God's Gracious Hand

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:05.960 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:00:06.120 --> 0:00:08.440 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:00:08.440 --> 0:00:10.000 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:00:10.360 --> 0:00:13.040 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:00:13.080 --> 0:00:16.280 your line. No, bless you. It's great to be with 0:00:16.320 --> 0:00:19.079 you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with us 0:00:19.160 --> 0:00:22.680 during the week through our daily podcast or YouTube channel 0:00:22.720 --> 0:00:26.320 and social media, and you can come visit us in person. 0:00:26.480 --> 0:00:28.320 We'd love to have you be a part of one 0:00:28.360 --> 0:00:31.280 of our services. I'd like to start with something funny 0:00:31.280 --> 0:00:34.320 and I heard about this church and one Sunday morning, 0:00:34.479 --> 0:00:37.720 everything was going great until a bolt of lightning hit 0:00:37.800 --> 0:00:42.560 the sainctuary. When the smoke cleared, Satan himself was standing 0:00:42.600 --> 0:00:46.279 behind the podium. People panicked and took off running as 0:00:46.360 --> 0:00:50.400 fast as they could. Everyone that is, except one lady. 0:00:50.560 --> 0:00:52.800 She sat on the front row as calm as can be, 0:00:52.920 --> 0:00:56.160 and Satan was appalled. He said, lady, do you know 0:00:56.200 --> 0:00:59.480 who I am? She said, I sure do. He said, well, 0:00:59.480 --> 0:01:01.520 aren't you a f's fraid of me? She said not 0:01:01.640 --> 0:01:04.839 in the least bit. He said why not? She said, 0:01:04.840 --> 0:01:07.039 why should I be. I've been married to your brother 0:01:07.160 --> 0:01:11.760 for thirty years. This is my Bible. I am what 0:01:11.880 --> 0:01:14.440 it says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:01:15.000 --> 0:01:17.640 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:01:17.760 --> 0:01:21.160 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:01:21.600 --> 0:01:24.920 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:01:24.959 --> 0:01:29.039 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:01:30.560 --> 0:01:33.039 I want to talk to you today about the gracious 0:01:33.120 --> 0:01:36.959 hand of God. We all face obstacles that look too 0:01:36.959 --> 0:01:41.720 big to overcome and dreams that seem impossible to accomplish. 0:01:42.080 --> 0:01:47.000 Sometimes it's situations that are just complicated in a relationship 0:01:47.360 --> 0:01:50.840 or health, a business. We tried our best, but we 0:01:50.880 --> 0:01:53.800 don't see how it could ever work out. But when 0:01:53.800 --> 0:01:57.160 you gave your life to Christ, God puts something on 0:01:57.240 --> 0:02:00.760 you that gives you an advantage that'll cause you to 0:02:00.840 --> 0:02:04.680 stand out, to accomplish dreams that seem over your head, 0:02:05.200 --> 0:02:09.200 to overcome problems that look permanent. The scripture calls it 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:13.919 the gracious hand of God. It's his favor that will 0:02:13.919 --> 0:02:18.959 open doors you couldn't open. It's a divine empowerment where 0:02:19.000 --> 0:02:22.720 you have the strength the courage to overcome what should 0:02:22.720 --> 0:02:27.920 stop you. It's supernatural provisions where you have the resources, 0:02:28.040 --> 0:02:31.840 the funding, the right people, where you defy the odds, 0:02:32.280 --> 0:02:35.240 you go where you've never dreamed, and you can look 0:02:35.280 --> 0:02:38.760 back now and see the gracious hand of God. How 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:42.600 did you get promoted when you weren't the next in line, 0:02:42.639 --> 0:02:45.720 You weren't the most qualified, but for some reason they 0:02:45.800 --> 0:02:49.520 chose you. That was his gracious hand causing you to 0:02:49.520 --> 0:02:53.360 stand out. The medical report said you wouldn't get wealth. 0:02:53.919 --> 0:02:57.160 Experts said just learn to live with it. But somehow 0:02:57.200 --> 0:03:00.600 it turned around and today you're healthy in home. That 0:03:00.800 --> 0:03:04.960 wasn't luck, wasn't a coincidence. It was the gracious hand 0:03:05.000 --> 0:03:08.800 of God. Or maybe there was dysfunction in your family 0:03:08.880 --> 0:03:13.839 growing up, addiction, compromise, people taking the easy way out. 0:03:14.639 --> 0:03:18.120 That should have been you, But you're the exception. You 0:03:18.280 --> 0:03:23.640 broke that generational limitation and now you're blessed, successful, living 0:03:23.680 --> 0:03:27.240 a victorious life. You couldn't do that on your own. 0:03:27.800 --> 0:03:32.200 It was the gracious hand of God empowering you, favoring you, 0:03:32.520 --> 0:03:36.040 making ways where you didn't see a way. When you 0:03:36.160 --> 0:03:39.920 understand that you have God's gracious hand, you won't live 0:03:39.960 --> 0:03:44.240 intimidated thinking you're at a disadvantage, and man, this obstacle's 0:03:44.280 --> 0:03:47.680 too big. I'll never get well. We'll always struggle and 0:03:47.760 --> 0:03:50.920 not have enough. No, you'll put your shoulders back, You'll 0:03:50.920 --> 0:03:55.240 pray bold prayers. You'll expect things to change in your favor. 