From Trouble To Double

0:00:01.000 --> 0:00:03.200 So great to have you with us today, and as 0:00:03.240 --> 0:00:05.960 we enter into this spring season, just let it be 0:00:06.000 --> 0:00:08.719 a time of new beginnings, letting go of the old, 0:00:09.000 --> 0:00:11.160 getting ready for the new things God's going to do, 0:00:11.200 --> 0:00:13.320 and just really believe you're going to come into a 0:00:13.360 --> 0:00:16.919 blooming and a blossoming season in Jesus' name. 0:00:16.960 --> 0:00:20.040 But God bless you and enjoy the podcast. Well, God 0:00:20.079 --> 0:00:21.960 bless you. It's great to be with you. 0:00:22.000 --> 0:00:24.840 Today, and I hope you'll stay connected with us during 0:00:24.880 --> 0:00:29.040 the week through our daily podcast, YouTube channel, social media, 0:00:29.480 --> 0:00:32.080 and you can come visit us in person. We'd love 0:00:32.120 --> 0:00:34.440 to have you be a part of one of our services. 0:00:35.000 --> 0:00:36.560 But I'd like to start with something funny. 0:00:36.920 --> 0:00:40.600 I heard about this elderly pastor. He was close to death. 0:00:41.080 --> 0:00:43.880 He sent word for two of his members, an ours 0:00:43.920 --> 0:00:47.879 agent and a lawyer to come to his house. Upon arrival, 0:00:48.280 --> 0:00:50.239 he motioned for them to sit on each side of 0:00:50.280 --> 0:00:52.880 the bed. The men were very moved that they could 0:00:52.920 --> 0:00:55.360 be with the minister in his final moments. 0:00:56.000 --> 0:00:58.840 One point, the lawyer asked her, why did you choose 0:00:58.880 --> 0:00:59.520 both of us. 0:01:00.160 --> 0:01:03.640 The minister mustered up some strength and said, Jesus died 0:01:03.680 --> 0:01:06.280 between two sinners. That's the way I want to go 0:01:07.440 --> 0:01:09.920 all right, y'all say it like you mean it. This 0:01:10.040 --> 0:01:12.720 is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:13.120 --> 0:01:15.480 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:15.600 --> 0:01:18.120 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:18.200 --> 0:01:22.039 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:01:22.120 --> 0:01:25.399 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:25.480 --> 0:01:30.039 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:33.240 to talk to you today about from trouble to double 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:37.039 We all face difficulties and things that are not fair. 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:40.800 And someone walks out of a relationship, set back in 0:01:40.840 --> 0:01:44.720 our finances, we come down with an illness. A man 0:01:44.760 --> 0:01:49.320 told me how a coworker was dishonest and manipulated things, 0:01:49.360 --> 0:01:52.920 and he made this man look bad. The coworker got 0:01:52.960 --> 0:01:56.560 the promotion that he deserved. He was so upset thinking 0:01:56.600 --> 0:01:57.880 that he had missed his chance. 0:01:58.640 --> 0:01:59.960 But God sees. 0:02:00.360 --> 0:02:03.600 You go through, He sees who did you wrong, the 0:02:03.680 --> 0:02:07.880 bad breaks, the times you were taking advantage of God 0:02:07.960 --> 0:02:09.919 doesn't stop all the difficulties. 0:02:10.240 --> 0:02:12.040 He won't keep you from all the trouble. 0:02:12.639 --> 0:02:15.720 But he said in Zachariah nine, if you'll be a 0:02:15.760 --> 0:02:19.560 prisoner of hope, I will restore double back. To you 0:02:20.800 --> 0:02:24.920 when trouble comes. Instead of being upset, have a new perspective. 0:02:25.320 --> 0:02:29.560 That just qualified you for double. That bad break looks 0:02:29.600 --> 0:02:32.880 like a setback, but really it's setting you up to 0:02:33.000 --> 0:02:36.560 come out with twice what you had before, twice the joy, 0:02:36.840 --> 0:02:41.200 twice the resources, twice the influence. God never brings you 0:02:41.280 --> 0:02:44.680 out the same, He makes the enemy pay for bringing 0:02:44.720 --> 0:02:49.320 the difficulty. When you understand this principle, you won't live 0:02:49.400 --> 0:02:52.480 bitter when people do you wrong or give up on 0:02:52.560 --> 0:02:57.360 your dreams because something unfair happens. You know it's setting 0:02:57.400 --> 0:03:01.560 you up for something greater. That coworker that left you out, 0:03:01.960 --> 0:03:05.400 they thought they were hurting you. They don't realize they 0:03:05.440 --> 0:03:08.560 did you a favor. They just qualified you for double. 0:03:09.280 --> 0:03:13.000 Without that setback, you wouldn't see the blessing and favor 0:03:13.160 --> 0:03:16.120 that you're going to see, or that door that closed, 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:20.480 the client you lost, the friend that betrayed you. Yes, 0:03:20.520 --> 0:03:24.120 it's painful, none of us like it. But instead of 0:03:24.200 --> 0:03:26.440 living discourage, try a new approach. 0:03:26.760 --> 0:03:29.079 Lord. I thank you that double is coming. 0:03:29.680 --> 0:03:35.640 Thank you that all come out better than I was before, Stronger, healthier, promoted, increased. 