It's Not What You Think

0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:02.240 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:00:02.320 --> 0:00:05.320 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:00:05.360 --> 0:00:06.040 the ministry. 0:00:06.160 --> 0:00:08.520 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:00:08.520 --> 0:00:10.080 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:00:10.400 --> 0:00:13.119 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:00:13.160 --> 0:00:13.800 your life. 0:00:14.320 --> 0:00:15.120 God bless you. 0:00:15.280 --> 0:00:17.800 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:17.800 --> 0:00:20.280 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:20.320 --> 0:00:24.239 daily podcast or YouTube channel, social media, and you can 0:00:24.280 --> 0:00:25.520 come visit us in person. 0:00:25.800 --> 0:00:26.640 We'd love to have. 0:00:26.640 --> 0:00:29.200 You be a part of one of our services. I'd 0:00:29.240 --> 0:00:31.640 let you start with something funny. And I heard about 0:00:31.640 --> 0:00:34.440 this ninety two year old man that wasn't feeling up 0:00:34.479 --> 0:00:34.840 to park. 0:00:35.240 --> 0:00:36.400 So we went to the doctor. 0:00:36.440 --> 0:00:39.040 And a few days later the doctor saw him walking 0:00:39.120 --> 0:00:42.240 in the park with this beautiful young lady by side, 0:00:42.280 --> 0:00:45.520 and he seemed as happy as convened. The doctor said, Wow, 0:00:45.600 --> 0:00:49.120 you are feeling a lot better, aren't you. He said, yes, Doctor, 0:00:49.159 --> 0:00:52.120 I'm just following your orders. You said, get a hot 0:00:52.240 --> 0:00:55.880 mama and stay cheerful. The doctor said, I didn't say that. 0:00:56.000 --> 0:00:58.080 I said you got a heart murmur, be careful. 0:00:59.440 --> 0:01:01.080 He heard what he wanted to hear. But here we 0:01:01.120 --> 0:01:04.440 go y'all. This is my Bible. I am what it 0:01:04.480 --> 0:01:06.880 says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:01:07.480 --> 0:01:10.080 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:01:10.200 --> 0:01:13.000 I will be taught the word of God. I'll boldly 0:01:13.080 --> 0:01:17.280 confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I 0:01:17.360 --> 0:01:21.480 will never be the same. In Jesus's name, God bless you. 0:01:22.920 --> 0:01:25.120 I want to talk to you today about it's not 0:01:25.280 --> 0:01:29.000 what you think. We all have situations that look like 0:01:29.040 --> 0:01:32.679 they're not going to work out. We can't accomplish our dreams. 0:01:33.000 --> 0:01:36.520 No doors have opened, or we took the fertility treatments. 0:01:36.800 --> 0:01:37.959 We can't have a baby. 0:01:38.680 --> 0:01:41.320 Our child will never get back on course, will never 0:01:41.360 --> 0:01:42.360 meet the right person. 0:01:43.080 --> 0:01:45.400 All the facts say it's not going to happen. 0:01:46.080 --> 0:01:48.760 But what we can't see is what God is doing 0:01:48.800 --> 0:01:52.480 behind the scenes. We don't know what he's already lined up. 0:01:53.200 --> 0:01:56.760 We look at things in the natural, but God is supernatural. 0:01:57.400 --> 0:01:59.440 And it may seem like your dream has died. 0:02:00.080 --> 0:02:03.520 You did your best, but you've had setbacks. People didn't 0:02:03.560 --> 0:02:04.040 support you. 0:02:04.640 --> 0:02:07.600 Now you've accepted that it's not meant to be. But 0:02:07.680 --> 0:02:11.160 it's not what you think. God has some twists coming, 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:16.320 some surprises where suddenly things come back to life. Doors 0:02:16.360 --> 0:02:19.680 open you never dream would open. Or it may look 0:02:19.760 --> 0:02:23.520 like your health will never improve. The medical report says 0:02:23.520 --> 0:02:24.239 you won't get. 0:02:24.120 --> 0:02:26.320 Well, But it's not what you think. 0:02:26.720 --> 0:02:30.160 There's another report that says God is restoring health back 0:02:30.200 --> 0:02:33.640 to you. That sickness is not how your story ends. 0:02:34.480 --> 0:02:37.000 Or perhaps it looks like your child will always be 0:02:37.080 --> 0:02:39.519 off course, running with the wrong crowd. 0:02:40.040 --> 0:02:42.960 It's not what you think. God has his hand on 0:02:43.040 --> 0:02:43.959 your child. 0:02:44.080 --> 0:02:48.040 He has inframed in like Jonah when he tried to 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:51.520 go the wrong direction. God had a well waiting for 0:02:51.639 --> 0:02:55.000 him to take him back to his purpose. Your child 0:02:55.040 --> 0:02:58.960 may run, but he can't get away. God's arm is 0:02:59.000 --> 0:03:02.360 not too short to say save. There's a shift coming 0:03:02.720 --> 0:03:06.560 where God suddenly changes your child's course and brings him 0:03:06.560 --> 0:03:09.880 back into his destiny. Or maybe it looks like you'll 0:03:09.919 --> 0:03:14.959 always struggle in your finances, have lack, not enough has 0:03:15.000 --> 0:03:17.840 how it's been in your family for years, seems like 0:03:17.880 --> 0:03:20.160 it's going to continue to the next generation. 0:03:20.840 --> 0:03:24.880 No, it's not what you think. Abundance is coming. Overflow 0:03:25.080 --> 0:03:25.600 is coming. 0:03:26.080 --> 0:03:28.760 God is going to give you the power to get wealth. 