Let The Party Begin

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:06.360 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:09.040 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:09.080 --> 0:00:11.760 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:00:11.800 --> 0:00:14.920 for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 0:00:15.040 --> 0:00:17.560 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:17.600 --> 0:00:19.959 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:20.040 --> 0:00:24.000 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and you can come visit 0:00:24.120 --> 0:00:26.479 us in person. We'd love to have you be a 0:00:26.520 --> 0:00:29.160 part of one of our services. Now, let's just start 0:00:29.360 --> 0:00:33.000 something funny. And I heard about this kindergarten teacher. She 0:00:33.200 --> 0:00:36.400 was trying to explain to her students about self esteem. 0:00:36.880 --> 0:00:40.200 She said to her class, anyone who feels like you're dumb, 0:00:40.440 --> 0:00:43.800 please stand up. She didn't think anybody would stand. She'd 0:00:43.800 --> 0:00:46.440 make the point how no one is dumb. But about 0:00:46.440 --> 0:00:49.720 that time little Johnny stood up. She thought, oh no, 0:00:49.760 --> 0:00:52.440 Now what am I gonna do? She said, Now, Johnny, 0:00:52.479 --> 0:00:55.400 do you really feel like you're dumb? He said no, ma'am. 0:00:55.640 --> 0:00:58.200 I just hate to see you standing there all by yourself. 0:00:59.400 --> 0:01:01.040 All right, guy, I say it like you mean it. 0:01:01.440 --> 0:01:04.320 This is my Bible I am what it says I am. 0:01:04.720 --> 0:01:07.120 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:07.200 --> 0:01:09.760 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:09.840 --> 0:01:13.560 taught the word of God. I'll boldly confess my mind 0:01:13.680 --> 0:01:16.840 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:16.920 --> 0:01:21.759 the same. In Jesus's name, God bless you. I want 0:01:21.760 --> 0:01:24.440 to talk to you today about let the party begin. 0:01:25.800 --> 0:01:29.080 We all have times of waiting where we don't see 0:01:29.080 --> 0:01:32.960 anything happening, and the medical report hasn't improved, and our 0:01:33.080 --> 0:01:36.200 child is still off course. Well, we've made mistakes and 0:01:36.319 --> 0:01:40.160 missed opportunities, and all the circumstances say it's too late now, 0:01:40.280 --> 0:01:43.800 it's never going to happen. But God has not forgotten 0:01:43.840 --> 0:01:47.560 about you. What He promised is already on the schedule. 0:01:48.400 --> 0:01:51.920 Just because you don't see anything happening doesn't mean God 0:01:52.000 --> 0:01:56.640 is not working behind the scenes. God is arranging things 0:01:56.680 --> 0:02:00.040 in your favor, lining up the breaks you need, the 0:02:00.080 --> 0:02:03.160 doors to open. He's moving the wrong people out of 0:02:03.200 --> 0:02:06.600 the way. If you'll stay in faith, you'll come into 0:02:06.640 --> 0:02:11.000 a destiny moment something God has already prepared where you 0:02:11.000 --> 0:02:15.720 will see breakthroughs, healing, promotion. Don't believe those lies that 0:02:16.040 --> 0:02:19.640 the problem's too big, the sickness too great. The mistake 0:02:19.760 --> 0:02:23.679 stopped your destiny. God knew everything that would happen to you. 0:02:24.440 --> 0:02:27.720 Nothing has caught him off guard. You had a set back. 0:02:28.040 --> 0:02:31.480 He's already planned you'll come back. You made a mistake. 0:02:31.919 --> 0:02:35.840 His mercy is new every morning that contract fell through. 0:02:36.160 --> 0:02:38.639 He has a coin in the fish's mouth, like he 0:02:38.720 --> 0:02:41.079 did for Peter, a way to make up for it. 0:02:41.680 --> 0:02:43.960 You're not going to just come out barely making it. 0:02:44.360 --> 0:02:47.320 This is going to be a celebration. God has a 0:02:47.360 --> 0:02:51.280 party plan for you where he turns mourning into dancing, 0:02:51.880 --> 0:02:56.680 sickness into hell, lack into abundance, loss into new beginnings. 0:02:57.440 --> 0:03:00.880 You may be struggling now, but God is faith. There 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:03.880 will be a time where he says, let the party begin. 0:03:04.919 --> 0:03:07.520 Jesus told a parable about a young man that asked 0:03:07.560 --> 0:03:10.600 his father for his inheritance early and took the money, 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:14.280 left home and went out living wild man, wasting it 0:03:14.560 --> 0:03:17.679 making poor decisions. Wasn't long till the money read out. 0:03:18.160 --> 0:03:21.520 Couldn't pay his rent, didn't have money for food. The 0:03:21.600 --> 0:03:24.280 only job he could find was working in a hog pen, 0:03:24.639 --> 0:03:28.120 taking care of hogs. He got so desperate he had 0:03:28.160 --> 0:03:31.680 to eat the hog food to survive wasn't anybody's fault 0:03:31.720 --> 0:03:34.520 except his own. He could have stayed at home, worked 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.480 in the family business, had a nice place to live, 0:03:37.600 --> 0:03:41.400 a family that loved him. But he let his carnal nature, 0:03:41.840 --> 0:03:45.200 his flesh, rule him. Now he was ashamed and down 0:03:45.240 --> 0:03:49.320 on himself, dirty and smelly and sitting in the hogpen. 