Don't Faint In Your Mind

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See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.000 --> 0:01:34.560 Welcome to the Joe Lostein podcast Help Let's continue to 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:37.520 share the message of hope with those all over the world. 0:01:37.959 --> 0:01:41.520 Visit Joelostein dot com slash give hope to give a 0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:47.720 gift today. 0:01:54.960 --> 0:01:57.720 God bless you. It's a joy to come into your 0:01:57.720 --> 0:02:00.600 homes and if you're ever in our area, please stop 0:02:00.640 --> 0:02:03.000 by and be a part of one of our services. 0:02:03.200 --> 0:02:05.880 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:06.560 --> 0:02:08.799 I like to start with something funny and I heard 0:02:08.840 --> 0:02:13.000 about this archaeologist in New York. He duged down ten 0:02:13.080 --> 0:02:17.080 feet and found traces of copper wiring dating back one 0:02:17.120 --> 0:02:21.519 hundred years. He concluded New Yorkers had a telephone network 0:02:21.680 --> 0:02:25.200 over one hundred years ago. Not to be outdone, an 0:02:25.320 --> 0:02:30.400 archaeologist from California duged down twenty feet found copper wiring 0:02:30.520 --> 0:02:35.000 dating back two hundred years. He concluded Californians had a 0:02:35.040 --> 0:02:39.760 massive communication network one hundred years earlier than New Yorkers. 0:02:40.360 --> 0:02:45.200 Upon hearing this bubba from Texas dug down thirty feet 0:02:45.280 --> 0:02:49.919 on his farm and found absolutely nothing. He concluded three 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:55.760 hundred years ago, Texans had already gone wireless. Say it 0:02:55.840 --> 0:02:58.839 like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 0:02:58.880 --> 0:03:01.320 what it says I am. I have what it says 0:03:01.320 --> 0:03:03.919 I have. I can do what it says I can do. 0:03:04.320 --> 0:03:07.280 Today I will be taught the word of God. I 0:03:07.440 --> 0:03:11.520 boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:11.800 --> 0:03:15.640 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:15.680 --> 0:03:19.480 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:03:19.639 --> 0:03:23.800 not feigning in your mind. We all face opposition and 0:03:24.000 --> 0:03:27.560 things that come against us. It's easy to get discouraged 0:03:27.680 --> 0:03:31.359 and give up on what we're believing for. Sometimes we 0:03:31.400 --> 0:03:35.480 feel alone, like nobody knows what we're going through, nobody 0:03:35.560 --> 0:03:39.920 is supporting us. We get weary and faint in our mind. 0:03:40.240 --> 0:03:42.920 But in the Book of Hebrews, it talks about the 0:03:42.960 --> 0:03:47.240 heroes of faith and all the amazing things they accomplished. 0:03:47.600 --> 0:03:52.640 It wasn't easy. They endured hardships, they were mistreated, They 0:03:52.680 --> 0:03:56.240 had plenty of opportunities to give up, but they stayed 0:03:56.280 --> 0:04:01.880 faithful and fulfilled their purpose. Elb says, seeing that we 0:04:01.920 --> 0:04:06.640 are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let 0:04:06.720 --> 0:04:10.560 us run the race that's set before us. This passage 0:04:10.600 --> 0:04:14.000 paints the picture of a huge stadium up in heaven 0:04:14.400 --> 0:04:17.839 with a race taking place. The people in the grand 0:04:17.960 --> 0:04:22.880 stands are the saints of old, the great cloud of witnesses. 0:04:23.440 --> 0:04:27.480 These heroes of faith are looking down at us, cheering 0:04:27.560 --> 0:04:32.240 us on. You are not running alone. All of Heaven 0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:36.120 is rooting for you. Not just the heroes of faith, 0:04:36.600 --> 0:04:40.560 but your loved ones that have gone before you, relatives 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:45.680 that you've never met, great great great grandmothers, grandfathers. They're 0:04:45.760 --> 0:04:49.640 watching you right now, saying you go, boy, you go girl. 0:04:50.040 --> 0:04:52.640 Life may be tough, but you've got what it takes. 0:04:52.760 --> 0:04:56.400 We believe in you. When you're tempted to faint in 0:04:56.480 --> 0:05:00.320 your mind, you need to buy faith. Look up and 0:05:00.400 --> 0:05:04.599 see them cheering you on. I can see David saying 0:05:04.640 --> 0:05:08.680 that giant may look big, that obstacle may look impossible. 