Blessed Indeed

0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.360 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.520 --> 0:00:33.120 Are you ready to move your career forward? Make your 0:00:33.159 --> 0:00:36.640 comeback with Perdue Global and get college credit for your work, school, life, 0:00:36.720 --> 0:00:39.840 or military experiences. With these credits, you may have already 0:00:39.840 --> 0:00:42.680 completed up to seventy five percent of your undergraduate degree. 0:00:42.720 --> 0:00:44.800 You've worked hard to get where you are. It's time 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:46.920 to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 0:00:47.000 --> 0:00:49.600 you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 0:00:49.720 --> 0:00:51.840 respect when you take the next step in your life 0:00:51.880 --> 0:00:55.040 and career. Make it count with Perdue Global produce online 0:00:55.120 --> 0:00:59.720 University for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:02.200 He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 0:01:02.200 --> 0:01:02.800 his birthday. 0:01:03.120 --> 0:01:05.000 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:04.840 --> 0:01:06.800 But he'll never forget how you invest it in his 0:01:06.840 --> 0:01:11.440 future with the units stapp. Wow, thanks Grandpa. The unit 0:01:11.520 --> 0:01:14.039 stap makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to 0:01:14.120 --> 0:01:17.080 give funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 0:01:17.200 --> 0:01:19.720 Download the uns stap and use the code iHeart fifty 0:01:19.720 --> 0:01:21.840 at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus when 0:01:21.840 --> 0:01:24.280 you find your account. That's code iHeart fifty when you 0:01:24.360 --> 0:01:27.920 sign up at unest dot co for a fifty dollars bonus. 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:30.080 See terms and conditions at uness dot co. 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:35.119 You can't reach your potential. Pray in small prayers, believe 0:01:35.160 --> 0:01:39.319 in for the ordinary, accepting the status quo. God is 0:01:39.400 --> 0:01:43.039 counting on you to tap into his favor to see 0:01:43.040 --> 0:01:45.440 the surpassing greatness. 0:01:44.840 --> 0:01:45.640 Of His power. 0:01:46.000 --> 0:01:50.280 This takes bold prayers. This takes people that will take 0:01:50.320 --> 0:01:53.680 the limits off of God, people that are not intimidated 0:01:53.960 --> 0:01:57.840 at the size of their dream. Hi, this is Joel 0:01:57.880 --> 0:02:02.280 and Victoria. Thanks for downloading podcast. We enjoy spending this 0:02:02.400 --> 0:02:05.160 time with you. I know you're going to leave encouraged 0:02:05.200 --> 0:02:05.920 and inspired. 0:02:06.200 --> 0:02:09.160 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week, 0:02:09.280 --> 0:02:11.919 and follow us on social media to stay connected. 0:02:12.120 --> 0:02:15.520 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 0:02:15.960 --> 0:02:17.639 Enjoy the message. 0:02:21.040 --> 0:02:22.000 Well, God bless you. 0:02:22.560 --> 0:02:24.920 It's a joy to come into your homes, and if 0:02:24.960 --> 0:02:27.400 you're ever in our area, stop buy and be a 0:02:27.440 --> 0:02:30.160 part of one of our services. These are the finest 0:02:30.200 --> 0:02:32.960 people in all of Houston, Texas, right here at Lakewood, 0:02:33.000 --> 0:02:35.080 So come on buy when you can. But thanks for 0:02:35.120 --> 0:02:37.839 tuning in, Thanks for coming out. I like to start 0:02:37.919 --> 0:02:40.920 with something funny, and I heard about this man. He 0:02:41.040 --> 0:02:43.720 called the church office and said, I want to speak to. 0:02:43.680 --> 0:02:47.720 The head hog at the trough. The secretary was offended. 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:50.440 She said, if you mean the pastor, you're gonna have 0:02:50.480 --> 0:02:52.840 to call him pastor, but you may not call him 0:02:52.840 --> 0:02:55.520 the head hog at the trough. He said, well fine, 0:02:55.840 --> 0:02:58.200 but I was thinking about making a five thousand dollars 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:01.480 donation to your church. He said, hang on, poor kid, 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:04.960 just walked in and say it like you mean it. 0:03:05.320 --> 0:03:06.440 This is my Bible. 0:03:06.840 --> 0:03:09.280 I am what it says, I am, I have what 0:03:09.360 --> 0:03:11.800 it says I have, I can do what it says 0:03:11.840 --> 0:03:14.560 I can do today. I will be taught the word 0:03:14.639 --> 0:03:18.800 of God. I'll boldly confess my mind is alert, my 0:03:18.919 --> 0:03:24.040 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God, 0:03:24.080 --> 0:03:28.959 bless you. I want to talk to you today about blessed. Indeed, 0:03:29.840 --> 0:03:32.200 most of us believe that God has a good plan 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:34.800 for our lives, and we ask him to take care 0:03:34.840 --> 0:03:37.040 of us, to protect us, to give us. 0:03:37.000 --> 0:03:39.280 The food that we need. And that's good. 0:03:39.640 --> 0:03:43.440 But God doesn't just want to do the ordinary, just 0:03:43.600 --> 0:03:44.520 do what's common. 0:03:45.040 --> 0:03:45.840 He has some. 0:03:46.080 --> 0:03:49.480 Uncommon blessings, some unprecedented favor. 