Break The Chains

0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:06.360 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:09.040 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:09.080 --> 0:00:11.840 share it with a friend, reappreciate you and pray for 0:00:11.920 --> 0:00:15.560 God's very best in your life. God bless you. It's 0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:18.200 great to be with you today, and I hope you'll 0:00:18.200 --> 0:00:21.440 stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, 0:00:21.720 --> 0:00:25.160 our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit 0:00:25.239 --> 0:00:27.360 us in person. We'd love to have you be a 0:00:27.360 --> 0:00:29.800 part of one of our services. Tho. I'd like to 0:00:29.800 --> 0:00:32.400 start it with something funny, and I heard about this 0:00:32.520 --> 0:00:35.640 senior citizen. He was driving down the freeway in his 0:00:35.800 --> 0:00:39.840 brand new Corvette with the top down, going eighty miles 0:00:39.840 --> 0:00:42.920 an hour when he saw flashing red lights in his 0:00:43.000 --> 0:00:46.559 review mirror from a state trooper. Without thinking about it, 0:00:46.640 --> 0:00:49.000 he floored it took it up to one hundred miles 0:00:49.040 --> 0:00:52.040 an hour. He heard the sirens behind him, and finally 0:00:52.080 --> 0:00:54.920 came to his senses. Pulled over. It's an officer. I'm 0:00:54.920 --> 0:00:57.360 so sorry. I don't know what I was doing, the 0:00:57.400 --> 0:01:01.520 trooper said. Listen, it's Friday, four o'clock. My shift is over. 0:01:01.640 --> 0:01:04.440 In thirty minutes. If you'll tell me a reason you 0:01:04.520 --> 0:01:07.440 were speeding that I've never heard before, I'll let you go. 0:01:08.360 --> 0:01:11.520 The man thought about it, said officer. Years ago, my 0:01:11.600 --> 0:01:14.360 wife ran off with a state trooper and I thought 0:01:14.400 --> 0:01:18.720 you were bringing her back. He said, have a great weekend. 0:01:20.760 --> 0:01:23.120 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:01:23.520 --> 0:01:25.880 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:01:25.959 --> 0:01:28.520 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:01:28.560 --> 0:01:31.320 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:01:31.319 --> 0:01:35.440 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:01:35.560 --> 0:01:40.039 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:01:40.520 --> 0:01:44.119 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:01:44.160 --> 0:01:47.960 about break the chains. We all have things that are 0:01:48.000 --> 0:01:53.160 trying to hold us back. Can be fear, addictions, negative 0:01:53.200 --> 0:01:56.960 things people have said now that's damaging our self image 0:01:57.000 --> 0:02:01.240 and keeping us from believing who we are. Sometimes it's 0:02:01.320 --> 0:02:05.320 mistakes we've made. We keep rehearsing it, living down on 0:02:05.400 --> 0:02:09.720 ourselves and the past is restricting us. Maybe we're dealing 0:02:09.800 --> 0:02:13.639 with an illness, child's off course, or can't seem to 0:02:13.639 --> 0:02:16.880 get ahead in our finances. We want to move forward, 0:02:16.919 --> 0:02:20.440 but it's like these forces keep pulling us back. And 0:02:20.480 --> 0:02:24.800 it's easy to get comfortable being constrained. To learn to 0:02:24.840 --> 0:02:28.520 live with things that are limiting us. Just accept this 0:02:28.600 --> 0:02:32.320 is who I am, chain to this addiction, chain to 0:02:32.400 --> 0:02:36.480 my past, chain to how I was raised. But God 0:02:36.560 --> 0:02:41.040 did not create us to live bound. One reason Jesus came, 0:02:41.680 --> 0:02:45.480 died and rose again was so you could be free, 0:02:45.919 --> 0:02:49.600 not partially free, not most of the way free. The 0:02:49.639 --> 0:02:54.320 scripture says you will be unquestionably free. That means there's 0:02:54.400 --> 0:02:58.679 no doubt. You're not having to fake it, pretend or 0:02:58.720 --> 0:03:03.400 you're healthy, your whole, your children are excelling, You're living 0:03:03.440 --> 0:03:07.600 a victorious life. And yes there will be seasons of 0:03:07.720 --> 0:03:11.880 struggling in times where you feel restricted. Nothing is improving, 0:03:12.560 --> 0:03:14.600 but you have to keep this down in your spirit. 