0:03:55.840 --> 0:03:58.880 Your attitude will be This may be too much for me, 0:03:59.240 --> 0:04:02.720 but I know a s I have an advantage. There's 0:04:02.720 --> 0:04:06.520 something on me that causes me to stand out, to overcome, 0:04:06.920 --> 0:04:10.400 to defy the odds. The gracious hand of God is 0:04:10.440 --> 0:04:13.680 on my life, David said in ps On forty one. 0:04:14.160 --> 0:04:18.080 By this, I know you have favored me. My enemies 0:04:18.279 --> 0:04:22.120 could not triumph over me. The favor of God will 0:04:22.200 --> 0:04:26.520 keep your enemies from defeating you. That sickness should take 0:04:26.560 --> 0:04:30.520 you out, should stop your destiny. But God steps in 0:04:30.839 --> 0:04:33.680 and says, no, you don't have the final say I 0:04:33.760 --> 0:04:38.359 do his favor, won't let it triumph over you. The 0:04:38.440 --> 0:04:42.000 trouble at work should set you back. Those people that 0:04:42.040 --> 0:04:45.200 are playing politics, pushing you down, trying to make you 0:04:45.240 --> 0:04:49.120 look bad, seems like they have the advantage. Don't worry. 0:04:49.480 --> 0:04:52.599 There is something on you they can't seize. There is 0:04:52.640 --> 0:04:56.159 a favor that keeps you from being defeated. They may 0:04:56.200 --> 0:04:59.400 push you down, But they can't keep you down. The 0:04:59.480 --> 0:05:02.240 favor on your life will cause you to bounce right 0:05:02.279 --> 0:05:06.479 back up. See when you honor God, you keep him first. 0:05:06.880 --> 0:05:11.119 You have his gracious hand on you that makes you unstoppable. 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:15.800 Think about Joseph. His brothers were jealous and threw him 0:05:15.839 --> 0:05:18.320 into a pit. That should have been the end. A 0:05:18.400 --> 0:05:21.800 teenager in a pit, left there to die, no way 0:05:21.839 --> 0:05:24.960 to get out. But then out of nowhere, a caravan 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:29.040 of Ishmaelites showed up, traveling through the desert. They got 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:31.920 there at just the right time, when the brothers were 0:05:31.920 --> 0:05:35.560 about to leave. Instead, they sold Joseph as a slave, 0:05:35.640 --> 0:05:39.640 and his life was spared. That caravan came from a 0:05:39.640 --> 0:05:43.599 city hundreds of miles away. They had been traveling weeks 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:47.760 and weeks before Joseph was in the pit. They were 0:05:47.800 --> 0:05:51.400 already on the way. God knows everything that's going to 0:05:51.440 --> 0:05:56.200 happen to you. He's already arranged solutions to problems that 0:05:56.240 --> 0:06:00.000 you haven't even had. It may look like that opposition 0:06:00.400 --> 0:06:02.480 is going to get the best of you, but what 0:06:02.560 --> 0:06:05.920 you can't see is a caravan is already on the way. 0:06:06.240 --> 0:06:10.560 With your freedom, your breakthrough, your abundance, You're healing Why 0:06:10.680 --> 0:06:14.159 is that the gracious hand of God is on your life? 0:06:14.880 --> 0:06:18.960 You belong to the most high. You are his prize possession, 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:23.160 he said in Psalms. He has surrounded you with favor 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:27.200 like a shield. This favor is not just for good breaks, 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:30.760 not just to accomplish dreams, but it's to keep your 0:06:30.880 --> 0:06:34.680 enemies from defeating you. Joseph was sold as a slave, 0:06:34.760 --> 0:06:37.279 and he's taken to Egypt and worked for a high 0:06:37.360 --> 0:06:41.880 ranking military official. He was so excellent the official put 0:06:41.960 --> 0:06:44.760 him in charge of his whole householders. He ran all 0:06:44.760 --> 0:06:48.880 the affairs, the staff, and the upkeep. But the official's 0:06:48.920 --> 0:06:52.200 wife tried to seduce Joseph. She liked him, but he 0:06:52.240 --> 0:06:56.400 wouldn't give in. He was a man of honor and integrity. 0:06:56.480 --> 0:06:59.880 Even though he had been mistreated and betrayed. He's still 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:04.400 honored God. With this wife lied about Joseph said he 0:07:04.440 --> 0:07:07.039 was trying to harm her, and of course her husband 0:07:07.120 --> 0:07:10.600 was furious and had him put in prison. Nothing set back. 0:07:11.240 --> 0:07:14.640 Now he's not only a slave in a foreign country, 0:07:15.000 --> 0:07:19.200 but he's incarcerated. All the odds are against him. Having 0:07:19.240 --> 0:07:23.360 God's favor doesn't mean we won't have difficulties, but it 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:27.760 does mean those enemies will not triumph over you. They 0:07:27.800 --> 0:07:32.440 will have the last