Power Of The Blessing

0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:03.600 Hi, this is joln Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 0:00:03.600 --> 0:00:05.600 to the podcast and thanks for. 0:00:05.559 --> 0:00:08.440 Supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an. 0:00:08.320 --> 0:00:12.480 Awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 0:00:12.800 --> 0:00:15.080 God bless you today and enjoy the message. 0:00:15.360 --> 0:00:18.239 Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:21.160 your homes. And if you're ever in our area, please 0:00:21.200 --> 0:00:23.800 stop buying. Be a part of one of our services. 0:00:23.920 --> 0:00:24.799 I'll promise you. 0:00:24.840 --> 0:00:26.280 We'll make you feel right at home. 0:00:26.880 --> 0:00:29.000 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:00:29.040 --> 0:00:29.840 about this couple. 0:00:30.200 --> 0:00:32.840 They had been married for sixty years and they. 0:00:32.720 --> 0:00:36.640 Were sitting on the front porch together feeling romantic. The 0:00:36.680 --> 0:00:40.040 wife said, I remember when you used to always hold 0:00:40.040 --> 0:00:42.920 my hand. Her husband reached over and took her hand. 0:00:43.280 --> 0:00:45.960 She said, I remember you always used to kiss me 0:00:46.040 --> 0:00:46.640 on the cheek. 0:00:47.000 --> 0:00:49.919 He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She said, I. 0:00:49.920 --> 0:00:52.560 Even remember when you used to nibble on my ear. 0:00:53.320 --> 0:00:55.120 He got up and started walking away. 0:00:55.600 --> 0:00:57.240 She said, what's wrong? Where are you going? 0:00:57.480 --> 0:01:02.360 He turned around and said, to get my teeth. Say 0:01:02.400 --> 0:01:05.240 it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 0:01:05.280 --> 0:01:07.720 am what it says, I am, I have what it 0:01:07.760 --> 0:01:10.160 says I have, I can do what it says I 0:01:10.200 --> 0:01:13.399 can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 0:01:13.760 --> 0:01:18.119 I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:01:18.440 --> 0:01:22.080 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:01:22.160 --> 0:01:25.360 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:01:25.720 --> 0:01:29.440 the power of the blessing. When you honor God with 0:01:29.560 --> 0:01:32.360 your life, there is a blessing He puts. 0:01:32.120 --> 0:01:34.560 On you that gives you an advantage. 0:01:35.160 --> 0:01:38.920 It causes you to rise up when circumstances are trying 0:01:38.920 --> 0:01:42.200 to push you down. You will recover from an illness 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:46.120 when the expert said you wouldn't. You will accomplish dreams 0:01:46.240 --> 0:01:51.320 that looked impossible. It wasn't just your talent, your skill determination. 0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:56.760 There is a force behind you fighting your battles, opening 0:01:56.800 --> 0:02:01.040 doors you couldn't open, bringing the right people. Those weren't 0:02:01.120 --> 0:02:04.920 just good breaks. That's the blessing on your life. The 0:02:04.920 --> 0:02:08.639 blessing will cause you to prosper when others are struggling. 0:02:09.320 --> 0:02:13.200 The blessing will bring promotion when you weren't next in line. 0:02:13.880 --> 0:02:16.519 The blessing will cause people to be good to you 0:02:16.919 --> 0:02:20.200 that don't even like you. The scripture says in Malachi, 0:02:20.600 --> 0:02:24.399 when we give our tithes and offerings, God will pour 0:02:24.480 --> 0:02:27.760 out a blessing that we don't have room to receive. 0:02:28.600 --> 0:02:34.280 It doesn't say blessings plural, it says blessing singular. When 0:02:34.320 --> 0:02:38.080 you have the blessing, then all kinds of blessings will come. 0:02:38.680 --> 0:02:41.480 You won't have room to receive all the good things 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:45.200 God has in store. And when you face difficulties the 0:02:45.240 --> 0:02:48.360 medical report doesn't look good. You don't see how you 0:02:48.360 --> 0:02:51.080 could ever get out of debt, ever break the addiction. 0:02:52.040 --> 0:02:56.240 Ordinary people would complain, Ordinary people would be worried. 0:02:56.560 --> 0:02:58.920 Here's the key. You're not ordinary. 0:02:59.320 --> 0:03:03.360 You have the bless God's face is smiling on you. 0:03:03.960 --> 0:03:07.960 He's going before you right now, making cooked places strength, 0:03:08.480 --> 0:03:11.840 moving the wrong people out of the way, arranging things 0:03:11.880 --> 0:03:15.160 in your favor. When you know you have the blessing, 0:03:15.919 --> 0:03:19.400 you don't go around upset because people aren't treating you right, 0:03:19.960 --> 0:03:24.720 worried about your finances, frustrated over a child. You stay 0:03:24.760 --> 0:03:28.080 in peace, knowing that it's just a matter of time 0:03:28.240 --> 0:03:32.400 before things change. You know, God being for you is 0:03:32.440 --> 0:03:35.440 more than the world being against you. And when you're 0:03:35.480 --> 0:03:39.119 attempted to be discouraged, think it's never going to work. Out, 0:03:39.600 --> 0:03:42.800 turn it around. Father, Thank you for the blessing on 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:46.040 my life. Thank you that you're breathing in my direction. 