head in embarrassment and finally looked up and said, ma'am, 24 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: do you know who I am? 25 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: She said no. He said, thank God. 26 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 2: Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 27 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 2: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 28 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: I have what it says I have. I can do 29 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 2: what it says I can do. Today I will be 30 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: talked the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 31 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 32 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 33 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 2: to talk to you today about covered by mercy. We 34 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: all make mistakes in life and do things that we 35 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: know we shouldn't do, and it's easy to live guilty 36 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: in regrets, feeling like we're all washed up. 37 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: A man said to me recently. 38 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: How he had gotten off course in his business, made 39 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 2: some poor decisions, didn't have integrity. Now it was going downhill, 40 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: started to affect his marriage. I encouraged him to pray 41 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: and ask God to help turn it around. 42 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: Leave for favor. 43 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: He said, Joel, I couldn't do that. It's my own fault. 44 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: I brought this trouble on myself. He felt like he 45 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: was disqualified. He didn't deserve God's help because his performance 46 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,679 Speaker 2: wasn't up to par. We can understand how God will 47 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: bless us when we're doing what's right, making good choices. 48 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: It's easy to expect good things and believe for dreams 49 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: to come to pass. But the beauty of mercy is 50 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 2: even when we make mistakes, even when we go the 51 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 2: wrong way. Our performance is not perfect. God doesn't say, 52 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: too bad, you had your chance, You're on your own. No, 53 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 2: this is where mercy shows off. God will not only 54 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: help bring you out of the trouble that you got 55 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: yourself in, he'll take it one step further and help clean. 56 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: Up the mess you made. 57 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: Maybe a relationship you knew you weren't supposed to get in, 58 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: you didn't feel good about it, you heard the alarm 59 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: going off, but you agnore ordered. Now it's a mess 60 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: causing your heartache and pain. 61 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: Or perhaps a job you knew you weren't supposed to 62 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: take it. 63 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 2: You didn't feel good, you had that uneasiness on the inside, 64 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: but you overrode it and did it anyway. Now it's 65 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: a mess. You're not fulfilled, not being treated right. God 66 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: doesn't say I tried to tell you maybe next time 67 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: you'll listen. 68 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: You know, God is not holding that against you. He 69 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: has you covered. His mercy is bigger than that mistake. 70 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 2: His mercy will help not only turn it around, but 71 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: God will help clean it up and cause something good 72 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: to come out of it. But if this is going 73 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: to happen, you can't go through life guilty, condemned, beating 74 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 2: yourself up because of past mistakes, thinking, Ah, Man, I 75 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: knew I shouldn't have hung around those people. Now I've 76 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 2: got this addiction. Knew I should have stayed in college. 77 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 2: I knew I should have been faithful in my relationship. 78 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: What was I thinking? 79 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: No, it takes boldness to believe that God will bless 80 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 2: you in spite of your mistakes. The accuser will tell 81 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: you can't ask God to help you. You made the mess, 82 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 2: you went the wrong way, you were unfaithful. 83 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: God's not going to listen to you. Who do you 84 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: think you are? 85 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: Answer back, A child of the Most High God, redeemed forgiven, 86 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 2: covered by mercy. 87 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: This is what Jonah did. 88 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 2: God told him to go to the city of Nineveh 89 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 2: and share the good news with the people, but Jonah 90 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: didn't want to go. He wanted to do his own thing. 91 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 2: He went in the opposite direction. He got on a 92 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 2: boat headed the wrong way. They encountered a huge storm. 93 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 2: Everybody on board thought they were going to die. Finally 94 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 2: Jonah admitted, Hey everyone, I'm the problem. I'm the one 95 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 2: that's causing all this turmoil. They didn't say, oh, that's okay, Jonah, 96 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: We'll let it slide. 97 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: We forgive you. No, they threw him overboard. 98 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: They weren't about to go down with them, and Jonah 99 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 2: thought he was done. 100 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: It was his fault. He did exactly opposite of what 101 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: he knew he was supposed to do. 102 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 2: He was treading water in the middle of the ocean, 103 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 2: dark in a storm. 104 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: Looked like it was over. He was getting exactly what 105 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: he deserved. 