0:05:09.000 --> 0:05:11.360 I know how you feel, but can I tell you 0:05:11.800 --> 0:05:15.039 God can do the impossible. You may not think you 0:05:15.160 --> 0:05:18.120 have what you need. All I had was a slingshop 0:05:18.520 --> 0:05:22.120 and a few stones. People told me I wasn't qualified, 0:05:22.520 --> 0:05:25.840 I didn't have the experience. My family tried to talk 0:05:25.920 --> 0:05:28.240 me out of it. My brothers made fun of me. 0:05:28.800 --> 0:05:32.720 But despite all the opposition, God breathed on me and 0:05:32.800 --> 0:05:37.359 I became a giant killer, staying courage, you can defeat 0:05:37.400 --> 0:05:42.200 your giants. David is cheering you on. He's saying, the 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:46.320 giant may be big, but our God is bigger. Don't 0:05:46.360 --> 0:05:50.839 faint in your mind. Maybe you're facing an illness. You 0:05:50.839 --> 0:05:53.520 don't see how you can get well. It's been years. 0:05:54.000 --> 0:05:56.880 You're tempted to settle where you are and think that's 0:05:56.920 --> 0:06:00.159 your lot in life. I hear a young lady in 0:06:00.200 --> 0:06:04.320 the grand stands saying, don't lose hope. I was sick 0:06:04.360 --> 0:06:08.159 for eighteen years. I couldn't stand up. I was bent 0:06:08.200 --> 0:06:12.520 over with pain. The doctors couldn't help me. I tried everything, 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:15.760 but it didn't work out. Just when I thought it 0:06:15.839 --> 0:06:19.479 was permanent, I went to the temple one day. Out 0:06:19.520 --> 0:06:22.960 of a huge crowd of people, Jesus called my name. 0:06:23.600 --> 0:06:27.840 He said, woman, you are free from this sickness. Immediately 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:31.400 I could stand up. All the pain left. From that 0:06:31.600 --> 0:06:34.240 day forward, I could walk, I could run. I was 0:06:34.279 --> 0:06:39.679 perfectly well. Now, nobody else may be encouraging you. Every 0:06:39.760 --> 0:06:42.640 other voice may be negative, telling you how you're not 0:06:42.760 --> 0:06:47.120 going to get better. You feel alone, isolated. Look up, 0:06:47.600 --> 0:06:50.760 this lady is saying God did it for me, he 0:06:50.839 --> 0:06:54.680 can do it for you. She's cheering you on. Moses 0:06:54.880 --> 0:06:58.400 is up in those grand stands right now, looting for us. 0:06:59.000 --> 0:07:02.680 He's saying, you may have made mistakes, you may have 0:07:02.720 --> 0:07:06.839 blown it. So did I. I thought I missed my destiny. 0:07:07.320 --> 0:07:10.880 I thought I was done. But in eighty years old, 0:07:11.280 --> 0:07:14.880 God showed up in a burning bush. He said, Moses, 0:07:15.040 --> 0:07:18.520 it's not too late. I haven't forgotten about you. It's 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:23.400 time to deliver the Israelites. After all those years where 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:28.280 I felt like a failure, guilty, condemned God, still used 0:07:28.320 --> 0:07:32.120 me to fulfill my purpose. You may be sitting on 0:07:32.200 --> 0:07:37.800 the sidelines of life, feeling disqualified, guilty. Moses is saying, 0:07:38.240 --> 0:07:41.800 get back in the game. God's mercy is bigger than 0:07:41.840 --> 0:07:45.720 those mistakes. You can still become who you were created 0:07:45.760 --> 0:07:49.560 to be. People may write you off, but God never 0:07:49.640 --> 0:07:53.040 writes you off. You hear those voices telling you you've 0:07:53.040 --> 0:07:56.920 blown it, you missed your chance. That means you're listening 0:07:56.960 --> 0:08:00.840 to the wrong voices. You have to understand you have 0:08:01.040 --> 0:08:05.560 home field advantage. In the grand stands of heaven where 0:08:05.600 --> 0:08:09.840 you're running. Everyone is for you. The saints of old, 0:08:10.400 --> 0:08:14.000 your loved ones, in the stands, your relatives. They're not 0:08:14.080 --> 0:08:17.440 condemning you, thinking boy, I knew they couldn't get it right, 0:08:17.640 --> 0:08:20.240 they'd never do anything good. That means you're in the 0:08:20.280 --> 0:08:27.520 wrong stadium. The enemy has a stadium filled with accusers, condemners, discouragers. 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:32.440 Don't go there. That's the opponent stadium. Your game is 0:08:32.480 --> 0:08:37.000 being played on the home field. Everyone in these stands 0:08:37.120 --> 0:08:41.360 is pulling for you. The scripture says, look up for 0:08:41.480 --> 0:08:45.800 your redemption Draws nine. When you're tempted to get discouraged, 0:08:46.040 --> 0:08:49.600 look up and hear the cheers from the heavenly Saints. 