Calling Over Comfort​​

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This is not an 0:00:57.440 --> 0:00:59.440 offer to buy yourself security snor is it investment legal 0:00:59.520 --> 0:01:00.640 or taxi by he'll. 0:01:00.480 --> 0:01:02.800 Forget about the video game you gave him on his birthday. 0:01:03.120 --> 0:01:04.560 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:04.840 --> 0:01:06.760 But he'll never forget how you invest it in his 0:01:06.840 --> 0:01:08.199 future with the units stapp. 0:01:08.760 --> 0:01:10.400 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:11.040 --> 0:01:13.559 The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 0:01:13.600 --> 0:01:16.480 friends to give funds to a child's investment account. 0:01:16.200 --> 0:01:17.080 For a limited time. 0:01:17.200 --> 0:01:19.319 Download the unit stap and use the code I heeart 0:01:19.400 --> 0:01:21.680 fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 0:01:21.680 --> 0:01:24.240 when you find your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.240 --> 0:01:27.240 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.280 --> 0:01:30.080 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at uness dot co. 0:01:30.840 --> 0:01:35.080 God is saying, if you'll choose my calling over your comfort, 0:01:35.560 --> 0:01:38.039 if you'll do what I'm asking you to do, even 0:01:38.080 --> 0:01:41.240 though it's difficult, then I'll step in and give you 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:45.320 supernatural strength. I'll give you the boldness, the courage, the 0:01:45.360 --> 0:01:50.160 favor to accomplish dreams, to overcome obstacles, to go where 0:01:50.200 --> 0:01:53.120 you couldn't go on your own. Hi, this is Joel 0:01:53.160 --> 0:01:57.400 and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. We enjoy spending 0:01:57.440 --> 0:01:59.720 this time with you. I know you're going to leave 0:01:59.760 --> 0:02:01.200 in and inspired. 0:02:01.440 --> 0:02:04.400 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week 0:02:04.520 --> 0:02:07.160 and follow us on social media to stay connected. 0:02:07.360 --> 0:02:10.760 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 0:02:11.200 --> 0:02:12.320 Enjoy the message. 0:02:12.560 --> 0:02:15.320 God bless you. It's great to have you with us today. 0:02:15.720 --> 0:02:18.240 I hope you'll stay connected with us all through the week. 0:02:18.480 --> 0:02:22.560 You can download our daily podcast, listen to the messages anytime, 0:02:23.040 --> 0:02:25.600 or you can go to our YouTube channel, follow us 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:29.600 on Instagram, Facebook. But thanks for tuning in today. I 0:02:29.760 --> 0:02:32.119 like to start with something funny. I heard about these 0:02:32.160 --> 0:02:36.400 three men, a Baptist, a Catholic, and a Charismatic. They 0:02:36.440 --> 0:02:39.080 died on the same day and went to heaven. Saint 0:02:39.120 --> 0:02:41.560 Peter met them at the pearly gates said I'm so 0:02:41.680 --> 0:02:44.120 sorry men, your rooms are not available yet. 0:02:44.560 --> 0:02:46.280 He didn't know what to do, so he. 0:02:46.280 --> 0:02:48.840 Decided to call Satan and see if he would keep 0:02:48.840 --> 0:02:52.600 them for a little while. Satan reluctantly agreed. A few 0:02:52.600 --> 0:02:55.519 hours later, Satan called back, said, Peter, you've got to 0:02:55.560 --> 0:02:58.919 come get these guys. The Baptist man is saving everyone, 0:02:59.320 --> 0:03:03.480 the Catholic is forgiving everyone, and the charismatic has already 0:03:03.560 --> 0:03:07.600 raised enough money for air conditioning. All right, say it 0:03:07.639 --> 0:03:10.639 like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:13.160 what it says I am. I have what it says 0:03:13.160 --> 0:03:15.760 I have. I can do what it says I can do. 0:03:16.280 --> 0:03:19.360 Today I will be taught the word of God. I 0:03:19.440 --> 0:03:23.280 boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:23.600 --> 0:03:27.280 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:27.320 --> 0:03:27.840 bless you. 0:03:29.200 --> 0:03:32.560 I want to talk to you today about calling over comfort. 0:03:33.240 --> 0:03:36.080 It's easy to get comfortable in life with things that 0:03:36.120 --> 0:03:39.400 are less than God's best. We know there's more in us, 0:03:39.720 --> 0:03:41.280 but we don't want to have to stretch. 0:03:41.640 --> 0:03:42.200 We don't want to. 0:03:42.200 --> 0:03:44.800 Take that risk. What if it doesn't work out, what 0:03:44.840 --> 0:03:48.280 if the door doesn't open. We can get comfortable with 0:03:48.400 --> 0:03:52.720 friends that are pulling us down, comfortable with addictions, comfortable 0:03:52.760 --> 0:03:55.920 with self pity, always thinking about what we didn't get, 0:03:56.200 --> 0:04:00.000 how we're at a disadvantage. The problem with staying comfortable 0:04:00.720 --> 0:04:04.040 is you will miss your destiny. When God is about 0:04:04.080 --> 0:04:07.480 to take you higher, there will always be this conflict. 0:04:07.840 --> 0:04:09.200 Something you have to choose. 