106 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 2: But God said, Jonah, you can run the other way, 107 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: but you can outrun my mercy. It's from everlasting to everlasting. 108 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 2: Wherever you go, I've got you covered. The psawm has 109 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: put it this way. If you go to the depths 110 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: of the sea or way up in the sky, no 111 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 2: matter how high or how low, you can. 112 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: Never get away from God's mercy. 113 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 2: He'll always be there waiting for you, calling your name, 114 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: giving you another chance, ready to help, ready to clean 115 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 2: up the mess you've made. 116 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: He's got you covered by his mercy. 117 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: Jonah was feeling guilty, thinking that he was finished. The 118 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 2: situation looked impossible, no way it was ever going to 119 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: turn out good. 120 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: But God has a way. Even when we don't see away. 121 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 2: Your situation may seem like it could never turn out right. 122 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: You made the mess. 123 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: Now it's complicated, other people are involved, the odds are 124 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 2: against you. 125 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: Be encouraged. 126 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: God already has the solution. He already knows how to 127 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 2: not just bring you out, but how to clean up 128 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,799 Speaker 2: the mess and bring you out better. All of a sudden, 129 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 2: this big fish came and swallowed Jonah. Now he's sitting 130 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 2: in the belly of this fish. He's in one sense 131 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 2: glad that he's still alive, thankful that he didn't drown. 132 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 2: In another sense, he's thinking, I wish I would have died. 133 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 2: It sinks in here, I can't see anything. I'm trapped. 134 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 2: There's no way out. But sitting in the belly of 135 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: that fish, thoughts. 136 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: Telling him, Jonah, you deserved it. It's your own fault. 137 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: Too bad. 138 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 2: Instead of listening to the accusing voices, the scripture says, 139 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: began to pray from inside the fish. He didn't say, God, 140 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 2: I am so undeserving. I've made such a mess. God 141 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: just helped me to survive. Now, he said, I cried 142 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 2: unto the Lord in my trouble, and he answered me. 143 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: That was a statement of faith. He was still in 144 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: the fish, still in trouble. Yet he's declaring God has 145 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 2: answered me. He went on to say, I sank down 146 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 2: to the depths of the ocean. 147 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: Death was near. 148 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 2: But when I lost all hope, I turned my thoughts 149 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: towards you, o Lord, for you snatched me from the 150 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: jaws of death. 151 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: Now I will fulfill my vow. 152 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: I know salvation and deliverance comes from you alone. Notice 153 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: how much of his prayer was in the past, tense. 154 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: Like it had already happened. 155 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: Jonah had this attitude, God, I believe you'll not only 156 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: rescue me, but you'll help clean up this mess. That 157 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 2: you'll bless me in spite of my mistakes, that I 158 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 2: will still fulfill my destiny. That takes boldness to ask 159 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: for God's blessings in spite of what you've done wrong, 160 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 2: Because most of the time we just. 161 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: Live guilty, condemned. We have no passion. 162 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: But when you have the boldness to say, God, I 163 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: don't deserve it. I went the wrong way. But God, 164 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: I still believe you'll bless me. I still believe you'll 165 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 2: show me favor. I still believe I can become. 166 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: Who you created me to be. When you do that, 167 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: God doesn't say who do you think you are? You 168 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: know what you did wrong. You should be grateful to 169 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: even be alive. No, God will do for you what 170 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 1: he did for Jonah. 171 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 2: As soon as Jonah got through praying, the scripture says 172 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 2: God caused the fish to spit him up on the 173 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: dry ground onto that beach. 174 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:55,439 Speaker 1: Friends. 175 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 2: God controls the whole universe. God can cause whatever's holding 176 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: you back right now, the dysfunction, the addiction, the sickness, 177 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 2: the legal problem. God can cause it in a split 178 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 2: second to set you free, to release its hold. God 179 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 2: is in control even of our enemies. Jonah came out 180 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 2: of this well, washed himself. 181 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:18,959 Speaker 1: Off, thrilled to be alive. 