0:08:50.200 --> 0:08:52.760 When you know someone is cheering for you, it gives 0:08:52.800 --> 0:08:56.040 you an edge. You can run a little faster, jump 0:08:56.080 --> 0:09:00.400 a little higher, withstand a little more pressure. The sticks 0:09:00.440 --> 0:09:05.440 even showed in basketball, having the home court advantage results 0:09:05.559 --> 0:09:09.720 in fifteen extra points for the home team. The court 0:09:09.840 --> 0:09:13.760 is the same size, the rules are the same. Technically 0:09:13.960 --> 0:09:18.559 nothing is different, but there's something intangible that gives you 0:09:18.640 --> 0:09:22.640 an advantage. If you played sports, when you know your 0:09:22.679 --> 0:09:25.720 parents are in the stands, or you have friends there 0:09:25.960 --> 0:09:29.920 cheering you on, that gives you an extra boost. My 0:09:30.040 --> 0:09:32.720 father traveled a lot when I was growing up, and 0:09:32.760 --> 0:09:35.880 he couldn't attend many of my basketball games. But I 0:09:35.960 --> 0:09:40.000 remember this one game. I was in the seventh grade. 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:42.560 The game was about to start, and I saw my 0:09:42.679 --> 0:09:45.880 father come walking in the gym. I didn't know he 0:09:45.960 --> 0:09:50.360 was coming. I was pleasantly surprised. For some reason. That day, 0:09:50.679 --> 0:09:54.640 my father decided to wear shorts. He had not worn 0:09:54.720 --> 0:09:58.640 shorts his whole life. His legs were whiter than the 0:09:58.640 --> 0:10:02.920 glory of God. They were people. Not only that, he 0:10:02.960 --> 0:10:06.000 didn't have any tennis shoes, so he wore his black 0:10:06.160 --> 0:10:10.000 dress shoes with black socks I didn't tell anyone we 0:10:10.000 --> 0:10:16.120 were related, but knowing my father was there, I played harder. 0:10:16.600 --> 0:10:20.320 I scored more points. They say white men can't jump. 0:10:20.520 --> 0:10:24.200 That day, I got in the air. I did things 0:10:24.640 --> 0:10:28.960 that even surprised me, all because I knew someone was 0:10:29.000 --> 0:10:31.880 watching me, someone was cheering for me. I wanted to 0:10:31.920 --> 0:10:36.239 make them proud. Even now, when I'm tempted to get discouraged, 0:10:36.720 --> 0:10:39.520 tempted to think an obstacle is too big, I just 0:10:39.640 --> 0:10:43.640 imagine that my father is still watching me. He's in 0:10:43.679 --> 0:10:47.079 the grand stands of saying, come on, Joel. I lived 0:10:47.080 --> 0:10:50.640 in my day. This is your day. Show them what 0:10:50.720 --> 0:10:55.520 you have. Be strong, take big steps, pray bowl prayers, 0:10:55.679 --> 0:11:00.480 shine brightly. There are people in heaven right now cheering 0:11:00.559 --> 0:11:04.920 you on, relatives that have gone before you. They're rooting 0:11:04.960 --> 0:11:09.080 for you, saying, do something great, make us proud. Run 0:11:09.160 --> 0:11:14.120 with purpose. When those voices whisper you're alone, it doesn't matter. 0:11:14.440 --> 0:11:17.440 Just settle where you are by faith. You need to 0:11:17.440 --> 0:11:22.000 hear your loved ones cheering you on. My grandfather on 0:11:22.080 --> 0:11:24.960 my mother's side of the family had a rough childhood. 0:11:25.400 --> 0:11:28.839 His mother died when he was five. Three years later, 0:11:29.360 --> 0:11:32.080 his father came home from working out in the woods 0:11:32.320 --> 0:11:35.520 with a terrible pain in his side. They took him 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:39.160 by horse and buggy to a hospital four hours away. 0:11:39.880 --> 0:11:43.319 The middle of the night, my grandfather received a telegram 0:11:43.679 --> 0:11:47.360 saying that his father had died. The next day, he 0:11:47.400 --> 0:11:50.680 and his uncle went to the train station to pick 0:11:50.800 --> 0:11:54.120 up his body. Now I can imagine what was going 0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:57.600 through my grandfather's mind as an eight year old little 0:11:57.640 --> 0:12:01.319 boy riding a horse with his father in a casket 0:12:01.400 --> 0:12:04.760 behind him, wondering who would take care of him, where 0:12:04.800 --> 0:12:08.920 we would he live, so uncertain of his future. Nobody 0:12:08.960 --> 0:12:12.800 really wanted my grandfather. He was passed from house to house. 