laugh. Breakthrough is coming. In prison, 0:07:32.920 --> 0:07:35.760 Joseph was so excellent that the warden put him in 0:07:35.840 --> 0:07:38.720 charge of the whole prison. You've heard that phrase, you 0:07:38.800 --> 0:07:41.600 can't keep a good man down. The truth is you 0:07:41.680 --> 0:07:45.600 can't keep a favored man down. When God's gracious hand 0:07:45.720 --> 0:07:49.480 is on you, you keep rising to the top. Define 0:07:49.560 --> 0:07:53.840 the odds. You keep succeeding despite what comes against you. 0:07:54.840 --> 0:07:59.120 One day, Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh's dream the leader of 0:07:59.160 --> 0:08:03.040 the country. The pharaoh was so impressed he made Joseph 0:08:03.280 --> 0:08:06.640 the prime minister of Egypt. You too, may have had 0:08:06.640 --> 0:08:09.800 some bad breaks and obstacles that look like you could 0:08:09.800 --> 0:08:13.800 never overcome. If Joseph were here, he would tell you 0:08:14.320 --> 0:08:18.440 don't ever rule out the favor of God. His gracious 0:08:18.520 --> 0:08:21.280 hand on your life will cause you to rise out 0:08:21.320 --> 0:08:24.720 of a pit to excel despite who did you wrong, 0:08:25.080 --> 0:08:29.360 to shine in the midst of opposition. God is fighting 0:08:29.400 --> 0:08:33.040 your battles. His favor doesn't keep us out of difficulty, 0:08:33.720 --> 0:08:36.640 does it stop all the trouble, But it will keep 0:08:36.679 --> 0:08:40.400 the trouble from stopping you. When you're in a pit, 0:08:41.120 --> 0:08:43.720 you don't feel like there's any way out. Look up 0:08:44.080 --> 0:08:47.600 for your redemption, draws knife. There is a God not 0:08:47.720 --> 0:08:51.200 only watching over you, but his gracious hand is on 0:08:51.280 --> 0:08:55.319 your life. His favor is surrounding you. What he has 0:08:55.360 --> 0:08:58.800 purpose will come to pass. No person can stop us. 0:08:59.240 --> 0:09:03.120 No sickness, no trouble, no addiction. The enemies you see 0:09:03.160 --> 0:09:06.320 today you will see no more. And when you're in 0:09:06.320 --> 0:09:10.320 a pit facing trouble, it's good to look back and 0:09:10.440 --> 0:09:14.360 remember what God has done. Find some victories so you 0:09:14.400 --> 0:09:18.040 can say, like David, by this, I know we have favor. 0:09:18.360 --> 0:09:23.240 We're in the former compact center. The opposition was bigger, stronger, 0:09:23.400 --> 0:09:26.480 they had more resources, but they couldn't keep us out. 0:09:27.600 --> 0:09:31.040 By this, I know my family has favor. My mother 0:09:31.200 --> 0:09:35.079 is still alive forty four years after being diagnosed with 0:09:35.280 --> 0:09:41.080 terminal cancer. The cancer couldn't triumph over her. By this, 0:09:41.200 --> 0:09:43.960 I know I have favor. The critics couldn't stop me. 0:09:44.520 --> 0:09:47.880 The naysayers, the noise, the chatter. They tried their best, 0:09:48.200 --> 0:09:51.720 but their best was not enough. The more they pushed down, 0:09:51.840 --> 0:09:55.600 the more God pushed up. He's taken me further than 0:09:55.640 --> 0:09:59.520 I've ever imagined. You don't have to fight all these battles. 0:10:00.000 --> 0:10:02.920 You can stay in peace knowing that there's a force 0:10:03.040 --> 0:10:06.960 for you that cannot be defeated, the gracious hand of 0:10:07.000 --> 0:10:11.880 God protecting you, empowering you, favoring you, providing for you 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:14.560 when you attempting to get discouraged, and we all do, 0:10:14.920 --> 0:10:18.400 Oh no, Joel, this enemy is too big, this opposition 0:10:18.480 --> 0:10:21.719 too strong. I don't see any way out of this problem. 0:10:22.160 --> 0:10:24.760 You're looking at it from a natural point of view. 0:10:25.080 --> 0:10:29.280 God is supernatural. The favor he put on you goes 0:10:29.320 --> 0:10:34.640 beyond your talent, your strength, your resources. It's not limited 0:10:34.640 --> 0:10:38.480 to what you can do. It's his power. He created 0:10:38.480 --> 0:10:43.559 the universe, He spoke worlds into existence. He parts red seas, 0:10:44.080 --> 0:10:48.439 He multiplied two fish to feed five thousand. He calls 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:51.480 Sarah to have a baby at ninety years old. He 0:10:51.559 --> 0:10:54.960 opened prison doors for Paul in silence. He used a 0:10:55.040 --> 0:10:59.160 slingshot to bring down a giant. He is all powerful 0:11:00.080 --> 0:11:03.599 thing can stand against our God, and he is breathing 0:11:03.880 --> 0:11:07.600 on your life. Right now, You're about to see his 0:11:07.800 --> 0:11:13.040 gracious hand do something you've never seen like Joseph bring 0:11:13.080 --> 0:11:17.160 you out of trouble into victory, out of sickness into health, 0:11:17.679 --> 0:11:21.000 out of being lonely, to a great relationship out of 0:11:21.080 --> 0:11:25.199 struggling into abundance. Now you have to get in agreement 0:11:25.240 --> 0:11:28.840 with God no more. I never get any good breaks. 