182 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 2: He knew it was the mercy of God and that 183 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 2: could have been the end of the story. That would 184 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 2: be great. God rescued him, saved him from trouble. But 185 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 2: God doesn't want to just bring you out. If you'll 186 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 2: have the right attitude, shake off the guilt, get your 187 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 2: passion back. God will give you another chance to get 188 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,839 Speaker 2: to where you're supposed to be. That mistake did not 189 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 2: disqualify you. You didn't miss your destiny because you had 190 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 2: a detour. The scripture says, the word of the Lord 191 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 2: came to Jonah a second time. What did God say, Jonah, 192 00:09:57,679 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 2: I want you to go to Nineveh? 193 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: Thing he said the first time. 194 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: In other words, God didn't say, Jonah, I ask you 195 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 2: to do this once, But boy, you about warm me out. 196 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 2: I had to get up off the throne. Go find 197 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: that fish, Jonah. You just sit on the sidelines. I'm 198 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 2: gonna find somebody else now. God will always give you 199 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: another chance, and another chance, and another chance to fulfill 200 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: the best plan that He has for your life. 201 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,599 Speaker 1: It is not too late. 202 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 2: To become who God created you to be. If you 203 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: will start where you are, honoring God, being your best, 204 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 2: serving others, the right doors will open, the right people 205 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 2: will show up. God knows how to make up for 206 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 2: lost time. He can get you to where he wants 207 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 2: you to be. The second time God asked Jonah went 208 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: to the city of Nineveh, he obeyed, and he saw God. 209 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: Do amazing things. 210 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 2: The point is Jonah made a wrong turn, but that 211 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 2: did not stop his destiny. God said, Jonah, you had 212 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 2: a detour, but that's okay. I've got you covered. My 213 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 2: mercy is bigger than that mistake. I still want you 214 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 2: to go to Nineveh. I still want you to fulfill 215 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 2: my best plan for your life. Maybe, like Jonah, you've 216 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 2: made some mistakes, taken some wrong terms. It's easy to 217 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: sit on the sidelines of life and think, Oh, Joel, 218 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 2: I can't expect God to bless me. You don't know 219 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 2: what I've done, blew my marriage, got these addictions, failed 220 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 2: in business, made a lot of poor choices. No, you 221 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 2: are no different than Jonah. You can either sit there 222 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 2: on the beach, so to speak, and just be glad 223 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 2: you're alive. Or you can rise up like he did 224 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 2: and say, God, I blew it. I don't deserve it, 225 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: but I know salvation and deliverance comes from you. 226 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: Lord. 227 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 2: I believe that you can turn this mess around and 228 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 2: still help me become who. 229 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: You created me to be. 230 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 2: If you'll have an attitude like that, the word of 231 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 2: the Lord will come to you a second time. God 232 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 2: will give you another chance. And you may be in 233 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 2: the middle of a mess right now. 234 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: It was your fault, no excuse. You don't see anything 235 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: good in your future, but be encouraged. 236 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 2: God has you covered. He's saying to you what he 237 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 2: said to Jonah. I still want you to accomplish your dreams. 238 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,479 Speaker 2: I still want you to have a great marriage. 239 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: I still want you to live happy, healthy in home. 240 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 2: I still have a destiny for you to fulfill. We 241 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 2: can all look back in life and see times where 242 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 2: we made the mess, but God cleaned it up. We 243 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 2: lost our temper and said some things that got us 244 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 2: into trouble. We should have lost our job, but God 245 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: showed us mercy cleaned up the mess. We still have 246 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 2: it today. Or we were unfaithful in a relationship. We 247 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 2: should have lost our marriage. We made the mess, but 248 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 2: God showed us mercy cleaned it up. 249 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: Today we're restored with. 250 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 2: A healthy, happy family, and a lot of times when 251 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 2: people see us blessed and enjoy life, they think it's 252 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 2: because we did everything right. 253 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: We didn't make any mistakes. 254 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 2: But the truth is there were times we made a 255 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 2: wrong turn, like Jonah, but God caused it to turn 256 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 2: out right. We took the wrong job, we got involved 257 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: with the wrong people, we said. 258 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: The wrong things, but God caused it to all were 259 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: together for our good. 260 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 2: There were some mountains we knew we weren't supposed to climb. 261 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 1: But the opportunity looked so good we did it anyway. 262 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 2: And we got halfway up and realized this is not 263 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 2: what I thought it should be. I can thank God 264 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 2: that he brought me off of mountains that I was 265 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: never supposed to be on in the first place. He 266 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 2: could have left us there and say, hey, learn your lesson. 