God Will Bring You To A Flourishing Finish

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See terms and conditions at UNEs 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:30.080 dot co. 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:33.959 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:36.759 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:36.880 --> 0:01:39.240 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:39.280 --> 0:01:40.399 blessing and share it with. 0:01:40.360 --> 0:01:43.720 A friends, reappreciate you and pray for God's very best 0:01:43.760 --> 0:01:51.720 in your life. 0:01:55.400 --> 0:01:58.200 Oh God, bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:58.240 --> 0:01:58.880 your homes. 0:01:59.040 --> 0:02:01.160 We love you and you know God has great things 0:02:01.200 --> 0:02:03.600 in store. And if you're ever in our area, stop 0:02:03.680 --> 0:02:05.520 buying and be a part of one of our services. 0:02:05.720 --> 0:02:07.880 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:08.240 --> 0:02:10.600 Thanks so much for tuning in. Thank you again for 0:02:10.680 --> 0:02:13.720 coming out. I like to start with something funny each week. 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:17.320 And I heard about this archaeologist from New York. He 0:02:17.400 --> 0:02:22.000 dug down ten feet and found traces of copper wiring dating. 0:02:21.680 --> 0:02:22.840 Back one hundred years. 0:02:23.360 --> 0:02:27.200 He concluded that New Yorkers had a telephone network over 0:02:27.240 --> 0:02:31.040 one hundred years ago. Not to be outdone, an archaeologist 0:02:31.120 --> 0:02:35.320 from California dug down twenty feet and found copper wiring 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:39.840 dating back two hundred years. He concluded that Californians had 0:02:39.840 --> 0:02:42.240 a massive communications network. 0:02:42.080 --> 0:02:44.399 One hundred years before the New Yorkers. 0:02:45.040 --> 0:02:50.160 Hearing these reports, Bubba from Texas dug down thirty feet 0:02:50.200 --> 0:02:54.320 on his farm and found absolutely nothing. He concluded three 0:02:54.440 --> 0:02:59.560 hundred years ago, Texans had already gone wireless. 0:03:00.240 --> 0:03:03.400 Your Bible say it like you mean it. This is 0:03:03.480 --> 0:03:04.120 my Bible. 0:03:04.480 --> 0:03:06.800 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:03:06.880 --> 0:03:09.160 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:03:09.240 --> 0:03:11.919 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:03:11.960 --> 0:03:16.120 of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:20.520 heart is receptive. I will never be the same in Jesus' name, 0:03:20.919 --> 0:03:23.960 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:03:24.280 --> 0:03:28.320 about how God wants to bring you to a flourishing finish. 0:03:28.520 --> 0:03:32.080 We all go through disappointments and have unfair things that happen. 0:03:32.600 --> 0:03:35.840 The mistake many people make is they get stuck where 0:03:35.840 --> 0:03:39.360 they are, They get bitter and negative, and they end 0:03:39.440 --> 0:03:42.440 up giving up on their dreams. Had a lady tell 0:03:42.520 --> 0:03:45.920 how she'd worked for this company many years, gave it 0:03:45.960 --> 0:03:49.160 her best, was as loyal as can be, but when 0:03:49.200 --> 0:03:52.720 the company changed ownership, the new leaders said that they 0:03:52.760 --> 0:03:56.080 didn't need her anymore. After twenty two years, she was 0:03:56.160 --> 0:03:59.960 let go. She was all discouraged. She just couldn't understand 0:04:00.080 --> 0:04:02.880 and how God could let that happen. Here's the good 0:04:02.920 --> 0:04:08.200 news that disappointment is not the final chapter. God never 0:04:08.520 --> 0:04:12.120 ends in a negative. If you'll keep moving forward with 0:04:12.240 --> 0:04:15.400 your life, God promises in Philippians one, p. 0:04:15.520 --> 0:04:17.120 Six, he will bring. 0:04:16.880 --> 0:04:21.400 You to a flourishing finish, not a defeated finish, a 0:04:21.400 --> 0:04:25.320 bankrupt finished, a betrayed finish, a barely get by finished. No, 0:04:25.480 --> 0:04:30.160 in your future, God has a victorious finish that setback 0:04:30.600 --> 0:04:34.479 the disappointment, the betrayal, instead of it working against you. 0:04:34.880 --> 0:04:37.400 God knows how to turn it around and cause it 0:04:37.440 --> 0:04:38.320 to work for you. 0:04:39.160 --> 0:04:40.720 When you're in difficult times. 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:44.240 Don't settle where you are, don't put your roots down 0:04:44.480 --> 0:04:47.120 and think that it's never going to change. Now, for 0:04:47.240 --> 0:04:51.880 every setback, God's already lined up a comeback for every injustice, 0:04:52.080 --> 0:04:58.359 vindication for every disappointment, restoration, new beginnings. In Second Corinthians 0:04:58.360 --> 0:05:02.720 two fourteen, it says, thanks be to God, who always 0:05:02.920 --> 0:05:04.200 causes us to triumph. 