0:04:09.560 --> 0:04:13.320 Comfort are calling? Are you going to stay where you are? 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:16.960 Not rock the boat, not have to stretch, not have 0:04:17.080 --> 0:04:20.520 to be more disciplined, not have to push past your fears. 0:04:21.000 --> 0:04:23.720 Are you going to choose to stay comfortable or are 0:04:23.720 --> 0:04:26.359 you going to step out in faith and take a risk. 0:04:27.120 --> 0:04:30.160 If you'll leave the comfort and come into the calling, 0:04:30.480 --> 0:04:33.240 God will make things happen that you couldn't make happen. 0:04:33.960 --> 0:04:36.680 But too often we think, when I get the courage, 0:04:36.800 --> 0:04:40.240 I'll do this, When I have the strength, the confidence, 0:04:40.680 --> 0:04:43.240 then I'll get out of my comfort zone. Then I'll 0:04:43.240 --> 0:04:45.599 forgive the person that hurt me. Then I'll deal with 0:04:45.640 --> 0:04:49.040 this bad attitude. But if you're waiting to feel what 0:04:49.120 --> 0:04:52.000 you need to feel, you'll be waiting your whole life. 0:04:52.640 --> 0:04:55.480 You may not ever feel like forgiving that person that 0:04:55.520 --> 0:04:59.200 did you wrong. You feel bitter, you feel angry. 0:04:59.320 --> 0:05:01.640 You have to make make a move. Then God will 0:05:01.640 --> 0:05:02.240 make a move. 0:05:02.839 --> 0:05:05.719 You may not have the strength, now that's because God's 0:05:05.760 --> 0:05:09.080 waiting for you to move. When you step out, strength 0:05:09.120 --> 0:05:13.279 will come, courage will come, favor will come. Are you 0:05:13.400 --> 0:05:17.440 choosing comfort over the calling? Are there areas where you 0:05:17.520 --> 0:05:20.120 know you need to make changes, You need to work 0:05:20.160 --> 0:05:23.919 on a relationship, you need to forgive, you need to stretch, 0:05:24.320 --> 0:05:26.279 But you're letting fear what. 0:05:26.200 --> 0:05:27.080 People will think. 0:05:27.360 --> 0:05:30.320 How it seems too hard to keep you in your comfort. 0:05:31.000 --> 0:05:35.240 God is saying, if you'll choose my calling over your comfort, 0:05:35.720 --> 0:05:38.159 if you'll do what I'm asking you to do, even 0:05:38.240 --> 0:05:41.400 though it's difficult, then I'll step in and give you 0:05:41.560 --> 0:05:45.480 supernatural strength. I'll give you the boldness, the courage, the 0:05:45.520 --> 0:05:50.320 favor to accomplish dreams, to overcome obstacles, to go where 0:05:50.360 --> 0:05:51.839 you couldn't go on your own. 0:05:52.839 --> 0:05:54.000 John Chapter five. 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:56.240 There was a man that had been crippled for. 0:05:56.200 --> 0:05:57.280 Thirty eight years. 0:05:57.839 --> 0:06:00.480 Every day people carried him on a mat to the 0:06:00.520 --> 0:06:02.240 Pool of Bethesda. 0:06:02.440 --> 0:06:03.280 There was a legend. 0:06:03.320 --> 0:06:06.760 They believed that when the waters bubbled up, an angel 0:06:06.880 --> 0:06:09.520 was touching the water and the first person in would 0:06:09.560 --> 0:06:13.360 be healed. There were five large porches around this pool. 0:06:13.760 --> 0:06:19.120 It was surrounded by sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed. Year 0:06:19.160 --> 0:06:22.160 after year, this man came to the pool. I can 0:06:22.240 --> 0:06:26.039 imagine the first few years he believed he would get wound. 0:06:26.400 --> 0:06:29.920 He came with expectancy, knowing that it could happen that day. 0:06:30.520 --> 0:06:33.560 But the first year passed and nothing happened. Then another 0:06:33.800 --> 0:06:38.040 and another, Now thirty eight years later, he wasn't expecting 0:06:38.080 --> 0:06:39.040 anything to happen. 0:06:39.480 --> 0:06:41.000 He had tried, it didn't work. 0:06:41.040 --> 0:06:45.680 Out now. He was comfortable in his dysfunction. He was 0:06:45.720 --> 0:06:49.640 surrounded by other people that were dysfunctional. This is all 0:06:49.920 --> 0:06:53.200 he knew, going to the pool every day, laying there, 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:57.240 talking to his friends that were laying blind, couldn't walk. 0:06:58.080 --> 0:07:01.400 Sometimes when we're dysfunctional, well, we like to get around 0:07:01.440 --> 0:07:03.000 other dysfunctional people. 0:07:03.440 --> 0:07:05.119 That way, we feel more at ease. 0:07:05.720 --> 0:07:09.240 When we're insecure, we find other people that are insecure. 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:12.680 When we're struggling with an addiction, we find other people 0:07:12.760 --> 0:07:17.040 that are addicted. No, don't get around people that enable 0:07:17.200 --> 0:07:21.200 your dysfunction. If you're depressed, don't hang around people that 0:07:21.240 --> 0:07:24.800 are depressed. If you're fighting an illness, don't go find 0:07:24.840 --> 0:07:27.480 other people that are sick so you can sit around 0:07:27.560 --> 0:07:31.680 talk about your illnesses. Hang around people that have what 0:07:31.760 --> 0:07:35.200 you want, not people that are struggling with what you 0:07:35.320 --> 0:07:35.920 struggle with. 0:07:36.760 --> 0:07:38.960 The enemy would love for you to stay. 0:07:38.760 --> 0:07:43.440 In a limited environment that holds you down, limit your vision, 0:07:43.920 --> 0:07:48.720 keeps you from dreaming, believing, expecting. Don't fall into that trap. 0:07:49.320 --> 0:07:53.040 If you're depressed, find some happy friends. If you're addicted, 0:07:53.280 --> 0:07:57.160 find some free friends. If you're sick, find some healthy friends. 