Invite God Into Your Difficulties

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That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.240 --> 0:01:27.240 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.280 --> 0:01:30.080 dollars bonus see terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.240 --> 0:01:34.000 Instead of just trying to get out of the valley, 0:01:34.319 --> 0:01:36.839 out of the trouble, out of the fire, if you'll 0:01:36.840 --> 0:01:41.040 start saying God, come in, let me feel your presence 0:01:41.160 --> 0:01:44.280 in the fire, show me your greatness in this trouble, 0:01:44.800 --> 0:01:48.560 then you'll have a piece that passes understanding. A joy 0:01:48.600 --> 0:01:51.760 when you could be discouraged, a hope when you should 0:01:51.760 --> 0:01:56.480 be distraught. Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for 0:01:56.560 --> 0:02:00.240 downloading our podcast. We enjoy spending this time with you. 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:03.120 I know you're going to leave encouraged and inspired. 0:02:03.360 --> 0:02:06.280 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week, 0:02:06.440 --> 0:02:09.079 and follow us on social media to stay connected. 0:02:09.280 --> 0:02:12.680 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 0:02:13.120 --> 0:02:20.480 Enjoy the message. God bless you. It's a joy to 0:02:20.560 --> 0:02:23.360 come into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, 0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:26.359 please stop buy be a part of one of our services. 0:02:26.440 --> 0:02:29.120 These are the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, 0:02:29.240 --> 0:02:31.880 right here at Lakewood. But thanks for tuning in today 0:02:31.919 --> 0:02:34.200 and thanks for coming out. And I like to start 0:02:34.240 --> 0:02:37.079 with something funny, and I heard about this man. He 0:02:37.120 --> 0:02:41.639 was the only Protestant in this large Catholic neighborhood. Every 0:02:41.720 --> 0:02:45.520 Friday during Lent, while his neighbors were eating cold fish, 0:02:45.840 --> 0:02:49.360 he was in his backyard grilling a steak. They couldn't 0:02:49.400 --> 0:02:52.639 stand the temptation and decided to try to convert him 0:02:52.680 --> 0:02:57.480 to Catholicism. He finally agreed. A priest came over sprinkled 0:02:57.520 --> 0:02:59.840 water on him, said, you were born a Baptist, you 0:03:00.080 --> 0:03:03.080 were raised a Baptist, but now you're a Catholic. The 0:03:03.160 --> 0:03:06.320 next year, on the first Friday of Lent, they smelled 0:03:06.320 --> 0:03:09.400 the same smell. They rushed through his house. He was 0:03:09.440 --> 0:03:13.000 in his backyard sprinkling water over his steak, saying, you 0:03:13.000 --> 0:03:15.120 were born a cow, you were raised a cow, but 0:03:15.240 --> 0:03:19.320 now you're a fish. All right, say it like you 0:03:19.400 --> 0:03:22.360 mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 0:03:22.400 --> 0:03:25.000 says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:03:25.560 --> 0:03:28.280 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:32.000 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:03:32.520 --> 0:03:36.200 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:40.200 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:03:41.320 --> 0:03:44.400 I want to talk to you today about inviting God 0:03:44.680 --> 0:03:49.280 into your difficulties. Most of the time we're praying God, 0:03:49.480 --> 0:03:52.560 get me out of this challenge, get me out of 0:03:52.600 --> 0:03:56.040 this trouble at work, get me out of this financial setback. 0:03:56.560 --> 0:03:59.920 And there's nothing wrong with that, but before you get out, 0:04:00.640 --> 0:04:04.880 you have to invite God in. Sometimes the miracle is 0:04:04.920 --> 0:04:07.880 not in getting out, it's in what God is going 0:04:07.920 --> 0:04:12.120 to do in the situation. And instead of just praying God, 0:04:12.160 --> 0:04:15.560 get me out, why don't you start praying God, come 0:04:15.680 --> 0:04:19.760 in to this hospital room while take the treatment. Come 0:04:19.839 --> 0:04:22.919 into this trouble at work where the people aren't fair, 0:04:23.440 --> 0:04:27.680 Come into this anxiety that I'm dealing with. What's more 0:04:27.760 --> 0:04:31.320 powerful than God bringing you out is when God comes 0:04:31.440 --> 0:04:35.120 in and begins to change things. He comes in and 0:04:35.160 --> 0:04:38.240 gives you favor despite who's trying to push you down. 0:04:38.920 --> 0:04:42.240 He comes in and gives you strength that you can't explain, 0:04:42.920 --> 0:04:46.760 grace to outlast what should stop you. And if you're 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:50.520 only focused on God bringing you out, then you're going 0:04:50.560 --> 0:04:55.080 to be disappointed because God doesn't do things on our timetable. 