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:48.800 Thank you that you're taking me where I could not 0:03:48.960 --> 0:03:50.040 go on my own. 0:03:50.760 --> 0:03:54.520 This is what David did when he faced Goliath in 0:03:54.600 --> 0:03:56.640 the natural. He didn't have a chance. 0:03:57.120 --> 0:04:00.760 Goliath was twice his size, had all kinds of training 0:04:00.880 --> 0:04:03.920 and experience. He was wearing a full set of armor. 0:04:04.600 --> 0:04:07.760 David didn't have any of that. He could have been intimidated, 0:04:08.320 --> 0:04:11.880 stayed in the shepherd's fields, complain God, he's too big. 0:04:12.520 --> 0:04:14.760 But David understood this principle. 0:04:15.200 --> 0:04:19.160 He knew the blessing on his life gave him an advantage. 0:04:19.839 --> 0:04:22.920 He went out with a slingshot and a few stones 0:04:23.160 --> 0:04:28.640 and defeated Goliath. What you have may seem small compared 0:04:28.640 --> 0:04:32.080 to what you're up against, but a slingshot with the 0:04:32.160 --> 0:04:37.000 blessing is more powerful than a tank without it. Your 0:04:37.080 --> 0:04:40.560 talent may seem small compared to the dream God put 0:04:40.600 --> 0:04:44.440 in your heart, but that talent with the blessing will 0:04:44.480 --> 0:04:46.560 take you further than you can imagine. 0:04:47.080 --> 0:04:48.600 Now, don't discount yourself. 0:04:49.040 --> 0:04:52.320 Don't look at all the reasons why you can't be successful, 0:04:52.760 --> 0:04:54.160 why you can't purchase a house. 0:04:54.200 --> 0:04:57.040 Why you can't break the addiction on your own. 0:04:57.520 --> 0:05:01.080 It may not happen, but you're not on your There 0:05:01.200 --> 0:05:04.560 is a blessing on your life, put there by the 0:05:04.640 --> 0:05:10.000 God who spoke worlds into existence. This blessing is not natural, 0:05:10.360 --> 0:05:14.280 it's supernatural. It will cause things to happen that you 0:05:14.320 --> 0:05:20.240 couldn't make happen. The blessing will cause opportunity to find you. Good, 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:24.920 breaks will chase you down, Promotion, healing, vindication. You don't 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:28.120 have to go after them. The blessing will cause them 0:05:28.120 --> 0:05:31.719 to come to you. One Sunday morning, when my father 0:05:31.880 --> 0:05:35.280 was the pastor, I was in the TV production area 0:05:35.400 --> 0:05:38.839 right before service. I ran downstairs to see my father 0:05:38.920 --> 0:05:42.040 and put his microphone on. On my way back up, 0:05:42.640 --> 0:05:45.200 I was in a big hurry. As I came around 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:48.560 a corner, this man was coming up. He stopped me 0:05:48.600 --> 0:05:52.719 and said, Joel, my cousin has a construction permit for 0:05:52.800 --> 0:05:56.520 the last full power commercial television. 0:05:55.960 --> 0:05:57.040 Station in Houston. 0:05:57.440 --> 0:06:00.080 He wants you to be a part of it. There 0:06:00.080 --> 0:06:03.400 are hundreds of people in the lobby that day. If 0:06:03.440 --> 0:06:06.039 I would have been ten seconds earlier, I would have 0:06:06.080 --> 0:06:08.880 missed him. If he would have caught one more red 0:06:08.960 --> 0:06:11.960 light on the way to church or pass wouldn't have crossed. 0:06:12.640 --> 0:06:15.719 God had us at the right place at the right time. 0:06:16.360 --> 0:06:20.520 I wasn't looking for a television station, but a television 0:06:20.560 --> 0:06:22.040 station was looking for me. 0:06:23.080 --> 0:06:25.160 Was that a coincidence? A lucky break? 0:06:25.320 --> 0:06:25.400 Now? 0:06:25.839 --> 0:06:29.120 That was the blessing on my life. I can't take 0:06:29.160 --> 0:06:29.880 credit for it. 0:06:30.400 --> 0:06:33.400 All I was doing was honoring God being my best 0:06:33.720 --> 0:06:37.640 and the opportunity found me. We put the station on 0:06:37.720 --> 0:06:40.880 the air and several years later sold it for a 0:06:41.000 --> 0:06:46.200 huge profit. Those funds were instrumental in us renovating this place, 0:06:46.360 --> 0:06:50.880 the former Compact Center. God has the right breaks, the 0:06:51.000 --> 0:06:54.560 right people lined up for you. You don't have to 0:06:54.600 --> 0:06:58.640 live frustrated, trying to make things happen, worried that it's 0:06:58.680 --> 0:07:02.640 not going to work out. God is directing your steps. 