God Is In Control

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Is it investment legal or 0:01:00.080 --> 0:01:00.600 types of bikes? 0:01:01.080 --> 0:01:03.800 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:03.880 --> 0:01:06.560 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:09.080 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:09.120 --> 0:01:10.640 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:11.000 --> 0:01:13.640 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:13.760 --> 0:01:27.480 your life. Well, God bless you. It's a joy to 0:01:27.600 --> 0:01:31.280 come into your homes. We love you, appreciate being able 0:01:31.319 --> 0:01:33.720 to spend the next half hour or so with you. 0:01:33.920 --> 0:01:35.680 And if you're ever in our area, I hope you'll 0:01:35.680 --> 0:01:38.280 stop by and see us. I promise you'll We'll make 0:01:38.319 --> 0:01:40.040 you feel right at home. But we'd love to have 0:01:40.200 --> 0:01:42.320 you be a part of one of our services. But 0:01:42.400 --> 0:01:45.039 thanks for tuning in today. I like to get started 0:01:45.080 --> 0:01:47.200 each week with something kind of funny, and I heard 0:01:47.200 --> 0:01:50.080 about this minister that was driving down the road. He 0:01:50.240 --> 0:01:53.360 looked down and accidentally veered off. He went through a 0:01:53.440 --> 0:01:56.840 ditch and ended up crashing into a telephone pole. The 0:01:56.920 --> 0:01:59.560 man behind him pulled over and ran up to him said, sir, 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:03.000 you'll okay. The minister said, yes, I'm fine. The Angel 0:02:03.160 --> 0:02:05.440 of the Lord was with me. The man shook his 0:02:05.560 --> 0:02:07.400 head and said, you better let him ride with me. 0:02:07.560 --> 0:02:12.320 You're about to kill him. All right, Hold up your bibles. 0:02:12.600 --> 0:02:15.160 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:02:15.600 --> 0:02:18.040 I am what it says. I am. I have what 0:02:18.200 --> 0:02:20.680 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:02:20.800 --> 0:02:23.600 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:02:23.680 --> 0:02:28.079 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:02:28.280 --> 0:02:32.679 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:02:33.120 --> 0:02:35.919 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:02:36.240 --> 0:02:39.160 about believing that God is in control of your life. 0:02:39.919 --> 0:02:43.800 Too many people go around worried and upset. They're always 0:02:43.840 --> 0:02:46.919 trying to figure everything out. How am I gonna get 0:02:46.960 --> 0:02:49.919 out of this problem? How can I change my child? 0:02:50.440 --> 0:02:52.800 When am I ever going to get married? Why won't 0:02:52.880 --> 0:02:56.680 my dreams come to pass? Their mind is constantly going 0:02:56.800 --> 0:02:59.640 ninety miles an hour. But that's not the way God 0:02:59.680 --> 0:03:03.520 wont us to live. When we're really trusting him, when 0:03:03.560 --> 0:03:06.800 we really believe that he's in control, we're at rest. 0:03:07.400 --> 0:03:10.400 There's a peace deep down on the inside. We know 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:14.040 that everything is going to be all right. Many times, 0:03:14.320 --> 0:03:17.160 the reason we lose our peace, the reason we worry 0:03:17.800 --> 0:03:21.760 is because we don't see anything happening. Everything is looking 0:03:21.840 --> 0:03:24.799 the same month after month, year after year. But we 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:29.200 have to understand God is working behind the scenes in 0:03:29.280 --> 0:03:33.359 our lives. He's already pre arranged a bright future for 0:03:33.440 --> 0:03:36.160 each one of us. And if the curtain were pulled 0:03:36.240 --> 0:03:39.240 back to where you could see in this unseen realm, 0:03:39.800 --> 0:03:42.920 you would see God fighting your battles for you, getting 0:03:42.960 --> 0:03:46.280 everything arranged in your favor. You'd see how God was 0:03:46.280 --> 0:03:49.800 going to open this door and bring this opportunity across 0:03:49.840 --> 0:03:53.800 your path and solve this other problem. I'm convinced if 0:03:53.840 --> 0:03:57.800 we could really see how God is orchestrating everything behind 0:03:57.840 --> 0:04:01.680 the scenes, we wouldn't worry. We wouldn't live stressed out anymore. 