Over And Above Blessings

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:05.920 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:00:06.120 --> 0:00:08.440 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:00:08.480 --> 0:00:10.000 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:00:10.320 --> 0:00:13.040 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:00:13.080 --> 0:00:15.800 your life. Oh God, bless you. It's great to be 0:00:15.880 --> 0:00:18.560 with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with 0:00:18.680 --> 0:00:22.120 us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, 0:00:22.280 --> 0:00:25.200 social media, and you can come visit us in person. 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.200 We'd love to have you be a part of one 0:00:27.240 --> 0:00:30.080 of our services. I'd like to start with something funny 0:00:30.120 --> 0:00:32.760 and I heard about this pastor. He was asked to 0:00:32.840 --> 0:00:35.960 inform one of his members that he had just inherited 0:00:36.040 --> 0:00:39.400 ten million dollars. They were concerned because of the shock 0:00:39.479 --> 0:00:42.440 of it, he might have a heart attack. The pastor 0:00:42.520 --> 0:00:44.560 went to him and said, sir, what would you do 0:00:44.760 --> 0:00:48.159 if you inherited ten million dollars? The man said, Pastor, 0:00:48.200 --> 0:00:50.400 the first thing I do is give half of it 0:00:50.440 --> 0:00:53.760 to the church. At that point, the pastor fell over dead. 0:00:55.400 --> 0:00:58.040 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:00:58.400 --> 0:01:00.880 I am what it says, I am, I have what 0:01:00.960 --> 0:01:03.440 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:01:03.480 --> 0:01:06.240 I can do. Today. I will be taught the word 0:01:06.280 --> 0:01:10.360 of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 0:01:10.480 --> 0:01:13.840 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In 0:01:14.000 --> 0:01:18.280 Jesus's name, God bless you. I want to talk to 0:01:18.319 --> 0:01:22.679 you today about over and above blessings. When you have 0:01:22.800 --> 0:01:26.479 a generous spirit, you're always doing more than what's required. 0:01:26.600 --> 0:01:30.000 And you stay late to help that coworker that's struggling, 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:34.440 and you take that elderly neighbor dinner at night, support 0:01:34.480 --> 0:01:38.200 that single parent mom, or you give to expand the ministry. 0:01:38.720 --> 0:01:41.440 You don't have to. Nobody would look down on you 0:01:41.520 --> 0:01:45.760 if you didn't. But you have this over and above mentality. 0:01:45.880 --> 0:01:49.400 You're always looking for ways you can do good. You're 0:01:49.440 --> 0:01:52.560 not just being a blessing to others, but you are 0:01:52.600 --> 0:01:56.720 positioning yourself for God to do over and above in 0:01:56.800 --> 0:02:01.200 your life. The scripture says, if you so, you will 0:02:01.240 --> 0:02:05.480 reap sparingly. But if you so generously, you will reap generously. 0:02:06.320 --> 0:02:09.040 Some people do as little as they can to get by. 0:02:09.760 --> 0:02:12.519 They have a little kindness so they won't be seen 0:02:12.560 --> 0:02:15.800 as unfriendly. They'll give a little time to help others, 0:02:15.960 --> 0:02:20.000 little encouragement, little friendship. They wonder why they don't get 0:02:20.080 --> 0:02:24.000 good breaks, why they don't see favor. They're reaping what 0:02:24.040 --> 0:02:28.279 they're sowing. If you sew average, you're going to see average. 0:02:28.639 --> 0:02:32.920 If you so ordinary, do only what's required, then you'll 0:02:32.919 --> 0:02:37.399 see ordinary. But when you have this over and above mentality, 0:02:38.040 --> 0:02:41.200 looking for ways to be a blessing and doing more 0:02:41.240 --> 0:02:45.320 than what's expected, you are setting yourself up for God 0:02:45.360 --> 0:02:48.280 to show out in your life, to open doors you 0:02:48.320 --> 0:02:52.560 couldn't open, to bring divine connections, to see favor that 0:02:52.600 --> 0:02:56.760 you've never seen. Don't live at the level of obligation. 0:02:57.720 --> 0:03:00.760 Don't have that what can I get by with mentality 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:04.440 that's going to limit your life. Have a generous spirit. 0:03:05.160 --> 0:03:08.360 If you'll turn loose of what's in your hands, God 0:03:08.400 --> 0:03:11.640 will turn loose of what's in his hands. God is 0:03:11.680 --> 0:03:15.600 a rewarder. He sees you being a blessing, singing in 0:03:15.639 --> 0:03:18.760 the choir on your day off and investing in that 0:03:18.880 --> 0:03:21.280 young man that doesn't have a father, taking him to 0:03:21.360 --> 0:03:25.000 ball practice with your son. He sees you're giving funds 0:03:25.160 --> 0:03:28.440 that you could use for your dream, making sacrifices to 0:03:28.480 --> 0:03:32.720 build his kingdom. That's setting you up for over and 0:03:32.800 --> 0:03:37.800 above blessings. I've learned you can't outgive God. You can't 0:03:37.800 --> 0:03:41.040 be a blessing to others without God being a blessing 0:03:41.080 --> 0:03:44.080 to you. The way he does it is he multiplies. 