0:07:57.480 --> 0:08:01.880 If you're broke, find some blessed friends. One day Jesus 0:08:01.960 --> 0:08:05.360 showed up at this pool. Out of all the people there, 0:08:05.640 --> 0:08:08.840 Jesus came over to this man. He said, do you 0:08:08.920 --> 0:08:11.960 want to get well? That seemed like an odd question, 0:08:12.440 --> 0:08:15.160 that's why he was by the pull. But you can 0:08:15.200 --> 0:08:17.760 be at the right place, in the wrong frame of 0:08:17.840 --> 0:08:22.080 mind and miss your miracle. Jesus knew after all those 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:26.120 years the man was comfortable he had lost his passion 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:29.320 to be well. Instead of saying, yes, I want to 0:08:29.360 --> 0:08:32.880 get well, that's what I've been believing for the man said, 0:08:33.280 --> 0:08:36.320 I can't get well. I don't have anyone to help me. 0:08:36.760 --> 0:08:40.240 When the angel comes, someone always gets in in front 0:08:40.280 --> 0:08:44.000 of me. Jesus didn't feel sorry for the man. He 0:08:44.040 --> 0:08:47.840 didn't say too bad, you're at a disadvantage. Jesus looked 0:08:47.840 --> 0:08:51.360 at the man and said, rise, pick up your bed, 0:08:51.559 --> 0:08:55.200 and walk. Jesus asked him to do something that he 0:08:55.240 --> 0:08:58.280 couldn't do. The man could have said, what do you mean, 0:08:58.360 --> 0:09:01.559 get up? Don't you know I'm crippled. I haven't walked 0:09:01.559 --> 0:09:06.040 in thirty eight years. This man heard the call. Jesus 0:09:06.080 --> 0:09:09.480 told him to rise up, but every thought said you 0:09:09.559 --> 0:09:12.199 can't get up. You've been this way too long. 0:09:12.840 --> 0:09:14.280 He had to make a decision. 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:18.480 Am I going to stay in my dysfunction, where I'm comfortable, 0:09:18.880 --> 0:09:22.040 where I've been the last thirty eight years, Or am 0:09:22.120 --> 0:09:24.600 I going to act on the calling? Am I going 0:09:24.640 --> 0:09:28.880 to stretch try something that I've never done? Something rose 0:09:29.000 --> 0:09:33.120 up in this man, against all odds. He sat up. Suddenly, 0:09:33.320 --> 0:09:37.120 strength came into his legs. He stood up and started walking. 0:09:37.440 --> 0:09:41.280 Instantly he was healed. None of this would have happened 0:09:41.480 --> 0:09:45.080 if he would have stayed where he was comfortable. Any 0:09:45.160 --> 0:09:48.280 time God is going to do something new in your life, 0:09:48.440 --> 0:09:52.720 give you more influence, more favor, more anointing, more resources, 0:09:53.320 --> 0:09:57.400 there's going to be this test of being uncomfortable. Are 0:09:57.440 --> 0:10:00.560 you willing to stretch to do something you've ne ever done? 0:10:01.120 --> 0:10:04.880 Move away from tradition, from certain people, from what you're 0:10:04.920 --> 0:10:09.440 familiar with. Don't let the comfort keep you from the calling. 0:10:10.040 --> 0:10:13.319 Where God is taking you is going to require risk. 0:10:14.000 --> 0:10:17.280 You're going to have to leave what's familiar and step 0:10:17.280 --> 0:10:18.480 into the unknown. 0:10:19.200 --> 0:10:20.040 Like this man. 0:10:20.200 --> 0:10:22.640 God is going to ask you to do things that 0:10:22.679 --> 0:10:25.720 you don't think you can do in your own ability. 0:10:25.920 --> 0:10:28.640 You can't, but when you take that step of faith, 0:10:28.880 --> 0:10:33.240 God will step in and give you supernatural ability. But 0:10:33.360 --> 0:10:37.200 sometimes we've been a certain way so long, we've convinced 0:10:37.240 --> 0:10:41.480 ourselves of what we can't do. I can't run my department. 0:10:41.640 --> 0:10:44.360 I don't have the talent. I can't break this addiction. 0:10:44.600 --> 0:10:47.040 I've had it since high school. I can't get the 0:10:47.080 --> 0:10:51.320 compact center. I've only been ministering for two years. God 0:10:51.400 --> 0:10:55.000 doesn't ask you and then not give you what you need. 0:10:55.360 --> 0:10:58.600 The question is are you going to stay comfortable where 0:10:58.640 --> 0:11:01.280 it's safe? Are you you're going to step into your 0:11:01.360 --> 0:11:04.640 calling now. I'm not saying this is easy. If it 0:11:04.720 --> 0:11:06.280 was easy, everyone would do it. 0:11:06.640 --> 0:11:08.040 This takes boldness. 0:11:08.360 --> 0:11:11.480 This takes a made up mind that says, I am 0:11:11.559 --> 0:11:15.840 not going to let fear insecurity what I don't think 0:11:15.880 --> 0:11:19.840 I can do keep me in my limited environment. I'm 0:11:19.840 --> 0:11:23.360 going to stretch. I'm going to take risk. I may 0:11:23.400 --> 0:11:25.640 have to hurt some feelings, but I'm going to make 0:11:25.760 --> 0:11:28.800 changes to follow the call. Not going to sit around 0:11:28.840 --> 0:11:32.160 in dysfunction, surrounded by dysfunctional friends. 