0:11:29.440 --> 0:11:32.040 I've had this addiction so long, and I don't have 0:11:32.080 --> 0:11:36.160 the talent to accomplish my dream. Try a different approach. Father, 0:11:36.320 --> 0:11:39.560 Thank you that your gracious hand is upon my life, 0:11:40.080 --> 0:11:44.199 that your favor is keeping enemies from defeating me, opening 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:47.520 right doors, bringing the right people, causing me to go 0:11:47.640 --> 0:11:52.080 further than I ever imagined. This is what Nehemiah did. 0:11:52.440 --> 0:11:56.320 The Israelites had been in exile in Babylon for many years, 0:11:56.360 --> 0:12:00.200 and some of them had returned home to Jerusalem. The 0:12:00.240 --> 0:12:03.760 city was in ruins and the walls were broken down, 0:12:03.320 --> 0:12:06.520 and there was no protection in it. Without the walls, 0:12:06.559 --> 0:12:10.079 they were easy prayed to abandits well. Neamiah lived a 0:12:10.120 --> 0:12:13.520 thousand miles away. He worked as a cupbearer for the 0:12:13.600 --> 0:12:17.600 King of Persian. When he heard about how his people 0:12:17.640 --> 0:12:20.839 in Jerusalem were in such need and the walls down, 0:12:21.080 --> 0:12:25.199 they were so vulnerable. Verse four says he sat down 0:12:25.400 --> 0:12:28.920 and wept. He was so burdened by it. For four 0:12:28.960 --> 0:12:33.560 months he prayed and fasted, asking God to help. He 0:12:33.600 --> 0:12:36.559 never dreamed that God would put the desire in him 0:12:36.960 --> 0:12:40.560 to go back and rebuild those walls. He wasn't a builder. 0:12:41.080 --> 0:12:44.680 He didn't have the funds, the materials, the crew. I'm 0:12:44.679 --> 0:12:48.120 sure he thought, God, this is impossible. Yes, I'm concerned, 0:12:48.120 --> 0:12:50.800 but I'm not the answer. You have to find someone 0:12:50.840 --> 0:12:54.400 more qualified, more experienced. But God will ask you to 0:12:54.480 --> 0:12:58.720 do things that seem over your head. Where like Neamiah, 0:12:58.720 --> 0:13:01.760 you can find a thou reasons why you can't do it. 0:13:02.320 --> 0:13:05.440 You won't have the talent, You're too young, too old, 0:13:05.520 --> 0:13:09.680 too timid, wrong nationality. Here's the key. God wouldn't have 0:13:09.800 --> 0:13:13.600 asked you if you didn't have everything you need. He'll 0:13:13.640 --> 0:13:16.640 never ask you to do something and not give you 0:13:16.679 --> 0:13:20.160 the ability to do it. It may be over your head, 0:13:20.679 --> 0:13:23.880 but it's not over his head. You have to realize 0:13:24.280 --> 0:13:27.880 His gracious hand is on you. It's a hand of favor. 0:13:28.440 --> 0:13:31.800 Things will happen that you couldn't make happen. Don't talk 0:13:31.880 --> 0:13:34.640 yourself out of it, or you'll miss the greatness God 0:13:34.679 --> 0:13:38.280 put in you. Neemiah went to the king and asked 0:13:38.280 --> 0:13:41.480 for permission to take a leave of absence to go 0:13:41.520 --> 0:13:45.080 back home and rebuild the walls. Imagine the faith that 0:13:45.200 --> 0:13:48.920 took he didn't have a high ranking position. He wasn't 0:13:48.960 --> 0:13:54.000 in management. He's working in the kitchen, serving cleaning, running errands. 0:13:54.760 --> 0:13:58.000 You would think he would be timid and shy. But 0:13:58.040 --> 0:14:00.760 when you know the favor of God is your life, 0:14:00.880 --> 0:14:04.679 you'll have a bondness, a courage to step out and 0:14:04.800 --> 0:14:07.360 do what God has put in your heart. He asked 0:14:07.400 --> 0:14:11.199 the king, and much to his surprise, the King said, yes, Niomiah, 0:14:11.640 --> 0:14:16.120 you can go. He gave him permission. Neamiyah was grateful, 0:14:16.440 --> 0:14:19.160 but he didn't stop there. He said, thank you so much. 0:14:19.280 --> 0:14:22.720 But King, I don't have any materials. I don't have 0:14:22.760 --> 0:14:27.080 any funds. Will you give me letters requiring the owners 0:14:27.120 --> 0:14:29.840 of the lumber mills and the stone quarries to give 0:14:29.880 --> 0:14:34.200 me the supplies. I need another bold request. Once again, 0:14:34.480 --> 0:14:38.120 the king said yes. Now he has the time off, 0:14:38.200 --> 0:14:41.040 he has the materials. But he said one more thing, King, 0:14:41.560 --> 0:14:45.800 I need protection when I travel back home. It'll be dangerous. 0:14:46.400 --> 0:14:49.320 I need letters to all the governors of the cities 0:14:49.440 --> 0:14:52.160 I go through, telling them who I am and how 0:14:52.160 --> 0:14:55.920 they need to watch after me. All these requests seemed 0:14:55.960 --> 0:14:58.640 like he was pushing his luck. The king could have said, man, 0:14:58.720 --> 0:15:01.320 Niomiah gave you time off, get out of here. But 0:15:01.400 --> 0:15:04.160 Proverbs says God will turn the heart of a king. 0:15:04.760 --> 0:15:07.680 God will cause the people you need to be good 0:15:07.760 --> 0:15:12.240 to you. The king agreed to do it. That didn't 0:15:12.280 --> 0:15:15.720 make sense. Why was he so good to Neomiah? Why 0:15:15.720 --> 0:15:19.720 did he treat him with such kindness and generosities? Neimiah 0:15:19.800 --> 0:15:23.600 said in verse eight, the king granted