0:03:49.840 --> 0:03:53.520 Every thought said, you have no future now you've blown it. 0:03:53.880 --> 0:03:57.560 No one will ever respect you again. When you make mistakes, 0:03:58.000 --> 0:04:01.040 the enemy will work over time to push you down. 0:04:01.640 --> 0:04:05.760 He's called the accuser. He'll remind you how you should 0:04:05.800 --> 0:04:09.880 have done better, and you blew that relationship. You're so undisciplined. 0:04:10.560 --> 0:04:13.000 If you're going to see God restore you, you have 0:04:13.040 --> 0:04:17.000 to tune out all the condemning thoughts. God's mercy is 0:04:17.080 --> 0:04:20.599 bigger than any mistakes you've made, and what you did 0:04:21.040 --> 0:04:24.880 did not cancel your destiny. It did not stop your purpose. 0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:28.279 You have to get back in the game. You wouldn't 0:04:28.279 --> 0:04:32.000 be hearing this if God didn't have another chance. Don't 0:04:32.000 --> 0:04:35.720 stay in that hogpen because you think you're unworthy. You've 0:04:35.760 --> 0:04:39.320 blown it. God is ready to restore you, but you 0:04:39.440 --> 0:04:41.839 have to make a move. When you take a step 0:04:41.880 --> 0:04:46.120 toward God, He'll come running towards you. After months of 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:50.400 sitting in the hogpen, guilty and ashamed, the scripture says 0:04:50.880 --> 0:04:54.479 this young man came to himself and said, I will 0:04:54.520 --> 0:04:58.040 arise and go to my father's house. You have to 0:04:58.040 --> 0:05:01.360 come to yourself. You have to come back to who 0:05:01.400 --> 0:05:06.400 God says you are. Not all the lies, unworthy, inferior, 0:05:06.720 --> 0:05:13.720 not good enough. No, come to your true self, worthy forgiving, valuable, talented, 0:05:14.080 --> 0:05:19.960 a masterpiece. What's a masterpiece doing in a hogpen? What's 0:05:20.000 --> 0:05:24.400 a child of the most tie doing? Living defeated, compromise, 0:05:24.520 --> 0:05:27.680 feeding the flesh. That's not who you are. He came 0:05:27.720 --> 0:05:30.520 to himself said I'm a rise and go to my 0:05:30.600 --> 0:05:35.520 father's house. That's the decision that changed his destiny. Without 0:05:35.600 --> 0:05:38.240 him making a move, we wouldn't be reading about him. 0:05:38.880 --> 0:05:42.279 Without him saying I'm better than this. I'm not made 0:05:42.320 --> 0:05:47.160 to live in a hogpen, defeated, dirty, nothing would have changed. 0:05:47.720 --> 0:05:52.599 Maybe you're where he was, off course, not making good decisions, 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:55.680 trying to hide things that are pulling you down. Don't 0:05:55.680 --> 0:05:59.839 stay in the hogpen. Make that decision. I'm gonna arise, 0:06:00.560 --> 0:06:03.200 I'm gonna go back to my father's house. I'm gonna 0:06:03.240 --> 0:06:07.080 get back in church. I'm gonna be faithful in my relationships. 0:06:07.480 --> 0:06:10.160 I'm gonna be my best at work. I'm gonna start 0:06:10.200 --> 0:06:14.800 pursuing my dreams again. Get your fire back. When you arise, 0:06:15.240 --> 0:06:19.200 supernatural things begin to happen. The son started back on 0:06:19.279 --> 0:06:21.839 his journey home, and the whole time he was nervous, 0:06:21.880 --> 0:06:24.320 and he was sure his father's gonna be angry and 0:06:24.760 --> 0:06:27.839 upset and probably tell him stay off the property. I 0:06:27.839 --> 0:06:30.719 don't wanna see you again. You've embarrassed our family name. 0:06:31.200 --> 0:06:35.440 He already had his speech prepared. Dad, I know I'm unworthy. 0:06:36.000 --> 0:06:38.960 I don't deserve to be called your son anymore. Just 0:06:39.080 --> 0:06:41.560 let me live here as a hired servant with the 0:06:41.640 --> 0:06:46.760 other employees. Closer, he got more uptide. He was finally 0:06:46.800 --> 0:06:49.160 made it to the neighborhood and he looked way off 0:06:49.160 --> 0:06:51.440 in the distance and he could see someone at the 0:06:51.560 --> 0:06:54.240 edge of his property and got a little closer and 0:06:54.360 --> 0:06:58.160 realized it was his father. The father took off running 0:06:58.200 --> 0:07:02.039 toward the son. He grabbed it, hugged him and kissed him, 0:07:02.080 --> 0:07:05.720 so excited that his son was back home. Every day 0:07:05.760 --> 0:07:09.280 he'd been out on the driveway hoping and believing finally 0:07:09.320 --> 0:07:12.400 had come to pass well, The son started into his 0:07:12.440 --> 0:07:16.679 big speech, had up blown it. I'm ashamed, I'm not worthy. 