Heaven Is Cheering You On!

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That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:27.280 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.120 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.280 --> 0:01:34.000 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:34.040 --> 0:01:36.800 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:39.280 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:40.840 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:41.160 --> 0:01:43.880 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:43.959 --> 0:01:56.600 your life. Well, God bless you. 0:01:56.920 --> 0:01:59.680 It's always a joy to come into your homes. We 0:01:59.840 --> 0:02:00.440 love you. 0:02:00.840 --> 0:02:03.120 If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop 0:02:03.160 --> 0:02:05.160 by and be a part of one of our services. 0:02:05.440 --> 0:02:07.680 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:08.120 --> 0:02:10.400 Thanks so much for tuning in, and thanks again for 0:02:10.480 --> 0:02:13.200 coming out today. I like to start with something funny. 0:02:13.240 --> 0:02:15.880 Each week, and I heard about this lady. She was 0:02:15.919 --> 0:02:19.120 on an airplane reading her Bible. The man next to 0:02:19.200 --> 0:02:21.679 her said, you don't believe all that stuff in there, 0:02:21.720 --> 0:02:24.480 do you? She said, of course I do. It's the Bible. 0:02:25.000 --> 0:02:27.239 He said, well, what about that guy that got swallowed 0:02:27.240 --> 0:02:28.040 by the well? 0:02:28.560 --> 0:02:30.679 She said, oh, you mean Jonah. I believe that too. 0:02:31.360 --> 0:02:33.720 He said, well, how could he possibly live all that 0:02:33.840 --> 0:02:36.840 time inside of a well? She thought about it a moment, 0:02:37.040 --> 0:02:39.160 said I don't know. When I get to Heaven, I'll 0:02:39.160 --> 0:02:42.880 have to ask him. He said, sarcastically, what if he's 0:02:42.880 --> 0:02:45.160 not in heaven? She said, then you're going to have 0:02:45.200 --> 0:02:49.880 to ask him. All right, hold up your Bible. Say 0:02:49.919 --> 0:02:52.880 it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 0:02:52.919 --> 0:02:55.280 am what it says I am. I have what it 0:02:55.280 --> 0:02:57.800 says I have. I can do what it says I 0:02:57.840 --> 0:03:00.959 can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 0:03:01.400 --> 0:03:05.800 I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:06.120 --> 0:03:09.680 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:09.760 --> 0:03:13.280 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:03:13.320 --> 0:03:17.919 how Heaven is cheering you on. I grew up playing sports, 0:03:17.919 --> 0:03:21.360 and I've experienced the difference it makes to have somebody 0:03:21.440 --> 0:03:24.600 in the stands that's pulling for you. When you know 0:03:24.840 --> 0:03:28.240 they're watching you, you hear them calling your name, you 0:03:28.320 --> 0:03:31.120 see their hands up in the air. It does something 0:03:31.200 --> 0:03:34.880 on the inside. Causes you to jump a little higher, 0:03:35.160 --> 0:03:38.440 to run a little faster. You've got a greater determination 0:03:38.960 --> 0:03:43.120 you know somebody is rooting for you. My parents traveled 0:03:43.120 --> 0:03:45.120 a lot when I was growing up, and they couldn't 0:03:45.120 --> 0:03:47.960 attend all of my ballgames. And of course I always 0:03:48.000 --> 0:03:51.080 played hard, but when I knew they were there, when 0:03:51.600 --> 0:03:55.480 they were watching, it gave me that extra boost. It 0:03:55.520 --> 0:03:59.560 may be mental, but it affects the physical. It's proven 0:03:59.680 --> 0:04:03.560 in sorts teams that have the home field advantage perform 0:04:03.680 --> 0:04:05.200 better if you fall. 0:04:05.240 --> 0:04:05.880 Of football. 0:04:06.160 --> 0:04:09.920 Recently, the team that had the worst record to ever 0:04:09.960 --> 0:04:11.120 make it to the playoffs. 0:04:11.440 --> 0:04:13.080 They had home field advantage. 0:04:13.160 --> 0:04:15.880 The crowd was going wild, and do you know, they 0:04:16.040 --> 0:04:20.760 beat the world champions, an incredible upset. You never know 0:04:20.880 --> 0:04:24.120 what you'll accomplish when you know you have people cheering 0:04:24.160 --> 0:04:26.240 your own, people that are rooting for you. 0:04:26.760 --> 0:04:28.600 And in the Book of Hebrews. 0:04:28.279 --> 0:04:31.719 It talks about all these great heroes of faith and 0:04:31.800 --> 0:04:38.400 the amazing things that they accomplished from Moses to Abraham, David, Sarah, Ruth, Estra, 0:04:38.520 --> 0:04:41.160 on and on, people that were known and people that 0:04:41.200 --> 0:04:41.840 were not known. 0:04:42.600 --> 0:04:44.240 It tells how in chapter. 