0:04:55.720 --> 0:04:59.159 Sometimes it's taking longer than we thought. But when you 0:04:59.240 --> 0:05:02.839 ask God to come in, you can be at rest. God, 0:05:02.880 --> 0:05:06.200 I know you're right here with me. You are ordering 0:05:06.240 --> 0:05:09.200 my steps and at the right time, you'll get me 0:05:09.480 --> 0:05:12.599 to where I'm supposed to be. You don't have to 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:17.680 fight everything, live upset, can't sleep at night. That happens 0:05:17.880 --> 0:05:21.600 when you're only focused on getting out. God is waiting 0:05:21.640 --> 0:05:25.680 to come in. When you ask him in, you're saying, God, 0:05:26.040 --> 0:05:30.600 don't just change the circumstances, change me. Help me to 0:05:30.640 --> 0:05:34.039 not just go through this situation. Help me to grow 0:05:34.120 --> 0:05:38.120 through it. Help me to learn, increase my faith, let 0:05:38.200 --> 0:05:42.400 my character come up higher. If God delivered us out 0:05:42.400 --> 0:05:46.400 of everything instantly, we would never reach our highest potential. 0:05:47.080 --> 0:05:51.920 God works in the trouble. He works in the uncomfortable situations. 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:56.400 And sometimes God is not bringing you out yet because 0:05:56.400 --> 0:05:58.960 He wants the odds to be against you in a 0:05:59.000 --> 0:06:02.279 bigger way. So when he brings you out, it will 0:06:02.320 --> 0:06:06.920 be a greater miracle. Now voices will whisper. God doesn't 0:06:06.920 --> 0:06:10.520 even hear your prayers. That's why nothing's changing. The truth 0:06:10.640 --> 0:06:13.520 is God is setting you up to show out in 0:06:13.600 --> 0:06:16.840 your life. When He brings you out, no one will 0:06:16.880 --> 0:06:19.760 be able to deny that His favor is on you. 0:06:20.680 --> 0:06:24.200 God said in Isaiah, when you go through the waters, 0:06:24.320 --> 0:06:27.680 I will be with you. When you go through the rivers, 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:31.680 they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, 0:06:31.880 --> 0:06:35.560 you will not be burned. It's interesting that God didn't 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:39.279 say I'll keep you out of every fire. You won't 0:06:39.320 --> 0:06:43.280 have to face any floods. No, he said, the challenges 0:06:43.360 --> 0:06:47.600 will come. There will be adversities and things we don't understand. 0:06:48.040 --> 0:06:50.560 But the whole key to this verse is when he 0:06:50.680 --> 0:06:54.200 said I will be with you in the fire, in 0:06:54.279 --> 0:06:57.760 the flood, in the famine. Are you trying to get 0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:00.240 out of something that God is going to take take 0:07:00.279 --> 0:07:04.520 you through? Are you fighting the process? It's not fair God, 0:07:04.560 --> 0:07:08.599 I can't take it anymore. Everything will change. If you'll 0:07:08.640 --> 0:07:13.400 start inviting God into the fire. He's already promised he'll 0:07:13.400 --> 0:07:17.200 be with you. Maybe he's just waiting for your invitation. 0:07:18.320 --> 0:07:21.240 The right attitude is God, I know you're going to 0:07:21.280 --> 0:07:24.760 bring me out, But in the meantime, I'm asking you 0:07:24.880 --> 0:07:28.480 to come in to this challenge in my health. Come 0:07:28.520 --> 0:07:31.560 in to this loss I'm going through, Come into this 0:07:31.720 --> 0:07:35.559 depression that's trying to stop me. When you invite God 0:07:35.720 --> 0:07:40.000 into your difficulty, you'll feel him breathing in your direction, 0:07:40.520 --> 0:07:45.480 empowering you, enabling you, favoring you. Is it a greater 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:49.000 testimony that God kept you out of the fire, or 0:07:49.040 --> 0:07:51.679 that He came with you in the fire and brought 0:07:51.720 --> 0:07:55.400 you through it? David said, though I walk through the 0:07:55.520 --> 0:07:59.120 valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. 0:07:59.400 --> 0:08:03.680 Why because you are with me. When you know God 0:08:03.800 --> 0:08:07.360 is with you, when you've invited Him into your situation, 0:08:07.920 --> 0:08:11.280 you'll have a smile in the middle of the difficulty. 