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:34.320 I'm going to rise and walk. 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:39.800 Your destiny is too great, your assignment too important to 0:11:39.920 --> 0:11:40.560 let fear. 0:11:41.200 --> 0:11:44.000 What will people thinking? What if it doesn't work out? 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:47.680 To hold you back? If you know how everything is 0:11:47.720 --> 0:11:50.800 going to work out. You don't need faith. If you 0:11:50.800 --> 0:11:54.160 can accomplish your dreams in your own ability, then your 0:11:54.280 --> 0:11:58.400 dreams are too small. That may be a stepping stone. 0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:01.400 But God will put dreams in your heart where you 0:12:01.440 --> 0:12:05.360 don't have the finances, the connections, the experience. If he 0:12:05.400 --> 0:12:08.280 doesn't show up, then it won't happen, and you'll be 0:12:08.360 --> 0:12:12.160 tempted to think like the lame man, I can't walk. God, 0:12:12.200 --> 0:12:15.559 you're telling me to do something that I've never done. 0:12:15.640 --> 0:12:18.520 If you'll take that step of faith, you'll see God 0:12:18.800 --> 0:12:22.199 do something that you've never seen. You'll see doors open 0:12:22.280 --> 0:12:26.200 that you couldn't open. You'll see divine connections. People show 0:12:26.280 --> 0:12:29.080 up that want to help you. Things fall into place. 0:12:29.679 --> 0:12:34.640 That's because in your calling, there's favor. In your calling, 0:12:34.920 --> 0:12:39.640 Opportunities will find you. In your calling, you'll break addictions, 0:12:39.840 --> 0:12:43.679 you'll beat the cancer, you'll defeat that depression. But in 0:12:43.720 --> 0:12:47.520 your comfort, you'll get stuck where you are. If you're 0:12:47.600 --> 0:12:53.320 always comfortable, then they'll be lack, dysfunction, mediocrity. God is 0:12:53.360 --> 0:12:57.280 saying to you, I'm calling you a higher I'm calling 0:12:57.320 --> 0:12:58.559 you into abundance. 0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:00.480 I'm calling you into freedom. 0:13:00.960 --> 0:13:04.720 I'm calling you into new levels now, don't let comfort 0:13:04.960 --> 0:13:08.840 hold you back. The fear may still be there, but 0:13:08.920 --> 0:13:12.360 you have to act on your purpose, not on your fear. 0:13:12.920 --> 0:13:16.240 Fear will keep you from your destiny. Fear will keep 0:13:16.280 --> 0:13:19.480 you by the pool another year. You may feel fear, 0:13:19.760 --> 0:13:21.559 but you have to do it afraid. 0:13:22.240 --> 0:13:24.440 As you step out, courage will come. 0:13:24.920 --> 0:13:28.559 Confidence will show up, the favor, the blessing, the healing. 0:13:28.880 --> 0:13:30.079 It's waiting for you. 0:13:30.160 --> 0:13:34.040 Not in your comfort, but in your calling. If you're 0:13:34.080 --> 0:13:38.600 never uncomfortable, you're not growing. If you never have to 0:13:38.640 --> 0:13:42.280 stretch your faith, you're never over your head, then you're 0:13:42.320 --> 0:13:46.440 going to be limited. God will bring opportunities across your 0:13:46.480 --> 0:13:48.920 path so you can come up to a new level. 0:13:49.360 --> 0:13:52.839 Go where you've never been, break bondages that have been 0:13:52.880 --> 0:13:56.840 passed down in your family line. It takes courage, It 0:13:56.880 --> 0:14:01.240 takes a holy determination. You'll be timid to play it safe. 0:14:01.600 --> 0:14:04.080 Don't rock the boat. I don't want to have to 0:14:04.160 --> 0:14:09.080 stretch try something new. It seems impossible. God wouldn't have 0:14:09.160 --> 0:14:12.040 given you the opportunity. He wouldn't have told you to 0:14:12.200 --> 0:14:15.840 rise and walk if you couldn't do it. Don't let 0:14:15.880 --> 0:14:19.840 comfort hold you back being comfortable will keep you from 0:14:19.880 --> 0:14:24.640 your potential. You were created to stretch, you were created 0:14:24.800 --> 0:14:28.760 to go further. And yes, there will be seasons where 0:14:28.800 --> 0:14:33.760 you're comfortable, seasons where you're enjoying favor and blessings. But 0:14:33.840 --> 0:14:36.400 God is not going to leave you in your comfort. 0:14:36.920 --> 0:14:40.920 He's taken you from glory to glory. You can't reach 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:46.160 new levels of glory without being uncomfortable, without having to stretch, 0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:49.280 without believing the things that seem unlikely. 0:14:50.120 --> 0:14:52.360 I've learned the calling. 0:14:52.400 --> 0:14:56.960 Will disrupt your comfort. There will be strategic times in 0:14:57.000 --> 0:15:00.200 your life, like this crippled man, that God will He'll 0:15:00.240 --> 0:15:03.600 call you up higher. He'll call you to break the addiction. 0:15:04.120 --> 0:15:06.800 You were fine for a long time, but suddenly you 0:15:06.920 --> 0:15:09.400 know you have to do something. He'll call you to 0:15:09.520 --> 0:15:11.160 leave the familiar. 