0:04:44.080 --> 0:04:48.599 Eleven they dared to believe and God did incredible things 0:04:48.640 --> 0:04:51.719 through them. That the first of chapter twelve, it says, 0:04:52.240 --> 0:04:56.920 since we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses, 0:04:57.360 --> 0:05:01.599 let us run our race. So this passage refers to 0:05:01.680 --> 0:05:05.200 our life as a race, and it paints the picture 0:05:05.560 --> 0:05:09.640 of this big stadium up in heaven. And now these 0:05:09.680 --> 0:05:13.720 saints of old, the great cloud of witnesses, they're up 0:05:13.720 --> 0:05:16.880 in the stands looking down at us, cheering us on. 0:05:17.920 --> 0:05:20.080 What I want you to see today is you're not 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:24.120 running alone. You've got all of Heaven pulling for you, 0:05:24.680 --> 0:05:27.800 from the great saints of old to your loved ones 0:05:27.839 --> 0:05:29.800 that have gone to be with the Lord. They're in 0:05:29.839 --> 0:05:33.719 those stands right now. They're watching you, saying, keep going, 0:05:34.160 --> 0:05:37.479 keep running, don't give up. You may get tired, but 0:05:37.560 --> 0:05:39.840 get your second wind. We did it and you can 0:05:39.920 --> 0:05:43.400 do it too. You've got to realize you have home 0:05:43.560 --> 0:05:48.360 field advantage in this stadium, in the grand stands of Heaven. 0:05:48.760 --> 0:05:52.200 You don't have any critics. Nobody's throwing popcorn at you. 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:56.360 Nobody's heckling you. No, these people are one hundred percent 0:05:56.480 --> 0:06:00.560 for you. They think that you're amazing. They know you've 0:06:00.560 --> 0:06:03.560 got what it takes. They're standing up right now cheering 0:06:03.600 --> 0:06:08.080 your own. Imagine Moses calling your name, saying, go, go, go. 0:06:08.320 --> 0:06:09.800 You can accomplish your dreams. 0:06:10.520 --> 0:06:13.760 David is saying the giants may be big, but don't 0:06:13.800 --> 0:06:14.600 get discouraged. 0:06:14.760 --> 0:06:16.520 I defeated them. You can too. 0:06:17.720 --> 0:06:20.520 Esther is calling your name, saying you may be afraid, 0:06:20.760 --> 0:06:23.360 but do it anyway. You've been raised up for such 0:06:23.360 --> 0:06:26.760 a time as this. Get In is saying you may 0:06:26.880 --> 0:06:31.240 feel weak and intimidated, but be strong and of good courage. 0:06:31.440 --> 0:06:33.120 The Lord, your God is with you. 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:36.640 All of the saints of old are pulling for you. 0:06:37.440 --> 0:06:40.159 By faith. You need to hear the roar of the crowd. 0:06:40.800 --> 0:06:43.720 By faith, you need to see them standing up cheering 0:06:43.760 --> 0:06:48.880 you on. They're saying, we did it without automobiles, without 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:54.560 air conditioning, without beautiful buildings, without technology, without computers and telephones. 0:06:55.000 --> 0:06:57.960 Think about what you can do. You can go further, 0:06:58.360 --> 0:07:01.159 You can accomplish your dreams. You can take new ground 0:07:01.240 --> 0:07:04.680 for the kingdom. When you realize all of heaven is 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:08.159 pulling for you. It does something on the inside when 0:07:08.200 --> 0:07:12.320 you know this great cloud of witnesses is calling your name, 0:07:12.480 --> 0:07:15.520 cheering your on, It'll give you that boost to go. 0:07:15.520 --> 0:07:17.240 Further, to accomplish more. 0:07:18.120 --> 0:07:20.840 Twelve years ago today, my father went to be with 0:07:20.920 --> 0:07:23.600 the Lord, and sure I miss my father, but I 0:07:23.640 --> 0:07:24.280 know where he. 0:07:24.280 --> 0:07:25.800 Is and I know what he's doing. 0:07:26.240 --> 0:07:29.200 He's in the grand stands of Heaven with the saints 0:07:29.200 --> 0:07:30.320 of old saying. 0:07:30.160 --> 0:07:31.200 Joe, you're doing good. 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:34.400 Keep pressing forward. I'm watching you. I believe in you. 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:38.360 I'm proud of you. I know he's cheering me on. 0:07:39.200 --> 0:07:41.880 He's saying to all of us here at Lakewood, you 0:07:42.000 --> 0:07:45.119 guys are amazing. You've taken it to a new level. 0:07:45.400 --> 0:07:48.080 You've gone further than I've ever dreamed of. Now, don't 0:07:48.080 --> 0:07:51.360 settle where you are, keep going, keep growing, keep making 0:07:51.400 --> 0:07:51.920 a difference. 0:07:51.960 --> 0:07:52.880 He's cheering us on. 0:07:53.720 --> 0:07:56.240 I have people ask jee, do you think your dad 0:07:56.320 --> 0:07:58.760 knows what's going on? Do you think he can see 0:07:58.800 --> 0:08:01.880 the growth, the new facility, all the great things that 0:08:01.920 --> 0:08:04.800 have happened. I answer them, I don't think so. 0:08:05.320 --> 0:08:05.880 I know so. 0:08:06.360 --> 0:08:09.400 I hear him cheering me on all the time, and 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:11.840 every one of you has loved ones that have gone 0:08:11.880 --> 0:08:12.160 to be. 0:08:12.160 --> 0:08:12.720 With the Lord. 0:08:13.160 --> 0:08:16.320 They're not just up in heaven floating on a cloud 0:08:16.640 --> 0:08:20.000 playing a harp singing lullabies. No, they're in the grand 0:08:20.040 --> 0:08:23.400 stands cheering you on, saying you've got what it takes. 