0:03:14.880 --> 0:03:19.280 Those chains are not permanent. That depression is not how 0:03:19.320 --> 0:03:24.160 your story ends. Living in life, low self esteem, a 0:03:24.280 --> 0:03:28.119 temper you can't control. Those powers may be too much 0:03:28.160 --> 0:03:31.080 for you, but they are not too much for our God. 0:03:32.240 --> 0:03:35.960 Sometimes we've done all we can, We prayed, we stayed 0:03:35.960 --> 0:03:40.040 in faith, but nothing's changing. It's tempting to feel discouraged 0:03:40.120 --> 0:03:42.920 or nothing more that I can do. That's when the 0:03:43.000 --> 0:03:45.840 most high is going to step in and do what 0:03:45.880 --> 0:03:49.880 you couldn't do. He's the chain breaker. He came to 0:03:49.920 --> 0:03:52.480 take off of you what the enemy put on you 0:03:53.200 --> 0:03:57.680 to lose, change, to break the bondages. X two says 0:03:58.120 --> 0:04:02.040 God raised Jesus up having loosed the chaine of death, 0:04:02.640 --> 0:04:05.600 for it was not possible that he could be held 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:09.000 by it. Because you belong to Christ, you need to 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:12.680 have that attitude. It's not possible that these chains can 0:04:12.680 --> 0:04:16.719 hold me. The same spirit that raised Christ from the 0:04:16.800 --> 0:04:21.040 dead lives on the inside of you. Don't get comfortable 0:04:21.080 --> 0:04:25.760 being constrained. Don't accept limitations as your lot in life. 0:04:25.880 --> 0:04:29.080 The forces that are for you are greater than those 0:04:29.120 --> 0:04:32.400 that are against you. Joel, I think I'll always deal 0:04:32.440 --> 0:04:35.599 with this addictioner my child will always be off course. 0:04:36.160 --> 0:04:39.719 I can't get ahead. We've always been broke at a disadvantage. 0:04:40.040 --> 0:04:43.680 Try a different approach. It's not possible that these chains 0:04:43.720 --> 0:04:47.440 can stay, for I know who my God is. It's 0:04:47.520 --> 0:04:51.880 not possible that this addiction, this trouble at work, this fear, 0:04:52.040 --> 0:04:55.720 keeps me bound. For my God is greater. My God 0:04:55.839 --> 0:04:59.680 is stronger, He's more powerful, and he's fighting my battles. 0:05:00.320 --> 0:05:03.280 You have to be free on the inside before you'll 0:05:03.320 --> 0:05:07.040 be free on the outside. Victory starts in our thinking. 0:05:07.839 --> 0:05:11.520 As long as we believe, man, I'm stuck here, I'm lonely, 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:15.599 I'm at a disadvantage, then we're gonna stay there. Give 0:05:15.680 --> 0:05:19.279 God something to work with instead of complaining about what's 0:05:19.400 --> 0:05:22.400 holding your back. Turn it around. Lord. I want to 0:05:22.400 --> 0:05:25.640 thank you that you're the chain breaker, that every force 0:05:25.680 --> 0:05:28.680 that's holding me back is being broken, that I will 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:31.679 live and not die, that I am free from this addiction. 0:05:32.040 --> 0:05:36.520 That my children are mighty. In the land March chapter five, 0:05:36.640 --> 0:05:39.640 there was a man that was deranged. He'd lost his 0:05:39.720 --> 0:05:43.360 mental health and god so bad. People couldn't control him. 0:05:43.560 --> 0:05:46.320 They had to send him away, and he was living 0:05:46.440 --> 0:05:50.920 among the tombs in this desolate area. They tried chaining 0:05:50.960 --> 0:05:53.520 him up, but he was too strong. He kept getting loose. 0:05:54.279 --> 0:05:57.839 He was so troubled night and day he'd wander around, 0:05:58.120 --> 0:06:02.640 constantly cutting himself. And this wasn't the man just going crazy. 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:07.279 The scripture says, an unclean spirit had come into the man. 0:06:08.279 --> 0:06:11.520 This was forces of darkness trying to keep him from 0:06:11.560 --> 0:06:15.160 his destiny. Look at how the enemy works. This man 0:06:15.279 --> 0:06:20.440 is bound, tormented, living in a graveyard, seems like he 0:06:20.560 --> 0:06:24.320 was stuck. This power was too much for him. But 0:06:24.360 --> 0:06:28.560 the scripture says, Jesus came to destroy the works of 0:06:28.600 --> 0:06:32.840 the enemy. You are not powerless against forces that come 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:37.480 against you. The power in you is greater than any 0:06:37.640 --> 0:06:41.040 power that will try to stop you. These forces come 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:44.800 against us, all trying to bind us, cause us to 0:06:44.839 --> 0:06:49.800 live troubled, worried, addicted. The good news is the enemy 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:53.599 doesn't have the final says, don't believe those lies that 0:06:53.680 --> 0:06:57.360 you will always be that way. God is watching over you. 0:06:58.040 --> 0:07:03.000 He sees what's happening. He knows the struggles, the unfair things, 0:07:03.040 --> 0:07:06.000 and what you can't overcome. He's not going to leave 0:07:06.000 --> 0:07:08.920 you stranded. He's not going to let you stay bound. 