0:03:50.000 --> 0:03:50.800 But here's the key. 0:03:51.280 --> 0:03:54.440 If you're going to see the uncommon, you can't just 0:03:54.560 --> 0:03:56.200 pray common prayers. 0:03:56.760 --> 0:04:00.080 You can't just ask for the ordinary. You have to 0:04:00.120 --> 0:04:01.600 ask for dreams that. 0:04:01.520 --> 0:04:05.880 Look impossible, for increase that seems out of reach, for 0:04:06.040 --> 0:04:08.800 favor to overcome obstacles that. 0:04:08.680 --> 0:04:09.480 Look too big. 0:04:10.200 --> 0:04:13.480 If you only pray small prayers, you're going to see 0:04:13.560 --> 0:04:17.640 small results. If you only ask God to supply. 0:04:17.400 --> 0:04:20.039 Your needs, it's going to limit what he will do. 0:04:20.680 --> 0:04:24.200 And the scripture says you have not because you ask not. 0:04:25.240 --> 0:04:28.960 How many of your prayers are going unanswered because you 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:32.719 never ask, You never had the boldness to say, God, 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:35.880 show out in my life, take me where I can't 0:04:35.920 --> 0:04:40.080 go on my own. God open this door that looks impossible. 0:04:40.480 --> 0:04:43.000 Heal me from this sickness that seems permanent. 0:04:43.160 --> 0:04:44.440 Turn my child around. 0:04:45.320 --> 0:04:48.599 If God answered what you're praying about, would it be 0:04:48.640 --> 0:04:52.679 big enough. One reason we don't see God do big 0:04:52.760 --> 0:04:56.760 things is we only ask for small things. If you're 0:04:56.800 --> 0:05:00.719 not asking for something that you can't accomplish your own, 0:05:01.200 --> 0:05:02.919 then you're not asking big enough. 0:05:03.640 --> 0:05:05.120 If it's not something that's. 0:05:05.000 --> 0:05:08.440 Over your head, you don't have the resources, it's never 0:05:08.480 --> 0:05:11.760 happened in your family, then you're not asking for the 0:05:11.800 --> 0:05:14.880 far and beyond favor that God wants you to have. 0:05:15.920 --> 0:05:19.919 Don't be intimidated by the size of your dream. God 0:05:20.000 --> 0:05:22.919 is the one that put that in your heart. Those 0:05:22.960 --> 0:05:26.080 things he whispered to you in the night you haven't 0:05:26.080 --> 0:05:30.479 told anyone about it seems so unlikely. God wouldn't have 0:05:30.560 --> 0:05:33.000 spoken that to you if he didn't have a way 0:05:33.080 --> 0:05:34.320 to bring it to pass. 0:05:34.680 --> 0:05:37.520 All he needs is for you to come into agreement. 0:05:38.000 --> 0:05:39.440 Dare to ask him. 0:05:40.000 --> 0:05:43.960 But sometimes we think it's selfish to ask for something big. 0:05:44.560 --> 0:05:47.400 It's not right to ask to pay my house. 0:05:47.120 --> 0:05:51.160 Off to own my own business to meet someone really special. 0:05:52.040 --> 0:05:55.520 The enemy would love to convince us to only pray 0:05:55.880 --> 0:06:00.479 little prayers and believe for small things. Don't fall into 0:06:00.520 --> 0:06:04.760 that trap. Our God is an all powerful, awesome god. 0:06:05.080 --> 0:06:07.960 He is not offended when you ask for big things. 0:06:08.839 --> 0:06:10.800 He doesn't say, who do you think you are? 0:06:11.400 --> 0:06:13.320 Don't you know there are a lot of people that 0:06:13.440 --> 0:06:14.680 need my help more than you. 0:06:15.240 --> 0:06:16.440 It's just the opposite. 0:06:17.000 --> 0:06:21.960 That bold prayer gets his attention. That's your faith being released. 0:06:22.480 --> 0:06:26.080 That's when he'll pour out blessings you can't contain. He'll 0:06:26.080 --> 0:06:30.279 open doors bigger than you've ever imagined. And yes, it's 0:06:30.320 --> 0:06:33.320 good to ask for our needs, but are you asking 0:06:33.360 --> 0:06:38.000 for your dreams? Are you praying any bold, audacious, out 0:06:38.000 --> 0:06:41.640 of the box prayers. Well, Joe, my needs are supplied. 0:06:42.120 --> 0:06:44.240 God's being good to me. I'm content. 0:06:44.800 --> 0:06:47.880 That's great. But how about asking God to bless you 0:06:48.320 --> 0:06:50.040 so you can be a bigger blessing. 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:53.800 It's not just about you, But how about believing to 0:06:53.880 --> 0:06:57.520 build that orphanage, to pay that single mom's house off, 0:06:58.040 --> 0:07:02.200 to fund that food pantry in city, to advance the kingdom. 0:07:02.960 --> 0:07:04.000 See a normal. 0:07:03.680 --> 0:07:06.799 Prayer is God, help me pay my bills this month? 0:07:07.279 --> 0:07:11.160 A bold prayer is God, bless me with overflow, so 0:07:11.240 --> 0:07:13.760 I cannot only pay my bills, but I can help 0:07:13.760 --> 0:07:17.560 pay somebody else's bills. A normal prayer, God, just keep 0:07:17.560 --> 0:07:21.080 my children out of trouble. A bold prayer is God, 0:07:21.240 --> 0:07:26.320 let my children fulfill their destinies. Normal prayers, God, help 0:07:26.360 --> 0:07:29.240 me to learn to live with this sickness, to manage 0:07:29.240 --> 0:07:29.760 this pain. 0:07:30.400 --> 0:07:33.280 A bold prayer his Father, thank you that I am 0:07:33.360 --> 0:07:36.960 free from this sickness. That by your stripes I am healed. 0:07:37.240 --> 0:07:39.800 That I will run and not be weary, that I 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:41.280 will walk and not faith. 