0:08:23.680 --> 0:08:27.080 Don't stop believing, keep pushing forward. 0:08:27.160 --> 0:08:30.120 Go further, dream bigger, make us proud. 0:08:31.440 --> 0:08:35.000 I think about Victoria's grandmother on her mother's side. This 0:08:35.040 --> 0:08:38.439 would be Georgine's mother. They called her me Ma. Me 0:08:38.600 --> 0:08:40.080 Maw was an incredible woman. 0:08:40.480 --> 0:08:44.439 She loved the Lord. She kept that family in church. Plus, 0:08:44.480 --> 0:08:45.559 she was a hard worker. 0:08:46.200 --> 0:08:49.680 She would make every week her daughter a new dress 0:08:49.920 --> 0:08:52.760 to wear the church. She would design it and sew 0:08:52.800 --> 0:08:55.680 it herself so Georgine would have something new to wear 0:08:55.760 --> 0:09:00.320 each Sunday. She poured into those children. When Victoria was 0:09:00.400 --> 0:09:03.480 visiting during the holidays. As a little girl, victoried get 0:09:03.559 --> 0:09:07.160 up early. She would always see her grandmother out kneeling 0:09:07.280 --> 0:09:10.880 underneath the tree. That's where she started every day, her 0:09:10.920 --> 0:09:14.520 special place of prayer. Today, me Mau is one of 0:09:14.559 --> 0:09:17.559 the heroes of faith. She's in the grand stands of 0:09:17.600 --> 0:09:21.680 heaven cheering us all on, saying to Victoria, Georgie, you 0:09:21.800 --> 0:09:23.360 go girl, make me proud. 0:09:23.480 --> 0:09:24.280 Do something great. 0:09:24.360 --> 0:09:28.600 Run your race, friends, You're not running alone. Your loved 0:09:28.640 --> 0:09:32.840 ones are cheering you on. They're saying, don't settle where 0:09:32.880 --> 0:09:38.400 I was, go further, do more, learn more, love more, 0:09:38.679 --> 0:09:42.800 give more, help others in a greater way. Well, you said, Joel, 0:09:43.280 --> 0:09:45.240 I didn't have anybody in my family like me. Ma, 0:09:45.480 --> 0:09:48.680 didn't have anybody like your dad. No, somebody in your 0:09:48.720 --> 0:09:51.320 family honored God, or you wouldn't be here today. 0:09:51.520 --> 0:09:52.440 You wouldn't be watching. 0:09:53.080 --> 0:09:56.240 You may not have ever met them, but somebody in 0:09:56.280 --> 0:09:57.439 your family is. 0:09:57.440 --> 0:09:58.200 Rooting for you. 0:09:59.160 --> 0:10:01.640 It's like a parent when your child is out on 0:10:01.679 --> 0:10:04.400 the field playing in the ballgame. There may be twenty 0:10:04.440 --> 0:10:07.080 other kids in the game, but you've got your eyes 0:10:07.200 --> 0:10:10.960 on your child. You're watching them right now. There's a 0:10:10.960 --> 0:10:13.959 lot of people in the race, but somebody has their 0:10:14.000 --> 0:10:17.320 eyes on you. Somebody has their hands up for you. 0:10:17.920 --> 0:10:21.800 Somebody is saying, Wow, that's my great granddaughter, that's my relative, 0:10:21.840 --> 0:10:25.600 that's my cousin. Look at them, they're amazing. I can 0:10:25.640 --> 0:10:29.000 still hear my grandmother cheering me on. She's been gone 0:10:29.080 --> 0:10:32.200 for twenty five years. My grandmother thought I was the 0:10:32.240 --> 0:10:35.120 greatest thing in the world. In her eyes, I could 0:10:35.200 --> 0:10:38.840 do no wrong. My sisters used to get aggravated. They 0:10:38.840 --> 0:10:41.520 would do something wrong and they'd get in trouble. I 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:44.040 would do the same thing and they'd go tell my grandmother. 0:10:44.240 --> 0:10:47.280 She'd say, oh, no, Joe didn't do that. I know, Joel, 0:10:48.280 --> 0:10:51.440 you must be mistaken. It makes them so mad. My 0:10:51.520 --> 0:10:54.360 grandmother thought I was a saint. Do me a favor. 0:10:54.440 --> 0:10:55.920 Don't tell her any differently. 0:10:57.240 --> 0:11:01.199 She's in the grandstands of Heaven, still cheering me on, saying, Joel, 0:11:01.320 --> 0:11:04.120 keep going. I still think you're great. I still don't 0:11:04.160 --> 0:11:06.520 think you can do any wrong. I still believe in you. 0:11:07.040 --> 0:11:11.480 She's a part of the great cloud of witnesses. Last year, 0:11:11.720 --> 0:11:14.480 I went to the Dallas Cowboys opening game at their 0:11:14.520 --> 0:11:17.720 new stadium, and before the game, they had all these 0:11:17.800 --> 0:11:22.200 Cowboy legends that had played years before come out on 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:24.679 the field and line up. There must have been fifteen 0:11:24.760 --> 0:11:28.439 or twenty of them. Being a sports fan seeing those 0:11:28.480 --> 0:11:32.839 guys that were incredible during my day, it was just amazing. 