Hearing The Heavenly Cheers

0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:03.120 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for 0:00:03.160 --> 0:00:06.280 listening to the podcast. We have a new resource. It's 0:00:06.320 --> 0:00:09.120 a twenty twenty four daily devotional. We'd love to send 0:00:09.119 --> 0:00:11.440 it to you. It'll help you start the day off right. 0:00:11.640 --> 0:00:14.120 You will love this devotional and know this, we are 0:00:14.160 --> 0:00:16.959 praying for you and we are believing for God's very 0:00:17.000 --> 0:00:21.400 best for you in twenty twenty four. Hey, God bless you. 0:00:21.520 --> 0:00:24.080 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:24.160 --> 0:00:26.599 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:26.680 --> 0:00:30.600 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media, and you 0:00:30.640 --> 0:00:33.159 can come visit us in person. We'd love to have 0:00:33.280 --> 0:00:35.960 you be a part of one of our services. I'd 0:00:36.000 --> 0:00:38.200 like to start with something funny, and I heard about 0:00:38.200 --> 0:00:41.440 this pastor. He'd been out in the woods bear hunting 0:00:41.600 --> 0:00:44.839 all day long and searched and searched, but didn't see 0:00:44.880 --> 0:00:48.400 any sign of a bear. Finally, in frustration, he threw 0:00:48.400 --> 0:00:50.720 his gun down on the ground and he went down 0:00:50.760 --> 0:00:53.400 to the stream to cool off. About that time, and 0:00:53.400 --> 0:00:56.360 he saw this huge grizzly bear about one hundred yards 0:00:56.400 --> 0:01:00.240 away coming to ward in full speed ahead. He fell 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:03.320 down on his knees and said, God, please convert this bear. 0:01:03.400 --> 0:01:07.360 To a Christian. Miraculously, the bear froze in his tracks, 0:01:07.600 --> 0:01:10.119 put both paws up in the air, and said, Lord, 0:01:10.200 --> 0:01:12.480 thank you for this food that I'm about to eat. 0:01:12.640 --> 0:01:16.200 He say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:01:16.560 --> 0:01:19.040 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:01:19.120 --> 0:01:21.520 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:01:21.600 --> 0:01:24.399 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:01:24.480 --> 0:01:28.720 of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 0:01:28.840 --> 0:01:33.199 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:37.200 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:41.840 about hearing the heavenly cheers. I grew up playing sports, 0:01:41.880 --> 0:01:45.000 and I realize the difference it makes to have someone 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:48.000 in the stands rooting for you. When you look over 0:01:48.120 --> 0:01:50.920 and you see your family, you hear them calling your 0:01:51.000 --> 0:01:55.000 name with their hands in the air, encouraging you. It 0:01:55.040 --> 0:01:58.200 makes you run a little faster and jump a little higher, 0:01:58.760 --> 0:02:03.120 gives you a greater determine, nation more stamina, all because 0:02:03.400 --> 0:02:06.600 someone is cheering you on. I was in track and 0:02:06.680 --> 0:02:09.280 field in high school and I ran the mile and 0:02:09.760 --> 0:02:12.480 one of our meats was out of town, and some 0:02:12.639 --> 0:02:15.400 friends of mine drove a couple of hours to watch 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:18.480 me run. They brought signs that they held up in 0:02:18.520 --> 0:02:22.840 the stands. Run Joel Run. I acted like I was embarrassed, 0:02:22.880 --> 0:02:25.840 but really I liked it. But as I circled that 0:02:26.000 --> 0:02:29.000 track during the race, I could hear them calling my name, 0:02:29.200 --> 0:02:32.639 Go Joel, you can do this. I ran that day 0:02:32.680 --> 0:02:36.000 like I was FoST gun. I normally come in third 0:02:36.120 --> 0:02:38.440 or fourth place, but that day I won the race. 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:42.280 It does something to you when you have people pulling 0:02:42.320 --> 0:02:45.320 for you, When someone your love is in the stands 0:02:45.360 --> 0:02:47.680 and you know they believe in you, it gives you 0:02:47.720 --> 0:02:52.680 a boost. You'll achieve things you would normally achieve. Hebrews 0:02:52.720 --> 0:02:56.600 eleven talks about the heroes of faith and all these 0:02:56.639 --> 0:03:03.840 people that have gone before us and the amazing things they'veccomplished. Noah, Abraham, David, Sarah, 0:03:04.080 --> 0:03:08.040 people that were known and not known. They believed and endured. 