0:07:03.040 --> 0:07:05.680 He's going to have you at the right place at 0:07:05.680 --> 0:07:09.600 the right time, down to the slip second. You are 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:14.520 not going to miss what belongs to you. Opportunity is 0:07:14.600 --> 0:07:19.000 coming bigger than you've imagined. When we signed the contract 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:20.560 for the television station. 0:07:20.480 --> 0:07:21.680 I was so excited. 0:07:22.160 --> 0:07:25.560 I never dreamed we'd own a station. I couldn't fathom 0:07:25.680 --> 0:07:30.280 anything bigger. I didn't realize that was just a step 0:07:30.720 --> 0:07:33.880 in what God wanted to do. As great as I 0:07:33.960 --> 0:07:37.160 thought it was, it wasn't even the main thing. 0:07:37.720 --> 0:07:39.360 That was just the warm up act. 0:07:39.720 --> 0:07:42.800 Being up here owning the compact center, speaking to a 0:07:42.800 --> 0:07:43.520 lot of people. 0:07:43.800 --> 0:07:47.720 This is far beyond what I ever dreamed. What am 0:07:47.760 --> 0:07:48.240 I saying? 0:07:48.560 --> 0:07:52.760 What you think is the ultimate blessing God showing out 0:07:52.800 --> 0:07:55.600 in your life? Can I tell you you haven't seen 0:07:55.680 --> 0:07:59.560 anything yet that is just a step in where God 0:07:59.640 --> 0:08:03.680 is taken you. There are levels that you have not 0:08:03.840 --> 0:08:09.840 even fathomed, opportunities far beyond what you think. You may 0:08:09.840 --> 0:08:12.440 have seen God's goodness in the past. You can say 0:08:12.560 --> 0:08:15.400 like me that God's blessed you, but you haven't touched 0:08:15.400 --> 0:08:16.560 the surface. 0:08:16.280 --> 0:08:17.640 Of what God has in store. 0:08:18.840 --> 0:08:21.240 I was in India one time with my father and 0:08:21.720 --> 0:08:24.440 I met this young pastor that came from a very 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:29.280 poor family. They didn't have running water or electricity. They 0:08:29.320 --> 0:08:32.160 lived out on this open field in a little hut. 0:08:32.559 --> 0:08:35.840 The man next door was very wealthy. He owned a 0:08:35.920 --> 0:08:40.720 huge farm, had thousands of cattle and many crops. He 0:08:40.880 --> 0:08:44.200 sold milk and vegetables to people in the village. But 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:47.760 this man was very greedyent his prices were so high 0:08:47.800 --> 0:08:51.760 that most of the poor people couldn't afford anything. One day, 0:08:51.960 --> 0:08:55.400 about ten of his cows got out and came over 0:08:55.480 --> 0:08:58.680 to the property where the pastor and his family lived. 0:08:59.080 --> 0:09:01.200 The man heard about it and had his workers come 0:09:01.280 --> 0:09:03.760 get the cows put them back in the fence. The 0:09:03.800 --> 0:09:06.720 next day, ten more cows got out came over to 0:09:06.760 --> 0:09:11.160 the pastor's property. This happened again and again and again. 0:09:11.720 --> 0:09:15.040 The owner got so frustrated he finally told the. 0:09:14.960 --> 0:09:18.760 Pastor to just keep the cows. The pastor was. 0:09:18.720 --> 0:09:23.160 So excited he started selling milk and products to people 0:09:23.200 --> 0:09:25.959 in the village, but he sold them for less than 0:09:26.000 --> 0:09:29.559 the other man. Before long, people were lined up at 0:09:29.559 --> 0:09:33.240 his door. He was able to buy more cows. His 0:09:33.440 --> 0:09:37.640 business got so large that that other man came and said, 0:09:38.080 --> 0:09:39.319 I can't compete with you. 0:09:39.960 --> 0:09:42.160 Why don't you take over my business. 0:09:42.520 --> 0:09:46.080 He purchased it for a fraction of the value. Today, 0:09:46.120 --> 0:09:51.079 this young pastor has a large business with several hundred employees. 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:56.000 It all started when those cows came to his property 0:09:56.320 --> 0:09:57.160 and wouldn't leave. 0:09:57.679 --> 0:10:01.120 He couldn't have made that happen. That the blessing on 0:10:01.240 --> 0:10:01.880 his life. 0:10:02.920 --> 0:10:08.720 God controls the universe he knows how to have the cows, 0:10:08.760 --> 0:10:13.480 finds you, the good breaks, the property, the contracts, the businesses, 0:10:13.720 --> 0:10:15.240 they're going to come looking for you. 0:10:16.240 --> 0:10:19.080 Well, Joel, this is kind of far out. We serve 0:10:19.320 --> 0:10:20.520 a far out God. 0:10:21.160 --> 0:10:24.200 His blessing on your life is going to do far 0:10:24.240 --> 0:10:29.360 out things. After all, it's far out having church in 0:10:29.400 --> 0:10:33.199 the former Compact Center. It's far out that my mom 0:10:33.400 --> 0:10:37.079 is still alive thirty seven years after being diagnosed with 0:10:37.200 --> 0:10:41.800 terminal cancer. It's far out for me to be up 0:10:41.800 --> 0:10:45.040 here in front of you, having no formal training. Get 0:10:45.040 --> 0:10:48.960 ready for some far out favor, far out blessings, far 0:10:48.960 --> 0:10:51.080 out opportunity, far out promotion. 