0:07:17.200 --> 0:07:20.760 The father wouldn't hear it. He interrupted him, said to 0:07:20.800 --> 0:07:24.040 the staff, quick, go get the best robe and put 0:07:24.040 --> 0:07:27.480 it on my son. Get the family ring for his finger, 0:07:27.960 --> 0:07:31.160 the shoes for his feet, and kill the calf that 0:07:31.200 --> 0:07:35.160 we've been fattening. We must celebrate from My son was lost, 0:07:35.360 --> 0:07:38.760 but now he's found. The next verse says, so the 0:07:38.800 --> 0:07:45.480 party began. There was music, dancing, great joy, laughter. But 0:07:45.560 --> 0:07:49.200 this son sitting in the hog pen, he never imagined 0:07:49.240 --> 0:07:51.920 that one day there would be a party for him. 0:07:52.240 --> 0:07:55.560 He never dreamed one day he'd be restored and be 0:07:55.680 --> 0:07:58.520 with his family and have his position of honor back. 0:07:59.080 --> 0:08:02.400 Every thought told him they're done with you. You blew it. 0:08:02.480 --> 0:08:06.160 You'll never be happy. It was just the opposite. That 0:08:06.320 --> 0:08:10.680 whole time the father was planning a party. Every day 0:08:10.720 --> 0:08:13.760 he had them feed the calf because he knew one 0:08:13.840 --> 0:08:17.040 day his son would be home. Every day they polished 0:08:17.040 --> 0:08:20.960 the ring, they shined the shoes, they ironed the robe. 0:08:21.360 --> 0:08:24.200 This father didn't just throw the party together all of 0:08:24.240 --> 0:08:28.360 a sudden. He had been preparing long before knowing that 0:08:28.440 --> 0:08:32.960 his son would return the promises. You're standing on the healing, 0:08:33.160 --> 0:08:37.240 the freedom, the restoration may look like it'll never happen. 0:08:37.880 --> 0:08:41.320 All the circumstances say just the opposite. But what you 0:08:41.480 --> 0:08:45.720 can't see is God has already planning your party. He's 0:08:45.760 --> 0:08:50.239 fattening the calf, he's polishing the ring, he's ironing the robe. 0:08:50.440 --> 0:08:54.280 He sees you standing in faate, believing when you could 0:08:54.320 --> 0:08:58.400 be doubting, and praising, when you could be complaining, arising, 0:08:58.640 --> 0:09:01.880 when you could be sitting in defeat. You're gonna come 0:09:01.880 --> 0:09:05.280 into that moment where God says, let the party begin. 0:09:05.920 --> 0:09:09.200 There's gonna be a celebration like this son that you 0:09:09.240 --> 0:09:13.440 didn't see coming. That's better than you fought. Not just 0:09:13.559 --> 0:09:16.400 come out of the difficulty, but how about come out better. 0:09:17.200 --> 0:09:21.120 Not just survive the sickness, but come out healthier, stronger 0:09:21.160 --> 0:09:25.319 than before. Not just outlast the trouble, but see double 0:09:25.840 --> 0:09:29.120 where God pays you back. Friends. God knows how to 0:09:29.160 --> 0:09:32.960 throw a party, He knows how to celebrate. See, the 0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:36.280 father could have just received the young man back home. 0:09:36.320 --> 0:09:38.920 All right, I'm gonna forgive him, let him back in. 0:09:39.200 --> 0:09:41.720 That would be good. But look at how God works 0:09:41.840 --> 0:09:45.960 we're gonna celebrate. I need the best road. I need 0:09:45.960 --> 0:09:50.000 the family ring that represents authority. I need the fatted calf, 0:09:50.440 --> 0:09:53.960 the calf we've been feeding in preparation for this moment. 0:09:54.640 --> 0:09:57.720 I need those shoes we've been polishing. I need the 0:09:57.800 --> 0:10:00.880 ring I've set aside for my son's return. What am 0:10:00.920 --> 0:10:04.679 I saying? The things that you're concerned about? Now? God 0:10:04.760 --> 0:10:08.800 is already working on He doesn't just suddenly justid oh, yeah, man, 0:10:08.840 --> 0:10:11.800 I got to help them. No, he's been working behind 0:10:11.880 --> 0:10:15.760 the scenes, doing things that you can't see. He's already 0:10:15.840 --> 0:10:19.400 scheduled your party. What he has planned is going to 0:10:19.440 --> 0:10:22.840 be better than you think, bigger than you expect, more 0:10:22.920 --> 0:10:27.320 fulfilling than you've imagined. Many of you, you've been faithful. 0:10:27.559 --> 0:10:31.199 I've seen you stand strong against the sickness. You fought 0:10:31.200 --> 0:10:34.440 that addiction the best you could. You've endured trouble with 0:10:34.480 --> 0:10:37.440 a good attitude, or prayed for that wayward child year 0:10:37.480 --> 0:10:41.640 after year. You're about to see a breakthrough, a turnaround, 0:10:41.920 --> 0:10:45.960 the healing, the freedom, the provision where God says, let 0:10:46.040 --> 0:10:50.840 the party begin, Open the floodgates of heaven, release the favor, 0:10:51.320 --> 0:10:55.439 the abundance, the connections, that I've already prepare. Hey, go 0:10:55.480 --> 0:10:58.840 get that calf that I've been fattening for my son's return. 0:10:59.280 --> 0:11:02.680 Get that that I've been preparing for my child, Get 0:11:02.679 --> 0:11:05.760 that business that I've been polishing, that house that I've 0:11:05.760 --> 0:11:10.000 been shining, Get that freedom that I've been saving. Yes, 0:11:10.080 --> 0:11:12.920 it's been hard, we've been may endure for a night, 0:11:13.120 --> 0:11:16.000 but joy is coming in the morning. There's a party 0:11:16.080 --> 0:11:20.920 time where morning is turned to jay, from bearing to 0:11:21.000 --> 0:11:25.000 having a baby, from not enough to overflow, from lonely 0:11:25.040 --> 0:11:29.839 to great relationships, from defeat to dancing. You may be 0:11:29.920 --> 0:11:32.319 in a difficult place now, and you know those thoughts 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:34.400 will tell you it's always going to be this way. 