0:07:42.080 --> 0:07:45.400 The scripture says in James, you ask and do not 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:49.920 receive because you ask a miss. That word a miss 0:07:49.960 --> 0:07:55.480 in the original translation means weak, sick, miserable. When we 0:07:55.680 --> 0:07:58.760 just ask God to help us get by, to help 0:07:58.840 --> 0:08:01.320 us endure, that's a weak prayer. 0:08:01.960 --> 0:08:04.840 God is saying I created the universe. 0:08:05.400 --> 0:08:09.400 I flung stars into space, I opened blind eyes, I 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:12.480 brought dead people back to life. When you come to me, 0:08:13.120 --> 0:08:16.480 ask for big things, knowing that I'm a big God. 0:08:17.240 --> 0:08:20.400 Ask me for your dreams. Ask me to bring you 0:08:20.480 --> 0:08:24.400 out of debt. Ask me to accelerate your goals. Ask 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:27.840 me to show out in your life. When you ask big. 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:31.760 God calls that a healthy prayer. When you ask for 0:08:31.800 --> 0:08:36.079 what seems impossible, that's when angels go to work. That's 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:38.599 when chains are broken. That's when you'll come in to 0:08:38.760 --> 0:08:42.959 overflow into more than enough. Well, Joel, this sounds good, 0:08:43.000 --> 0:08:45.720 but things are tough in my life. I have a 0:08:45.720 --> 0:08:48.920 lot of obstacles. I'm just asking God to help me 0:08:48.960 --> 0:08:52.640 make it through this year. Can I tell you respectfully, 0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:54.120 that's a sick prayer. 0:08:54.760 --> 0:08:56.479 That prayer needs medication. 0:08:57.160 --> 0:09:00.600 Turn it around, Father, thank you that no weapon against 0:09:00.679 --> 0:09:03.440 me will prosper. That what was meant for my harm 0:09:03.760 --> 0:09:06.360 good turning to my advantage. Lord, I thank you that 0:09:06.400 --> 0:09:08.680 I'm not only coming out, but I'm gonna come out 0:09:08.760 --> 0:09:12.360 better than I was before. That's a bold prayer. That's 0:09:12.400 --> 0:09:17.200 what gets God's attention. Maybe you're struggling with depression. You 0:09:17.320 --> 0:09:20.680 have to make sure you don't pray depressing prayers. 0:09:21.520 --> 0:09:25.400 God, just help me to endure. Grandmother was depressed. Mother 0:09:25.559 --> 0:09:27.679 was depressed. The dog is depressed. 0:09:27.960 --> 0:09:31.480 I guess I'll always be depressed. Break out of that box. 0:09:31.880 --> 0:09:36.520 Freedom begins when you start praying bold prayers. Father, thank 0:09:36.600 --> 0:09:39.439 you that this depression is not permanent. 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:41.800 It is not how my story ends. 0:09:42.160 --> 0:09:44.400 May have been in this family line a long time, 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:45.760 but this is a new day. 0:09:46.080 --> 0:09:46.320 Lord. 0:09:46.360 --> 0:09:49.080 I want to thank you that generational curses are being 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:52.200 broken and generational blessings are beginning. 0:09:53.160 --> 0:09:55.679 When you ask boldly in. 0:09:55.559 --> 0:09:59.480 Faith, declaring God's greatness, that's when he'll bless you. 0:09:59.600 --> 0:10:03.640 Indeed, he'll make things happen that you could never make happen. 0:10:04.360 --> 0:10:08.240 Could it be that you're not seeing God's greatness because 0:10:08.240 --> 0:10:12.319 you're only praying weak prayers, You're only asking. 0:10:11.960 --> 0:10:16.720 For the ordinary, the normal. God is moved by our faith. 0:10:17.360 --> 0:10:20.320 He's moved when he hears you asking for things that 0:10:20.400 --> 0:10:24.760 seem too big, unlikely, things you can accomplish on your own. 0:10:25.600 --> 0:10:26.360 I know a lady. 0:10:26.800 --> 0:10:29.640 For over ten years, her son was as off course 0:10:29.720 --> 0:10:32.960 as can be. He was on drugs, and he'd stolen 0:10:33.000 --> 0:10:35.760 her credit cards and ran up all kinds of debt. 0:10:36.280 --> 0:10:39.400 He was constantly in and out of jail, causing her 0:10:39.440 --> 0:10:40.559 heartache and pain. 0:10:41.400 --> 0:10:42.960 Most people would have prayed. 0:10:42.679 --> 0:10:45.679 God, just get him out of jail, just keep him 0:10:45.720 --> 0:10:49.360 off of drugs, and that's fine, but that's a normal prayer. 0:10:50.040 --> 0:10:53.800 This lady dared to pray a bold prayer. She said, God, 0:10:53.840 --> 0:10:57.600 I'm asking that you not only get his life straightened out, 0:10:58.080 --> 0:11:01.760 but use my son, let him impact others, let him 0:11:01.800 --> 0:11:06.040 become a great leader. All the circumstances said it would 0:11:06.120 --> 0:11:09.760 never happen. There was no sign of anything improving. But 0:11:09.840 --> 0:11:13.960 one Sunday morning, while he was in jail, the inmates 0:11:14.000 --> 0:11:17.119 had the television on and they were watching our program. 0:11:17.720 --> 0:11:21.280 He came in never planned to watch, but he heard 0:11:21.320 --> 0:11:24.160 me talking about how God has a purpose for your 0:11:24.200 --> 0:11:27.400 life and that no matter how many mistakes you've made, 0:11:27.480 --> 0:11:29.040 that doesn't have to keep. 0:11:28.840 --> 0:11:30.000 You from your destiny. 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:34.559 When he heard that, something came alive on the inside. 