0:03:29.400 --> 0:03:33.760 What you touch will prosper and succeed. You're the difference maker. 0:03:34.280 --> 0:03:37.560 You're the one to break the generational limitation and to 0:03:37.640 --> 0:03:42.200 start a generational blessing. Now, don't be discouraged by what's 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:45.000 not happening, but what looks impossible. 0:03:45.320 --> 0:03:46.680 The dream seems dead. 0:03:47.360 --> 0:03:52.000 Part of faith is believing when there's no evidence, trusting 0:03:52.080 --> 0:03:56.560 when all the circumstances say there's no chance. The scripture 0:03:56.600 --> 0:04:00.120 says the things that are seen are temporary, but of 0:04:00.200 --> 0:04:04.120 things that are unseen are eternal. What you can see, 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:08.040 the dream that looks dead, the relationship that's too far gone, 0:04:08.560 --> 0:04:12.080 the addiction that's never going to change. Those things are 0:04:12.080 --> 0:04:16.600 not permanent. One translation says they are subject to change. 0:04:17.400 --> 0:04:20.560 What God promised you is still on the way, but 0:04:20.640 --> 0:04:22.440 the enemy will work over time. 0:04:22.839 --> 0:04:25.200 Telling you all the reasons it's not going to happen 0:04:25.760 --> 0:04:28.080 is too late. You're too old. 0:04:28.640 --> 0:04:31.520 You would have met somebody by now, your health would 0:04:31.520 --> 0:04:32.600 have improved a little bit. 0:04:33.080 --> 0:04:34.240 Don't believe those lies. 0:04:34.720 --> 0:04:38.760 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence 0:04:38.920 --> 0:04:42.359 of things not seen. God is going to do things 0:04:42.360 --> 0:04:46.159 in your life where there's no evidence, no sign of 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:46.800 it happening. 0:04:47.360 --> 0:04:49.960 All the facts say the dream will never come to pass. 0:04:50.520 --> 0:04:53.520 The evidence says you're not gonna get well, never meet 0:04:53.520 --> 0:04:56.880 the right person. Don't be moved by what you see. 0:04:57.080 --> 0:05:00.679 It's not what you think. God is working in ways 0:05:00.839 --> 0:05:05.200 you can't perceive. He's doing things behind the scenes that 0:05:05.279 --> 0:05:06.920 are going to defy the odds. 0:05:07.600 --> 0:05:09.480 His ways are higher. 0:05:09.279 --> 0:05:12.600 And better than our ways, and if you can see it, 0:05:12.600 --> 0:05:13.760 it doesn't take faith. 0:05:14.200 --> 0:05:16.600 Faith kicks in when there's no evidence. 0:05:17.279 --> 0:05:21.400 If you'll keep believing, keep trusting, God will do things 0:05:21.520 --> 0:05:26.440 you never saw coming, things that exceed your expectations, that lead. 0:05:26.320 --> 0:05:28.479 You in amazement of His goodness. 0:05:29.440 --> 0:05:33.480 This is what happened with Jacob. His father was Abraham. 0:05:33.920 --> 0:05:37.719 Abraham was the one God promised that his descendants would 0:05:37.720 --> 0:05:41.080 be as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They'd 0:05:41.080 --> 0:05:44.720 always walk in his blessing and favor well. Jacob had 0:05:44.720 --> 0:05:48.920 a son named Joseph. This was his youngest son. He 0:05:48.960 --> 0:05:52.880 was especially proud of Joseph. He had other children, but 0:05:52.960 --> 0:05:56.680 the scripture says Jacob loved Joseph more than any of 0:05:56.720 --> 0:05:59.680 the other sons because he was born to him in 0:05:59.720 --> 0:06:01.279 his own age. 0:06:01.400 --> 0:06:02.240 And of course it's not. 0:06:02.240 --> 0:06:05.680 Good to play favorites with our children, but Jacob did. 0:06:06.320 --> 0:06:09.960 He gave Joseph a special coat of many colors. It 0:06:10.080 --> 0:06:13.800 represented the favor and blessing on his life. Well, this 0:06:13.880 --> 0:06:17.040 didn't sat well with his brothers. Every time they saw 0:06:17.120 --> 0:06:20.480 Joseph wearing that coat, it made them more jealous, more 0:06:20.560 --> 0:06:24.880 sour toward him. On top of that, God gave Joseph 0:06:25.000 --> 0:06:28.760 a dream of people bowing down before him and him 0:06:28.880 --> 0:06:32.680 rising up into great leadership. This made his brothers hate 0:06:32.760 --> 0:06:36.760 him even more. Well, Jacob knew the promise that God 0:06:36.760 --> 0:06:37.720 gave his grandfather. 0:06:38.480 --> 0:06:40.280 Now with this dream, he. 0:06:40.240 --> 0:06:44.040 Believed his son Joseph would be instrumental in that promise 0:06:44.120 --> 0:06:45.000 coming to pass. 0:06:45.200 --> 0:06:46.920 He knew God's hand was on him. 0:06:47.800 --> 0:06:51.320 When Joseph's brothers traveled to another city to find pastures 0:06:51.360 --> 0:06:55.320 for their flocks. After a few weeks, Jacob asked Joseph 0:06:55.360 --> 0:06:56.280 to go check on them. 0:06:56.839 --> 0:06:58.440 He left home headed that way. 0:06:59.040 --> 0:07:02.479 When the brothers saw in the distance, their eyes lit up. 0:07:03.000 --> 0:07:06.360 They thought, great, this is our big chance to get 0:07:06.440 --> 0:07:09.440 rid of him. They were fed up with him being 0:07:09.480 --> 0:07:11.679 the favorite getting all that attention. 0:07:12.760 --> 0:07:16.800 What's interesting is Joseph didn't make himself the favorite. 0:07:16.840 --> 0:07:19.560 He couldn't choose when he was born. He didn't make 0:07:19.600 --> 0:07:23.080 his father like him more. God made him the favorite. 