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:38.120 Now keep this down in your spirit. Your party is coming, 0:11:38.760 --> 0:11:42.480 Your breakthrough is scheduled, Your robe is ready, your ring 0:11:42.559 --> 0:11:46.680 is waiting. The father is watching down the road. He 0:11:46.840 --> 0:11:50.320 sees you doing the right thing when it's hard, going 0:11:50.400 --> 0:11:54.760 the extra mile, when nobody gives you credit, enduring the disrespect, 0:11:55.240 --> 0:11:58.119 and you don't try to get even doors are closed, 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:02.520 You've had delays, but you're you're still believing, You're still hoping. 0:12:02.880 --> 0:12:07.080 God sees your standing strong. He's about to say, let 0:12:07.120 --> 0:12:11.079 your party begin. Your time is coming. You're closer than 0:12:11.120 --> 0:12:14.320 you think. You're going to come into a destiny moment 0:12:14.520 --> 0:12:17.880 where God supersedes what you have in mind, where there 0:12:17.920 --> 0:12:22.920 will be great joy, great laughter, celebrating the goodness of God. 0:12:23.880 --> 0:12:26.360 When we were trying to acquire this place, the former 0:12:26.440 --> 0:12:30.800 Compact Center, the company that owned all the property around here, 0:12:31.000 --> 0:12:35.040 thirteen high rises, they wanted it. They were the largest 0:12:35.080 --> 0:12:38.640 tax payer in Texas, had a lot of clout and influence. 0:12:39.240 --> 0:12:43.000 Was David versus Goliath. We met with council members and 0:12:43.440 --> 0:12:45.640 tried to convince them to be for us. It was 0:12:45.679 --> 0:12:48.920 owned by the city. We needed ten votes for it 0:12:49.000 --> 0:12:53.240 to pass, and we worked tirelessly trying to persuade them 0:12:53.320 --> 0:12:55.600 that we'd be good for the city and here's why 0:12:55.640 --> 0:12:58.160 you should do it. After a year and a half, 0:12:58.200 --> 0:13:01.600 we finally had the ten we needed. I was so relieved. 0:13:02.280 --> 0:13:05.160 But two days before the vote, one of the council 0:13:05.200 --> 0:13:07.959 members changed their mind. He had so much pressure from 0:13:07.960 --> 0:13:10.360 the other side. He decided to be out of town, 0:13:10.400 --> 0:13:13.800 and him not being here meant that we wouldn't have 0:13:13.880 --> 0:13:16.040 enough votes and wouldn't get the building in. We were 0:13:16.080 --> 0:13:19.400 so discouraged. After all that work and all the struggle, 0:13:19.840 --> 0:13:22.440 it seemed like it was all or naught. Well, the 0:13:22.520 --> 0:13:25.240 day before the vote, I went and met with a 0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:28.320 council member that had been against us the whole time. 0:13:28.640 --> 0:13:31.880 I'd already given him my best speech, my biggest smile, 0:13:32.559 --> 0:13:35.000 all my charm again, and get none of that work. 0:13:35.480 --> 0:13:38.320 I walked in that day not knowing what I was 0:13:38.320 --> 0:13:41.240 going to say. But before I said a word, he said, Joel, 0:13:41.559 --> 0:13:44.840 you don't need to convince me. I've already changed my mind. 0:13:44.920 --> 0:13:47.800 I'm going to vote for you, I thought, Man, am 0:13:47.880 --> 0:13:51.640 I hearing things? Am I dreaming? He went on to 0:13:51.720 --> 0:13:55.480 explain how he received a phone call the night before 0:13:55.760 --> 0:13:59.959 from an older Jewish woman, a friend of his family 0:14:00.360 --> 0:14:03.480 that he greatly respected, but he hadn't spoken to it 0:14:03.520 --> 0:14:07.319 in over twenty years. She told him, in no uncertain 0:14:07.440 --> 0:14:10.520 terms that he was to vote for Lakewood having the 0:14:10.559 --> 0:14:14.800 Compact Center. It was her call that changed his mind. 0:14:15.600 --> 0:14:18.680 I'd never met the woman. I didn't ask her to call. 0:14:18.920 --> 0:14:22.960 But God is behind the scenes preparing your party. He's 0:14:23.000 --> 0:14:27.000 fattening the calf that you've never seen. He's polishing the ring, 0:14:27.160 --> 0:14:30.000 and you haven't even met the person of your dreams yet. 0:14:30.560 --> 0:14:33.920 He's shining those shoes getting that healing ready for the 0:14:34.040 --> 0:14:37.720 right time. There will be a destiny moment where you 0:14:37.840 --> 0:14:40.720 see what God was up to, where he says, let 0:14:40.720 --> 0:14:43.960 the party begin. The next day, we were at city 0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:47.520 Hall for the main vote, myself and our team attorneys. 0:14:47.880 --> 0:14:50.600 There were about two hundred people from Lakewood in the audience. 