267 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: Maybe next time. You know. 268 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 2: The good news is we've been covered by mercy. One time, 269 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 2: this business opportunity came along and it was so appealing 270 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 2: to me. 271 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: I didn't have to pray about it. I didn't have 272 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: I have to think twice. 273 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 2: I knew it was something I wanted to pursue, and 274 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: it took about six months to come together. On several occasions, 275 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 2: there were these small signs that something wasn't right. I 276 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 2: could feel that uneasiness, saying, Joel, don't do it. It's 277 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 2: not what it seems. I didn't pay any attention. I 278 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: wanted it so badly. I pushed through it. We got 279 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 2: it up in going, but it never took off like 280 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: we thought. There were some circumstances we didn't realize that 281 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: would limit it, and we had a lot invested, and 282 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 2: we struggled and struggled, tried to make it work. But 283 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 2: it's like we were always pushing it uphill. And when 284 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 2: I look back, I can see how God tried to 285 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 2: warn me, tried to get my attention. I could feel 286 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 2: that unrest, but I didn't listen. God could have said, Joel, well, 287 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 2: maybe next time you will listen. Too bad for you. No, 288 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 2: God is not holding that against us. If God only 289 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 2: gave us what we deserved, none of us would fulfill 290 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: our destiny. Out of the blue, we got word that 291 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 2: this man was interested in purchasing it. 292 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: The expert said it would never happen. 293 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 2: He wasn't the right type of buyer, he wasn't even 294 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 2: in the same field. But against all odds, he not 295 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 2: only purchased it, but he paid almost twice. 296 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: What we were told we could sell it. For. 297 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 2: That's the mercy of God cleaning up the mess. God 298 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 2: doesn't give us what we deserve. We deserve the consequences 299 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 2: we deserve judgment, but God gives us mercy He knows 300 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 2: how to make miracles out of our mistakes. 301 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: The accusing voices will tell you, man, you are done. 302 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: It was your fault. 303 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 2: You knew not to do it in the first place. 304 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: You pursued the wrong dream. Now look at you. 305 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: You're over your head. You can't make ends me. Just 306 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: deal with it. 307 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 2: No, God is so merciful. He'll take you wrong and 308 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 2: he'll make it right. It may have been your fault. 309 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 2: You could easily live guilty. Now you got to shake 310 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 2: that off. God's mercy is bigger than that mistake. He 311 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 2: knows how to make a miracle out of that mess. 312 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: See. 313 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 2: Covered by mercy means you're not just covered as long 314 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 2: as you do everything right. Like Jonah, you're covered even 315 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 2: when you go the wrong way. Let me make it 316 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 2: more practical. Even when we do dumb things, God still 317 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 2: has us covered. That should make us all feel better. 318 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 2: I read about this young man twenty one years old. 319 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 2: He was raised in church. He knew the right thing 320 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: to do, but he got off course, started partying and 321 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: running with the wrong crowd, and one night, when it 322 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 2: had way too much to drink, his friends dared him 323 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 2: to climb a telephone pole. He wasn't thinking clearly, and 324 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: he climbed up. 325 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: Forty feet in the air, drunk as can be. 326 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 2: Just as he was about to reach the top, he 327 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 2: lost his footing, slipped and fell backwards, tumbling back on 328 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 2: a way to a certain death. Somehow, the leather belt 329 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 2: that he was wearing caught one of the metal rods 330 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,880 Speaker 2: on the pole, and it acted like a harness and 331 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: saved his life. He was up there dangly in the 332 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: middle of the night. Fire department came and rescued him. 333 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 2: The newspaper headline read, pants save drunk man from a fall. 334 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 2: That's the mercy of God. Even when we do dumb things, 335 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 2: God still has us covered. Bottom line. If it's not 336 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 2: your time to go, you're not going to go. Nothing 337 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 2: can snatch you out of God's hand. You might as 338 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: well quit fighting the call of God on your life. 339 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: God is not going to leave you alone. Wherever you go, 340 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: He's going to be there. 341 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 2: The scripture says God's calling is irrevocable. That means you're 342 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 2: a marked man, you're a marked woman. 343 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: God wants you. 344 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 2: You can try to ignore it, run, hide, party it away, 345 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 2: drink it away. After all that, God's going to still 346 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,959 Speaker 2: be there saying I want you to go to Nineveh. 