0:07:23.320 --> 0:07:27.280 When God favors you, sometimes other people can't handle it. 0:07:28.120 --> 0:07:31.760 Family members get jealous, co workers try to discredit you. 0:07:32.240 --> 0:07:35.200 Don't take it personally. It's not you that don't like. 0:07:35.520 --> 0:07:38.440 It's the favor God put on you. It's the blessing 0:07:38.520 --> 0:07:42.120 on your life. The good news is they can't stop 0:07:42.160 --> 0:07:46.040 your destiny. They can't override what God has purpose for 0:07:46.160 --> 0:07:49.680 you. You don't have to fight with them, try to win 0:07:49.800 --> 0:07:50.240 them over. 0:07:50.960 --> 0:07:54.400 Live upset because they're not for you. Just run your race, 0:07:54.760 --> 0:07:56.400 Focus on what God's called you. 0:07:56.440 --> 0:08:00.000 To do, and he will take care of the jealous, 0:08:00.600 --> 0:08:05.239 negative people to try to push you down. When Joseph arrived, 0:08:05.520 --> 0:08:08.320 the first thing his brothers did was to take his 0:08:08.440 --> 0:08:11.800 coat of many colors off. They thought they were taking 0:08:11.840 --> 0:08:14.960 his favor. But the favor is not on what you have. 0:08:15.480 --> 0:08:19.200 The favor is on you, and people may take your coat, 0:08:19.320 --> 0:08:20.960 so to speak, but they can't. 0:08:20.800 --> 0:08:21.520 Take your favor. 0:08:22.640 --> 0:08:25.160 They threw Joseph into a pit, and they were going 0:08:25.200 --> 0:08:27.640 to leave him there to dine. They saw a caravan 0:08:27.680 --> 0:08:31.480 of Ishmaelites coming. Instead, they sold him as a slave 0:08:31.600 --> 0:08:32.320 into Egypt. 0:08:33.160 --> 0:08:34.479 These brothers knew. 0:08:34.200 --> 0:08:37.200 How much their father loved Joseph. They didn't know what 0:08:37.200 --> 0:08:40.280 they're gonna tell him. They decided to kill a goat. 0:08:41.040 --> 0:08:44.720 They took the blood and smeared it all over Joseph's robe, 0:08:44.960 --> 0:08:47.439 so it looked like he had been harmed. They went 0:08:47.480 --> 0:08:51.680 back their father, Dad. We found this robe, isn't it Joseph's. 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:55.320 Jacob took it and said, in disbelief, yes, it is. 0:08:55.960 --> 0:08:58.280 A wild animal must have attacked. 0:08:57.880 --> 0:08:59.400 Him and torn him to pieces. 0:09:00.200 --> 0:09:03.760 Verse thirty four says Jacob tore his clothes and put 0:09:03.800 --> 0:09:08.080 on syclaw. He mourned deeply for his son. His family 0:09:08.160 --> 0:09:11.679 tried to comfort him, but it was no use. He said, 0:09:11.679 --> 0:09:15.920 I will die in mourning for my son. So heartbroken, 0:09:16.400 --> 0:09:20.160 so desponded, he didn't think he could go on. Was 0:09:20.200 --> 0:09:23.560 not only losing his son, but it was also losing 0:09:23.640 --> 0:09:28.960 the promise that Joseph represented. Jacob believed that Joseph was 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:32.880 destined to bring about what God told Abraham that their 0:09:32.960 --> 0:09:36.400 seed would be blessed for generations. Now it looked like 0:09:36.800 --> 0:09:41.360 the dream was dead. The promise was over. Jacob had 0:09:41.360 --> 0:09:45.720 the evidence of bloody robe. I can imagine that robe 0:09:45.720 --> 0:09:48.640 over in the corner of his room. He knows he 0:09:48.720 --> 0:09:51.880 needs to move on, but he can't get rid of it. 0:09:51.880 --> 0:09:54.920 It's too painful, and month after month it goes over, 0:09:55.320 --> 0:09:58.720 mourns and weeps God, why did this happen? We all 0:09:58.800 --> 0:10:01.720 have times where it looks like something has died in 0:10:01.760 --> 0:10:06.160 our life. Dream has died, relationship is over, in our health, 0:10:06.520 --> 0:10:09.920 our finances, what we were believing for didn't work out. 0:10:10.960 --> 0:10:13.199 Like Jacob, it's easy to get stuck. 0:10:12.920 --> 0:10:16.760 In mourning thinking that God let us down, but you 0:10:16.840 --> 0:10:18.120 don't know what he's doing. 0:10:18.200 --> 0:10:19.120 Behind the scenes. 0:10:19.640 --> 0:10:22.600 It looks like it's over, but God is working in 0:10:22.720 --> 0:10:26.640 ways that you can't comprehend. Right now, things are going 0:10:26.720 --> 0:10:30.480 to happen that you didn't see coming. Trust him when 0:10:30.480 --> 0:10:34.840 you don't understand. There will be twist turns, things that 0:10:34.880 --> 0:10:35.720 don't make sense. 0:10:36.240 --> 0:10:39.160 But God knows what he's doing. He's working it all 0:10:39.240 --> 0:10:40.360 out for your good. 0:10:41.280 --> 0:10:46.240 See Joseph's brothers were mean, hateful, jealous, but the truth 0:10:46.400 --> 0:10:49.760 is they were all a part of God's plan. They 0:10:49.840 --> 0:10:52.960 had to be that way to get Joseph to Egypt. 0:10:53.559 --> 0:10:57.480 We don't like when people do us wrong, friend betrays us. 0:10:57.880 --> 0:10:59.240 We go through bad breaks. 0:11:00.040 --> 0:11:03.640 You have to realize God uses these things to move 0:11:03.720 --> 0:11:07.480 us into our purpose, not just the good breaks, not 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:10.319 just the code of many colors. We love the favor 0:11:10.440 --> 0:11:15.720 the open doors, but God also uses closed doors, disappointments 0:11:15.880 --> 0:11:20.200 people that walk away. It's all serving his plan in 0:11:20.240 --> 0:11:21.520 those difficult times. 