0:07:09.400 --> 0:07:12.360 It may be a Friday in your life, but Sunday 0:07:12.440 --> 0:07:16.560 is coming. See for three days, it looked like Jesus 0:07:16.760 --> 0:07:21.600 was defeated. He was crucified by the soldiers. Satan finally 0:07:21.680 --> 0:07:26.000 thought he stopped him, had him bound up, chained. I 0:07:26.040 --> 0:07:28.680 can see the forces of darkness having a big party 0:07:28.760 --> 0:07:34.920 and celebrating their victory. There's music, dancing, shouting, But one 0:07:35.000 --> 0:07:38.200 of the demons looks over and sees this figure coming 0:07:38.240 --> 0:07:42.320 toward them. His eyes are like fire, his hair white 0:07:42.440 --> 0:07:46.480 like wool. His face shines like the sun. They're confused, 0:07:46.560 --> 0:07:49.880 They think, who is this person? Jesus smiles and says, 0:07:49.920 --> 0:07:54.040 I'm back. He didn't just defeat the enemy, but he 0:07:54.120 --> 0:07:57.440 took the keys to death. In hell. He said I 0:07:57.600 --> 0:08:02.000 was dead, but I am alive forevermore. The good news 0:08:02.160 --> 0:08:06.000 is God has the key to every chain the enemy 0:08:06.040 --> 0:08:08.920 tries to put on you. There's not a bondage he 0:08:08.960 --> 0:08:12.440 can't free you from. Not a problem he can't turn around. 0:08:13.000 --> 0:08:16.280 Not a sickness he can't heal, Not an addiction he 0:08:16.320 --> 0:08:19.560 can't bring. Not a fire he can't bring you out of, 0:08:20.280 --> 0:08:23.720 just as the three Hebrew teenagers. Not a red sea 0:08:23.840 --> 0:08:27.680 he can't part, just as Moses. Not a giant he 0:08:27.720 --> 0:08:31.600 can't defeat, just as David. Not a door he can't open, 0:08:31.920 --> 0:08:35.000 just as Paul and Silas. You are not doing life 0:08:35.080 --> 0:08:40.080 by yourself. The Most High God is working behind the scenes, 0:08:40.520 --> 0:08:46.600 fighting for you, loosing chains, bringing victory. It's significant this 0:08:46.679 --> 0:08:51.520 man was living in a cemetery. A cemetery represents dead things, 0:08:52.120 --> 0:08:54.720 to place that we may visit, but we're not supposed 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:58.640 to live there. Sometimes, like him, we're living in the 0:08:58.679 --> 0:09:03.400 cemetery of our fail reliving all the mistakes we've made, 0:09:03.679 --> 0:09:07.200 the cemetery of our hurts, focused on who did us wrong, 0:09:07.559 --> 0:09:12.599 who walked away? The cemetery of bad breaks, doors that closed? 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:16.200 Why do I come down with this illness? As long 0:09:16.280 --> 0:09:20.360 as your thoughts are in the cemetery, dwelling on dead things, 0:09:20.480 --> 0:09:23.280 you're gonna stay stuck. You have to get out of 0:09:23.280 --> 0:09:27.080 that graveyard mentality, come over to a place of faith, 0:09:27.760 --> 0:09:31.720 of hope, of victory. The enemy would love to keep 0:09:31.760 --> 0:09:35.720 you in the cemetery. Focus on all the negative, dwelling 0:09:35.760 --> 0:09:39.280 on the disappointments. Do yourself a favor. Get out of 0:09:39.320 --> 0:09:44.520 that graveyard. Quit reliving all the discouraging things, thinking about 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:47.840 how impossible it is. You may visit there every once 0:09:47.880 --> 0:09:51.400 in a while, but you can't stay there. When Mary 0:09:51.760 --> 0:09:55.880 was at the tomb on that Sunday morning looking for Jesus, 0:09:56.320 --> 0:10:00.760 she was so distraught and upset. An angel appeared and said, Mary, 0:10:01.360 --> 0:10:05.000 why do you seek the living among the dead. He 0:10:05.120 --> 0:10:07.800 was saying, you're at the wrong place. If you're looking 0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:11.280 for Jesus, He's not in the grave anymore. He has risen. 0:10:12.360 --> 0:10:15.160 The grave was only temporary. You got to go to 0:10:15.200 --> 0:10:19.000 where he is. Some of us are seeking the living 0:10:19.200 --> 0:10:24.520 among the dead. We want joy these new relationships, but 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:28.320 we're looking in dead places what used to be, what 0:10:28.440 --> 0:10:33.080 didn't work out, mistakes that we've made. Nothing will change 0:10:33.400 --> 0:10:37.160 until you come out of that cemetery. Shift your thoughts 0:10:37.240 --> 0:10:42.439 to things that are positive, hopeful, Start expecting some turnarounds. 0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:47.040 Start believing that your Sunday is coming. Start declaring that 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:50.640 the chain breaker is on the way. Faith is what 0:10:50.720 --> 0:10:55.600 causes God to work. Verse four says no person could 0:10:55.600 --> 0:10:59.520 bind this man, not even with chains, for when they 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:04.080 locked him, he was so strong he would snap the change. 0:11:04.240 --> 0:11:07.120 I always saw that as negative, and he was so 0:11:07.280 --> 0:11:11.280 deranged he couldn't be chained. But maybe God was showing 0:11:11.400 --> 0:11:15.440 us a principle that no person can chain you. That 0:11:15.520 --> 0:11:18.480 no matter what they did, they can't keep you bound. 0:11:19.200 --> 0:11:22.360 No matter what they said, they can't stop you destiny. 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:26.800 No matter how unfair it was, it can't hold you back. 0:11:27.080 --> 0:11:30.880 There is a power in you that will break change, 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:36.079 a force that will supersede what should stop you. Now, 0:11:36.200 --> 0:11:40.400 quit believing the limitations that people try to put on you. 0:11:41.200 --> 0:11:43.640 They had love to chain you up to how they 0:11:43.720 --> 0:11:49.240 see you. You're not talented enough, smart enough, attractive enough. 