0:05:05.080 --> 0:05:06.640 You could say we're. 0:05:06.440 --> 0:05:10.800 In a fixed fight. We already know the outcome. In 0:05:10.880 --> 0:05:15.359 the end, we will be victorious. Sometimes I'll record a 0:05:15.360 --> 0:05:18.400 football game and watch it when I get home later. 0:05:19.040 --> 0:05:22.279 I already know how the game ends. I've talked to friends, 0:05:22.520 --> 0:05:25.160 watch the news. I know my team wins, and so 0:05:25.279 --> 0:05:28.360 while I'm watching, I don't get discouraged if my team 0:05:28.400 --> 0:05:29.240 falls behind. 0:05:29.720 --> 0:05:32.640 I don't get up tight. If it's halftime. 0:05:32.240 --> 0:05:35.760 And we still haven't scored, I'm totally at peace. Why 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:39.240 I already know the outcome. The truth is, the further 0:05:39.360 --> 0:05:42.640 behind we fall, the more excited I am, because that 0:05:42.839 --> 0:05:45.080 means a big comeback is on its way. 0:05:45.360 --> 0:05:47.480 I can't wait to see what's going to happen. 0:05:49.120 --> 0:05:52.520 As believers, this is the promise God makes to us. 0:05:53.200 --> 0:05:56.560 You may go through disappointments at times it seems like 0:05:56.600 --> 0:05:59.440 you're far behind, like it's never going to work out. 0:06:00.120 --> 0:06:03.080 You've got to remind yourself, I am in a fixed fight. 0:06:03.680 --> 0:06:07.320 Already know the outcome. God never ends in defeat. When 0:06:07.320 --> 0:06:10.000 it's all said and done, I'm the victor and not 0:06:10.120 --> 0:06:12.800 the victim. I'm going to come out of this setback 0:06:13.120 --> 0:06:16.440 not defeated but draggled, half dead. Nor I'm gonna come 0:06:16.440 --> 0:06:21.719 out promoted, increased, healthier, to a flourishing finish. A little 0:06:21.720 --> 0:06:24.719 over two thousand years ago, Jesus was on his way 0:06:24.760 --> 0:06:28.719 to the cross. He'd been beaten by the soldiers, mocked 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:33.280 and ridiculed. He was so discouraged he swept great drops 0:06:33.279 --> 0:06:37.240 of blood. His body was in pain, his spirit in agony. 0:06:37.760 --> 0:06:40.640 Yet deep down he understood this principle. 0:06:41.160 --> 0:06:44.359 He knew he was in a fixed fight. He knew 0:06:44.480 --> 0:06:49.040 his Father never ends in defeat. That's why he didn't 0:06:49.080 --> 0:06:52.480 call thousands of angels to come rescue him like he 0:06:52.520 --> 0:06:56.080 could have. That's why he didn't try to defend himself 0:06:56.360 --> 0:06:57.760 and answer his accusers. 0:06:57.920 --> 0:07:01.800 That's why he said, Father, forgive them. On Friday, it 0:07:01.839 --> 0:07:05.080 didn't look good, but he knew Sunday was coming. 0:07:05.720 --> 0:07:09.000 On Friday, the enemies were rejoicing me, having a party 0:07:09.120 --> 0:07:12.720 celebrating his defeat. But on Sunday morning, it was a 0:07:12.720 --> 0:07:16.600 different story. Jesus came out of the grave. He said, 0:07:16.640 --> 0:07:19.800 I am he that lives. I was dead, but I'm 0:07:19.800 --> 0:07:25.480 alive forevermore. Jesus crushed Satan's head, took from him the 0:07:25.560 --> 0:07:29.160 keys of death and hell. He said, because I live now, 0:07:29.240 --> 0:07:32.800 you can live also. And it may feel like Friday 0:07:32.920 --> 0:07:36.560 in your life. Things don't look good in your finances, 0:07:36.840 --> 0:07:40.040 your health may be a legal situation, looks like you've 0:07:40.080 --> 0:07:43.080 already lost, or like you're far behind. You know, the 0:07:43.120 --> 0:07:46.880 good news is Sunday is coming. God does not end 0:07:47.000 --> 0:07:51.080 in defeat. He's got another victory in your future. My 0:07:51.200 --> 0:07:56.200 friend Del Browner says, God always ends in all is well, 0:07:56.840 --> 0:07:59.680 So if all is not well, that simply means it's 0:07:59.720 --> 0:08:00.360 not the end. 0:08:01.160 --> 0:08:04.680 Don't quit believing victory is in front of you. When 0:08:04.680 --> 0:08:07.240 you say, Joel, all is not well. In my finances, 0:08:07.400 --> 0:08:10.920 I'm struggling, I'm in debt. That's okay, it's not the end. 0:08:11.400 --> 0:08:12.560 God is still working. 0:08:13.080 --> 0:08:17.480 Jehovah Jihrah the Lord, your provider, has breakthroughs. 0:08:16.800 --> 0:08:17.520 Come in your way. 0:08:18.760 --> 0:08:22.200 If all is not well in your health, don't get discouraged. 0:08:22.440 --> 0:08:23.400 It's not the end. 0:08:23.920 --> 0:08:28.080 God has healing restoration come in your way. All is 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:31.480 not well in your family, in a relationship, don't write 0:08:31.480 --> 0:08:34.320 a child off or a spouse off. They may be 0:08:34.440 --> 0:08:37.160 on the wrong course, but it's not the end. In 0:08:37.240 --> 0:08:40.000 the end, God promises all will be well. 0:08:40.679 --> 0:08:41.040 Friends. 