0:03:08.639 --> 0:03:13.040 They saw giants defeated, walls come down Red Sea's Park. 0:03:14.000 --> 0:03:17.959 Chapter twelve says, seeing that we are surrounded by such 0:03:17.960 --> 0:03:21.480 a great cloud of witnesses, let us run the race 0:03:21.639 --> 0:03:25.280 that is set before us. The great cloud of witnesses 0:03:25.400 --> 0:03:29.080 that were surrounded by are the heroes of faith mentioned 0:03:29.120 --> 0:03:32.720 in chapter eleven. This paints the picture of a big 0:03:32.760 --> 0:03:36.680 stadium up in heaven with the race taking place. The 0:03:36.720 --> 0:03:40.560 people in the grandstands are the saints of old. These 0:03:40.640 --> 0:03:45.360 heroes of faith are looking down cheering us on. You're 0:03:45.360 --> 0:03:48.800 not running your race alone. All of Heaven is pulling 0:03:48.880 --> 0:03:52.640 for you. Not only the heroes of faith, but your 0:03:52.720 --> 0:03:56.520 loved ones that have gone before you. Those believers in 0:03:56.600 --> 0:04:00.720 your family line, your grandparents, relative you may not have 0:04:00.800 --> 0:04:04.920 ever met. They're looking over the banisters of heaven. They're 0:04:04.920 --> 0:04:08.280 in that great cloud of witnesses saying, you go, girl, 0:04:08.760 --> 0:04:11.680 You go, boy, keep running, keep being your best. You've 0:04:11.680 --> 0:04:14.760 got what it takes. My father went to be with 0:04:14.840 --> 0:04:18.880 the Lord twenty five years ago. Next month. People often 0:04:18.920 --> 0:04:21.480 ask me, do you think he knows what's going on? 0:04:22.000 --> 0:04:25.320 You think he can see what's happening. Always tell them, yes, 0:04:25.800 --> 0:04:28.400 I know where Daddy is. He's in the grim stands. 0:04:28.800 --> 0:04:32.120 He's in the great cloud of witnesses. I can hear 0:04:32.200 --> 0:04:35.320 him cheering me on by faith. I can hear him 0:04:35.360 --> 0:04:39.000 calling my name, Joel. Keep going, you're making us proud. 0:04:39.200 --> 0:04:43.320 You're taking new ground. Your loved ones in heaven are 0:04:43.360 --> 0:04:47.000 not just floating around. They don't know anything. No they're 0:04:47.080 --> 0:04:51.160 cheering for you. They believe in you. They had their time, 0:04:51.480 --> 0:04:55.480 now this is your time. Hebrews eleven says something interesting 0:04:56.040 --> 0:04:59.040 after talking about all the heroes of faith and the 0:04:59.080 --> 0:05:02.479 amazing things they they had done. Verse thirty nine says, 0:05:02.800 --> 0:05:06.640 none of them received all that God had promised, for 0:05:06.760 --> 0:05:10.200 God has far better things in store for us that 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:14.440 would also benefit then. For they can't receive the prize 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:17.600 at the end of their race until we finish our race. 0:05:18.800 --> 0:05:22.200 This is saying, there are things your loved ones accomplished, 0:05:22.520 --> 0:05:25.440 but they didn't finish it. It couldn't happen in just 0:05:25.520 --> 0:05:29.719 one generation. They didn't see the fullness. They're going to 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:32.560 see the prize when you finish it. They're going to 0:05:32.640 --> 0:05:35.599 get their full reward when you step up and do 0:05:35.720 --> 0:05:39.240 what God's put in your heart. It's going to take boldness, 0:05:39.720 --> 0:05:44.360 not letting fear hold us back. It's going to take integrity, excellence, 0:05:44.400 --> 0:05:47.840 staying on the high road. Your loved ones are counting 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:51.600 on you. They may have fulfilled their purpose, but their 0:05:51.640 --> 0:05:57.400 assignment wasn't complete. Yes, they endured, they sacrificed, they stretched. 0:05:58.120 --> 0:06:02.400 Some of them faced injustice, discrimination and things that were 0:06:02.400 --> 0:06:05.760 not fair, but they fought the good fight. They didn't 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:09.680 give up, they didn't get bitter, they never complained, They 0:06:09.800 --> 0:06:13.800 just kept honoring God being their best. Now they're in 0:06:13.880 --> 0:06:17.520 the grand stands. They've done their part. It's up to us. 0:06:18.520 --> 0:06:21.159 Twenty years before my father went to be with the Lord, 0:06:21.560 --> 0:06:25.120 he talked about wanting to buy this place. It was 0:06:25.160 --> 0:06:28.039 called the Summit. Back then he was speaking for a 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:31.119 friend of ours, and I have the recording. He said, 0:06:31.120 --> 0:06:33.640 one day, we're going to have the Summit for our 0:06:33.760 --> 0:06:37.240 church home. At that time, Lakewood was in a four 0:06:37.279 --> 0:06:40.680 thousand seat auditorium. We didn't need a place this big. 0:06:41.400 --> 0:06:44.800 But sometimes God will put things in your spirit that 0:06:44.839 --> 0:06:48.400 are for the next generation. You may see further than 0:06:48.440 --> 0:06:52.920 you're going to go. God works generationally. That's why there 0:06:52.960 --> 0:06:56.720 are saints of old cheering you on. When you fulfill 0:06:56.839 --> 0:07:01.200 your course, the scripture says you will benefit. Then this 0:07:01.240 --> 0:07:05.080 should inspire us to not get complacent, to lay aside 0:07:05.200 --> 0:07:08.320 weights that are holding us back, to run with passion, 0:07:08.680 --> 0:07:13.200 with excellence. Your relatives are counting on you. You're not 0:07:13.360 --> 0:07:16.800 just living under your self. You're affecting those that will 0:07:16.800 --> 0:07:20.080 come after you, and you're honoring those that have gone 0:07:20.080 --> 0:07:24.080 before you. They will benefit. They will receive a reward 0:07:24.640 --> 0:07:28.080 because you took new ground. You ran your race with purpose. 