0:12:13.240 --> 0:12:15.559 His uncle made him live out in the barn, didn't 0:12:15.559 --> 0:12:19.280 treat him like his own child. Grandaddy left home at 0:12:19.320 --> 0:12:23.400 sixteen and joined a bridge game. Eventually he got a 0:12:23.520 --> 0:12:27.920 job at a refinery. He worked for Humbled Oil now 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:32.480 Exxon for forty years. He never missed a day of work. 0:12:33.120 --> 0:12:39.360 He was faithful, He endured hardships, He overcame injustice. At Exxon, 0:12:39.480 --> 0:12:41.440 they had a program where you could take part of 0:12:41.480 --> 0:12:45.120 your salary in stock. All of his friends took their 0:12:45.160 --> 0:12:48.560 whole salary in cash spent it each week, but Grandaddy 0:12:48.600 --> 0:12:51.720 took the stock option and never touched it. The most 0:12:51.760 --> 0:12:56.000 he ever made was fourteen thousand dollars a year, but 0:12:56.080 --> 0:13:00.000 when he retired, the dividends from his stock each year 0:13:00.120 --> 0:13:03.960 year were four times more than he ever made. He 0:13:03.960 --> 0:13:06.720 would come up to the old church and do odd jobs. 0:13:07.160 --> 0:13:10.760 I would see him under the portable buildings, fixing the plumbing. 0:13:11.400 --> 0:13:14.720 He built his own house for twenty six hundred dollars 0:13:14.840 --> 0:13:18.559 and lived there for sixty years. I think about how 0:13:18.600 --> 0:13:22.080 my grandfather made it with so much less than I have. 0:13:22.720 --> 0:13:25.800 He didn't have a good childhood, didn't have parents to 0:13:25.840 --> 0:13:29.520 guide him, he didn't have an education. Yet he overcame 0:13:29.679 --> 0:13:34.199 all these obstacles and still went on to fulfill his 0:13:34.320 --> 0:13:38.160 purpose and leave our family better than it was before. 0:13:38.840 --> 0:13:42.520 If my grandfather could make it through all that he 0:13:42.600 --> 0:13:46.360 went through, surely I can make it through what comes 0:13:46.360 --> 0:13:52.160 against me. Our ancestors, our relatives. They made it without electricity, 0:13:52.880 --> 0:13:57.800 without automobiles, without medical treatments that we have, without Netflix, 0:13:58.440 --> 0:14:02.520 If they didn't faint in their if they made sacrifices 0:14:02.600 --> 0:14:06.000 to put us ahead, surely we can do it. Well. 0:14:06.040 --> 0:14:09.400 I'm irritated because my cell phone dropped a call. They 0:14:09.440 --> 0:14:12.520 would ask, what's a cell phone, You mean you can 0:14:12.559 --> 0:14:16.360 talk to people like that. Traffic was bad, I got 0:14:16.360 --> 0:14:19.600 stuck sitting in my car. They'd ask, what's a car? 0:14:20.160 --> 0:14:23.640 You mean you can travel in comfort? Are you complaining 0:14:23.720 --> 0:14:27.480 about things that they would have dreamed to have in 0:14:27.520 --> 0:14:31.480 comparison to what they've been through? Most of what we 0:14:31.640 --> 0:14:37.000 face our light afflictions. Some of you had relatives that 0:14:37.120 --> 0:14:41.840 suffered great injustice because of their nationality, because of the 0:14:41.880 --> 0:14:45.800 color of their skin. They were mistreated, as seen as 0:14:45.840 --> 0:14:51.000 second class, not valued, not respected. They endured all that 0:14:51.200 --> 0:14:56.360 hardship without getting bitter, working in the fields with no pay. 0:14:56.760 --> 0:15:01.240 They didn't complain while they suffered. They say hymns. They 0:15:01.240 --> 0:15:05.000 didn't have freedom, but it didn't stop their praise. They 0:15:05.040 --> 0:15:09.640 didn't live defeated. They kept thanking God, knowing that he 0:15:09.800 --> 0:15:14.080 was in control and that justice was coming. We are 0:15:14.200 --> 0:15:18.040 living in the day they dreamed about. They went through 0:15:18.120 --> 0:15:21.440 too much for you to settle where you are. They 0:15:21.560 --> 0:15:25.160 sacrificed too greatly for you to give up on what 0:15:25.320 --> 0:15:28.680 God put in your heart. They're up in those grand 0:15:28.720 --> 0:15:33.200 stands watching you, saying, run, baby, run. That's why we 0:15:33.240 --> 0:15:36.480 worked so that you could excel, so that you could 0:15:36.640 --> 0:15:39.560 write that book, so that you could teach that class, 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:41.840 so that you could start that business, so that you 0:15:41.880 --> 0:15:45.680 could own your company, so you could go further. If 0:15:45.720 --> 0:15:48.840 you don't do it for yourself, do it for those 0:15:48.880 --> 0:15:53.320 that went before you. They handed you the baton. All 0:15:53.400 --> 0:15:57.480 the sacrifices they've made have put us further down the road. 0:15:58.240 --> 0:16:01.880 The way we honored their legs sees is to go further, 0:16:02.360 --> 0:16:06.320 to dream bigger, to take new grounds. And sure, life 0:16:06.360 --> 0:16:10.440 can be difficult, but it's nothing compared to what they endured. 