0:08:41.080 --> 0:08:44.640 Our God does not end in defeat. He didn't say 0:08:45.040 --> 0:08:47.920 most of the time, I'll cause you to triumph. No, 0:08:48.080 --> 0:08:51.120 he said, I'll always cause you to triumph. You may 0:08:51.160 --> 0:08:56.800 go through difficulties, through unfair situations, through betrayals, but that's 0:08:56.840 --> 0:08:59.080 the way you need to see it. You're going through 0:09:00.080 --> 0:09:04.600 staying there. It's not permanent. Defeat is not your normal state. 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:08.040 If all is not well in your life, that simply 0:09:08.120 --> 0:09:11.120 means you haven't made it to your new destination. If 0:09:11.160 --> 0:09:14.160 you'll keep moving forward, you'll come into a new season 0:09:14.360 --> 0:09:18.320 of victory. Blessing favor. I love the story that our 0:09:18.360 --> 0:09:22.000 friend Danny Goki told last weekend. He's the young man 0:09:22.040 --> 0:09:25.120 from American Idol that sang for us. His wife was 0:09:25.160 --> 0:09:28.439 born with a heart condition. They prayed and believed that 0:09:28.480 --> 0:09:32.600 God would heal her, but during a surgery there were complications. 0:09:32.640 --> 0:09:35.160 Long story short, the young lady went to be with 0:09:35.240 --> 0:09:35.680 the Lord. 0:09:36.400 --> 0:09:40.479 Danny was devastated. He sunk into deep depression. 0:09:40.679 --> 0:09:43.040 He thought that his life was over and he couldn't 0:09:43.080 --> 0:09:46.559 understand how God could let that happen to him. The 0:09:46.600 --> 0:09:50.760 scripture talks about how God has written every page of 0:09:50.800 --> 0:09:54.960 our life in his book. God knows our future, He's 0:09:55.000 --> 0:09:58.880 already planned it out. The good news is your book 0:09:59.280 --> 0:10:04.559 ends in your final chapter. Is not you falling apart, 0:10:04.720 --> 0:10:09.560 going bankrupt, getting betrayed, living lonely. No, God's plans for 0:10:09.679 --> 0:10:13.280 you are for good, to bring you to a flourishing finish. 0:10:14.120 --> 0:10:17.360 When you go through a disappointment, something doesn't work out, 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:20.119 the key is to not get. 0:10:19.880 --> 0:10:22.080 Stuck on that page. 0:10:22.120 --> 0:10:25.120 If you will keep moving forward, you'll come into a 0:10:25.160 --> 0:10:29.559 new chapter, a chapter of victory, a chapter of restoration. 0:10:30.559 --> 0:10:33.280 Danny got stuck on that negative page for a while, 0:10:33.360 --> 0:10:36.079 but he told how one day he put his foot 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:39.880 down and he said, I refuse to let this disappointment 0:10:40.200 --> 0:10:42.360 ruin the rest of my life. 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:46.079 He started moving forward. God begin to open up new doors. 0:10:46.640 --> 0:10:50.240 Today, Danny has a successful career, in the music industry. 0:10:50.679 --> 0:10:54.360 Not only that, he started a charity to help families 0:10:54.440 --> 0:10:57.720 that are struggling, named after his wife, called Sophia's Heart. 0:10:58.360 --> 0:11:02.280 What am I saying ever ends on a negative Just 0:11:02.320 --> 0:11:06.120 because a company lets you go, or a spouse walked out, 0:11:06.280 --> 0:11:09.320 or a loved one died, doesn't mean it's the end. 0:11:09.720 --> 0:11:12.600 God has a new beginning. If you will do like 0:11:12.760 --> 0:11:13.720 Danny and. 0:11:13.720 --> 0:11:16.680 Shake off the bitterness and shake off the self pity 0:11:16.880 --> 0:11:19.960 and start moving forward, then you will see God begin 0:11:20.040 --> 0:11:23.280 to open new doors and bring new opportunities and new people. 0:11:23.440 --> 0:11:27.880 There are amazing victories still in your future. Well, you say, Joel, 0:11:28.040 --> 0:11:31.400 what about Danny's wife. She ended in defeat. She died 0:11:31.400 --> 0:11:33.880 at a young age. Now, when you go to heaven, 0:11:34.240 --> 0:11:37.680 that's not defeat. That's the ultimate victory. You're going to 0:11:37.760 --> 0:11:41.160 a place where there's no sorrow, no pain, no heartache. 0:11:43.120 --> 0:11:46.120 You won't be in heaven two seconds before you realize 0:11:46.160 --> 0:11:47.880 it's the greatest victory of your life. 0:11:48.920 --> 0:11:51.839 I heard about this elderly lady. She was in her 0:11:51.880 --> 0:11:54.479 final days, very close to death. 0:11:54.240 --> 0:11:56.520 And she called her pastor to come to her home 0:11:56.559 --> 0:12:00.240 to talk about the funeral. She gave instructions about what 0:12:00.400 --> 0:12:04.400 songs she wanted sung, what passages she wanted read. Her 0:12:04.440 --> 0:12:07.320 final request was to be buried with a. 0:12:07.200 --> 0:12:10.520 Fork in her hand. He said a fork? Why a fork? 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:14.600 And she explained how at the church dinners and other 0:12:14.720 --> 0:12:19.040 social functions, after the main course was served, somebody would 0:12:19.080 --> 0:12:22.360 always come by and say, keep your fork. That meant 0:12:22.480 --> 0:12:24.520 dessert was coming, chocolate. 