0:15:10.840 --> 0:15:14.560 And go into the unknown. That's what happened to me. 0:15:15.240 --> 0:15:18.720 I worked seventeen years behind the scenes here at Lakewood 0:15:18.960 --> 0:15:20.400 doing the television production. 0:15:21.080 --> 0:15:22.880 When my father went to be with the Lord. 0:15:23.360 --> 0:15:25.800 I knew I was supposed to step up and pasture 0:15:25.880 --> 0:15:29.720 the church, but I was comfortable behind the scenes. I 0:15:29.760 --> 0:15:32.120 didn't want to be in front of people. I wouldn't 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:37.200 know what to say. All these fears insecurity intimidation were 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:40.479 trying to hold me back. I had to make a decision. 0:15:41.120 --> 0:15:43.680 Was I going to act on my calling or stay 0:15:43.720 --> 0:15:44.560 in my comfort. 0:15:45.160 --> 0:15:46.320 There were all these. 0:15:46.200 --> 0:15:50.120 Loud thoughts saying you better stay where you are. You 0:15:50.160 --> 0:15:54.200 don't have the training, the experience. You've never ministered before. 0:15:54.360 --> 0:15:57.760 It's not worth the risk. God was calling me to 0:15:57.880 --> 0:16:01.720 rise and walk like that cripple man. My first thought 0:16:01.840 --> 0:16:05.000 was I can't, I've never done it. But when I 0:16:05.040 --> 0:16:08.480 got it quiet, I could hear this still small voice 0:16:08.520 --> 0:16:12.040 telling me, Joel, You've got what it takes. You've been 0:16:12.120 --> 0:16:14.760 raised up for this time. This is your moment. 0:16:14.960 --> 0:16:16.120 You are well able. 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:19.840 The enemy will always tell you what you can't do, 0:16:20.320 --> 0:16:23.280 but if you'll turn down his lies, you'll hear a 0:16:23.320 --> 0:16:27.280 still small voice telling you what you can do. You 0:16:27.320 --> 0:16:31.160 can break the addiction, you can beat the cancer. You 0:16:31.240 --> 0:16:35.080 can teach that class, you can start that business. You 0:16:35.160 --> 0:16:36.600 can pay your house off. 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:40.160 You can rise and walk well. 0:16:40.120 --> 0:16:42.640 Joel, What if I try and it doesn't work out. 0:16:43.200 --> 0:16:45.840 What if you try and it does work out. What 0:16:45.920 --> 0:16:48.200 if you take that step of faith and you go 0:16:48.280 --> 0:16:51.000 to a new level. What if it thrusts you further 0:16:51.080 --> 0:16:54.320 than you've imagined. What if you discover you can do 0:16:54.480 --> 0:16:57.640 what you've never done. You can walk, you can lead, 0:16:58.000 --> 0:17:01.000 you can live free and whole. Don't let the what 0:17:01.120 --> 0:17:04.440 ifs talk you out of your destiny. Turn them around. 0:17:04.800 --> 0:17:07.760 What if God shows up and favors you. What if 0:17:07.840 --> 0:17:10.560 doors opened you never dreamed would open. What if you 0:17:10.640 --> 0:17:12.280 beat the addiction after. 0:17:12.160 --> 0:17:14.200 All these years? Here's the key. 0:17:14.920 --> 0:17:18.480 If you never try, you're never going to know. There 0:17:18.520 --> 0:17:22.119 are no risks in playing it safe, no risk in 0:17:22.200 --> 0:17:24.639 lying by the pool another thirty eight years. 0:17:24.920 --> 0:17:26.560 You already know what's going to happen. 0:17:27.160 --> 0:17:29.879 But how sad it will be to come to the 0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:32.960 end of life and never know what you could have 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:36.639 become if you would have just dared take some risk, 0:17:37.320 --> 0:17:39.879 If you would have acted on the call and not 0:17:40.000 --> 0:17:42.760 the comfort, if you would have listened to the still 0:17:42.920 --> 0:17:46.720 small voice, the most High God instead of all the loud, 0:17:47.080 --> 0:17:51.199 intimidating lies of the enemy. When my father went to 0:17:51.200 --> 0:17:54.159 be with the Lord, there were other family members on 0:17:54.320 --> 0:17:58.640 staff that were ministers, my sisters, brothers in laws. They 0:17:58.680 --> 0:18:03.040 had a more experience. They were very capable, excellent ministers. 0:18:03.440 --> 0:18:07.119 They could have wanted to pastor the church. My personality 0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:09.240 type is I don't like conflict. 0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:11.160 I want everyone to be happy. 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:13.840 I'll go out of my way to avoid even a 0:18:13.920 --> 0:18:17.560 possible confrontation. But I knew if I was going to 0:18:17.560 --> 0:18:20.280 step up and do what God called me to do, 0:18:20.880 --> 0:18:21.840 I had to tell. 0:18:21.640 --> 0:18:23.280 My family what I was thinking. 