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:14.040 With what my grandfather went through, With what I've seen 0:16:14.120 --> 0:16:19.160 my parents sacrifice, I feel too responsible to settle where 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:22.400 I am, to just rest and what they accomplished, to 0:16:22.520 --> 0:16:25.040 just go as far as they did. We're supposed to 0:16:25.160 --> 0:16:29.640 leave our families better off than they were before. Hebrews 0:16:29.640 --> 0:16:34.400 eleven says, all these heroes of faith, the saints of old, 0:16:35.000 --> 0:16:38.560 even though they did their best, none of them receive 0:16:38.760 --> 0:16:42.400 all that God promised. They didn't see the fullness of 0:16:42.440 --> 0:16:46.280 what God had in store. But since Jesus has come, 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:50.960 we are the generation under the New Covenant. We're living 0:16:51.080 --> 0:16:54.600 in a better day. We are seeing the fulfillment of 0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:58.640 what they only dreamed about. How this should stir us up, 0:16:58.880 --> 0:17:02.800 to stay passionate, to believe big, to take new ground. 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:08.119 It's easy to let these light afflictions discourage us. Somebody's 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:11.720 talking about us, trouble at work. We didn't get the contract. 0:17:12.480 --> 0:17:16.480 Quit letting those light things keep you from running with purpose. 0:17:17.280 --> 0:17:21.280 When life gets tough, look up and listen up. You'll 0:17:21.320 --> 0:17:24.199 hear your loved ones cheering you on. You'll hear the 0:17:24.280 --> 0:17:27.320 saints of old saying this is your day. Stay strong, 0:17:27.640 --> 0:17:31.159 you are well able. My father was raised during the 0:17:31.160 --> 0:17:35.480 Great Depression. He grew up with no money, no opportunity. 0:17:35.880 --> 0:17:38.679 He didn't have a car. He had to hitchhike. He 0:17:38.760 --> 0:17:42.120 kept taking steps of faith, and God opened bigger doors 0:17:42.800 --> 0:17:46.439 one church where he pastored. After years of building it 0:17:46.520 --> 0:17:50.240 and sewing into the people, some of them didn't like 0:17:50.320 --> 0:17:53.879 his new message of faith in victory and they asked 0:17:53.920 --> 0:17:58.359 him to leave. He was heartbroken. It wasn't fair, but 0:17:58.440 --> 0:18:01.760 he didn't complain. He and my mother went out and 0:18:01.800 --> 0:18:05.880 started Lakewood. They didn't have a big building, they didn't 0:18:05.920 --> 0:18:10.159 have a former compact center. They found an old Rundown 0:18:10.400 --> 0:18:16.440 feed store, had holes in the floor, dirty, smelly. Compared 0:18:16.480 --> 0:18:20.119 to my father, compared to my grandfather, I have it 0:18:20.280 --> 0:18:25.119 so much easier. Yes, I faced opposition, but nobody's asked 0:18:25.119 --> 0:18:27.760 me to leave the church. If you're thinking about it, 0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:34.000 forget it. My father worked too hard. My grandfather sacrificed 0:18:34.040 --> 0:18:37.760 too much for me to get discouraged and settle where 0:18:37.760 --> 0:18:41.600 I am. The last ten years of my father's life, 0:18:41.920 --> 0:18:45.359 he didn't feel healthy. Many Sundays he would come to 0:18:45.480 --> 0:18:48.800 church dizzy from the blood pressure medicine that he took. 0:18:49.240 --> 0:18:52.159 He hadn't slept the night before, and I would always 0:18:52.160 --> 0:18:54.320 go see him before the service, and Daddy, do you 0:18:54.359 --> 0:18:57.399 want to break today? We can find somebody else to minister. 0:18:58.000 --> 0:19:01.960 That never entered his mind. He preached whether he felt 0:19:02.000 --> 0:19:04.560 like it or not. When he went to be with 0:19:04.640 --> 0:19:08.040 the Lord and I took over, he put me forty 0:19:08.160 --> 0:19:11.360 years down the road. He left us that eight thousand 0:19:11.359 --> 0:19:15.480 seat auditorium debt free. When we needed to make an 0:19:15.520 --> 0:19:19.199 initial payment to secure the Compact center, the money was 0:19:19.280 --> 0:19:22.399 in the bank. I thought, thank you, Daddy. If he 0:19:22.440 --> 0:19:25.840 could do it in his day, not feeling well, not 0:19:26.000 --> 0:19:30.120 having resources, growing up, not having people support him, how 0:19:30.200 --> 0:19:33.679 much more should I be able to do in the 0:19:33.760 --> 0:19:38.560 same way your relatives have sacrificed greatly for you to 0:19:38.600 --> 0:19:42.840 be where you are. They endured hardships, worked when they 0:19:42.840 --> 0:19:46.640 didn't feel like it, overcame things that should have stopped them. 0:19:47.080 --> 0:19:50.720 They paid a high price. Now do your part and 0:19:50.920 --> 0:19:55.119 honor them by taking new ground. Our attitude should be. 0:19:55.640 --> 0:19:59.240 I am not going to let these light afflictions