0:12:24.280 --> 0:12:25.679 Cake, apple pine. 0:12:25.800 --> 0:12:28.120 When people heard keep your fork, they knew the best 0:12:28.120 --> 0:12:29.920 part of the meal was on the way. Couldn't wait 0:12:29.960 --> 0:12:31.880 to see what they were going to get, she said 0:12:31.880 --> 0:12:34.080 to the pastor. When people see me laying there with 0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:36.720 a fork in my hand, they'll know I can't wait 0:12:36.800 --> 0:12:41.560 to get where I'm going. See when you, when you 0:12:41.679 --> 0:12:45.719 have the right perspective, you realize, even in death, if 0:12:45.720 --> 0:12:47.960 you know the Lord, it's not ending on a negative. 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:52.320 That's God taking you to a flourishing finish. Think about Joseph. 0:12:52.520 --> 0:12:56.000 He was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and 0:12:56.200 --> 0:13:02.000 put in prisons. Yet Joseph never got bitter, never blame God, 0:13:02.120 --> 0:13:06.000 never gave up on his dreams. Why he understood this principle. 0:13:06.559 --> 0:13:09.240 He knew all was not well, so it couldn't be 0:13:09.280 --> 0:13:12.360 the end. He just kept being his best, doing the 0:13:12.440 --> 0:13:15.559 right thing when it was heard. In the end, God 0:13:15.600 --> 0:13:18.559 not only promoted him, put him in charge over all 0:13:18.600 --> 0:13:19.120 of Egypt. 0:13:19.400 --> 0:13:21.040 God vindicated him. 0:13:21.440 --> 0:13:24.400 The brothers that betrayed him came back and bowed low 0:13:24.520 --> 0:13:25.200 before him. 0:13:25.360 --> 0:13:27.240 That's a flourishing finish. 0:13:27.760 --> 0:13:30.880 As a young man, David was anointed by the prophet 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:33.520 Samuel to be the next king of Israel. 0:13:34.240 --> 0:13:37.080 Over the next few years, David was very loyal to 0:13:37.120 --> 0:13:39.280 the present king at that time, King Saul. 0:13:39.920 --> 0:13:43.920 David did him nothing but good. Yet Saul hated David. 0:13:44.000 --> 0:13:47.000 He was jealous of him, chased him all through the wilderness. 0:13:47.360 --> 0:13:50.240 David had to live on the run, fearing for his life. 0:13:50.800 --> 0:13:53.600 He could have thought, Samuel doesn't know what he's talking about, 0:13:53.840 --> 0:13:57.040 never going to be the king. No, David knew all 0:13:57.200 --> 0:14:00.200 was not well, so it couldn't be the end. He 0:14:00.360 --> 0:14:02.800 just kept being his best, staying on the high road, 0:14:02.960 --> 0:14:05.520 and one day he saw the promise come to pass. 0:14:06.240 --> 0:14:10.079 You may have circumstances right now that could easily talk 0:14:10.120 --> 0:14:12.400 you out of what God has put in your heart. 0:14:13.040 --> 0:14:15.679 Deep down, you know you're going to be healthy again. 0:14:16.400 --> 0:14:17.880 You know a relationship is. 0:14:17.880 --> 0:14:20.480 Going to be restored, or you know a dream is 0:14:20.520 --> 0:14:24.160 going to come to pass. But like Joseph, something unfair 0:14:24.200 --> 0:14:27.440 has happened. Maybe, like David, somebody's not treating you right. 0:14:28.120 --> 0:14:32.000 God is saying it's not the end. I'm still working 0:14:32.080 --> 0:14:35.280 behind the scenes. I have breakthroughs come in your way. 0:14:35.600 --> 0:14:41.480 I have vindication, restoration, promotion, Victory is in your future. Friends, 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:44.360 if you'll stay in faith, God will never let the 0:14:44.520 --> 0:14:48.720 enemy have the last laugh. God promises he will prepare 0:14:48.760 --> 0:14:51.800 a table before you in the presence of your enemies. 0:14:52.240 --> 0:14:54.920 That means the people. 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:58.480 That did you wrong, mistreated you, disrespected you. One day 0:14:58.640 --> 0:15:04.120 they will see you blessed, prosperous, vindicated, happy, fulfilled, just 0:15:04.320 --> 0:15:08.440 like Joseph's brothers that bowed down low before him. God 0:15:08.520 --> 0:15:11.760 will make sure you get the honor and the respect 0:15:11.880 --> 0:15:14.920 you deserve. Your life is not going to end on 0:15:14.960 --> 0:15:18.600 a negative. I met a young couple from New Orleans. 0:15:18.880 --> 0:15:23.320 They have three small children. They lost everything during Hurricane Katrina. 0:15:24.040 --> 0:15:27.320 The house that they worked so hard for was swept away, 0:15:27.800 --> 0:15:30.840 their furniture, their possessions, their car. They made it out 0:15:31.040 --> 0:15:34.240 with just the clothes on their back. A bus dropped 0:15:34.280 --> 0:15:37.520 them off at the Houston Astronom. One of our couples 0:15:37.720 --> 0:15:40.240 helped them to find an apartment and get back on 0:15:40.280 --> 0:15:40.840 their feet. 0:15:41.400 --> 0:15:43.440 This couple, they were sharp people. 0:15:43.840 --> 0:15:45.960 He told how he was the first one in his 0:15:46.000 --> 0:15:48.960 family to ever own a home, first one to ever 0:15:49.040 --> 0:15:50.400 graduate from college. 