0:07:29.040 --> 0:07:32.000 When we heard that the Compact Center was coming available, 0:07:32.560 --> 0:07:36.120 something came alive in my spirit. I didn't know at 0:07:36.120 --> 0:07:39.679 that time that my father had talked about purchasing this building. 0:07:40.200 --> 0:07:43.480 I hadn't heard that recording, but deep down I knew 0:07:43.640 --> 0:07:46.280 it was supposed to be ours, and there was a 0:07:46.320 --> 0:07:49.720 faith that rose up. I can't even take credit for it. 0:07:50.280 --> 0:07:53.960 The scripture talks about the faith of our fathers, the 0:07:54.000 --> 0:07:57.240 faith of those that went before us. I believe it 0:07:57.280 --> 0:07:59.760 was my father in the grand stands cheering me on. 0:08:00.560 --> 0:08:04.960 It was those heroes of faith, encouraging, supporting, believing in 0:08:05.040 --> 0:08:09.240 me by faith. I could hear the heavenly cheers. I 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:12.480 could hear David saying, Joel, the giant may look big. 0:08:12.720 --> 0:08:15.280 I've been there, but I can tell you our God 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:18.960 is bigor I defeated it, you can defeat it too. 0:08:19.200 --> 0:08:24.000 I could hear Gideon saying, you feel unqualified, intimidated, you 0:08:24.040 --> 0:08:26.520 don't think you can pastor the church. I've been there. 0:08:27.200 --> 0:08:30.040 I was hiding when God called me a mighty hero. 0:08:30.760 --> 0:08:34.600 I was afraid, but God called me to lead the people, Joel, 0:08:34.679 --> 0:08:38.480 you have what it takes. You are a mighty hero. When 0:08:38.520 --> 0:08:42.640 you know Heaven is cheering for you, You'll feel supernatural strength. 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:46.080 You'll have the faith to do what God's called you 0:08:46.120 --> 0:08:49.440 to do. We read about the heroes of faith in 0:08:49.559 --> 0:08:52.840 chapter eleven, but can I encourage you? The list is 0:08:52.880 --> 0:08:57.199 not complete. I'm looking at heroes of faith. I'm looking 0:08:57.240 --> 0:09:00.880 at David's and Sarah's, and Josephs and Gideon. I'm looking 0:09:00.920 --> 0:09:05.600 at giant killers, burier breakers, people that take new ground, 0:09:06.080 --> 0:09:10.720 people that are finishing what was started generations back. I 0:09:10.760 --> 0:09:13.960 can imagine my father up in heaven saying to people 0:09:14.000 --> 0:09:16.560 in the grand stands, look at Joel, that's my son. 0:09:17.200 --> 0:09:19.480 Look at him believing for big things. Look at him 0:09:19.480 --> 0:09:23.679 setting new standards. There are people in the grand stands 0:09:23.760 --> 0:09:29.360 right now bragging on you, admiring your accomplishments, telling others 0:09:29.360 --> 0:09:32.600 how proud they are of you, your loved ones that 0:09:32.640 --> 0:09:37.720 have gone on. They see your faithfulness, they see your generosity, 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:41.920 They see you overlooking wrongs. They see you keep going 0:09:42.040 --> 0:09:45.400 when you feel like stopping. They see you raising that 0:09:45.600 --> 0:09:49.520 child by yourself, going the extra mile, doing the right 0:09:49.559 --> 0:09:53.199 thing when it's hard. God not only sees it, but 0:09:53.240 --> 0:09:57.400 your relatives in heaven, they see it. By faith, you 0:09:57.480 --> 0:10:00.800 need to hear the heavenly cheers. The people that mean 0:10:00.880 --> 0:10:03.640 the most to you, the ones that invested in you, 0:10:04.080 --> 0:10:08.040 that raised you, made sacrifices for you. They're not only 0:10:08.120 --> 0:10:11.640 proud of you, but they're pulling for you. They have 0:10:11.720 --> 0:10:14.760 your name up on a sign, so to speak. They're 0:10:14.840 --> 0:10:18.720 cheering you on as you run. You're not just running 0:10:18.800 --> 0:10:22.240 for you, You're running for your grandmother. You're running for 0:10:22.280 --> 0:10:25.320 your great grandfather, those in your family line that you've 0:10:25.360 --> 0:10:29.520 never met. But because of you, they're being rewarded. They 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:32.959 couldn't finish it all. God had better things in mind 0:10:33.000 --> 0:10:37.000 for you. My grandfather on my mother's side was born 0:10:37.040 --> 0:10:39.880 in the early nineteen hundreds. He was orphaned when he 0:10:39.920 --> 0:10:43.240 was eight years old. His father died of an illness. 