0:11:21.880 --> 0:11:22.760 It's tempting to. 0:11:22.679 --> 0:11:27.280 Get stuck like Jacob in morning, thinking the dream is dead, 0:11:27.920 --> 0:11:31.040 the promise is over, and we have the evidence, the 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:31.880 bloody robe. 0:11:32.440 --> 0:11:34.880 But it's not over until God says it's over. 0:11:36.200 --> 0:11:39.880 Joseph was a slave in a foreign land, didn't speak 0:11:39.920 --> 0:11:43.720 the language, held against his will. It's light about put 0:11:43.800 --> 0:11:48.120 in prison, overlooked, but he kept being his best year 0:11:48.160 --> 0:11:51.959 after year, doing the right thing in a difficult situation. 0:11:53.080 --> 0:11:56.440 God will always give you the grace for every place 0:11:56.520 --> 0:11:59.640 that He takes you. You have the power to shine 0:12:00.080 --> 0:12:03.760 in every season that you find yourself in. It may 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:08.680 be winter now, gloomy, gone through loss. God has equipped 0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:12.880 you with the strength, the courage, the determination to not 0:12:13.160 --> 0:12:16.680 just drag through it, but to excel in it. You 0:12:16.760 --> 0:12:19.400 have to know your steps are being ordered in the 0:12:19.440 --> 0:12:23.120 good times and in the tough times. That God is 0:12:23.160 --> 0:12:25.440 with you when you're wearing that coat of many colors, 0:12:25.960 --> 0:12:30.439 and he's with you when you find yourself in a pit, betrayed, lonely, 0:12:31.440 --> 0:12:34.520 twenty two years had passed, and by now Jacob had 0:12:34.559 --> 0:12:38.040 accepted that his son was gone. The dream had died, 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:41.680 wasn't going to happen. There's a great famine in the land. 0:12:42.440 --> 0:12:45.760 Jacob sent his other sons, the ones that threw Joseph 0:12:45.800 --> 0:12:48.760 into a pit, to Egypt to try to buy food. 0:12:49.400 --> 0:12:52.720 If not, they couldn't survive. These brothers showed up at 0:12:52.760 --> 0:12:56.600 the palace. What they didn't know was their brother Joseph 0:12:56.960 --> 0:13:00.000 was now the Prime Minister of Egypt and in charge 0:13:00.240 --> 0:13:03.480 of all the food supply. They thought they were getting 0:13:03.559 --> 0:13:06.840 rid of him, but in fact, God was using them 0:13:07.120 --> 0:13:10.880 to move Joseph into his purpose. Those people that tried 0:13:10.920 --> 0:13:13.960 to push you down, discredit you, leave you out. 0:13:14.520 --> 0:13:18.760 Don't be bitter toward them. God uses everything, some of them. 0:13:19.160 --> 0:13:22.240 You don't like what happened, but you couldn't become who 0:13:22.280 --> 0:13:23.600 you were created. 0:13:23.160 --> 0:13:24.240 To be without them. 0:13:25.160 --> 0:13:28.240 They thought they threw you into a pit, but really 0:13:28.280 --> 0:13:29.960 they threw you into your destiny. 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:31.920 God used them. 0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:35.120 To position you for the greater things He has in store. 0:13:36.320 --> 0:13:39.960 When these brothers finally realized it was Joseph, they nearly 0:13:40.000 --> 0:13:40.600 passed out. 0:13:41.360 --> 0:13:43.679 They bowed down low before him. 0:13:44.200 --> 0:13:47.240 Years earlier Joseph was down in the pit and the 0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:50.880 brothers were up. Now Joseph was up and the brothers 0:13:50.920 --> 0:13:54.240 were down. Keep doing the right thing, and the tables 0:13:54.280 --> 0:13:57.480 will turn. You will see the plan of God unfold 0:13:57.520 --> 0:14:01.960 in your life. Vindication, promotion, an influence that could have 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:06.840 never happened without all the stops along the way. Joseph 0:14:06.960 --> 0:14:10.480 gave them food and said, in verse nine, hurry home 0:14:10.520 --> 0:14:13.120 and tell our father that God has made me the 0:14:13.160 --> 0:14:16.440 master of all of Egypt. Have him come here with 0:14:16.559 --> 0:14:19.520 all the family and the flocks and herds, and you 0:14:19.560 --> 0:14:22.520 will live by me in the best land, and I 0:14:22.560 --> 0:14:23.200 will take. 0:14:23.040 --> 0:14:25.680 Care of you. The brothers headed back home. 0:14:26.200 --> 0:14:28.840 You can imagine the excitement and what was going through 0:14:28.840 --> 0:14:33.720 their mind. The scripture says, when the jubilant brothers arrived 0:14:33.800 --> 0:14:38.320 at Jacob's home, they shouted, Joseph is alive. 0:14:38.520 --> 0:14:41.240 And in fact he's the ruler over all of Egypt. 0:14:42.400 --> 0:14:46.400 Jacob had been in mourning for twenty two years, discouraged 0:14:46.680 --> 0:14:50.200 over a dream that died, thinking the promise would never 0:14:50.280 --> 0:14:54.000 come to pass. All that time, God was working behind 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:58.720 the scenes. Things were happening that he couldn't comprehend. He 0:14:58.760 --> 0:15:01.920 had the bloody road he had the evidence that his 0:15:02.040 --> 0:15:04.760 son had been killed, but it's not what he thought. 0:15:05.040 --> 0:15:06.520 His dream was still alive. 