0:03:44.120 --> 0:03:47.320 It is going to come back, press down, shaking together 0:03:47.640 --> 0:03:50.880 and running over. There was a man in the scripture 0:03:51.000 --> 0:03:54.680 named Barnabas. He didn't come from an influential family. He 0:03:54.680 --> 0:03:58.800 didn't have a big resume or education, just an ordinary man, 0:03:59.200 --> 0:04:02.600 but he had a spirit. He saw the disciples were 0:04:02.600 --> 0:04:06.480 doing great work and he wanted to support them. Axe 0:04:06.520 --> 0:04:09.560 Ford says he sold a piece of property he owned, 0:04:10.040 --> 0:04:13.080 brought the funds and laid them at the disciples feet. 0:04:13.880 --> 0:04:17.000 He didn't have to, Nobody would have faulted him if 0:04:17.040 --> 0:04:20.680 he didn't. But he had this over and above mentality. 0:04:21.080 --> 0:04:24.479 He wanted to be a blessing. That one act of 0:04:24.560 --> 0:04:29.000 generosity opened the door to all this opportunity. He became 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:33.440 a mentor to Paul. Paul wasn't accepted by the disciples 0:04:33.440 --> 0:04:36.400 at first. They still thought that he was against the church. 0:04:36.880 --> 0:04:39.920 It was Barnabas that convinced them that Paul was a believer. 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:45.560 Barnabas went from ordinary nobody knew him to this influential position. 0:04:46.560 --> 0:04:50.280 The scripture says Barnabas was chosen by the spirit to 0:04:50.320 --> 0:04:54.800 accompany Paul on his first missionary journey. Barnabas helped start 0:04:54.839 --> 0:04:58.000 the church in Antioch. When Paul and Mark had a 0:04:58.000 --> 0:05:02.480 big disagreement, Barnabas was the one that helped restore the relationship. 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:07.520 On and on. God used Barnabas in great ways, but 0:05:07.600 --> 0:05:10.280 it can all be traced back to that over and 0:05:10.360 --> 0:05:16.640 above gift. His generosity opened doors, brought favor relationships that 0:05:16.720 --> 0:05:20.000 he never dreamed. When you live with this over and 0:05:20.040 --> 0:05:25.920 above mentality, you're generous with your time, your talent, your resources. 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:30.000 Not living at the level of obligation, but going above 0:05:30.160 --> 0:05:34.800 and beyond. That gets God's attention. He'll release over and 0:05:34.839 --> 0:05:37.760 above in your life. He'll put you in front of 0:05:37.800 --> 0:05:43.679 audiences that you've never dreamed, people, opportunities, resources you didn't 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:48.600 see coming. That's the running over blessings, things you can't explain, 0:05:49.440 --> 0:05:54.040 Positions where you didn't have the qualifications, Connections with people 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:57.000 that should be over your head, out of your league, 0:05:57.080 --> 0:05:59.960 but now they're looking up to you. Now you're the leader, 0:06:00.480 --> 0:06:05.279 you're giving vision, you're making the impact. Don't miss opportunities 0:06:05.560 --> 0:06:08.680 to live. Over and above. These are things that are 0:06:08.720 --> 0:06:12.120 not required. Nobody's going to press you. You to do it. 0:06:12.520 --> 0:06:15.960 Your mind, your reasoning will tell you no, thanks, Joel. 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:19.080 I'm busy. I don't have time to serve. I don't 0:06:19.080 --> 0:06:21.800 have time to mentor that young person, or I need 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:24.440 these funds. I got my own dreams trying to build 0:06:24.440 --> 0:06:27.800 my own career. Here's the whole key. When you give 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:30.720 over and above, you're not going to end up at 0:06:30.720 --> 0:06:35.640 a deficit. You're not losing anything. You are positioning yourself 0:06:35.680 --> 0:06:41.120 for increase, for abundance, for doors to open, for divine connections. 0:06:41.760 --> 0:06:44.360 If Barnabas were here today, he would tell you it 0:06:44.400 --> 0:06:47.120 all started when I gave that gift, when I went 0:06:47.200 --> 0:06:50.039 over and to Bob. Now, he didn't give it to 0:06:50.080 --> 0:06:52.840 get something. He simply gave it to be a blessing. 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:57.159 To look how God works. He can entrust you to 0:06:57.279 --> 0:07:00.000 be a great blessing. Then He will bless you with me. 0:07:00.720 --> 0:07:03.760 He will open the windows of heaven pour out blessings 0:07:03.760 --> 0:07:06.919 that you cannot contain. That's what it says in the 0:07:06.920 --> 0:07:10.000 Book of Malachi that when you tithe your income, you 0:07:10.080 --> 0:07:13.360 give offerings that God will increase you pour out his blessings. 