0:10:51.960 --> 0:10:55.079 God said, you won't have room to receive it. 0:10:55.960 --> 0:10:59.000 He's going to do things so amazing in your life 0:10:59.480 --> 0:11:01.880 that you have to pass it down to your children. 0:11:02.520 --> 0:11:07.559 You can't contain it. All generational blessings are coming. Increase 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:13.679 that goes to your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren, businesses, contracts, 0:11:13.960 --> 0:11:19.560 real estate that continue to bless people long after you're gone. 0:11:19.720 --> 0:11:24.040 Proverb says, a good person leaves an inheritance to their 0:11:24.160 --> 0:11:28.480 children's children. That's God's dream for you. Get rid of 0:11:28.520 --> 0:11:32.319 a barely get by mentality. I'll be satisfied if I 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:34.240 can just pay my bills and make it through. 0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:36.880 That is not your destiny. 0:11:36.960 --> 0:11:39.880 The blessing on your life is going to cause you 0:11:39.920 --> 0:11:43.319 to lend and not borrow, to have more than enough. 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:48.280 David said, my cup runs over. There are some running 0:11:48.360 --> 0:11:52.400 over blessings in your future, blessings that you cannot contain, 0:11:53.240 --> 0:11:57.600 increase that you can't use up in your lifetime. Well, Joel, 0:11:57.600 --> 0:12:01.600 I haven't seen any of these far out blessing. Stay encouraged. 0:12:01.800 --> 0:12:03.360 They're on the way. 0:12:03.480 --> 0:12:06.600 You wouldn't be hearing this if God wasn't about to 0:12:06.679 --> 0:12:11.040 do something amazing. He's wanting us to take the limits 0:12:11.040 --> 0:12:16.120 off of him enlarger vision. Quit telling yourself all the 0:12:16.160 --> 0:12:19.199 reasons why it's not going to happen, how you've had 0:12:19.200 --> 0:12:22.240 too many bad breaks, how your dream looks impossible. 0:12:22.480 --> 0:12:25.240 It may be to you, but it's not to our God. 0:12:25.880 --> 0:12:29.680 Start expecting his favor, start believing for new levels. 0:12:29.920 --> 0:12:31.800 Start talking like it's going to happen. 0:12:32.280 --> 0:12:35.960 Father, Thank you that you're bringing me into overflow. Thank 0:12:36.000 --> 0:12:39.160 you that generational blessings are coming my way. Thank you 0:12:39.200 --> 0:12:42.920 that you're opening doors that no man can shut. We 0:12:42.960 --> 0:12:47.040 see this blessing in the life of Joseph. As a teenager, 0:12:47.200 --> 0:12:49.640 God gave him a dream that one day he would 0:12:49.720 --> 0:12:52.720 lead a nation that people would bow down before him. 0:12:53.160 --> 0:12:56.080 He knew something big was in his future, but his 0:12:56.160 --> 0:12:57.280 brothers were jealous. 0:12:57.760 --> 0:13:00.719 They threw him into a pit. We're going to leave 0:13:00.760 --> 0:13:01.520 him there to die. 0:13:01.600 --> 0:13:05.360 But they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming. They sold 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:08.640 him as a slave. He ended up working for a 0:13:08.679 --> 0:13:13.160 man named Potterphar. Potterphar was a high ranking military official 0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:18.199 in the Egyptian government. Joseph could have been bitter God, 0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.079 I thought the blessing was on my life. Why did 0:13:21.080 --> 0:13:25.000 this happen to me? Instead, he kept being his best, 0:13:25.360 --> 0:13:27.400 treating people with respect. 0:13:27.320 --> 0:13:28.600 Doing more than required. 0:13:29.280 --> 0:13:33.360 The scripture says the Lord was with Joseph and blessed 0:13:33.440 --> 0:13:36.720 him greatly as he served in the home of his 0:13:36.800 --> 0:13:42.800 Egyptian master. Notice God was with Joseph in the unfair situation, 0:13:43.520 --> 0:13:47.280 when he was mistreated, when he was betrayed, the blessing 0:13:47.600 --> 0:13:49.440 was still on his life. 0:13:49.520 --> 0:13:51.600 Sometimes we think we're not blessed. 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:55.400 We came down with an illness, we lost our main client, 0:13:55.760 --> 0:13:59.760 a relationship didn't work out. That didn't stop the blessing. 0:14:00.400 --> 0:14:04.360 People can't change what God put on you. The favor 0:14:04.400 --> 0:14:07.560 didn't get canceled out because of a bad break. The 0:14:07.600 --> 0:14:12.240 blessing is while those enemies cannot defeat you. The blessing 0:14:12.440 --> 0:14:16.280 is why that sickness can't take your life. The blessing 0:14:16.640 --> 0:14:20.040 is why that setback is not the end. It is 0:14:20.080 --> 0:14:23.840 a setup for what God is about to do. Don't 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:26.840 get discouraged when life doesn't go your way. 