0:11:33.640 --> 0:11:36.920 After the pregame ceremony, the current players came out and 0:11:37.320 --> 0:11:39.720 they were shaking hands with these legends of the game, 0:11:40.280 --> 0:11:43.880 talking to them, getting advice and encouragement. You could tell 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:47.520 those current players were just soaking it up. I thought about, 0:11:48.000 --> 0:11:50.960 in the grand stands of heaven, if we could pull 0:11:51.000 --> 0:11:53.839 out a few of the heroes of faith and visit 0:11:53.880 --> 0:11:56.120 with them for a few minutes. I wonder what they 0:11:56.160 --> 0:11:59.600 would say. I wonder what kind of encouragement or advice 0:12:00.120 --> 0:12:03.800 might give. And some of you have had unfair things happen. 0:12:04.360 --> 0:12:06.720 Life hasn't turned out the way you had hoped, and 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:09.920 you could easily be bitter and give up on your dreams. 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:13.960 But imagine a young man steps out of the grand stands. 0:12:14.440 --> 0:12:18.160 He says, don't get discouraged. I've been where you are. 0:12:18.720 --> 0:12:22.480 My name is Joseph. I had a great dream. I 0:12:22.559 --> 0:12:26.360 knew God's hand was upon me, but my brothers mistreated me. 0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:30.560 They sold me into slavery. I spent years working for 0:12:30.640 --> 0:12:34.360 this man, doing my best, but his wife lied about 0:12:34.400 --> 0:12:36.199 me and had me put in prison. 0:12:36.720 --> 0:12:37.640 It was unfair. 0:12:38.200 --> 0:12:42.240 I spent thirteen years there. At times I felt like 0:12:42.480 --> 0:12:45.240 God had forsaken me. I didn't see how I could 0:12:45.280 --> 0:12:48.080 ever accomplish what was in my heart, but I just 0:12:48.200 --> 0:12:51.640 kept being my best, knowing that God was in control. 0:12:52.080 --> 0:12:55.520 One day, twenty three years after I had had that dream, 0:12:55.800 --> 0:12:59.400 God turned it around and brought it to pass. If 0:12:59.520 --> 0:13:03.040 Joseph were standing here today, he would say, don't give 0:13:03.120 --> 0:13:06.360 up on the promise God put in your heart. People 0:13:06.400 --> 0:13:10.000 may have done you wrong, you may have had some 0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:13.320 bad breaks, but God is still on the throne. What 0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:16.080 was meant for your harm, God's going to use to 0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:21.320 your advantage. Joseph's encouragement is keep being your best, Keep 0:13:21.360 --> 0:13:24.559 doing the right thing when it's hard. Keep being good 0:13:24.640 --> 0:13:27.880 to people even though they're not good to you. If 0:13:27.920 --> 0:13:31.079 you'll stay in faith, the same God that planted the 0:13:31.160 --> 0:13:34.800 dream will help you give birth to the dream. Joseph 0:13:34.920 --> 0:13:38.760 is in the stands cheering us on, reminding us that 0:13:38.840 --> 0:13:43.040 our steps are ordained by Almighty God. If it had 0:13:43.080 --> 0:13:45.680 not been for his brothers thrown him into the pit, 0:13:46.160 --> 0:13:48.600 he would have never made it to the palace. If 0:13:48.600 --> 0:13:50.960 it had not been for the lady lying about him 0:13:51.320 --> 0:13:53.920 having him put in prison, he would have never seen 0:13:53.960 --> 0:13:58.120 the dream come to fulfillment. God was ordering his steps 0:13:58.240 --> 0:14:01.360 even when it was difficult. You may kind of feel 0:14:01.400 --> 0:14:05.280 like God's forsaken you. Your life has turned out exactly 0:14:05.480 --> 0:14:08.880 opposite of how you had it planned. But Joseph stands 0:14:08.880 --> 0:14:12.000 before you and says don't give up. I've seen the 0:14:12.000 --> 0:14:15.600 faithfulness of God. I've seen God turn it around. I've 0:14:15.640 --> 0:14:19.320 seen God vindicate me. I've seen God bring justice. I'm 0:14:19.360 --> 0:14:23.360 a living witness, a testimony of God's goodness. If God 0:14:23.400 --> 0:14:25.280 did it for me, he can do it for you. 0:14:25.920 --> 0:14:31.040 Joseph is cheering us on today. There's a young lady 0:14:31.080 --> 0:14:33.680 in the stands. Her name is Rayhab. 0:14:34.160 --> 0:14:35.359 She was a prostitute. 0:14:36.040 --> 0:14:38.920 She says, I'm here to cheer on all the people 0:14:39.080 --> 0:14:42.560 that have made mistakes. You see, I didn't start out 0:14:42.600 --> 0:14:46.800 good in life. I had a big dream. I wanted 0:14:46.800 --> 0:14:49.320 to do the right thing, but I got mixed up 0:14:49.360 --> 0:14:53.240 with the wrong crowd. I made some poor choices, ended 0:14:53.320 --> 0:14:56.600 up doing something that I didn't like. I wasn't proud 0:14:56.640 --> 0:15:00.840 of it. I was embarrassed, ashamed. But this felt trapped 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:03.640 like I couldn't get out. But one day I met 0:15:03.640 --> 0:15:06.560 these people from out of town and they told me 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:10.560 about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and I 0:15:10.640 --> 0:15:11.480 dared to believe. 