0:07:13.840 --> 0:07:17.520 In that same passage, it asked the question will a 0:07:17.560 --> 0:07:22.400 man rob God by not giving? What's interesting is God 0:07:22.400 --> 0:07:25.920 owns it all. He makes streets out of God. When 0:07:25.960 --> 0:07:29.080 Peter needed money for taxes, there was a coin in 0:07:29.120 --> 0:07:32.680 the fish's mouth. It's not like God needs our funds 0:07:32.760 --> 0:07:35.520 to keep everything going. God's going to go broke if 0:07:35.560 --> 0:07:38.320 we don't give. Now what that means will a person 0:07:38.400 --> 0:07:42.240 rob God is if you don't live generously, you are 0:07:42.360 --> 0:07:46.720 robbing God of the opportunity to bless you. You're robbing 0:07:46.800 --> 0:07:49.840 him of the doors he wants to open, the resources 0:07:49.840 --> 0:07:52.559 he wants to give you, the people he wants to bring. 0:07:53.240 --> 0:07:56.480 You're taking away that opportunity for him to show out 0:07:56.520 --> 0:08:00.480 in your life. Don't rob him. He's longing be good 0:08:00.520 --> 0:08:04.280 to you. Jesus said, it's the father's good pleasure to 0:08:04.360 --> 0:08:08.440 give you the kingdom. God works by principles. When you 0:08:08.600 --> 0:08:12.320 live over and above, that's a seed you're sowing. Then 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:15.640 you will reap over and above when you do more 0:08:15.680 --> 0:08:20.120 than what's required, Like Barnabas, Nobody forced you to bless 0:08:20.160 --> 0:08:23.680 that neighbor that's struggling. Nobody made you come early today 0:08:23.720 --> 0:08:27.160 and serve as a prayer, partner and usher. Nobody required 0:08:27.240 --> 0:08:30.280 you to give that coworker a ride. You weren't obligated 0:08:30.320 --> 0:08:33.280 to support the ministry. Nobody would know if you didn't, 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:36.840 you could live at the level of obligation. But I 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:40.400 know a secret. I'm looking at Barnabas' I'm looking at 0:08:40.440 --> 0:08:44.520 over and above people, people with a generous spirit. You 0:08:44.640 --> 0:08:47.600 need to get ready. God's about to release over and 0:08:47.679 --> 0:08:50.720 above in your life. He's about to put you in 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:55.360 front of audiences you didn't see coming, with people of influence, 0:08:55.640 --> 0:08:59.199 where you shine brightly, where they admire you, and open 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:02.800 doors a thrust you to a new level because you're 0:09:02.920 --> 0:09:07.040 so generously, you're going to reap generously. Now. I know 0:09:07.160 --> 0:09:09.640 many of you have been doing this, but you haven't 0:09:09.679 --> 0:09:13.559 seen those windows open yet. Let me encourage you. God 0:09:13.559 --> 0:09:17.400 has seen all the sacrifices, the times you gave when 0:09:17.440 --> 0:09:20.560 you needed the funds, You stayed late to help, when 0:09:20.559 --> 0:09:23.600 you were tired, You went the extra mile, but nobody 0:09:23.640 --> 0:09:27.680 said thanks. God is about to thank you. He's about 0:09:27.720 --> 0:09:30.160 to show out in your life. You're going to see 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:37.480 increase abundance resources, contracts that you cannot contain, that means 0:09:37.760 --> 0:09:41.480 so many good opportunities that you have to choose what's best. 0:09:42.280 --> 0:09:45.800 That means lending and not borrowing. Being able to be 0:09:45.840 --> 0:09:49.319 a bigger blessing. That means the right people showing up, 0:09:49.920 --> 0:09:52.720 not having to track them down, hope they give you 0:09:52.760 --> 0:09:57.559 a break, but divine connections searching you out. This all 0:09:57.600 --> 0:10:01.600 goes back number one to honoring God keeping in first place, 0:10:02.000 --> 0:10:06.360 and number two, having an over and above mentality, a 0:10:06.480 --> 0:10:12.240 generous spirit, not ingrown focused only on me. Get outside 0:10:12.240 --> 0:10:16.480 of yourself, don't rob God of the opportunity to bless you. 0:10:17.200 --> 0:10:20.880 Look for ways you can be an over and above blessing. 0:10:21.960 --> 0:10:24.000 I was at the furniture store a while back and 0:10:24.240 --> 0:10:26.560 I ran into this couple and they told how they 0:10:26.559 --> 0:10:29.880 had just fought their first home and they were so proud, 0:10:30.080 --> 0:10:33.439 just beaming with joy. And I congratulated them, gave them 0:10:33.440 --> 0:10:36.480 a hug, and they were looking for furniture for their 0:10:36.520 --> 0:10:40.319 living room. On the way out, I told my salesmen, 0:10:40.720 --> 0:10:43.520 whatever they find to buy, put it on this credit card. 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:47.320 Don't say anything about who it was. I'm not doing 0:10:47.360 --> 0:10:50.280 it to get credit. I'm doing it unto God. He's 0:10:50.360 --> 0:10:55.480 the one that matters. He's keeping all the records. Well, Joe, 0:10:55.760 --> 0:10:57.760 I don't have those kinds of funds to buy a 0:10:57.800 --> 0:11:01.400 stranger furniture. Maybe not. When you buy your coworker a 0:11:01.440 --> 0:11:03.800 cup of coffee, bring it to them in the morning, 0:11:04.400 --> 0:11:07.160 you didn't have to. That's an over and above blessing. 