0:11:49.520 --> 0:11:52.400 You made too many mistakes. You're too far off course, 0:11:52.440 --> 0:11:55.880 you're too sick. Those are chains that will try to 0:11:55.920 --> 0:12:00.520 limit your destiny. But no person can chain you. What 0:12:00.600 --> 0:12:04.040 they say doesn't determine who you are. They didn't breathe 0:12:04.080 --> 0:12:07.199 life into you. They didn't plan your days for good. 0:12:07.640 --> 0:12:10.600 They didn't create you in their own image. God did. 0:12:11.480 --> 0:12:15.520 He called you, He equipped you, he empowered you, He 0:12:15.640 --> 0:12:19.439 crowned you with his favor. Break out of those chains 0:12:19.480 --> 0:12:23.520 of how people are trying to define you. The only 0:12:23.600 --> 0:12:26.280 power they have over you is the power that you 0:12:26.400 --> 0:12:30.200 give them. If you believe what they said, then it 0:12:30.240 --> 0:12:33.440 can become a reality. Why don't you tune that out 0:12:33.520 --> 0:12:36.760 and believe what God says about you. They tell you 0:12:36.760 --> 0:12:40.440 you're not attractive, break that chain. I am fearfully and 0:12:40.520 --> 0:12:45.560 wonderfully made. I am a masterpiece. You're not talented, you'll 0:12:45.559 --> 0:12:48.760 never be successful. I can do all things through Christ. 0:12:48.960 --> 0:12:52.200 I am the head and not the telle. You've made 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:55.520 too many mistakes. You don't deserve to be blessed. I 0:12:55.559 --> 0:12:59.760 am forgiven, I am redeemed, I am worthy. That's how 0:12:59.760 --> 0:13:03.760 you great change. Well, yeah, but you've had so many setbacks. 0:13:04.160 --> 0:13:08.000 You've gone through loss. It's all downhill from here. Don't 0:13:08.040 --> 0:13:11.320 stay in that graveyard. Don't let them chain you in 0:13:11.400 --> 0:13:14.640 the cemetery. That's not where you live. Lord, I thank 0:13:14.679 --> 0:13:17.320 you that you have beauty. For these ashes, that what 0:13:17.480 --> 0:13:21.360 was meant for harm, You're turning to my advantage. No 0:13:21.600 --> 0:13:25.040 person can change you, no force of darkness can hold 0:13:25.080 --> 0:13:27.920 you back. You were a child of the most i God. 0:13:29.120 --> 0:13:31.320 When my father went to be with the Lord and 0:13:31.640 --> 0:13:34.160 I stepped up to pastor the church, there were all 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:37.440 these chains trying to stop me. And sometimes it's our 0:13:37.480 --> 0:13:40.560 own thoughts that are trying to lock us up. Joel, 0:13:40.600 --> 0:13:43.679 you don't know how to minister. You're not qualified, you're 0:13:43.679 --> 0:13:46.320 not talented enough. You're not as smart as your father. 0:13:47.200 --> 0:13:50.920 Those were chains trying to keep me from my destiny. 0:13:51.120 --> 0:13:54.319 I overheard others saying he's not as good as his father. 0:13:54.960 --> 0:13:57.480 I don't think the church is gonna make it. People 0:13:57.520 --> 0:14:00.680 were trying to put chains on me. Paper here in 0:14:00.720 --> 0:14:03.839 town did a big article on my father's passing, and 0:14:04.280 --> 0:14:06.680 at one point they said, the worst thing that could 0:14:06.679 --> 0:14:09.160 happen is for one of the sons to take over. 0:14:09.960 --> 0:14:12.520 They listened all these examples of where it hadn't worked. 0:14:12.559 --> 0:14:14.880 And I'll thank you so much for your encouragement. But 0:14:15.080 --> 0:14:19.400 here's the key. No person can keep you bound. They 0:14:19.440 --> 0:14:21.600 may put a chain on you, but you have the 0:14:21.720 --> 0:14:25.480 power to break that chain. Greater is he that is 0:14:25.520 --> 0:14:29.040 in you than he that is trying to stop you. 0:14:29.040 --> 0:14:32.040 You may be dealing with some chains now, people trying 0:14:32.040 --> 0:14:35.320 to limit you. You attempted to live in the cemetery, 0:14:35.640 --> 0:14:39.360 rehearsing all the negative. But I believe today there's a 0:14:39.480 --> 0:14:43.280 chain breaking anoint in coming. You're gonna feel a power 0:14:43.640 --> 0:14:48.080 that you've never felt to break chains of depression, chains 0:14:48.080 --> 0:14:52.240 of insecurity, chains of lack and struggle. You're about to 0:14:52.280 --> 0:14:57.840 see a supernatural release, a release into freedom, into abundance, 0:14:57.960 --> 0:15:02.000 into joy, into great relation. It's the power of the 0:15:02.080 --> 0:15:07.320 most High breathing on your life, thrusting you into your destiny. 0:15:07.760 --> 0:15:11.600 My father was raised very poor. They were farmers, and 0:15:11.600 --> 0:15:15.080 they lost everything during the Great Depression, and as seventeen 0:15:15.160 --> 0:15:18.800 years old, Daddy gave his life to Christ. The first 0:15:18.840 --> 0:15:22.440 one in the family. He felt God calling him to 0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:25.680 become a pastor. As he told his parents he was 0:15:25.720 --> 0:15:28.800 going to leave home and go out and start ministring. 