0:14:51.160 --> 0:14:54.400 They started to vote. My heart was beating so fast. 0:14:54.440 --> 0:14:56.760 There was a yes, a yes, a no, a no, 0:14:57.000 --> 0:15:00.920 a yes. It came down to the last council We 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:04.520 had five votes against us and nine votes for us. 0:15:05.240 --> 0:15:08.400 Down to this last person. They called on him. He 0:15:08.520 --> 0:15:12.960 looked down and paused for about fifteen seconds. It felt 0:15:12.960 --> 0:15:16.040 like fifteen hours. You could hear a pin drop. He 0:15:16.080 --> 0:15:19.560 finally looked up and said, yes, I'm for it. There 0:15:19.640 --> 0:15:23.240 was a great shout, great cheer. I walked out on 0:15:23.280 --> 0:15:25.880 the steps of city Hall and there were all the 0:15:25.960 --> 0:15:30.960 Lakewood people singing, shouting celebration. It was like God's saying, 0:15:31.160 --> 0:15:34.760 let the party begin. I've been planning this for you. 0:15:35.560 --> 0:15:39.280 I've already scheduled this victory. You couldn't see it, but 0:15:39.360 --> 0:15:42.440 I've been fattening the calf. I've been polishing the ring. 0:15:43.360 --> 0:15:47.000 God was behind the scenes, moving on that lady to 0:15:47.040 --> 0:15:50.360 call the council member, changing a mind that I couldn't change. 0:15:50.920 --> 0:15:54.400 That vote was on a Wednesday. Well, that night, thousands 0:15:54.440 --> 0:15:57.760 of people came to Lakewood. We celebrated that victory. We 0:15:57.840 --> 0:16:00.720 had a big party, and it's great that it happened 0:16:00.720 --> 0:16:03.920 for us. But can I encourage you? God has some 0:16:04.000 --> 0:16:07.960 parties in your future. He's planning things right now that 0:16:08.040 --> 0:16:13.520 are gonna exceed your expectations. Those challenges may seem too big, 0:16:14.080 --> 0:16:17.640 the sickness too great, the addiction too strong. May be 0:16:17.840 --> 0:16:20.560 too much for you, but it's not too much for him. 0:16:21.360 --> 0:16:26.040 He's already scheduled your party, your breakthrough. You're healing, your 0:16:26.080 --> 0:16:30.880 compact center. Your dream is already on the calendar. Now, 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:34.320 keep doing the right thing when you don't see anything happening, 0:16:34.800 --> 0:16:39.080 keep believing despite the doubt thoughts telling you that there's 0:16:39.080 --> 0:16:43.400 no way. Those thoughts came to me, especially in the night. Joe, 0:16:43.520 --> 0:16:46.040 you told people you're gonna get the building. You're gonna 0:16:46.080 --> 0:16:48.960 look like a fool. You don't have the connections. They're 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:51.360 not gonna sell that to a church. I'd wake up 0:16:51.360 --> 0:16:55.480 in a cold sweat that whole time. Behind the scenes, 0:16:55.800 --> 0:17:00.320 God has had them feeding the cab the band was practicing, 0:16:59.640 --> 0:17:04.280 the staff, setting the table, getting ready for the celebration. 0:17:05.119 --> 0:17:08.480 God had already marked that moment for the party to begin. 0:17:09.640 --> 0:17:14.080 Right now, God is preparing your party. He's working behind 0:17:14.119 --> 0:17:17.920 the scenes doing things you can't see. He's already picked 0:17:17.920 --> 0:17:21.640 out your role. It's already set aside your ring. It's 0:17:21.680 --> 0:17:24.320 just a matter of time before you hear let the 0:17:24.359 --> 0:17:27.320 party begin. Let me tell you, God knows how to 0:17:27.359 --> 0:17:31.280 throw a party like nobody else. I never dreamed we'd 0:17:31.280 --> 0:17:33.920 have the Compact Center. I used to come here in 0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:36.879 my twenties. I had season tickets to watch the Rockets 0:17:36.920 --> 0:17:43.479 play basketball. You're gonna come into parties that exceed your expectations. 0:17:43.520 --> 0:17:47.959 In the original agreement, we leased the building for sixty years. 0:17:48.520 --> 0:17:50.560 That was the best way for us to acquire it. 0:17:50.600 --> 0:17:53.639 But I never liked the lease. I didn't want this 0:17:53.680 --> 0:17:55.480 to come to an end and we'd have to give 0:17:55.520 --> 0:17:58.760 the building back to the city. Well, seven years into 0:17:58.760 --> 0:18:01.919 the lease, the city was running low on funds and 0:18:01.960 --> 0:18:04.120 the mayor called and asked if we wanted to buy 0:18:04.119 --> 0:18:07.280 the building. Of course we were interested, but I didn't 0:18:07.280 --> 0:18:09.880 know what it was gonna cost. She said they would 0:18:09.960 --> 0:18:12.960 run an appraisal and let us know. Well, this is 0:18:13.080 --> 0:18:17.119 like a half a billion dollar property, seven acres on 0:18:17.200 --> 0:18:21.400 the busiest freeway in Texas, fourth largest city in America. 0:18:22.000 --> 0:18:24.520 I thought, I don't know if we can pay that amount. Well, 0:18:24.560 --> 0:18:27.679 they had to appraise the building based on the fact 0:18:27.680 --> 0:18:30.679 that we had a lease for fifty three more years, 0:18:31.280 --> 0:18:34.080 so whoever bought it wouldn't get it for fifty three years. 0:18:34.800 --> 0:18:38.320 The appraisal came back not at three hundred million, not 0:18:38.400 --> 0:18:41.760 one hundred million, not fifty million. They said, we'll sell 0:18:41.800 --> 0:18:44.640 it to you for seven and a half million dollars. 