0:15:07.800 --> 0:15:11.400 You may have promises that you've given up on dreams 0:15:11.400 --> 0:15:14.040 that look like they've died, and all the facts say 0:15:14.080 --> 0:15:15.000 it's not gonna happen. 0:15:15.520 --> 0:15:19.400 It's too late, the problem too big. You missed your chance. 0:15:19.720 --> 0:15:21.120 Can I encourage you? 0:15:21.120 --> 0:15:25.120 Your dream is still alive. What God starts, he's going 0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:29.560 to finish. Sometimes we give up, we get discouraged and 0:15:29.920 --> 0:15:31.720 let the evidence talk us out of it. 0:15:32.080 --> 0:15:33.440 But God doesn't give up. 0:15:34.520 --> 0:15:38.640 Like with Jacob, your jubilant caravan is on the way. 0:15:38.760 --> 0:15:40.120 Your time is coming. 0:15:40.520 --> 0:15:43.720 Weeping indoors for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 0:15:44.160 --> 0:15:48.800 God has some surprises for you, some twists that you 0:15:48.880 --> 0:15:49.840 didn't see coming. 0:15:50.760 --> 0:15:54.320 You thought you'd live lonely after that breakup. You've already 0:15:54.360 --> 0:15:57.640 accepted that dream is dead. No, Joseph is still alive. 0:15:58.160 --> 0:16:01.480 The right person is going to find you. You thought 0:16:01.520 --> 0:16:05.080 your health would continue going downhill, that sickness would limit 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:05.600 your life. 0:16:06.080 --> 0:16:08.800 It's not what you think. Joseph is still alive. 0:16:09.120 --> 0:16:14.080 Healing is coming, a supernatural turnaround, or that dream seems 0:16:14.120 --> 0:16:18.000 like it's over. You wanted to start your business write 0:16:18.040 --> 0:16:19.560 the book, move into. 0:16:19.320 --> 0:16:20.520 That nicer neighborhood. 0:16:21.200 --> 0:16:25.880 You tried, doors closed, you didn't have the funds. What 0:16:25.960 --> 0:16:29.800 you thought was dead is still alive. God is about 0:16:29.840 --> 0:16:33.239 to do a new thing, unexpected, uncommon. 0:16:33.520 --> 0:16:35.840 You didn't see it coming a surprise. 0:16:36.840 --> 0:16:39.600 When God told Abraham and Sarah that they were going 0:16:39.640 --> 0:16:42.400 to have a baby, they were both way too old, 0:16:42.480 --> 0:16:46.880 and logically speaking, it was impossible. But the scripture says 0:16:47.320 --> 0:16:51.680 they considered not the weakness of Abraham's body nor the 0:16:51.760 --> 0:16:56.240 deadness of Sarah's womb. Sarah's womb had been bearing for 0:16:56.400 --> 0:16:57.400 seventy years. 0:16:57.920 --> 0:17:00.400 She hadn't been able to have a baby. It was dead. 0:17:01.280 --> 0:17:04.560 They didn't deny that, but they didn't let the deadness 0:17:04.600 --> 0:17:07.680 of that wound talk them out of what God could do. 0:17:08.640 --> 0:17:12.080 They understood this principle that it's not what we think 0:17:12.359 --> 0:17:15.960 God is up to something we can't see. We all 0:17:16.040 --> 0:17:19.280 have these things that kind of look dead, like it's over. 0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:23.080 A child is too far, of course, that's sickness, too big, 0:17:23.400 --> 0:17:25.920 the dream too great, It's not possible. 0:17:26.000 --> 0:17:26.280 Now. 0:17:26.920 --> 0:17:29.880 The key is, don't focus on the deadness of what 0:17:29.960 --> 0:17:31.400 you have, focus on. 0:17:31.400 --> 0:17:35.040 The greatness of our God. He flung stars into space, 0:17:35.359 --> 0:17:39.960 He spoke worlds into existence. Nothing too difficult for him. 0:17:40.359 --> 0:17:43.720 And yes, we have situations that look impossible, but we 0:17:43.880 --> 0:17:47.520 know God can do the impossible. Even though we have 0:17:47.560 --> 0:17:51.439 a bloody coat, the evidence that looks the opposite, we 0:17:51.640 --> 0:17:53.880 dare to believe that Joseph. 0:17:53.640 --> 0:17:56.800 Is still alive, that what God promise will still come 0:17:56.840 --> 0:18:00.800 to pass. It's interesting that the brother killed the goat 0:18:00.880 --> 0:18:03.800 and put the blood on Joseph's robe. 0:18:03.920 --> 0:18:07.080 They created these circumstances to try to trick their father, 0:18:07.840 --> 0:18:11.760 deceive him into believing that Joseph was dead. That's the 0:18:11.800 --> 0:18:15.480 same way the enemy is. He'll give you circumstances that 0:18:15.600 --> 0:18:19.840 look real. All the facts may say that sickness will. 0:18:19.720 --> 0:18:20.960 End your life. 0:18:21.000 --> 0:18:23.359 The experts say you've gone as far as you can. 0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:28.800 There's been bad breaks, delays, betrayals. You have good evidence 0:18:29.200 --> 0:18:32.680 that what you've dreamed about is dead. What God promised 0:18:32.800 --> 0:18:33.639 is not possible. 0:18:33.720 --> 0:18:36.199 Now you're right where Jacob was. 0:18:36.880 --> 0:18:39.800 When you have that bloody robe, you have to realize 0:18:40.280 --> 0:18:44.280 it's not what you think. That's not a true representation 0:18:44.520 --> 0:18:48.119 of what's coming. That's the enemy trying to deceive you 0:18:48.680 --> 0:18:52.119 into giving up on what you're believing for. Don't be 0:18:52.240 --> 0:18:55.720 moved by what you see. You can't see Joseph in Egypt. 