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:39.120 God said he had restored double back to you. But 0:03:39.240 --> 0:03:43.200 there is a condition if you'll be a prisoner of hope. 0:03:44.080 --> 0:03:48.040 That's an interesting analogy. A prisoner means you're captive. 0:03:48.640 --> 0:03:49.960 He can't get away from it. 0:03:50.680 --> 0:03:53.560 I should be discouraged over what I'm going through, but 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:56.400 I still believe that God is on the throne, that 0:03:56.480 --> 0:03:57.560 He's turning things. 0:03:57.320 --> 0:03:58.680 To my advantage. 0:03:58.720 --> 0:04:01.960 This sickness doesn't look good good The medical experts said, 0:04:01.960 --> 0:04:04.680 I'm not going to get well, but I still believe 0:04:04.920 --> 0:04:08.880 Jehovah Rafhah, the Lord by healer, is restoring health back 0:04:08.880 --> 0:04:12.720 into me. Or my child's off course, no sign of 0:04:12.800 --> 0:04:16.400 him improving. But I know as for me and my house, 0:04:16.600 --> 0:04:19.320 we will serve the Lord. My children are mighty in 0:04:19.360 --> 0:04:22.520 the land. That's what it means to be a prisoner 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:26.240 of hope. You're locked in he can't be talked out 0:04:26.279 --> 0:04:30.560 of it. You're praising when you could be complaining. You're 0:04:30.600 --> 0:04:33.280 thanking God when you don't see any sign of it. 0:04:33.800 --> 0:04:37.200 You're talking like it's going to happen when nothing is improving. 0:04:38.279 --> 0:04:41.279 And in life, you're going to be a prisoner of something, 0:04:41.800 --> 0:04:45.240 prisoner of doubt, prisoner of shame, prisoner of discouragement. 0:04:45.800 --> 0:04:47.120 Get out of those prisons. 0:04:47.880 --> 0:04:51.400 God is looking for prisoners of hope, people that don't 0:04:51.440 --> 0:04:56.120 fall apart when trouble comes, people that keep believing, keep praising, 0:04:56.440 --> 0:05:00.800 keep expecting, knowing that the trouble is setting them up 0:05:00.839 --> 0:05:04.320 for double Well, Joe, I don't think this is ever 0:05:04.360 --> 0:05:05.240 gonna happen for me. 0:05:05.920 --> 0:05:07.320 You don't know what I've been through. 0:05:08.040 --> 0:05:10.600 The enemy would love for us to be a prisoner 0:05:10.640 --> 0:05:15.440 of doubt, thinking that we're stuck prisoner of shame. I've 0:05:15.440 --> 0:05:19.000 made too many mistakes. That's why I'm not expecting anything good. 0:05:19.680 --> 0:05:23.279 A prisoner of bitterness. They hurt me, they walked out 0:05:23.279 --> 0:05:26.760 on me. The problem is you're in the wrong prison. 0:05:27.640 --> 0:05:30.280 God wants to pay you back. He wants to give 0:05:30.320 --> 0:05:33.560 you beauty for those ashes. Make the rest of your 0:05:33.600 --> 0:05:37.039 life so rewarding that you don't think about who did 0:05:37.040 --> 0:05:40.200 you wrong. You don't focus on the pains of the past. 0:05:40.920 --> 0:05:45.080 But you have to break out of that prison of defeat, bitterness, 0:05:45.279 --> 0:05:48.600 self pity and become a prisoner of hope. 0:05:48.839 --> 0:05:51.359 God, I know you didn't bring me this far to 0:05:51.480 --> 0:05:51.839 leave me. 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:55.000 I believe my latter days will be better than my 0:05:55.120 --> 0:05:58.839 former days, that this trouble is setting me up for 0:05:58.960 --> 0:06:00.440 new levels of my day destiny. 0:06:01.520 --> 0:06:03.760 Maybe you had a rough childhood, your. 0:06:03.560 --> 0:06:06.960 Parents weren't around, there was a lot of dysfunction. You 0:06:07.000 --> 0:06:10.160 could live bitter thinking you're at a disadvantage. 0:06:10.440 --> 0:06:14.960 Why wasn't I raised better? That's going to limit your life. 0:06:15.080 --> 0:06:19.680 Have a new perspective that dysfunction qualified you for double 0:06:20.480 --> 0:06:21.800 don't sit around negative. 0:06:22.080 --> 0:06:24.080 God has something big in your future. 0:06:24.640 --> 0:06:27.120 He's going to make up for what you didn't get, 0:06:27.880 --> 0:06:30.560 not to just where you should have been if everything 0:06:30.680 --> 0:06:35.039 was normal and healthy, but because of that disadvantage, he's 0:06:35.080 --> 0:06:38.159 going to do twice as much. It was meant to 0:06:38.240 --> 0:06:40.720 set you back, but God is going to use it 0:06:40.800 --> 0:06:44.560 to set you up, to propel you, to favor you, 0:06:45.120 --> 0:06:48.800 to take you where you've never imagined. God wants to 0:06:48.839 --> 0:06:52.640 make you a trophy of his grace, not just bring 0:06:52.680 --> 0:06:56.080 you out, but cause you to bloom, to blossom, to 0:06:56.160 --> 0:06:59.960 see favor, great opportunities, great relationship. 0:07:00.720 --> 0:07:03.719 Now do your part and give him something to work with. 0:07:04.600 --> 0:07:09.320 Don't have a disadvantage mentality, have a double mentality. That's 0:07:09.360 --> 0:07:13.040 what allows God to show out in your life. The 0:07:13.200 --> 0:07:17.280 Israelites had been in captivity in Babylon for many years 0:07:17.320 --> 0:07:20.840 and not allowed to return home. They had all these 0:07:20.880 --> 0:07:26.280 disappointments and hardships. Their ancestors had been in slavery, so mistreated. 