0:18:45.560 --> 0:18:50.040 It was like God said, let the party begin. You 0:18:50.119 --> 0:18:53.600 don't know what God is up to in your life. 0:18:53.680 --> 0:18:57.320 You think you've reached your limits. Your dream's not possible now, 0:18:57.720 --> 0:19:00.600 you've made too many mistakes. If you you could only 0:19:00.680 --> 0:19:04.720 see the party God is preparing for you. He's already 0:19:04.800 --> 0:19:08.520 scheduled a destiny moment to show out in your life. 0:19:08.600 --> 0:19:12.199 The calf is being fattened, the right people are enwrap, 0:19:12.640 --> 0:19:15.880 the good breaks are on the calendar. Now, don't talk 0:19:15.960 --> 0:19:19.360 yourself out of it. Faith is believing when you don't 0:19:19.359 --> 0:19:23.080 see anything happening. It's thanking God that is on the way. 0:19:23.359 --> 0:19:27.240 When there's no sign of it. When you believe, angels 0:19:27.240 --> 0:19:31.360 go to work, doors open, problems turn around, miracles are 0:19:31.400 --> 0:19:35.440 set into motion. The Israelites had been in captivity for 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:39.720 four hundred years. They were mistreated and taking it dvantage of. 0:19:40.280 --> 0:19:43.800 But God sees you're suffering. He sees when people do 0:19:43.920 --> 0:19:48.359 you wrong. You're dealing with anxiety, fighting a sickness. There's 0:19:48.359 --> 0:19:51.880 trouble in your home. God is concerned about what you're 0:19:51.920 --> 0:19:55.119 going through. There will be a time where he says 0:19:55.440 --> 0:19:58.400 enough is enough. He will step in and put an 0:19:58.520 --> 0:20:01.959 end to what's harming you. He told the Israelites, I 0:20:02.000 --> 0:20:04.879 have seen the affliction of my people, and I am 0:20:04.960 --> 0:20:08.760 coming down to deliver them. When God comes down, things 0:20:08.760 --> 0:20:11.960 are gonna happen. He sent flags on the Pharaoh, remembered 0:20:11.960 --> 0:20:16.120 and all their oppressors, and Pharaoh finally decided to let 0:20:16.119 --> 0:20:20.359 them go. After forty generations, they were freed. They headed 0:20:20.400 --> 0:20:24.080 out toward the Promised Land, but the Pharaoh changed his mind. 0:20:24.760 --> 0:20:28.560 He sent his fastest chariots, his most powerful soldiers to 0:20:28.640 --> 0:20:32.320 bring them back, and the Israelites came to a dead 0:20:32.440 --> 0:20:35.359 end at the Red Sea. They looked back in the 0:20:35.440 --> 0:20:38.159 distance and they could see the army chasing them, but 0:20:38.720 --> 0:20:42.200 they had nowhere to go. You can imagine how panic 0:20:42.320 --> 0:20:46.000 they were and afraid. After finally being free, now they're 0:20:46.040 --> 0:20:49.720 about to be captured or maybe be killed. But God 0:20:49.760 --> 0:20:52.320 won't let you get in a problem that he can't 0:20:52.320 --> 0:20:55.480 bring you out of. You may not see away, but 0:20:55.520 --> 0:20:58.960 that doesn't mean that God doesn't have a way. God 0:20:59.040 --> 0:21:02.080 told Moses to hold up his rod towards the sea, 0:21:02.160 --> 0:21:05.920 and when he did, that huge wind blew back the waters. 0:21:06.480 --> 0:21:10.120 The sea parted, and these two million Israelites walked through 0:21:10.160 --> 0:21:13.879 on dry ground. When they all got across, Pharaoh's army 0:21:13.920 --> 0:21:17.920 came chasing after them, but the walls of water closed up, 0:21:18.359 --> 0:21:22.080 came crashing down, and they were all drowned. The scripture 0:21:22.119 --> 0:21:26.720 says when Miriam, Moses's sister, got to the other side 0:21:26.840 --> 0:21:30.320 and saw the army defeated, and what a great miracle, 0:21:30.880 --> 0:21:34.479 she got her tambourine out with all the other women. 0:21:34.840 --> 0:21:40.560 They started singing, dancing, celebrating the victory. You can imagine 0:21:40.560 --> 0:21:45.520 the joy, excitement, shouts of praise. Just a few hours earlier, 0:21:45.680 --> 0:21:49.919 they thought they were doomed, afraid, but God was saying, 0:21:50.000 --> 0:21:53.600 in effect, it may look bad, but I'm still in control. 0:21:54.760 --> 0:21:59.320 Maybe today you're being chased by things that are much bigger, stronger. 0:21:59.520 --> 0:22:02.720 Don't worry. Worry. The angels are getting the tambourines out. 0:22:03.160 --> 0:22:06.840 The band is practicing their music, the caf is being fed. 0:22:07.640 --> 0:22:10.879 God is up to something you can't see. When they 0:22:10.920 --> 0:22:13.600 got across, God said, all right, let the party begin. 0:22:14.119 --> 0:22:17.960 Miriam started dancing. I can hear the whole place singing. 0:22:18.440 --> 0:22:23.960 The enemy is outnumbered. Who can withstand against Jehovah? Miriam 0:22:24.119 --> 0:22:27.399 danced on the very ground where it looked like she 0:22:27.440 --> 0:22:31.640 would be defeated. She's celebrated at the very place where 0:22:31.680 --> 0:22:34.800 it seemed like she would be captured. Can I tell 0:22:34.840 --> 0:22:37.720 you You're gonna dance on the things that are trying to 0:22:37.760 --> 0:22:42.040 stop you. Dance on the depression, Dance on the sickness, 0:22:42.160 --> 0:22:45.720 the death, the loneliness. Dance on the chains that once 0:22:45.760 --> 0:22:50.280 held you back. Verse twenty says Miriam saying, sing to 0:22:50.320 --> 0:22:53.760 the Lord, for he is highly exalted. He has thrown 0:22:53.800 --> 0:22:56.880 the horse and the rider into the sea. She had 0:22:56.880 --> 0:23:01.960 her tambourine out. Her dance was a declaration. What tried 0:23:02.040 --> 0:23:05.199 to take me out has now been taken out. What 0:23:05.400 --> 0:23:09.200 should have stopped me is now under my feet. There 0:23:09.240 --> 0:23:12.359 will be a time where those things that are hindering 0:23:12.400 --> 0:23:16.320 you will be under your feet. The right attitude is 0:23:16.600 --> 0:23:19.800 this trouble is not permanent. I know a party is coming. 