stop me. 0:20:00.000 --> 0:20:03.080 I am not going to live passive and just coast 0:20:03.400 --> 0:20:06.160 on what's been passed down to me. I'm gonna stretch 0:20:06.240 --> 0:20:10.359 to new levels. I'm gonna make my loved ones proud, well, Joel, 0:20:10.400 --> 0:20:14.439 I don't come from a godly heritage. My relatives, my parents, 0:20:14.480 --> 0:20:18.400 they didn't believe. You wouldn't be where you are if 0:20:18.480 --> 0:20:22.639 somebody in your family line didn't honor God. None of 0:20:22.760 --> 0:20:26.119 us got to where we are on our own. Somebody 0:20:26.160 --> 0:20:30.879 prayed for you. Somebody made sacrifices. Somebody lived a life 0:20:30.880 --> 0:20:33.879 of integrity. It may have been a great great great 0:20:33.920 --> 0:20:38.200 grandfather you never met, but he gave, he served, he 0:20:38.200 --> 0:20:41.520 helped others, He mentored young men, or a grandmother that 0:20:41.640 --> 0:20:44.560 lived a hundred years ago. You never heard her name, 0:20:45.000 --> 0:20:48.639 but she prayed for her family line. She taught Sunday school. 0:20:49.040 --> 0:20:52.680 She was an example to those young ladies. Now you're 0:20:52.760 --> 0:20:56.360 reaping from the seeds they've sown. You didn't get here 0:20:56.480 --> 0:21:01.200 by accident. In the scripture, God showed favor to one 0:21:01.200 --> 0:21:05.919 of David's relatives three hundred and five years after David 0:21:06.080 --> 0:21:10.280 was gone. His relative made a mistake, he was in trouble. 0:21:10.880 --> 0:21:14.160 God said, in effect, I'm gonna show you mercy. I'm 0:21:14.200 --> 0:21:17.720 going to turn this around, not for your sake, but 0:21:17.760 --> 0:21:23.040 for your relative, David's sake. I realize I'm reaping a 0:21:23.160 --> 0:21:27.679 harvest from seeds that I didn't plan. I'm blessed because 0:21:27.720 --> 0:21:31.600 my grandfather honored God. I'm where i am in part 0:21:31.960 --> 0:21:35.720 because my parents kept God in first place. There are 0:21:35.800 --> 0:21:39.560 people that you've never met that have made your life easier. 0:21:39.960 --> 0:21:43.480 They put you further down the road. Now they're cheering 0:21:43.520 --> 0:21:47.359 you on. The way you honor them is by going further, 0:21:47.720 --> 0:21:51.240 by taking new ground. Think of these heroes of faith. 0:21:51.800 --> 0:21:55.040 They didn't have a Bible like we do today. They 0:21:55.040 --> 0:21:58.600 didn't have promises in writing to stand on like we can. 0:21:59.200 --> 0:22:01.040 They didn't know how how it was all going to 0:22:01.080 --> 0:22:04.760 turn out. Yet they chose to believe. They made it 0:22:04.800 --> 0:22:09.119 through the desert without a podcast encouraging them, without a 0:22:09.119 --> 0:22:13.760 grocery store. They made it to the Promised Land without GPS, 0:22:13.800 --> 0:22:18.920 without SIRI, without airplanes. They did it without the conveniences 0:22:18.920 --> 0:22:22.640 that we have. Imagine what you and I can do. 0:22:23.440 --> 0:22:26.800 This is our day to set a new standard. Here's 0:22:26.840 --> 0:22:30.199 the key. The heroes of faith are not just in 0:22:30.280 --> 0:22:34.840 the Bible. I am looking at heroes of faith. If 0:22:34.880 --> 0:22:38.440 the Bible was written today, your name could be in there. 0:22:39.359 --> 0:22:44.080 You've overcome obstacles that look too big, like David. You've 0:22:44.080 --> 0:22:48.639 defeated giants like the lady that was healed after eighteen years. 0:22:48.880 --> 0:22:52.040 Some of you. God has healed you and given you 0:22:52.040 --> 0:22:55.480 your life back. My mother would be in the heroes 0:22:55.480 --> 0:22:59.080 of faith. Cancer said that she was done in nineteen 0:22:59.119 --> 0:23:02.240 eighty one. Medical science that she didn't have a chance, 0:23:02.560 --> 0:23:05.680 But God said, I have the final say you will 0:23:05.720 --> 0:23:11.480 live and not die. She's a living example of God's goodness. 0:23:12.400 --> 0:23:16.679 My challenge to you is become a hero of faith. 0:23:17.040 --> 0:23:21.680 Do something great, leave your mark, let your talent shine. 0:23:22.440 --> 0:23:26.439 Overcome what seems impossible. You may not see how it 0:23:26.480 --> 0:23:30.600 can happen, but you have generations cheering you on. You 0:23:30.720 --> 0:23:34.440 have saints that you've read about. Thought how amazing they are, 0:23:34.720 --> 0:23:39.800 How faithful, how dedicated. Those same saints are calling your name, saying, 0:23:39.920 --> 0:23:43.160 dream big, keep stretching, keep believing. We want to read 0:23:43.240 --> 0:23:47.880 about you. Imagine every morning if you received a personal 0:23:47.960 --> 0:23:53.320 text from Abraham, from David, from Moses, Ruth, Esther, and Noah. 0:23:53.480 --> 0:23:55.920 When you woke up there was a message from them 0:23:56.280 --> 0:23:59.960 saying how they believe in you, how you are well able. 0:24:00.520 --> 0:24:02.840 That would do something to you. It put a spring 0:24:03.040 --> 0:24:06.159 in your step. It would cause you to have more confidence. 