0:04:02.400 --> 0:04:05.160 And the fact is, we all have difficulties. We all 0:04:05.240 --> 0:04:07.920 have things in life that can steal our joy still 0:04:07.960 --> 0:04:10.080 our peace, for we have to learn to turn it 0:04:10.200 --> 0:04:13.760 over to God and say, God, I'm trusting you. I 0:04:13.920 --> 0:04:16.800 believe that you're in control. And even though I may 0:04:16.880 --> 0:04:20.440 not see anything happening, I believe you're working in my life. 0:04:21.000 --> 0:04:24.040 I believe even right now you're going before me making 0:04:24.120 --> 0:04:27.040 my crooked places straight. I believe you're going to cause 0:04:27.120 --> 0:04:29.279 me to be at the right place at the right time. 0:04:30.240 --> 0:04:33.239 Some of you are living so uptight, trying to figure 0:04:33.279 --> 0:04:36.240 everything out, trying to solve every problem. But this would 0:04:36.240 --> 0:04:38.920 take so much pressure off of you. You would enjoy 0:04:39.040 --> 0:04:41.760 your life so much more if you could just learn 0:04:41.880 --> 0:04:46.080 to relinquish control and start believing that God really is 0:04:46.400 --> 0:04:50.280 directing your steps. And the scripture says here in Philippians two, 0:04:50.360 --> 0:04:54.400 verse thirteen, for it is God who is all the 0:04:54.560 --> 0:04:59.360 while at work in you. Notice God doesn't work sometimes, 0:05:00.000 --> 0:05:01.720 and then go take a two or three year break 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:04.520 and come back and work a little more. God is 0:05:04.760 --> 0:05:08.960 constantly at work in your life. That means even right 0:05:09.120 --> 0:05:11.920 now you may not be able to see it, but 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:15.920 God is arranging things in your favor. He's getting the 0:05:16.080 --> 0:05:19.800 right people lined up to come across your path. He's 0:05:19.880 --> 0:05:23.440 even looking years down the road and getting everything perfectly 0:05:23.560 --> 0:05:27.719 in order, lining up solutions to problems you haven't even had. 0:05:28.520 --> 0:05:31.520 He's already got the right spouse lined up for you, 0:05:31.839 --> 0:05:35.599 the right spouse for your children. He's got the right opportunities, 0:05:35.960 --> 0:05:39.440 the right doors he's going to open. God is constantly 0:05:39.839 --> 0:05:43.640 working behind the scenes in our lives. Well, you say, Joel, 0:05:43.880 --> 0:05:46.080 I've been praying for my child for two years, but 0:05:46.279 --> 0:05:49.040 I don't see anything happening. I've been believing for my 0:05:49.200 --> 0:05:52.080 finances to change, but they're just the same. Or I've 0:05:52.080 --> 0:05:54.480 been praying for the right person to come into my life, 0:05:54.680 --> 0:05:57.600 but it's been four years. No, you don't know what 0:05:57.800 --> 0:06:01.640 God is doing behind the scenes. Don't get discouraged just 0:06:01.720 --> 0:06:04.840 because you don't see anything happening. That doesn't mean that 0:06:04.960 --> 0:06:08.880 God is not working. In fact, many times God works 0:06:08.960 --> 0:06:12.120 the most when we see it the least, and when 0:06:12.160 --> 0:06:14.440 we're in one of those dry seasons, when we don't 0:06:14.480 --> 0:06:18.479 see anything happening, that is simply a test of our faith. 0:06:18.960 --> 0:06:21.520 We have to dig our heels in and show God 0:06:21.640 --> 0:06:24.520 what we're made of. A lot of people get negative 0:06:24.560 --> 0:06:28.040 and discouraged. Well, I never get any good breaks. I 0:06:28.120 --> 0:06:30.479 knew nothing good. Whatever happened to me, Joel, I knew 0:06:30.480 --> 0:06:32.880 I'd never get out of this problem. No, you've got 0:06:32.960 --> 0:06:35.520 to zip that up. If you want to pass the test, 0:06:36.000 --> 0:06:38.360 You've got to put a smile on your face and say, 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:41.240 you know what. I may not see anything happening, but 0:06:41.400 --> 0:06:44.840 I know God is working in my life. My child 0:06:44.960 --> 0:06:48.120 may not be doing right, but I know it's only 0:06:48.200 --> 0:06:50.560 a matter of time. As for me and my house, 0:06:50.680 --> 0:06:54.200 we will serve the Lord. My finances may look just 0:06:54.360 --> 0:06:56.920 the same, but I'm not worried about it. I know 0:06:57.080 --> 0:07:00.680 I am blessed. I cannot be cursed. Oh, in my 0:07:01.000 --> 0:07:04.440 due season, at the exact right time, things are going 0:07:04.520 --> 0:07:06.760 to change in my favor. And when we have this 0:07:06.920 --> 0:07:09.440 attitude of faith, we're going to see God do great 0:07:09.480 --> 0:07:11.920 things in our lives. Now, I found a lot of 0:07:12.000 --> 0:07:15.760 times God is working, we just don't recognize it. We 0:07:15.920 --> 0:07:19.600 need to be more aware of God's goodness. Really, there's 0:07:19.680 --> 0:07:22.960 no such thing as a coincidence. When you get a 0:07:23.040 --> 0:07:26.400 good break, when things change in your favor, when you 0:07:26.520 --> 0:07:29.000 find yourself at the right place at the right time, 0:07:29.560 --> 0:07:34.120 recognize that's God directing your steps. That's God at work 0:07:34.200 --> 0:07:37.400 in your life. And if you'll be aware, it will 0:07:37.560 --> 0:07:40.600 encourage you, it will build your faith. And every one 0:07:40.680 --> 0:07:43.400 of us can look back in our lives and see 0:07:43.480 --> 0:07:46.440 the critical moments that had to be the hand of God. 0:07:47.040 --> 0:07:49.600 It's almost like we can connect the dots. We can 0:07:49.680 --> 0:07:52.360 see how I met this person over here, and I 0:07:52.440 --> 0:07:55.080 got this break and it caused me to get this job, 0:07:55.360 --> 0:07:57.520 and that's where I met my spouse. If I had 0:07:57.600 --> 0:07:59.840 not been at this exact place, I'd never gotten this 0:08:00.080 --> 0:08:00.680 other promotion. 