347 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 2: I've got something for you to do. I've got a 348 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 2: destiny for you to fulfill. See, you have an assignment. 349 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 2: Somebody needs what you have. If you don't step into 350 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: who God's made you to be, this world will not 351 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 2: be as bright a place as it should have been. 352 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: We'll all miss out. 353 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 2: And when I say we're covered by mercy, that doesn't 354 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 2: mean we can just live any way we want. Be sloppy, compromise, 355 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 2: take the easy way out. Joel said. God will clean 356 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: it up. He'll catch me even when I'm drunk. No, 357 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 2: some of you thinks you got your word from the Lord. 358 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 2: Let me clarify this. When you really know God, when 359 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 2: you have a relationship with his son Jesus, you want 360 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 2: to do what's right. You may make mistakes from time 361 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 2: to time, but you're not trying to see how much 362 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 2: you can get away with and still feel good about yourself. 363 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 2: Deep down, you have a desire to honor God, to 364 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 2: be your best. And the scripture says here in tit Us, 365 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 2: God saved us not because of the good things we've done, 366 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 2: but because of his mercy. 367 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: This is the key. 368 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: His mercy is not based on our performance. If it 369 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 2: was only dependent on us living a perfect life, never 370 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 2: making a mistake, then none of us would be here. 371 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 2: You may not have been saved by your pants from 372 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 2: a telephone pole, But I wonder how many times God 373 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: has saved us from dumb things that we've done. 374 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: I can admit I've done a few. 375 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 2: Don't look at me like that. I know I'm a 376 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:37,880 Speaker 2: saint compared to you. But every morning I start off 377 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:42,120 Speaker 2: the day by thanking God for his goodness, for his blessings, 378 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 2: his favor, my family, my friends, the opportunity he's given me. 379 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 2: Then I always follow it up by thanking Him for 380 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 2: his mercy. For the times I didn't make the best 381 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 2: decision but He cleaned it up. 382 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: The times I did something dumb, but He brought me 383 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:58,880 Speaker 1: out of the mess. 384 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 2: The times he protected me that I knew nothing about. 385 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 2: He kept a car from colliding with mine, He kept 386 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 2: my child from harm, saved me from pain and heartache. 387 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 2: There are many things that we cannot see, but God 388 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 2: is holding back the forces of darkness, keeping us from 389 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 2: accidents and harm, moving the wrong people out of the way, 390 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 2: causing things to work out to our advantage. 391 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: He's got you covered with His mercy. 392 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 2: And the beauty is not just when we perform perfectly, 393 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 2: not just when we measure up, but even when we 394 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,159 Speaker 2: blow it, even when we fail, even when we do 395 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 2: like Jonah and say God, leave me alone, let me 396 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 2: do my own thing, You're still covered. You may turn 397 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 2: your back on God, but he'll never turn his back 398 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 2: on you. You may run the other way, but God 399 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 2: will come running towards you. Sometimes people say, Joel, I've 400 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 2: made so many mistakes, so many poor choices. I think 401 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 2: I've missed my destiny. I always tell them, you're not 402 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 2: that powerful. You think your poor choices can stop what 403 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 2: the creator of the universe, the most high God, has 404 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 2: ordained for you. You think that mistake is too much 405 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 2: for the mercy of God, that somehow God is now 406 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 2: confused trying to figure out what to do with you next. 407 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 1: Now God knows the end from the beginning. 408 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 2: Nothing you've done has to keep you from becoming who 409 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 2: God's created you to be. But you've got to do 410 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: your part and get back in the game. Start honoring 411 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: God with your whole heart, and He'll get you to 412 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 2: where you're supposed to be. Doctor John Redman is a 413 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,439 Speaker 2: pastor friend of mine, and he told about this woman 414 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 2: that he knew that was very, very depressed. It kept 415 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 2: getting worse, and finally she couldn't take it anymore. 416 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: She decided to end her life. 417 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 2: She went to bed on a Saturday night and was 418 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 2: going to do it the next morning. 419 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: She has a little dog that sleeps with. 420 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 2: Her, and he woke up early Sunday morning started scratching 421 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 2: and scratching, trying to wake her up so he could 422 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 2: go outside. While he was doing that, he hit the 423 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 2: remote control for the television and turned it on. It 424 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 2: just so happened that our program came on the television. 