0:07:26.920 --> 0:07:30.480 Now that same spirit of defeat and disadvantage was on them. 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:35.080 The prophet Zachariah showed up while they were prisoners of war. 0:07:35.720 --> 0:07:38.560 He said to them, if you'll be a prisoner of hope, 0:07:39.120 --> 0:07:43.040 God will restore double back to you. Imagine the battle 0:07:43.120 --> 0:07:44.360 taking place in their mind. 0:07:45.240 --> 0:07:48.000 He's saying, be a prisoner of hope. But look what 0:07:48.040 --> 0:07:50.480 we've been through, Look what we're up against. 0:07:51.040 --> 0:07:54.160 There's no way we could live a blessed life, be free, 0:07:54.320 --> 0:07:55.120 have abundance. 0:07:56.160 --> 0:07:57.520 They had to make a decision. 0:07:58.200 --> 0:08:01.320 Am I going to be a prisoner of defeat, focus 0:08:01.400 --> 0:08:04.720 on all the past hurts, the disappointments, how it's never 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:08.000 going to work out? Or am I going to believe 0:08:08.080 --> 0:08:11.240 what this prophet is saying that God has double for 0:08:11.320 --> 0:08:14.240 this trouble, that he's about to pay us back for 0:08:14.320 --> 0:08:18.440 the unfair things that have happened. They change their mindset 0:08:18.800 --> 0:08:22.360 from a prisoner of defeat to a prisoner of hope. 0:08:22.560 --> 0:08:26.080 They saw God take them where they never dreamed. Like 0:08:26.160 --> 0:08:29.160 the Israelites, you may have had more than your share 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:33.640 of trouble, disappointments, and people that did you wrong. God 0:08:33.720 --> 0:08:36.480 is saying to you what he said to them. I'm 0:08:36.520 --> 0:08:39.800 about to restore double. I'm about to pay you back 0:08:39.800 --> 0:08:40.839 with twice. 0:08:40.640 --> 0:08:44.359 What should have been yours. But there is a requirement. 0:08:45.120 --> 0:08:48.320 You have to get rid of that survival mentality and 0:08:48.400 --> 0:08:52.160 have a double mentality. Instead of a prisoner of doubt, 0:08:52.520 --> 0:08:56.120 switch over to a prisoner of hope. Believe that God 0:08:56.200 --> 0:08:59.640 is working that what's meant for harm, He's turning to 0:08:59.679 --> 0:09:03.400 you advantage that that trouble sets you up to come 0:09:03.440 --> 0:09:06.560 out with twice what you had before. If you're struggling 0:09:06.559 --> 0:09:10.960 with anxiety depression, thoughts will say it's permanent, it's never 0:09:11.040 --> 0:09:15.160 going to change. Don't believe those lies. That attack is 0:09:15.200 --> 0:09:18.680 setting you up for double. The enemy minute to stop 0:09:18.720 --> 0:09:23.240 your purpose, to push down your gifts, keep your personality 0:09:23.240 --> 0:09:27.040 from shining. The good news is it's going to backfire. 0:09:27.800 --> 0:09:29.480 God's going to use it to take you. 0:09:29.559 --> 0:09:33.239 Further than if it had not happen, or the door. 0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:36.480 That closed in your business, that contract didn't go through. 0:09:36.840 --> 0:09:40.240 It's not setting you back, it's setting you up. God 0:09:40.280 --> 0:09:44.600 didn't allow it because he has something much bigger, much better. 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:49.520 Double is coming, double the resources, double the influence double 0:09:49.559 --> 0:09:53.120 the favor. When we were trying to buy property to 0:09:53.200 --> 0:09:56.360 build a new sanctuary, we found this one hundred acre 0:09:56.480 --> 0:09:58.560 tract of land right off the freeway. 0:09:59.200 --> 0:09:59.960 Seemed perfect. 0:10:00.320 --> 0:10:03.480 It's about two miles from our former location. And I 0:10:03.559 --> 0:10:06.000 met with the owner and he told me the property 0:10:06.040 --> 0:10:08.679 had been for sale for twenty years and he had 0:10:08.720 --> 0:10:11.680 never had one offer on it. I knew that God 0:10:11.679 --> 0:10:14.280 had saved that for us. He said, Joel, you don't 0:10:14.320 --> 0:10:17.120 need to sign the contract right now. You can do 0:10:17.200 --> 0:10:20.559 your preliminary drawings while we get the paperwork drawn up. 0:10:21.280 --> 0:10:24.040 Two months later we went to his office to sign 0:10:24.120 --> 0:10:27.760 the contract. We had an eight am meeting. We showed 0:10:27.840 --> 0:10:31.040 up at seven forty five. His secretary walked out and said, 0:10:31.080 --> 0:10:34.320 I'm sorry, the owner sold the property last night. 0:10:35.160 --> 0:10:36.079 I couldn't believe it. 0:10:36.520 --> 0:10:39.120 He gave me his word, then sold it right out 0:10:39.160 --> 0:10:42.360 from under us, and I was so disappointed. There were 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:46.760 no more large tracts of land we looked everywhere, seemed 0:10:46.800 --> 0:10:47.720 like we were stuck. 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:49.720 I went home and told. 0:10:49.600 --> 0:10:52.959 Victoria how bad it was, how that man had done 0:10:53.040 --> 0:10:55.640 us wrong, how there was no way we could grow. 