0:15:12.400 --> 0:15:13.560 I did them a favor. 0:15:13.640 --> 0:15:16.400 I hid them in my home and they ended up 0:15:16.520 --> 0:15:20.720 sparing my life and my family's life. From that day forward, 0:15:20.920 --> 0:15:24.440 I was changed. I started off bad, but God not 0:15:24.560 --> 0:15:28.560 only forgave me. He not only redeemed me, but he 0:15:28.600 --> 0:15:30.760 put me in the family line of. 0:15:30.760 --> 0:15:31.960 Jesus Christ. 0:15:34.480 --> 0:15:37.840 Because of his mercy. Now I'm a part of the 0:15:37.920 --> 0:15:42.920 heritage that brought about the Messiah. If Rayhab were standing here, 0:15:43.320 --> 0:15:45.920 she would say, you may have gotten off to a 0:15:45.960 --> 0:15:49.840 bad start, but that's okay. It's not too late to change. 0:15:49.960 --> 0:15:53.880 You can begin again. God is a god of another chance. 0:15:54.320 --> 0:15:57.360 It's not how you start that matters, it's how you finish. 0:15:57.720 --> 0:16:00.600 You may have fallen down, but don't stay down. Get 0:16:00.640 --> 0:16:04.200 back up again. Your life is not over. There's still 0:16:04.240 --> 0:16:07.080 an amazing future in front of you. And if you 0:16:07.120 --> 0:16:11.080 will receive God's forgiveness and start down a different path, 0:16:11.320 --> 0:16:13.760 God will give you a new beginning and make the 0:16:13.760 --> 0:16:16.520 rest of your life greater than you ever thought possible. 0:16:17.120 --> 0:16:17.760 Think about it. 0:16:18.080 --> 0:16:23.000 Only God has the audacity to take a former prostitute 0:16:23.360 --> 0:16:27.360 and put her in the family line of Jesus Christ. Today, 0:16:27.480 --> 0:16:30.480 Rehab is listed as one of the heroes of Faith. 0:16:30.880 --> 0:16:34.280 She stands beside Moses and Abraham and David and Sarah 0:16:34.360 --> 0:16:38.240 and Esther. God is saying, You're never too far gone. 0:16:38.640 --> 0:16:42.560 Don't ever let anyone write you off. Don't let religion 0:16:42.640 --> 0:16:45.040 push you down and make you think that you're all 0:16:45.160 --> 0:16:48.440 washed up. Don't let your own thoughts convince you that 0:16:48.480 --> 0:16:49.840 you've made too many mistakes. 0:16:49.920 --> 0:16:51.160 God could never use you. 0:16:51.960 --> 0:16:55.040 Rehab stands before you and says, no, no, look at me. 0:16:55.520 --> 0:16:59.320 I'm a testimony of God's mercy. I started out bad, 0:16:59.560 --> 0:17:04.840 but I it up as a trophy of God's grace. Rayhab, 0:17:05.080 --> 0:17:05.840 It's cheering us on. 0:17:09.040 --> 0:17:09.760 I talked to a. 0:17:09.720 --> 0:17:12.840 Couple last week, and they've been members of our church 0:17:12.880 --> 0:17:15.160 for a long time, and for many years they've lived 0:17:15.160 --> 0:17:19.640 a very blessed life, successful business and happy, healthy family. 0:17:19.960 --> 0:17:23.000 But they said, Joel, this last year, we've never had 0:17:23.040 --> 0:17:26.000 so many things come against us and our health, our 0:17:26.080 --> 0:17:29.800 finance is our family. Everything that could go wrong did. 0:17:30.280 --> 0:17:33.360 The lady laughed and said, it's almost comical. Just when 0:17:33.400 --> 0:17:36.120 we thought it couldn't get any worse, something else bad 0:17:36.160 --> 0:17:39.159 would happen. I can see a gentleman step out of 0:17:39.200 --> 0:17:42.439 the grand stands and say, I know just how you feel. 0:17:42.960 --> 0:17:45.359 I went through a period in my life just like 0:17:45.440 --> 0:17:47.080 you did, where the bottom fell out. 0:17:47.440 --> 0:17:50.920 My name is Job. I was tempted to give up. 0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:54.080 My wife told me to just curse God and die 0:17:54.680 --> 0:17:57.680 I felt depressed, but I shook it off and dug 0:17:57.760 --> 0:18:00.520 my hills in and chose to believe that God was 0:18:00.560 --> 0:18:06.280 still on the throne. I said, though he slay me, yet, 0:18:06.320 --> 0:18:09.760 will I trust him. I'm happy to report that God 0:18:09.800 --> 0:18:12.800 didn't just bring me out of that difficulty, but he 0:18:12.880 --> 0:18:15.719 brought me out better off than I was before. I 0:18:15.800 --> 0:18:18.840 came out with twice the cattle twice, the sheep twice, 0:18:18.880 --> 0:18:21.160 the joy twice, the peace twice, the victory. 