0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:32.360 They meant well, but they said, John, you don't know 0:15:32.360 --> 0:15:35.160 how to minister. All you know how to do is 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:37.400 work on the farm. You're going to get out there 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:40.760 and fail. You better stay here with us. They put 0:15:40.800 --> 0:15:44.400 this chain on him, locked him up to who they 0:15:44.480 --> 0:15:48.320 thought he was. People will try to define you into 0:15:48.360 --> 0:15:51.520 the version of how they see you. The problem is 0:15:52.000 --> 0:15:55.280 they can't see the greatness God putting you. They can't 0:15:55.280 --> 0:15:58.440 see the gifts and talents. They can't see the books, 0:15:58.640 --> 0:16:03.080 the businesses, the enflu the abundance. They'll try to lock 0:16:03.160 --> 0:16:06.120 you up into what they see right now, but they're 0:16:06.160 --> 0:16:09.840 not seeing the full you. They're seeing a partial version 0:16:10.040 --> 0:16:13.360 of who God made you to be. Don't let their 0:16:13.440 --> 0:16:19.240 limited view keep you from growing, stretching, believing, dreaming. They 0:16:19.280 --> 0:16:22.680 may try to chain you. Good news is no person 0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:26.480 can keep you bound. You can break the change. The 0:16:26.520 --> 0:16:29.520 power God put in you is a chain breaking power. 0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:34.440 It's greater than any force that's trying to stop you. Now, 0:16:34.440 --> 0:16:37.360 you have to do your part. You can't live with 0:16:37.440 --> 0:16:42.400 the defeated mentality, believing the lies that you've reached your destiny. 0:16:42.440 --> 0:16:45.760 And man, I'll never get well, I'll never own my 0:16:45.840 --> 0:16:48.760 own house. I don't think i'll ever meet the right person, 0:16:49.320 --> 0:16:53.080 do yourself a favor. Come out of that graveyard. Quit 0:16:53.160 --> 0:16:56.480 looking for the living among the dead. God didn't bring 0:16:56.520 --> 0:16:59.760 you this far to leave you. You wouldn't be hearing 0:16:59.800 --> 0:17:03.400 this if you weren't about to break some change. You 0:17:03.440 --> 0:17:06.760 have to rise up. I know circumstances may have put 0:17:06.800 --> 0:17:09.840 you into cemetery. Someone tried to lock you up. The 0:17:09.960 --> 0:17:13.480 right attitude is, I'm not staying here. I am coming 0:17:13.520 --> 0:17:18.000 into freedom. I'm coming into wholeness, into health, into abundance, 0:17:18.119 --> 0:17:22.439 into victory. Yes we go through some fridays, but the 0:17:22.600 --> 0:17:27.520 change can't hold you. Sunday is coming. Nineteen ninety six, 0:17:28.040 --> 0:17:31.240 a star basketball player was drafted right out of high 0:17:31.240 --> 0:17:34.919 school into the NBA by the Charlotte Hornets. He was 0:17:34.920 --> 0:17:39.240 so excited dream come true, But before he ever played 0:17:39.240 --> 0:17:42.280 a game, the Hornets told him that he was of 0:17:42.320 --> 0:17:45.520 no use to them, that he wasn't what they wanted. 0:17:45.600 --> 0:17:49.080 After all, they traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. 0:17:49.840 --> 0:17:53.560 This young man was taken aback. He believed he was 0:17:53.600 --> 0:17:57.800 good enough to play, but their opinions were like change, 0:17:57.920 --> 0:18:01.840 you don't have what it takes. Not talented enough, You're 0:18:01.840 --> 0:18:05.080 not gonna make it in the NBA. You can't stop 0:18:05.119 --> 0:18:08.200 people from putting chains on you, but you can break 0:18:08.200 --> 0:18:11.919 the change. You have the power to unlock what they said, 0:18:12.600 --> 0:18:15.479 to dismiss it, to not dwell on it. That's what 0:18:15.560 --> 0:18:18.800 he did. He didn't pay it any attention. His attitude 0:18:19.000 --> 0:18:23.120 was your opinion doesn't determine who I am. I am 0:18:23.160 --> 0:18:26.159 not limited by how you define me. I am who 0:18:26.240 --> 0:18:30.880 God says I am. Eighteen years later, after winning five 0:18:30.920 --> 0:18:34.920 World Championships, making the All Star Team eighteen times in 0:18:35.000 --> 0:18:38.399 a row, four times, the most valuable player two times, 0:18:38.400 --> 0:18:42.000 the scoring champion of the league, Kobe Bryant posted a 0:18:42.040 --> 0:18:46.840 picture on social media. He was holding his jersey. He 0:18:46.920 --> 0:18:50.840 had a pleasant smile. The caption read, eighteen years ago, 0:18:51.240 --> 0:18:54.359 I was told I was of no use. Don't let 0:18:54.440 --> 0:18:57.960 the change people put on you keep you from your greatness. 