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:37.200 Strongholds were broken in his mind. 0:11:37.880 --> 0:11:41.559 Two weeks later, he showed up at a service at Lakewood. 0:11:42.160 --> 0:11:44.840 At the end, he stood up and gave his life 0:11:44.880 --> 0:11:48.640 to Christ. I saw him afterwards. He had tears running 0:11:48.640 --> 0:11:52.440 down his cheeks. He told how his mother had prayed 0:11:52.480 --> 0:11:55.400 for him for years, how he felt a love and 0:11:55.480 --> 0:11:58.280 a sense of purpose that he's never felt before. 0:11:58.880 --> 0:12:01.240 Today, he's the pastor of a church. 0:12:01.640 --> 0:12:04.959 He helps other young people that are in his same situation. 0:12:06.160 --> 0:12:09.040 His mother is so grateful and so thrilled with what. 0:12:09.040 --> 0:12:13.240 God has done. But I wonder where this young man 0:12:13.280 --> 0:12:17.240 would be if his mother had only prayed weak prayers, 0:12:17.920 --> 0:12:20.080 just help him get by, God, help him to not 0:12:20.160 --> 0:12:25.000 be harmed, maybe he wouldn't be free. Maybe he wouldn't 0:12:25.000 --> 0:12:26.440 be making such a difference. 0:12:26.800 --> 0:12:27.600 What am I saying? 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:32.880 Pray bold prayers over your children, bold prayers over your dreams, 0:12:33.200 --> 0:12:37.480 bold prayers over your finances. I pray every day. God, 0:12:37.600 --> 0:12:40.560 take our ministry where no ministry. 0:12:40.160 --> 0:12:40.960 Is ever gone. 0:12:41.559 --> 0:12:43.959 Well, Joe, isn't that kind of selfish, kind of greedy. 0:12:44.520 --> 0:12:46.520 No, that's your faith being released. 0:12:46.840 --> 0:12:49.160 That's what's going to take you to the fullness of 0:12:49.200 --> 0:12:49.920 your destiny. 0:12:50.720 --> 0:12:52.839 Now I say this in humility, but. 0:12:52.880 --> 0:12:57.000 We've seen God open doors that haven't opened for other ministries. 0:12:57.480 --> 0:13:02.000 Television networks that have a non religion policy, they've never 0:13:02.120 --> 0:13:07.040 aired inspirational programming. Now they air our program every week. 0:13:07.280 --> 0:13:10.200 They break their own rules to put us on. That's 0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:15.520 what happens when you pray bold prayers. I pray every day. God, 0:13:15.640 --> 0:13:19.320 let my children go further that I'm gone. Let them 0:13:19.360 --> 0:13:23.280 supersede anything that I've done. Let them impact the culture 0:13:23.400 --> 0:13:27.640 in a greater way. Don't let those prayers go unanswered 0:13:28.120 --> 0:13:31.800 because you never prayed them. You never ask for the uncommon, 0:13:32.200 --> 0:13:36.880 the unusual. God said in Psalms, open your mouth wide, 0:13:37.240 --> 0:13:41.080 and I will feel it. The principle is, however wide 0:13:41.160 --> 0:13:43.839 your mouth is open, that's how much God is. 0:13:43.800 --> 0:13:46.840 Going to fill. If you're praying bold. 0:13:46.600 --> 0:13:50.360 Prayers, if you have a wide mouth asking God to 0:13:50.440 --> 0:13:53.880 do what looks impossible, you're going to see him show 0:13:53.920 --> 0:13:57.280 out in your life. But if you have a small mouth, 0:13:58.080 --> 0:13:59.239 you're asking God. 0:13:58.960 --> 0:14:01.680 To just meet your knee, just help you get by. 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:05.160 You're content with the status quo, then you're going to 0:14:05.200 --> 0:14:09.040 see God's goodness in a limited way. Now, I'm not 0:14:09.280 --> 0:14:12.920 discounting the small things God does. I thank him that 0:14:12.960 --> 0:14:16.080 he woke me up today. I'm grateful that he supplies 0:14:16.120 --> 0:14:20.800 our needs. I'm simply saying, don't stop there. Open your 0:14:20.840 --> 0:14:24.480 mouth wider and ask Him for your dreams. Ask him 0:14:24.480 --> 0:14:27.560 for that business, ask him to build that children's home, 0:14:28.080 --> 0:14:30.200 ask him to free from that sickness. 0:14:30.680 --> 0:14:33.040 This is the one time where it's good to have 0:14:33.120 --> 0:14:36.840 a big mouth. Young lady came down for prayer a 0:14:36.880 --> 0:14:37.440 while back. 0:14:38.080 --> 0:14:41.000 She asked if I would pray that she would make 0:14:41.000 --> 0:14:44.800 a c on her final exam. That struck me as 0:14:44.840 --> 0:14:47.000 being odd. I said, why do you want to pray 0:14:47.000 --> 0:14:50.200 for a C and not an A. She said, I've 0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:53.160 never made an A in this subject. I'm not good 0:14:53.240 --> 0:14:56.640 at math. I just want to pass. I didn't tell her. 0:14:57.000 --> 0:15:00.560 I wanted to say, that's a sick prayer. That prayer 0:15:00.560 --> 0:15:05.480 has the flu I wonder how many prayers are not 0:15:05.640 --> 0:15:09.280 being answered for you, Not because God won't do it, 0:15:09.800 --> 0:15:11.400 not because it's too difficult. 0:15:12.000 --> 0:15:13.120 But you never asked. 0:15:13.680 --> 0:15:16.880 You've never had the boldness to open your mouth wide 0:15:17.360 --> 0:15:18.320 and ask. 0:15:18.200 --> 0:15:21.200 For what you really want, not for what you think 0:15:21.240 --> 0:15:21.800 will happen. 0:15:22.840 --> 0:15:26.560 If you're single, it's not humility to ask God to 0:15:26.720 --> 0:15:28.800 just let you meet anyone. 