0:18:23.960 --> 0:18:26.159 I asked if they would all meet me at the 0:18:26.240 --> 0:18:31.120 church one morning. You talk about being uncomfortable, way out 0:18:31.160 --> 0:18:33.720 of what I was used to. I called this big 0:18:33.800 --> 0:18:36.959 family meeting the first time in my life. I was 0:18:37.000 --> 0:18:40.560 so nervous, wondering what everyone was going to think, how 0:18:40.560 --> 0:18:41.720 it was going to turn out. 0:18:42.359 --> 0:18:45.080 But when you make a move, God will make a move. 0:18:45.840 --> 0:18:48.320 I told them how I felt like God wanted me 0:18:48.359 --> 0:18:50.720 to pastor the church, and I didn't know how it 0:18:50.760 --> 0:18:53.320 was going to work out, or even if it was right, 0:18:53.600 --> 0:18:54.160 but that's what. 0:18:54.160 --> 0:18:55.560 I believed in my heart. 0:18:56.320 --> 0:19:00.440 I waited for all this conflict, all this debate. I'm 0:19:00.480 --> 0:19:03.320 sure some others felt the same way, that they were 0:19:03.320 --> 0:19:07.680 supposed to become the pastor. After all, they had more credentials. 0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:10.920 All I had was my high school diploma, one year 0:19:10.960 --> 0:19:15.119 of college, and my good looks. That was debatable. After 0:19:15.200 --> 0:19:19.000 my big speech, the whole room went silent. Finally, my 0:19:19.080 --> 0:19:22.119 sister Lisa spoke up and said, Joel, if you feel 0:19:22.160 --> 0:19:25.800 that way, we're all going to support you. The next 0:19:25.840 --> 0:19:29.640 person said the same thing, and again and again. I thought, 0:19:29.680 --> 0:19:32.040 you mean, there's not going to be this big debate, 0:19:32.600 --> 0:19:37.440 all this tension, strife, discord. When you step into your calling, 0:19:37.880 --> 0:19:41.399 God will make your crooked places straight. He'll cause people 0:19:41.440 --> 0:19:44.080 to be for you that could be against you. He'll 0:19:44.119 --> 0:19:48.560 prepare their hearts, he'll fight your battles. That meeting ended 0:19:48.600 --> 0:19:51.560 with my mother saying, Joel, I can't believe it's going 0:19:51.640 --> 0:19:55.000 to be you. You're the least likely one. I said, 0:19:55.040 --> 0:19:57.760 thank your mother for your confidence. I walked out of 0:19:57.800 --> 0:20:01.800 there feeling about two feet tall. Friends, life is short, 0:20:02.400 --> 0:20:05.960 time is flying by. You have to make this decision. 0:20:06.320 --> 0:20:08.960 Are you going to stay comfortable? Are you going to 0:20:09.000 --> 0:20:12.119 step into your calling? On the other side of that 0:20:12.320 --> 0:20:19.360 uncomfortableness are new levels, new relationships, businesses, compact centers. Are 0:20:19.359 --> 0:20:23.000 you letting fear hold you back? Fear of what might happen? 0:20:23.840 --> 0:20:26.399 I had played out in my mind over and over 0:20:26.640 --> 0:20:32.840 that family meeting, strife, discord, contenting, arguing none of that happened. 0:20:33.520 --> 0:20:36.159 Most of the negative things you think are going to 0:20:36.240 --> 0:20:40.320 happen are not going to happen. Why. God has already 0:20:40.359 --> 0:20:43.879 prepared the way. He's already lined up the right people. 0:20:44.240 --> 0:20:47.240 He's moving out the wrong people. He has the breaks 0:20:47.320 --> 0:20:51.200 you need, the favor, the strength, the healing, the freedom. 0:20:51.880 --> 0:20:55.439 All he needs is for you to step into your calling. 0:20:56.119 --> 0:20:59.119 Don't let fear hold you back. Fear of what people 0:20:59.160 --> 0:21:01.560 are going to think. What are they going to say? 0:21:01.760 --> 0:21:04.960 What if they're not for me? If they're not for you, 0:21:05.400 --> 0:21:09.560 then you don't need them. Your destiny is not dependent 0:21:09.840 --> 0:21:13.760 on everyone being for you. God has already lined up 0:21:13.800 --> 0:21:16.840 the people you need that will be there to support you, 0:21:17.240 --> 0:21:20.520 people that will help you accomplish your dreams. Now, if 0:21:20.520 --> 0:21:24.199 a person or a group of people could stop your destiny, 0:21:24.480 --> 0:21:28.000 they would be more powerful than God. Quit worrying about 0:21:28.000 --> 0:21:30.359 what they might say. They may not be for me, 0:21:30.720 --> 0:21:34.320 they may try to discredit me. They cannot stand against 0:21:34.359 --> 0:21:34.919 our God. 0:21:35.240 --> 0:21:38.240 Him being for you is more than the world being 0:21:38.280 --> 0:21:38.920 against you. 0:21:40.000 --> 0:21:42.560 We all have these times, like I had. They are 0:21:42.720 --> 0:21:47.800 destiny moments. That opportunity is not going to pass by again. 0:21:48.359 --> 0:21:51.439 And if you let fear keep you in your comfort zone. 0:21:51.880 --> 0:21:56.400 People didn't stop you, you stop yourself. I'm asking you 0:21:56.680 --> 0:22:01.320 to choose your calling over your comfort. Every time God 0:22:01.359 --> 0:22:04.040 has taken me to a new level, every time I've 0:22:04.080 --> 0:22:07.880 seen favor in greater ways, one common thing has happened. 0:22:08.200 --> 0:22:11.560 I was uncomfortable. I had to do something I didn't like. 0:22:12.040 --> 0:22:14.600 I had to stretch, I had to walk down a 0:22:14.640 --> 0:22:18.439 path that wasn't familiar. There was a lady in the 0:22:18.480 --> 0:22:22.040 scripture named Rayham. She lived in the city of Jericho. 