0:11:07.960 --> 0:11:11.079 Can you mow the lawn of that elderly neighbor. Can 0:11:11.120 --> 0:11:13.080 you pick up the friend that doesn't have a ride, 0:11:13.120 --> 0:11:15.840 bring them to church? Can you mentor that young man 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:20.120 that's struggling. Look for something you can do that's over 0:11:20.200 --> 0:11:24.400 and above, that's not required. That's so in a seed 0:11:24.720 --> 0:11:27.360 for God to do over and above in your life. 0:11:28.160 --> 0:11:31.920 The scripture says in Galatians, don't miss an opportunity to 0:11:32.040 --> 0:11:36.679 do good. Don't be too busy, too self centered, too stingy. 0:11:37.160 --> 0:11:40.760 When you missed that opportunity, you were robbing God of 0:11:40.800 --> 0:11:44.840 the opportunity to bless you. When you make someone else's day, 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:49.360 God will always make your own day. When we acquired 0:11:49.480 --> 0:11:52.240 the Compact Center this place, we learned that it was 0:11:52.280 --> 0:11:55.320 going to cost one hundred million dollars to renovate. We 0:11:55.400 --> 0:11:59.480 borrowed seventy five in a year before we could move in. 0:11:59.800 --> 0:12:02.920 We had a twenty five million dollar payment due. I 0:12:02.960 --> 0:12:05.920 was thirty eight years old. I'd only been pastoring for 0:12:05.960 --> 0:12:08.840 two years. I never had to raise those kinds of 0:12:08.880 --> 0:12:12.280 funds come up with such a large amount. I felt 0:12:12.280 --> 0:12:16.280 this pressure, this uncertainty, thought saying, Joe, you're never gonna 0:12:16.280 --> 0:12:19.920 make that payment. You're way over your head. Now. I 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:22.719 had to agree it was over my head, but I 0:12:22.800 --> 0:12:26.760 knew it wasn't over God's head. And that year we 0:12:26.800 --> 0:12:30.520 did everything we could. We presented the vision, and we 0:12:30.559 --> 0:12:34.320 had meetings inviting people to support. So many God on 0:12:34.360 --> 0:12:37.600 board and were very generous, many of you. But despite 0:12:37.640 --> 0:12:40.400 all of our efforts, we were three months from moving 0:12:40.480 --> 0:12:43.400 in and still only a third of the way there. 0:12:44.240 --> 0:12:46.560 I received a phone call from a pastor friend of 0:12:46.600 --> 0:12:49.440 mine in another state. He was trying to purchase a 0:12:49.440 --> 0:12:52.240 building for his church. He had been working on it 0:12:52.280 --> 0:12:55.760 a couple years, raising the funds, doing everything he could. 0:12:56.400 --> 0:13:00.560 This was his dream, but he didn't have enough scheduled 0:13:00.559 --> 0:13:03.280 to close in three days, but he was a million 0:13:03.360 --> 0:13:06.840 dollar short. He said, Joel, I'm just calling to see 0:13:06.880 --> 0:13:09.719 if you'll pray with me about these funds coming in. 0:13:10.600 --> 0:13:13.080 He had a much smaller church, and I could tell 0:13:13.120 --> 0:13:16.480 he was devastated. He would not only lose the property, 0:13:16.720 --> 0:13:19.679 but he would lose the down payment if he didn't close. 0:13:20.559 --> 0:13:23.880 I could hear the still small voice saying, Joel, give 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:28.079 him the million that he needs. I thought, get behind me, Satan, 0:13:29.280 --> 0:13:32.400 we don't have enough for our own building. God, we're 0:13:32.440 --> 0:13:36.000 three months out, we're twenty million short. That doesn't make sense. 0:13:36.480 --> 0:13:39.959 I told him, we'll be praying for you. That's the 0:13:40.040 --> 0:13:43.320 easy way out right. Well, that night I couldn't sleep. 0:13:43.840 --> 0:13:46.200 All I could think about was him, and I finally 0:13:46.280 --> 0:13:50.440 fell asleep and I dreamed about him sometimes to go 0:13:50.559 --> 0:13:54.480 over and above. It doesn't make sense, all the facts, 0:13:54.600 --> 0:13:58.680 the figures. The logic says, hold on to what you have, man, 0:13:58.720 --> 0:14:01.800 you need that for your dream, your house, your retirement. 0:14:02.320 --> 0:14:05.760 But God is not always logical. This is what faith 0:14:05.840 --> 0:14:08.559 is all about. I called him the next morning and 0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:11.200 said Lakewood was going to give him the funds, and 0:14:11.200 --> 0:14:14.320 it was our gift that made his fream come true. 0:14:15.440 --> 0:14:19.480 When you help others accomplish their dream, God will help 0:14:19.520 --> 0:14:23.680 you accomplish your dream. You're never losing what you give. 0:14:23.920 --> 0:14:26.600 It's a seed you're swing that's going to come back 0:14:26.640 --> 0:14:31.360 to you. Press down, shaking together, running over well Lakewood 0:14:31.400 --> 0:14:34.360 owned a television station at that time, Channel fifty five 0:14:34.520 --> 0:14:37.000 here in Houston, Victoria. And I put that on the 0:14:37.000 --> 0:14:40.200 air in the late nineties, and when my father passed, 0:14:40.200 --> 0:14:43.760 we decided to sell it. We believed it was worth 0:14:43.800 --> 0:14:47.200 thirty million dollars. We had a man come in to 0:14:47.280 --> 0:14:50.680 represent us. He sold more stations than anyone in the US, 0:14:50.880 --> 0:14:54.440 the leading expert. He said, you won't get half of 0:14:54.480 --> 0:14:58.320 what you're asking. There's no way, the market's down. No 0:14:58.360 --> 0:15:01.600 one wants an independent station, there's no future in it. 