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:58.920 She said, listen here, Joel, God is still in control. 0:10:59.440 --> 0:11:02.720 He knows what he's doing. We're not gonna get discouraged. 0:11:02.880 --> 0:11:05.160 We're gonna trust that he has something. 0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:08.559 Better in store. She started preaching one of my messages. 0:11:09.520 --> 0:11:10.560 I didn't want to hear that. 0:11:10.800 --> 0:11:13.400 I wanted to be depressed. I wanted to get in 0:11:13.480 --> 0:11:14.760 that prison of self pity. 0:11:15.320 --> 0:11:18.760 God, where are you? This wasn't fair. Victoria was saying, No, 0:11:19.040 --> 0:11:22.960 We're gonna be prisoners of hope. Six months later, a 0:11:23.000 --> 0:11:24.640 friend called said, the. 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:28.280 Houston Rockets basketball team was moving out of the Compact 0:11:28.320 --> 0:11:31.280 Center and we should try to buy it. When I 0:11:31.320 --> 0:11:34.600 heard that, something came alive on the inside. This was 0:11:34.640 --> 0:11:37.439 more than I could imagine. By the grace of God, 0:11:37.720 --> 0:11:40.360 things fell into place, and in two thousand and three, 0:11:40.760 --> 0:11:41.920 the Houston City. 0:11:41.679 --> 0:11:44.120 Council voted for us to have this building. 0:11:45.200 --> 0:11:49.920 What's significant is our old sanctuary held eight thousand people. 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:54.079 This place holds sixteen thousand, exactly double. 0:11:55.040 --> 0:11:57.959 That man thought he was setting us back. 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:01.240 The truth is he was set us up for double. 0:12:02.120 --> 0:12:04.720 He didn't even do it of his own accord. He 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:06.760 was a pawn in the hand of God. 0:12:07.559 --> 0:12:09.600 God on purpose closed that door. 0:12:10.679 --> 0:12:13.720 I wonder if there are things you're disappointed about now, 0:12:14.320 --> 0:12:16.680 Doors that have closed injustice. 0:12:17.000 --> 0:12:18.520 You're wondering why it happened. 0:12:19.080 --> 0:12:21.840 If you only knew what God had in store, you 0:12:21.840 --> 0:12:25.920 wouldn't be disappointed. And yes, on the surface, it can 0:12:25.960 --> 0:12:30.400 be discouraging, painful, hard to deal with. You have to 0:12:30.480 --> 0:12:35.240 remind yourself that trouble is qualifying you for double It's 0:12:35.280 --> 0:12:38.679 setting you up for a level of your destiny that 0:12:38.760 --> 0:12:41.400 you could have never seen if it had not happened. 0:12:42.240 --> 0:12:45.680 God said in Isaiah, because you got a double dose 0:12:45.720 --> 0:12:49.440 of trouble, your inheritance in the land will be double, 0:12:49.880 --> 0:12:53.520 and your joy will go on forever. Sometimes it seems 0:12:53.559 --> 0:12:55.920 like we get a double dose of trouble. It's one 0:12:56.000 --> 0:13:00.440 thing after another. That's not how your story ends. Get ready, 0:13:00.679 --> 0:13:04.199 a double dose of blessing is coming, a double dose 0:13:04.200 --> 0:13:08.280 of favor, a double dose of health and vitality, a 0:13:08.320 --> 0:13:12.200 double dose of opportunity and influence. Get this down in 0:13:12.240 --> 0:13:12.840 your spirit. 0:13:13.240 --> 0:13:14.440 Double for that trouble. 0:13:15.600 --> 0:13:18.600 Well, Joey, you're just trying to get people's hopes up. Yes, 0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.360 I'm trying to convince you to become a prisoner of 0:13:21.480 --> 0:13:24.280 hope to where you can't be talked out of it, 0:13:24.760 --> 0:13:29.160 because when you do, God says double is coming. One 0:13:29.200 --> 0:13:33.040 translation of the verse in Zachariah says, I will repay 0:13:33.440 --> 0:13:37.200 two blessings for each of your troubles. When you're at 0:13:37.240 --> 0:13:40.200 the department stores, sometimes there's a two for one seal. 0:13:40.840 --> 0:13:42.160 You buy one and get two. 0:13:42.559 --> 0:13:46.240 God says here, when you have one disappointment, I'm gonna. 0:13:46.080 --> 0:13:47.640 Pay you back with two blessings. 0:13:47.960 --> 0:13:50.319 When you face one set back, I'm gonna give you 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:54.520 two promotions. When one friend walks away, I'm gonna bring 0:13:54.559 --> 0:13:54.920 you two. 0:13:54.920 --> 0:13:56.360 New friends, better friends. 0:13:57.120 --> 0:13:59.959 When you face the sickness, I'm not only gonna restore 0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:02.400 your health, but I'm going to give you a greater peace, 0:14:02.840 --> 0:14:06.760 a double blessing. The fact that God allowed the trouble 0:14:07.000 --> 0:14:10.120 is a sign that he wants to increase you, that 0:14:10.200 --> 0:14:14.160 he has something greater in store if you'll pass the test. 0:14:14.559 --> 0:14:17.080 On the other side of that difficulty. 0:14:16.640 --> 0:14:19.920 Is double honor, double favor, double resources. 0:14:20.720 --> 0:14:22.160 And no, we don't like the trouble. 