0:18:56.119 --> 0:18:59.000 You don't know that he's not only alive, but he's 0:18:59.040 --> 0:19:02.720 being promoted and put in position to save. 0:19:02.560 --> 0:19:05.480 You and your family. That's going to be better than 0:19:05.480 --> 0:19:08.560 you've imagined. I received a letter from. 0:19:08.440 --> 0:19:11.760 A woman that had been married for forty years and 0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:14.760 she found out her husband was having an affair, and 0:19:14.800 --> 0:19:17.680 he tried to make things right. They went to counseling, 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:21.720 tried therapy, but nothing helped. There was so much hurt 0:19:21.800 --> 0:19:25.880 and so much unforgiveness. They got a divorce. She never 0:19:26.000 --> 0:19:29.480 imagined that her life would turn out this way. She's 0:19:29.480 --> 0:19:34.480 so heartbroken. She had this bloody robe, this evidence her 0:19:34.520 --> 0:19:35.480 marriage was over. 0:19:36.359 --> 0:19:39.520 A friend invited her to Lakewood. She told her. 0:19:39.440 --> 0:19:42.280 Ex husband and he asked if he could come too. 0:19:42.800 --> 0:19:43.639 That Saturday. 0:19:43.840 --> 0:19:47.400 The day before, they had a big argument on the phone. 0:19:47.640 --> 0:19:48.720 Nothing had changed. 0:19:49.400 --> 0:19:52.040 Picked her up Sunday morning on the way to church, 0:19:52.080 --> 0:19:53.480 they had another big argument. 0:19:53.800 --> 0:19:55.080 She almost got out of the car. 0:19:56.000 --> 0:19:57.879 They walked in the building and were going to sit 0:19:58.000 --> 0:20:00.400 up top, and they told an usher it was their 0:20:00.400 --> 0:20:03.280 first time. He said, follow me, and he took them 0:20:03.320 --> 0:20:05.840 down to the second row, right up front, and they're 0:20:05.920 --> 0:20:09.200 very moved by the service. When it was over, they 0:20:09.200 --> 0:20:12.399 were walking out this side entrance by the platform, and 0:20:13.119 --> 0:20:15.639 I came out of a small room right when she 0:20:15.760 --> 0:20:18.560 was coming around the corner, and we literally bumped into 0:20:18.600 --> 0:20:21.720 each other. I kind of laughed as I'm so sorry. 0:20:22.240 --> 0:20:26.000 Her husband said, we came to church today because we're hurting. 0:20:26.760 --> 0:20:29.840 We just got divorced after forty seven years. And I 0:20:29.880 --> 0:20:33.560 could see tears well enough in his eyes. I told 0:20:33.560 --> 0:20:36.840 them how God is a god of restoration, and how 0:20:36.880 --> 0:20:39.320 it's not over until God says it's over. 0:20:40.160 --> 0:20:41.720 I don't know why I'm crying. It wasn't me, but 0:20:43.840 --> 0:20:46.000 all the evidence said that they were done. 0:20:46.320 --> 0:20:48.919 Unfaithful can't forgive division. 0:20:49.520 --> 0:20:52.520 But what they didn't know was Joseph was still alive. 0:20:53.119 --> 0:20:56.439 They had the bloody row, the circumstances it said it 0:20:56.520 --> 0:21:00.320 was over. But God knows how to breathe life into 0:21:00.400 --> 0:21:04.360 your dreams, and freshness into your marriage, and passion into 0:21:04.400 --> 0:21:08.399 your spirit. Don't let the road fool you. God is 0:21:08.440 --> 0:21:12.000 working behind the scenes. What are the chances that we 0:21:12.040 --> 0:21:14.400 would bump into each other? You know, thousands of people 0:21:14.520 --> 0:21:18.560 leaving the building, But God was ordering their steps, bringing 0:21:18.640 --> 0:21:23.160 into alignment what he had purposed. We prayed together that day. 0:21:23.760 --> 0:21:28.200 Chains of unforgiveness were broken in their mind, strongholds came 0:21:28.240 --> 0:21:32.800 off their spirit. God began to restore the love, the passion, 0:21:32.920 --> 0:21:36.760 the joy. A few months later they got remarried. They 0:21:36.800 --> 0:21:39.960 became some of our great volunteers. That was over fifteen 0:21:40.040 --> 0:21:44.359 years ago. Today their marriage is stronger than ever. Is 0:21:44.400 --> 0:21:48.960 there something in your life that looks dead? Something God 0:21:49.000 --> 0:21:50.719 promised you but you've given up on. 0:21:51.200 --> 0:21:55.520 It's too late. You've been too hurt, made too many mistakes. 0:21:56.119 --> 0:21:59.679 You have that bloody row all the earth. Circumstances say 0:21:59.720 --> 0:22:02.640 it's not going to happen. What if you knew that 0:22:02.760 --> 0:22:05.360 robe wasn't the truth, that it. 0:22:05.400 --> 0:22:09.280 Was all trying to deceive you into living discouraged, bitter 0:22:09.320 --> 0:22:12.479 over what didn't work out, thinking that you missed your chance, 0:22:13.040 --> 0:22:15.280 when in fact, Joseph is still alive. 0:22:15.920 --> 0:22:18.560 What God promised you is still going to happen. 0:22:19.440 --> 0:22:23.320 When Jacob heard about Joseph, the scripture says, the spirit 0:22:23.440 --> 0:22:30.119 of Jacob revived twenty two years. Jacob was in mourning, doubting, defeated, 0:22:30.480 --> 0:22:32.720 not knowing his son was alive in Egypt. 0:22:33.359 --> 0:22:35.600 Don't be like him, don't. 0:22:35.320 --> 0:22:39.760 Go years upset over what hasn't happened, and discourage over 0:22:39.800 --> 0:22:42.399 who hurts you thinking that your dream is dead. 0:22:42.840 --> 0:22:44.040 It's not what you think. 