425 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 2: She started watching, and I was talking about how God 426 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: has your best. 427 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:20,120 Speaker 1: Days still in front of you. 428 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 2: You wouldn't be alive unless something amazing was in your future. 429 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 2: She knew it wasn't a coincidence. Something began to come 430 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 2: alive on the inside. At the end of the program. 431 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 2: I always encourage people to get into a good Bible 432 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 2: based church. That Sunday morning, she went to Doctor Redman's church, 433 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 2: gave her life to Christ, got her joy back, her 434 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 2: passion back. Now she's excited about her future. Friends, God's 435 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 2: mercy is bigger than our poor choices. If it's not 436 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 2: your time to go, God can even use a dog 437 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 2: to get you back on the right track. 438 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: He's got your covered with his mercy. 439 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 2: In the scripture, when God promised Abrah that he was 440 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 2: going to have a baby, he and his wife Sarah 441 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,680 Speaker 2: were nearly eighty, way too old to have a child. 442 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 2: They waited and waited, believing that somehow it would happen. 443 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 2: But year after year went by still no baby. Sarah 444 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 2: got tired of waiting, talking about making a bad choice, 445 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 2: doing something dumb, She told Abraham to sleep with her maid, Hagar. 446 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 2: They had a baby Abraham and Hagar that they named Ishmael, 447 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 2: but this was not the promised child. This brought all 448 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 2: kinds of dysfunction into their house. Sarah got mad at Abraham. 449 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,159 Speaker 1: What were you thinking? Abraham said, well, you told me 450 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: to do it. She said, well, you should have known better. 451 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 2: Anyway, Sarah became very jealous of Hagar and started treating 452 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: her really badly. Finally, she gave Abraham an ultimatum, either 453 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 2: this woman leaves or I'm going to leave. Abraham had 454 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 2: to send Hagar and his young son, Ishmael out into 455 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 2: the desert. 456 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: It was a big mess. God could have said, Sarah, 457 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: too bad. It's your fault. 458 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 2: You brought the trouble on yourself. You were impatient. You 459 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: should have just waited. But no, even though Sarah made 460 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 2: a mistake, I say it respectfully. Even though she did 461 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 2: something dumb that did not cancel out the promise in 462 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 2: the natural, she was way too old. But one day 463 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 2: God gave her a baby. She had Isaac, the promised child. 464 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: What am I saying? 465 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 2: They made a big mess of things, But God not 466 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 2: only cleaned up the mess, he made a miracle out 467 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 2: of their mistake. 468 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: Here's how amazing God is. 469 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: Hagar the maid, she didn't do anything wrong, but her 470 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 2: whole world fell apart. She was living out in the 471 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 2: desert with her son, who everyone called a mistake. He 472 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 2: wasn't the promised child. She didn't know how she was 473 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 2: going to survive, but. 474 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: God said, hey, Gar, don't worry. 475 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 2: I'm going to take care of you son, who people 476 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 2: think is a mistake. I'm going to bring out of 477 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 2: him a great nation. God is so merciful. Out of 478 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 2: a great mess, he brought great mess. He was saying, Heygar, 479 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 2: I'm not going to let other people's poor choices ruin 480 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 2: your life. See, it's one thing. When we make the mess, 481 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 2: we have to deal with it. We can understand that 482 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 2: we brought the trouble on ourselves, but when somebody else 483 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 2: makes the mess and it affects us, that doesn't seem fair. 484 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,719 Speaker 2: Ishmael couldn't choose who his parents would be, He couldn't 485 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 2: choose where he would be born. Hagar didn't ask to 486 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 2: have a baby with Abraham. She was just following orders, 487 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 2: doing what she was told. You may be in a 488 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 2: mess today, and it was somebody else's fault. They caused 489 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 2: you to be at a disadvantage, but be encouraged. God 490 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 2: is saying to you what he said to Hagar and Ishmael. 491 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 2: Other people's mistakes are not going to ruin your life. 492 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 2: They may have put you at a disadvantage, but know this, 493 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 2: God has you covered. He's going to bring greatness out 494 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 2: of that great mess. Friends, nothing you've done has disqualified you. 495 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 2: You may have made a poor choice like Sarah, but 496 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 2: God is still going to bring the promise to pass. 497 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 2: You may have taken a wrong turn like Jonah, but 498 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 2: God's still going to cause it to turn out right. 