0:14:22.720 --> 0:14:26.720 None of us liked the disappointments, the injustice, but without 0:14:26.760 --> 0:14:29.120 it we wouldn't see the fullness. 0:14:28.640 --> 0:14:29.479 Of our destiny. 0:14:30.280 --> 0:14:34.040 Don't let the difficulty cause you to give up, get sour, 0:14:34.400 --> 0:14:38.000 have a new perspective. The trouble means double is in 0:14:38.040 --> 0:14:42.080 your future. This is what happened with Job. Everything was 0:14:42.120 --> 0:14:45.440 going great, life was good. Then the bottom fell out, 0:14:46.040 --> 0:14:49.880 lost his health, his family, his business. He had boils 0:14:49.920 --> 0:14:50.920 all over his body. 0:14:51.280 --> 0:14:54.320 He's very painful. And Job was a good man. 0:14:54.960 --> 0:14:58.800 The scripture says he honored God and lived with integrity. 0:14:58.960 --> 0:15:03.920 Having faith doesn't exempt us from difficulties. Just because you're 0:15:03.920 --> 0:15:08.080 having trouble doesn't mean you've done something wrong. The storms 0:15:08.080 --> 0:15:11.240 of life come to us. All the good news is 0:15:11.720 --> 0:15:16.320 nothing can happen to you without God's permissions. He's in 0:15:16.400 --> 0:15:20.400 control in the good times and in the tough times. No, 0:15:20.520 --> 0:15:24.400 he doesn't stop every difficulty. He doesn't prevent every attack, 0:15:25.040 --> 0:15:27.240 but he wouldn't have allowed it if. 0:15:27.080 --> 0:15:29.000 It was going to keep you from your purpose. 0:15:30.000 --> 0:15:33.040 With Job, it seemed like everything was out of control. 0:15:33.200 --> 0:15:36.840 But the fact is Satan had to ask God if 0:15:36.840 --> 0:15:40.440 he could test Job. God set a limit as to 0:15:40.480 --> 0:15:43.560 what he could do. What I'm saying is God is 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:45.440 not just in control of your life. 0:15:45.680 --> 0:15:47.400 He's in control of your enemies. 0:15:48.040 --> 0:15:51.240 He has a hedge of protection around you that the 0:15:51.400 --> 0:15:56.480 enemy cannot cross without God's permissions. And if he's allowing 0:15:56.600 --> 0:16:00.440 a difficulty, you have to remind yourself it's there. 0:16:00.280 --> 0:16:02.440 To defeat you, it's there to promote you. 0:16:03.240 --> 0:16:06.400 On the other side of that trouble is the double portion, 0:16:07.040 --> 0:16:12.080 greater joy, greater courage, greater influence. But the challenge is 0:16:12.600 --> 0:16:16.280 we all want the double without the trouble, at least 0:16:16.320 --> 0:16:19.920 I do. But most of the time they're connected. You 0:16:20.040 --> 0:16:23.400 have to go through it to get to it. The 0:16:23.480 --> 0:16:26.960 longer I live, the more I've learned to trust God 0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:30.640 in the trouble, not fight what doesn't go my way, 0:16:31.160 --> 0:16:34.480 stay in peace when things happen that I don't understand. 0:16:35.320 --> 0:16:39.440 I recognize that God is up to something. He doesn't 0:16:39.480 --> 0:16:43.760 allow anything that's not ultimately going to work for your good. 0:16:44.960 --> 0:16:47.720 One way to stay in faith in that trouble is 0:16:47.800 --> 0:16:51.640 to keep reminding yourself that that setback is really. 0:16:51.400 --> 0:16:53.680 A set up, that double is coming. 0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:57.800 Things got so bad for Job his wife told him 0:16:57.800 --> 0:17:01.280 to just curse God and die. His friend said it 0:17:01.320 --> 0:17:04.480 was his own fault that he was getting what he deserved. 0:17:05.440 --> 0:17:09.120 In difficulties, you have to be careful who you listen to. 0:17:10.160 --> 0:17:13.800 Don't give just anyone your ear. Some people don't have 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:17.960 your best interests at heart. They'll judge you, condemn you, 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:21.879 try to straighten you out tell you everything you've done wrong. 0:17:22.200 --> 0:17:24.720 They can't even run their own life, but they're telling 0:17:24.720 --> 0:17:26.240 you how to run your life. 0:17:26.600 --> 0:17:29.400 You need to be around people that speak faith into you, 0:17:30.000 --> 0:17:32.959 people that tell you that you're coming out, that healing 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:36.240 is on the way, that God has beauty for those ashes, 0:17:36.880 --> 0:17:40.080 and that even if it is your fault, even. 0:17:39.840 --> 0:17:41.440 If you made the mess. 0:17:41.320 --> 0:17:45.800 God's mercy is bigger than your mistakes. He never gives 0:17:45.880 --> 0:17:49.719 up on you. He's the God of another chance. His 0:17:49.880 --> 0:17:52.959 arms are still open wide. He can still get you 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:56.200 to your destiny. But you have to tune out all 0:17:56.240 --> 0:18:00.520 the accusing, condemning voices and get back in the game. 0:18:01.560 --> 0:18:04.000 The enemy would love for you to be a prisoner 0:18:04.040 --> 0:18:06.560 of guilt, prisoner of shame. 0:18:06.480 --> 0:18:10.520 Prisoner of regrets. I'm washed up. Come out of that prison. 