0:10:43.520 --> 0:10:46.640 He was sent to different homes to live. He wasn't 0:10:46.720 --> 0:10:50.640 really treated right, but that didn't stop him. He worked 0:10:50.640 --> 0:10:54.559 at the Exon refinery in Baytown for almost forty years 0:10:54.880 --> 0:10:57.600 and never missed a day of work, not to go 0:10:57.640 --> 0:11:00.120 to the dentist, not to go out of town. He 0:11:00.200 --> 0:11:03.680 was faithful. When he retired, he would come down to 0:11:03.720 --> 0:11:07.600 the church practically every weekday and do chores. I would 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:10.400 see him under the portable buildings working on the plumbing. 0:11:11.200 --> 0:11:14.360 He and my grandmother had one child, my mother. He 0:11:14.400 --> 0:11:18.319 died at ninety six. Not many people knew him. He 0:11:18.400 --> 0:11:22.600 was quiet and unassuming. I missed my grandfather, but I 0:11:22.640 --> 0:11:25.880 know where he is. He's in the grand stands of heaven. 0:11:26.240 --> 0:11:30.080 He's one of the heroes of faith. He fulfilled his purpose. 0:11:30.760 --> 0:11:33.440 He played his part in the plan of God for 0:11:33.520 --> 0:11:37.600 our family. He was faithful, he was generous. You could 0:11:37.679 --> 0:11:40.360 count on him. I can hear him cheering me on 0:11:41.320 --> 0:11:44.600 when I get tired, have things come against me. I 0:11:44.600 --> 0:11:48.040 can hear Granddaddy saying, Joey, you're doing good. Keep going. 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:51.400 You're making us proud. Well, you said, Joel, I don't 0:11:51.400 --> 0:11:54.480 have anyone in the grand stands like that. My family 0:11:54.480 --> 0:11:58.680 didn't honor God. We weren't faithful, we were dysfunctional. You 0:11:58.679 --> 0:12:01.800 wouldn't be hearing this if there wasn't someone in your 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:05.160 family line that honor God. You may have never met them, 0:12:05.679 --> 0:12:09.600 but can I assure you they know you, they see you, 0:12:10.080 --> 0:12:15.040 and they're cheering you on. You're making them proud your faithfulness, 0:12:15.400 --> 0:12:19.040 your hard work, your skill is causing them to be blessed. 0:12:19.679 --> 0:12:23.760 You're helping to finish what God started through them. When 0:12:23.800 --> 0:12:27.320 you hear those cheers from the grand stands, cheers from 0:12:27.360 --> 0:12:32.559 loved ones that serve without fanfare, that endured hardships, that 0:12:32.720 --> 0:12:37.520 defied odds, accomplish more than people thought, you'll draw strength 0:12:37.679 --> 0:12:41.440 and inspiration that will help you to believe bigger you, 0:12:41.559 --> 0:12:45.320 to go further, you to accomplish more. And sometimes when 0:12:45.760 --> 0:12:50.280 you feel down, nobody's encouraging you. The obstacle looks too big. 0:12:50.679 --> 0:12:53.320 You need to look up and hear them calling your name. 0:12:54.080 --> 0:12:57.480 They believe in you. They know you have what it takes. 0:12:58.080 --> 0:13:01.240 They made it in their day, But this is your day. 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:05.320 God has raised you up for this time, David said 0:13:05.320 --> 0:13:08.360 to his son Solomon. Get to know the God of 0:13:08.400 --> 0:13:12.800 your ancestors. There's something about knowing those that went before us, 0:13:13.480 --> 0:13:17.880 knowing what they accomplished, what they endured, how God stepped 0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:21.600 in and made ways and opened doors, turned situations around 0:13:22.559 --> 0:13:25.440 in the grand stands of heaven. Imagine that we could 0:13:25.440 --> 0:13:29.560 pull people out and talk with these heroes of faith individually. 0:13:30.280 --> 0:13:33.079 What would they say to us? I can see an 0:13:33.080 --> 0:13:37.040 older gentleman step out of the grand stands, looks very handsome, 0:13:37.160 --> 0:13:41.800 very distinguished. He says, hello, my name is Moses. We 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:45.240 stand there in awe, chills going up and down our spine. Man, 0:13:45.280 --> 0:13:49.000 that's Moses. Then he calls you by name, Hey, Robert, 0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:53.280 Hey Jennifer, Hey Maria. I've been cheering for you. We 0:13:53.320 --> 0:13:56.440 get more in Halle. He knows my name. He goes 0:13:56.480 --> 0:14:00.440 on to say, my encouragement is it's not too late 0:14:00.640 --> 0:14:03.840 to accomplish your dreams. You see, when I was eighty 0:14:03.920 --> 0:14:07.760 years old, I thought I was done. I made mistakes. 