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:06.000 On and on. He could not have been more negative, discouraging. 0:15:06.240 --> 0:15:09.200 He had all the facts, the figures, the cells to 0:15:09.320 --> 0:15:12.520 back up what he was saying. In the natural he 0:15:12.640 --> 0:15:15.320 was right. But God knows how to breathe on your 0:15:15.360 --> 0:15:18.840 property and breathe on your career, breathe on your children, 0:15:19.280 --> 0:15:23.720 where what looks impossible becomes possible. My brother in law 0:15:23.920 --> 0:15:27.400 Don ran the station. He said, Joel, don't listen to him. 0:15:27.560 --> 0:15:30.120 We're gonna get the full amount. I thought, man, Don, 0:15:30.120 --> 0:15:32.040 you've got more faith than I do. But I'm gonna 0:15:32.080 --> 0:15:34.480 agree with you. I'm going to be a believer and 0:15:34.520 --> 0:15:38.280 not a doubter. One month before the big payment was due, 0:15:38.680 --> 0:15:41.640 a buyer showed up for the station. We didn't go 0:15:41.720 --> 0:15:44.920 after him. He came to us. He had never owned 0:15:45.000 --> 0:15:48.520 any television properties. We told him the price. He said, 0:15:48.560 --> 0:15:51.240 you got a deal, I'll take it. We sold the 0:15:51.320 --> 0:15:55.320 station a few days before the deadline. God twice the 0:15:55.360 --> 0:15:58.880 amount the expert said we'd get. We had the funds 0:15:58.920 --> 0:16:04.200 to move into the Common Center. But I believe, I 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:08.320 believe it all goes back to that act of generosity 0:16:08.400 --> 0:16:11.840 a year earlier, where we went over and above to 0:16:11.880 --> 0:16:15.880 help someone else. We sowed a generous seed and God 0:16:15.880 --> 0:16:19.520 did over and above in our life. You cannot give 0:16:19.600 --> 0:16:22.920 God something without him giving you more back in return. 0:16:23.560 --> 0:16:26.360 It's not just what he does, it's who he is. 0:16:27.120 --> 0:16:30.160 For God so loved the world that he gave, it's 0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:33.720 his nature to give. You have to stir your faith 0:16:33.800 --> 0:16:37.440 up when it comes to over and above. Because our flesh, 0:16:37.720 --> 0:16:41.440 our human nature, doesn't like to stretch. We don't want 0:16:41.440 --> 0:16:45.560 to be uncomfortable and inconvenience. It doesn't have to be money, 0:16:45.560 --> 0:16:50.120 but how about giving your time, given encouragement, giving friendship. 0:16:50.960 --> 0:16:54.640 Are there any areas you're living over and above being 0:16:54.720 --> 0:16:57.840 a blessing to someone else? Go in the extra mile. 0:16:58.160 --> 0:17:01.480 To help that friend's dream comes true. Joel. If I 0:17:01.520 --> 0:17:04.200 do that, man, I'm falling behind. I'm not going to 0:17:04.240 --> 0:17:07.359 have enough of my own dreams for my future. It's 0:17:07.400 --> 0:17:11.440 just the opposite. You are positioning yourself for God to 0:17:11.440 --> 0:17:14.560 do over and above in your life, to open the 0:17:14.600 --> 0:17:18.520 windows of heaven to pour out blessings that you cannot contain. 0:17:19.600 --> 0:17:22.480 There was a young woman in the scripture named Rebecca. 0:17:22.640 --> 0:17:25.719 She lived in the city of Nahor, which is modern 0:17:25.760 --> 0:17:29.280 day Syria. I'm sure like any girl, she wondered what 0:17:29.359 --> 0:17:32.040 she's going to do with her life. Would she get married, 0:17:32.400 --> 0:17:35.439 where would she live? Would she have children? She had 0:17:35.480 --> 0:17:38.879 all these hopes and dreams. But in those days, the 0:17:38.920 --> 0:17:42.960 marriages were prearranged. You didn't have a choice. The parents 0:17:42.960 --> 0:17:46.240 of the husband would choose who the wife would be. Well, 0:17:46.280 --> 0:17:49.520 Abraham lived in Canaan. He was an old man and 0:17:49.560 --> 0:17:53.000 about to pass. He said to his assistant, go back 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:56.320 to my hometown of Nahor and find a good wife 0:17:56.320 --> 0:18:00.159 from my son Isaac. You can imagine the pressure on 0:18:00.200 --> 0:18:03.359 this assistance. It was up to him to choose. He 0:18:03.440 --> 0:18:07.480 traveled back to Nahorn. He was camped on the outskirts 0:18:07.600 --> 0:18:10.520 there with his camels. There was a well down the hill. 0:18:11.200 --> 0:18:13.359 All these young girls were coming from the city to 0:18:13.440 --> 0:18:15.960 draw water. He thought, How am I going to know 0:18:16.440 --> 0:18:19.120 which one is the right one? He said, God, here's 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:21.560 what I'm gonna do. I'm going to ask these girls 0:18:21.560 --> 0:18:24.520 for a drink. The way I know it's the one 0:18:24.560 --> 0:18:27.800 you've chosen is she will say yes, I will not 0:18:27.880 --> 0:18:30.520 only give you a drink, but I will get water 0:18:30.600 --> 0:18:34.160 for your camels as well. First one that came up, 0:18:34.200 --> 0:18:37.240 this beautiful girl, he said, do