0:08:11.360 --> 0:08:14.360 You'll have a song of praise in the prison. Like 0:08:14.480 --> 0:08:18.040 Paul and Silas. You won't be complaining about the trouble, 0:08:18.600 --> 0:08:21.040 worried about when it's going to work out, you'll be 0:08:21.080 --> 0:08:24.640 at peace in the midst of the storm. The reason 0:08:24.760 --> 0:08:28.280 David didn't live afraid, even though he went through valleys 0:08:28.360 --> 0:08:32.599 and all kinds of adversities, is he understood this principle 0:08:32.880 --> 0:08:36.920 to invite God into the trouble. He wasn't just waiting 0:08:36.960 --> 0:08:39.720 to get out. He knew that God was right there 0:08:39.760 --> 0:08:43.640 with him. If you're only praying God, get me out, 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:48.480 you'll be discouraged until it changes. Joel, I can enjoy 0:08:48.559 --> 0:08:51.720 my life. I have this child that's off course. I'm 0:08:51.720 --> 0:08:55.000 dealing with an illness. My finances are low. When it 0:08:55.080 --> 0:08:58.959 turns around, they don't have a good attitude. You're waiting 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:02.080 for God to bring you out while God is waiting 0:09:02.200 --> 0:09:04.880 for you to invite him in. You have to do 0:09:05.040 --> 0:09:07.960 like David, Father, thank you that you were with me 0:09:08.480 --> 0:09:11.199 right here in this valley. I'm not going to live 0:09:11.240 --> 0:09:14.840 afraid worried. I may not see away, but I know 0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:19.000 you have a way instead of just trying to get 0:09:19.040 --> 0:09:21.400 out of the valley, out of the trouble, out of 0:09:21.440 --> 0:09:25.800 the fire. If you'll start saying God, come in, let 0:09:25.840 --> 0:09:28.839 me feel your presence in the fire, show me your 0:09:28.880 --> 0:09:32.200 greatness in this trouble. Then you'll have a peace that 0:09:32.320 --> 0:09:36.439 passes understanding, a joy when you could be discouraged, a 0:09:36.520 --> 0:09:40.800 hope when you should be distraught. In the Scripture, three 0:09:40.840 --> 0:09:45.000 Hebrew teenagers wouldn't bow down to the king's golden idol. 0:09:45.480 --> 0:09:48.640 The king was so furious he threatened to have them 0:09:48.679 --> 0:09:52.840 thrown into a fiery furnace. The teenager said, King, we're 0:09:52.840 --> 0:09:57.240 not worried. We know our God will deliver us. This 0:09:57.400 --> 0:10:01.320 made the king even more angry. He had the guards 0:10:01.640 --> 0:10:05.920 turn up the furnace seven times hotter than normal. Why 0:10:05.960 --> 0:10:08.760 did God have the king make the fire even hotter. 0:10:09.240 --> 0:10:12.120 He wanted it to be a bigger miracle. He wanted 0:10:12.160 --> 0:10:15.679 the odds to be more against them. The fact is 0:10:16.240 --> 0:10:19.679 God could have kept them out of the fire. He's God. 0:10:20.080 --> 0:10:24.000 He parted red seas, he opened blind eyes. Would have 0:10:24.040 --> 0:10:27.200 been no problem for God to change the king's mind 0:10:27.720 --> 0:10:31.679 or to help these teenagers escape. But God doesn't deliver 0:10:31.840 --> 0:10:36.760 us from every fire. Sometimes he'll take you through the fire. 0:10:37.320 --> 0:10:40.280 The good news is God knows how to make you 0:10:40.440 --> 0:10:45.920 fire proof. People don't determine your destiny. Bad breaks cannot 0:10:46.000 --> 0:10:51.720 stop God's plan for your life. Sickness, addictions, unfair situations, 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:56.319 don't have the final saying. Now, don't be discouraged because 0:10:56.400 --> 0:10:59.679 God didn't keep you out of the fire. God doesn't 0:10:59.679 --> 0:11:04.800 stop every negative situation. He uses adversities to move us 0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:08.920 into our purpose. We would never know his power if 0:11:08.960 --> 0:11:11.559 we were never thrown into a fire, so to speak. 0:11:11.960 --> 0:11:14.200 You wouldn't know he was a healer. If you never 0:11:14.280 --> 0:11:17.599 had an illness, we wouldn't know he could move mountains, 0:11:17.720 --> 0:11:22.040 if we never face big obstacles. Now, quit complaining about 0:11:22.040 --> 0:11:25.480 what you're up against. It's not a surprise to God. 0:11:26.280 --> 0:11:28.960 The enemy may have turned up the fire seven times 0:11:29.000 --> 0:11:33.079 hotter than normal. They didn't do that without God's permission. 0:11:33.760 --> 0:11:37.600 God is in control, not just of your life. He's 0:11:37.640 --> 0:11:42.360 in control of your enemies. Instead of complaining about the fire, 0:11:42.960 --> 0:11:47.920 start inviting him into the fire. When he's with you, you 0:11:47.480 --> 0:11:52.240 cannot be defeated. You and God are a majority. He 0:11:52.400 --> 0:11:56.320 is a supernatural god. He's not limited by the fire, 0:11:56.760 --> 0:12:00.520 by the floods, by the famines. What should take you out. 0:12:00.760 --> 0:12:06.280 Cannot stop your destiny. Instead of complaining about everything that 0:12:06.320 --> 0:12:11.600 you don't like, if you'll recognize that God allowed the difficulty. 