0:15:28.880 --> 0:15:29.120 God. 0:15:29.160 --> 0:15:31.640 They don't have to be talented, they don't have to 0:15:31.640 --> 0:15:34.640 be attractive, they don't have to have a good job. God, 0:15:34.720 --> 0:15:39.200 I just want someone that's breathing. You need to cancel 0:15:39.240 --> 0:15:43.160 that prayer right now, because your next prayer will be, God, 0:15:43.240 --> 0:15:44.520 get them out of my life. 0:15:45.960 --> 0:15:49.840 If God answered what you're praying about, is it what 0:15:49.920 --> 0:15:50.800 you really want? 0:15:51.600 --> 0:15:55.400 What if God had somebody amazing coming for you, somebody 0:15:55.440 --> 0:15:55.960 more than. 0:15:55.880 --> 0:15:56.880 You could imagine. 0:15:57.040 --> 0:15:59.560 But he says to the angel, hold off on that 0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:02.080 a hold off on that awesome person. 0:16:02.200 --> 0:16:05.680 They're okay with the C. Now you need to ask. 0:16:05.400 --> 0:16:08.960 God, not for a watered down version of what you want, 0:16:09.400 --> 0:16:12.480 not a get by version, and I don't deserve much. 0:16:12.800 --> 0:16:15.680 Ask him for what you really want. Ask him to 0:16:15.680 --> 0:16:17.680 bring somebody awesome into your life. 0:16:18.280 --> 0:16:23.920 Somebody tall, dark, handsome, godly, will off, smart, talented, fun, 0:16:24.080 --> 0:16:33.200 good looking. That's what Victoria did. I couldn't resist. She 0:16:33.280 --> 0:16:39.200 forgot to add humility, though. But my question, how wide 0:16:39.480 --> 0:16:40.400 is your mouth open? 0:16:41.240 --> 0:16:42.360 Are you asking. 0:16:42.080 --> 0:16:45.560 God to just supply your needs, just help you make 0:16:45.640 --> 0:16:49.520 it through? God is saying open your mouth wider and 0:16:49.640 --> 0:16:52.800 watch what I will do. I told that young lady 0:16:53.040 --> 0:16:54.720 that I wasn't going to pray for a sea. 0:16:55.200 --> 0:16:56.440 I was going to pray for an A. 0:16:57.280 --> 0:17:01.200 Her eyes got real big. I said, you were to excel. 0:17:01.720 --> 0:17:04.119 You have talent in you that you've not tapped into. 0:17:04.600 --> 0:17:07.200 Now quit telling yourself all you can make is a 0:17:07.200 --> 0:17:11.200 C and start thanking God for an aid. She left 0:17:11.240 --> 0:17:15.400 there with a different perspective. She started opening her mouth wider. 0:17:15.880 --> 0:17:19.399 She studied, she prepared. A month later, she came back 0:17:19.560 --> 0:17:22.280 and said, for the first time, she made an A 0:17:22.480 --> 0:17:23.280 in that subject. 0:17:24.200 --> 0:17:28.800 Even her teacher was very amazed. It would have never. 0:17:28.720 --> 0:17:32.760 Happened if she had not opened her mouth wide and 0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:36.520 asked for what she really wanted. If you will break 0:17:36.560 --> 0:17:39.120 out of the box and start praying. 0:17:38.800 --> 0:17:41.920 These bold prayers, you're going to see some of these 0:17:42.000 --> 0:17:44.359 first times for the first time. 0:17:44.680 --> 0:17:48.199 You're not struggling to get by. You have overflown for 0:17:48.240 --> 0:17:51.280 the first time. You're not fighting the addiction. You're totally 0:17:51.320 --> 0:17:53.160 free for the first time. 0:17:53.400 --> 0:17:57.040 You have somebody amazing in your life. Tolive, Now do 0:17:57.200 --> 0:18:00.919 your part. Stop asking for a c and start asking 0:18:00.960 --> 0:18:01.560 for an aid. 0:18:02.320 --> 0:18:07.040 You are not inconveniencing God by asking big. It's not 0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:10.080 like if he gives you what you want, then somebody 0:18:10.080 --> 0:18:14.919 else will get left out. God has unlimited favor, unlimited power. 0:18:15.119 --> 0:18:16.480 You're not being selfish. 0:18:17.000 --> 0:18:19.720 Him helping you is not going to stop him from 0:18:19.800 --> 0:18:23.199 being good to others. The scripture says, it is the 0:18:23.240 --> 0:18:25.880 Father's good pleasure to give. 0:18:25.720 --> 0:18:26.880 You the kingdom. 0:18:27.320 --> 0:18:30.040 God wants to give it to you. Maybe he's just 0:18:30.160 --> 0:18:34.560 waiting for you to ask. In First Chronicles, Chapter four, 0:18:35.040 --> 0:18:39.000 it lists some of the genealogy of the people of Judah. 0:18:39.160 --> 0:18:42.679 It's just one name after another. This person was a 0:18:42.720 --> 0:18:46.160 descendant of this one, and on and on. Forty four 0:18:46.280 --> 0:18:49.320 names go by. Reading it, it is kind of boring. 0:18:49.920 --> 0:18:53.600 Then on the forty fifth name, instead of just listing 0:18:53.760 --> 0:18:56.720 this man and going on to the over one hundred 0:18:56.840 --> 0:19:00.160 names to come, the writer stops to give. 0:19:00.119 --> 0:19:02.520 A brief description, as if to. 0:19:02.480 --> 0:19:07.359 Say, this man did something significant. He didn't just live 0:19:07.520 --> 0:19:10.280 and die and get his name in the family line. 0:19:10.760 --> 0:19:15.720 He stood out. He did something worth pausing for. Verse 0:19:15.800 --> 0:19:19.639 nine says there was a man named Jabez that was 0:19:19.720 --> 0:19:23.920 more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named 0:19:24.000 --> 0:19:29.199 him this because his birth was so painful. Jabez stood 0:19:29.200 --> 0:19:33.440 out first off, because he honored God in a great way. 0:19:33.520 --> 0:19:37.280 He lived a life of such excellence and integrity. That 0:19:37.480 --> 0:19:43.320 wasn't the only reason. The name Jabez means pain, sorrow, trouble, 0:19:43.920 --> 0:19:47.119 And in those days, names meant much more than they 0:19:47.200 --> 0:19:51.080 do today. They were like prophecies. They would predict what 0:19:51.119 --> 0:19:55.840 would happen. The name Joshua means savior. Every time someone 0:19:55.880 --> 0:20:00.040 said hello, Joshua, courage must have filled his heart. He 0:20:00.119 --> 0:20:03.160 went on to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. 