you mind getting me 0:18:37.240 --> 0:18:40.760 a drink of water? She said, certainly, I will. She 0:18:40.920 --> 0:18:44.399 lowered her jug and he drank the water. When he finished, 0:18:44.440 --> 0:18:47.200 he handed it back. She said, let me get water 0:18:47.280 --> 0:18:50.680 for your camels as well. Verse twenty says she ran 0:18:50.800 --> 0:18:54.719 quickly down to the well again. She kept carrying the 0:18:54.760 --> 0:18:58.840 water until all the camels had finished drinking. Well, this 0:18:58.920 --> 0:19:02.800 man had ten cams. A camel after a long day's 0:19:02.840 --> 0:19:06.159 walk can drink thirty gallons of water. If she had 0:19:06.200 --> 0:19:08.919 a one gallon container. That means she had to go 0:19:09.000 --> 0:19:13.160 back to the well three hundred times. Look at her generosity. 0:19:13.800 --> 0:19:15.639 It's one thing to say I'll get you some water. 0:19:16.359 --> 0:19:20.000 That's the minimal commitment. That's what's required. I'm not gonna 0:19:20.040 --> 0:19:23.040 leave you here thirsty, I'd be looked down on. But 0:19:23.160 --> 0:19:26.240 all these camels, forget it. I'm gonna go hang out 0:19:26.240 --> 0:19:29.040 with friends. We're going to Lululemons. I don't want to 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:35.400 be inconvenience. No, Rebecca had this over and above mentality. 0:19:35.560 --> 0:19:40.119 The assistant didn't ask to water the camels. She suggested it. 0:19:40.119 --> 0:19:43.680 It was her idea. She wasn't doing this to get anything. 0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:47.320 She didn't have an ulterior motive. Maybe he'll give me 0:19:47.359 --> 0:19:50.840 a gift. She was simply doing it to be a blessing. 0:19:51.680 --> 0:19:54.080 He knew she was the right one. He went and 0:19:54.080 --> 0:19:57.040 spoke to her father and told him how Abraham had 0:19:57.080 --> 0:20:01.000 sent him, this patriarch of the faith, a man everyone 0:20:01.080 --> 0:20:04.320 knew and respected. Abraham, one of the wealthiest men of 0:20:04.359 --> 0:20:09.000 that day. Now she was marrying his son, Isaac. You 0:20:09.080 --> 0:20:12.919 talk about over and above blessing. She thought she live 0:20:12.960 --> 0:20:17.640 in that town obscurity, have an ordinary lie. But now 0:20:17.680 --> 0:20:21.240 she's in the most influential family of that day. She 0:20:21.400 --> 0:20:25.000 gave birth to Jacob. Out of Jacob came the twelve 0:20:25.040 --> 0:20:29.440 tribes of Israel. Rebecca is in the family line of Jesus. 0:20:30.440 --> 0:20:34.040 This can all be traced back to the over and above, giving, 0:20:34.640 --> 0:20:38.439 to doing more than what's required. Had she been too busy, 0:20:38.720 --> 0:20:42.199 too selfish, she would have missed the awesome future that 0:20:42.280 --> 0:20:45.960 God had for her. Man. Let's be Rebeccah's let's be 0:20:46.080 --> 0:20:49.439 over and above people. Let's look for opportunities to be 0:20:49.480 --> 0:20:53.960 a blessing head. Friend is struggling, Just a phone call, Hey, 0:20:54.000 --> 0:20:57.280 I'm praying for you. Let me bring you dinner this week. 0:20:57.880 --> 0:21:01.399 That coworker that's fighting cancer. Let me babysit your children 0:21:01.440 --> 0:21:03.639 one night. Let me pick you up, bring you to church. 0:21:04.520 --> 0:21:07.159 That relative that's trying to get the down payment for 0:21:07.240 --> 0:21:09.600 the house. Let me give you a gift, something to 0:21:09.640 --> 0:21:13.879 push you ahead. What you give may leave your hand, 0:21:14.400 --> 0:21:17.959 but it doesn't leave your life. It's a seed you're sowing. 0:21:18.359 --> 0:21:22.800 It's coming back. God sees the sacrifices. He sees you 0:21:22.920 --> 0:21:26.119 going over and above, not doing it to get credit. 0:21:26.880 --> 0:21:29.840 Rebecca wasn't making a big announcement, do it in front 0:21:29.880 --> 0:21:33.720 of friends. It was this stranger that she had never met. 0:21:34.400 --> 0:21:37.840 And look what happened. Thousands of years later, we're talking 0:21:37.880 --> 0:21:42.720 about her. She opened her heart and God opened the heavens. 0:21:43.119 --> 0:21:46.359 When you give what's in your hand, God what's in 0:21:46.440 --> 0:21:49.800 his hands. And I don't believe in pressuring people to 0:21:49.880 --> 0:21:53.880 give and making you feel manipulated guilty. But I am 0:21:54.040 --> 0:21:58.919 passionate about challenging you to live generously. I've seen it 0:21:58.960 --> 0:22:01.959 in my own life. God opens the windows of heaven 0:22:02.920 --> 0:22:06.399 when you have this over and above mentality. Not I 0:22:06.520 --> 0:22:10.240 have to this is what's required. This is the minimum 0:22:10.240 --> 0:22:13.800 I can get away with. That's robbing God of the 0:22:13.880 --> 0:22:17.520 opportunity to bless you. That will keep the windows of 0:22:17.560 --> 0:22:20.880 heaven closed. But you come to Lakewood, I know who 0:22:20.920 --> 0:22:24.119 you are. I am looking at over and above people. 