me these requests 0:15:24.080 --> 0:15:28.840 because the gracious hand of God was on me. Neemiah 0:15:28.960 --> 0:15:32.120 understood this secret, that there was a favor on him 0:15:32.560 --> 0:15:35.960 that would cause him to accomplish what he couldn't accomplish 0:15:36.040 --> 0:15:39.600 on his own. Doors would open that he couldn't open, 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:42.200 that would cause people to go out of their way 0:15:42.440 --> 0:15:45.640 to be good to him. If he hadn't been aware 0:15:45.920 --> 0:15:49.040 of the gracious hand of God, he would have never 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:52.280 had the boldness to ask the king and the courage 0:15:52.280 --> 0:15:55.920 to leave that comfortable environment to take this step of faith. 0:15:56.800 --> 0:15:59.920 My question for you is, do you realize what you have? 0:16:01.280 --> 0:16:04.920 That you're not just ordinary doing life on your own, 0:16:05.400 --> 0:16:10.360 limited by your environment, your education, your connections. No, the 0:16:10.440 --> 0:16:13.880 gracious hand of God is on you, a favor that 0:16:14.000 --> 0:16:19.040 empowers and inabls and opens doors and keeps enemies from 0:16:19.040 --> 0:16:24.000 defeating you. When Neemiah arrived in Jerusalem and saw all 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:26.800 the ruins, it was much worse than he thought, and 0:16:27.160 --> 0:16:29.560 logically speaking, he didn't know how he was going to 0:16:29.640 --> 0:16:32.800 do it. And he found some men and told them 0:16:32.800 --> 0:16:35.440 of his dream to rebuild the walls and ask if 0:16:35.480 --> 0:16:38.920 they would help. I'm sure some of them said, Neemiah, 0:16:39.120 --> 0:16:43.480 it's impossible. Look at this mess. We're not builders. We 0:16:43.560 --> 0:16:48.400 don't have the equipment, the resources. Neamiah said in verse eighteen, 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:52.160 I told the people how the gracious hand of God 0:16:52.360 --> 0:16:55.600 was on my life. They were trying to talk him 0:16:55.640 --> 0:16:58.000 out of it. He said, in a fact, no, guys, 0:16:58.400 --> 0:17:02.920 there's something on me. You can't I may look ordinary, yes, 0:17:02.960 --> 0:17:06.440 I'm a cupbearer, but I have an advantage. The favor 0:17:06.560 --> 0:17:09.159 of God is on my life. There is a force 0:17:09.240 --> 0:17:12.359 for me greater than any force trying to stop me. 0:17:13.200 --> 0:17:16.240 They said no at first, but then they all changed 0:17:16.280 --> 0:17:20.080 their mind, said Nehemiah, we're in let's do this. The 0:17:20.200 --> 0:17:23.399 favor of God will bring the people. You need to 0:17:23.480 --> 0:17:27.600 get behind your vision to help you excel. You don't 0:17:27.640 --> 0:17:31.720 have to beg people try to manipulate, convince them to 0:17:31.720 --> 0:17:34.600 be for you. God will move on the right people. 0:17:35.520 --> 0:17:39.359 They started rebuilding the wall and had all kinds of oppositions. 0:17:39.680 --> 0:17:44.000 City leaders tried to stop them, and critics stirred up trouble, 0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:47.880 and bandits came and tried to get them to fight. See, 0:17:48.040 --> 0:17:51.159 just because you're having trouble doesn't mean you're not in 0:17:51.240 --> 0:17:54.680 God's will. When you step out to do what He's 0:17:54.720 --> 0:17:57.159 called you to do, and to take new ground and 0:17:57.640 --> 0:18:03.360 live with excellence and integrity, you're gonna have opposition, trouble, naysayers. 0:18:03.720 --> 0:18:06.960 The enemy doesn't want you to move forward. The good 0:18:07.000 --> 0:18:10.600 news is the favor on your life will keep those 0:18:10.720 --> 0:18:14.720 enemies from defeating you. They may come, but if you'll 0:18:14.720 --> 0:18:18.960 stay in faith, they will fail. No weapon formed against 0:18:19.000 --> 0:18:22.800 you will prosper. When the enemy comes in like a flood. 0:18:23.600 --> 0:18:27.199 The scripture says, the spirit of God will raise up 0:18:27.200 --> 0:18:30.600 a barrier. The spirit of God is the favor of God. 0:18:31.240 --> 0:18:35.399 Keep doing the right thing. Don't get distracted fighting battles 0:18:35.640 --> 0:18:39.239 that you're not supposed to fight. Neamiah had people at 0:18:39.280 --> 0:18:42.160 the bottom of the mountain making fun of him, threatening 0:18:42.280 --> 0:18:45.800 him all kinds of noise and negative chatter, But Niamiah 0:18:45.880 --> 0:18:49.880 ignored it. He knew it was a distraction to try 0:18:49.920 --> 0:18:52.240 to get him to lose focus, to come down from 0:18:52.280 --> 0:18:57.480 building to fighting. Let God fight your battles. All the noise, 0:18:57.760 --> 0:19:01.080 the chatter, people trying to make you look bad. They 0:19:01.160 --> 0:19:04.960 cannot stop your destiny. So you have to let God 0:19:05.040 --> 0:19:08.720 take care of it. Let him be your vindicator. If 0:19:08.720 --> 0:19:12.159 you start fighting and trying to prove and defend and 0:19:12.240 --> 0:19:16.000 pay them back, God's