0:12:12.360 --> 0:12:15.120 I'm not saying that he sent it, but he allowed 0:12:15.160 --> 0:12:18.680 it because he had a purpose, and the purpose is 0:12:18.720 --> 0:12:22.800 not so you can live miserable, worried and afraid. His 0:12:23.000 --> 0:12:26.800 purpose is to show his glory through you. It's so 0:12:26.960 --> 0:12:31.280 other people can see his power and fever on your life. 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:35.720 Without great test you won't have a great testimony. Without 0:12:35.720 --> 0:12:40.199 big battles, we won't see big victories. These teenagers said, 0:12:40.800 --> 0:12:44.360 we know our God will deliver us. They made this 0:12:44.440 --> 0:12:48.240 statement of faith. Then they said something even more powerful. 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:51.720 But even if he doesn't, we're still not going to 0:12:51.760 --> 0:12:55.320 bow down. That's the kind of people that give the 0:12:55.440 --> 0:12:59.440 enemy a nervous breakdown when you can say, God, this 0:12:59.600 --> 0:13:02.720 is what i'm believing for, this is what i'm hoping 0:13:02.760 --> 0:13:06.160 will happen. But God, even if it doesn't work out 0:13:06.200 --> 0:13:09.400 my way, I'm still going to give you praise. I'm 0:13:09.480 --> 0:13:11.920 still going to be good to others. I'm still going 0:13:12.000 --> 0:13:14.240 to show up Sunday an usher. I'm still going to 0:13:14.320 --> 0:13:19.760 pursue my dreams. That attitude gets God's attention. You're saying, God, 0:13:19.840 --> 0:13:23.280 not my will, but let your will be done. But 0:13:23.360 --> 0:13:27.520 too often we're putting conditions on God and conditions on 0:13:27.559 --> 0:13:31.439 our prayer. God. I'll be happy if my boss moves 0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:34.679 to the backside of Mars. When you get him out 0:13:34.720 --> 0:13:38.120 of my life, then I'll have a good attitude. Have 0:13:38.240 --> 0:13:41.960 you ever thought God may be using that person to 0:13:42.080 --> 0:13:45.200 do a work in you, to grow you up, to 0:13:45.280 --> 0:13:48.560 develop your character, to teach you to love those that 0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:52.080 are not very lovable. Instead of praying God, get me 0:13:52.360 --> 0:13:56.760 out of this situation, I'm asking you to start praying God, 0:13:57.040 --> 0:14:01.160 come into this situation, help me to have a good attitude, 0:14:01.720 --> 0:14:04.199 Help me to do the right thing when the wrong 0:14:04.280 --> 0:14:08.319 thing is happening. It's very powerful when you can say God, 0:14:08.720 --> 0:14:12.200 if my boss never moves, if he's here until I 0:14:12.280 --> 0:14:14.600 go to Heaven, I know you have given me the 0:14:14.720 --> 0:14:18.040 strength to overcome, the power to be happy in the 0:14:18.080 --> 0:14:21.000 middle of this difficulty. And I am not going to 0:14:21.120 --> 0:14:25.960 let this person, this sickness, this injustice, steal my joy. 0:14:26.200 --> 0:14:30.760 Now you're growing. Now you're coming up higher, because sometimes 0:14:31.080 --> 0:14:34.240 God is waiting for us to pass the test before 0:14:34.280 --> 0:14:37.800 he brings us out. The king had the guards tie 0:14:37.920 --> 0:14:42.080 up the teenager's hands and feet with cords. They threw 0:14:42.200 --> 0:14:45.760 them into the furnace. It was so hot that the 0:14:45.840 --> 0:14:49.480 guards were instantly killed. It looked like this was the 0:14:49.640 --> 0:14:53.680 end for the teenagers. But people don't have the final say. 0:14:54.400 --> 0:14:56.840 If it's not your time to go, you're not going 0:14:56.880 --> 0:14:59.960 to go. Nothing can snatch you out of God's hands. 0:15:01.120 --> 0:15:03.360 In a little while, the king came to check on them. 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:07.400 He looked through the furnace window and was puzzled. He said, 0:15:07.400 --> 0:15:11.160 didn't we throw three men in bound? I see four 0:15:11.200 --> 0:15:14.360 men loosed, and one looks like the son of God. 0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:18.840 God may not keep you out of every fire, but 0:15:18.920 --> 0:15:22.560 don't worry. He'll come into the fire with you. He'll 0:15:22.600 --> 0:15:27.880 help you overcome what looks impossible. That illness should be 0:15:27.960 --> 0:15:31.520 the end. The medical report said, you were done, But 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:34.840 like with my mother, God came in the fire with you, 0:15:35.160 --> 0:15:39.080 and here