0:22:24.400 --> 0:22:27.479 I've seen you show up and volunteer week after week. 0:22:28.119 --> 0:22:32.280 I've seen you give to building projects and unselfishly rebuild 0:22:32.320 --> 0:22:36.960 houses and visit people in the hospital. All those good deeds, 0:22:37.560 --> 0:22:41.960 sacrifices you've made, funds you've given, they are coming back 0:22:42.000 --> 0:22:46.919 to you, pressed down, shaken together, running over. Now. You 0:22:46.960 --> 0:22:49.600 may not have seen it yet, but your time is coming. 0:22:50.320 --> 0:22:54.520 God is faithful. When you're so generously, You're gonna reap generously. 0:22:55.280 --> 0:22:58.480 Like Rebecca, He's gonna show out in your life, take 0:22:58.480 --> 0:23:02.120 youre where you've never dreamed. When Victoria was in her 0:23:02.280 --> 0:23:06.000 early twenties and still single. She met an elderly lady 0:23:06.400 --> 0:23:10.360 at the church she attended across town and they became friends. 0:23:10.400 --> 0:23:13.560 And this woman got to where she couldn't drive anymore, 0:23:14.040 --> 0:23:16.520 so Victoria would go pick her up every Sunday and 0:23:16.800 --> 0:23:19.960 take her to church and take her to lunch afterwards. 0:23:20.640 --> 0:23:24.560 Victoria had other friends, She was busy, plenty of things 0:23:24.600 --> 0:23:26.960 to do. Nobody would have faulted her for not doing this, 0:23:27.640 --> 0:23:31.560 but she had this over and above mentality thinking, how 0:23:31.600 --> 0:23:34.159 can I be a blessing today? Who can I be 0:23:34.280 --> 0:23:37.000 good to? Where is there a need that I can meet? 0:23:37.800 --> 0:23:40.959 That's the best way to live? Get up in the morning, 0:23:41.359 --> 0:23:44.480 not thinking about how you can be blessed? But God, 0:23:44.600 --> 0:23:47.800 how can I be a blessing today? Show me ways 0:23:47.880 --> 0:23:50.960 to be good to people? Bring those across my path 0:23:50.960 --> 0:23:54.000 that need encouragement, that need a friend, that need to 0:23:54.080 --> 0:23:57.960 know that you care well. Victoria always prayed that God 0:23:58.000 --> 0:24:01.679 would bring the right men into her life. She said, God, 0:24:03.480 --> 0:24:07.040 what's more important to me than how he looks, or 0:24:07.320 --> 0:24:10.359 what he has or how talented he is. Is God, 0:24:10.480 --> 0:24:13.080 I want someone that loves you with the whole heart. 0:24:13.480 --> 0:24:16.960 I want a man that puts you first place. All 0:24:17.000 --> 0:24:19.879 this time, she's praying that God didn't send her a 0:24:19.880 --> 0:24:23.720 young man. He sent this older woman. Year after year, 0:24:23.840 --> 0:24:27.520 Victoria was faithful, taking her to church, making sure she 0:24:27.640 --> 0:24:31.560 felt love. She went over and above to be a blessing. 0:24:31.920 --> 0:24:35.040 And what did God do? He went over and above 0:24:37.480 --> 0:24:43.920 and send her this tall, good looking hunk of humanity. 0:24:45.160 --> 0:24:48.479 She didn't come looking for me. I found her. I 0:24:48.520 --> 0:24:51.000 walked into her mother's jewelry store, and there she was 0:24:51.040 --> 0:24:54.800 to wait on men. I thought about how Victoria had 0:24:54.800 --> 0:24:57.440 not taken care of that lady, had not gone over 0:24:57.480 --> 0:24:59.919 and above. My brother Paul could have walked into the 0:25:03.680 --> 0:25:06.639 I like that one. Here we go, y'all, this is 0:25:06.720 --> 0:25:10.639 like Rebecca. She didn't have to get water for the camels. 0:25:11.359 --> 0:25:13.639 Victoria didn't have to be good to the older lady. 0:25:14.080 --> 0:25:17.320 Barnabus didn't have to give the property. We didn't have 0:25:17.400 --> 0:25:20.560 to help that other pastor with his building. But every 0:25:20.640 --> 0:25:23.720 time you go over and above, God is gonna go 0:25:23.840 --> 0:25:26.840 over and above. He's gonna do things in your life 0:25:26.840 --> 0:25:32.080 to surprise you. Now my challenge, don't rob him of 0:25:32.119 --> 0:25:35.919 this opportunity. Look for ways you can be good to people. 0:25:36.160 --> 0:25:39.680 You may not get any credit. Nobody knows but God 0:25:39.760 --> 0:25:44.640 knows he's keeping the records. Let's stretch our faith. Let's 0:25:44.640 --> 0:25:47.480 get out of our comfort zones. If you keep doing 0:25:47.520 --> 0:25:50.960 the same thing, you're gonna get the same results. What 0:25:51.119 --> 0:25:55.040 God has planned for you is bigger than you can imagine. 0:25:55.080 --> 0:25:58.080 How about getting some bigger seed in the ground. Take 0:25:58.160 --> 0:26:00.920 some steps of faith, do some then over and a 0:26:01.080 --> 0:26:04.000 bob what you're used to. If you'll do this, I 0:26:04.119 --> 0:26:07.720 believe and declare, you're about to see the heavens open. 0:26:08.280 --> 0:26:11.840 God is going to bring people you've never imagined, open 0:26:11.960 --> 0:26:18.040 doors you couldn't open, give you resources, influence, creativity, blessings 0:26:18.080 --> 0:26:21.680 that you cannot contain. I believe it and declare it 0:26:21.720 --> 0:26:24.679 in Jesus's name, And if you receive it, can you 0:26:24.720 --> 0:26:29.080 say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to 0:26:29.160 --> 0:26:31.960 make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray 0:26:32.000 --> 0:26:36.280 with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:26:36.880 --> 0:26:40.640 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:26:41.200 --> 0:26:43.640 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:26:43.680 --> 0:26:46.879 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:26:47.000 --> 0:26:49.399 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:26:49.440 --> 0:26:52.159 the number on the screen or go to the website, 0:26:52.480 --> 0:26:55.119 but I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:26:55.200 --> 0:26:57.639 church and keep God first place. 