0:08:01.640 --> 0:08:02.200 On and on. 0:08:02.800 --> 0:08:06.080 That's not a lucky break. That's God's hand of favor 0:08:06.560 --> 0:08:10.560 all the while. God is working behind the scenes. I 0:08:10.640 --> 0:08:13.600 think about in my own life in my twenties, I 0:08:13.720 --> 0:08:16.520 walked into a jewelry store here in Houston to buy 0:08:16.520 --> 0:08:19.520 a battery for my watch. That's where I met Victoria. 0:08:20.240 --> 0:08:23.480 Think about how many jewelry stores there are here in town. 0:08:23.960 --> 0:08:26.400 I could have gone into a different one. She might 0:08:26.480 --> 0:08:28.640 not have been there that day. What if the battery 0:08:28.680 --> 0:08:31.680 to my watch had not died? That was God directing 0:08:31.760 --> 0:08:35.360 my steps. I remember, as a young couple, Victoria and 0:08:35.400 --> 0:08:38.199 I found this poem that we really liked. It was 0:08:38.280 --> 0:08:40.680 a rundown house, but it was on a nice piece 0:08:40.720 --> 0:08:43.160 of property, and we knew it was for us. And 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:45.280 in the natural, it didn't make a lot of sense. 0:08:45.920 --> 0:08:49.120 We were leaving a very beautiful town home, but we 0:08:49.200 --> 0:08:51.240 knew that's what God wanted us to do, so we 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:54.079 took that step of faith and we bought it. And 0:08:54.200 --> 0:08:56.719 the day we closed on it, we were standing out 0:08:56.800 --> 0:08:59.880 in the front yard and a realtor stopped by and 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:03.520 offered us much more than we had paid. We thought, 0:09:03.559 --> 0:09:06.360 what's going on. We didn't understand it. Come to find 0:09:06.400 --> 0:09:09.320 out they were in the process of changing the deed 0:09:09.400 --> 0:09:13.199 restrictions in that neighborhood, and several years later we sold 0:09:13.240 --> 0:09:16.319 that property for twice as much as we paid for it. 0:09:17.040 --> 0:09:19.520 That was God causing us to be at the right 0:09:19.640 --> 0:09:22.959 place at the right time. And when you really understand 0:09:23.559 --> 0:09:27.679 that the creator of the universe, Almighty God is working 0:09:27.720 --> 0:09:31.000 in your life, when you understand that even right now, 0:09:31.800 --> 0:09:36.640 behind the scenes, you may not feel anything special. You 0:09:36.800 --> 0:09:38.920 may just be doing the same thing you've done month 0:09:39.000 --> 0:09:41.880 after month, year after year. But then all the sudden 0:09:42.440 --> 0:09:45.280 you bump into one person that offers you a new position, 0:09:45.920 --> 0:09:48.480 you get one idea that takes you to a new level, 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:51.360 or you're at the right place at the right time 0:09:51.840 --> 0:09:54.160 and you meet the man or woman of your dreams. 0:09:54.720 --> 0:09:57.559 God could have been working on that ten years, getting 0:09:57.640 --> 0:10:01.720 everything lined up. Then suddenly it all comes together, Suddenly 0:10:01.960 --> 0:10:05.200 your due season shows up here. Years and years before, 0:10:05.559 --> 0:10:08.319 you could have thought, well, nothing's happening in my life. 0:10:08.760 --> 0:10:11.000 I'll probably never get out of this problem, I'll probably 0:10:11.080 --> 0:10:14.360 never get married. Yet the whole time God was at 0:10:14.440 --> 0:10:18.280 work things were happening behind the scenes, and I'm asking 0:10:18.360 --> 0:10:21.720 you today to not fall into that trap of dragging 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:25.360 through life with no joy, no enthusiasm, thinking nothing good 0:10:25.480 --> 0:10:28.280 is happening. Now, you've got to shake that off and 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:32.160 start believing that right now, not two weeks from now, 0:10:32.320 --> 0:10:35.760 but right now, God is working in your life. Right now. 0:10:36.000 --> 0:10:39.760 God's arranging things in your favor. Right now. God's fighting 0:10:39.840 --> 0:10:42.680 your battles for you. Right now, God is making your 0:10:42.760 --> 0:10:46.000 crooked places straight. You may not see it come to 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:50.040 pass today, but here's the key. Every day you live 0:10:50.120 --> 0:10:54.079 with faith and expectancy, that means you're one day closer 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:56.720 to seeing it come in to pass. If it doesn't 0:10:56.760 --> 0:11:00.199 happen today, your attitude should be no big deal. I 0:11:00.360 --> 0:11:03.360 know it may happen tomorrow, doesn't happen tomorrow, it may 0:11:03.440 --> 0:11:07.160 happen the next day, But whenever it does or doesn't happen, 0:11:07.400 --> 0:11:10.680 it's not gonna steal my joy. I'm not gonna live frustrated. 