0:24:06.280 --> 0:24:10.200 Those people carry some weight. I've received a few texts 0:24:10.240 --> 0:24:14.359 from some influential people, but if Abraham were to text me, 0:24:15.000 --> 0:24:18.159 I would run tell Victoria, you're not gonna believe it. 0:24:18.200 --> 0:24:20.720 I just got a text from Abraham. What he said? 0:24:21.520 --> 0:24:24.800 He said he believes in me, that he's cheering me. 0:24:24.880 --> 0:24:27.920 All that would help me to do better that day. 0:24:28.359 --> 0:24:31.840 I wouldn't get discouraged because I had opposition. I wouldn't 0:24:31.840 --> 0:24:35.080 give up because I had a setback. Can I tell 0:24:35.119 --> 0:24:39.639 you it's not just Abraham. All of Heaven is cheering 0:24:39.680 --> 0:24:43.160 for you. The grand stands are packed with people who 0:24:43.240 --> 0:24:46.240 believe in you, people that have been where you are 0:24:46.760 --> 0:24:50.240 and made it through. You may feel like you're surrounded 0:24:50.280 --> 0:24:54.560 by opposition, everything has come against you. I see Elisha 0:24:54.680 --> 0:24:57.680 step out of the grand stands and say, been there 0:24:57.800 --> 0:25:02.679 done that? One night, this enemy army surrounded me and 0:25:02.760 --> 0:25:07.199 my assistant, tens of thousands of horses and chariots. My 0:25:07.280 --> 0:25:10.879 assistant panic, He thought we were done. But when I 0:25:10.920 --> 0:25:14.200 looked out through my eyes of faith, I could see 0:25:14.240 --> 0:25:18.840 a vast host of the heavenly armies surrounding all those 0:25:19.000 --> 0:25:23.760 enemy forces. Elisha would tell you stay in faith. That 0:25:23.840 --> 0:25:28.119 addiction may look like it has you surrounded. The truth 0:25:28.320 --> 0:25:33.040 is God has it surrounded. That sickness, the debt, the 0:25:33.080 --> 0:25:38.480 depression may be surrounding you. But Elisha is cheering you on, saying, 0:25:38.520 --> 0:25:44.000 don't worry. God is surrounding what's surrounding you. Maybe you 0:25:44.080 --> 0:25:47.000 prayed for God to turn a situation around, but it 0:25:47.040 --> 0:25:50.760 didn't happen. Thoughts tell you it's too late, it's never 0:25:50.800 --> 0:25:54.000 going to work out. Why didn't God answer your prayers. 0:25:54.600 --> 0:25:57.440 I see three men step out of the grand stands 0:25:57.440 --> 0:26:01.639 of heaven. Their names are Shadracked, knee Jack in a Bendigo. 0:26:02.160 --> 0:26:05.400 They say, we know how you feel. We wouldn't bow 0:26:05.480 --> 0:26:08.240 down to the King's golden idol. He told us he 0:26:08.359 --> 0:26:11.840 was going to throw us into a fiery furnace. We prayed, 0:26:12.400 --> 0:26:14.760 We asked God to deliver us. We didn't want to 0:26:14.800 --> 0:26:18.480 go into the furnace. But God didn't answer our prayer 0:26:18.600 --> 0:26:21.720 the way we wanted. We were tempted to get upset 0:26:22.040 --> 0:26:26.920 to complain. Instead, we decided to trust him. We told 0:26:27.000 --> 0:26:30.800 the king, even if God doesn't deliver us, we're still 0:26:30.960 --> 0:26:33.480 not going to bow down. And when he threw us 0:26:33.560 --> 0:26:36.879 into the furnace, the funny thing is, the fire didn't 0:26:36.920 --> 0:26:39.960 burn us. It only burned off the cords that were 0:26:39.960 --> 0:26:43.120 holding us back. In the middle of the fire, out 0:26:43.119 --> 0:26:46.600 of nowhere, the son of the Living God showed up. 0:26:47.200 --> 0:26:51.359 Their encouragement is, you may be in the fire, stay 0:26:51.400 --> 0:26:55.080 in faith. You are fire proof. That fire is not 0:26:55.200 --> 0:26:57.960 going to harm you. God is right there with you. 0:26:58.480 --> 0:27:01.960 Keep believing. Keep you're in the right thing. Like them, 0:27:02.440 --> 0:27:04.919 You're going to come out without the smell of smoke. 0:27:05.880 --> 0:27:09.080 Are you feigning in your mind? Giving up on a dream, 0:27:09.400 --> 0:27:12.960 talking yourself out of doing something great? God is saying, 0:27:13.359 --> 0:27:17.560 get your passion back. Your relatives, the saints of old, 0:27:17.920 --> 0:27:20.600 they've gone through too much for you to settle where 0:27:20.640 --> 0:27:24.160 you are. When you're tempted to get discouraged. Look up 0:27:24.520 --> 0:27:27.880 and listen up. All of Heaven is cheering for you. 0:27:28.280 --> 0:27:31.960 In that stadium. There are signs with your picture on them, 0:27:32.320 --> 0:27:35.880 people calling your name, saying run, baby, Run. Make your 0:27:35.920 --> 0:27:40.760 loved ones proud. God has ordained that every generation increase. 