0:23:20.240 --> 0:23:22.720 I will dance on what could have buried me. I 0:23:22.760 --> 0:23:26.720 will dance in victory, celebrating the greatness of my God. 0:23:27.880 --> 0:23:32.000 I believe, like Miriam, like the prodigal There's about to 0:23:32.040 --> 0:23:35.560 be some dancing, some celebrating. I can hear God saying, 0:23:35.800 --> 0:23:39.919 let the party begin. You're about to see what God's 0:23:39.960 --> 0:23:43.359 been up to behind the scenes. I talked to a 0:23:43.400 --> 0:23:46.160 man a while back. He had called her Serious XM programming. 0:23:46.400 --> 0:23:49.920 He'd been having really bad headaches and visions started to 0:23:49.960 --> 0:23:52.600 get blurred. God so bad he couldn't go to work anymore, 0:23:52.680 --> 0:23:55.919 couldn't drive. The doctors ran test and discovered that he 0:23:55.960 --> 0:23:59.520 had a tumor in his brain. He was cancerous. They 0:23:59.560 --> 0:24:02.760 gave him eighteen months to live, and he was young. 0:24:03.520 --> 0:24:07.480 He certainly didn't see this coming. Although he was discouraged, 0:24:07.520 --> 0:24:10.680 he still had faith. He still believed that his life 0:24:10.760 --> 0:24:13.359 was in God's hands, that the number of our days 0:24:13.400 --> 0:24:17.560 he will fulfill. Instead of letting that diagnosis take root, 0:24:17.880 --> 0:24:20.879 dwell on it and google all the terrible things that 0:24:20.920 --> 0:24:24.560 could happen. He kept that out of his spirit. His 0:24:24.600 --> 0:24:28.400 attitude was, God is restoring health back into me. Sickness 0:24:28.440 --> 0:24:32.399 cannot live in my body. He was supposed to go downhill, 0:24:32.480 --> 0:24:35.840 but over time his headaches began to go away and 0:24:35.880 --> 0:24:38.960 his vision started clearing up, and the doctor said it 0:24:39.000 --> 0:24:42.880 was just an anomaly, that nothing had changed. Well, eighteen 0:24:42.920 --> 0:24:45.800 months later he went back and asked for another MRI. 0:24:46.640 --> 0:24:50.119 This time the doctors were puzzled. They said, we can't 0:24:50.160 --> 0:24:54.280 explain it, but we can't find any cancer in your body. 0:24:55.480 --> 0:24:59.560 It was like God said, let the party begin. God 0:24:59.640 --> 0:25:03.200 has these destiny moments where it looks like you're stuck, 0:25:03.840 --> 0:25:07.919 you're defeated, you've made too many mistakes. But that whole time, 0:25:08.240 --> 0:25:11.960 he's preparing a celebration. There's about to be a party 0:25:12.280 --> 0:25:15.520 where you dance on what should have held you down. Well, 0:25:15.600 --> 0:25:18.640 like Miriam, you got your tambourine, so to speak. You're 0:25:18.720 --> 0:25:21.560 singing on the shores of what should have defeated you, 0:25:22.400 --> 0:25:27.160 ringing that bell, cancer free, paying off your house, marrying 0:25:27.200 --> 0:25:31.520 the person of your dreams, free from the addiction, saying, man, 0:25:31.600 --> 0:25:34.760 look what the Lord has done. Now I know there 0:25:34.760 --> 0:25:38.480 are difficult times, and you can't escape life from happening. 0:25:38.880 --> 0:25:42.240 But what I'm saying is that's not how your story ends. 0:25:42.640 --> 0:25:47.000 God is working behind the scenes to turn morning into dancing, 0:25:47.320 --> 0:25:52.120 turn sickness into hell, turn debt into abundance, turn council 0:25:52.200 --> 0:25:56.160 member's mind, and your dream comes to pass. Your time 0:25:56.240 --> 0:25:59.960 is coming. Your robe is ready, the ring is polished, 0:26:00.200 --> 0:26:03.240 the calf is fatted. Now get ready, I believe and 0:26:03.320 --> 0:26:07.320 declare your party is about to begin. God is going 0:26:07.359 --> 0:26:13.800 to give you something to celebrate. Great joy, great laughter, healing, freedom, abundance, 0:26:14.359 --> 0:26:18.720 dancing on what should have defeated you in Jesus' name, 0:26:19.320 --> 0:26:23.800 and if you receive it, ken, just amen. I'd like 0:26:23.880 --> 0:26:26.639 to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord 0:26:26.680 --> 0:26:30.760 of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 0:26:31.480 --> 0:26:35.359 I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 0:26:35.560 --> 0:26:38.840 make you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that 0:26:38.920 --> 0:26:41.920 simple prayer, we believe you got born again, and we'd 0:26:41.920 --> 0:26:44.400 love to send you some free information on your new 0:26:44.440 --> 0:26:46.879 walk with the Lord. You can text the number on 0:26:46.920 --> 0:26:49.600 the screen or go to the website. But I hope 0:26:49.600 --> 0:26:52.680 you'll get into a good Bible based church and keep 0:26:52.720 --> 0:26:54.040 God first place. 