0:11:11.080 --> 0:11:13.760 I know God is in control and at the exact 0:11:13.920 --> 0:11:17.320 right time it's gonna come to pass. And in the meantime, 0:11:17.800 --> 0:11:21.000 I'm gonna relax and just enjoy my life. See, you've 0:11:21.000 --> 0:11:24.520 got to believe God is in control. Believe God is 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:28.280 working behind the scenes in your life. The scripture says 0:11:28.600 --> 0:11:33.319 in First Thessalonians two thirteen, God is effectually at work 0:11:33.800 --> 0:11:38.559 in those who believe. Notice his power is activated only 0:11:38.679 --> 0:11:42.200 when we believe. God can work in your behalf, your 0:11:42.280 --> 0:11:46.200 whole lifetime. And you never really get the full benefit 0:11:46.280 --> 0:11:49.520 of it because you didn't believe. I'm sure you may 0:11:49.600 --> 0:11:52.640 get a break here or there, But when you really believe, 0:11:53.360 --> 0:11:56.600 when you really get up every day expecting good things, 0:11:56.960 --> 0:11:59.920 You're gonna see more of God's favor. You're gonna see 0:12:00.200 --> 0:12:03.959 what He's been doing behind the scenes. And even when 0:12:04.040 --> 0:12:07.839 we have problems, even when things come against us, we 0:12:08.040 --> 0:12:11.920 have to believe that God already has the answer. In 0:12:12.000 --> 0:12:16.319 other words, that problem is no surprise to God. That 0:12:16.559 --> 0:12:20.360 child that won't do right, that financial difficulty, being lonely, 0:12:21.000 --> 0:12:24.960 that doesn't have God baffled. God already has the answer. 0:12:25.520 --> 0:12:29.520 He knows the end from the beginning. God knows every 0:12:29.679 --> 0:12:32.280 trial we're ever going to face in the future. He 0:12:32.440 --> 0:12:35.880 knows every difficulty we're ever going to go through. And 0:12:36.000 --> 0:12:39.920 the good news is God already has the solution. He 0:12:40.040 --> 0:12:43.559 has already made a way of escape and that tells 0:12:43.640 --> 0:12:46.480 me we don't have to live life worried. We don't 0:12:46.520 --> 0:12:49.599 have to go around all stressed out. God has it 0:12:49.760 --> 0:12:53.959 all under control. We're tempted to get negative and go 0:12:54.080 --> 0:12:57.240 around complaining. We need to just turn it around. Our 0:12:57.240 --> 0:13:00.640 attitude should be. I know God is working on this problem. 0:13:01.040 --> 0:13:04.280 I know he's in the process of changing things, getting 0:13:04.320 --> 0:13:07.800 the right people lined up, softening the right hearts. And 0:13:07.920 --> 0:13:10.319 I believe God's not only going to bring me out, 0:13:10.520 --> 0:13:12.559 but He's gonna bring me out better off than I 0:13:12.760 --> 0:13:16.120 was before. When we have this kind of attitude, it 0:13:16.280 --> 0:13:19.440 takes all the pressure off of us. We can relax 0:13:19.600 --> 0:13:22.439 and enjoy our lives. We know God is in control. 0:13:23.000 --> 0:13:26.200 We know as long as we believe God is all 0:13:26.400 --> 0:13:30.120 the while working for our good. It's good to look 0:13:30.200 --> 0:13:32.839 back over your life and see the things that had 0:13:32.920 --> 0:13:36.079 to be God. I know a young lady that met 0:13:36.160 --> 0:13:39.000 her husband on the side of the road. She had 0:13:39.040 --> 0:13:41.040 a flat tire one day out here on the freeway 0:13:41.200 --> 0:13:44.559 during rush hour, and he stopped to help change it, 0:13:44.960 --> 0:13:47.880 and they got to talking. They ended up dating, and 0:13:48.000 --> 0:13:51.600 today they're happily married. Think about the chances of all 0:13:51.679 --> 0:13:54.360 that coming together that had to be the hand of God. 0:13:54.960 --> 0:13:57.760 God was saying to that young lady, it's your due season. 0:13:58.240 --> 0:14:01.199 You've been faithful, you passed the tes. Now let me 0:14:01.280 --> 0:14:03.920 show you what I've been doing behind the scenes all 0:14:04.000 --> 0:14:07.280 these years. Had that young man move from another city, 0:14:07.880 --> 0:14:10.400 gave him the right job, had him coming down the 0:14:10.440 --> 0:14:14.199 freeway at the exact right time. Only God can orchestrate that. 0:14:14.600 --> 0:14:18.199 Let's learn to trust him. Let's take the pressure off 0:14:18.280 --> 0:14:22.000 of ourselves and start believing that God is in control 0:14:22.160 --> 0:14:26.000 of our lives. I remember when we were negotiating to 0:14:26.080 --> 0:14:30.040 get this facility, the Compact Center. We needed ten votes 0:14:30.040 --> 0:14:32.480 from the city council members, and we had worked for 0:14:32.560 --> 0:14:35.960 two years and gone through several other votes, and when 0:14:36.000 --> 0:14:38.800 it came down to the last and final vote, we 0:14:38.960 --> 0:14:42.960 had exactly ten votes, just what we needed. But unfortunately, 0:14:43.160 --> 0:14:46.280 just a few days before this vote, we got word 0:14:46.440 --> 0:14:49.040 that one of the council members had changed his mind 0:14:49.360 --> 0:14:51.920 and he wasn't going to show up. Well, that was 0:14:52.040 --> 0:14:54.160 just as good as being a vote against us. We 0:14:54.320 --> 0:14:57.720 needed his vote, and man, we were so discouraged. It 0:14:57.840 --> 0:14:59.760 looked like it was all over. It looked like we 0:15:00.040 --> 0:15:02.960 and all that work for nothing. But we decided to 0:15:03.040 --> 0:15:05.880 go back and meet with another council member to just 0:15:05.960 --> 0:15:08.200 see maybe if we could get him to change his mind. 0:15:08.680 --> 0:15:11.440 He's a young Jewish man, a very fine gentleman, but 0:15:11.560 --> 0:15:14.120 he had been against us the whole time, over two years. 