0:18:21.359 --> 0:18:24.920 I got my health back, my business back, my dreams back. 0:18:25.680 --> 0:18:29.000 Job stands on the balconies of heaven and says to 0:18:29.119 --> 0:18:31.840 all who are in tough times, all who have gone 0:18:31.840 --> 0:18:36.439 through setbacks and suffered loss in a family, a relationship, 0:18:36.720 --> 0:18:39.480 in your finance, as your business. Job says, I'm here 0:18:39.520 --> 0:18:42.600 to tell you that double is coming your way. God 0:18:42.680 --> 0:18:47.080 is going to pay you back. It may look like 0:18:47.160 --> 0:18:50.280 the end, but it's not a setback. It's a set up. 0:18:50.560 --> 0:18:53.320 God's going to turn it around and make the enemy 0:18:53.359 --> 0:18:56.920 pay for bringing that trouble into your life. Now, somebody's 0:18:56.960 --> 0:19:00.479 got to receive Job's encouragement. God has not brought you 0:19:00.600 --> 0:19:04.720 this far to leave you where you are is a test. 0:19:05.520 --> 0:19:07.840 It's not permanent. It's temporary. 0:19:07.920 --> 0:19:10.320 It may look like it's out of control, but God 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:14.280 is in complete control. If job we're here today, he'd say, 0:19:14.359 --> 0:19:18.760 let me leave you with one word of encouragement. Double double, 0:19:19.040 --> 0:19:23.840 double double is coming your way. You need to let 0:19:23.880 --> 0:19:27.600 that seed take root, and you need to start speaking 0:19:27.760 --> 0:19:31.280 double over your situation. You lost your health, Father, I 0:19:31.320 --> 0:19:33.800 want to thank you that I'm coming out twice as strongly, 0:19:34.040 --> 0:19:34.919 twice as healthy. 0:19:35.119 --> 0:19:36.320 Now I'm gonna have twice the inner. 0:19:36.359 --> 0:19:38.159 I'm gonna feel twice as good as I used to. 0:19:38.760 --> 0:19:39.640 You lost your job. 0:19:39.720 --> 0:19:42.480 Don't go around complaining, go around saying, Father, I want 0:19:42.480 --> 0:19:45.639 to thank you for a position with twice the benefits, 0:19:45.720 --> 0:19:50.360 twice the income, twice the friends, twice the fulfillment. Somebody 0:19:50.400 --> 0:19:53.120 did you wrong in a relationship, betrayed. 0:19:52.720 --> 0:19:53.760 You walked out on you. 0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:57.400 Don't go through life in self pity, heartbroken, thinking poor 0:19:57.440 --> 0:20:00.960 old me. No, if they left you, you didn't need them. 0:20:01.520 --> 0:20:05.520 They were not a part of your divine destiny. This 0:20:05.600 --> 0:20:08.520 may be hard to accept right now, but really they 0:20:08.560 --> 0:20:11.439 did you a favor. They opened the door for who 0:20:11.520 --> 0:20:14.120 God wants to bring into your life. Now you got 0:20:14.119 --> 0:20:17.160 to get an agreement and get a vision for it. Father, 0:20:17.240 --> 0:20:20.200 I want to thank you for bringing somebody twice as 0:20:20.240 --> 0:20:22.400 good as that old goat that walked out. I mean 0:20:22.400 --> 0:20:26.800 that person that walked out, Somebody that's twice as fun, 0:20:27.320 --> 0:20:30.359 twice as friendly, twice as great to be around, twice 0:20:30.400 --> 0:20:33.520 as well often twice as good looking. When you do that, 0:20:33.880 --> 0:20:36.480 Job says yes, yes, Yes, that's what God did for me. 0:20:38.320 --> 0:20:39.399 I know this young lady. 0:20:39.960 --> 0:20:43.119 She's had seven miscarriages. She has not been able to 0:20:43.119 --> 0:20:46.440 carry the baby. She heard me talking about how God 0:20:46.480 --> 0:20:49.480 will pay you back when unfair things happening. She let 0:20:49.520 --> 0:20:53.800 that seed take root. Several years ago she gave birth. 0:20:53.560 --> 0:20:56.520 Not to one, but to two babies. She had twins. 0:20:56.920 --> 0:21:00.000 She said, Joel, that seed was birthed in my space 0:21:00.560 --> 0:21:02.320 when you talked about how. 0:21:02.240 --> 0:21:04.760 Job came out with twice what he had before. 0:21:05.400 --> 0:21:09.000 I'm trying to plant that same seed into your spirit today. 0:21:09.320 --> 0:21:11.440 You're not going to come out the same, You're gonna 0:21:11.440 --> 0:21:14.120 come out increased. Your mind may tell you it's never 0:21:14.160 --> 0:21:16.720 gonna happen, but Job stands before you and say, no, 0:21:17.040 --> 0:21:20.320 get ready, it's on the way. God restored double back 0:21:20.400 --> 0:21:22.440 to me, and he'll do the same thing for you. 0:21:22.840 --> 0:21:27.720 Job is cheering us on too many people like job. 0:21:27.800 --> 0:21:32.159 They've had unfair things happen, and now they're sitting around. 0:21:32.200 --> 0:21:36.280 They've lost their joy, lost their enthusiasm. Kind of enduring life. 0:21:36.480 --> 0:21:38.320 I think in one day when it gets better, then 0:21:38.320 --> 0:21:41.520 I'll get happy. Then I'll believe again. But I see 0:21:41.560 --> 0:21:44.840 two gentlemen step out of the grand stands. Their names 0:21:44.880 --> 0:21:48.680 are Paul and Silas. They tell about how one night 0:21:48.960 --> 0:21:52.479 they were chained in prison. Earlier in the day, they 0:21:52.520 --> 0:21:56.280 had been beaten with rods. Unfairly, they were not given 0:21:56.320 --> 0:21:59.840 a trial. What was their charge? They had not stolen, 0:22:00.080 --> 0:22:02.960 they had not heard anyone, they had not committed any crime. 