499 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,479 Speaker 2: You may be somebody else's choice has had a negative 500 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 2: effect on you, But don't worry. God's going to turn 501 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 2: it around and use it to your advantage. Shake off 502 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 2: the guilt, quit listening to the accusing voices. God has 503 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 2: you covered with his mercy. If you'll do this, I 504 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 2: believe in declare. God's not only going to bring you out, 505 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 2: He's going to clean up your mess. He's going to 506 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 2: make miracles out of your mistakes. You will still fulfill 507 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 2: your destiny and become everything God's created you to be. 508 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, if you receive it, can you say 509 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: him in today? 510 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 511 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 2: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 512 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say Lord, Jesus, I 513 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:14,360 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 514 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:15,679 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. 515 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 2: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 516 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 2: got born again. 517 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 1: Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 518 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never even dreamed. 519 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 3: We all carry a mental picture of what our life 520 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 3: can be. Is yours limited? Do you picture yourself stuck? Inadequate, defeated? 521 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,679 Speaker 3: Are you willing to change your mindset in order to 522 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 3: experience a life of blessing and abundance. 523 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 2: We all have a picture in our mind of ourself, 524 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 2: our family, our future. And if that picture is negative, 525 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 2: you see yourself at a disadvantage. Your problem's too big, 526 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 2: it's gonna limit your life. A new book, The Abundance Mindset, 527 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 2: will help you see yourself the right way. If you'll 528 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 2: change those negative pictures, start seeing yourself blessed, healthy, rising high, 529 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 2: or accomplishing dreams, then things will begin. 530 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 1: To shift in your favor. 531 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 2: You have to see it on the inside before it'll 532 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 2: come to pass on the outside. We'll send you the 533 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,960 Speaker 2: Mindset Journal too. These tools will help you get your 534 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 2: inner vision in the right place so you can move 535 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 2: into the favor and blessing that God has for you. 536 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 537 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 3: of any amount this month, we would like to send 538 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 3: you a copy of Joel's book, The Abundance Mindset and 539 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 3: this inspiring Mindset Journal. Joel shares powerful scriptures and encouraging 540 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 3: thoughts about how to move from fairly enough to more 541 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 3: than enough, how to be someone else's miracle and experience 542 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 3: miracles in your own life as you make the book 543 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 3: and journal a part of your daily walk. You'll be 544 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 3: built up every day regarding how to tap into God's 545 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 3: favor and blessing, how not to talk yourself out of 546 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 3: the dreams and opportunities He has already prepared for you, 547 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 3: how to experience life to the fullest. Request your copies 548 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 3: today and begin to see a new mental picture of 549 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 3: yourself that will lead to new measures of blessing, favor, promotion, 550 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 3: and abundance. 551 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 2: Let's go into twenty twenty five with an abundant mindset. 552 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 2: I believe you're going to see the goodness of God 553 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 2: in new ways. Victorian and I want you to know 554 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 2: we pray for you and your family every day for 555 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 2: God's very best. We want to thank you for your 556 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 2: prayer and support. You are impacting people all over the world. 557 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 2: A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners 558 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 2: for your monthly support. If you're not a partner, I 559 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 2: hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember you can watch the 560 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 2: services online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, listen 561 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 2: on Serious Exam, watch on YouTube. Also the new Joelosite 562 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 2: Network streaming on television twenty four hours a day. 563 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: Until we see you again. May the Lord bless you 564 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: and keep you. 565 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of the Abundance Mindset 566 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 3: Book and Mindset Journal today. Visit Joelostein dot com or 567 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 3: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for an 568 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 3: additional donation. This month, we are also offering His Goodness 569 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 3: Abundance Bowl. You can request this inspiring resource by calling 570 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 3: eight eight eight five six seven Joel. We're logging on 571 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 3: to Joelostein dot com today. 572 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 2: If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great opportunity. 573 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 2: We called it Homecoming Weekend. We love to meet you 574 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 2: and your family. You can see the building and attend 575 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 2: one of the services. It's a great time to be 576 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 2: a part of the Lakewood family. Looking forward to seeing 577 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 2: you Homecoming Weekend.