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:11.000 I was living in the desert, been out there for 0:14:11.000 --> 0:14:15.000 forty years, so discouraged. When all of a sudden, God 0:14:15.080 --> 0:14:17.800 came to me in a burning bush and said, go 0:14:17.880 --> 0:14:21.080 deliver the Israelites. I didn't think I could do it. 0:14:21.640 --> 0:14:25.720 I was intimidated. I stuttered, but something rose up in me, 0:14:26.040 --> 0:14:30.440 a fade, a fire and anointing. I stepped out, and 0:14:30.520 --> 0:14:34.360 God made things happen that I never imagine. Moses is 0:14:34.400 --> 0:14:37.840 in those stands right now, calling your name, saying you 0:14:37.880 --> 0:14:42.360 can still accomplish your dreams. You're not too old, you 0:14:42.400 --> 0:14:45.440 haven't made too many mistakes, you haven't gotten too far 0:14:45.520 --> 0:14:49.520 off course, God knew every wrong term. He knew every 0:14:49.600 --> 0:14:53.360 bad decision that we would make. His mercy is bigger 0:14:53.400 --> 0:14:57.920 than those mistakes. He's already planned your comeback. What he 0:14:58.080 --> 0:15:01.520 started in your life, he's going to now you have 0:15:01.600 --> 0:15:04.520 to do your part. Quit believing the lives that you're 0:15:04.640 --> 0:15:08.560 washed up. You missed your chance. The enemy is called 0:15:08.560 --> 0:15:12.280 the accuser. He'll keep reminding you of everything you've done wrong, 0:15:12.360 --> 0:15:16.880 every mistake, every flaw, every weakness. He'd love for us 0:15:16.960 --> 0:15:21.320 to go through life guilty, condemned, down on yourself. But 0:15:21.400 --> 0:15:26.160 I can hear some encouragement from heaven. It's Moses. He's saying, no, no, 0:15:26.440 --> 0:15:28.960 take it from me. The best part of your life 0:15:29.040 --> 0:15:32.080 is still in front of you. God is about to 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:37.960 reignite your dream. He's restoring the passion. Guilt, shame, regret. 0:15:38.400 --> 0:15:41.480 Those things are leaving you. Now you're about to feel 0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:44.480 a new sense of destiny. Doors are about to open. 0:15:45.080 --> 0:15:48.280 Opportunity you thought was too far gone is about to 0:15:48.320 --> 0:15:52.320 come back again. God didn't change his mind about your purpose. 0:15:53.240 --> 0:15:56.240 He didn't just qualify you because you made a mistake. 0:15:57.120 --> 0:16:00.360 He hasn't forgotten about you. Out in the desert. You 0:16:00.480 --> 0:16:02.680 may have been there a long time, but this is 0:16:02.720 --> 0:16:06.000 a new day. He sent me as that burning bush 0:16:06.240 --> 0:16:09.320 to say, get back in the game, get your fireback, 0:16:09.640 --> 0:16:13.600 get your passion back. It's still gonna happen. I see 0:16:13.640 --> 0:16:16.120 a woman step out of the grand stands. We don't 0:16:16.160 --> 0:16:20.080 recognize her. The scripture never gives us her name. Yet 0:16:20.120 --> 0:16:23.560 she's in the Heroes of Faith. She smiles and says, hello, 0:16:24.160 --> 0:16:28.440 I'm Moses' mother. My encouragement is that God will take 0:16:28.480 --> 0:16:31.880 care of your children. See when my baby was born, 0:16:32.240 --> 0:16:35.560 King Herod put out a decree that all the Hebrew 0:16:35.640 --> 0:16:38.680 baby boys under the age of two would be killed. 0:16:39.360 --> 0:16:41.800 But I knew the hand of God was on my baby, 0:16:42.120 --> 0:16:44.840 that he was born to be a deliverer. So I 0:16:44.920 --> 0:16:48.360 put baby Moses in a basket and send him down 0:16:48.400 --> 0:16:53.760 the Nile River. There were snakes, alligators, all kinds of danger, 0:16:54.240 --> 0:16:57.800 but I knew Jehovah knows how to protect his children. 0:16:58.840 --> 0:17:02.640 It just so happened. Pharaoh's daughter was out taking a bath. 0:17:03.480 --> 0:17:06.359 She heard the cries coming from the basket. When she 0:17:06.440 --> 0:17:09.720 saw little Moses, it was love at first sight. She 0:17:09.840 --> 0:17:12.600 took him in to raise as her own son. But 0:17:12.680 --> 0:17:16.919 she needed someone to nurse the child. She asked her assistant. 0:17:17.400 --> 0:17:20.120 She said, I know just who to get. She went 0:17:20.200 --> 0:17:23.840 and got moses mother. She not only helped raise her son, 0:17:24.240 --> 0:17:27.480 but the pharaoh's daughter paid her for doing it. Only 0:17:27.560 --> 0:17:31.280 God could make that happen. And with everything going on today, 0:17:31.520 --> 0:17:34.840 it's easy to worry about our children. Are they safe, 0:17:35.359 --> 0:17:39.040 who they hanging around, what are they watching, who's influencing them? 0:17:39.680 --> 0:17:42.720 But Moses' mother would tell you, when you commit your 0:17:42.800 --> 0:17:46.480 children into God's hands, He'll keep them from the alligators, 0:17:46.920 --> 0:17:50.399 the snakes, the wrong people. He'll close doors they need 0:17:50.480 --> 0:17:54.360 to close. He'll push back evil and harm. He has 0:17:54.400 --> 0:17:58.520 a hedge of protection around your children. When you're tempted 0:17:58.560 --> 0:18:02.439 to worry, lose leap. You can hear moses mother saying, 0:18:02.760 --> 0:18:05.440 I've been there, look like it would never work out 0:18:05.480 --> 0:18:08.800 for my child. There were all kinds of danger. But 0:18:08.960 --> 0:18:12.800 God is faithful. He will protect your children. He has 0:18:12.880 --> 0:18:16.159 angels watching over them. You may have a child this 0:18:16.280 --> 0:18:20.080 off course now, family member, there's not making good decisions 0:18:20.560 --> 0:18:23.760 that is not permanent. The hand of God is still 0:18:23.800 --> 0:18:28.120 on them because you're honoring God. The enemy cannot take 0:18:28.160 --> 0:18:31.520 them out. There is a bloodline that he cannot cross. 