0:15:14.520 --> 0:15:17.600 We thought, what can it hurt to ask? Long story short, 0:15:17.680 --> 0:15:20.400 at the last moment, he changed his mind, and it 0:15:20.560 --> 0:15:23.320 was his vote that gave us this facility. And I 0:15:23.440 --> 0:15:25.400 was talking to him later and I asked him, what 0:15:25.680 --> 0:15:28.680 was it that really changed your mind? And he said, Joel, 0:15:28.880 --> 0:15:31.600 I got a call out of the blue from an 0:15:31.680 --> 0:15:35.680 old friend of mine. She's an elderly Jewish lady. Hadn't 0:15:35.720 --> 0:15:37.760 talked to her in years and years, and I really 0:15:37.840 --> 0:15:41.800 respect her. But she told me in no uncertain terms 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:47.080 that I was to vote for your church. And he said, 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:52.960 even though thousands of your members called, even though you 0:15:53.080 --> 0:15:56.280 and your team were very persuasive, it was that lady 0:15:56.520 --> 0:15:59.800 that changed my mind. And what I found interesting is 0:16:00.280 --> 0:16:03.400 I've never seen that lady. I never asked her to call. 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:06.120 To this day, I don't know who she is. All 0:16:06.240 --> 0:16:10.040 I know is that God all the while was working 0:16:10.160 --> 0:16:15.200 behind the scenes, and what we couldn't do in our 0:16:15.280 --> 0:16:19.360 own ability, what we couldn't do in our own strength. 0:16:19.880 --> 0:16:23.000 God caused somebody else to do for us. What I'm 0:16:23.040 --> 0:16:26.320 saying is, God knows who to influence in your life. 0:16:26.880 --> 0:16:29.120 God knows who should put in a good word for you. 0:16:30.080 --> 0:16:32.760 You may not ever even know why it happened, why 0:16:32.920 --> 0:16:35.640 somebody was good to you, why you got that break. 0:16:36.240 --> 0:16:38.800 But the truth is God had four or five things 0:16:38.840 --> 0:16:40.840 he'd been working on for years, and all of a 0:16:40.880 --> 0:16:44.680 sudden it came together. Why don't you believe today that 0:16:44.840 --> 0:16:47.320 God is working behind the scenes in your own life. 0:16:47.600 --> 0:16:50.760 Why don't you believe that He's in complete control. Our 0:16:50.920 --> 0:16:54.320 faith is what activates his power. Don't you dare go 0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:56.960 through the day thinking, man, Joel, my situation is probably 0:16:57.040 --> 0:16:59.160 never going to change. I don't think I'll ever get 0:16:59.200 --> 0:17:01.600 out of debt. I don't think y'all ever get married. Now, 0:17:01.640 --> 0:17:03.760 when you do that, you are tying the hands of 0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:07.960 Almighty God. When we're tempted to get negative and discouraged, 0:17:08.119 --> 0:17:10.040 we got to learn to just turn it around and say, no, 0:17:10.480 --> 0:17:12.960 I know God is working in my life. I know 0:17:13.160 --> 0:17:16.080 my due season is on its way. I know suddenly 0:17:16.160 --> 0:17:18.919 I will see all that God's been doing behind the scenes. 0:17:19.560 --> 0:17:23.440 And then go out each day expecting good things, knowing 0:17:23.520 --> 0:17:26.800 that the creator of the universe is directing your steps. 0:17:27.960 --> 0:17:30.560 A while back, I talked to a gentleman that had 0:17:30.640 --> 0:17:34.679 designed the freeway entry and exit ramps for this building 0:17:34.960 --> 0:17:38.040 over thirty five years ago, and he told how he 0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:41.600 made the exit ramp at the exact perfect distance so 0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:44.440 people could pull into these parking lots with ease, same 0:17:44.520 --> 0:17:47.160 thing with the entry ramp. He said he even worked 0:17:47.200 --> 0:17:50.240 with the city to time all the lights around here 0:17:50.600 --> 0:17:53.600 to make it the most beneficial for people coming to 0:17:53.720 --> 0:17:57.320 this building. And I thought, that's just another sign of 0:17:57.440 --> 0:18:01.120 God's goodness here. Over thirty five years years ago, God 0:18:01.359 --> 0:18:05.080 was working behind the scenes, having people make this facility 0:18:05.200 --> 0:18:07.359 be the best that it could be, just so you 0:18:07.440 --> 0:18:10.320 and I could enjoy it today. And as we were talking, 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:13.680 I kind of laughed and I told him I would 0:18:13.720 --> 0:18:15.400 have thanked you back then, but I was only three 0:18:15.480 --> 0:18:19.320 years old. And yes, I know this has been used 0:18:19.359 --> 0:18:22.920 for basketball and other things, but I believe those were 0:18:22.960 --> 0:18:25.800 all secondary. I believe God had it planned out a 0:18:25.960 --> 0:18:29.040 long time ago that you and I would be sitting 0:18:29.080 --> 0:18:33.560 here today. And in the same way, I believe God 0:18:33.680 --> 0:18:37.359 is working behind the scenes in your life doing things 0:18:37.560 --> 0:18:39.920 that are gonna thrust you to a whole new level. 