0:18:58.480 --> 0:19:02.000 Break out of those chains, Get out of that graveyard 0:19:02.080 --> 0:19:08.000 thinking can't do it. Too big, challenge too great. You 0:19:08.320 --> 0:19:12.000 and God are a majority. The chain breaker lives in you, 0:19:12.640 --> 0:19:16.160 the power that raised Christ from the dead. Think about 0:19:16.200 --> 0:19:19.200 how all the forces of darkness tried to keep Jesus 0:19:19.200 --> 0:19:22.480 in the great The enemy did his best, but his 0:19:22.600 --> 0:19:26.800 best was not enough. God is fighting for you. His 0:19:27.000 --> 0:19:30.800 power is stronger than what someone said, stronger than a 0:19:30.880 --> 0:19:34.480 chain of addiction, a chain of anger, a chain of lack. 0:19:35.480 --> 0:19:38.199 The enemy wouldn't be trying to chain you if he 0:19:38.280 --> 0:19:41.119 didn't know you were a threat. He wouldn't try to 0:19:41.160 --> 0:19:44.159 hold you back if he didn't know you have greatness 0:19:44.160 --> 0:19:47.679 in you, that you're destined to set new standards, to 0:19:47.800 --> 0:19:51.760 take your family where they've never been. This man was 0:19:51.880 --> 0:19:55.160 living in the graveyards, and to try to ease the pain, 0:19:55.280 --> 0:20:02.720 he would cut himself, using rocks to scrape, to injure blood, infection, scarring. 0:20:03.520 --> 0:20:07.119 We may not cut ourselves physically, but sometimes we're cutting 0:20:07.160 --> 0:20:13.320 ourselves mentally, cutting ourselves down, devaluing who we are, thinking 0:20:13.320 --> 0:20:16.800 we're not enough, this negative recording playing in our mind. 0:20:17.920 --> 0:20:21.720 You would think, since the enemy has this man isolated 0:20:22.440 --> 0:20:27.680 in the graveyard, his mind tormented, he would leave him alone, 0:20:27.800 --> 0:20:31.119 that that would be enough. But the scripture says he 0:20:31.280 --> 0:20:35.920 comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus said, don't get 0:20:35.960 --> 0:20:38.320 me mixed up with him. I came that you might 0:20:38.400 --> 0:20:42.760 have life and have it more abundantly, not just make 0:20:42.840 --> 0:20:46.480 it through, not just get your sanity back, but to 0:20:46.560 --> 0:20:50.000 have an abundance of joy, an abundance of peace, a 0:20:50.040 --> 0:20:54.840 great family, seeing dreams come to pass. This man had 0:20:54.880 --> 0:20:58.280 a family back home, no doubt, children that loved to 0:20:58.320 --> 0:21:02.399 see him. This mother was distraught. The man she loved 0:21:02.520 --> 0:21:05.119 is not in his right mind. I can see his 0:21:05.240 --> 0:21:10.120 parents weeping, heartbroken, seeing their little boy. The sun they 0:21:10.200 --> 0:21:15.480 raised now in this terrible condition. Sometimes we can't change 0:21:15.480 --> 0:21:19.479 it on our own. We prayed, we believed, but it 0:21:19.520 --> 0:21:22.840 hasn't worked out. In this scripture, there were times that 0:21:22.880 --> 0:21:26.399 the disciples prayed, they did what they were supposed to, 0:21:27.000 --> 0:21:30.240 but the person didn't get well. Jesus had to come. 0:21:31.160 --> 0:21:34.320 The good news is God knows when we've done all 0:21:34.320 --> 0:21:37.720 we can. We tried to break it, but it didn't happen. 0:21:38.400 --> 0:21:41.439 We did our best, We stood in faith, but nothing 0:21:41.520 --> 0:21:45.640 is improving. We can feel hopeless. What more can we do? 0:21:45.960 --> 0:21:49.240 This is the way that family fell well. Jesus was 0:21:49.280 --> 0:21:52.520 in Galilee teaching the people. At the end of a 0:21:52.600 --> 0:21:56.359 long day, he said to the disciples, let us cross 0:21:56.440 --> 0:21:59.439 to the other side of the lake. They were tired. 0:21:59.520 --> 0:22:03.520 They wanted rest, but Jesus had an agenda that they 0:22:03.600 --> 0:22:07.199 knew nothing about. The other side of the lake was 0:22:07.280 --> 0:22:10.879 the tombs where this man lived while where they were 0:22:10.880 --> 0:22:13.800 sailing that night. You remember the huge storm they ran. 0:22:13.960 --> 0:22:16.840 Woke Jesus up. Don't you care that we perish? We're 0:22:16.840 --> 0:22:20.240 about to die. Jesus stood up, spoke to the storm. 0:22:20.640 --> 0:22:24.639 Everything calmed down. In a few hours they reached the shore. 0:22:25.520 --> 0:22:28.600 Jesus got out of the boat. The first thing this 0:22:28.680 --> 0:22:35.200 man came running, no clothes, bleeding, hair disheveled, then frel 0:22:36.040 --> 0:22:40.240 He fell at Jesus' feet. Jesus said to the unclean spirit, 0:22:40.800 --> 0:22:44.639 come out of this man. In the unseen realm. Chains 0:22:44.680 --> 0:22:49.520 were broken, forces of darkness left him instantly he was healed. 0:22:50.040 --> 0:22:54.560 The scripture says they saw the man sitting fully, closed, 0:22:54.720 --> 0:22:59.120 totally saying, in his right mind, look at the goodness 0:22:59.160 --> 0:23:03.760 of God. For years he's been deranged. Then the chain 0:23:03.840 --> 0:23:08.200 breaker shows up. Now he's whole. Now he's free. Now 0:23:08.200 --> 0:23:11.439 he's going back to his family. I can see his 0:23:11.600 --> 0:23:16.600 children running out to hug him. Daddy's home, his wife weeping. 