0:18:32.400 --> 0:18:35.240 And it may seem like they're never gonna make good decisions. 0:18:35.640 --> 0:18:39.359 But God is working. Things are happening that you can't sing. 0:18:40.240 --> 0:18:44.280 Like with Moses, the alligators are not harming them, the 0:18:44.320 --> 0:18:48.480 basket is not tumping over. God is still in control. 0:18:48.720 --> 0:18:51.560 Even though your child is going down the Nile river, 0:18:51.720 --> 0:18:55.400 so to speak. He's still ordering their steps. Even though 0:18:55.440 --> 0:18:58.400 you had to turn loose, there's nothing more you could do. 0:18:59.160 --> 0:19:01.760 You may have turned life, but God didn't turn loose. 0:19:02.240 --> 0:19:04.480 You had to let go, but God didn't let go. 0:19:05.280 --> 0:19:07.680 You don't know where they are right now, but God 0:19:07.760 --> 0:19:11.680 knows exactly where they are. He's already lined up Pharaoh's 0:19:11.800 --> 0:19:14.720 daughter the right people that will help them get back 0:19:14.760 --> 0:19:18.400 on track. You don't have to live worried. God knows 0:19:18.440 --> 0:19:21.000 how to hide your children. He knows how to make 0:19:21.040 --> 0:19:25.320 them invisible to the enemy. Moses's mother is saying, God 0:19:25.359 --> 0:19:27.479 did it for my child, He's going to do it 0:19:27.520 --> 0:19:30.439 for yours. When you get to know the God of 0:19:30.480 --> 0:19:35.000 your ancestors, it'll encourage you. Moses' mother is in our 0:19:35.040 --> 0:19:39.000 family line. When you became a believer, all these heroes 0:19:39.040 --> 0:19:41.679 of faith are a part of your lineage. They're in 0:19:41.720 --> 0:19:46.399 the grandstands cheering you on. Well, Joel, this is all encouraging. 0:19:46.480 --> 0:19:49.080 But man, I've had a lot of bad breaks, had 0:19:49.080 --> 0:19:51.960 a set back in my finances, my health went down, 0:19:52.240 --> 0:19:55.400 People did me wrong. That's why I'm discouraged. I see 0:19:55.400 --> 0:19:58.080 a man walk out of the grand stands. He says, 0:19:58.119 --> 0:20:01.400 I know how you feel. I've been there. My name 0:20:01.480 --> 0:20:05.840 is Job. Life was going great when everything fell apart. 0:20:06.440 --> 0:20:09.920 Lost my health, I had big boils all over my body, 0:20:10.520 --> 0:20:13.960 lost my family, lost my business. God so bad my 0:20:14.040 --> 0:20:17.000 wife even told me Job just curse God and die. 0:20:17.240 --> 0:20:20.080 All my friends said it was my own fault. I 0:20:20.200 --> 0:20:23.440 was so depressed that I sat down among the ashes 0:20:24.240 --> 0:20:28.200 and yes, sometimes life is not fair. We don't understand 0:20:28.280 --> 0:20:32.120 everything that happens. But I can assure you God wouldn't 0:20:32.119 --> 0:20:35.400 have allowed it if he wasn't going to somehow bring 0:20:35.440 --> 0:20:38.760 good out of it. He's not just making your life miserable. 0:20:39.160 --> 0:20:42.320 That setback is a set up for God to show 0:20:42.359 --> 0:20:46.200 out in your life in a greater way. Just when 0:20:46.240 --> 0:20:48.960 it seemed like Job was going to settle there, he 0:20:49.000 --> 0:20:51.879 looked up to the heavens and said, I know my 0:20:52.040 --> 0:20:56.040 redeemer lives. He was saying, God, I know you're still 0:20:56.040 --> 0:20:59.119 on the throne. You have the final say, now, I 0:20:59.160 --> 0:21:03.240 don't understand this, but I trust you. God not only 0:21:03.280 --> 0:21:06.520 brought Job through the difficulty, but Job came out with 0:21:06.680 --> 0:21:10.359 twice what he had before, twice the cattle, twice the sheep. 0:21:10.600 --> 0:21:13.320 God his joy back, his health back, his dreams back. 0:21:14.080 --> 0:21:16.040 And we hear a lot about the trial of Job 0:21:16.160 --> 0:21:19.399 and all the suffering, and yes that's true, but the 0:21:19.440 --> 0:21:23.679 scripture says after the difficulty, Job lived one hundred and 0:21:23.800 --> 0:21:29.040 forty years and enjoyed four generations of his children. You 0:21:29.119 --> 0:21:32.280 may be in a difficult time now. Things have happened 0:21:32.280 --> 0:21:35.560 that you don't understand. Thoughts will whisper, it's always going 0:21:35.600 --> 0:21:38.200 to be this wife. You're always going to be sick, 0:21:38.760 --> 0:21:43.520 always depressed, always lonely. No, listen to Job as he 0:21:43.600 --> 0:21:46.760 stands on the balconies of heaven. What's he saying. I 0:21:46.840 --> 0:21:49.520 know it's been rough, but can I tell you Double 0:21:49.720 --> 0:21:53.440 is coming. God is going to make the enemy pay twice, 0:21:53.480 --> 0:21:57.520 the joy twice, the peace twice, the strength twice, the resources. 