0:20:03.840 --> 0:20:08.600 The name Jacob means deceiver. Jacob lived a life deceiving people. 0:20:08.840 --> 0:20:12.280 He became what he was named. Well, think about what 0:20:12.480 --> 0:20:16.800 Jabez must have thought. His mother declared over him, that 0:20:16.920 --> 0:20:21.360 his life would be full of trouble, sorrow, pain. When 0:20:21.359 --> 0:20:25.159 someone said, hey, Jabez, they were reminding him that he 0:20:25.240 --> 0:20:28.080 was at a disadvantage, that he had had bad breaks. 0:20:28.800 --> 0:20:32.960 If anyone's name in this genealogy should have been mentioned 0:20:33.400 --> 0:20:36.120 and then passed right over, it would have been his. 0:20:37.080 --> 0:20:40.840 But despite the odds being against him, despite what his 0:20:41.000 --> 0:20:45.400 mother prophesied over him, Jabez prayed a prayer in verse 0:20:45.480 --> 0:20:48.160 ten that changed the course of his life. 0:20:48.840 --> 0:20:51.560 He said, God, I'm asking you to bless me. 0:20:52.280 --> 0:20:56.160 Indeed, if he had just asked God to bless him, 0:20:56.200 --> 0:21:00.159 that'd be one thing. But when he said indeed, he 0:21:00.240 --> 0:21:04.080 was saying, God, I'm asking you to bless me with abundance, 0:21:04.640 --> 0:21:08.119 bless me with overflow, give me so much favor that 0:21:08.240 --> 0:21:11.960 I can leave my mark. I read where saying indeed 0:21:12.160 --> 0:21:15.640 back then was like putting five exclamation points. 0:21:16.320 --> 0:21:20.480 He was asking God for the unusual, the extraordinary. 0:21:21.040 --> 0:21:25.960 Somehow he had the boldness to open his mouth wide. 0:21:26.000 --> 0:21:30.440 He went on to say, God, enlarge my territory, expand 0:21:30.680 --> 0:21:35.720 my borders. Think of the boldness this took. All the circumstances, 0:21:35.760 --> 0:21:38.919 said he was stuck. He could have accepted it and 0:21:39.040 --> 0:21:42.119 just been another name on the list. But the next 0:21:42.200 --> 0:21:45.760 verse says, and God granted him his request. 0:21:46.080 --> 0:21:47.080 He left his mark. 0:21:48.080 --> 0:21:51.880 But what's interesting is Jabez didn't part of Red Sea 0:21:52.040 --> 0:21:55.879 like Moses. He didn't defeat a giant like David. He 0:21:55.920 --> 0:21:59.920 didn't save the Israelites like Esther. There are not chapters 0:22:00.200 --> 0:22:04.480 in the Bible dedicated to him. But because he prayed 0:22:04.480 --> 0:22:08.639 a bold prayer, because he said God bless me, indeed, 0:22:09.240 --> 0:22:13.280 God paused the scripture and said, wait a minute, don't 0:22:13.400 --> 0:22:16.680 just pass over this man. Don't just list his name 0:22:16.720 --> 0:22:19.680 and move on. I need to say something about him. 0:22:20.000 --> 0:22:21.240 He was unusual. 0:22:21.760 --> 0:22:25.080 He didn't let the circumstances determine his destiny. 0:22:25.320 --> 0:22:27.520 He asked me for the uncommon. 0:22:28.560 --> 0:22:32.960 When you do like Jabez and say God bless me, indeed, 0:22:33.600 --> 0:22:36.840 not a little blessing, not with just enough to get by, 0:22:37.119 --> 0:22:40.480 But God blessed me with overflow, bless me with more 0:22:40.520 --> 0:22:44.280 than enough. Take me where I can't go on my own. Then, 0:22:44.320 --> 0:22:48.399 in years to come, when someone is reading your family line, 0:22:49.000 --> 0:22:51.840 you won't just be a name on the list. They'll 0:22:51.840 --> 0:22:53.640 have to stop and say about you. 0:22:54.000 --> 0:22:56.080 Wow. They were a difference maker. 0:22:56.480 --> 0:22:59.480 They left our family better than we were before. They 0:22:59.520 --> 0:23:03.040 took us to a new level. God doesn't want you 0:23:03.160 --> 0:23:06.480 to live and die and nobody knew you were here. 0:23:07.440 --> 0:23:08.520 The way to stand. 0:23:08.280 --> 0:23:12.440 Out is number one, honor God with your life, stay 0:23:12.480 --> 0:23:15.399 on that high road, break away from things that are 0:23:15.480 --> 0:23:18.959 keeping you from being your very best. And number two, 0:23:19.240 --> 0:23:24.119 pray these bold prayers. Dare to say, God, bless me. Indeed, 0:23:24.840 --> 0:23:27.679 don't be limited by how you were raised, by what 0:23:27.840 --> 0:23:31.280 was passed down, by how unlikely your dream looks. 0:23:31.440 --> 0:23:34.439 Have a big vision. Dare to ask God to do 0:23:34.600 --> 0:23:36.480 things that seem impossible. 0:23:37.440 --> 0:23:41.399 And all these people that were listed before and after Jabez, 0:23:41.840 --> 0:23:45.480 I'm sure they were good people. I'm sure they accomplished dreams. 0:23:45.800 --> 0:23:48.959 Some of them must have prayed asked God for things, 0:23:49.640 --> 0:23:53.720 but nothing is said about them. It's significant that God 0:23:53.880 --> 0:23:58.680 paused the scripture to tell us that he prayed bless me. Indeed, 0:24:00.200 --> 0:24:03.760 what would happen if every day we would start praying 0:24:04.160 --> 0:24:09.960 God bless me. Indeed, God, enlarge my territory, expand my borders, 0:24:10.000 --> 0:24:13.040 give me more influence, more resources, more opportunities. 