0:22:03.320 --> 0:22:06.280 Their big charge is they were spreading the good news. 0:22:07.040 --> 0:22:10.760 But instead of complaining, getting depressed and God, it's not fair. 0:22:10.800 --> 0:22:13.600 How could you let this happen? They knew God was 0:22:13.640 --> 0:22:19.320 still in control. As they sat in prison, chained, beaten, bruised, 0:22:19.560 --> 0:22:24.000 feeling bad, The scripture says, they begin to sing praises 0:22:24.080 --> 0:22:27.960 to God. Can you imagine what the other prisoners must 0:22:28.000 --> 0:22:32.040 have fought? Are these two guys crazy? Why are they singing? 0:22:32.440 --> 0:22:35.680 They've just been beaten, they're in jail. What's wrong with them? 0:22:36.080 --> 0:22:41.080 They must be going to Lakewood. The whole prison quiets 0:22:41.119 --> 0:22:45.439 down to hear these two strange prisoners. What are they singing? 0:22:45.800 --> 0:22:48.439 You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille, I 0:22:48.480 --> 0:22:51.600 don't think so. All through the prison they hear I 0:22:51.640 --> 0:22:54.800 am a friend of God, You are good all the time. 0:22:55.160 --> 0:22:58.080 Or maybe they hear my chains are gone, I've been 0:22:58.119 --> 0:22:58.720 set free. 0:23:00.000 --> 0:23:00.080 Well. 0:23:00.119 --> 0:23:04.240 A sudden at midnight, while they were still singing praises, 0:23:04.560 --> 0:23:07.879 there was a great earthquake. The prison doors flung open, 0:23:08.200 --> 0:23:10.880 the chains fell off, and Angel came by and said, 0:23:10.880 --> 0:23:13.480 come on, let's get out of here. If that wasn't 0:23:13.520 --> 0:23:17.080 good enough, the jailer, the one that had beaten them earlier, 0:23:17.240 --> 0:23:19.679 he came and found them and began to bandage up 0:23:19.720 --> 0:23:21.880 their wounds. He said, what do I need to do 0:23:22.160 --> 0:23:26.119 to serve this incredible God of yours? Today? Paul and 0:23:26.240 --> 0:23:31.119 Silas are in the grand stands cheering us on. They're saying, 0:23:31.640 --> 0:23:35.440 when it looks dark, when all the odds are against you, 0:23:35.680 --> 0:23:38.879 when it seems unfair, that's not the time to get depressed. 0:23:39.080 --> 0:23:41.840 That's not the time to start complaining. That's the time 0:23:41.880 --> 0:23:44.680 to turn up your praise. That's the time to say, Lord, 0:23:44.760 --> 0:23:48.160 you are good, You're in control, you're bigger than my enemies. 0:23:48.240 --> 0:23:50.880 Nothing can stand against you. Friends. 0:23:51.000 --> 0:23:55.680 Praise can break the chains. Praise can bring down walls 0:23:55.680 --> 0:23:59.879 that are locked. Praise can turn enemies into friends. Pray 0:24:00.200 --> 0:24:05.159 can break addictions. Praise can bring healing. Praise activates God's favor. 0:24:06.000 --> 0:24:09.040 Paul and Silas are rooting for us, saying, even when 0:24:09.080 --> 0:24:13.720 it looks impossible, keep singing, keep praising, keep rejoicing, keep 0:24:13.760 --> 0:24:16.439 that smile, and God will make a way. When it 0:24:16.480 --> 0:24:19.920 looks like there is no way. Another man steps out 0:24:19.960 --> 0:24:23.080 of the grand stands. He says, Paul and Silas, you 0:24:23.160 --> 0:24:27.840 think you've got it bad. Joseph, you think it was unfair. Abraham, 0:24:27.880 --> 0:24:30.960 you think your promise was impossible. David, you think your 0:24:31.000 --> 0:24:31.960 giants were big. 0:24:32.280 --> 0:24:35.840 I've got you all beat. I was dead. My name 0:24:36.040 --> 0:24:38.320 is Lazarus. I was in the grave. 0:24:39.760 --> 0:24:41.840 I was already starting to stink. 0:24:42.560 --> 0:24:43.440 I was buried. 0:24:43.520 --> 0:24:48.040 It was over, impossible, done finished. But I had two 0:24:48.160 --> 0:24:52.000 sisters that would not give up. They dared to believe 0:24:52.040 --> 0:24:56.120 that anything was possible. They rolled away the stone. Jesus 0:24:56.200 --> 0:24:58.600 spoke life, and Lazarus. 0:24:58.040 --> 0:24:59.959 Came back from the dead. 0:25:00.040 --> 0:25:04.240 Lazarus is saying to everyone that has situations that look dead, 0:25:04.680 --> 0:25:05.640 it's not too late. 0:25:06.200 --> 0:25:07.000 It's not over. 0:25:07.480 --> 0:25:10.200 God can still bring it back to life. God can 0:25:10.280 --> 0:25:15.160 resurrect those dead dreams. Some of you have circumstances and 0:25:15.359 --> 0:25:17.640 promises that you kind of let go of and thought, 0:25:17.680 --> 0:25:20.080 you know what, Joel, I'm too old. I've made too 0:25:20.080 --> 0:25:24.600 many mistakes. I've missed too many good opportunities. Or maybe 0:25:24.640 --> 0:25:26.879 in my health, Joel, I never had the energy to 0:25:26.920 --> 0:25:30.399 do that. No, the same God that raised Lazarus is 0:25:30.440 --> 0:25:32.800 about to bring back to life things that. 0:25:32.760 --> 0:25:33.960 You've already given up on. 0:25:35.560 --> 0:25:39.040 Listen, twenty eleven is gonna be a resurrection. 0:25:38.640 --> 0:25:39.200 Year for you. 0:25:39.560 --> 0:25:42.639 It's gonna be a year where opportunities that you've missed 0:25:42.800 --> 0:25:44.160 come back across your path. 0:25:44.880 --> 0:25:45.640 You need to get ready. 