0:18:11.320 --> 0:18:15.000 You're locked up with the wrong thoughts. Try a new approach, 0:18:15.240 --> 0:18:16.680 a prisoner of hope. 0:18:16.720 --> 0:18:21.879 You're redeemed, you're forgiven, You're restored. Your future is bright. 0:18:22.600 --> 0:18:24.920 The enemy wouldn't be trying to keep you in that 0:18:25.000 --> 0:18:26.280 negative prison. 0:18:26.240 --> 0:18:28.399 If he didn't know that double was coming. 0:18:29.200 --> 0:18:31.800 Yes, you may have made a mess of things in 0:18:31.840 --> 0:18:34.800 your life, but God knows how to not only clean 0:18:34.880 --> 0:18:38.320 up the mess, but to bring you out where nobody 0:18:38.400 --> 0:18:42.160 knows what you've been through. Your mistakes are not going 0:18:42.200 --> 0:18:46.400 to be your identity. Those negative labels people have tried 0:18:46.440 --> 0:18:50.399 to stick on you are coming off today. Your own 0:18:50.480 --> 0:18:53.280 thoughts that have tried to convince you that you've missed 0:18:53.320 --> 0:18:57.720 your chance just sit on the sidelines. Those strongholds are 0:18:57.720 --> 0:19:01.359 coming down. This is your time to break free from 0:19:01.359 --> 0:19:04.000 that negative mentality and become a. 0:19:03.920 --> 0:19:05.120 Prisoner of hope. 0:19:05.800 --> 0:19:09.280 God said, there's one thing I want to hold you captive. 0:19:09.720 --> 0:19:14.480 Not fear, not guilt, not doubt, not discouragement, nor. 0:19:14.359 --> 0:19:16.359 Get locked up with hope. 0:19:16.520 --> 0:19:20.040 Believe the trouble will give way to double Believe that 0:19:20.080 --> 0:19:23.600 your past is forgiven. Believe that your future is bright. 0:19:24.080 --> 0:19:28.159 Believe that they are beauty for those ashes. Believe that God's. 0:19:27.800 --> 0:19:30.360 Favor surrounds you like a shield. 0:19:31.400 --> 0:19:34.520 After Job listened to his wife and looked around and 0:19:34.600 --> 0:19:38.240 saw all the troubles, he sat down among the ashes. 0:19:38.880 --> 0:19:40.960 He didn't think he'd ever be happy again. 0:19:41.800 --> 0:19:46.440 Set in chapter seven, I will never experience pleasure anymore 0:19:47.640 --> 0:19:51.040 In the difficult times. The enemy loves to whisper the 0:19:51.119 --> 0:19:55.480 never lies. You'll never be happy either. You'll never get 0:19:55.480 --> 0:19:59.120 well never meet someone, Never get out of this problem. 0:19:59.600 --> 0:20:02.359 Don't belie lead those lies. He wouldn't be telling you 0:20:02.480 --> 0:20:03.840 that if he didn't know. 0:20:04.119 --> 0:20:07.880 There was something great in front of you. Few verses later, 0:20:08.040 --> 0:20:10.520 Job said, I hate my life. 0:20:10.600 --> 0:20:13.720 He was so discouraged, he didn't want to live. He 0:20:13.760 --> 0:20:17.960 thought he was done. What's interesting is even though he 0:20:18.040 --> 0:20:21.240 had given up, God had not given up on him. 0:20:21.880 --> 0:20:26.760 God knows that we're human, that sometimes our emotions get 0:20:26.760 --> 0:20:30.000 the best of us. We feel things, we get discouraged, 0:20:30.040 --> 0:20:31.320 and we let doubt in. 0:20:31.880 --> 0:20:33.080 We think that we're stuck. 0:20:33.920 --> 0:20:37.520 Some of the greatest people in the Bible doubted. Thomas 0:20:37.600 --> 0:20:41.040 was close to Jesus, one of his disciples. He traveled 0:20:41.040 --> 0:20:45.000 with Jesus and ate dinner and did life together. Yet, 0:20:45.040 --> 0:20:47.960 when Jesus rose from the dead, Thomas said, I'm not 0:20:48.000 --> 0:20:49.560 going to believe unless I. 0:20:49.520 --> 0:20:50.919 See him with my own eyes. 0:20:52.000 --> 0:20:55.159 Jesus didn't hold that against him. Thomas went on to 0:20:55.240 --> 0:20:58.880 share the good news throughout all of India. You may 0:20:58.920 --> 0:21:02.879 have doubts at times, you feel discouragement trying to come on. 0:21:03.400 --> 0:21:04.440 That happens to us. 0:21:04.480 --> 0:21:09.320 All I'm saying, don't stay there, don't get locked up 0:21:09.359 --> 0:21:13.359 in that mindset. Let that pass come back to that 0:21:13.480 --> 0:21:17.959 prisoner of hope. Our attitude should be I'm not changing 0:21:18.040 --> 0:21:21.720 my mind. I know God is faithful. He's been too 0:21:21.800 --> 0:21:25.200 good to me not to believe. He's opened too many 0:21:25.280 --> 0:21:28.560 doors I never dreamed would open. He's brought too many 0:21:28.600 --> 0:21:32.359 divine connections. He's made too many ways when I didn't 0:21:32.400 --> 0:21:36.080 see a way. He's protected me too many times, pushed 0:21:36.119 --> 0:21:39.320 back forces of darkness, poured out blessings. 0:21:38.840 --> 0:21:40.000 That I cannot contain. 0:21:40.520 --> 0:21:45.320 I've been too blessed to not believe, and surely doubt 0:21:45.359 --> 0:21:49.320 may come times where we could feel discouraged, worried, how's 0:21:49.320 --> 0:21:50.240 this gonna work out. 0:21:50.880 --> 0:21:51.439 I've learned to. 0:21:51.440 --> 0:21:54.480 Say no thanks, I'm gonna be a prisoner of hope. 0:21:54.600 --> 0:21:57.200 I've seen God do it before, and I know he'll 0:21:57.200 --> 0:22:00.480 do it again. That's what sets you up to see 0:22:00.480 --> 0:22:05.600 the double, the abundance, the greatness of our God. Sitting 0:22:05.640 --> 0:22:09.160 in those ashes, Job suddenly had a change of heart. 