0:23:17.200 --> 0:23:20.600 His parents never thought they had see this day. But 0:23:20.680 --> 0:23:24.600 God is fighting for us when we can't fight for ourselves. 0:23:25.119 --> 0:23:28.080 He's going to break chains that you couldn't break on 0:23:28.119 --> 0:23:32.239 your own. It's gonna happen sooner than later. Things that 0:23:32.280 --> 0:23:36.480 have bogged you down and taken your joy, cost your heartache. 0:23:36.760 --> 0:23:41.560 Your time is coming. After the men was healed, Jesus 0:23:41.760 --> 0:23:45.720 got back on the boat and went back to Galilee. 0:23:45.800 --> 0:23:48.760 In other words, he had traveled all night across the lake, 0:23:49.400 --> 0:23:52.760 endured a storm just to get to this man that 0:23:52.840 --> 0:23:57.119 couldn't get free by himself. God knows when it's too much. 0:23:57.880 --> 0:24:01.040 He's not gonna leave you helpless. You may have done 0:24:01.080 --> 0:24:04.160 what you can, but you can't seem to get free 0:24:04.600 --> 0:24:08.280 from the trouble, the bitterness, the addiction. Can I encourage you? 0:24:08.680 --> 0:24:12.280 God is crossing the lake right now. He hears your 0:24:12.359 --> 0:24:17.120 christ he sees the pain, the injustice. He's on his way. 0:24:17.880 --> 0:24:21.480 He's going to break change that you couldn't break. It's 0:24:21.520 --> 0:24:24.520 not that you didn't have enough faith, you didn't work 0:24:24.560 --> 0:24:28.600 hard enough, you made too many mistakes. No, some change 0:24:28.840 --> 0:24:32.600 only God can break. Other times he'll give you the 0:24:32.640 --> 0:24:36.280 power to do it. But when you can't, don't lose heart. 0:24:36.440 --> 0:24:40.160 The chain breaker is coming. If Jesus will spend all 0:24:40.280 --> 0:24:43.760 night crossing a lake just to get to this one man, 0:24:44.200 --> 0:24:46.880 He'll do what he needs to do to get to you. 0:24:47.840 --> 0:24:51.800 He's not going to leave you lonely, broken, addicted. He's 0:24:51.840 --> 0:24:56.160 headed your way. Peace is coming, freedom is coming, joy 0:24:56.280 --> 0:24:59.480 is coming, Health is coming. This is one of the 0:24:59.520 --> 0:25:04.680 principles we celebrate on Resurrection Sunday. We couldn't free ourselves 0:25:04.720 --> 0:25:08.679 from our sin. We were separated from God. There was 0:25:08.720 --> 0:25:13.159 no way for us to be redeemed, restored. Jesus didn't 0:25:13.160 --> 0:25:16.520 cross the lake, but he went to a cross. He 0:25:16.600 --> 0:25:20.480 gave his life for you, for me. Nobody took it 0:25:20.520 --> 0:25:23.880 from him. He laid it down. The nails didn't hold 0:25:23.920 --> 0:25:26.600 him on the cross. Love held him on the cross. 0:25:27.359 --> 0:25:30.919 He defeated the enemy once and for all, paid the 0:25:30.960 --> 0:25:34.399 price for our sins. He went to the grave, didn't 0:25:34.480 --> 0:25:38.280 stay there, came out alive with all power in his hand. 0:25:39.480 --> 0:25:42.800 Just like he rescued this man who was stuck. God 0:25:42.920 --> 0:25:47.680 rescued us. Now we can live free and hold and victorious. 0:25:49.160 --> 0:25:53.080 Are there chains holding you back today? Have you gotten 0:25:53.119 --> 0:25:57.920 comfortable being constrained? Learning to live with things that are limiting? 0:25:58.000 --> 0:25:58.160 You? 0:25:58.560 --> 0:26:02.679 Don't settle there, don't live in that cemetery looking for 0:26:02.760 --> 0:26:06.479 the living among the dead. Get your passion back. You 0:26:06.520 --> 0:26:09.320 are more powerful than you think. The spirit of the 0:26:09.359 --> 0:26:12.800 most tied God is from the inside of you. Break 0:26:12.840 --> 0:26:16.239 those chains of what people have spoken over you. You are 0:26:16.280 --> 0:26:19.800 not who they say you are. They don't control your destinies. 0:26:20.160 --> 0:26:22.160 But Joel, I've tried to do this in the past, 0:26:22.160 --> 0:26:25.040 I wasn't able to. This is a new day. You 0:26:25.119 --> 0:26:28.880 are stepping into a chain breaking anointing. You're gonna feel 0:26:28.880 --> 0:26:32.840 a supernatural power to do what you couldn't do before, 0:26:33.200 --> 0:26:37.320 where God releases you from what's holding you back. Now 0:26:37.160 --> 0:26:41.199 I believe and declare chains of addictions are being broken 0:26:41.280 --> 0:26:46.400 right now, chains of defeat, mediocrity, lack or being broken, 0:26:47.040 --> 0:26:53.960 chains of insecurity, generational limitations, family baggage. Those chains are breaking. 