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:29.120 The blessing is still on you. 0:14:30.280 --> 0:14:35.200 Verse three says Potterpher noticed Joseph and realized the Lord 0:14:35.360 --> 0:14:39.600 was giving him success in everything he did. Verse four, 0:14:40.000 --> 0:14:45.080 So Joseph naturally became the favorite of Potiphar. Joseph went 0:14:45.160 --> 0:14:49.560 from being a slave, unnoticed, insignificant. 0:14:48.960 --> 0:14:50.080 To be in the favorite. 0:14:50.760 --> 0:14:54.480 Potterpher was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:55.680 of his whole house. 0:14:56.240 --> 0:14:58.280 That's the power of the blessing. 0:14:58.760 --> 0:15:01.520 When people try to push you down, it will cause 0:15:01.560 --> 0:15:04.720 you to rise up. When people ignore you, try to 0:15:04.760 --> 0:15:08.560 discount you, it will cause you to be noticed. I'm 0:15:08.600 --> 0:15:12.240 sure Potipher had other people working for him that had 0:15:12.280 --> 0:15:16.960 more experience, but the blessing on Joseph's life caused him 0:15:17.000 --> 0:15:22.000 to stand out. People may not recognize you yet your 0:15:22.000 --> 0:15:25.800 boss doesn't give you credit, Relatives discount you think you 0:15:25.840 --> 0:15:29.480 don't have much to offer. You may be overlooked now, 0:15:29.920 --> 0:15:33.080 but the time is coming where you're going to be noticed. 0:15:33.600 --> 0:15:34.680 People are going to. 0:15:34.600 --> 0:15:38.240 Recognize your gifts, your talent, your value. 0:15:38.520 --> 0:15:40.880 God's going to cause you to stand out. 0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:45.040 You're going to go from being unnoticed to being in charge, 0:15:45.520 --> 0:15:48.800 from being not recognized to be in the favorite. 0:15:48.840 --> 0:15:50.920 How could this happen? The Blessing on. 0:15:50.840 --> 0:15:55.200 Your Life Verse five says the day Joseph was put 0:15:55.240 --> 0:15:59.800 in charge, God begin to bless Potiphar for Joseph's sake. 0:16:00.840 --> 0:16:05.040 You would think that Joseph would be blessed because of Potterphar, 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:06.640 this prominent official. 0:16:07.080 --> 0:16:10.200 It was just the opposite. The Blessing on. 0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:14.040 Your life is so powerful it will not only cause 0:16:14.240 --> 0:16:17.640 you to be promoted, you to be noticed, but people 0:16:17.800 --> 0:16:22.960 around you will be blessed. Your company, your coworkers, your 0:16:23.000 --> 0:16:26.800 friends should be glad to have you because you're there. 0:16:27.040 --> 0:16:29.800 They're going to see favor, they're going to see increase. 0:16:30.320 --> 0:16:33.560 They may not even realize the reason they're blessed is 0:16:33.600 --> 0:16:38.360 because they're connected to you. Genesis thirty, Jacob had been 0:16:38.400 --> 0:16:42.360 working for a man named Laban for seven years. Laban 0:16:42.440 --> 0:16:46.760 promised him in return that he could marry his daughter Rachel. Well, 0:16:46.840 --> 0:16:51.560 after the seven years, Laban gave him his daughter Leah instead. 0:16:52.160 --> 0:16:53.320 He didn't keep his word. 0:16:53.960 --> 0:16:57.520 He said, Jacob, if you'll work for me another seven years. 0:16:57.320 --> 0:16:58.480 Then i'll give you Rachel. 0:16:59.360 --> 0:17:02.680 Jacob could have been bitter, started a big fight, left 0:17:02.680 --> 0:17:05.440 their angry, but he took the high. 0:17:05.359 --> 0:17:07.399 Road and worked another seven years. 0:17:07.920 --> 0:17:11.560 He finally married Rachel and was about to move back 0:17:11.560 --> 0:17:16.800 to his hometown with his family. Verse twenty seven. Laban said, Jacob, 0:17:17.160 --> 0:17:20.960 please don't leave me. I have learned the Lord has 0:17:21.040 --> 0:17:23.080 blessed me because you are here. 0:17:24.320 --> 0:17:26.640 For years, he didn't treat. 0:17:26.760 --> 0:17:30.840 Jacob right, it was unfair, but now he's. 0:17:30.680 --> 0:17:32.520 Begging him to stay. 0:17:32.640 --> 0:17:38.400 He realizes he's blessed because of the favor on Jacob's life. 0:17:38.560 --> 0:17:41.640 You may have people that don't really value who you are. 0:17:42.280 --> 0:17:46.200 They haven't kept their word. Don't be offended, be a Jacob. 0:17:46.800 --> 0:17:49.720 Keep doing the right thing. You don't have to convince 0:17:49.800 --> 0:17:52.680 people to like you. Prove to them who you are. 0:17:53.200 --> 0:17:55.720 They may discount you now, but one. 0:17:55.600 --> 0:17:59.440 Day, like Jacob, they'll be asking you to stay. They 0:17:59.480 --> 0:18:03.080 will really the reason they are blessed is because of you. 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:07.320 Laban said to Jacob, I'll pay you whatever you want 0:18:07.480 --> 0:18:08.320 if you will stay. 