0:22:09.640 --> 0:22:11.159 He must have turned on Lakewood. 0:22:11.520 --> 0:22:13.919 He looked up to the heavens and said, I know 0:22:14.480 --> 0:22:18.400 my Redeemer lives. He was saying, God, I know you're 0:22:18.440 --> 0:22:21.640 still on the throne. I may not understand all this, 0:22:22.000 --> 0:22:25.720 but I trust you with my life. When we hear 0:22:25.760 --> 0:22:28.280 about Job, most of the time we think of all 0:22:28.320 --> 0:22:32.720 the suffering, the hardship, and yes it was rough, but 0:22:32.840 --> 0:22:36.920 that's not how his story ended. The scripture says God 0:22:37.040 --> 0:22:41.520 restored Job's fortunes and gave him twice what he had before. 0:22:42.680 --> 0:22:45.840 God could have just restored him back to normal, brought 0:22:45.880 --> 0:22:46.280 him back. 0:22:46.200 --> 0:22:48.440 To the way he was. He would have been grateful. 0:22:49.119 --> 0:22:50.600 But look at how God works. 0:22:51.080 --> 0:22:54.399 Job came out with twice the cattle, twice, the sheep, twice, 0:22:54.440 --> 0:22:57.920 the joy, twice the influence. He got a double dose 0:22:57.960 --> 0:23:01.119 of trouble that set him up for a double dose 0:23:01.200 --> 0:23:02.040 of blessings. 0:23:02.840 --> 0:23:04.040 Could it be the. 0:23:03.960 --> 0:23:07.240 Trouble you're going through is really God getting you in 0:23:07.359 --> 0:23:11.400 position so he can give you double What if Job 0:23:11.440 --> 0:23:14.080 would have known early on that this was all I 0:23:14.200 --> 0:23:17.200 set up for God to do something amazing in his life, 0:23:17.920 --> 0:23:19.960 he'd have probably handled it differently. 0:23:20.400 --> 0:23:22.760 He would have trusted God in the trouble. 0:23:22.960 --> 0:23:26.680 Stayed in peace, and kept that attitude of faith, knowing 0:23:26.680 --> 0:23:29.000 that it was going to all work to his advantage. 0:23:29.640 --> 0:23:32.560 It would be easier if God would promise us double 0:23:32.680 --> 0:23:36.320 without the trouble. But usually there are some tests that 0:23:36.359 --> 0:23:40.880 we have to go through difficulties and things we don't understand. 0:23:41.480 --> 0:23:44.119 That's when we prove to God what we're made of. 0:23:45.000 --> 0:23:48.399 That we're faithful in the fire, that were calm in 0:23:48.480 --> 0:23:51.879 the chaos, that we trust in the trouble, that we 0:23:52.000 --> 0:23:56.520 praise in the problem, that we're unshakable, we're immovable, we 0:23:56.560 --> 0:24:00.840 are prisoners of hope. We know God would have allowed 0:24:00.880 --> 0:24:03.480 it if it wasn't going to work for our good. 0:24:04.160 --> 0:24:08.000 So when trouble hits, instead of having a defeated mentality, 0:24:08.400 --> 0:24:12.240 we have a double mentality. The enemy minute for harm, 0:24:12.480 --> 0:24:16.160 but God, we believe, were coming out with twice increase, 0:24:16.320 --> 0:24:20.880 promoted better than we were before. I met a young 0:24:20.920 --> 0:24:24.240 woman at the altar one Sunday. She and her husband 0:24:24.520 --> 0:24:27.520 came down for prayer. She told how she had had 0:24:27.600 --> 0:24:31.800 seven miscarriages. Now the experts said that they would never 0:24:31.800 --> 0:24:35.560 be able to have children. All the fertility treatments hadn't worked. 0:24:35.640 --> 0:24:40.199 And I'll never forget the tears running down her beautiful face, 0:24:40.880 --> 0:24:44.520 the sadness in her voice, the pain and heartache they 0:24:44.520 --> 0:24:47.640 were feeling. She had always dreamed of being a mother, 0:24:47.720 --> 0:24:52.080 and now it didn't seem possible. Sometimes life can throw 0:24:52.160 --> 0:24:56.199 us a curb our dreams get shattered. There's heartache and 0:24:56.680 --> 0:24:59.640 things that can squeeze the life and joy out of us. 0:25:00.520 --> 0:25:03.640 I love how God came to heal the broken hearted, 0:25:03.960 --> 0:25:07.480 to restore what was stolen it. I told them what 0:25:07.560 --> 0:25:10.760 I'm telling you, that God sees what you're going through, 0:25:10.800 --> 0:25:14.040 and when you believe, He can do amazing things. 0:25:14.720 --> 0:25:16.640 This couple made the decision to. 0:25:16.640 --> 0:25:20.600 Be prisoners of hope. Despite what the medical report said. 0:25:21.000 --> 0:25:24.400 They believed their baby was on the way. Every day 0:25:24.440 --> 0:25:27.760 they thanked God that he was bringing them this child. 0:25:28.600 --> 0:25:31.600 Two years later, I saw them after the service in 0:25:31.640 --> 0:25:35.600 the lobby. The woman was carrying a beautiful baby girl. 0:25:36.240 --> 0:25:40.400 The husband was carrying a baby boy. They had had twins. 0:25:41.480 --> 0:25:46.439 I saw the same tears running down her cheeks, but 0:25:46.560 --> 0:25:48.679 this time they weren't tears of sadness. 0:25:48.960 --> 0:25:50.720 They were tears of joy. 0:25:50.840 --> 0:25:53.720 When you have a double dose of trouble, get ready 0:25:53.960 --> 0:25:56.119 a double dose of blessing is coming. 