you are still going strong. That loved one 0:15:39.080 --> 0:15:43.200 you lost, or that person that walked away, broke your heart, 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:46.640 that should have soured your life, but look at you now, 0:15:46.960 --> 0:15:51.360 still moving forward, doing great things, fulfilling your purpose. How 0:15:51.400 --> 0:15:54.720 could that be? God came in the fire with you. 0:15:55.760 --> 0:15:59.760 The psalmist said, God is a very present help in 0:15:59.760 --> 0:16:03.920 time of trouble. We know that God is always with us, 0:16:04.440 --> 0:16:07.680 but when you're in difficulties and you invite him in, 0:16:08.200 --> 0:16:11.320 you're going to feel his presence in a greater way. 0:16:11.440 --> 0:16:14.480 You're going to be more aware that you're not alone 0:16:15.280 --> 0:16:17.720 when you get thrown into the fire, so to speak, 0:16:18.040 --> 0:16:21.360 you won't be bitter. You'll stay in faith, knowing that 0:16:21.400 --> 0:16:24.520 the fourth Man is right there with you. The God 0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:29.200 who controls the fire, the God who heals, who restores, 0:16:29.720 --> 0:16:32.800 who pays you back for the injustice, is right there 0:16:33.080 --> 0:16:38.440 watching over you, protecting you, ordering your steps. Moses went 0:16:38.480 --> 0:16:41.520 through a difficult situation. He didn't know how it was 0:16:41.560 --> 0:16:44.080 going to work out. I'm sure he was tempted to 0:16:44.160 --> 0:16:47.760 worry and think about how big his enemies were. But 0:16:47.840 --> 0:16:51.960 God said to him in Exodus thirty three, Moses, I 0:16:52.040 --> 0:16:56.239 will go with you. I will give you rest. Everything 0:16:56.560 --> 0:17:00.480 will be fine for you. Maybe you're facing some childallenges. 0:17:01.000 --> 0:17:03.880 Life hasn't turned out the way you thought. You asked 0:17:03.880 --> 0:17:06.239 God to keep you out of the fire, but it 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:09.840 didn't happen your way. Now you're wondering how you're going 0:17:09.840 --> 0:17:13.240 to beat the illness, how your family's going to be restored. 0:17:13.800 --> 0:17:16.600 God is saying to you what he said to Moses. 0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:21.199 I'm going with you. You're not in that fire by yourself. 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:24.080 I have you in the palm of my hand. I'm 0:17:24.160 --> 0:17:28.520 fighting your battles. That obstacle may be too much for you, 0:17:28.880 --> 0:17:32.399 but it is not too much for our God. Right now, 0:17:32.600 --> 0:17:36.320 he is pushing back forces of darkness. He's keeping the 0:17:36.400 --> 0:17:40.520 fire from burning you. He's not letting those waters drown you. 0:17:41.119 --> 0:17:46.879 He's your protector, your deliverer, your waymaker, your healer, your provider. 0:17:47.440 --> 0:17:50.159 You don't have to do this on your own. You 0:17:50.200 --> 0:17:52.879 don't have to figure everything out. You're not going to 0:17:53.000 --> 0:17:56.280 know all the details. You have to walk by faith 0:17:56.600 --> 0:17:59.600 and not by sight, knowing that he's right there with you, 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:03.560 that he's promised everything is going to be all right 0:18:03.600 --> 0:18:07.199 for you. When the King had the teenager's hands and 0:18:07.240 --> 0:18:11.120 feet tied up, they could have panicked, been stressed out. 0:18:11.440 --> 0:18:14.959 But they understood this principle that God doesn't keep us 0:18:15.000 --> 0:18:17.760 out of every fire, but he comes into the fire 0:18:17.840 --> 0:18:21.479 with us. They didn't fall apart. They stayed in peace. 0:18:22.119 --> 0:18:25.960 But I can imagine how different this outcome could have been. 0:18:26.400 --> 0:18:30.960 If they would have complained, been bitter, discouraged. Maybe we 0:18:31.000 --> 0:18:34.440 wouldn't be talking about them. Maybe the fourth Man would 0:18:34.440 --> 0:18:39.280 have never shown up. How we approach our difficulties makes 0:18:39.320 --> 0:18:42.760 all the difference whether we're going to come through them 0:18:43.240 --> 0:18:47.120 not burned without the smell of smoke like the teenagers, 0:18:47.640 --> 0:18:49.959 or whether we're going to get stuck in them and 0:18:50.040 --> 0:18:53.760 miss God's best. You may be in the fire now, 0:18:54.200 --> 0:18:57.159 but this is not the time to complain. It's not 0:18:57.280 --> 0:19:00.280 the time to just pray God get me out. More 0:19:00.320 --> 0:19:03.480 than ever, you need to start saying Father, thank you 0:19:03.800 --> 0:19:06.399 that you are in this fire with me. Thank you 0:19:06.480 --> 0:19:10.400 that no weapon formed against me is going to prosper God. 0:19:10.440 --> 0:19:13.840 I am not going to worry. I trust you. I 0:19:13.960 --> 0:19:17.840 believe what you promised that everything will be fine for me. 0:19:18.960 --> 0:19:22.879 Here's how amazing God is. The King said, didn't we 0:19:22.920 --> 0:19:26.880 throw three men in bound? I see four men loosed. 