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:11.240 Jacob knew his time there was over. 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:15.080 He left not only a very wealthy man, but he 0:18:15.200 --> 0:18:18.639 left with the respect and honor that he had not 0:18:18.800 --> 0:18:23.520 been given for many years. God is your vindicator. He 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:27.159 sees what's happening. You keep doing the right thing, and 0:18:27.240 --> 0:18:30.480 one day God will make it up to you. In 0:18:30.520 --> 0:18:34.720 the late nineteen fifties, my father was pastoring a large church, 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:39.280 very successful. They had just built a beautiful new sanctuary. 0:18:39.680 --> 0:18:42.760 He was on the state board for his denomination. His 0:18:42.840 --> 0:18:47.200 future looked very bright, but he started teaching the people 0:18:47.240 --> 0:18:50.680 about how God is good and how he still heals 0:18:50.720 --> 0:18:53.800 and wants us to live a victorious life. 0:18:54.000 --> 0:18:57.880 Well, this new message didn't go over well. It didn't fit. 0:18:57.800 --> 0:19:01.840 Into their denominational mold, and there was so much opposition, 0:19:02.000 --> 0:19:05.320 so much pressure, that he had to resign from that church. 0:19:05.800 --> 0:19:09.840 He and my mother went out and started Lakewood. For years, 0:19:10.240 --> 0:19:15.919 my father was ignored by his peers. He was overlooked, unnoticed. 0:19:16.440 --> 0:19:18.640 Colleagues that he used to go to lunch with, they 0:19:18.720 --> 0:19:22.040 just dismissed him, acted like he was second class, like 0:19:22.080 --> 0:19:25.880 he wasn't up to par. My father never said anything 0:19:25.920 --> 0:19:29.360 about this, but I knew deep down that it bothered him. 0:19:30.160 --> 0:19:34.920 Thirty five years later, that denomination was having their annual 0:19:35.040 --> 0:19:39.280 meeting here in Houston. The main speaker sett in front 0:19:39.320 --> 0:19:40.800 of thousands of leaders. 0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:42.840 We need to stay more open. 0:19:43.320 --> 0:19:46.120 Think where we would be if we still had John 0:19:46.160 --> 0:19:50.680 Ostein with us after all those years, they finally showed 0:19:50.760 --> 0:19:56.800 him respect and admiration. And no, you don't need people's approval, 0:19:57.240 --> 0:20:00.119 You don't have to have their support. But God, God 0:20:00.359 --> 0:20:04.360 is a god of justice. He sees what's happening. If 0:20:04.359 --> 0:20:07.520 you will keep honoring him, there will be a day 0:20:07.920 --> 0:20:11.520 when those that have overlooked you, those that have discounted you, 0:20:12.040 --> 0:20:14.920 they will see you in a new light and give 0:20:15.000 --> 0:20:19.560 you the respect and honor that you deserve. When Joseph's 0:20:19.560 --> 0:20:23.960 brothers threw him into the pit, they took his freedom, 0:20:24.119 --> 0:20:27.920 but they didn't take the blessing. When Potiphar's wife tried 0:20:27.960 --> 0:20:31.200 to seduce Joseph, she ripped his coat off and lied 0:20:31.240 --> 0:20:34.879 about and falsely accused him. She took his coat, but 0:20:35.000 --> 0:20:38.720 she couldn't take his calling. Somebody may have hurt you, 0:20:39.320 --> 0:20:42.479 they betrayed you, They left you out, but they didn't 0:20:42.520 --> 0:20:46.560 stop your destiny. A man told me recently how his 0:20:46.640 --> 0:20:50.880 company let him go after many years. Somebody was jealous 0:20:50.920 --> 0:20:54.480 and spread all these rumors, and long story short, he 0:20:54.680 --> 0:20:59.080 unfairly lost his position. I told him what I'm telling you. 0:20:59.520 --> 0:21:02.600 They may have taken your job, but they didn't take 0:21:02.640 --> 0:21:07.480 your blessing. People cannot stop what God put on you. 0:21:07.480 --> 0:21:10.560 You keep honoring God, be in your best, and the 0:21:10.680 --> 0:21:14.040 blessing will always override. 0:21:14.080 --> 0:21:15.120 What people have done. 0:21:16.000 --> 0:21:20.960 The scripture says what God has blessed no person can curse. 0:21:21.720 --> 0:21:25.600 The blessing on you is more powerful than any betrayal, 0:21:26.320 --> 0:21:29.359 than how you were raised, than people trying to discredit you. 0:21:30.119 --> 0:21:33.960 Quit focusing on what you've lost and start focusing on 0:21:34.040 --> 0:21:37.280 what you have left. The blessing is still on your life. 0:21:37.720 --> 0:21:41.320 You are blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 0:21:41.400 --> 0:21:43.840 You are blessed when you go in and blessed when 0:21:43.880 --> 0:21:47.320 you come out. That means you are blessed when things 0:21:47.359 --> 0:21:50.040 are going your way and blessed when they're not going 0:21:50.080 --> 0:21:52.840 your way. You are blessed when you're in the palace, 0:21:53.160 --> 0:21:55.000 and you're still blessed when you're in the pit. 0:21:55.720 --> 0:21:56.440 Here's the key. 0:21:57.119 --> 0:22:00.760 The blessing did not come from people, so it cannot 0:22:00.840 --> 0:22:01.720 be taken. 