gonna step back. But if you'll 0:19:16.080 --> 0:19:19.359 leave it alone, God will take care of what's trying 0:19:19.400 --> 0:19:23.080 to stop you. God will vindicate you better than you 0:19:23.119 --> 0:19:27.200 can vindicate yourselves. It looked like rebuilding the wall would 0:19:27.200 --> 0:19:29.760 take years and years. I mean, it was a daunting task, 0:19:30.240 --> 0:19:34.080 but Neamiah did it in just fifty two days. A 0:19:34.160 --> 0:19:37.560 few months earlier, he is working as a cupbearer, just 0:19:37.640 --> 0:19:41.359 minding his own business. Now he's known as one of 0:19:41.359 --> 0:19:45.639 the heroes of faith. He helps save God's people. I 0:19:45.680 --> 0:19:49.640 wonder how many of us are discounting ourselves. God put 0:19:49.720 --> 0:19:52.160 the promise in our heart, but the dream looks too 0:19:52.200 --> 0:19:55.600 big and the problem too great, and we're focused on 0:19:55.640 --> 0:19:58.479 what we don't have, what we can't do, When the 0:19:58.520 --> 0:20:01.679 truth is, the g gracious hand of God is on 0:20:01.760 --> 0:20:06.080 your life. Just like Neamiyah, there is a favor on you, 0:20:06.680 --> 0:20:11.359 a divine empowerment, the blessing of the most time. But 0:20:11.440 --> 0:20:14.240 this won't do you any good if you don't recognize it. 0:20:15.040 --> 0:20:18.639 A key to Neamiyah fulfilling his purpose was he was 0:20:18.720 --> 0:20:22.320 aware of the favor. He declared it to other people. 0:20:22.920 --> 0:20:25.879 He wasn't bragging on himself, He was bragging on God. 0:20:26.160 --> 0:20:30.159 His gracious hand is on me. See out of your heart, 0:20:30.560 --> 0:20:34.520 your mouth speaks. You can tell what you believe by 0:20:34.520 --> 0:20:37.359 what you're saying. I think this sickness is going to 0:20:37.400 --> 0:20:39.960 be the end of me, or I'll never break this addiction. 0:20:40.640 --> 0:20:44.080 Joel the expert said, we can't have a baby. Negative 0:20:44.160 --> 0:20:48.600 talk will bring a negative future. You are prophesying what's coming. 0:20:49.240 --> 0:20:52.960 If you talk to theeet black can't do it too big, 0:20:53.080 --> 0:20:55.720 You're going to see that. Why don't you do like 0:20:55.840 --> 0:20:59.840 Namiah when it looks impossible, When you don't see a way, 0:21:00.080 --> 0:21:03.280 you could be complaining. No, No, The gracious hand of 0:21:03.320 --> 0:21:07.119 God is on my life. His favor keeps my enemies 0:21:07.160 --> 0:21:10.560 from defeating me. His favor's taking me where I can't 0:21:10.600 --> 0:21:13.560 go on my own I've seen in my own life. 0:21:13.840 --> 0:21:16.840 The more I brag on the favor of God. The 0:21:16.840 --> 0:21:20.680 more favor I see, the more I talk about God's goodness, 0:21:21.240 --> 0:21:24.879 his provision, how He's opened doors, brought the right people, 0:21:25.080 --> 0:21:28.160 giving us the compact center, heal my mom. The more 0:21:28.200 --> 0:21:31.800 I see God show out in my life all through 0:21:31.840 --> 0:21:34.439 the day. Keep this down in your spirit. Lord, I 0:21:34.520 --> 0:21:37.600 thank you that your gracious hand is upon me. I 0:21:37.680 --> 0:21:40.480 think you that your favor is causing me to stand out, 0:21:40.960 --> 0:21:44.960 that You're breathing on my health, my children, my finances, 0:21:44.960 --> 0:21:50.159 on my dreams. Neemiah's colleague was a priest named Ezra. 0:21:50.960 --> 0:21:54.159 God put in his heart to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. 0:21:54.560 --> 0:21:57.920 Neemiah rebuilt the walls, but Ezra was going to rebuild 0:21:57.960 --> 0:22:02.520 the city. Six times in the scripture, Ezra mentions the 0:22:02.600 --> 0:22:06.760 gracious hand of God. It's not a coincidence that both 0:22:06.800 --> 0:22:11.159 he and Nehemiah did great things. Look at their mindset. 0:22:11.840 --> 0:22:15.040 They could have been complaining, God, we don't have the supplies, 0:22:15.200 --> 0:22:17.960 or God, i'm a minister, I can't rebuild the city. 0:22:18.720 --> 0:22:22.359 They have plenty of reasons not to. But they weren't 0:22:22.400 --> 0:22:26.440 focused on what they didn't have, what looked impossible. They 0:22:26.480 --> 0:22:30.280 were focused on the favor God put on them. They 0:22:30.359 --> 0:22:34.359 understood they weren't doing life by themselves. They had divine 0:22:34.720 --> 0:22:37.720 enablement that the hand of God was on their life. 0:22:38.640 --> 0:22:41.560 His hand is a hand of healing, it's a hand 0:22:41.560 --> 0:22:44.879 of provision, it's a hand of deliverance, a hand of 0:22:44.920 --> 0:22:49.560 acceleration where God speeds things up. When you look at 0:22:49.600 --> 0:22:52.200 your situation, you may think, like they did, how can 0:22:52.200 --> 0:22:55.359 I accomplish my dream, Joel, I don't have the funds, 0:22:55.880 --> 0:22:58.680 the experience. How can I build that wall? I'll tell 0:22:58.720 --> 0:23:02.600 you how the grace hand of God. Well, how's my 0:23:02.720 --> 0:23:04.879 son going to get back on course? He's with the 0:23:04.880 --> 0:23:08.480 wrong crowd. The gracious hand of