0:22:44.760 --> 0:22:48.480 Get your passion back, get your fire back. Faith is 0:22:48.520 --> 0:22:52.320 the evidence of things not seen. Quit focusing on what 0:22:52.359 --> 0:22:53.440 you can see. 0:22:53.680 --> 0:22:56.159 Get rid of that bloody robe. It's not telling you 0:22:56.240 --> 0:22:58.480 the truth. The lives that say. 0:22:58.280 --> 0:23:02.480 You'll never get well, break the addiction your marriage is done. 0:23:02.760 --> 0:23:06.159 No, God is still working. He has some surprises come 0:23:06.200 --> 0:23:07.040 in your way. 0:23:07.280 --> 0:23:12.320 Some twist where suddenly doors open, suddenly problems turn around, 0:23:12.720 --> 0:23:16.440 where Joseph shows up. You say, like Jacob, my son 0:23:16.520 --> 0:23:19.879 is still alive. That means I'm gonna get healthy again. 0:23:20.320 --> 0:23:24.080 I'm gonna see my children excelling, my marriage is gonna flourish. 0:23:24.320 --> 0:23:27.920 I'm gonna reach my highest potential. It was a young 0:23:27.960 --> 0:23:31.280 woman named Sarah. She went to the grocery store to 0:23:31.320 --> 0:23:33.760 pick up a few items, and when she got back 0:23:33.760 --> 0:23:36.800 in her car and sat in the driver's seat, she 0:23:36.920 --> 0:23:40.040 heard a loud noise and felt something hit the back 0:23:40.080 --> 0:23:44.040 of her head. She thought she'd been shot. She reached 0:23:44.119 --> 0:23:45.880 up and felt what seemed. 0:23:45.520 --> 0:23:48.960 Like her brain's coming out. She initially passed out. 0:23:49.680 --> 0:23:52.520 When she woke up, she sat there emotionless for over 0:23:52.560 --> 0:23:55.680 an hour, holding the back of her head, trying to 0:23:55.760 --> 0:23:56.639 keep her brains in. 0:23:57.680 --> 0:24:01.919 Men walk by, I noticed something was wrong. Called the police. 0:24:01.960 --> 0:24:04.760 Showed up and asked her to open the door, but 0:24:04.880 --> 0:24:08.000 she said she couldn't because she had been shot and 0:24:08.160 --> 0:24:11.359 was holding her brains in. They broke the window open 0:24:11.680 --> 0:24:16.760 and discovered a can of Pillsbury biscuits had exploded. The 0:24:16.920 --> 0:24:19.920 doe had shot out and hit the back of her head. 0:24:21.200 --> 0:24:22.880 The enemy always. 0:24:22.600 --> 0:24:24.879 Tells you the worst case scenarios. 0:24:26.000 --> 0:24:30.320 Can I encourage you? It's not what you think. I 0:24:30.359 --> 0:24:32.199 have to wonder if she was blown. But let's not 0:24:32.280 --> 0:24:36.920 go there. That bloody robe says that Joseph is dead. 0:24:37.480 --> 0:24:38.639 It's not what you think. 0:24:39.560 --> 0:24:42.399 That door that closed looked like your dream died. 0:24:42.720 --> 0:24:43.760 It's not what you think. 0:24:44.600 --> 0:24:47.960 That person that walked away thoughts tell you you'll always 0:24:48.000 --> 0:24:48.560 be lonely. 0:24:48.760 --> 0:24:49.879 It's not what you think. 0:24:50.640 --> 0:24:54.040 That medical report says it's all downhill from here. No 0:24:54.200 --> 0:24:58.080 God is working in your life right now. Nothing can 0:24:58.160 --> 0:25:01.600 override his plan. And yes, there will be things we 0:25:01.640 --> 0:25:05.960 don't understand, seasons of silence where we don't see things 0:25:06.000 --> 0:25:09.640 working out. That's when you have to trust him, not 0:25:09.720 --> 0:25:12.320 be moved by what you don't see, be moved by 0:25:12.320 --> 0:25:15.440 what you know that God is faithful, that he has 0:25:15.480 --> 0:25:18.840 not brought you this far to leave you. But jo Man, 0:25:18.880 --> 0:25:22.359 I got the bloody rob medical reports not good. I 0:25:22.359 --> 0:25:24.600 didn't get the scholarship, my finances. 0:25:24.920 --> 0:25:25.800 Stay in peace. 0:25:26.200 --> 0:25:30.440 Your dream is not dead. God didn't run out of options. 0:25:30.760 --> 0:25:31.960 He's not in heaven. 0:25:31.720 --> 0:25:34.600 Scratching his head. Thing. Oh man, they threw Joseph into 0:25:34.640 --> 0:25:36.600 a pit. They ruined my plan. 0:25:37.440 --> 0:25:40.920 God knew everything that was going to happen. He's already 0:25:40.960 --> 0:25:42.439 lined up what you need. 0:25:42.920 --> 0:25:45.800 Here's the key. It's in the unseen realm. 0:25:46.080 --> 0:25:49.359 There's no evidence of it right now. May look just 0:25:49.440 --> 0:25:50.159 the opposite. 0:25:50.320 --> 0:25:50.919 Don't worry. 0:25:51.119 --> 0:25:55.440 A twist is coming a surprise. Joseph is still alive. 0:25:56.000 --> 0:25:59.080 God is still going to bring to past what he promised. 0:26:00.160 --> 0:26:03.600 Like Abraham and Sarah, don't focus on the deadness of 0:26:03.640 --> 0:26:06.760 what you have. Quit believe in the lies. It's over, 0:26:07.040 --> 0:26:09.399 it's too late. All the facts say it's not going 0:26:09.480 --> 0:26:13.040 to happen. Well, I believe and declare. What you thought 0:26:13.200 --> 0:26:16.320 was dead is about to show up. Dreams coming back 0:26:16.359 --> 0:26:22.080 to life, relationships restored hell, turning around, children back on course. 0:26:22.560 --> 0:26:25.800 Like Jacob, your spirit is going to be revived as 0:26:25.840 --> 0:26:29.440 you see the greatness of our God in Jesus' name. 0:26:30.119 --> 0:26:34.320 If you receive it, can you say amen? I'd like 0:26:34.400 --> 0:26:35.040 to give you an. 0:26:34.960 --> 0:26:37.960 Opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:26:38.160 --> 0:26:41.879 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:26:42.000 --> 0:26:46.080 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:26:46.160 --> 0:26:47.720 you my Lord and savior. 