0:19:27.520 --> 0:19:30.879 When the teenagers came out, the only thing the fire 0:19:31.040 --> 0:19:34.800 burned were the cords that were holding them back. Their 0:19:34.800 --> 0:19:38.639 hair was fine, skin was fine, clothes were fine, Just 0:19:38.680 --> 0:19:42.360 the cords. When you come out of that difficulty, the 0:19:42.400 --> 0:19:45.159 only things that are going to be gone are the 0:19:45.280 --> 0:19:49.320 limitations that are holding you back. The fire is going 0:19:49.400 --> 0:19:54.359 to burn off the fear, burn off negative mindsets, burn 0:19:54.400 --> 0:19:57.480 off relationship that were pulling you down. You're going to 0:19:57.520 --> 0:20:04.520 come out free, bold, confident, healthy, promoted, victorious, ready to 0:20:04.560 --> 0:20:08.959 fulfill your destiny. I know this man. He's an executive 0:20:09.040 --> 0:20:12.639 at a large company. There were several people in management 0:20:12.720 --> 0:20:17.199 above him that didn't like him. He's very talented. They 0:20:17.240 --> 0:20:20.480 were intimidated by him. They kept doing their best to 0:20:20.600 --> 0:20:23.760 keep him down, and he was concerned and trying to 0:20:23.760 --> 0:20:26.000 figure out what he should do and how it was 0:20:26.040 --> 0:20:28.960 all going to work out. For several months, he would 0:20:28.960 --> 0:20:31.639 come down for prayer and tell me how it wasn't 0:20:31.640 --> 0:20:34.800 getting any better and wondering when God was going to 0:20:34.880 --> 0:20:39.040 change it. It was putting a strain on his marriage. Physically, 0:20:39.080 --> 0:20:42.080 he was starting to get run down. I told him 0:20:42.119 --> 0:20:45.840 what I'm telling you. You're just praying God get me out. 0:20:46.400 --> 0:20:50.640 You need to start praying. God come into this difficulty. 0:20:50.720 --> 0:20:53.520 God give me the grace to bloom where I'm planning 0:20:54.000 --> 0:20:56.840 to have a good attitude, even though it's not fair. 0:20:57.200 --> 0:21:01.000 God showed me your favor despite who's to push me down. 0:21:01.800 --> 0:21:05.639 He changed his attitude and quit worrying about when it 0:21:05.800 --> 0:21:08.960 was going to improve, knowing that God was right there 0:21:09.000 --> 0:21:13.360 with him in the fire fighting his battles. I saw 0:21:13.480 --> 0:21:16.720 him a couple of years later. He looked as peaceful 0:21:16.760 --> 0:21:21.239 as can be, had a big smile, great attitude. I 0:21:21.280 --> 0:21:24.639 thought everything had turned around. He said, now, Joel, the 0:21:24.720 --> 0:21:28.640 same people are still there, doing the same things. They 0:21:28.720 --> 0:21:32.880 haven't changed, but I've changed. I don't let them upset 0:21:32.960 --> 0:21:37.359 me anymore. I don't live stressed out. I enjoy my 0:21:37.520 --> 0:21:41.440 life despite how they're treating me. I'm doing the right thing, 0:21:41.760 --> 0:21:45.679 even though they never give me credit. That's passing the test. 0:21:46.240 --> 0:21:49.440 That's showing God. You're not just going to be happy 0:21:49.520 --> 0:21:52.240 if He brings you out, but you're going to shine 0:21:52.800 --> 0:21:55.520 even if it doesn't happen your way. You're going to 0:21:55.560 --> 0:21:59.040 be your best, even if it's not changing on your timetable. 0:22:00.040 --> 0:22:04.000 Inviting God into the fire. Not just God get me out, 0:22:04.280 --> 0:22:06.639 but God give me the strength to be here with 0:22:06.680 --> 0:22:10.120 a good attitude. He was in the lobby about three 0:22:10.160 --> 0:22:13.720 months ago. This was three years after he first came 0:22:13.760 --> 0:22:17.199 down for prayer. He told how the company had just 0:22:17.320 --> 0:22:21.560 been sold. The owners got rid of all the management 0:22:21.640 --> 0:22:26.399 team except for him. He was the only executive they kept. 0:22:26.520 --> 0:22:29.159 He said, Joel, now I'm in charge. I'm running the 0:22:29.160 --> 0:22:34.040 whole company. God knows how to vindicate you, he knows 0:22:34.840 --> 0:22:38.240 how to bring you out of the difficulty. The question 0:22:38.560 --> 0:22:43.240 is are you inviting him into the difficulty when you're 0:22:43.280 --> 0:22:46.480 in the fire. You can't complain. Be discouraged. God, it 0:22:46.520 --> 0:22:50.560 is not fair. Try a different approach. God, Come into 0:22:50.600 --> 0:22:53.600 this fire with me. God, help me to do the 0:22:53.680 --> 0:22:57.359 right thing. Change me where I need to change, Burn 0:22:57.400 --> 0:23:01.120 off things that are holding me back to shine where 0:23:01.160 --> 0:23:04.360 you are. Have a song of praise when you could 0:23:04.440 --> 0:23:07.760 be complaining. Keep a smile on your face when you 0:23:07.800 --> 0:23:11.560 should be discouraged. I know it's not easy, but keep 0:23:11.600 --> 0:23:16.679 reminding yourself. The creator of the universe, the most High God, 0:23:17.040 --> 0:23:20.600 is right there with you. He sees what you're up against. 