0:25:57.400 --> 0:25:57.720 Now. 0:25:58.400 --> 0:26:01.320 You may be in a difficult time today, keep the 0:26:01.440 --> 0:26:06.240 right perspective that trouble has qualified you for double It's 0:26:06.280 --> 0:26:08.879 not there to set you back. It's setting you up 0:26:08.920 --> 0:26:12.840 for increase, for favor, for new levels. This is not 0:26:13.000 --> 0:26:16.240 the time to get discouraged. This is the time to 0:26:16.320 --> 0:26:19.879 be a prisoner of hope. God has not brought. 0:26:19.680 --> 0:26:20.960 You this far to leave you. 0:26:21.680 --> 0:26:24.439 He sees you doing the right thing when it's hard, 0:26:25.200 --> 0:26:28.960 like that young couple, praising through the pain, keeping a 0:26:28.960 --> 0:26:32.919 good attitude when it's not fair, believing when there's no 0:26:33.080 --> 0:26:37.400 sign of things changing. Because you're locked into hope. 0:26:37.080 --> 0:26:38.440 You are passing the test. 0:26:39.080 --> 0:26:39.159 Now. 0:26:39.200 --> 0:26:43.360 I believe and declare what God promised you. That double 0:26:43.440 --> 0:26:47.359 is coming, something you've never seen. Twice, the joy, twice, 0:26:47.400 --> 0:26:51.640 the resources, twice, the influence, the double blessing. 0:26:51.760 --> 0:26:54.840 In Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can you 0:26:54.920 --> 0:26:55.439 say amen? 0:26:57.359 --> 0:26:59.960 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:27:00.119 --> 0:27:01.280 Us the Lord of your life. 0:27:01.760 --> 0:27:05.520 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:27:05.640 --> 0:27:09.480 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:27:09.560 --> 0:27:11.080 you my Lord and Savior. 0:27:11.960 --> 0:27:14.480 If you've prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:14.520 --> 0:27:17.639 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:27:17.800 --> 0:27:20.160 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:27:20.200 --> 0:27:23.080 the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:27:23.240 --> 0:27:25.679 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:25.760 --> 0:27:28.080 church and keep God first place. 0:27:29.560 --> 0:27:32.719 When God created the world. He did it specifically with 0:27:32.840 --> 0:27:37.280 you in mind. He used his words. He spoke everything 0:27:37.320 --> 0:27:47.000 into existence, light, oceans and dry land, plans, sun and stars, animals, 0:27:48.240 --> 0:27:52.840 man and woman. Your words have that same creative power. 0:27:54.000 --> 0:27:55.520 If you want to know what you're going to be 0:27:55.720 --> 0:27:58.520 like five years from now, listen to what you're saying 0:27:58.600 --> 0:28:02.919 about yourself. You are prophesying your future, and too often 0:28:02.960 --> 0:28:07.120 we don't realize we're defeating ourselves with our words. I'll 0:28:07.160 --> 0:28:11.600 never get healthy, I'm not attractive, this dreams impossible. Instead 0:28:11.640 --> 0:28:14.880 of limiting your future, why don't you start blessing your future. 0:28:15.320 --> 0:28:18.000 If you'll change your words, you can change your world. 0:28:18.640 --> 0:28:21.520 I have a new book called Speak the Blessing. You 0:28:21.640 --> 0:28:24.600 want to help you to speak positive, faith filled words. 0:28:25.080 --> 0:28:27.560 There are declarations in it that you can make over 0:28:27.600 --> 0:28:30.879 your family, your health, your finances. 0:28:30.240 --> 0:28:31.080 And your future. 0:28:31.600 --> 0:28:34.280 When you get your words aligned with what God says, 0:28:34.600 --> 0:28:36.840 you'll see His favor in greater ways. 0:28:37.359 --> 0:28:39.840 As our thank you for your gift of any amount 0:28:39.920 --> 0:28:42.360 to the ministry this month, we want to send you 0:28:42.600 --> 0:28:45.880 Speak the Blessing. Send your words in the direction you 0:28:45.920 --> 0:28:48.960 want your life to go. You can begin to enjoy 0:28:49.040 --> 0:28:54.360 a life filled with freedom. Joy, health, success, and creativity 0:28:54.680 --> 0:28:58.480 as you discover the authority and power of speaking God's word. 0:28:59.200 --> 0:29:03.480 Yes the Blessing will unlock life changing possibilities that are. 0:29:03.440 --> 0:29:07.960 Unlimited when you declare what God says about you. I'm strong, 0:29:08.200 --> 0:29:11.800 I'm healthy, I'm favored. You are blessing your life. I 0:29:11.800 --> 0:29:15.000 hope you'll request your copy to day. Remember you can 0:29:15.040 --> 0:29:20.000 watch the services live online every Sunday, download our daily podcast, 0:29:20.360 --> 0:29:20.920 watch on. 0:29:20.880 --> 0:29:25.120 YouTube, listen on Serious ExM. We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. 0:29:25.440 --> 0:29:28.680 Be sure to request your copy of Speak the Blessing today. 0:29:29.120 --> 0:29:33.040 Visit Joelousen dot com or call eighty eight five six 0:29:33.160 --> 0:29:34.080 seven Joel. 0:29:35.280 --> 0:29:39.160 Our homecoming weekend is this Saturday and Sunday. Some of 0:29:39.200 --> 0:29:42.320 you have never been to Lakewood. This is a perfect time. 0:29:42.400 --> 0:29:44.720 We'd love to meet you. We'd be honored to have 0:29:44.800 --> 0:29:45.960 you and your family.