0:26:48.520 --> 0:26:50.840 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:26:50.880 --> 0:26:53.879 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:26:54.040 --> 0:26:54.560 on your. 0:26:54.480 --> 0:26:56.920 New walk with the Lord. You can text the number 0:26:57.000 --> 0:26:59.200 on the screen or go to the website. 0:26:59.440 --> 0:27:01.920 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:02.040 --> 0:27:04.439 church and keep God first place. 0:27:05.760 --> 0:27:08.639 We all carry a mental picture of what our life 0:27:08.680 --> 0:27:14.879 can be. Is yours limited? Do you picture yourself stuck? Inadequate, defeated? 0:27:15.280 --> 0:27:17.919 Are you willing to change your mindset in order to 0:27:18.040 --> 0:27:20.520 experience a life of blessing and abundance. 0:27:21.040 --> 0:27:23.720 We all have a picture in our mind of ourself, 0:27:24.080 --> 0:27:27.720 our family, our future. And if that picture is negative, 0:27:28.119 --> 0:27:31.320 you see yourself at a disadvantage. Your problem's too big, 0:27:31.520 --> 0:27:35.760 it's gonna limit your life. A new book, The Abundance Mindset, 0:27:35.920 --> 0:27:36.520 will help. 0:27:36.359 --> 0:27:37.760 You see yourself the right way. 0:27:38.200 --> 0:27:43.160 If you'll change those negative pictures, start seeing yourself blessed, healthy, 0:27:43.480 --> 0:27:47.199 rising high, or accomplishing dreams, then things will begin to 0:27:47.240 --> 0:27:49.679 shift in your favor. You have to see it on 0:27:49.720 --> 0:27:52.920 the inside before it'll come to pass on the outside. 0:27:53.320 --> 0:27:56.520 We'll send you the Mindset Journal too. These tools will 0:27:56.520 --> 0:27:58.919 help you get your inner vision in the right place 0:27:59.280 --> 0:28:02.240 so you can move into the favor and blessing that 0:28:02.320 --> 0:28:03.159 God has for you. 0:28:04.119 --> 0:28:06.440 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:06.480 --> 0:28:09.000 of any amount this month, we would like to send 0:28:09.040 --> 0:28:12.720 you a copy of Joel's book The Abundance Mindset and 0:28:12.800 --> 0:28:17.720 this inspiring Mindset Journal. Joel shares powerful scriptures and encouraging 0:28:17.800 --> 0:28:21.120 thoughts about how to move from fairly enough to more 0:28:21.160 --> 0:28:25.000 than enough, how to be someone else's miracle and experience 0:28:25.119 --> 0:28:28.000 miracles in your own life. As you make the book 0:28:28.040 --> 0:28:30.800 and journal a part of your daily walk, you'll be 0:28:30.920 --> 0:28:34.240 built up every day regarding how to tap into God's 0:28:34.280 --> 0:28:37.679 favor and blessing, how not to talk yourself out of 0:28:37.720 --> 0:28:40.960 the dreams and opportunities He has already prepared for you, 0:28:41.440 --> 0:28:45.600 how to experience life to the fullest. Request your copies today, 0:28:45.840 --> 0:28:48.720 and begin to see a new mental picture of yourself 0:28:48.880 --> 0:28:52.760 that will lead to new measures of blessing, favor, promotion, 0:28:53.120 --> 0:28:53.920 and abundance. 0:28:54.480 --> 0:28:57.800 Let's go into twenty twenty five with an abundant mindset. 0:28:58.200 --> 0:29:00.320 I'll believe you're going to see the goodness of God 0:29:00.440 --> 0:29:03.040 in new ways. Victoria and I want you to know 0:29:03.120 --> 0:29:05.880 we pray for you and your family every day for 0:29:06.000 --> 0:29:08.840 God's very best. We want to thank you for your 0:29:08.880 --> 0:29:12.800 prayer and support. You are impacting people all over the world. 0:29:13.280 --> 0:29:15.920 A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners 0:29:16.000 --> 0:29:18.880 for your monthly support. If you're not a partner, I 0:29:18.920 --> 0:29:22.320 hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember you can watch the 0:29:22.400 --> 0:29:27.480 services online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, listen 0:29:27.560 --> 0:29:29.520 on Serious Exam. 0:29:29.200 --> 0:29:30.320 Watch on YouTube. 0:29:30.720 --> 0:29:34.400 Also the new Joel Ostein Network streaming on television twenty 0:29:34.440 --> 0:29:35.440 four hours a day. 0:29:36.080 --> 0:29:38.640 Until we see you again, May the Lord bless you 0:29:38.760 --> 0:29:39.400 and keep you. 0:29:40.240 --> 0:29:43.520 Be sure to request your copy of the Abundance Mindset 0:29:43.520 --> 0:29:48.120 Book and Mindset Journal today. Visit Joelostin dot com or 0:29:48.280 --> 0:29:51.800 call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for an 0:29:51.800 --> 0:29:55.560 additional donation. This month, we are also offering His Goodness 0:29:55.760 --> 0:29:59.920 Abundance Bowl. You can request this inspiring resource by calling 0:30:00.200 --> 0:30:03.520 eight eight eight five six seven Joel. We're logging on 0:30:03.680 --> 0:30:05.760 to jolosteam dot com today. 0:30:06.400 --> 0:30:09.920 If you've never been to Lakewood, we have a great opportunity. 0:30:10.200 --> 0:30:13.760 We called it Homecoming Weekend. We love to meet you 0:30:13.840 --> 0:30:17.160 and your family. You can see the building and attend 0:30:17.200 --> 0:30:19.920 one of the services. It's a great time to be 0:30:20.040 --> 0:30:22.360 a part of the Lakewood family. Looking forward to seeing 0:30:22.400 --> 0:30:24.080 you Homecoming Weekend.