0:15:50.680 --> 0:15:52.920 The future was brought. Everything was going good. 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:56.800 Then Hurricane Katrina hit and just took the wind out 0:15:56.840 --> 0:15:59.680 of their cells. A couple from Lakewood would go pick 0:15:59.720 --> 0:16:02.280 them up every Sunday and bring them to church, and 0:16:02.480 --> 0:16:05.480 they would hear about how we are victors and not 0:16:05.640 --> 0:16:08.360 Big Tom's, and how God will pay us back double 0:16:08.440 --> 0:16:11.280 for our trouble, and how God never ends in defeat. 0:16:11.920 --> 0:16:13.600 They shook off the self pity. 0:16:14.080 --> 0:16:17.000 They got a fresh new vision for their life. 0:16:17.120 --> 0:16:18.440 Last week they brought. 0:16:18.200 --> 0:16:21.200 Pictures of the new house that they just moved into, 0:16:21.240 --> 0:16:23.800 and he told about the new job he got making 0:16:23.840 --> 0:16:28.120 better money. In New Orleans, they had a run down house. 0:16:28.640 --> 0:16:31.040 They were happy with that, they were grateful. But here 0:16:31.120 --> 0:16:32.880 God blessed them with a brand new house. 0:16:33.320 --> 0:16:36.040 They had hand me down furniture there, but here God 0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:37.600 blessed them with brand new furniture. 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:41.800 Their children went to an oldkay school, but here they 0:16:41.880 --> 0:16:42.240 go to. 0:16:42.160 --> 0:16:46.240 An excellent school. What happened? They kept moving forward. 0:16:46.320 --> 0:16:49.720 They turned the page and they walked into that flourishing finish. 0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:52.640 Now the enemy's not having the last laugh. 0:16:52.880 --> 0:16:54.200 They're having the last laugh. 0:16:55.440 --> 0:16:59.560 When you go through disappointments, something doesn't work out, you've 0:16:59.560 --> 0:17:02.400 got to do like they did. Shake off the bitterness, 0:17:02.920 --> 0:17:05.760 shake off the self pity, and say this set back 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:09.120 it is not the end. It's a new beginning. All 0:17:09.240 --> 0:17:11.719 is not well, so I know God is still working. 0:17:12.119 --> 0:17:16.320 He's got a flourishing finish in my future. That's what 0:17:16.359 --> 0:17:18.639 we did when my father went to be with the Lord. 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:22.439 Some people thought that Lakewood had seen its best days. 0:17:23.119 --> 0:17:24.320 The critics said that it. 0:17:24.320 --> 0:17:27.840 Wouldn't last, it would dwindle down to nothing. But thank 0:17:27.920 --> 0:17:31.320 god he had other plans. Didn't go down, it went up. 0:17:31.840 --> 0:17:34.040 The critics didn't have the last laugh. We had the 0:17:34.119 --> 0:17:39.360 last laugh. Really, Lakewood wasn't finished. We were just getting started. 0:17:40.320 --> 0:17:43.199 I remember when my father died that night of a 0:17:43.240 --> 0:17:49.320 heart attack, unexpectedly. All in our family was not well. 0:17:49.480 --> 0:17:52.320 My father had never raised up anyone to take over 0:17:52.359 --> 0:17:55.199 the ministry. We didn't know how everything was going to 0:17:55.240 --> 0:17:58.280 turn out. We didn't have all the answers, but we 0:17:58.480 --> 0:18:02.639 understood this principle that God never ends on a negative. 0:18:03.119 --> 0:18:06.040 Instead of getting stuck on that page. We just kept 0:18:06.040 --> 0:18:10.600 moving forward, little by little, doing our best, being faithful, 0:18:10.960 --> 0:18:14.159 being good to people. When I look out today, I 0:18:14.200 --> 0:18:17.520 can see the faithfulness of God. I can say, like David, 0:18:17.680 --> 0:18:21.080 look what the Lord has time. Friends, God's dream is 0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:26.440 to see you flourish, to come out of a setback, stronger, increase, better, promoted. 0:18:27.280 --> 0:18:31.639 Get this down in your spirit, a flourishing finish. Not 0:18:31.920 --> 0:18:35.040 ending your career getting pushed out the door, nor if 0:18:35.040 --> 0:18:37.159 that happened, keep moving forward. 0:18:37.200 --> 0:18:38.600 God has new opportunities. 0:18:39.200 --> 0:18:43.280 Not with somebody walking out of a relationship, you being betrayed, 0:18:43.359 --> 0:18:46.720 you being scarred, nor if that happens, don't get stuck 0:18:46.800 --> 0:18:48.160 on that page. 0:18:48.200 --> 0:18:50.520 If they left you, you didn't need them. 0:18:51.119 --> 0:18:53.119 If they walked out, they weren't a part of your 0:18:53.160 --> 0:18:56.840 divine destiny. God has the right people lined up for you. 0:18:57.960 --> 0:19:02.480 He's not planning on you living to prayer, defeated, betrayed, disappointed. 0:19:02.720 --> 0:19:06.280 His plan is to bring you out with a flourishing finish. 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:07.880 Get a vision for it. 0:19:08.520 --> 0:19:11.840 I know this man that, after twenty seven years of marriage, 0:19:11.920 --> 0:19:14.480 his wife walked in one day and told him she 0:19:14.600 --> 0:19:18.320 was seeing someone else and it was over. He was devastated, 0:19:18.760 --> 0:19:22.760 so betrayed. He didn't leave the house for months and months. 