0:27:41.200 --> 0:27:43.920 They did great things with what they had, but let's 0:27:43.960 --> 0:27:48.080 honor them by going further. Let's leave this generation better 0:27:48.119 --> 0:27:51.440 than it was before. If you'll do this, I believe 0:27:51.600 --> 0:27:54.320 and declare you're not going to just be cheered on 0:27:54.640 --> 0:27:57.919 by heroes of faith. You're going to become a hero 0:27:58.080 --> 0:28:02.040 of faith. You're going to rise high, accomplish dreams, and 0:28:02.200 --> 0:28:06.560 leave your mark on this generation in Jesus' name. And 0:28:06.600 --> 0:28:10.600 if you receive it, can you say, men, today, I'd 0:28:10.720 --> 0:28:13.359 like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the 0:28:13.440 --> 0:28:18.000 lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 0:28:19.040 --> 0:28:24.280 I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll 0:28:24.280 --> 0:28:28.119 make you my lord and savior. If you prayed that 0:28:28.200 --> 0:28:31.520 simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 0:28:31.600 --> 0:28:36.200 a good Bible based church, and keep God first place. Victorian. 0:28:36.240 --> 0:28:38.760 I'll be right back to speak a blessing over you. 0:28:43.040 --> 0:28:45.400 As a thank you for your support of our ministry. 0:28:45.440 --> 0:28:47.960 This month, Jewel and Victoria would like to send you 0:28:48.000 --> 0:28:51.520 a copy of Joel's new audio devotional, Fueled by Faith, 0:28:51.840 --> 0:28:55.840 Seven Keys to Your Victory. In this new devotional, you 0:28:55.880 --> 0:28:59.040 will hear seven fifteen minute messages that will encourage and 0:28:59.080 --> 0:29:02.440 empower you to experience a life of faith and victory. 0:29:02.800 --> 0:29:05.560 Discover how to live full of hope, filled with peace, 0:29:05.880 --> 0:29:07.120 and fueled by faith. 0:29:07.480 --> 0:29:10.520 We all have times where we face difficulties, but God 0:29:10.560 --> 0:29:13.200 wants you to keep your hope alive and your faith strong. 0:29:13.520 --> 0:29:16.160 He's right there with you in the midst of every battle. 0:29:16.440 --> 0:29:18.720 What was meant for your harm, He's going to turn 0:29:18.760 --> 0:29:20.560 around for your good Right now. 0:29:20.600 --> 0:29:24.120 God is working behind the scenes arranging things in your favor. 0:29:24.400 --> 0:29:27.520 Request this resource. It will encourage you and help build 0:29:27.560 --> 0:29:28.000 your faith. 0:29:28.760 --> 0:29:32.720 Request your copy of Fueled by Faith today at Joelouistin 0:29:32.800 --> 0:29:35.760 dot com or call eight eight eight five sixty seven. 0:29:35.960 --> 0:29:39.440 Joel, thanks so much for your support. It's making a 0:29:39.480 --> 0:29:44.080 difference around the world. We appreciate your generosity and your prayers. 0:29:44.280 --> 0:29:47.600 It's helping to change people's lives. And a special thank 0:29:47.640 --> 0:29:50.239 you to our Champion of Hope partners for all you 0:29:50.360 --> 0:29:53.000 do to make the ministry possible, and be sure to 0:29:53.040 --> 0:29:57.440 stay connected with us on social media through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, 0:29:57.800 --> 0:30:01.200 download our podcast. We'd love to inspire you all through 0:30:01.200 --> 0:30:03.320 the week and help you keep your thoughts going in 0:30:03.360 --> 0:30:06.520 the right direction. Knowe that Victoria and I pray for 0:30:06.640 --> 0:30:09.200 you and your family. We believe you're going to see 0:30:09.240 --> 0:30:12.400 God's goodness and favor in new ways. He has you 0:30:12.520 --> 0:30:15.400 in the palm of his hand. He's guiding and directing 0:30:15.440 --> 0:30:19.040 your steps. Remember it, You're not average, You're not mediocre. 0:30:19.320 --> 0:30:21.400 You're a child of the most hot God. 0:30:24.680 --> 0:30:29.760 Nice buns, soft, fluffy, and ultralow netcarbs. Discover hero Bread 0:30:29.840 --> 0:30:33.880 the delicious ultralow net carbbread with incredible taste and texture. 0:30:34.240 --> 0:30:37.040 Hero Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under 0:30:37.080 --> 0:30:39.840 one hundred calories per serving, plus high end fiber and 0:30:39.960 --> 0:30:42.880 up to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on 0:30:42.960 --> 0:30:45.880 Amazon dot com, Walmart dot com, and Hero dot Co. 0:30:46.360 --> 0:30:50.200 That's hro dot Co. 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