God. How am I 0:23:08.600 --> 0:23:11.280 gonna get well? You should see the medical report. The 0:23:11.320 --> 0:23:15.000 gracious hand of God. There is a favor on you 0:23:15.440 --> 0:23:18.359 that will cause you to overcome what should defeat you, 0:23:18.960 --> 0:23:23.520 cause you to accomplish what looks too big. Nineteen ninety seven, 0:23:24.040 --> 0:23:27.880 Victoria and I acquired a construction permit for the last 0:23:27.920 --> 0:23:31.560 full power television station here in Houston. We knew God 0:23:31.600 --> 0:23:34.600 opened the door, and we were so excited and couldn't 0:23:34.600 --> 0:23:36.679 wait to put the station on the air. And we 0:23:36.760 --> 0:23:40.480 bought the transmitter and the antenna, a lot of the equipment, 0:23:41.000 --> 0:23:43.920 but we couldn't find a place for the studio. What 0:23:44.040 --> 0:23:46.480 made it difficult is it had to be close to 0:23:46.560 --> 0:23:49.679 a cell tower so we could microwave the signal to 0:23:49.760 --> 0:23:53.000 the main tower up north. We looked from monts and 0:23:53.520 --> 0:23:56.280 gone to different places, and a couple of times we 0:23:56.480 --> 0:23:58.960 found locations that we liked, but when we did the 0:23:59.000 --> 0:24:02.520 research there was a tower close enough. We were tempted 0:24:02.560 --> 0:24:06.200 to get discouraged. But my father always taught us about 0:24:06.240 --> 0:24:09.400 the favor of God before we left for school. Every 0:24:09.440 --> 0:24:12.440 morning as a child, my mother would pray, Lord, thank 0:24:12.480 --> 0:24:15.880 you that my children have your favor. It's always been 0:24:15.920 --> 0:24:18.600 down in me well. Our real estate agent took us 0:24:18.640 --> 0:24:22.240 to another office complex, and we like this one more 0:24:22.280 --> 0:24:25.120 than any of the others. It seemed perfect. We went 0:24:25.200 --> 0:24:28.200 up on the roof to look around, but there wasn't 0:24:28.240 --> 0:24:32.000 a tower in sight. Another dead end. As we're about 0:24:32.040 --> 0:24:35.200 to leave, I heard some bulldozers on the other side 0:24:35.200 --> 0:24:37.840 of this wood fence where we had parked, and I 0:24:37.960 --> 0:24:40.480 was curious about what they were building. I grabbed the 0:24:40.520 --> 0:24:43.280 top of the fence and pulled myself off. They were 0:24:43.320 --> 0:24:47.200 putting forms in for a foundation about fort by forty feet. 0:24:47.240 --> 0:24:50.159 I thought maybe a garage, or some kind of storage building. 0:24:50.800 --> 0:24:53.600 The men saw me and stopped the tractor, and I 0:24:53.680 --> 0:24:56.160 smiled and said, hey, what are you building? He said, 0:24:56.200 --> 0:24:59.680 we're building a cell tower. It'll be up in two months. 0:25:01.240 --> 0:25:05.280 Almost fell off that fence that was our favorite office building, 0:25:05.880 --> 0:25:09.280 and the tower was going in right next door. That 0:25:09.440 --> 0:25:12.439 wasn't good luck. That was the gracious hand of God. 0:25:13.600 --> 0:25:16.600 When you look back over your life, you can see 0:25:16.600 --> 0:25:19.760 his hand of favor, his hand of blessing. Can I 0:25:19.840 --> 0:25:23.800 encourage you? His gracious hand is still on you. There 0:25:23.880 --> 0:25:26.679 is a favor that keeps your enemies from defeating you, 0:25:27.080 --> 0:25:30.480 a power that will cause you to overcome, to withstand. 0:25:31.200 --> 0:25:34.800 God is going before you right now, making cooking places strength, 0:25:35.280 --> 0:25:38.520 lining up the right people the breaks you need. Don't 0:25:38.520 --> 0:25:42.280 live intimidated thinking you had a disadvantaged man, this problem's 0:25:42.359 --> 0:25:46.720 too big. Instead of living problem minded, live favor minded. 0:25:47.400 --> 0:25:50.760 Do like Nehemiah and keep declaring the gracious hand of 0:25:50.800 --> 0:25:53.879 God is on my life. Keep bragging on his goodness, 0:25:54.240 --> 0:25:57.800 talking about his favor. Sure you may have big obstacles, 0:25:57.960 --> 0:26:01.560 but we serve a big God. Your dream may look impossible. 0:26:01.840 --> 0:26:05.080 One touch of his favor and doors will open that 0:26:05.200 --> 0:26:07.720 you've never dreamed but open. He wouldn't have given you 0:26:07.760 --> 0:26:10.600 that promise if he wasn't going to bring it to pass. 0:26:10.880 --> 0:26:14.600 I believe and declare light Nehemiah. God is about to 0:26:14.640 --> 0:26:17.560 show out in your life, cause people to be good 0:26:17.600 --> 0:26:21.040 to you. Like Joseph, You're gonna rise up despite what 0:26:21.200 --> 0:26:26.280 tried to push you down. Promotion, breakthroughs, healing, the fullness 0:26:26.320 --> 0:26:30.440 of your destiny in Jesus's name, and if you receive it, 0:26:30.600 --> 0:26:34.159 can you say amen? I'd like to give you an 0:26:34.200 --> 0:26:37.600 opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would 0:26:37.640 --> 0:26:41.359 you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent 0:26:41.400 --> 0:26:44.919 of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you 0:26:45.040 --> 0:26:48.479 my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 0:26:48.600 --> 0:26:51.400 we believe you got born again. We'd love to send 0:26:51.400 --> 0:26:54.119 you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. 