0:26:55.359 --> 0:26:59.320 It's a new year. Time to see the impossible become possible. 0:27:00.119 --> 0:27:04.120 New year life setbacks are about to become God's setups 0:27:04.160 --> 0:27:08.280 for new opportunity. It's a new year, cherished dreams will 0:27:08.320 --> 0:27:10.200 become unexpected reality. 0:27:10.960 --> 0:27:13.160 The start of the new year is the perfect time 0:27:13.240 --> 0:27:16.879 to reset your focus, release disappointments of the past, and 0:27:16.960 --> 0:27:19.479 get ready for the new things God has in store. 0:27:20.040 --> 0:27:23.159 Every January, we create a new three hundred and sixty 0:27:23.200 --> 0:27:26.720 five day devotional calendar. I'd love to send it to you. 0:27:27.160 --> 0:27:31.520 Each day is filled with inspiration, scripture, and uplifting declarations 0:27:31.560 --> 0:27:34.520 to fuel your faith. When you begin the day thanking 0:27:34.560 --> 0:27:37.920 God for what He's done, speaking victory over your future, 0:27:38.400 --> 0:27:42.960 you're positioning yourself for a blessed, favor filled year. Amazing 0:27:43.000 --> 0:27:45.439 things happen when you keep God first place. 0:27:46.240 --> 0:27:48.600 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:27:48.640 --> 0:27:51.320 of any amount this first month of the year, we 0:27:51.320 --> 0:27:53.560 would like to send you a copy of our brand 0:27:53.640 --> 0:27:58.040 new three hundred sixty five day twenty twenty six devotional calendar. 0:27:58.440 --> 0:28:01.439 Do you want to overcome your most pressing challenges in 0:28:01.480 --> 0:28:04.159 twenty twenty six? Do you want to see your life 0:28:04.280 --> 0:28:08.280 take off in new directions of influence, favor, and provision 0:28:08.440 --> 0:28:12.119 in the year ahead. With this daily encouragement, you'll not 0:28:12.240 --> 0:28:15.600 only smile at your day, you'll be reminded that God 0:28:15.720 --> 0:28:19.280 is smiling on your entire life. Each day will be 0:28:19.320 --> 0:28:25.560 a fresh new day. Turn discouragement to encouragement, frustration to fulfillment, 0:28:26.119 --> 0:28:31.200 anxiety to overcoming. Start each morning knowing that it's God's 0:28:31.200 --> 0:28:35.120 desire to turn what seems like an ordinary life into 0:28:35.240 --> 0:28:41.000 extraordinary favor, strength, and opportunities. Using this devotional calendar is 0:28:41.040 --> 0:28:45.880 as easy as one, two, three. One wake up with 0:28:45.920 --> 0:28:50.520 an expectancy in your heart. Two reflect on the daily scripture, 0:28:50.600 --> 0:28:55.280 verse and devotional from Joel. Three capture the Lord's promises 0:28:55.320 --> 0:28:58.480 to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection. 0:29:00.480 --> 0:29:02.719 Is going to be one of your best years ever. 0:29:03.000 --> 0:29:04.840 We're going to help you stay in faith so you 0:29:04.880 --> 0:29:08.479 can see the goodness of God in new ways. Victory 0:29:08.520 --> 0:29:10.800 and I pray for you and your family every day, 0:29:10.880 --> 0:29:13.480 and we want to thank you for your prayer and support. 0:29:13.920 --> 0:29:18.000 Your generosity is impacting lives around the world. A special 0:29:18.040 --> 0:29:20.360 thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for your 0:29:20.360 --> 0:29:22.840 monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll 0:29:22.880 --> 0:29:27.080 consider becoming one. Remember you can watch the services online 0:29:27.240 --> 0:29:31.680 live every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, watch on 0:29:31.760 --> 0:29:35.200 YouTube or the new joel Ostein network twenty four hours 0:29:35.200 --> 0:29:38.320 a day. Of course, listen live on Serious XM as well. 0:29:38.880 --> 0:29:41.520 But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you 0:29:41.640 --> 0:29:42.360 and keep you. 0:29:43.320 --> 0:29:46.000 Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 0:29:46.040 --> 0:29:50.360 sixth devotional calendar available this month by simply visiting us 0:29:50.480 --> 0:29:54.240 at Joelostin dot com or calling eight eight eight five 0:29:54.320 --> 0:29:59.640 six seven Joey. Also, no matter what season you're in, joy, sorry, 0:30:00.120 --> 0:30:04.560 waiting growth, God wants to speak into each and every moment. 0:30:05.080 --> 0:30:08.600 God's Word for Every Season is a guided journal series 0:30:08.880 --> 0:30:12.200 designed to help you slow down, write out scripture, and 0:30:12.320 --> 0:30:15.800 reflect on its truth, one verse at a time. As 0:30:15.840 --> 0:30:20.320 you engage with His Word, you'll discover fresh strength, deeper peace, 0:30:20.600 --> 0:30:24.600 and timely encouragement for every step of your journey. You 0:30:24.600 --> 0:30:28.440 can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight 0:30:28.640 --> 0:30:32.480 five six seven Joel or logging on to Jolostein dot 0:30:32.520 --> 0:30:36.720 com today call or click anytime twenty four hours a day. 0:30:37.200 --> 0:30:39.040 Request these resources today