0:26:58.520 --> 0:27:02.840 What if every place you set, every habit you formed, 0:27:03.200 --> 0:27:06.880 and every decision you made became a pathway to see 0:27:06.960 --> 0:27:09.560 God move in your life. 0:27:09.600 --> 0:27:12.560 We all have hopes and dreams, things we're believing for. 0:27:13.000 --> 0:27:16.480 When you start the year in faith expecting God's goodness, 0:27:16.600 --> 0:27:19.120 you are setting the tone for a blessed new year. 0:27:19.600 --> 0:27:21.600 And we'd love to send you our twenty twenty six 0:27:21.840 --> 0:27:25.080 Faith for Today planner. You can write down your dreams 0:27:25.119 --> 0:27:28.240 and goals and plus use it for your everyday activities 0:27:28.280 --> 0:27:29.160 and reminders. 0:27:29.359 --> 0:27:32.320 It's important to feed your faith on a daily basis. 0:27:32.680 --> 0:27:35.520 This planner it's not just a calendar. It's filled with 0:27:35.560 --> 0:27:39.320 scriptures and inspiration to help you stay encouraged and keep 0:27:39.359 --> 0:27:41.480 believing for what God has put in your heart. 0:27:41.640 --> 0:27:44.240 Twenty twenty six is your year to see the goodness 0:27:44.240 --> 0:27:47.000 of God in greater ways, let go of what didn't 0:27:47.040 --> 0:27:49.560 work out, and get ready for the new things God 0:27:49.600 --> 0:27:50.359 has in store. 0:27:51.240 --> 0:27:53.680 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:27:53.720 --> 0:27:56.320 of any amount this month, we would like to send 0:27:56.320 --> 0:27:58.840 you a copy of the twenty twenty six Faith for 0:27:58.960 --> 0:28:03.359 Today planner. Each month features a fresh theme of encouragement, 0:28:03.760 --> 0:28:08.080 a guiding scripture to stand on, room to write your goals, prayers, 0:28:08.119 --> 0:28:12.440 and vision space for faith steps. Because faith isn't passive, 0:28:12.760 --> 0:28:16.600 it's active. A monthly QR code linking to a message 0:28:16.640 --> 0:28:19.879 or video to keep your spirit lifted. With a twenty 0:28:19.920 --> 0:28:23.480 twenty six Faith for Today Planner, you'll be reminded that 0:28:23.640 --> 0:28:26.919 living by faith makes room for God to do what 0:28:27.119 --> 0:28:31.080 only He can do. Break through in your business, God's 0:28:31.119 --> 0:28:35.919 healing touch. Loved ones returning to faith. Request your copy 0:28:35.960 --> 0:28:38.400 of the planner and step into the new year with 0:28:38.600 --> 0:28:43.040 bold faith, fresh hope, and daily encouragement. To strengthen your 0:28:43.080 --> 0:28:46.000 spirit and face every challenge with confidence. 0:28:46.680 --> 0:28:49.760 No matter what's happening around you, faith can rise up 0:28:49.800 --> 0:28:53.440 in you. Keep believing and expecting a blessed twenty twenty 0:28:53.480 --> 0:28:56.400 six Victoria and I pray for you and your family 0:28:56.480 --> 0:28:59.880 every day. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. 0:29:00.280 --> 0:29:03.880 Your generosity is helping people around the world. As we 0:29:03.960 --> 0:29:07.080 finish this year, I hope you'll consider making a special 0:29:07.280 --> 0:29:10.600 year in gift to help keep the ministry strong. We 0:29:10.680 --> 0:29:13.440 so appreciate all the Champion of Hope partners for your 0:29:13.480 --> 0:29:16.800 monthly support. We wish you and your family a very 0:29:17.000 --> 0:29:19.760 merry Christmas. Until we see you next time. May the 0:29:19.760 --> 0:29:21.400 Lord bless you and keep you. 0:29:22.280 --> 0:29:24.880 Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 0:29:24.920 --> 0:29:29.000 six Faith for Today Planner. Visit Joelostein dot com or 0:29:29.120 --> 0:29:32.600 call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for a 0:29:32.640 --> 0:29:35.800 special year end gift. This month, we are also offering 0:29:36.040 --> 0:29:40.080 the Faith to Share Bundle, Keep One, Give One, Give 0:29:40.160 --> 0:29:44.000 the gift of faith, focus and fresh hope for someone 0:29:44.080 --> 0:29:47.680 special in your life. You can also request the God's 0:29:47.720 --> 0:29:52.640 Word Work Study Collection. This empowering collection includes the NIV, 0:29:53.000 --> 0:29:57.640 the Message, Parallel Bible, a beautifully crafted leather bookmark in ten, 0:29:58.040 --> 0:30:01.040 and how to Read Your Bible and Enjoy, along with 0:30:01.160 --> 0:30:05.400 two planners. You can request these inspiring resources by calling 0:30:05.560 --> 0:30:08.920 eight eight eight five six seven Joel or logging on 0:30:09.000 --> 0:30:13.560 to Joelostein dot com today, call or click anytime twenty 0:30:13.600 --> 0:30:17.719 four hours a day, stay organized, encouraged, and full of 0:30:17.760 --> 0:30:51.080 faith all year long. Request these resources today