0:18:40.640 --> 0:18:43.119 You may not see the culmination of it for years 0:18:43.160 --> 0:18:46.240 and years, but you got to trust him. Quit worry in, 0:18:46.880 --> 0:18:50.480 quit living frustrated because it's not happening as fast as 0:18:50.560 --> 0:18:53.639 you would like. In God's perfect timing, it's all going 0:18:53.720 --> 0:18:57.399 to come to pass, and even in small things. About 0:18:57.440 --> 0:19:00.639 six months ago, I got some disappointing news about a 0:19:00.840 --> 0:19:03.800 certain situation. It was gonna be a pain to deal with, 0:19:04.080 --> 0:19:05.760 and I didn't know how it was gonna turn out. 0:19:06.440 --> 0:19:08.320 And like a lot of us, at first, I was 0:19:08.440 --> 0:19:10.520 tempted to worry and try to figure it all out. 0:19:11.119 --> 0:19:13.840 And if we're not careful, our mind will show us 0:19:13.920 --> 0:19:17.360 all the worst possible scenarios. If you have a problem, 0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:20.000 your mind will show you with it your whole lifetime. 0:19:20.800 --> 0:19:23.440 Business gets slow, that old negative voice will tell you 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:25.600 in you're gonna go under. You're not gonna be able 0:19:25.600 --> 0:19:28.000 to pay your bills, you may lose your house. Got 0:19:28.080 --> 0:19:30.240 a pain in your side, man, that's serious. You better 0:19:30.320 --> 0:19:31.000 get to the doctor. 0:19:31.480 --> 0:19:31.600 Now. 0:19:31.640 --> 0:19:34.440 We gotta control our thought life. We gotta believe God 0:19:34.560 --> 0:19:37.720 is still working. And earlier that day, I've gotten this 0:19:37.800 --> 0:19:40.720 disappointing news and I was here at the office about 0:19:40.760 --> 0:19:44.000 to get on the elevator, but just then off stepped 0:19:44.119 --> 0:19:47.040 a lady that I've known since I was a little boy. 0:19:47.760 --> 0:19:49.879 And one thing I know about this lady is she 0:19:49.960 --> 0:19:53.280 has always loved me, and she has always prayed for me. 0:19:54.119 --> 0:19:57.160 I probably haven't bumped into her in four or five years, 0:19:57.560 --> 0:19:59.760 but we gave each other a hug, and I knew 0:19:59.800 --> 0:20:02.159 what she was going to say. She said, Joel, you remember, 0:20:02.359 --> 0:20:06.040 I still pray for you every single day. And I 0:20:06.160 --> 0:20:10.119 thought that wasn't a coincidence. That was God having me 0:20:10.240 --> 0:20:13.200 be at the right place just so he could encourage me. 0:20:13.720 --> 0:20:17.320 That was God's way of saying, Joel, everything is under control, 0:20:17.440 --> 0:20:19.560 Everything going to be all right. Just stay at peace, 0:20:19.800 --> 0:20:24.879 stay at rest. Just these little things in our everyday lives. 0:20:25.160 --> 0:20:28.280 If we will pay attention, we'll see that's God talking 0:20:28.320 --> 0:20:31.760 to us, that's God directing our steps. In the house 0:20:31.920 --> 0:20:34.760 my parents used to live in in the den, there 0:20:34.800 --> 0:20:37.520 were these big windows that looked out to the courtyard 0:20:37.720 --> 0:20:40.800 is actually a town home, and every day for months, 0:20:41.200 --> 0:20:44.520 this beautiful little cardinal, a little red bird would come 0:20:44.600 --> 0:20:47.040 by and sit on one of the branches right by 0:20:47.080 --> 0:20:50.320 the window, and my mother so enjoyed having it there. 0:20:50.760 --> 0:20:52.760 She got to the point where she looked forward to 0:20:52.880 --> 0:20:55.680 it coming by each day. And this went on for 0:20:55.840 --> 0:20:59.480 five or six months, light clockwork. The little bird showed 0:20:59.560 --> 0:21:03.480 up and spent the afternoon in the courtyard. Eventually he 0:21:03.600 --> 0:21:06.159 quit coming by. I tried to give my mother my 0:21:06.200 --> 0:21:09.919 pet hamster, but she didn't want that. About a year 0:21:10.000 --> 0:21:12.440 after this, my father went to be with the Lord. 0:21:12.960 --> 0:21:15.520 And of course now my mother was at home by herself. 0:21:16.119 --> 0:21:19.280 She had to make some adjustments. I'm sure at times 0:21:19.359 --> 0:21:22.280 she was tempted to be lonely, tempted to get down 0:21:22.400 --> 0:21:25.639 and discouraged. But you know what happened. The little bird 0:21:25.880 --> 0:21:29.560 started coming back by once again. That was God saying 0:21:29.880 --> 0:21:35.440 I still have a plan. I'm still in control. And 0:21:35.560 --> 0:21:39.640 you know, throughout life, if we'll be sensitive, if we'll 0:21:39.680 --> 0:21:42.960 be aware, we will see the hand of God, even 0:21:43.040 --> 0:21:46.560 in little things. That's God letting us know he's still 0:21:46.600 --> 0:21:50.280 working behind the scenes. A friend of mine has what 0:21:50.400 --> 0:21:53.760 the doctors say is terminal cancer. They're not giving him 0:21:53.800 --> 0:21:56.480 any hope. But the other day his little boy came 0:21:56.520 --> 0:22:00.200 in with his bible. He's only four years old. Open 0:22:00.280 --> 0:22:01.720 it up and he said, Daddy, I want you to 0:22:01.760 --> 0:22:05.080 read this scripture right here. He can't read yet, he 0:22:05.080 --> 0:22:07.360 didn't know what he was pointing to. The father read 0:22:07.400 --> 0:22:10.920 the scripture. It was John eleven four. It says this 0:22:11.119 --> 0:22:13.680 sickness shall not end in death, but it is for 0:22:13.840 --> 0:22:21.399 the glory of God. That was God saying to my friend, 0:22:22.040 --> 0:22:24.920 I know what you're going through. I've seen every tear 0:22:25.040 --> 0:22:28.119 you've shed. It may not look possible to you, you 0:22:28.240 --> 0:22:30.679 may not see any way out, but just remember I'm 0:22:30.760 --> 0:22:33.960 the God of the impossible. I made your body. There's 0:22:34.040 --> 0:22:37.280 nothing I can't do. Just keep believing, just keep trusting. 