0:22:22.560 --> 0:22:25.640 She didn't have a good reputation. She was a prostitute. 0:22:26.080 --> 0:22:28.600 People looked down on her, didn't give her the time 0:22:28.640 --> 0:22:31.680 of day, thought why would she live like that? But 0:22:31.760 --> 0:22:36.080 God never writes anyone off. The scripture says his calling 0:22:36.160 --> 0:22:40.600 on your life is irrevocable. That means God has already 0:22:40.640 --> 0:22:44.720 given you an assignment. He's already called you, and he's. 0:22:44.560 --> 0:22:46.080 Not going to change his mind. 0:22:46.760 --> 0:22:50.119 You may make mistakes, get off course, do things you 0:22:50.240 --> 0:22:54.040 know you shouldn't, but that doesn't change the call. God 0:22:54.119 --> 0:22:57.560 still has a destiny for you to fulfill. His mercy 0:22:57.680 --> 0:22:59.000 is bigger than. 0:22:58.840 --> 0:23:00.320 Any mistake that you mad. 0:23:01.320 --> 0:23:04.800 Joshua and the Israelites were headed to the Promised Land. 0:23:05.320 --> 0:23:09.200 The city of Jericho stood in their path. Joshua sent 0:23:09.280 --> 0:23:12.240 two men in to spy out the land. They looked 0:23:12.240 --> 0:23:15.320 around all that day. At night they needed a place 0:23:15.400 --> 0:23:19.399 to stay. Of all the places, they came to Rehab's house. 0:23:20.040 --> 0:23:23.400 She found out who they were, and something came alive 0:23:23.600 --> 0:23:26.679 on the inside. All of a sudden, she had this 0:23:26.880 --> 0:23:30.760 desire to help them. She told them how she believed 0:23:30.800 --> 0:23:34.280 in their god, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 0:23:34.800 --> 0:23:37.560 She not only took them in, but she hid them. 0:23:38.320 --> 0:23:41.679 The next morning, the King of Jericho sent men to 0:23:41.800 --> 0:23:45.800 Rehab's house and said, bring those men out their spies. 0:23:46.520 --> 0:23:49.679 She said, I'm sorry. They left last night out the 0:23:49.720 --> 0:23:51.679 city gates right before dusk. 0:23:52.000 --> 0:23:55.200 If you hurry, you can probably still catch them. Those 0:23:55.280 --> 0:23:56.040 men took off. 0:23:56.680 --> 0:24:00.679 The spies told her, because you protected us when we 0:24:00.720 --> 0:24:03.640 attacked the city, we're not going to harm you or 0:24:03.680 --> 0:24:05.080 anyone in your house. 0:24:05.480 --> 0:24:07.000 Rehab's life was spared. 0:24:08.080 --> 0:24:11.000 None of this would have happened if she wasn't willing 0:24:11.200 --> 0:24:14.560 to take a risk. She had to decide, am I 0:24:14.600 --> 0:24:18.280 going to stay where it's comfortable, keep living in dysfunction, 0:24:18.800 --> 0:24:22.040 doing things I'm not proud of, or am I going 0:24:22.080 --> 0:24:26.080 to step into my calling. She had this boldness, this 0:24:26.240 --> 0:24:29.840 courage to do something out of the ordinary. She had 0:24:29.880 --> 0:24:32.480 to take a chance that the king would find out 0:24:32.800 --> 0:24:36.280 that she was hiding the spies. But deep down, she 0:24:36.400 --> 0:24:39.840 knew this was a destiny moment, a chance to do 0:24:39.920 --> 0:24:43.400 the right thing, to show God that she believed in him. 0:24:44.040 --> 0:24:46.280 I'm sure, thoughts told her, God's not. 0:24:46.200 --> 0:24:47.920 Going to have anything to do with you. 0:24:48.359 --> 0:24:50.720 Look at the life you've lived, look at all the 0:24:50.800 --> 0:24:55.920 mistakes you've made. Somehow, Rehab tuned all that out and thought, God, 0:24:56.240 --> 0:24:58.919 I know you still have a purpose for me. I 0:24:58.960 --> 0:25:02.440 know I can still leave my mark. She took this risk, 0:25:02.800 --> 0:25:07.280 and her whole world changed. Rahab ended up marrying a 0:25:07.359 --> 0:25:12.040 Jewish man. They had a son named Boaz. Boas married Ruth. 0:25:12.200 --> 0:25:15.000 They had a son named Obed. Obed had a son 0:25:15.080 --> 0:25:19.840 named Jesse. Jesse had a son named David. That means Rayhab. 0:25:20.240 --> 0:25:24.600 This former prostitute is in the family line of Jesus Christ. 0:25:25.720 --> 0:25:29.760 Like Rayhab, when you choose your calling over your comfort, 0:25:30.200 --> 0:25:32.359 you can affect generations to come. 0:25:33.040 --> 0:25:34.320 Who knows how. 0:25:34.400 --> 0:25:37.399 Not only your life will be impacted for the good, 0:25:37.960 --> 0:25:41.040 but because you chose to stretch when you felt like 0:25:41.119 --> 0:25:44.280 playing it safe, you chose to take the high road 0:25:44.600 --> 0:25:48.280 instead of compromising. You chose to leave the comfort of 0:25:48.320 --> 0:25:52.480 the addiction, the comfort of the dysfunction, and take steps 0:25:52.520 --> 0:25:56.680 to overcome. Your family line will look back and see 0:25:56.720 --> 0:26:00.320 the blessing, the freedom, the abundance. 0:26:00.080 --> 0:26:03.680 Started with you. You saying yes to your calling. 0:26:04.320 --> 0:26:07.520 You being willing to be obedient, to do the right 0:26:07.600 --> 0:26:10.639 thing when it was hard, to forgive when you were wrong, 0:26:11.160 --> 0:26:12.600 to push past fear and. 0:26:12.600 --> 0:26:16.080 Step into your purpose. You were the difference maker. 