0:25:45.680 --> 0:25:47.639 You're gonna see some of those no I has seen, 0:25:47.760 --> 0:25:51.480 heard or imagine blessings. That's God bringing back to life, 0:25:51.720 --> 0:25:56.600 resurrecting what you thought was dead. One final man steps 0:25:56.600 --> 0:25:59.159 out of the grand stands. He's a little smaller than 0:25:59.200 --> 0:26:02.080 the others, five at seven. He says, I'm here to 0:26:02.200 --> 0:26:06.960 encourage everyone that you can overcome any obstacle. You see. 0:26:07.000 --> 0:26:09.320 I came from the poorest of the poor families. 0:26:09.800 --> 0:26:12.960 I had no future to speak of, I had no money, 0:26:13.160 --> 0:26:17.080 no education. But at seventeen I gave my life to 0:26:17.200 --> 0:26:20.320 Christ and God took me places that I've never dreamed of. 0:26:20.880 --> 0:26:23.480 That man is my father, the founder of our church. 0:26:23.960 --> 0:26:25.320 I mentioned earlier. 0:26:27.359 --> 0:26:30.480 How twelve years ago today Daddy went to heaven and 0:26:30.560 --> 0:26:34.040 he's saying to all of us, you're not limited by 0:26:34.080 --> 0:26:38.280 your education, or your family, your background, your environment. You 0:26:38.359 --> 0:26:42.240 can rise higher, you can go further. It may look 0:26:42.280 --> 0:26:45.800 impossible with men, but it is still possible with God. 0:26:46.800 --> 0:26:50.119 I can hear my father encourage us with that same 0:26:50.280 --> 0:26:52.400 poem that he quoted so many times. 0:26:52.880 --> 0:26:53.920 Great it is to. 0:26:53.960 --> 0:26:57.199 Dream the dream when you stand in youth by the 0:26:57.240 --> 0:27:03.200 story stream, but a greater thing. It's a fright fight fight, fight, 0:27:03.400 --> 0:27:06.600 fight like through and shay a then the dreaming. 0:27:07.119 --> 0:27:07.600 It's true. 0:27:08.760 --> 0:27:18.000 Hol all right, all right, VC in just a moment. 0:27:19.560 --> 0:27:23.760 My encouragement to us today is we're not running alone. 0:27:23.800 --> 0:27:27.040 All the saints of old are cheering for you, your 0:27:27.080 --> 0:27:29.040 loved ones that have gone to be with the Lord. 0:27:29.359 --> 0:27:32.680 They're watching you. They believe in you. They know you've 0:27:32.680 --> 0:27:36.040 got what it takes. Now put your shoulders back, hold 0:27:36.080 --> 0:27:38.640 your head up high, get a fresh new vision. If 0:27:38.640 --> 0:27:42.480 they could accomplish great things without the modern conveniences that 0:27:42.560 --> 0:27:45.200 we have. Think about how much more we can do. 0:27:45.880 --> 0:27:49.159 Let's make them proud. Let's give Heaven something to cheer about. 0:27:49.520 --> 0:27:53.000 Don't get stuck in a rut. Rise higher, go further 0:27:53.080 --> 0:27:56.560 than your relatives did. You may have had some bad breaks, 0:27:56.800 --> 0:27:59.679 but don't let that ruin your life. Stay in faith 0:28:00.119 --> 0:28:03.879 and that double is coming. And remember, like Rahab, you 0:28:03.960 --> 0:28:07.760 have not made too many mistakes. You can begin again 0:28:08.119 --> 0:28:10.880 and still do something great. And if you will live 0:28:10.960 --> 0:28:13.520 life knowing that all of Heaven is cheering you on, 0:28:14.040 --> 0:28:17.600 you'll run faster, go further, accomplish more, and you will 0:28:17.640 --> 0:28:21.359 make Heaven proud. And I believe and declare one day 0:28:21.640 --> 0:28:24.360 you'll be in the grand stands cheering others on as 0:28:24.400 --> 0:28:25.840 one of those heroes of faith. 0:28:25.840 --> 0:28:26.159 Amen. 0:28:26.440 --> 0:28:30.320 Do you receive it today? We never like to close 0:28:30.359 --> 0:28:34.160 our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus. 0:28:33.760 --> 0:28:36.119 The lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:36.640 --> 0:28:42.000 Just say Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 0:28:42.040 --> 0:28:42.760 into my heart. 0:28:43.840 --> 0:28:45.520 I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:46.960 --> 0:28:49.480 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:28:49.560 --> 0:28:52.840 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 0:28:53.120 --> 0:28:54.360 Keep God first place. 0:28:54.600 --> 0:28:56.760 He'll take your places that you've never dreamed of. 0:28:57.680 --> 0:29:01.360 Thank you for listening to the Jewelus Dean. Help us 0:29:01.400 --> 0:29:04.240 continue to share the message of hope with those all 0:29:04.280 --> 0:29:08.480 over the world. Visit joelostein dot com slash give Hope 0:29:08.520 --> 0:29:09.680 to give a gift today. 0:29:10.960 --> 0:29:13.880 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:13.920 --> 0:29:17.760 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep. 0:29:17.600 --> 0:29:20.560 You inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:29:20.760 --> 0:29:22.479 I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:22.720 --> 0:29:23.760 We'll see you next time.