0:22:01.600 --> 0:22:02.880 Away by people. 0:22:05.080 --> 0:22:09.119 In Numbers, Chapter twenty two, this king was trying to 0:22:09.200 --> 0:22:13.480 pay a prophet to curse the Israelites three times. The 0:22:13.520 --> 0:22:16.600 prophet told the king, no matter how much you pay, 0:22:17.160 --> 0:22:21.679 I cannot curse what God has already blessed. When you 0:22:21.800 --> 0:22:26.040 understand this, you won't live upset because somebody's talking about you, 0:22:26.760 --> 0:22:29.959 frustrated because you had a bad break, offended because they 0:22:30.080 --> 0:22:33.639 left you out. You know, every force that's trying to 0:22:33.680 --> 0:22:37.800 stop you is powerless to change the blessing on your life. 0:22:38.880 --> 0:22:42.320 In the fifteen hundreds, Queen Elizabeth the First was born. 0:22:42.920 --> 0:22:46.040 Her father wanted a boy so badly that he cursed 0:22:46.040 --> 0:22:50.480 her at birth. The pope declared her illegitimate because her 0:22:50.520 --> 0:22:54.480 father had been divorced. Her half sister falsely accused her 0:22:54.720 --> 0:22:58.480 and had her imprisoned in the Tower of London. All 0:22:58.520 --> 0:23:03.359 these people came against her from childhood, but people don't 0:23:03.400 --> 0:23:07.520 determine your destiny. What they say about you cannot stop 0:23:07.560 --> 0:23:11.639 your purpose. And Elizabeth had a rough start, but that 0:23:11.680 --> 0:23:14.720 didn't keep her from becoming who she was called to be. 0:23:15.480 --> 0:23:18.439 She went on to serve as the Queen for forty 0:23:18.480 --> 0:23:19.119 five years. 0:23:19.760 --> 0:23:23.400 She reformed the justice system to make sure people received 0:23:23.440 --> 0:23:27.959 a fair trial. Perhaps people have tried to hold you back. 0:23:28.400 --> 0:23:32.200 Family hasn't supported you. You could be discouraged, settled where 0:23:32.200 --> 0:23:36.280 you are. But like her, the blessing on your life 0:23:36.640 --> 0:23:40.720 is going to override what's trying to stop you. God 0:23:40.800 --> 0:23:46.199 said in Psalms, touch not my anointed, you are His anointed. 0:23:46.960 --> 0:23:51.280 When people come against you, they're not just messing with you, 0:23:51.840 --> 0:23:52.960 they're messing. 0:23:52.560 --> 0:23:56.439 With the God who put the blessing on you. The 0:23:56.520 --> 0:23:59.800 good news is you don't have to fight those battles. 0:24:00.520 --> 0:24:03.359 You have a defender. Don't try to do it in 0:24:03.400 --> 0:24:07.159 your own strength. Stand still and you will see the 0:24:07.200 --> 0:24:12.160 deliverance of the Lord. I have never seen anyone who's 0:24:12.200 --> 0:24:16.240 tried to stop me, discredit me, keep me from my purpose, 0:24:16.680 --> 0:24:20.879 continue to succeed. It may have been a year, five years, 0:24:20.960 --> 0:24:25.359 ten years, but eventually they fade out and I'm still standing. 0:24:25.800 --> 0:24:30.359 It's because the blessing is more powerful than the curse. 0:24:32.400 --> 0:24:36.359 Whatever's coming against you, whatever people are trying to stop you, 0:24:36.440 --> 0:24:40.280 they may seem bigger, more powerful. The sickness, the addiction, 0:24:40.560 --> 0:24:41.800 it can be intimidating. 0:24:42.160 --> 0:24:43.080 Stay in peace. 0:24:43.640 --> 0:24:47.760 The blessing God put on you is more powerful than 0:24:47.800 --> 0:24:52.359 what's trying to stop you. In the scripture, King Saul 0:24:52.640 --> 0:24:56.280 was trying to kill David. David hadn't done anything wrong. 0:24:56.520 --> 0:24:59.359 In fact, David was being good to Saul, but Saul 0:24:59.440 --> 0:25:03.520 was jealous chase David through the desert, making his life miserable. 0:25:04.160 --> 0:25:08.439 Several times David had the opportunity to take Saul's life. 0:25:08.920 --> 0:25:11.119 He snuck up on him while he was sleeping. He 0:25:11.160 --> 0:25:14.800 could have ended the conflict, defended himself. Nobody would have 0:25:14.800 --> 0:25:18.520 blamed him. David wouldn't do it. He knew Saul had 0:25:18.520 --> 0:25:22.320 been anointed by God to be the king, and even 0:25:22.359 --> 0:25:26.240 though David was anointed to replace him, he still. 0:25:25.920 --> 0:25:26.960 Wouldn't harm Saul. 0:25:27.560 --> 0:25:32.280 He understood, you don't touch God's anointed. You don't come 0:25:32.320 --> 0:25:37.399 against what God has blessed. When you face opposition, people 0:25:37.440 --> 0:25:40.640 come against you, you don't have to get upset try 0:25:40.680 --> 0:25:44.080 to pay them back. You can stay in peace knowing 0:25:44.160 --> 0:25:48.199 that when they come against you, they are touching God's anointed. 