0:19:22.960 --> 0:19:23.879 He quit his job. 0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:24.800 He was a. 0:19:24.840 --> 0:19:28.960 Successful executive, but he gave it all up, not thinking. 0:19:28.640 --> 0:19:31.960 He would ever be happy again. When I saw him, he. 0:19:31.880 --> 0:19:35.320 Looked twenty years older than he was. He used to 0:19:35.359 --> 0:19:39.239 be fun, friendly and likable, but now he had this 0:19:39.400 --> 0:19:43.160 deep sadness all about him. I talked him into coming 0:19:43.240 --> 0:19:44.080 over to Lakewood. 0:19:44.640 --> 0:19:47.280 Little by little. It didn't happen overnight, but he began 0:19:47.400 --> 0:19:50.439 to get his joy back. He began to dream again. 0:19:50.920 --> 0:19:53.600 You could see the spring coming back up in his step. 0:19:54.400 --> 0:19:55.840 About three years. 0:19:55.600 --> 0:19:58.520 Ago he met a young lady and they got married. 0:19:58.560 --> 0:20:00.840 And he told me the other day, oh, I have 0:20:01.080 --> 0:20:03.840 never been so happy in all of my life. He 0:20:03.960 --> 0:20:06.200 was in amazement at what God had done. 0:20:06.440 --> 0:20:08.520 Friends, that's the goodness of our God. 0:20:09.640 --> 0:20:13.400 When it looks dark, when you don't see how you'll 0:20:13.440 --> 0:20:16.639 ever be happy, doesn't look like there's a way. Listen, 0:20:16.720 --> 0:20:19.919 God has a way. If you will stay in faith. 0:20:20.359 --> 0:20:23.040 God will not let the enemy have the last laugh. 0:20:23.280 --> 0:20:26.440 You will have the last laugh. And it may be Friday, but. 0:20:26.520 --> 0:20:30.119 Sunday is coming now. Don't lose your passion for life. 0:20:30.880 --> 0:20:33.760 Don't believe the thoughts that are telling you never going 0:20:33.800 --> 0:20:34.560 to get any better. 0:20:35.080 --> 0:20:38.120 You're never going to meet someone. This disappointment is going 0:20:38.160 --> 0:20:39.440 to be the end of you. 0:20:39.440 --> 0:20:42.840 No, God has the final say, and he's saying, your 0:20:42.960 --> 0:20:45.640 life is not going to end on a negative. I'm 0:20:45.680 --> 0:20:49.480 bringing you to a flourishing finish. This couple, I know 0:20:49.800 --> 0:20:52.080 they have a son that for many years was on 0:20:52.119 --> 0:20:55.240 the wrong course. He was raised in a great environment, 0:20:55.400 --> 0:20:58.359 but for some reason he got running with the wrong 0:20:58.440 --> 0:21:01.359 crowd and God involved in and he ended up in 0:21:01.640 --> 0:21:06.480 and out of jail. This couple prayed, they believed they 0:21:06.480 --> 0:21:10.119 got in treatment. They did everything that they could, but 0:21:10.200 --> 0:21:13.080 it seemed like the more they did, the worse he got. 0:21:13.920 --> 0:21:16.920 Was taking a huge toll on this family. Didn't look 0:21:16.960 --> 0:21:19.600 like he was ever going to change. But instead of 0:21:19.640 --> 0:21:23.720 complaining about it, every day they would speak God's word 0:21:23.920 --> 0:21:27.440 over their sons. They would say things like, Father, you said, 0:21:27.640 --> 0:21:30.440 as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 0:21:31.000 --> 0:21:33.320 You said the seed of the righteous would be mighty 0:21:33.359 --> 0:21:35.679 in the land. So we thank you that our. 0:21:35.600 --> 0:21:39.440 Son will fulfill his destiny. He'll do great things for you. 0:21:40.480 --> 0:21:43.600 They didn't call him what he was, They called him 0:21:43.880 --> 0:21:46.840 what they wanted him to be. Now About two years ago, 0:21:47.160 --> 0:21:50.919 this son went through a total transformation, got back in church, 0:21:51.240 --> 0:21:55.320 got off the drugs, went back to college. God has degree. Today, 0:21:55.600 --> 0:21:59.080 he has a successful career. In his spare time, he 0:21:59.200 --> 0:22:02.719 volunteers at the ministry helping other young people that are 0:22:02.760 --> 0:22:04.080 struggling with addictions. 0:22:04.400 --> 0:22:06.320 What am I saying, Don't give up. 0:22:06.200 --> 0:22:08.600 On your family, Don't give up on your son, your daughter. 0:22:08.960 --> 0:22:12.600 God never ends on a negative like in this case. 0:22:13.000 --> 0:22:16.679 It may get worse before it gets better. That's a 0:22:16.720 --> 0:22:20.080 sign the enemy is taking his best shot. But know this, 0:22:20.480 --> 0:22:23.480 his best will never be enough. The forces that are 0:22:23.520 --> 0:22:26.600 for you are greater than the forces that are against you. 0:22:28.280 --> 0:22:31.159 We are called to fight the good fight of faith. 0:22:31.680 --> 0:22:34.560 The reason it's the good fight is because we always win. 0:22:35.520 --> 0:22:38.000 It may not happen on our timetable or the way 0:22:38.040 --> 0:22:41.280 we had planned out, but God's a faithful God. If 0:22:41.280 --> 0:22:44.560 you will believe, your life will not end on a negative. 