0:23:21.160 --> 0:23:25.280 He knows what's not fair, the hurts, the disappointments, the 0:23:25.320 --> 0:23:28.639 lonely nights. When you dig your heels in and do 0:23:28.720 --> 0:23:32.800 the right thing, you will feel a supernatural strength, a 0:23:32.920 --> 0:23:36.000 power to do what you could not do on your own. 0:23:36.800 --> 0:23:40.160 This is what happened with Joseph in the Scripture. As 0:23:40.200 --> 0:23:44.160 a teenager, he was betrayed by his brothers and sold 0:23:44.240 --> 0:23:48.600 into slavery. He worked for a high ranking military official 0:23:48.760 --> 0:23:54.000 in Egypt named Potiphar. Joseph, in one sense, had every 0:23:54.080 --> 0:23:58.760 right to be bitter angry. His dreams were shattered. He 0:23:58.880 --> 0:24:02.359 was in a foreign country, he didn't know anyone, but 0:24:02.480 --> 0:24:06.120 you never read where Joseph complained. He just kept being 0:24:06.200 --> 0:24:10.159 his best where he was. He was so exceptional that 0:24:10.280 --> 0:24:14.320 Potterphar put him in charge of his whole house. Genesis 0:24:14.359 --> 0:24:18.000 thirty nine says, the Lord was with Joseph. He was 0:24:18.040 --> 0:24:22.920 successful in everything that he did. Joseph did what I'm 0:24:22.960 --> 0:24:26.400 asking us to do. He didn't just pray, God, get 0:24:26.480 --> 0:24:29.480 me out of this trouble and I'll have a good attitude. 0:24:30.040 --> 0:24:34.160 He said, God, come into this trouble, Help me to shine, 0:24:34.480 --> 0:24:38.400 help me to stand out. The next verse says Potterphar 0:24:38.560 --> 0:24:43.200 saw that the Lord was with Joseph. Can people see 0:24:43.400 --> 0:24:46.359 that God is with you in the fire? Are you 0:24:46.480 --> 0:24:50.240 being your best even though it's unfair? Are you shining 0:24:50.440 --> 0:24:55.480 when you could be complaining? Later, Joseph was falsely accused 0:24:55.520 --> 0:24:58.400 and put in prison for something that he didn't do. 0:24:59.119 --> 0:25:02.720 Verse twenty one says, but the Lord was with Joseph 0:25:02.760 --> 0:25:07.000 there too, in the prison, in the betrayal, in the injustice. 0:25:07.640 --> 0:25:12.000 It's significant that the scripture tells us three times, just 0:25:12.080 --> 0:25:14.919 a few verses from each other, that the Lord was 0:25:14.960 --> 0:25:18.600 with Joseph. We got it the first time, but God 0:25:18.680 --> 0:25:21.760 wanted us to see this principle that when you invite 0:25:21.880 --> 0:25:25.120 him into the fire, you're going to have a fevor 0:25:25.480 --> 0:25:28.800 that pushes you up when life tries to push you down. 0:25:29.440 --> 0:25:32.639 A strength to excel when you could be slacken off, 0:25:33.080 --> 0:25:37.879 a power to overcome what should stop you. After thirteen 0:25:38.000 --> 0:25:41.480 years of being in the fire, God brought Joseph out, 0:25:41.880 --> 0:25:45.679 made him second in command of Egypt. You may be 0:25:46.440 --> 0:25:48.800 in a situation now that you don't think is ever 0:25:48.880 --> 0:25:52.560 going to change. But what God started in your life, 0:25:52.680 --> 0:25:55.960 he's going to finish now. It may not happen on 0:25:56.080 --> 0:25:59.640 your timetable. Instead of just praying God get me out, 0:26:00.359 --> 0:26:03.840 being frustrated because it's taken longer than you thought, why 0:26:03.840 --> 0:26:08.080 don't you start inviting God in. Father, thank you that 0:26:08.160 --> 0:26:11.520 you are with me in this battle with cancer. You 0:26:11.600 --> 0:26:14.439 were with me in this struggle with the addiction. You 0:26:14.520 --> 0:26:18.040 are with me in this divorce, in this breakup. When 0:26:18.080 --> 0:26:21.240 you invite God in, you will feel his presence in 0:26:21.320 --> 0:26:26.000 a new way. March chapter four, Jesus said to the disciples, 0:26:26.520 --> 0:26:29.160 let us cross to the other side of the lake. 0:26:29.840 --> 0:26:32.880 They all got in the boat, but as they were sailing, 0:26:33.000 --> 0:26:37.119 a huge storm arose. The waves were crashing over the boat. 0:26:37.640 --> 0:26:41.960 The wind so strong, the disciples started to panic, thinking 0:26:42.000 --> 0:26:45.479 they were