0:25:48.600 --> 0:25:52.120 That means it's not your battle. The battle is the Lord's. 0:25:52.440 --> 0:25:56.879 He's your defender, he's your vindicator and You're like Joseph. 0:25:56.920 --> 0:26:00.000 At times will get thrown into a pit. Somebody may 0:26:00.000 --> 0:26:03.639 they betray you, but they cannot keep the blessing down. 0:26:04.160 --> 0:26:06.560 They meant it for harm. God's going to turn it 0:26:06.600 --> 0:26:08.800 for good. Keep your shoulders back. 0:26:09.280 --> 0:26:12.919 Live with confidence. You have an advantage. The blessing is 0:26:13.000 --> 0:26:17.399 on your life. I believe and declare this blessing is 0:26:17.440 --> 0:26:20.760 going to take you further than you've imagined. You're about 0:26:20.800 --> 0:26:26.000 to see far out opportunity, far out promotion, far out favor, 0:26:26.359 --> 0:26:30.600 the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, And if 0:26:30.640 --> 0:26:35.000 you receive it, can you say amen? Today I'd like 0:26:35.080 --> 0:26:38.160 to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 0:26:38.200 --> 0:26:39.040 of your life. 0:26:39.280 --> 0:26:43.520 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:26:43.680 --> 0:26:48.600 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll make 0:26:48.680 --> 0:26:50.120 you my Lord and savior. 0:26:51.560 --> 0:26:54.040 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:26:54.040 --> 0:26:54.639 born again. 0:26:55.119 --> 0:26:58.600 Get in a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. 0:27:01.119 --> 0:27:04.480 It's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. 0:27:04.960 --> 0:27:08.000 It's a new year, time to forget the struggles of 0:27:08.040 --> 0:27:11.199 the past and make room for new blessings. It's a 0:27:11.280 --> 0:27:15.040 new year, the perfect time to build expectation and faith 0:27:15.280 --> 0:27:16.800 for an amazing new season. 0:27:17.640 --> 0:27:19.840 The beginning of the year is a great time to 0:27:19.880 --> 0:27:22.880 start afresh and a new to let go of negative 0:27:22.920 --> 0:27:25.080 things of the past and to get ready for the 0:27:25.119 --> 0:27:26.880 new things God has in store. 0:27:27.480 --> 0:27:30.879 Every January we create a new devotional calendar. 0:27:31.320 --> 0:27:34.159 When you start off each day in faith, grateful for 0:27:34.280 --> 0:27:38.400 what God has done, making positive declarations over your future, 0:27:38.840 --> 0:27:41.280 you're setting the tone for a blessed day and a 0:27:41.400 --> 0:27:45.280 victorious year. This devotional calendar will help you get your 0:27:45.320 --> 0:27:48.240 mind going in the right direction so you can live 0:27:48.280 --> 0:27:50.800 in faith expecting the goodness of God. 0:27:51.480 --> 0:27:53.920 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:27:53.960 --> 0:27:56.520 of any amount this first month of the year, we 0:27:56.520 --> 0:27:58.720 would like to send you a copy of our brand 0:27:58.800 --> 0:28:03.160 new twenty five, three hundred and sixty five day devotional calendar. 0:28:03.720 --> 0:28:07.560 Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two, three. 0:28:08.359 --> 0:28:12.080 One wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two 0:28:12.560 --> 0:28:15.720 reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 0:28:16.000 --> 0:28:19.879 Three capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines 0:28:19.920 --> 0:28:21.240 for writing and reflection. 0:28:22.040 --> 0:28:24.080 This is going to be one of your best years. 0:28:24.359 --> 0:28:27.360 Our twenty twenty five devotional calendar is going to help 0:28:27.400 --> 0:28:29.879 you stay in faith and see the goodness of God 0:28:30.119 --> 0:28:33.320 in ways you've never seen. Victoria and I pray for 0:28:33.400 --> 0:28:36.000 you and your family every day, and thank you so 0:28:36.119 --> 0:28:40.160 much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting 0:28:40.240 --> 0:28:41.520 lives around the world. 0:28:41.800 --> 0:28:42.960 And a special thank. 0:28:42.760 --> 0:28:46.080 You to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. 0:28:46.320 --> 0:28:49.200 If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:28:49.560 --> 0:28:53.600 Remember you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, 0:28:54.040 --> 0:28:57.959 download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube now the new 0:28:58.040 --> 0:29:01.120 Jewel hosting network twenty four hours today, and of course 0:29:01.200 --> 0:29:04.360 listen live on Sirius XM as well. But until we 0:29:04.400 --> 0:29:07.200 meet again, met the Lord bless you and keep you, 0:29:07.560 --> 0:29:09.960 may show you His favor and watch over you. 0:29:10.840 --> 0:29:13.520 Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 0:29:13.560 --> 0:29:18.120 five devotional calendar today. Visit Joelostein dot com or call 0:29:18.240 --> 0:29:20.320 us toll free.