0:26:17.080 --> 0:26:20.160 Is there some area God is asking you to leave 0:26:20.240 --> 0:26:24.520 your comfort and come into your calling. Ray have felt 0:26:24.560 --> 0:26:28.920 the calling on her life, but the environment wasn't conducive 0:26:28.960 --> 0:26:29.800 to serve God. 0:26:30.240 --> 0:26:34.160 They didn't worship Jehovah. No one in her family believed 0:26:34.200 --> 0:26:37.359 in God. She was in an occupation that was looked 0:26:37.359 --> 0:26:40.119 down on. But because she stepped out. 0:26:39.960 --> 0:26:43.040 Of her comfort what she was used to, she is 0:26:43.119 --> 0:26:47.240 now listed as one of the heroes of faith. Maybe, 0:26:47.320 --> 0:26:50.360 like her, you come from a family that doesn't have 0:26:50.440 --> 0:26:53.639 any kind of faith. You're in an environment with people 0:26:53.680 --> 0:26:55.760 that don't have anything to do with God. 0:26:56.359 --> 0:26:57.159 All around you. 0:26:57.359 --> 0:27:02.920 There's compromising, mediocrity, taking the easy way out. The reason 0:27:03.200 --> 0:27:06.960 you feel this stirring in your spirit, the reason something 0:27:07.119 --> 0:27:11.199 is coming alive on the inside, is because God is 0:27:11.280 --> 0:27:15.359 calling you He's been waiting for you. You're not hearing 0:27:15.359 --> 0:27:19.879 this by accident. This is a destiny moment. The question 0:27:20.200 --> 0:27:23.800 is will you leave your comfort and step into your calling? 0:27:24.480 --> 0:27:28.080 Will you leave what's familiar, things that have held you down, 0:27:28.720 --> 0:27:31.840 people that are causing you to compromise, and make this 0:27:31.920 --> 0:27:35.439 decision that you're going to honor God. You're going to 0:27:35.480 --> 0:27:38.800 step up to who you were created to be. It's 0:27:38.880 --> 0:27:41.919 easy to play it safe, don't rock the boat. I 0:27:41.920 --> 0:27:43.399 don't want to have to change. 0:27:43.560 --> 0:27:44.200 I don't want to. 0:27:44.119 --> 0:27:49.199 Be uncomfortable, but you'll never fulfill your purpose staying comfortable. 0:27:49.760 --> 0:27:52.880 On the other side of this discomfort is a new 0:27:53.000 --> 0:27:57.280 level of your destiny. I know today I am looking 0:27:57.400 --> 0:28:01.840 at heroes of faith. I'm looking people that have greatness 0:28:01.880 --> 0:28:07.520 in them, great courage, great talent, great favor. Well not me, Joel, 0:28:07.880 --> 0:28:11.359 I've had a rough background. I'm not in a good environment. 0:28:11.880 --> 0:28:15.800 You're right where Rayhab was. You are one decision away 0:28:16.320 --> 0:28:21.080 from stepping into your greatness, one decision from setting your 0:28:21.119 --> 0:28:26.080 family on a new course to freedom, honor, blessing, victory. 0:28:26.520 --> 0:28:29.880 Now do your part, leave the comfort and come into 0:28:29.880 --> 0:28:33.879 your calling. If you'll do this, I believe and declare 0:28:34.400 --> 0:28:37.480 like the crippled man. Chains that have held you back 0:28:37.640 --> 0:28:44.160 are being broken. Sicknesses, addictions, lack, poverty, limited thinking. You're 0:28:44.200 --> 0:28:47.320 about to rise and walk. God is about to do 0:28:47.400 --> 0:28:51.040 what you couldn't do on your own. Like Rahab. You're 0:28:51.080 --> 0:28:55.280 going to see favor, promotion, protection, the right people, the 0:28:55.400 --> 0:29:00.560 fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. Like to give 0:29:00.560 --> 0:29:03.920 you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:29:04.400 --> 0:29:05.400 Would you pray with me? 0:29:06.160 --> 0:29:10.640 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 0:29:10.640 --> 0:29:14.040 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:14.800 --> 0:29:17.280 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:17.320 --> 0:29:20.480 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:29:20.640 --> 0:29:22.920 on your walk with the Lord. Just text the number 0:29:22.960 --> 0:29:25.640 on the screen. I hope you'll get into a good 0:29:25.840 --> 0:29:30.440 Bible based church. Keep God first place. Thanks so much 0:29:30.480 --> 0:29:33.800 for listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so 0:29:33.920 --> 0:29:37.080 you can receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged 0:29:37.120 --> 0:29:38.680 and inspired all through the week. 0:29:38.840 --> 0:29:41.080 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:41.080 --> 0:29:44.520 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:29:44.640 --> 0:29:47.239 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:29:47.320 --> 0:29:47.880 us today. 0:29:48.120 --> 0:29:50.560 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:50.640 --> 0:29:52.640 be sure to follow us on social media. 0:29:52.880 --> 0:29:53.880 We're praying for you. 0:29:54.160 --> 0:29:56.960 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:57.000 --> 0:29:57.480 next time. 0:29:59.520 --> 0:30:02.160 More than before, people are turning to the church for 0:30:02.200 --> 0:30:06.040 their mental health struggles. 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