0:21:58.520 --> 0:22:01.160 Now you have to get in agreement with God. You're 0:22:01.160 --> 0:22:03.240 not I could have seen Double. If you're sitting in 0:22:03.280 --> 0:22:07.680 the ashes bitter discourage, tune all that out and start 0:22:07.760 --> 0:22:10.840 listening to the heroes of faith. Get to know the 0:22:10.880 --> 0:22:15.440 God of your ancestors. They walked where we're walking. They 0:22:15.520 --> 0:22:20.359 faced opposition, giants, trouble, sickness, but they stand as a 0:22:20.400 --> 0:22:24.760 testimony to the goodness of God. They're in heaven, not 0:22:24.880 --> 0:22:28.399 just worshiping, not just praising, but they're cheering you on. 0:22:29.240 --> 0:22:32.680 They're calling your name, saying, don't get bitter, keep believing, 0:22:33.280 --> 0:22:37.000 don't give up on that dream, keep pressing forward. I 0:22:37.040 --> 0:22:39.760 know a woman that wasn't able to have children. She'd 0:22:39.760 --> 0:22:43.399 had seven miscarriagism. She was about to give up and 0:22:43.520 --> 0:22:45.800 just think it wasn't meant to be. And she heard 0:22:45.880 --> 0:22:48.640 me talking about Job and how God paid him back 0:22:48.640 --> 0:22:52.199 with double and that took root in her spirit. That 0:22:52.320 --> 0:22:55.240 dream came back to life, and a few years ago 0:22:55.640 --> 0:23:00.440 she gave birth to not one, but to twins. She said, Joel, Job, 0:23:00.560 --> 0:23:04.680 God restored back into me doubly. Why don't you get 0:23:04.720 --> 0:23:08.600 that down in your spirit. Someone walked out of a relationship, 0:23:09.000 --> 0:23:12.200 broke your heart. You can sit around let that sour 0:23:12.280 --> 0:23:15.680 your life, or you can do like her father, thank 0:23:15.760 --> 0:23:19.240 you that you're bringing me someone twice as good as 0:23:19.280 --> 0:23:21.320 that old goat that left. I mean that person that 0:23:21.440 --> 0:23:25.920 left twice as fun, twice as friendly, twice as godly, 0:23:26.000 --> 0:23:29.119 twice as good looking, twice as well off. When you 0:23:29.200 --> 0:23:31.919 do that job, has his hands in the air, cheering 0:23:32.000 --> 0:23:34.719 your onn saying God did it for me, He's going 0:23:34.760 --> 0:23:37.919 to do it for you. All of Heaven is cheering 0:23:37.960 --> 0:23:40.840 for you. I can see Joseph step out of the 0:23:40.880 --> 0:23:45.120 grand stands. He said, I had a lot of detours, delays, 0:23:45.440 --> 0:23:49.240 people betrayed me. But can I tell you God is faithful. 0:23:49.760 --> 0:23:52.080 It was all a part of his plan to get 0:23:52.080 --> 0:23:56.080 me in position as the Prime Minister of Egypt. His 0:23:56.320 --> 0:23:59.960 encouragement is God is working all things for your good. 0:24:00.480 --> 0:24:05.240 Trust him. When you don't understand, the detours are divine detours. 0:24:05.520 --> 0:24:08.480 Your steps are being ordered by the most high God. 0:24:09.520 --> 0:24:12.800 I see another man stepping out. He says, Joseph, you 0:24:12.840 --> 0:24:16.199 think you had it bad? That was nothing. I was dead. 0:24:17.040 --> 0:24:20.359 My name is Lazarus. For four days I was in 0:24:20.359 --> 0:24:24.760 a tomb, wrapped in grave clothes, stinking. But Jesus showed 0:24:24.840 --> 0:24:27.600 up and told me to come back to life. Now 0:24:27.640 --> 0:24:30.520 I'm here to encourage you that God can bring dead 0:24:30.600 --> 0:24:34.040 things back to life. He can bring a dead dream, 0:24:34.400 --> 0:24:39.040 dead marriage, things that look dead, in your health, your finances, 0:24:39.080 --> 0:24:43.760 your mind. Get ready. A resurrection is coming. Life, health, 0:24:43.880 --> 0:24:48.280 favor victory. My question today is, can you hear the 0:24:48.359 --> 0:24:51.600 cheers from heaven? Do you realize you're not in this 0:24:51.760 --> 0:24:56.200 race all alone? All your ancestors, all those that went 0:24:56.280 --> 0:25:00.000 before you, including the heroes of faith, they're watching you. 0:25:00.520 --> 0:25:04.040 They believe in you, and they're counting on you to 0:25:04.160 --> 0:25:09.040 finish what God started as amazing as David was Abraham, 0:25:09.280 --> 0:25:12.919 Ruth Sarah. The scripture says they didn't see the fullness 0:25:12.960 --> 0:25:16.119 of the promise that God has better things in store 0:25:16.160 --> 0:25:20.360 for us. When you take new ground, when you stretch 0:25:20.440 --> 0:25:24.480 and break barriers, you overcome what should stop you. Your 0:25:24.560 --> 0:25:27.440 faith is going to benefit those that went before you. 0:25:27.800 --> 0:25:32.120 They'll receive a prize because of what you've done. How 0:25:32.200 --> 0:25:35.280 this should inspire