0:22:45.119 --> 0:22:46.160 The very thing the. 0:22:46.200 --> 0:22:49.119 Enemy tries to destroy you with God can turn it 0:22:49.160 --> 0:22:52.199 around and use that to help you bless other people. 0:22:52.680 --> 0:22:55.680 This young man is now a drug counselor helping other 0:22:55.920 --> 0:22:56.560 young people. 0:22:56.800 --> 0:23:01.320 The addiction didn't defeat him, it promoted him a flourishing finish. 0:23:01.880 --> 0:23:04.119 In the scripture, there was a lady that had a 0:23:04.160 --> 0:23:07.080 son that died, and she was the friend of the 0:23:07.080 --> 0:23:08.080 prophet Elisha. 0:23:08.359 --> 0:23:09.720 She went to see him. 0:23:10.080 --> 0:23:13.440 A servant saw her coming, thought that was unusual and said, 0:23:13.520 --> 0:23:14.359 is everything okay? 0:23:14.880 --> 0:23:19.320 She replied, all is well. Somebody else stopped her. What's wrong? 0:23:19.880 --> 0:23:23.880 All is well? She ran into another person, what's going on? 0:23:24.280 --> 0:23:25.119 All is well? 0:23:25.800 --> 0:23:29.360 The whole time her son was at home dead, Yet 0:23:29.359 --> 0:23:30.880 she's telling everyone. 0:23:30.800 --> 0:23:32.520 All is well. 0:23:32.640 --> 0:23:36.359 See, sometimes you have to say all is well before 0:23:36.440 --> 0:23:39.640 everything will be well. You have to say I'm blessed, 0:23:39.840 --> 0:23:42.720 even when your checkbook doesn't say you're blessed. You have 0:23:42.800 --> 0:23:45.520 to say I'm healthy when the medical report doesn't say 0:23:45.560 --> 0:23:46.080 you're healthy. 0:23:46.640 --> 0:23:47.880 You have to call. 0:23:47.600 --> 0:23:51.200 Your son mighty in the land, even when he's running 0:23:51.200 --> 0:23:52.080 with the wrong crowd. 0:23:52.200 --> 0:23:53.520 You got to speak it by faith. 0:23:54.119 --> 0:23:56.480 She got to Elisha, and he prayed and her son 0:23:56.560 --> 0:23:59.400 came back to life. But I believe it was her 0:23:59.520 --> 0:24:03.399 faith that caused God to act. When you're in difficult times, 0:24:03.920 --> 0:24:06.040 don't call yourself what you are. 0:24:06.200 --> 0:24:07.159 Do like this lady. 0:24:07.400 --> 0:24:10.159 Call yourself the way you want to be by faith. 0:24:10.400 --> 0:24:14.480 Call it well, Call your future bright, Call yourself blessed. 0:24:14.840 --> 0:24:18.800 Call your children fulfilling their destiny. I talk to a 0:24:18.840 --> 0:24:22.159 lot of people that are really down on themselves because 0:24:22.160 --> 0:24:25.280 of the mistakes they've made. They don't think they deserve 0:24:25.400 --> 0:24:29.840 God's goodness. That's the amazing thing about the mercy of God. 0:24:30.240 --> 0:24:33.520 Even when we bring trouble on ourselves, even when it's 0:24:33.560 --> 0:24:38.360 our fault, God is so merciful. If you'll receive his forgiveness, 0:24:38.880 --> 0:24:43.000 not go around guilty, condemned, beating yourself up, God says, 0:24:43.080 --> 0:24:46.080 I'll still bring you to a flourishing finish. 0:24:46.359 --> 0:24:49.879 Think about Sampson. His birth was predicted in the scripture. 0:24:50.520 --> 0:24:53.320 An angel appeared to his mother and said, you're going 0:24:53.359 --> 0:24:54.040 to have a son. 0:24:54.680 --> 0:24:57.760 He'll be a delivered. How his hair was not supposed 0:24:57.760 --> 0:24:58.320 to be cut. 0:24:58.520 --> 0:25:02.880 That was the secret of his Sampson had a supernatural beginning. 0:25:03.400 --> 0:25:05.760 He grew up to do great things, and he had 0:25:05.800 --> 0:25:08.800 this incredible strength where he could not be conquered by 0:25:08.800 --> 0:25:12.439 his enemies. But over time he let his guard down, 0:25:12.640 --> 0:25:15.760 became undisciplined, and he told someone about his hair. 0:25:16.560 --> 0:25:19.840 They ended up cutting his hair. He lost his strength. 0:25:20.280 --> 0:25:23.800 He was captured by his enemies. They were so afraid 0:25:23.840 --> 0:25:27.760 of him they gouged out both of his eyes. Now, 0:25:27.840 --> 0:25:32.440 this once powerful man that carried God's anointing and favor 0:25:33.119 --> 0:25:37.240 ended up chained working as a slave grinding at the mill. 0:25:38.119 --> 0:25:40.880 You would think God wouldn't have anything to do with him. 0:25:41.400 --> 0:25:44.959 He had his chance, he had a supernatural birth, supernatural strength. 0:25:45.000 --> 0:25:48.960 God gave him favor. Too bad, he made wrong choices. No, 0:25:49.160 --> 0:25:52.160 that's not the way our God thinks. God will always 0:25:52.280 --> 0:25:56.639 give you another chance. You may have made a thousand mistakes, 0:25:56.880 --> 0:25:59.560 but God does not want your life to end on 0:25:59.600 --> 0:26:04.000 a neck ade. The scripture says, Sampson's hair began to 0:26:04.040 --> 0:26:08.760 grow once again. After all these mistakes, God was saying, 0:26:09.080 --> 0:26:12.760 I'm still going to bring you out with a flourishing finish. 0:26:13.480 --> 0:26:16.440 One day, Sampson was in this large hall. They were 0:26:16.440 --> 0:26:19.639 having a reception with thousands of people. The enemy had 0:26:19.680 --> 0:26:22.880 him chained to the walls. It's like he was on display. 