0:22:37.680 --> 0:22:41.080 I'm still in control. The doctors only gave him three 0:22:41.160 --> 0:22:43.560 months to live, but he's coming up on his one 0:22:43.640 --> 0:22:48.520 year anniversary. And I saw him. I saw him about 0:22:48.520 --> 0:22:51.159 a month ago, and he looks as healthy as can be. 0:22:51.680 --> 0:22:54.840 And I reminded him. God always has the final say. 0:22:55.400 --> 0:22:57.320 If God be for you, who dare be against you? 0:22:58.280 --> 0:23:02.440 But these little signs are simply glimpses that God gives 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:05.320 us to build our faith. There are glimpses that He 0:23:05.440 --> 0:23:08.800 gives us to let us know he's working behind the scenes. 0:23:09.320 --> 0:23:12.160 Be sensitive. Most of the time. You don't just bump 0:23:12.200 --> 0:23:15.320 into somebody You didn't just get a lucky break. You 0:23:15.400 --> 0:23:17.439 don't just happen to be at the right place at 0:23:17.480 --> 0:23:21.639 the right time. That's God directing your steps. I'll never 0:23:21.760 --> 0:23:25.439 forget the last Saturday that we were meeting at our 0:23:25.520 --> 0:23:29.400 old location, the Northeast location. I had been there practically 0:23:29.480 --> 0:23:32.159 my whole life. I'd grown up there, and although I 0:23:32.280 --> 0:23:34.920 was very excited about coming over here, in a way, 0:23:35.000 --> 0:23:38.040 it was kind of sad leaving that place, all the memories, 0:23:38.080 --> 0:23:40.359 all the great things that had happened. Now, as I 0:23:40.440 --> 0:23:43.920 was driving to the final Saturday evening service, I was 0:23:44.000 --> 0:23:46.600 just reflecting on all that God had done. Now, I 0:23:46.640 --> 0:23:48.760 looked up in the sky and I saw the most 0:23:48.800 --> 0:23:52.880 beautiful rainbow you could ever imagine. I mean, from the freeway, 0:23:52.960 --> 0:23:56.080 it looked like one end of it was literally touching 0:23:56.400 --> 0:23:59.000 the church on the northeast side. The other was reaching 0:23:59.040 --> 0:24:02.359 out over here. Is almost as if God was putting 0:24:02.440 --> 0:24:05.600 his stamp of approval on it, saying, I'm pleased your 0:24:05.640 --> 0:24:08.240 work here is done. It's time to enter into your 0:24:08.320 --> 0:24:12.920 new beginning. That's God all the while at work in 0:24:13.040 --> 0:24:16.159 those who believe. Well, you said, Joe, I saw that rainbow. 0:24:16.240 --> 0:24:20.120 Didn't mean nothing to me, No, This is for believers, 0:24:20.160 --> 0:24:24.639 your hard headed thing. You gotta believe God's work in 0:24:24.720 --> 0:24:30.679 your life. You gotta be on the lookout. It may 0:24:30.920 --> 0:24:33.800 just be a scripture that jumps out at you one 0:24:33.840 --> 0:24:36.560 day while you're reading, a friend that calls you a 0:24:36.640 --> 0:24:40.280 bird in your courtyard, a rainbow in the sky. God 0:24:40.400 --> 0:24:43.960 gives us these little glimpses to build our faith, to 0:24:44.080 --> 0:24:46.960 let us know that He is still in control. He's 0:24:47.000 --> 0:24:51.120 still working behind the scenes, and even in our dark times, 0:24:51.600 --> 0:24:54.919 God is still working in our lives. These young parents 0:24:55.000 --> 0:24:58.399 told me the other day about their daughter, She's in 0:24:58.560 --> 0:25:01.520 heaven today. When she was three years old, she had 0:25:01.560 --> 0:25:05.640 a very serious illness. She was bedridden and near death. 0:25:06.119 --> 0:25:08.960 As you can imagine, these parents were so distraught, in 0:25:09.080 --> 0:25:11.600 so much pain, they would never leave her side there 0:25:11.640 --> 0:25:14.200 at the hospital, and toward the end, the little girl 0:25:14.359 --> 0:25:16.920 was going in and out of a coma. They knew 0:25:16.960 --> 0:25:19.879 they were about to lose her. But just before she died, 0:25:20.160 --> 0:25:23.720 she smiled real big and with the most peaceful look 0:25:23.840 --> 0:25:27.520 on her face. She said, look, mommy, look Daddy, Jesus 0:25:27.640 --> 0:25:31.679 is saying it's okay to come. She closed her eyes 0:25:32.040 --> 0:25:36.000 and breathed her final breath. But even in the difficult times, 0:25:36.440 --> 0:25:39.040 even when we don't think that we'll ever smile again. 0:25:39.440 --> 0:25:42.760 God is there, the friend that sticks closer than a brother. 0:25:43.240 --> 0:25:47.040 He's got a new beginning. The scripture says, weeping may 0:25:47.240 --> 0:25:50.159 endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. 