us to not live la a daisical 0:25:35.359 --> 0:25:39.920 lives and indifferent, upset over the traffic, and I don't 0:25:39.920 --> 0:25:43.199 feel like pursuing my dreams. This addiction is always going 0:25:43.240 --> 0:25:46.680 to hinder me. Jael, Now have a new perspective. All 0:25:46.720 --> 0:25:50.080 of Heaven is cheering for you. The saints of old 0:25:50.080 --> 0:25:53.720 are calling your name. Your loved ones dreamed of this day. 0:25:54.320 --> 0:25:58.680 The opportunity, the open doors, the favor. This is your 0:25:58.720 --> 0:26:03.200 time to shine. The baton is in your hand. Moses 0:26:03.280 --> 0:26:07.840 is done running Abraham's finished Estra's through. Your loved ones 0:26:07.880 --> 0:26:11.360 did their best. Now all of heaven is watching you. 0:26:12.320 --> 0:26:15.600 The good news is they know you have what it takes. 0:26:15.960 --> 0:26:19.000 They know you're a giant killer. They know you're going 0:26:19.080 --> 0:26:23.040 to set new standards. They can see your seeds of greatness. 0:26:23.440 --> 0:26:27.240 Now make sure that you know it too. I believe 0:26:27.320 --> 0:26:30.640 and declare as you hear the cheers from heaven, You're 0:26:30.680 --> 0:26:33.560 going to go where no one in your family has gone. 0:26:34.040 --> 0:26:38.800 The anointing is increasing from generation to generation. Forces that 0:26:38.840 --> 0:26:42.240 have held you back are being broken right now. Favor 0:26:42.320 --> 0:26:47.199 is coming, healings coming, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny 0:26:47.760 --> 0:26:50.800 in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can you 0:26:50.880 --> 0:26:55.080 say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to 0:26:55.080 --> 0:26:58.000 make Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray 0:26:58.040 --> 0:27:02.240 with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:27:02.800 --> 0:27:06.360 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:27:07.080 --> 0:27:09.600 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:09.640 --> 0:27:12.879 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:27:13.119 --> 0:27:15.480 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:27:15.520 --> 0:27:18.159 the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:27:18.440 --> 0:27:21.000 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:21.080 --> 0:27:27.040 church and keep God first place. It's January. Time to 0:27:27.119 --> 0:27:32.159 renew my faith. It's January. It's time to start a 0:27:32.160 --> 0:27:35.480 new season. It's January. 0:27:35.800 --> 0:27:37.879 There is no better time than now to set the 0:27:37.880 --> 0:27:39.000 course of our year ahead. 0:27:40.040 --> 0:27:42.320 The beginning of the year is a great time to 0:27:42.359 --> 0:27:45.320 start afresh and a new to let go of negative 0:27:45.359 --> 0:27:47.560 things of the past and to get ready for the 0:27:47.600 --> 0:27:51.520 new things God has in store. Every January we create 0:27:51.600 --> 0:27:54.960 a new devotional calendar that will help you throughout the year. 0:27:55.520 --> 0:27:58.240 When you start the day off in faith, grateful for 0:27:58.320 --> 0:28:03.439 what God's done, positive declarations over your future, you're setting 0:28:03.440 --> 0:28:06.560 the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. 0:28:07.040 --> 0:28:09.720 This devotional will help you get your mind going in 0:28:09.760 --> 0:28:12.440 the right direction so you can go out each day 0:28:12.520 --> 0:28:15.639 in faith knowing that God is in control that His 0:28:15.760 --> 0:28:18.720 plans for you are for good. I'd love to send you. 0:28:18.680 --> 0:28:21.760 A copy as our way of saying thank you for 0:28:21.880 --> 0:28:24.600 your gift of any amount this first month of the year. 0:28:24.880 --> 0:28:26.760 We would like to send you a copy of our 0:28:26.840 --> 0:28:29.880 brand new twenty twenty four three hundred and sixty five 0:28:30.000 --> 0:28:33.520 day devotional calendar. Do you want to set a faith 0:28:33.560 --> 0:28:36.080 course for your life in twenty twenty four? Do you 0:28:36.119 --> 0:28:38.520 want to see your life take off in new directions 0:28:38.520 --> 0:28:42.400 of influence, favor, and provision in the year ahead? Using 0:28:42.400 --> 0:28:46.160 this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two three 0:28:47.080 --> 0:28:50.400 One Wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two 0:28:50.840 --> 0:28:54.080 reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 0:28:54.560 --> 0:28:58.280 Three Capture God's promises to you on journaling lines for 0:28:58.320 --> 0:29:02.240 writing and reflection. Be sure to request your copy of 0:29:02.280 --> 0:29:05.920 the twenty twenty four devotional calendar available this month by 0:29:05.960 --> 0:29:09.640 simply visiting us at Joelostein dot com or calling eight 0:29:09.680 --> 0:29:11.680 eight eight five six seven Joel