0:24:13.720 --> 0:24:15.800 Not just once a month, but when. 0:24:15.680 --> 0:24:18.680 You wake up in the morning, Lord bless me, Indeed, 0:24:18.760 --> 0:24:23.000 today at the office, under your breath, God bless me. Indeed, 0:24:23.480 --> 0:24:26.399 before you go to bed, Lord, thank you for blessing me. 0:24:26.640 --> 0:24:30.359 Indeed, Well, Joel, isn't that kind of selfish asking for 0:24:30.440 --> 0:24:30.960 that much? 0:24:31.520 --> 0:24:35.720 It's not selfish when you're asking to fulfill your destiny 0:24:36.280 --> 0:24:37.320 to become who. 0:24:37.200 --> 0:24:38.280 You were created to be. 0:24:39.320 --> 0:24:42.440 The reason you need to ask is because there's an 0:24:42.480 --> 0:24:46.720 awesome future in front of you, things much bigger than 0:24:46.760 --> 0:24:47.600 you've imagined. 0:24:48.359 --> 0:24:50.000 You can't reach your potential. 0:24:50.600 --> 0:24:54.679 Pray in small prayers, believing for the ordinary, accepting the 0:24:54.720 --> 0:24:58.919 status quo. God is counting on you to tap into 0:24:58.960 --> 0:25:03.080 his favor, to see the surpassing greatness of His power. 0:25:03.440 --> 0:25:07.720 This takes bold prayers. This takes people that will take 0:25:07.760 --> 0:25:11.119 the limits off of God, people that are not intimidated 0:25:11.400 --> 0:25:14.760 at the size of their dream. Now, maybe you've been 0:25:14.840 --> 0:25:18.400 praying for God to bless you. That's good, but I'm 0:25:18.440 --> 0:25:22.600 asking you to add the Indeed, God bless me in 0:25:22.760 --> 0:25:28.359 unusual ways. God, do something uncommon in my life. Show out, God, 0:25:28.400 --> 0:25:33.720 I'm asking for your unprecedented favor. In the Scripture, Elisha 0:25:34.280 --> 0:25:36.760 served the prophet Elijah. 0:25:36.359 --> 0:25:37.280 For many years. 0:25:37.720 --> 0:25:40.159 He was faithful to take care of him and to 0:25:40.240 --> 0:25:43.840 go everywhere he went. When Elijah was about to be 0:25:43.960 --> 0:25:48.639 taken to heaven. He asked Elisha what he wanted. You 0:25:48.640 --> 0:25:52.720 would think Elisha would ask for something ordinary, something normal, 0:25:52.920 --> 0:25:56.399 maybe for some time off, maybe for a monetary gift. 0:25:56.960 --> 0:26:00.880 No Elisha understood this principle. He knew how to pray 0:26:01.040 --> 0:26:05.840 bold prayers. He said, Elijah, I want a double portion 0:26:06.040 --> 0:26:09.119 of your spirit. He was saying, I want to do 0:26:09.240 --> 0:26:13.159 twice the miracles. I want to have twice the anointing, twice, 0:26:13.200 --> 0:26:17.840 the favor, twice, the influence, twice the resources. Elijah could 0:26:17.840 --> 0:26:21.159 have thought, boy, you need more humility. You need to 0:26:21.200 --> 0:26:24.120 go back and ask again for something more common. 0:26:24.440 --> 0:26:27.320 No Elijah loved his boldness. 0:26:27.520 --> 0:26:30.640 He said, in effect, you keep serving me and you're 0:26:30.680 --> 0:26:34.480 going to have exactly what you said. Not long after that, 0:26:34.960 --> 0:26:38.840 Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Just like 0:26:38.960 --> 0:26:43.720 God promised, Elishah received a double portion of his spirit. 0:26:44.200 --> 0:26:46.280 He performed twice as many. 0:26:46.040 --> 0:26:47.880 Miracles as Elijah. 0:26:48.480 --> 0:26:51.280 This would have never happened if he had not said, 0:26:51.320 --> 0:26:52.240 God bless me. 0:26:52.600 --> 0:26:55.320 Indeed, the indeed is. 0:26:55.240 --> 0:26:57.720 To go places you can't go on your own. 0:26:58.600 --> 0:26:59.800 You may be doing fine. 0:27:00.200 --> 0:27:04.280 You are, that's great, but that's not your final destination. 0:27:05.080 --> 0:27:11.120 God has more in store, greater opportunities, more influence. Don't 0:27:11.160 --> 0:27:14.480 get stuck because you're not asking James. 0:27:14.560 --> 0:27:18.400 Chapter five says Elijah was human as we are. 0:27:19.040 --> 0:27:22.200 Yet when he prayed that it wouldn't rain, no rain 0:27:22.280 --> 0:27:26.360 fell for three and a half years. Sometimes we look 0:27:26.400 --> 0:27:28.719 at the people in the Bible and we see them 0:27:28.800 --> 0:27:32.600 as superhuman. They had so much more faith than us. 0:27:33.040 --> 0:27:36.639 God favored them because they were so special. But this 0:27:36.760 --> 0:27:41.439 scripture says Elijah was human. Well, of course we know 0:27:41.600 --> 0:27:44.879 he was human. He was in an alien God was 0:27:44.920 --> 0:27:48.760 saying this to show us that Elijah. 0:27:48.200 --> 0:27:49.640 Was just a normal person. 0:27:50.320 --> 0:27:54.280 He didn't necessarily feel special. He didn't walk around with 0:27:54.320 --> 0:27:58.879 a supernatural glow. The reason we're talking about him is 0:27:58.920 --> 0:28:03.000 he dared to pray bold prayers. He dared to ask 0:28:03.040 --> 0:28:07.320 God for what looked impossible. But Joel, I'm not in ministry, 0:28:07.920 --> 0:28:10.760 I'm not in leadership. I don't have a lot of influence. 0:28:11.240 --> 0:28:16.440 You're right where Elijah was. Quit discounting yourself. Quit thinking 0:28:16.520 --> 0:28:19.560 you can't ask for something big you don't have enough faith. 