0:25:53.080 --> 0:25:53.600 Why don't you. 0:25:53.680 --> 0:25:59.119 Dare today to trust him there, to believe that even 0:25:59.280 --> 0:26:03.000 in your disciplate ointments, even in life's heartaches and pains, 0:26:03.480 --> 0:26:03.919 God is. 0:26:03.960 --> 0:26:07.040 Still right there with you. He said he would never 0:26:07.240 --> 0:26:10.400 leave you nor forsake you. You may not be able 0:26:10.480 --> 0:26:14.480 to see anything happening right now, but please know God 0:26:14.720 --> 0:26:18.320 is still working in your life. He is directing your steps. 0:26:19.040 --> 0:26:21.960 You don't have to figure everything out. You may not 0:26:22.160 --> 0:26:25.080 know what your future holds, but as long as you 0:26:25.240 --> 0:26:28.600 know who holds your future, You're gonna be okay. And 0:26:28.760 --> 0:26:31.560 God has you in the palm of his hand. You 0:26:31.640 --> 0:26:34.800 don't know how God's been working behind the seams in 0:26:34.920 --> 0:26:38.760 your life over the years. Thirty five years ago, God 0:26:38.920 --> 0:26:40.679 was making a way for us to be here today. 0:26:41.280 --> 0:26:44.120 Twenty years ago he had me walk into that jewelry 0:26:44.160 --> 0:26:47.280 store and meet Victoria. I don't know what He has 0:26:47.359 --> 0:26:50.280 in store for my future, but I know this, I'm 0:26:50.359 --> 0:26:52.960 excited about it because when I think about the God 0:26:53.000 --> 0:26:56.160 who created it all, the God who flung the stars 0:26:56.200 --> 0:26:59.640 into space, cares so much about you and so much 0:26:59.640 --> 0:27:03.080 about me that he is constantly working for our good. 0:27:03.640 --> 0:27:06.560 That puts a spring in my step. To know that 0:27:06.680 --> 0:27:09.879 God is bigger than anything will ever face, to know 0:27:10.040 --> 0:27:13.200 that He's already lining up answers for problems that we 0:27:13.320 --> 0:27:16.719 may have ten twenty years from now. And everything may 0:27:16.800 --> 0:27:19.359 not be perfect in our lives today, but we don't 0:27:19.440 --> 0:27:22.639 have to live upset and stressed out. We can be 0:27:22.720 --> 0:27:25.760 assured that God is in control and at the right time, 0:27:26.000 --> 0:27:28.800 he's going to change things in our favor. And I 0:27:28.840 --> 0:27:31.080 don't know what's going on in your life, but you 0:27:31.160 --> 0:27:33.639 need to know God not only knows about it, but 0:27:33.760 --> 0:27:37.280 he is working behind the scenes. He's arranging things in 0:27:37.400 --> 0:27:40.879 your favor. Learn to trust him, quit worrying about it, 0:27:41.000 --> 0:27:44.560 quit living frustrated. When you believe, you activate his power. 0:27:45.160 --> 0:27:48.920 And always remember just because you don't see anything happening 0:27:49.240 --> 0:27:52.600 doesn't mean God's not working. God is all the while 0:27:52.960 --> 0:27:55.280 at work in your life. And if you could just 0:27:55.440 --> 0:27:58.480 learn to relinquish control and say, all right, God, I'm 0:27:58.480 --> 0:28:00.480 going to trust you. I know, Oh, You've got a 0:28:00.520 --> 0:28:02.920 great plan for my life. I'm gonna quit trying to 0:28:02.920 --> 0:28:05.400 figure it all out and I'm just gonna start believing 0:28:05.600 --> 0:28:08.600 that you are in complete control. When you do that, 0:28:09.040 --> 0:28:11.600 you'll feel a weight lift off of you and you 0:28:11.760 --> 0:28:14.240 not only enjoy your life more, but you're gonna see 0:28:14.280 --> 0:28:17.040 more of God's blessings in favor. And I believe you'll 0:28:17.040 --> 0:28:19.560 live the life of victory God has in story. Amen, 0:28:19.880 --> 0:28:24.399 do you receive it today? Or we never like suppose 0:28:24.480 --> 0:28:27.840 our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:27.960 --> 0:28:30.240 the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:30.960 --> 0:28:36.080 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins, Come 0:28:36.160 --> 0:28:39.520 into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. 0:28:40.960 --> 0:28:43.160 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:43.240 --> 0:28:46.320 born again. Get in a good Bible based church, Keep 0:28:46.360 --> 0:28:49.200 God first place. He's gonna take your places that you've 0:28:49.240 --> 0:28:49.880 never dreamed of. 0:28:50.240 --> 0:28:53.640 Thank you for listening to the Joel Oustine podcast. Help 0:28:53.760 --> 0:28:56.440 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:28:56.560 --> 0:29:00.840 all over the world. Visit joelostin dot com give hope 0:29:01.040 --> 0:29:02.200 to give a gift today. 0:29:03.520 --> 0:29:06.440 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:06.440 --> 0:29:09.800 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:09.920 --> 0:29:13.080 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:29:13.280 --> 0:29:15.680 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:15.800 --> 0:29:16.280 next time. 0:29:28.000 --> 0:29:30.640 With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 0:29:30.760 --> 0:29:35.760 for everyone. 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