about to die. Jesus was asleep in the 0:26:45.520 --> 0:26:49.360 back of the boat. They ran as fast as they could. Jesus, 0:26:49.400 --> 0:26:52.280 wake up. Don't you care that we're about to die. 0:26:53.080 --> 0:26:56.920 Jesus stood up and spoke to the storm. Suddenly everything 0:26:57.000 --> 0:27:02.800 calmed down. Now these disciples had seen Jesus perform great miracles, 0:27:03.200 --> 0:27:06.520 heal the lepers, raise a little boy from the dead. 0:27:07.160 --> 0:27:10.359 When Jesus said, we're going to the other side, you 0:27:10.400 --> 0:27:14.040 would think they would be confident. Nothing for us to 0:27:14.119 --> 0:27:17.159 worry about. The Son of God is in our boat. 0:27:17.560 --> 0:27:21.720 He just said, we're going across. But even though Jesus 0:27:21.840 --> 0:27:26.280 was with them, they still panicked. They didn't realize the 0:27:26.320 --> 0:27:30.800 winds and waves couldn't stop the God who created the 0:27:30.840 --> 0:27:35.720 winds and waves. The creation couldn't stop the creator. They 0:27:35.760 --> 0:27:39.320 had no reason to be afraid. The Son of God 0:27:39.520 --> 0:27:43.280 was in the storm with them. I wonder if you're 0:27:43.320 --> 0:27:47.560 doing like them, worried about something. Even though God is 0:27:47.600 --> 0:27:51.400 on your boat, He's already promised you that he would 0:27:51.440 --> 0:27:54.480 restore health's back into you, that you would lend and 0:27:54.560 --> 0:27:57.080 not borrow, that as for you and your house, you 0:27:57.119 --> 0:28:01.000 would serve the Lord. Now the circumstances they look the opposite. 0:28:01.600 --> 0:28:04.760 The medical report's not good. You loved ones. Off course, 0:28:05.040 --> 0:28:08.840 it's easy to live worried, upset. But can I encourage you? 0:28:09.200 --> 0:28:12.840 The most tied God is on your boat. Those winds 0:28:12.880 --> 0:28:17.080 cannot stop you. The sickness, the injustice, the people, they 0:28:17.119 --> 0:28:21.280 cannot keep you from your destiny. You might as well relax. 0:28:21.800 --> 0:28:25.439 Everything is going to be fine for you. Sure the 0:28:25.520 --> 0:28:28.680 waves may be big, but you have an advantage. The 0:28:28.720 --> 0:28:32.280 God who controls the universe is right there with you. 0:28:33.000 --> 0:28:35.959 Now do your part. Start thanking him that he's fighting 0:28:36.000 --> 0:28:39.800 your battles. Start shining where you are, being your best 0:28:39.880 --> 0:28:43.480 in spite of the difficulties. Don't wait till it changes. 0:28:43.880 --> 0:28:47.400 You have to invite him in before he brings you out. 0:28:48.080 --> 0:28:52.320 If you'll do this, I believe and declare like these teenagers, 0:28:52.640 --> 0:28:55.760 that fire is not going to burn you. You're about 0:28:55.800 --> 0:28:59.400 to see the fourth Man show up. Unusual things are 0:28:59.440 --> 0:29:05.440 about to have and unusual favor, unusual healings, unusual breakthroughs, 0:29:05.840 --> 0:29:10.840 unusual promotion, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name, 0:29:11.280 --> 0:29:15.280 And if you receive it, can you say amen? Today? Well, 0:29:15.280 --> 0:29:18.360 I'd like to give you the opportunity to make Jesus 0:29:18.440 --> 0:29:20.960 the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me, 0:29:21.760 --> 0:29:27.520 just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:29:27.520 --> 0:29:31.400 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:32.800 --> 0:29:35.400 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:35.400 --> 0:29:38.840 born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 0:29:38.880 --> 0:29:42.760 God first place. We're excited about coming back to New 0:29:42.840 --> 0:29:45.680 York for our Night of Hope in Yankee Stadium. It's 0:29:45.720 --> 0:29:48.720 going to be a great night of encouragement and inspiration. 0:29:49.000 --> 0:29:52.320 Our special guest, Kanye West and the Sunday Service Choir 0:29:52.480 --> 0:29:55.840 looking forward to seeing you there May second in Yankee Stadium. 0:29:56.040 --> 0:29:59.000 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:59.040 --> 0:30:02.400 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:30:02.480 --> 0:30:05.000 keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:30:05.160 --> 0:30:07.360 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:30:07.400 --> 0:30:10.880 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:30:10.960 --> 0:30:13.560 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:30:13.640 --> 0:30:14.160 us today. 0:30:14.440 --> 0:30:16.880 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:30:16.960 --> 0:30:19.800 be sure to follow us on social media. 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