0:26:54.359 --> 0:26:56.560 You can text the number on the screen or go 0:26:56.600 --> 0:26:59.199 to the website. But I hope you'll get into a 0:26:59.240 --> 0:27:04.520 good Bible based church and keep God first place. It's 0:27:04.560 --> 0:27:07.320 easy to get stuck in life because of fear and 0:27:07.400 --> 0:27:11.400 lack of confidence. We've been through disappointments, but I'm excited 0:27:11.400 --> 0:27:15.040 about Victoria's new book, Grace to Go. It'll help you 0:27:15.119 --> 0:27:17.959 move past what's holding you back and step into new 0:27:18.040 --> 0:27:19.320 levels of your destiny. 0:27:19.680 --> 0:27:21.920 My heart for this book is that you will discover 0:27:22.200 --> 0:27:25.320 the courage, the gifts, and the faith that God has 0:27:25.400 --> 0:27:27.479 put in you so that you can see your dreams 0:27:27.520 --> 0:27:30.840 come to pass. It's not too late, the obstacles are 0:27:30.880 --> 0:27:33.639 not too big. The grace of God equips you to 0:27:33.680 --> 0:27:37.480 go beyond your comfort zone and overcome what looks impossible. 0:27:37.880 --> 0:27:40.680 You are stronger than you think. You are not alone. 0:27:40.880 --> 0:27:42.280 You are Grace to Go. 0:27:43.160 --> 0:27:45.480 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:27:45.520 --> 0:27:49.120 of any amount, this month, we'll send you Victoria Ostein's 0:27:49.160 --> 0:27:52.960 brand new book, Grace to Go. Step onto the bigger, 0:27:53.119 --> 0:27:57.520 bolder life that belongs to you. This inspiring resource will 0:27:57.520 --> 0:28:01.879 help you break through fear, insecurity, or regret and activate 0:28:01.920 --> 0:28:05.880 the faith to move forward. Each chapter will stir your spirit, 0:28:06.240 --> 0:28:10.520 renew your perspective, and empower you to live boldly. You 0:28:10.560 --> 0:28:14.200 don't have to wait for perfect conditions. God's grace meets 0:28:14.200 --> 0:28:17.080 you where you are and propels you into a future 0:28:17.200 --> 0:28:21.080 full of purpose and peace. With an additional gift, we'll 0:28:21.160 --> 0:28:24.720 send you the Grace to Go Bold Bundle featuring Grace 0:28:24.800 --> 0:28:28.960 to Go by Victoria Ostein and Pray Bold by Diolo Stein. 0:28:29.520 --> 0:28:33.520 These two powerful books will stir your faith, break hesitation, 0:28:33.880 --> 0:28:35.800 and help you believe big again. 0:28:36.840 --> 0:28:40.280 Grace is power. When you receive it by faith, it 0:28:40.400 --> 0:28:42.880 enables you to take the next step so you can 0:28:42.920 --> 0:28:44.560 become all you are created to be. 0:28:45.080 --> 0:28:47.760 Victor and are so grateful to spend this time with you. 0:28:48.120 --> 0:28:51.080 We pray for you and your family every day. Thank 0:28:51.120 --> 0:28:54.560 you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity 0:28:54.640 --> 0:28:57.720 is helping people around the world. Special thank you to 0:28:57.760 --> 0:29:00.200 our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly thank you. 0:29:00.680 --> 0:29:03.560 If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:29:03.760 --> 0:29:07.240 Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 0:29:07.560 --> 0:29:11.800 download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube the new Joelosting 0:29:11.920 --> 0:29:15.400 Network social media. Of course, listen on Serious XM twenty 0:29:15.400 --> 0:29:18.800 four to seven. We'll help you stay encouraged and inspired. 0:29:19.200 --> 0:29:21.560 If you're a pastor, we'd like to invite you to 0:29:21.600 --> 0:29:24.680 our Pastor's gathering. We'd be honored to spend the day 0:29:24.720 --> 0:29:27.360 with you here at Lakewood. We'll share some of the 0:29:27.360 --> 0:29:30.880 things we've learned, insights and behind the scenes. Be a 0:29:30.920 --> 0:29:34.440 time of inspiration and encouragement. We'd love to meet you. 0:29:35.200 --> 0:29:39.200 These two powerful books will stir your faith, break hesitation, 0:29:39.560 --> 0:29:43.280 and help you believe big again. Be sure to request 0:29:43.360 --> 0:29:48.000 your copy of these powerful resources today for an additional donation. 0:29:48.160 --> 0:29:51.840 This month, we are also offering the NLT Large Print 0:29:51.920 --> 0:29:56.240 Thinline Reference Bible. This Bible also enables you to connect 0:29:56.280 --> 0:29:59.560 through your smartphone or tablet to a vast, power packed 0:29:59.680 --> 0:30:05.600 array study notes, devotionals, interactive maps, videos, worship music. You 0:30:05.640 --> 0:30:09.440 can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight 0:30:09.680 --> 0:30:13.640 five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelosin dot 0:30:13.640 --> 0:30:17.960 com today. Call or click anytime, twenty four hours a day, 0:30:18.520 --> 0:30:23.320 Start fresh, step forward. You are graced to go. Request 0:30:23.400 --> 0:30:27.320 your copies today