0:28:20.000 --> 0:28:25.280 The requirement is are you human? Since you are, God says, 0:28:25.440 --> 0:28:28.520 you can ask for things that seem impossible. 0:28:29.000 --> 0:28:32.320 Now, no more weak prayers. No more sick prayers. 0:28:32.560 --> 0:28:35.840 Start opening your mouth wide and God is going to 0:28:35.880 --> 0:28:36.199 fill it. 0:28:36.760 --> 0:28:37.399 Every day. 0:28:37.640 --> 0:28:41.880 Lord bless me indeed, now just bless me and be 0:28:42.040 --> 0:28:45.880 indeed put the exclamation point on it. That's saying, God, 0:28:46.160 --> 0:28:49.840 bless me with abundance. God bless me with overflow, so 0:28:49.920 --> 0:28:53.160 I can be a bigger blessing. If you'll do this, 0:28:53.720 --> 0:28:58.280 I believe and declare, like with Jabez, God is about 0:28:58.280 --> 0:29:01.760 to enlarge your territory. He's about to do something you've 0:29:01.840 --> 0:29:08.560 never seen, unprecedented favor, breakthroughs, opportunities, healing the fullness of 0:29:08.600 --> 0:29:11.160 your destiny in Jesus'. 0:29:10.720 --> 0:29:13.560 Name, And if you receive it, can you say amen? Today? 0:29:15.200 --> 0:29:19.080 Well, I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus. 0:29:18.640 --> 0:29:21.200 The lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:29:21.880 --> 0:29:27.520 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:29:27.520 --> 0:29:31.440 into my heart. I make you my Lord and save you. 0:29:32.920 --> 0:29:35.400 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:35.440 --> 0:29:36.080 born again. 0:29:36.560 --> 0:29:37.040 Get in a. 0:29:36.960 --> 0:29:41.960 Good Bible based church, Keep God first place. We're excited 0:29:41.960 --> 0:29:44.239 about coming back to New York for our Night of 0:29:44.240 --> 0:29:45.840 Hope in Yankee Stadium. 0:29:45.840 --> 0:29:46.520 It's going to be. 0:29:46.480 --> 0:29:50.160 A great night of encouragement and inspiration per special guest 0:29:50.240 --> 0:29:52.640 Kanye West and the Sunday Service Choir. 0:29:52.800 --> 0:29:53.440 Looking forward to. 0:29:53.440 --> 0:29:56.760 Seeing you there May second in Yankee Stadium. Thanks so 0:29:56.880 --> 0:30:00.320 much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe 0:30:00.360 --> 0:30:03.080 so you can receive the latest podcast to keep you 0:30:03.200 --> 0:30:05.320 encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:30:05.480 --> 0:30:07.720 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:30:07.720 --> 0:30:11.200 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:30:11.280 --> 0:30:13.920 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:30:14.000 --> 0:30:14.520 us today. 0:30:14.760 --> 0:30:17.200 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:30:17.280 --> 0:30:20.120 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:30:20.160 --> 0:30:20.560 for you. 0:30:20.800 --> 0:30:23.600 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:30:23.640 --> 0:30:24.160 next time. 0:30:27.640 --> 0:30:30.200 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:30:30.200 --> 0:30:33.800 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:30:33.840 --> 0:30:36.960 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:30:37.000 --> 0:30:40.040 nearly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:30:40.040 --> 0:30:42.960 the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 0:30:43.080 --> 0:30:45.440 help for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 0:30:45.560 --> 0:30:47.840 scholarship and only pay a one time tech fee of 0:30:47.880 --> 0:30:51.840 fifty four dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealth coach 0:30:52.080 --> 0:30:54.680 dot org. That's mentalhealth Coach dot. 0:30:54.640 --> 0:31:01.160 Org, Nice funds, soft Fluffy and ultralow neetcarb Discover hero 0:31:01.320 --> 0:31:05.560 Bread the delicious ultralow netcar bread with incredible taste and texture. 0:31:05.840 --> 0:31:08.240 Hero Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under 0:31:08.280 --> 0:31:11.560 one hundred calories per serving, plus high end fiber and 0:31:11.720 --> 0:31:14.600 up to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on 0:31:14.720 --> 0:31:17.760 Amazon dot com, Walmart dot com, and Hero dot Co. 0:31:18.400 --> 0:31:22.040 That's Hero dot Co. Order from Hero dot Co now 0:31:22.080 --> 0:31:24.600 and get ten percent off your purchase with promo code 0:31:24.640 --> 0:31:27.760 ih M ten. Summer is here and our sleep is 0:31:27.840 --> 0:31:29.400 just as important as our weekend plans. 0:31:29.480 --> 0:31:31.240 So get the sleep you deserve with Lisa. 0:31:31.320 --> 0:31:33.320 For a limited time, save up to seven hundred dollars 0:31:33.320 --> 0:31:36.480 off select mattresses plus two free pillows during our summer sale. 0:31:36.600 --> 0:31:38.920 Check out our hybrid mattress designed to keep you cool 0:31:39.000 --> 0:31:41.880 during those hot summer nights. Lisa also offers free shipping 0:31:42.000 --> 0:31:43.840 and a risk free one hundred night trial. 0:31:44.040 --> 0:31:45.240 Get the sleep you deserve. 0:31:45.480 --> 0:31:47.400 Shop our summer sale now and save up to seven 0:31:47.480 --> 0:31:50.560 hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pillows at 0:31:50.600 --> 0:31:53.680 Lisa dot com that's l e e s a dot Com. 0:31:53.880 --> 0:31:56.080 Exclusions apply Visit Lisa dot com for details.