0:26:22.920 --> 0:26:26.320 They were coming by making fun mocking him. Sampson asked 0:26:26.359 --> 0:26:29.320 one of the small children to place his hands on 0:26:29.400 --> 0:26:32.879 the pillars of that hall so he could rest. The 0:26:32.920 --> 0:26:37.240 scripture says, the spirit of the Lord came on Samson 0:26:37.520 --> 0:26:38.399 one more time. 0:26:39.119 --> 0:26:40.680 God gave him his strength back. 0:26:41.200 --> 0:26:44.159 Do you know he pushed those walls down, and he 0:26:44.320 --> 0:26:47.760 defeated more of his enemies in his death than he 0:26:47.800 --> 0:26:49.480 did his whole lifetime. 0:26:49.920 --> 0:26:52.679 That's a flourishing finish. That's what God wants to do 0:26:52.760 --> 0:26:54.360 for you. But some of you. 0:26:54.359 --> 0:26:58.679 Think you made too many mistakes. You just have to 0:26:58.680 --> 0:27:01.600 sit on the sidelines of God. Could never bring your 0:27:01.680 --> 0:27:05.680 dreams to pass. No, just life with Sampson. The spirit 0:27:05.920 --> 0:27:09.040 of the Lord is going to come on you another time. 0:27:09.480 --> 0:27:09.680 Now. 0:27:09.680 --> 0:27:12.719 You've got to do your part and shake off the blame. 0:27:13.560 --> 0:27:15.120 Quit beating yourself up. 0:27:15.800 --> 0:27:18.640 You can't do anything about the past, but you can 0:27:18.800 --> 0:27:20.320 do something about your future. 0:27:20.600 --> 0:27:22.640 Put your shoulders back, hold your. 0:27:22.560 --> 0:27:24.680 Head up high, and say God, I may have made 0:27:24.720 --> 0:27:27.840 a lot of mistakes, but if you did it for Samson, 0:27:28.320 --> 0:27:30.439 I know you can do it for me. I'm not 0:27:30.520 --> 0:27:34.000 gonna go around beat myself up, guilty, condemned. I believe 0:27:34.080 --> 0:27:36.760 my end is going to be better than my beginning. 0:27:37.119 --> 0:27:39.960 I believe the rest of my life is going to 0:27:40.000 --> 0:27:42.840 be the best of my life. Friends, we are in 0:27:42.920 --> 0:27:48.120 a fixed fight. God has already promised us the victory. Remember, 0:27:48.440 --> 0:27:51.119 if all is not well in your life, that simply 0:27:51.200 --> 0:27:54.960 means it's not the end. Don't get discouraged. God's still working. 0:27:55.240 --> 0:27:57.400 It may be Friday, but the good. 0:27:57.200 --> 0:27:59.400 News is Sunday is coming. Now. 0:27:59.400 --> 0:28:03.040 I'm asking you to shake off the defeat, the discouragement, 0:28:03.440 --> 0:28:06.359 the self pity. It may not have been fair, but 0:28:06.480 --> 0:28:10.320 don't get stuck on that page. If you'll keep moving forward, 0:28:10.680 --> 0:28:14.199 you'll come into a chapter of victory, a chapter of restoration, 0:28:14.600 --> 0:28:17.960 a chapter of new beginnings. No matter what comes your way, 0:28:18.200 --> 0:28:21.320 let me declare it over you. Your life is not going 0:28:21.359 --> 0:28:24.400 to end on a negative. God is going to restore 0:28:24.520 --> 0:28:28.520 what's been stolen. He's gonna repair what's been broken. He's 0:28:28.560 --> 0:28:31.800 gonna take every setback and turn it into a setup 0:28:31.920 --> 0:28:34.560 for a greater comeback. You're not gonna come out with 0:28:34.600 --> 0:28:37.159 a barely get by finished and okay finish. 0:28:37.440 --> 0:28:39.400 No, you need to get ready. God's going to bring 0:28:39.440 --> 0:28:42.720 you out to a flourishing finish. I believe it. I 0:28:42.840 --> 0:28:44.440 declare it in Jesus' name. 0:28:44.800 --> 0:28:47.000 If you receive it, give the Lord one more shout 0:28:47.000 --> 0:28:47.920 of praise this morning. 0:28:47.920 --> 0:28:48.240 Amen. 0:28:50.200 --> 0:28:53.400 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:53.440 --> 0:28:56.320 an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:28:56.440 --> 0:29:00.200 Would you pray with me? Just say Lord Jesus, I 0:29:00.360 --> 0:29:03.600 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. 0:29:04.680 --> 0:29:06.440 I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:07.640 --> 0:29:10.160 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, I believe you 0:29:10.200 --> 0:29:11.000 got born again. 0:29:11.480 --> 0:29:14.440 Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 0:29:14.720 --> 0:29:17.160 He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 0:29:17.840 --> 0:29:21.280 Thank you for listening to the joel Ostine podcast. Help 0:29:21.360 --> 0:29:24.080 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:24.160 --> 0:29:28.080 all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 0:29:28.160 --> 0:29:29.840 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:31.120 --> 0:29:33.560 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:33.680 --> 0:29:36.440 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:36.480 --> 0:29:37.880 podcast to keep you. 0:29:37.920 --> 0:29:41.000 Inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. I 0:29:41.040 --> 0:29:43.920 know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time.