0:26:54.320 --> 0:26:59.320 I declare freedom, wholeness, abundance, the fullness of your destiny 0:26:59.800 --> 0:27:03.359 in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can you 0:27:03.440 --> 0:27:07.960 say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to 0:27:08.080 --> 0:27:11.320 make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray 0:27:11.400 --> 0:27:15.800 with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:27:16.480 --> 0:27:20.120 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:27:20.880 --> 0:27:23.280 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:23.280 --> 0:27:26.720 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:27:26.880 --> 0:27:29.640 on your new walk with the Lord. You can go 0:27:29.680 --> 0:27:32.160 to the website or text the number on the screen, 0:27:32.600 --> 0:27:35.080 but I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:35.200 --> 0:27:39.879 church and keep God first place. Each week I stand 0:27:39.920 --> 0:27:42.720 on this stage and remind you of what God says 0:27:42.760 --> 0:27:45.800 about you. Because it's easy to be defined by who 0:27:45.840 --> 0:27:48.880 people say we are, or by our own negative thoughts 0:27:49.000 --> 0:27:52.520 that we're not talented or problems too big. The key 0:27:52.760 --> 0:27:55.320 is to go back to who God says you are. Now. 0:27:55.320 --> 0:27:57.440 I love to send you my new book one hundred 0:27:57.480 --> 0:28:00.760 and one Great Things that God Says About You. I'll 0:28:00.800 --> 0:28:04.560 help you discover your true identity. God says you're blessed, 0:28:04.880 --> 0:28:08.720 You're chosen, You're forgiven, you have seeds of greatness. Your 0:28:08.720 --> 0:28:12.000 future is bright. When you get in agreement with God 0:28:12.080 --> 0:28:16.280 and declare his promises, you'll rise higher and become all 0:28:16.359 --> 0:28:17.399 you were created to be. 0:28:18.359 --> 0:28:20.800 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:20.840 --> 0:28:23.320 of any amount this month, we would like to send 0:28:23.359 --> 0:28:26.359 you a copy of Joel's brand new resource, one hundred 0:28:26.400 --> 0:28:30.160 and one Things God Says About You Faith reminders when 0:28:30.200 --> 0:28:34.000 you need them most. As you read and reflect the 0:28:34.040 --> 0:28:37.120 story of your life, the way you see yourself will 0:28:37.240 --> 0:28:40.760 radically change. It will become a reflection of God himself 0:28:41.000 --> 0:28:44.080 and what He says about you. Use this resource to 0:28:44.200 --> 0:28:47.000 encourage your heart and remind you of who you are 0:28:47.000 --> 0:28:50.680 in Him. You are everything God says about you within 0:28:50.720 --> 0:28:54.680 these pages, So read it, experience it, and believe it. 0:28:55.080 --> 0:28:58.000 As an added bonus, you can detach the beautiful poster 0:28:58.080 --> 0:29:00.040 at the back of the book to read and to 0:29:00.120 --> 0:29:04.000 clear these reminders every day. Yes, you are who God 0:29:04.040 --> 0:29:07.240 says you are. Now is your time to start believing it. 0:29:07.680 --> 0:29:10.280 Be sure to request your copy of one hundred and 0:29:10.320 --> 0:29:14.200 one Things God Says About You. Visit joelostein dot com 0:29:14.360 --> 0:29:17.320 or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 0:29:18.200 --> 0:29:20.760 As you dwell on what God says about you, you're 0:29:20.760 --> 0:29:25.400 going to see yourself for who you really are. Strong, talented, valuable, 0:29:25.640 --> 0:29:29.320 a victor never a victim. Victoria and I want you 0:29:29.360 --> 0:29:31.520 to know that we love you and we pray for 0:29:31.560 --> 0:29:35.440 you every day. Thanks so much for your prayer and support. 0:29:35.680 --> 0:29:39.640 Your generosity is helping people around the world. Special thank 0:29:39.680 --> 0:29:42.840 you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly support. 0:29:43.160 --> 0:29:46.120 If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:29:46.400 --> 0:29:49.800 Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 0:29:50.120 --> 0:29:54.680 download our daily podcast, listen on SiriusXM, watch our YouTube 0:29:54.800 --> 0:29:58.600 channel and the new jewel Ostein network streaming twenty four 0:29:58.640 --> 0:30:01.360 hours a day until we meet again Meid the Lord 0:30:01.400 --> 0:30:02.719 bless you and keep you. 0:30:03.520 --> 0:30:06.080 Be sure to request your copy of one hundred and 0:30:06.120 --> 0:30:10.000 one Things God Says About You. Visit jolostein dot com 0:30:10.160 --> 0:30:13.760 or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for 0:30:13.800 --> 0:30:17.120 an additional donation. This month, we are also offering one 0:30:17.240 --> 0:30:20.560 hundred and one Great Things God Says About You card set. 0:30:21.120 --> 0:30:24.480 These cards can serve as daily reminders of who God 0:30:24.560 --> 0:30:28.800 says you are. Additionally, you can request the beautiful copy 0:30:28.960 --> 0:30:33.560 of the Passion Translation, Power, Provision and Peace. This book 0:30:33.640 --> 0:30:37.800 brings fresh insight and deeper understanding to the Early Church's journey, 0:30:38.080 --> 0:30:42.200 Paul's teachings, and the practical application of faith in daily life. 0:30:42.800 --> 0:30:46.200 You can request these unique resources by calling eight eight 0:30:46.200 --> 0:30:50.280 eight five six seven Joel or logging on to jolostein 0:30:50.360 --> 0:30:54.600 dot com today, call or click anytime twenty four hours 0:30:54.600 --> 0:30:59.200 a day. Discover your true identity in Christ. Request your 0:30:59.240 --> 0:31:02.440 copies today